Chapter 26 #2
Ghost jumps back into his car, but Larkin is already peeling out of the parking lot.
I have no choice but to tail him. The others will catch up, but I can’t risk losing him. “Seatbelt, Eloise,” I bark out, putting the SUV in drive and follow the Corolla.
This has to be Larkin. I can feel it in my gut. He turns right out of the lot, and I follow. He can’t possibly know that my SUV is behind him yet. In his head, my tailing him is a coincidence.
“We’ll be right behind you,” Tank informs us. I assume he and Rachell have exited from the back of the building.
Larkin goes through two lights, glancing back at me several times.
I don’t bother to hang back. I don’t give a fuck if he knows I’m tailing him.
“I’m two cars behind you,” Ghost says.
“We have eyes on Ghost,” Rachell adds.
I’m still perplexed by Rachell’s involvement in the field. I don’t know her story, but she prefers to stay behind the scenes. I’m equally certain she could be a badass field agent on any job if necessary. Apparently, today was necessary.
It wasn’t a bad idea. Of all of us, Rachell was the best choice for pretending to be a student—the least conspicuous.
Most of us are built. The only guy working for Black Blade who doesn’t look like he stepped out of a boxing ring is Mace, and he’s still fucking fit.
Just not quite as huge as the rest of us.
Mace doesn’t often work in the field, either. We need him behind the computers.
Larkin takes a left, and I follow. When I glance at Eloise, she looks pale. She’s gripping the back of my seat, lips pursed, eyes wide with fear.
Larkin picks up speed. He definitely knows he’s being followed. I stay on him. We’re only going slightly over the speed limit. There’s too much traffic around for us to go any faster, and I’m certain Larkin doesn’t want to draw attention to himself. He wouldn’t want the police involved.
He takes another turn and then another. He’s trying to shake me. He’s got to be pissing himself now that he realizes Eloise is not alone. She may have escaped to Seattle on her own, but she’s not alone anymore. She has an entire team of people at her back.
No way was Larkin prepared for this. The fact that he found the camera didn’t mean shit. It only meant someone was watching him. Now he knows it was us. But he’s got to be wondering who the fuck we are and why we care about Eloise.
“I’ll be happy to get in front of him and corner him,” Tank proposes, “but we should wait until he gets out of the city. Things will get messy if we have to pick this asshole up in a populated area.”
“I agree,” Blade confirms. “Let’s see where he goes. Stay on him.”
There’s no fucking way I’m going to lose this asshole.
“I doubt he has an end goal. Fucker probably doesn’t know where he’s going,” Mace tells us. “I’ve done some more digging. He landed in Seattle three hours ago and picked up that rental at the airport. The only thing he’s had time to do is plug the school into the GPS and head there.”
“Good.” I’m seething, but this is tidier. At least we don’t have to deal with a hotel room he checked into. Once I get my hands on him, the mess will be contained to his rental.
I glance at Eloise again. She’s biting her bottom lip. I’ve seen fear like this in her eyes before. I don’t like it, and I never want to see it again after today.
Larkin turns again. I’m right behind him. He’s avoiding the highway entrance. Interesting. What’s your plan, asshole?
“There’s an empty warehouse about a mile ahead,” Mace says. “Tank, can you or Ghost get in front of him and force him to inadvertently turn into it?”
“I’ve got it,” Tank says. He’s still positioned behind Ghost, so he’ll disappear from the pack easier.
I watch as he makes a sharp right. He’s good at this maneuver. It’s not the first time we’ve pulled this stunt. Sure enough, we only manage to go a few more blocks before Tank and Rachell pull out in front of Larkin.
“He’s in position,” I point out, glancing at my girl again.
She’s still gripping my seat, but I’m impressed by her ability to hold it together.
It only serves to piss me off further. I hate that she’s been through so much in twenty-two years that she’s only marginally fazed by this car chase.
I also hate that she’s with us. I’d rather she be anywhere else, safe and sound.
“Hold on, angel,” I command as Tank intentionally fishtails, blocking the road and forcing Larkin to make a right into the warehouse parking lot.
Larkin makes the turn fast, almost missing it.
I jerk the wheel that direction, too, and stay on him far more efficiently since I knew this was coming.
The parking lot is empty because the warehouse is abandoned. Ghost hits the gas and comes up alongside me before passing me on the left so he can get in front of Larkin.
Larkin glances out his window when he realizes I’m not the only one on his tail. It’s too late for him to react to Ghost, though. He hits the gas, but Ghost is quickly even with Larkin and then passing him.
“When I get in front of him,” Ghost explains, “hit the brakes, Cannon. I’m going to turn right into his path so he’s forced to crash into my passenger side.”
“Got it,” I respond.
“Now!” Ghost shouts.
I hit the brakes.
So does Larkin, but not fast enough. He T-bones Ghost as planned. It’s a hard hit. He’s probably got whiplash, but Ghost won’t be hurt. He knew what was coming and braced himself appropriately. This isn’t his first rodeo.