Chapter 31
RYDER
I wave at Gus through the rain, pelting against the window. There’s a loud crack of thunder followed by a flash of lightning, and it mirrors the storm brewing inside me.
After a long night with little sleep, I tanked up on coffee at The Drip, then spent two hours at the gym running and sparring with Jos. My afternoon consisted of watching Cole kick major ass before hurting his wrist in the final quarter. Luckily, they were ahead, and his backup held the win.
But I spent the whole game trying to interpret his phone call last night.
Talking to him felt. . .normal, but then, he asked me to call him if I had a nightmare, and all the things I really wanted to ignore began to swirl again.
I pull into a parking space and survey the surrounding area as best I can through the downpour.
My body relaxes only a little, knowing Cole will step off the bus and I will get back to work. I can’t help but wonder if it will feel different. I don’t want it to. I need it to be like it was, and to have the time and space to. . .explore.
Ugh. I hate that word.
After a few minutes of idling, the bus pulls into the parking lot. Thunder rolls again as guys file off and jog to their cars.
I step out with a useless umbrella, hoping to see better, but the headlights reflecting against the rain make it difficult.
Thankfully, the storm has deterred all loitering fans.
Cole stops on the last step, spotting me, then dives into the rain. “Get in,” he hollers as he rounds the car and tosses his bag in the back.
I watch him run a hand through his hair, and water flicks off. His eyes snag on mine, and he grins, catching me staring.
“Hi,” he says, oh so smooth and casual.
Well, I’m happy to see his confidence hasn’t wavered in the last twenty-four hours. I put the SUV in drive and proceed out of the parking lot.
“Nice win today,” I say, pretending everything is normal.
It’s fine. Nothing has changed. For now, this is my job.
“You watched?” He sounds surprised.
“Yeah. I had to explain to Van what a sneak was.”
“Careful. Soon, you’ll be wearing a jersey and painting your face.”
Does he mean his jersey?
I check my mirrors.
It’s ok if this is more than a job.
I blow out a cautious breath, making a right turn. “How’s your wrist?”
He lifts his splint. “Just a sprain. I need to ice it and rest it next week.”
“The commentators said something about your backup’s backup having to step in. What was the deal with that?”
“Will Jenkins is my backup. You met his wife, Marla, at the fundraiser.”
I stop at a red light, and rain continues to pound against the windshield.
“Their daughter is really sick, and he couldn’t leave her, so they pulled in another quarterback. That’s who went in today. I probably could have played, but we were ahead by enough that Coach didn’t want to chance my wrist taking another hit.”
I make another right turn, keeping an eye on my rearview mirror.
“What did you do today besides watch the game?” he asks.
“I got coffee and hung out with Jamie in the back, then went to the gym.”
“Was Gus there?”
I side-eye him, my mouth curving up a little. “Gus was not there today. Although he’s working tonight. He waved at me through the rain.”
I twist to glance out the rearview window.
I’ve taken three right turns, and so has the car following close behind. I stop at a red light and pull out my phone, opening the notes app.
I hand it to Cole. “Watch the car two back. If they follow us after this turn, I’ll slow, and I want you to see if you can get the license plate, make, model, shape of the driver, anything you can see.”
Cole shifts to see out the back window. “The SUV? They’re following us?”
“They picked us up somewhere after exiting the parking lot.”
The light turns green, and I turn, moving into the right lane, then easing off the gas.
“Can you get anything?” I reduce speed even more, but they follow suit, keeping their distance as the rain pounds against the windows.
“I can’t see. I don’t think there’s a license plate on the front.”
Their bright lights flick on, and I squint as they speed up, heading straight at us.
“Ryder!” Cole shouts, and I punch the gas, but it’s not enough.
It speeds toward us, swerving.
“Hang on,” I grit out, yanking the steering wheel to the right and slamming on the brakes.
The SUV roars past, barely missing us.
“Shit! Are you ok?”
Cole’s eyes are wide, and he’s still bracing himself. “Yeah. Are you?”
“Dammit!” I hit the steering wheel.
“What the hell was that?” Cole asks.
“They’re coming out of hiding. Did you get anything?”
He shakes his head. “Just that it was a Yukon.”
I check our surroundings, wait for a car to pass, and then ease onto the road.
We drive for fifteen minutes, ensuring they don’t fall back in behind us, before entering the parking garage of his apartment building.
We grab our bags and step into the elevator. “I have to call Tracker and fill him in.”
Cole nods, punching the button. The elevator dings, and the doors open. We step out, and on the floor in front of his door is a large envelope.
“Don’t touch it.” I stop Cole, knowing that any mail is delivered to a mailbox in the lobby. “Did you order anything?” I tap Track’s name and press my phone to my ear.
Cole shakes his head.
“Yo, everything good?” Track’s voice hits my ear.
I inspect the lock on the door as I fill him in on the car tailing us and the envelope that I have no doubt is another message.
My hand slides to my waist and finds the grip on my Sig.
I enter first, scanning the apartment. “We need to see if anyone on the map has that make and model or if they’ve rented one recently,” I tell Track.
“Got it, but Ryder, you can’t stay there. His apartment is compromised.”
I stop just inside the door and peek at Cole, who’s waiting patiently for me to sweep the rooms.
“Uh. . .and you expect us to go where?”
Cole’s brows pull together.
Tracker laughs. “We have a city full of hotels, but if this guy is following you, that won’t help. Give me a few days to see what I can trace. I need that envelope and everything you’ve got, but you need to get him to a safe location.”
“And where would that be?”
There’s a pause. “Next week is his bye week?”
I think it’s a question. “Yeah.”
“Then, somewhere out of town. I’ll get TJ over there to make it look like you’re still around. Now that Cole’s SUV has been repainted, TJ can drive it to see if we can lure them out again.”
“Uh, Track, where are we supposed to go?”
There’s a momentary blip of silence. “Is his sister still nagging him about Thanksgiving?”
“Uh. What, now? You aren’t—”
He laughs. He freaking laughs.
“Track this is not. . . ” I glance at Cole, pulling an ice pack out of the freezer.
“Pack up. I’ll have Jos get the plane fueled and the flight check complete. I’ll be there in a bit to take you to the airfield. Make sure you leave quietly through the back.”
This cannot be happening. I did not sign up for this.
“I’ll message you when I get there. Copy, Ry?”
I’m going to kill him by the time this is over.
“Ry?”
“Yeah. Copy.” I hang up.
This is not what I need right now. I push out a long, slow breath as Cole stares at me with complete concern, holding the ice around his wrist.
“You still want to see your family for a few days?”