Just Bob (Assassins Inc. #1)(21)

“Door is still open and he’s looking this way,” the second man said in a tone so low, I almost didn’t hear him. “Don’t move.”

I wasn’t moving.

I was too afraid to move.

I was curious as hell, though. Who was this guy and why was he trying to keep my wakefulness a secret? What did it matter?

“Just hang on another minute. He’s almost gone.”

That minute seemed to go on forever. By the time I felt someone grab my bound hands, I was so tense, I jumped and tried to jerk away.

“Be still,” the man warned. “I don’t want to accidentally cut you.”

Yeah, me either.

I felt a tug on the ropes around my wrists and then they loosened and fell away. I instantly reached for the hood over my head. It was starting to get hard to breathe. I didn’t know if that came from my rising panic, or having the hood over my head, or both.

I was surprised as hell when I pulled the dark hood off and found myself looking at a guy in a wheelchair.

I hadn’t been expecting that.

“Does it hurt?”

The man frowned at me. “Does what hurt?”

I gestured to his legs.

“Oh, no.” A bewildered look came over him. “Well, sometimes it twinges. I still have feeling, just not much.”

“How’d it happen?”

“I was shot and the bullet lodged against my spine, paralyzing me from the waist down.”

Crap.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?” He sounded so confused. “You didn’t do it.”

“No,” I replied. “But I’m still sorry.”

The guy seemed nice enough. I didn’t like to think he might be in pain. I really didn’t like to think of anyone being in pain, not even bad guys. Although, some of them needed to be taken out before they reproduced.

The guy’s head cocked to one side, a peculiar look crossing his face. “You’re not playing with a full deck, are you?”

“Huh?”

He shook his head. “Never mind.”

I watched as the guy wheeled himself over to the doorway and peeked out. I wasn’t sure what he was seeing, but it seemed to make him happy. He glanced back at me and waved his hand. “Come on, we need to go before he comes back.”

“Who?” I asked as I shook off the ropes and climbed to my feet. I was curious, but I wanted out of there more than I wanted information. Being held captive and tied up was not my idea of a fun time.

Well, maybe if Shade tied me up.

That could be fun.

“Councilman James.”

Whoever that was.

And who was the guy I was so blindly putting my faith in?

“My name is Bob.”

And I sounded like an idiot.

When the man just stared at me, I sighed. “Yes, my name is Bob. It is a very good name, given to me by my parents.”

“I know who you are,” the man replied. “Why do you think I’m trying to get you out of here?”

I hadn’t really thought about it. I shrugged instead of saying anything. I didn’t want to sound like a complete idiot.

“I’m Sinclair.”

I admit it. I gasped. “You’re Shade’s handler.”

“I am.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then why are you here? Why have you kidnapped me?”

“I didn’t kidnap you.” There was a deep frown on the man’s face. “I just happen to work for the asshole who did.”

“Councilman James?” I think that was the guy’s name.

Sinclair nodded. “He’s the leader of the panther assassins.”

Oh shit.

“Um, won’t this get you in trouble with your leader then?”

“James is not my leader, he’s my boss. Big difference.”

“You’re not a shifter?” I kind of thought that was how it worked.

Sinclair winked at me. “I’m not a panther.”

“Oh.” But that didn’t mean he was human. “What are you?” I frowned as I heard my own words. “Is that rude to ask?”

“It is.” Sinclair chuckled. “I would tell you, but it’s kind of a secret.”

“Oh.”

My bad.

“Maybe someday,” Sinclair said.

Cool…assuming we got out of here alive.

“So, what now?”

“Now, we sneak our happy asses out of here.”

With those words, Sinclair started wheeling himself down a long thin hallway. I had no idea where we were headed, but I was more than willing to head there. I wanted to go back to Shade and Mustachio.

“Where exactly are we?” I asked when the stone walls of the hallway gave way to old faded brick.

“You, my friend, are being held in the basement of panther council headquarters.”

That sounded rather official.

“There’s a panther council headquarters?”

Well, I guess there would be. Someone had to be in charge.

“There is. It’s where all panther shifter business is handled. It’s like the capitol building for any state. The home office so to speak.”

“And I’m being held here why?”