Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(43)

Chapter





15




Ryker yanked on worn jeans and a T-shirt, then padded quietly across the bedroom to yank on his boots. The rainy snow had ebbed, and moonlight filtered through the blinds to caress the woman in his bed. In sleep, she was soft. Delicately soft and so feminine he wanted to put her somewhere safe forever.

His chest ached, and he allowed determination to push his shoulders broader. While he couldn’t hide her away, he could stand between her and any threat. To do that, he needed her trust, and for once, he actually felt like he was getting it.

For now, he had a job to do. He locked the bedroom and then the outer door to the apartment. He wasn’t worried that anybody could get by both him and his brothers to get to her, but the locks added assurances.

He jogged down the flight of stairs to the offices. Long strides took him to Denver’s office, where Denver and Heath already waited. “Quick trip, huh? How was Utah earlier today?” he asked Heath, wanting to know before they started.

“Got some info but nothing concrete,” Heath said, making a get-to-it motion with his hand.

Ryker nodded. “Oh. Then what the hell are we doing here right now? Why the late-night text?” he asked, following the script they’d come up with earlier.

“I found Isobel Madison,” Denver said. “You’re not gonna believe where she is.”

“Where?” Heath asked, rolling his neck, his body one tense line as he played his part.

“Read this,” Denver said, making a production of shoving a stack of papers across the desk.

Ryker crumpled a paper and kept silent for several beats, his gaze on Denver as he pretended to read. “Shit.”

Heath joined in. “Yep. So what now?”

“Tomorrow we go and talk to her,” Ryker said, nosily pushing papers back toward Denver. “It’s quite the coincidence that she’s so close.”

Heath grunted. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“What about the kid?” Denver asked.

Ryker waited and then sighed. “Let’s find the woman and figure out who she is. Then I’ll know better how to deal with Greg. The kid is lost, and I’d like to help him if possible.”

Heath lifted an eyebrow.

Ryker shrugged. He would like to help Greg, so why not say so as the kid listened in? The lost look in the kid’s dangerous and way-too-old eyes had haunted him since their only meeting. “For now, I have to get some shut-eye. How about we meet at eight in the morning and head out?”

“Copy that.” Heath groaned as he shoved from the chair. “Has anybody ordered furniture for the apartments upstairs?”

“No,” Denver said shortly, tapping keys. “Security measures are in place here. We’re well protected.”

Like hell they were. Greg had already gotten in once to plant all the bugs. “That’s good to know,” Ryker said.

Denver stood and quietly opened his bottom desk drawer. He reached in and tossed Glocks to both men. Ryker shoved his gun against the back of his waist, much preferring the knife already in his boot. “Night, guys.” He loped through the offices and up the stairs to his apartment, where he opened and shut the door without going inside.

Then he turned and made his way back down to the offices without making a sound this time.

He gave a head jerk to Denver, who had already stationed himself near the reception area. Heath covered the back, and Ryker set up dead center and out of sight.

Then they waited.

The night ticked on, and the skies outside decided to open up again. Rain slashed down, but if the weather turned as it was predicted to, they might have more snow by morning.

Ryker remained in a crouch against the long row of file cabinets in the center of the office.

The air shifted. Not enough for most people to notice, but something—or rather someone—hovered near. He gave a hand signal to Denver, who nodded. Heath was already on alert.

Denver held up a small box that had gone dark.

The damn kid had managed to turn off the security system without giving an indication. He had to be close.

No sound. As hard as Ryker tried, he couldn’t make out a sound that shouldn’t be there. So he closed his eyes and concentrated. Denver’s heartbeat…then Heath’s echoed through his mind.

Should he be able to hear them? Shit no. But he could. He’d accepted the oddity years ago, and once he had, he’d gotten accustomed to using it.

Another heartbeat. Strong and sure and damn steady.

He gestured to his brothers again, waiting for their nods. They both had odd talents, including the bizarre hearing abilities.

The back door slowly slid open.

The kid was good. He didn’t make a tick of sound. He whipped inside and waited.

Ryker forced himself to breathe evenly and not hold his breath.

The kid moved as silent as death across the room and past a waiting Heath, heading straight for Denver’s office. Heath waited until the kid was between the office and Ryker before flipping on the lights. Greg whirled around, his knife already out.

Ryker stood, his hands held out. “No need for weapons.”

The kid eyed him, his body relaxed and yet in a fighting stance. No fear showed on his tough face while his gaze seemed to track all three of them. “You found the bug.”