Chapter 22 #3
Unless it was already too late. Unless the bastard was already hunting, right then. And, hell, yes, Atlas believed that he was.
But Gage shook his head. “I’ll have to pick one as priority for my supervisors, Lily. Tell me, who is he more likely to go after?”
“They are both priority! You don’t have to pick! That’s bullshit!” Lily snapped.
Yes, Atlas rather thought it was.
“That’s federal bureaucracy,” Gage retorted. “They are already gonna fight me because you are asking me to institute full protection for two individuals in separate states based entirely on a hunch.”
“It’s not a hunch.” Ice dripped from her words. “It’s years of expertise.” Once more, she spun toward Atlas. Lily locked her dark eyes on him. The gold in the depths gleamed. “You have pull at the Bureau.”
“Who…me?” Atlas modestly touched his chest.
“Atlas, don’t. Not with me.”
He stared straight at her.
“You could probably blackmail all the top leaders at the Bureau to do whatever you want. You snap your fingers, and people jump.”
They did. True story.
“Help me to save these two. Help me to stop him. Help me to catch him.”
Ah, but he didn’t just want the perp caught. Atlas wanted him dead in the ground.
“Please,” Lily added. “Please, for me.”
“As if I could refuse you anything.” He snapped his fingers. “Let’s see how fast they jump.” Voice bored, he added, “And if they refuse, then I’ll just send in my own security to protect your poor, lost lambs.”
“If I’m following along correctly, one of those lambs just got out of prison for armed robbery,” Desmond reminded him. The first time his friend had spoken since climbing off the staircase. “Not so sure that one counts as anyone’s poor, lost little lamb.”
“He’s gonna be the target,” Gage suddenly exclaimed as he whirled and rushed for the door. “Sonofabitch, that makes more sense. You can’t pick, Lily, then fine, I will. Westin Blanchard is already guilty as fuck. He’s the next target. The killer is going after him.” He yanked open the front door.
Sharon raced after him. She darted a few, desperate glances over her shoulder before she hurried outside.
“Thank you for the visit,” Atlas called. “A pleasure to see you both. Do come back.”
The door slammed closed behind them.
Lily blocked his path. “Help me save them, Atlas.”
“Ah, Lily, don’t you know…I’d do anything for you?” Save them…and still kill the bastard who made the mistake of bringing you into this nightmare. He smiled at her.
“Oh, no,” Lily whispered. “Your dimples are out.”
He winked at her. “Let’s kill the bastard.”
“Atlas…”
“Catch,” he corrected. “Let’s catch the bastard. So sorry. Slip of the tongue.”
She grabbed his arms. Shot onto her toes even as she yanked him toward her. Stunning him, thrilling him, she pressed a hot, fast kiss to his lips. “No, it wasn’t.” Her tongue dipped into his mouth. Tasted him. “That was a slip of the tongue.”
Damn straight, it had been. I want more.
“We’re catching him,” she breathed against his mouth. “We aren’t killing him. We are not the bad guys.”
Oh, she could say that as often as she wanted. “Not the bad guys, check.” But…
If he strikes first, he’s dead.
Though, technically, the bastard had already struck first. When he had kidnapped Atlas. When he had taken Lily. When he’d tossed them down the stairs and into that basement…
He made the first attack, Lily. I’ll make the final one.
But she eased away. “We have to go.” Her gaze darted over his chest. “I think it’s my turn to say…you need to get dressed.”
“You need to have breakfast. You didn’t eat enough yesterday.”
“We have a killer to hunt!”
“You have a breakfast to eat. Roland already has it waiting. Go in the kitchen. I’ll dress.
” Then they’d hunt. Done. “I’ll make phone calls.
First.” Before he dressed. “I’ll get the wheels in motion to protect your would-be victims.” But first those victims would have to be located.
It would take time, a luxury they might not have.
He eased past her and headed for the stairs.
His gaze collided with Desmond’s. “Didn’t see you calling Theodora.”
Desmond’s head inclined. “I texted her. She said for you to please not confess to any crimes.”
He only confessed to Lily. No one else.
“She was coming over,” Desmond revealed. “But since the Feds have rushed out...”
“Tell her it’s unnecessary. In fact, Lily and I will be leaving soon.”
“I want to go back to the crime scene, to the cabin,” Lily said.
He’d rather thought that might be one of their stops. But, before she got her heart set on things, “I doubt the cops are gonna let us get close.”
“I need to see it again.”
Ah, so determined. He enjoyed her determination.
He also understood why she wanted to get back to that crime scene.
“Because you want to see if the basement was left standing. Fine. We’ll make that a stop.
” One of many for the day. But before he climbed the stairs, he asked Desmond, “Any luck with the security footage from Benedict’s? ”
“He’s the only one I saw on it. Benedict coming and going before his death. The bastard we are after is a ghost.”
A ghost who happened to be very good at breaking and entering. “Keep at it. Go back as far as you can with the footage.”
Desmond nodded. “And I’m assuming you want me to start security arrangements for the two would-be vics?”
“Yes.” Lily’s loud reply. “He does.”
Desmond waited.
Atlas smiled. “You heard the lady.”
“You always gonna give her everything she wants?”
He headed up the stairs. “I guess it depends on what she wants.”
“What if it’s your heart?” Desmond called after him.
His steps faltered. “Funny, Desmond. You know I don’t have one of those.”
She watched Atlas until he disappeared up the stairs, and only then did Lily glance toward Desmond.
“We both know that was a lie,” Desmond said.
She nodded.
“Good. Glad we’re clear.”
Since they were being clear, “He won’t always give me what I want. He was exaggerating.” Obviously.
Desmond laughed. “Not talking about that.” He turned away, hauling out his phone. “The dumbass already gave you his heart.”
Lily felt an ache in her own chest.
Atlas doesn’t love me. He isn’t giving me his heart.
Which was very unfortunate. Because she’d certainly given him hers.