Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(50)

“I can’t help you. They’ll kill me.”

Unbelievable. This clown was more concerned with his own skin than protecting a child. Rowan’s hands fisted. “Come on, Nolan. Grow a spine. You can disappear, move across the country and buy yourself a new identity. Alexa is only six. She can’t escape on her own. We have to help her.”

“You want to risk your own life, it’s your business. That kid is nothing to me. I don’t owe you or her anything.”

“This place is lit up like a Christmas tree, White.” Brent stood, arms folded across his chest, a scowl on his face. “I can’t imagine you’re afraid of the dark. How soon are you skipping town?”

Nolan’s face lost all trace of color.

Rowan frowned.

“That’s what I suspected,” Brent said. “Look, you want to disappear? I’ll help you do that. I have connections to set you up with a new identity and relocate you. Navarro will never find you if you follow the rules laid out.”

“What’s the price?”

“Information.”

Nolan scowled. “I don’t know anything more than I already told you.”

“Why is Navarro after you? Why are the militia groups so interested in dealing drugs? Who are your contacts in Navarro and each militia group? If you want my help, start talking.”

“I have to go. I don’t have time to spare.” He glanced toward the back of the house. “Look, I can print off some stuff that might help, but that’s all I’m willing to do.”

“If it’s not enough information to help us find Alexa, I’ll rescind the offer.”

“Yeah, whatever. I’ll do it myself.” A sneer crossed his face. “Not like I’ve needed anyone before.” Nolan tapped his chest. “I’ve always taken care of myself. I don’t owe you anything, but I can’t stomach the thought of that sweet little kid crying because she’s scared. She reminds me of my niece.”

“Let’s go, then.” Brent motioned for him to proceed. He and Rowan followed close behind the spooked businessman.

Nolan hurried to a large desk and dropped into the chair. He tapped a few keys on his computer keyboard and called up a file which he printed, then handed to Brent. “Here. That’s the best I can do. You can let yourself out while I gather a couple more items to take.” His expression darkened. “This is Jay’s fault. He’s the reason Toby and I got involved in the first place. We didn’t know who these guys were until it was too late to back out of the deal.

Right. Everybody knew the wisdom of getting into business with total strangers and trusting they were honest. Rowan stepped aside as Nolan charged around the desk and raced from the office. “Jay and his friends were idiots,” she murmured.

“Oh, yeah.” He scanned the pages, grimaced.

“What is it?”

“The DEA won’t be happy with this,” he said softly. “And neither will the ATF.”

It took Rowan a few seconds to translate the acronyms. Drug Enforcement Agency and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. “I understood the reference to the DEA, but why will the ATF be unhappy?”

Brent folded the pages and shoved them deep into one of his cargo pockets. “We’ll talk on the way to our next meeting.”

He used careful terms. Maybe he worried about being overheard. Her suspicions were confirmed when he tapped his mouth with his forefinger.

They walked from the office to the front door. Brent motioned for her to wait a moment, opened the door with his shirt covering his hand, then stepped out on the porch. A minute later, he held out his hand. “Let’s go, baby.”

“Are we leaving Nolan? He doesn’t have a great track record of wise decisions.”

“I can’t force him to take the offer. He made his choice.”

Rowan hoped Nolan White knew what he was doing. The men he’d gone into business with were ruthless. First Jay, then Toby had been killed. Would Nolan be next?

Brent’s hand rested against her lower back as he urged her silently to move faster. When Rowan glanced at him, she realized he was scanning the area, alert and focused.

Oh, boy. Rowan’s steps quickened. Did Brent sense someone watching them or was he being careful considering the circumstances?

Brent unlocked his SUV and helped Rowan inside, then climbed behind the wheel.

At that moment, Nolan came out of the house with a large suitcase in each hand. Before he’d taken more than a handful of steps, a shot rang out and Nolan dropped to the ground.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


Setting the SUV into motion, Brent raced down the driveway and skidded into the street, then floored the gas pedal.

“We can’t just leave him, Brent,” Rowan protested, twisting in her seat. “We have to help.”

He guided the SUV around a corner before he replied. “There was nothing we could do for him, baby. Remember, my priority is your safety.”

“How do you know he couldn’t be helped? We didn’t check.”

Man, he hated to tell her. She’d been traumatized enough. The one thing he didn’t want to do was lie to Rowan. “White was shot in the head. He didn’t survive.” He’d seen enough of those shots over the years. Kill shots, every one of them. Brent called Taylor. “It’s Brent. Nolan White was shot in the forehead two minutes ago.”