Page 137 of The Vigilant

“Step back from the girl, Mr. Remington.”

On the screen, we watched the suited man take a sizable step backward and then lift his hands like he was the most harmless of characters.

“I come in peace, Mr. Keyes.” He glanced at Mara. “And with an olive branch.”

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered and hauled open the door.

My gaze and my gun didn’t leave the center of Remington’s chest. His hands were already up, but when he saw me, all he did was smile as though I’d done exactly what he expected.

In the corner of my eye, I caught Mara looking at him almost like she was waiting for his okay, but then Sutton pushed past Dare.

“Mara!”

The instant Mara saw her, she bolted for my woman, the two of them hugging and crying like there wasn’t a fucking fugitive standing a few feet away.

“Sutton, take Mara to the guest house.”

I waited, unmoving until they were far enough away to be safe before I spoke again.

“What do you want, Mr. Remington?”

His mouth curved up on one side. “I’m here to make a deal.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sutton

“I’m sorry.”

“Please, don’t,” I begged, hating that my oldest friend had done nothing but repeat the apology for almost the entire walk to the guest cabin.

As soon as we were in the living room, I positioned her in front of me and scanned over her.

Old bruises tinted her face and neck. Her arms under her sleeves were the same.

“I wanted to tell you,” she said softly, and I looked at her with tears in my eyes. “But all these women were going missing, and I could help. I didn’t want to risk?—”

“I know.” I took her hands in mind, my voice trembling as I turned over her right hand and revealed her matching wasp tattoo. “I know.”

“They said you carved ‘PIG’into Jack’s chest.”

I don’t know why, but it made me laugh. “I did,” I admitted. “I wanted everyone to know I was coming for you.”

“Oh, they knew.” She chuckled.

I winced. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” She squeezed my hands. “Thankfully, they were all too afraid of…him…to touch me.”

“Shazad…”

She nodded silently.

“Were you at that warehouse the whole time?”

“In that cage,” she confirmed and let out a shaky breath. “After I heard them talking about the attack on Jack and what happened to him, I knew it was you. That’s why I sent that message to Rob to protect you.”

“But then you sent that other address…”

---