Page 139 of The Vigilant

“You’re staying with him, aren’t you? The man outside who protected you.”

A lump formed in my throat, but I’d never lie to her. Not about this.

“Tynan,” I told her. “He is…was my dad’s best friend.” My tongue slid along my lips. “And I’m in love with him.”

She let out a cry, quickly clapping her hands over her mouth to try to stifle it before she wrapped me in another big hug.

“I’m so happy for you, Sutton. After everything…” She sighed. “And I think I’ll take you up on the bath.”

It took me a few minutes to get her settled in the bathroom with everything she’d need for a good, long soak in the tub, but as soon as I did, I fished out my cell phone and opened a message to Rob.

For some reason, I had this feeling that neither Tynan nor Dare had the opportunity to let her know what happened. Or that there was a wolf in the henhouse.

Mara is here.

What? I’m almost there.

Mara was brought to the garage ten minutes ago. She’s safe. No major physical injuries.

The mental and emotional ones had yet to be determined.

How? Was brought there? By whom?

Damon Remington.

Tynan

“Any chance you have a good single malt scotch?” the world’s most wanted criminal drawled casually from where he sat zip-tied to a chair, not unlike the Straw Sandal of the Wah Ching gang had been a few weeks ago. “I find whiskey makes these conversations go a little smoother.”

“There is no conversation, Mr. Remington. We don’t make deals with the devil.”

The way he laughed sent a chill down my spine. Not because it was dangerous or menacing, but because it sounded like he pitied me.Like he knew something we didn’t.

“Then what do you plan on doing with me, Mr. Bates?” He crossed his legs.

“Hold you until the FBI gets here,” I said, catching the slightest ripple of tension on his smile.

“If the FBI takes me, you’ll have no chance at taking down Belmont and Amir Shazad.”

I stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

“I told you, I’m here to help you.”

Dare shook his head. “You want to take them down, you help the FBI do it.”

“I’d rather not. I find I’m not very trusting in the bureau’s ability to discern criminals from conspiracy and even less so in their ability to hunt down the former.”

I folded my arms and moved closer, about to tell him too fucking bad, but Dare spoke first.

“Fine. Let’s say we play along and play nice. What could you possibly have on Belmont that would help us bring him down? And if you have it, why haven’t you used it?”

“The information I have is only pertinent now that the Shazads are stateside.”

“They are?” Dare rumbled.

“Then what is it?” I refocused the question.

Remington smiled. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

---