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Mercer scoffs. "Shit...he's in rut. You could've mentioned that, Carson."
I glance behind me, where Mercer's leaning against the seat. "What? No fucking way. They haven't had sex."
"They don't have to," Fallon chimes in. "I've seen it in Rafe with Jade...meeting that special omega just triggers something wild in them."
"Liam went through it, too," Mercer says. "Touching her would be enough to do it."
"So...we need to keep an eye out for a psycho ACB agent who's convinced our targetbelongsto him," Fallon mutters. "Great."
The Eve's Apple neon sign appears in the distance, and I drive toward it. We'll need to hurry; the ACB is agitated. I wonder if they're starting to zero in on Kendra, and it makes my heart pound to think of her getting captured.
"You two ready?" I ask as I pull the car over. "I'm going to go in, then I'll bring Kendra and Zane out with me. Fallon--I want you with me to watch my back, and Mercer, I want you stay here and keep an eye on everything if it goes south. Get behind the wheel so we can make a quick exit."
"Roger," Mercer says. "What does this guy look like, if you can describe him?"
"Maddox?" I ask. "Imagine a classic ACB shill if he hadn't slept in a week, and that's him. Tall guy, more lean than bulky, dark hair. He blends in pretty well, but he's intense."
"Got it," Mercer says. "In that case...see you two on the other side. Good luck."
We both hop out of the van, keeping our heads down as we walk around the block to Eve's Apple. We'll leave through the back entrance and take to the alleys, then we'll climb back in and drive to the docks. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly...but the hair on the back of my neck is on end, convinced Maddox is going to come out of nowhere and fucking kill me for trying to take his omega.
Either that...or the ACB is going to strike.
As we approach the back entrance of Eve's Apple, Fallon whispers, "You think we're being followed?"
I tense up, my senses on high alert. I glance around, scanning the dark alleys for any sign of movement. "I don't know, but we need to hurry."
We pick up the pace and reach the door. I motion for Fallon to cover me as I unlock it and push it open. The door is unlocked, as we agreed to with Zane, and the smell of sex is everywhere. I catch sight of Zane in the shadows of the apartment, a backpack over his shoulder, his pistol ready in his hand.
"Who's with you?" he growls.
"Name's Fallon," he says, raising his hand in a wave. "Jade sent me."
"Jade?" That's Kendra's voice, quiet and careful. I see her a second later, coming out from behind Zane; in all likelihood, she was hiding there the whole time. My stomach somersaults at the sight of her--which isn'tgood, because I've got a little crush and Zane is a massive, hulking barricade between us. "She's with you?"
"Just a drive away," Fallon grins. "She's excited to see you. You ready to hit the road?"
Zane looks around at the apartment, which I know he's called home for years. It's gotta be hard to leave, especially when the ACB will probably ransack this place once they realize it's conspicuously empty.
But he nods, putting a big hand on Kendra's shoulder. "It's time," he says. "Let's go."
We hurry out of the apartment and into the alley. Fallon and I take up positions at the front and back of the group, watching for any unwanted guests and keeping Zane and Kendra between us. Kendra looks terrified, and I understand why. This is the first time she's been outside in days, and she knows the danger that awaits us.
But it seems like it's safe. We're almost to the van, our guns at the ready just in case, our pace quick--
Until we turn a corner and come face to face with two ACB agents.
They draw their guns and point them at us, a floodlight blaring in our eyes.
"Stop right there!" one of them yells. "Hands up!"
Then everything goes to hell.
Zane doesn't hesitate--he charges forward, tackling the agent to the ground. Kendra screams as the other agent takes aim at us. I grab her and pull her behind a dumpster, shielding her with my body as bullets fly past us. Fallon returns fire, taking out the second agent.
"Come on!" I yell, pulling Kendra to her feet. "We have to move!"
We run down the alley, Fallon and Zane covering our tracks. I can hear return fire from farther away--Mercer, shooting at the ACB agents from the van. Kendra is quick on her feet in a crisis, and I find myself grateful for how savvy she is when she could very easily melt down in a situation like this.
