Page 86 of Storm Warning

“You don’t like my driving?”

“I’m not a fan, no.”

“You want me to lose them or not? Because this isn’t a protective detail, compliments of John.”

Remi said nothing, and Hawk focused on the road. The traffic behind him looked snarled and had come to a complete stop. Good. He accelerated and left the freeway, driving until he made it to Gordo’s warehouse, leaving the followers stuck in the gridlock. He steered toward the gate and then stopped. The gate was closed, so he got out to open it, but it was locked up tight. Hawk pursed his lips. What was going on? He got back into the vehicle and called Gordo but got no answer. Not good. Not good at all. Gordo practically lived here. Hawk had texted they were coming.

Even if he hadn’t, Gordo wouldn’t have locked the gates in the middle of the day.

“Why is the gate locked?” Remi asked.

“I’m not sure. Wait here.” He jumped out and then opened up the back and searched the small toolbox inside the storage compartment. He found heavy-duty pliers he could use for cutting the chains. Remi watched him from inside the cab of the truck.

Cole was supposedly in custody.

John had assured them the danger had passed.

But he was wrong. Dead wrong. And Hawk had a feeling things were about to get even more interesting. After cutting the chain loose and opening the gate, Hawk got back into the vehicle and steered them into the parking lot. He closed the gate again but didn’t lock it. Hawk figuredGordo had some security cameras and alarms, and maybe somewhere they were going off, but it was nothing Hawk could hear, and his unease inched up. Regardless, he needed his helicopter back.

“Just stay here, okay?” He parked and got out to look at the helicopter a few yards away. Had his bird been tampered with? Because right now, it kind of felt like someone didn’t want him flying out of here. His cell buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to read a text from Gordo.

Get out of there now! Come to the old Transnational building in the industrial section of Port of Seattle. I’ve got you a ride.

Hawk hurried back to the vehicle and got inside. He trusted Gordo and didn’t need to question him. But why hadn’t the guy texted sooner? Hawk backed up and steered toward the gate.

Two men rushed around the corner of the building and aimed their handguns at Hawk’s vehicle. He flew through the gate without stopping to open it again, knocking it from the hinges and scratching Gordo’s vehicle, but it couldn’t be helped. Bullets pinged off the back end.

Remi hunkered down in the seat. “Whatis happening?”

“It’s obvious they wanted us grounded.”

“Who arethey?” she asked.

“And that’s the kazillion-dollar question.” Hawk floored it, accelerating to get away from Gordo’s warehouse. He had no intention of getting back on the freeway where he’d left behind the black SUV in gridlocked traffic, and the guys from Gordo’s warehouse hadn’t pursued them that he could tell. He could easily make it to the port area via the backstreets.

“They? You mean Charles Whitman? Or your brother?”she asked. “There’s no way for us to know who else is involved.”

“The country of Zarovia, for all we know, or the terrorist group who wanted the Tempest from Whitman.” Hawk added to her list. Had she thought of that? Because if she hadn’t, she should.

“I feel so much better now—sarcasm intended,” she said.

“You wanted me to make you feel better?”

“I don’t know why I said that. So, what are we going to do now? We could justdriveto the lodge, which honestly is what I thought we were going to do.”

“We could. But Gordo told me to meet him. He said he had a ride for us.”

Hawk hated that they had to drive slow on the backstreets and stop for the red lights and stop signs. He was eager to meet Gordo and see the ride and get in the air and out of Seattle.

“You mentioned you’re hungry,” he said. “You want McDonald’s or Wendy’s?”

“I love McDonald’s fries.”

“McDonald’s it is.”

As they sat in the line at the drive-through, Hawk second-guessed his decision to stop. But they both needed sustenance to keep their energy up, and who knew where this day was heading.

“Thank you, Hawk.”

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