Page 79 of Storm Warning

“You had the sofa, what else was I going to do?”

She rubbed her eyes. “Any news from John?”

A ding suddenly came through on Hawk’s burner cell. “Iwas going to say no, but let me read this. It’s from John. I sent this number to him via an app we use to communicate. It’s easier.”

“What does it say?”

“He asked us to come to the hospital. He’ll have a security detail in place so we can talk there.”

Remi wasn’t so sure this was a good idea. “You don’t think Cole will try something there?”

“Security is everywhere. And weneedto talk to him. You can tell him what you remember.” Hawk frowned. Was he second-guessing this decision because she was?

“Let’s go, then. Honestly, I can’t eat lasagna for breakfast. Let’s just grab coffee and food on the go.”

A half hour later, she’d showered and changed into her clean clothes, and Hawk drove through a coffee kiosk in Gordo’s vehicle because Hawk intended to return it today, if possible. After coffee and croissants were acquired, Hawk steered them back onto the freeway.

“Oh, Hawk, I put your clothes I wore last night in the wash. Don’t forget to put them in the dryer or they’ll mildew.” Wow. Had she really just said that?

He laughed. “I’m sure you’re ready to get into your own closet in your own place.”

Yeah. Her own place.

“While that sounds nice, you know as well as I do that until the device and information are retrieved, I could still be in danger. Even then I could be looking over my shoulder for a long time.”

He pressed his hand on the console near hers. She sensed he might reach for her hand. Touch her arm. Something. Maybe she would be the one to do it because she needed his touch and reassurance. She hadn’t realized just how much.

“I’m in this with you for as long as it takes,” he said.

“I appreciate that.” But she wasn’t sure that it was necessary. At some point, he’d have to go back to his life, and she’d go back to hers, whatever the future held for her.

Hawk was a good man, and she’d known a lot of good men. That’s why she couldn’t fathom that his brother would be his polar opposite. From Cole’s point of view, he could even believe he was a good guy.

Remi blew out a breath.

“What is it?” Hawk asked.

“Sergei said something and I can’t stop thinking about it. He’d been put between the proverbial rock and hard place and had no choice but to flee as he did. He said that his country would think of him as a traitor. They would believe he was taking their military secrets to America. But they wouldn’t understand that he was preventing the device from getting into the hands of terrorists via their own government official. He’d tried to warn them, but the messenger had been silenced and, if Sergei stayed, he would be dead too. It was all in the perception his departure created, and the spin the Zarovian government would craft for the public.”

“As it turned out, there was no hope of him surviving this.” Hawk shook his head.

“It’s all about perspective,” she said.

And actually, Hawk had said the same thing earlier.

“What are you getting at?” he asked.

“When I was on the boat with Cole and he was speeding away, trying to take me to—I don’t know—his secret lair and torture me? He said these words exactly ... ‘Remember before it’s too late.’”

Oh...

“You’re too quiet. What is it?” he asked.

Then she looked at Hawk. “Just hear me out.”

“I will as soon as you tell me.”

“Cole must be the one who sent the message. He needed me to remember, before it’s too late.”

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