26. Leo
26
LEO
H is heart thundered in his chest. His stomach lurched. He prayed he was doing the right thing by chasing this wild theory. There was a fire escape close to the pool. Maybe she was smuggled out that way?
The marathon training was coming in handy as Leo circled yet another level of the parking garage. He wasn’t tired, if anything his muscles were electrified. Leo channeled his panic into focus. He only had two more levels of the parking garage to check, and he was growing more anxious with each step.
What if he was wrong? What if he wasted precious ten minutes being out of service underground from his team?
But that’s when he saw it. A car parked in the far corner, lights on, running. He glanced at his map. Perfect match to the lone tracker.
She was right there.
That had to be Sage.
She was only mere feet away from him.
Leo didn’t have to think. He reached behind him, pulled out his gun, and flipped it in his hand. He used the butt of the weapon to hit the window. Once. Twice. And the third to the glass shattered, spilling over the driver still fumbling with getting the car in reverse. Leo’s training created a muscle memory in him and he opened the door from the inside (ignoring the glass shards cutting him—like any hero would) and pulled out the startled driver enough to slam the door on his head. Once, then twice.
Problem solved.
“Leo!” Sage screamed. “It’s me! Sage! Back here!”
“I am well aware of that!” Leo flung the back door open and pulled. He reached for his gun again, pointing at the assailant in the back seat.
“Jared?” Leo asked, chest heaving.
“Ow, ow, my hands,” Sage said. She was tucked safely behind Leo. Despite wanting to wrap her in a bear hug, Leo held Jared’s gaze. Jared blinked twice and then opened his car door to dash out the other side.
Leo would deal with that rat later. He turned his attention to Sage, grabbing her face in his hands. “What happened? Are you hurt? What did he do to you?”
Sage sniffed. Then she smiled. It was the best sight in the world. “Oh my gosh, how did you find me? Do you have anything to cut these?” She turned around, and he found the issue of her zip-tied hands. Her fingers were slightly purple.
He was guiding her up out of the car park toward an exit, trying his radio. When he finally got a signal, he let the team know the Subject was safely recovered, Jared was on the run, and an unconscious guy was hanging out in the only car in the basement of the garage.
“We’ll get scissors at the front desk. The police are going to want to talk to you—” He was in grave danger of kissing her again.
“What time is it?” She looked at Leo with wide eyes. “Oh my gosh, please tell me it hasn’t started yet.”
“Seriously? You’re thinking about a game right now?” Leo glanced at his watch. “Match started ten minutes ago.” And the opportunity for an impromptu “I saved your life” embrace had officially left the table of opportunities.
“I can still join. I can join as long as I am not past fifteen minutes late. There won’t be a penalty!”
“Other than the huge time delay! Sage, what is going on?” He held on to her arm as if he guided her inside, reassuring himself that she was okay, she was here, and she wasn’t going anywhere.
And why did she smell like nail polish remover?
They made it to the lobby, where he made quick work of cutting off the zip ties around her wrists, ignoring the stares of the people lingering as he rubbed blood back into her hands. Definitely just aiding in her finger recovery and not at all a need Leo had to hold her hands and make sure she didn’t slip away again.
She was here and she was okay and she wanted to go play video games despite just being held hostage for the last half hour.
“I have to go in,” Sage said, dragging him behind her as she made her way to the giant room full of nerds and geeks and computers and everything else. She was sure going to make an entrance. But when didn’t she?
He couldn’t ignore the fact that she was beautiful and successful and charismatic and for being stuck inside all the time and a borderline hermit, she could hold an audience with her authentic chatter. Her laughter made him melt. Her eyes made him want to do a silly dance just to keep them on his. Her smile was the best sight in the world.
And right now, she had a wicked and determined look on her face: eyebrows furrowed, eyes darting toward the door, and jaw clenched.
She talked as she ran. “I know this doesn’t make sense, but if I don’t go they win. I swear it’ll make sense when I explain it to you. Just trust me.”
People were starting to recognize her. Murmurs spread through the crowd as she paused at the door to the tournament.
“We need to find Jared, and who was that in the car? The police are here—” Leo paused in front of the door. “But I trust you.” The giant double doors separating them from the competition seemed to loom over them.
“Thank you,” she said. Then she reached for his collar and pulled his face toward hers. She kissed him. It wasn’t the gentle kiss he’d given her earlier.
He pulled her into him, returning her kiss with the weight of a thousand “almost” kisses from these past months. This kiss had the taste of revenge, fire, tenacity, and…Everclear?
He released her. “Sage, are you drunk?” He kissed her again, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck, and pulling her in close.
After what was definitely not enough time for their lips to properly get acquainted, she pulled away. “It’s a long story,” she said, as breathless as he felt. “But no, I don’t think so.”
“How do you feel?” he asked, touching the side of her face, ignoring the open-mouthed stares.
She let out a long sigh. “A little lightheaded. Maybe a little floaty.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Welcome to my life.”