Now he just had to retrieve it before they woke up.
He’d hitched his trailer to Giovanni when the guy was just a young, rich prick with a notable name. Isaac had seen the potential, the forward thinking, and knew Giovanni was going places. It had been Isaac’s time to seize the moment. And he’d done it. Wholeheartedly.
Jo would not screw up Isaac’s future. He couldn’t allow this. But how did he stop a one-woman army who had backup now?
He knew she’d spent the night holed up with the guy. What plans had they made? What did she know? Could she be FBI? That was the running theory, though not everyone agreed she was a possible threat.
Isaac bent, going down on hands and knees in the hall. For several moments he listened to the silence blanketing the condo.
Not a soul stirred.
This was his moment.
He carefully pulled the omnidirectional microphone out from under the door and pocketed the receiver he’d had to leave lying in the hall. Holding his breath, he slowly backed up until there were several feet between him and the door. Only then did he push up to his feet and quickly pad back toward his room.
At the last moment, he ducked into the bathroom and flushed the toilet.
Just in case one of them was awake and aware, this was his alibi.
Lately people had raised a lot of red flags. The problem was, it was too hard to figure out if those hiccups were due to some fuck up in the Giovanni camp, or if it was law enforcement closing in.
Today the truth would come out. Isaac just hoped he could survive it.
THURSDAY. AEGIS GROUP Safe House, Seattle, Washington.
Elias tapped each finger against his thumb in time to a beat only he could sense. Every now and then he’d alternate tapping his toes against the sheets in time with his fingers, but that made too much noise.
Jo was still asleep, nestled in next to him. Every time he’d woken up during the night, some part of her touched him. Her leg. A hand. And now she’d curled up against his side, locking him into place better than any restraint.
He peered down at her. The room was still mostly dark shadows. They didn’t get much morning light on this side of the building. For anyone else, that would be a boon. Most people seemed to enjoy sleeping in.
Elias wasn’t wired that way.
He’d slept soundly, but still in spurts. And once the sun was up, he was rarely able to sleep again.
Jo, on the other hand, still dead to the world. Given how much stress she’d been under, he didn’t want to wake her prematurely. She’d assured him she had a plan, but wouldn’t tell him more. She was playing some cards close to the vest, so to speak. But she was going to tell him. He hadn’t missed that.
He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes.
The condo was quiet. Almost silent.
Maybe he could go back to sleep?
Elias closed his eyes and imagined this was another time and place. Where he and Jo were in their own bubble, safe from the rest of the world. It was a nice dream. He didn’t know what would happen today, but one thing was certain. He had something precious to protect.
The minutes dragged on, but sleep still evaded him.
Sighing, he carefully extracted himself from the sheets and stood. There was no need for another shower. He’d brought his things in once Jo made it clear she preferred to share the bed, which included the laptop and some gear he’d borrowed from a locker kept in one of the smaller rooms intended for company employees. He seriously doubted these two had things like Kevlar vests in their bags.
“What was that?” Jo muttered.
Elias cringed and glanced at the bed.
Jo sat up, the blankets pooling around her waist.
“Just me,” he said.
“No, I thought I heard something.” She pushed the blankets back.
“I thought you were dead to the world.”
She got out of bed and turned on the lamp. “I heard a noise.”
“I’ll have a look.” He pulled on clean jeans and socks, then shoved his feet into unlaced boots.
Somewhat dressed, he reached for the laptop while Jo opened her backpack. His fingers barely brushed the track pad when an ear-piercing shriek resounded through the condo.
The alarm.
For one second Elias froze. His heart pulsed in his throat and fear paralyzed him.
What he valued most was at risk. He hadn’t been careful enough. The ear splitting sound echoed the jumbled thoughts in his head.
He had to do something. He had to act.
Elias dove for the nightstand.
Jo had on a pair of jeans along with the shirt she’d slept in. They each snatched their weapons up as a loud bang reverberated.
“They’re at the front door!” He bolted.
No one besides him knew the condo walls were reinforced. The front door had a state-of-the-art alarm system. The walls couldn’t be blown through, and the locks couldn’t be picked. Which meant the only way in was by forcing the front door down. That took manpower and time.
Elias raced into the living room.
Isaac froze halfway to the front door.
Elias raised his gun. There wasn’t anything about the guy that put Elias’ mind at ease. He was a risk. One Jo needed. For now.
The front door rattled as another blow rocked it.
One hinge was barely hanging in there.
“Away from the door, now,” Elias barked.
“Do it,” Jo said from right behind him.
Why hadn’t he told her about the Kevlar? None of them were wearing body armor.
“They found us. How did they find us?” Isaac wailed.
“Go get your shit. Now,” Jo ordered.
Isaac glanced between them. Elias noted the man didn’t have a weapon.
Another blow set the top hinge flying.
Whoever was on the other side of the door wasn’t terribly strong. That, or they didn’t have experience breaking into places.
Jo stared at the door with a coldness that was familiar to Elias, then raised her gun, aiming it at the door.
“You can’t shoot through it,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Everything in this condo is reinforced.”
“Shit,” she muttered.
Elias reached down and drew his gun. He’d kept his practice up, though it wasn’t something he enjoyed. Hell, the last time he’d aimed a weapon at a human was before the accident.
Cold sweat broke out along his spine.
He would protect Jo. He’d stand at her side, facing down the threat.
“Does Isaac have a gun?” he asked.
“Yes.” Jo turned her head, watching the hall. “You think he suspects us?”
“I think these people couldn’t have found us without some help.” He’d have to think through their next moves if they believed Isaac was working against them. They could always use that to their advantage, but it had to be done with purpose.
“Come on, Isaac,” she snapped.
“Are you a fucking fed?” Isaac’s voice vibrated. Was that fear, anger, a combination or something else?
Jo coolly glanced at the man. “Now isn’t the time to discuss that. You know I’m not.”
The door rattled and someone called out something from the hall.
“I don’t know anything,” Isaac said.
This was going south fast. If Isaac was armed and suspected them, their flank was vulnerable.
Elias would have to do something.