Page 14 of Nemesis

“Ah.” He tips his head, silently inviting us into his office.

Wolfe immediately drops into a chair and kicks his legs out, gazing around. The windows on the far wall let in a lot of light, and his large desk is relatively uncluttered. And there’s space, so it’s not a matter of that. But it still feels cramped.

That weird feeling comes back when Bradshaw extends a printed photo of Reese.

I stare hard at it. Antonio took a screengrab of the security feed when I was passed out in that gold dress. And, as suspected, Reese was the one to jump to my rescue, because he’s carrying me in the photo. My stomach knots, and I swallow hard. It’s like, seeing it now, I canfeelhis hands on me. One arm under my knees, his fingers pressing into the side of my thigh.

Bare skin, my mind whispers.

And the other supporting my back, his hand on my ribs.

“Antonio said he was dangerous. That we should arrest him on sight.” Bradshaw leans toward me. “And judging from your expression…”

Wolfe snatches the paper from him and slams it facedown.

I let out a slow breath.

“I don’t have an expression,” I finally say.Lie. “Because he’s not dangerous. I just felt sick, passed out, and that guest happened to be willing to help. Antonio assumed the worst.”

“Uh-huh.” Skeptical would be an understatement. The sheriff turns his attention to Wolfe. “What do you know?”

He shrugs. “Just that Tem wouldn’t lie to you. Antonio is protective of her, you know that.”

“I know jack shit,” Bradshaw replies.

I scowl. “You?—”

“Quiet,” he snaps. “You’re giving me a different story than Antonio, but neither of you have given me a name. Or a reason for these dramatics.” His gaze softens. “You passed out, Artemis?”

I push my shoulders back. “I’mfine. We came down here to stop whatever bullshit manhunt you’re dreaming up to hunt for this guy.”

Nathan Bradshaw holds both hands up, a mockery of a surrender. “Me? I’d do no such thing. Especially not when it’s Antonio asking a favor… for you.”

I wince.

“Artemis,” he repeats. “You don’t look okay.”

“Jesus.” I shake it off. “Everyone’s just wound up so tight.”

“A storm is brewing,” Wolfe murmurs.

My attention shoots to him. He’s still the picture of relaxed in the fucking chair, his ankles crossed. And he gives me a lazy smile.

“What makes you say that?” Bradshaw asks.

“It’s been too quiet, Brad. It means there are schemes being slotted into place under the radar, and those are the fucking worst.” He stands. “We’ve done our part squashing the power vacuum Kronos and Cerberus left behind. But a month ago, the squabbles went radio silent. No more issues. Our sources turned up empty.”

A chill sweeps down my spine.

“Something is coming,” he finishes.

He yanks open the office door, and I scramble to follow him. The last thing I want to be is trapped in a room alone with Nathan Bradshaw.

Wolfe and I walk side by side back to the parking lot, and I finally glance at him.

“You meant that,” I murmur.

His blue eyes fix on me. “Two of our informants are missing.”

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