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“No, he’s got too much of a head start. Go grab another set of wheels. This one isn’t going anywhere.”
“Roger that,” she said and trotted off down the sidewalk.
Neither did Dane. “Koa,” he said, trying to raise him on the earbud. It was no use. He was too far away.
The sound of sirens reached them. “This is going to go downhill fast,” Dane said.
Cain nodded. “Are there any injuries?”
They looked around. People had scattered. Dane didn’t see anyone who looked like they’d been harmed. “Where’s Sinclair?” A groan came from behind a planter on his right. He moved in that direction, but Mac was still holding on to him. Her eyes were wide, and she seemed to be having a hard time letting go. “Jace, check over there.” He pointed off to his right.
He put Mac in the back seat of the SUV. “Mac, honey, I need you to snap out of it.” She still had a far-off look in her eye. Had she hit her head again? He’d done his best to make sure he took the hit on the sidewalk. His back was screaming because of it.
“Mac,” he said again and gave her a little shake.
She blinked, and finally, her gaze came into focus. “What?” She looked around. “Sorry, I was just… Sorry,” she said again.
Jace was pulling someone to their feet. It was Sinclair. “He’s okay,” Jace said.
Sinclair limped over to them. “Jesus, they aren’t playing around.”
“No, they aren’t,” Cain agreed. “Did anyone get a look at the shooter?”
“It was Cameron, Owens’s second in command,” Sinclair supplied. “I assume Topher Grady was the shooter.”
“Are you sure?” Dane asked. “I can’t imagine these guys being so stupid. Why would they shoot at us? They have to know we’d recognize them.”
Sinclair nodded and then winced. “You’re right. I recognize the bike. Saw it when I went to interview Cameron. He had it tucked under a tarp in the back of his garage with all kinds of stuff in front of it.”
Mac cocked an eyebrow. “Then how did you see it?”
Sinclair looked a bit sheepish. “I had to use the bathroom and got lost.”
She grinned.
Dane’s stomach unknotted slightly when she turned that smile his direction. He’d been worried about her there for a minute. Hell, he’d been worried about her one way or another since they’d met. His heart had damn near stopped when the bullets started flying. He tucked a finger under her chin. “Glad you’re feeling better.”
“Yeah.” It was her turn to look sheepish. “I…I almost had something, a thought—a piece of the puzzle that we need. It was right there, as if getting shot at knocked it loose, but then it was gone again.” She let out a long sigh. “You’re right though, why would they take the risk? What are they so afraid of?”
The sound of a motorcycle approaching had everyone reaching for their guns. There hadn’t been time earlier to get off a shot, but now Dane was prepared. He drew his weapon only to realize it was Koa. He rolled to a stop at the curb just as several police cars pulled up behind him.
Dane raised an eyebrow, but Koa shook his head. “Lost them when they off-roaded through a park. Too many kids and families. I wasn’t taking the chance.”
“No worries. Sinclair says it was Cameron and Grady.”
Koa nodded. “I recognized Grady. We did a course together before I got injured. He was the shooter.”
Sinclair had started speaking with the cops. He had his badge out and was doing a lot of gesturing. Cain went over to join him. Five minutes later, he came back. “Jace and Tac will stay and answer questions. The rest of us are heading back to the hotel.”
Cass appeared with Jace’s SUV, and they all piled in. Koa followed them on his Ducati.
“What do you think?” Dane asked. “About Sinclair.”
Cain shrugged. “He seems to have skin in the game now, so that helps. He took charge back there and got us cleared to leave so I think he’s on the level.”
Mac sighed. “I’m not sure he believed me that I have no idea why they tried to kill me.”
“It doesn’t matter what he believes. It’s the truth. You just have to go with it.” Dane’s gut told him the whole thing with Sinclair was bothering her. If it were him, he’d be asking:How could I have missed it? How could he be right under my nose like that and me not see it?Does that mean I’m not very good at my job?Self-doubt was a bitch. He wanted to comfort her, but that urge would have to wait.
