Page 69 of Durango

Axel grins. “Good to know. Are you trying to work?” He glances at my laptop.

“I thought I’d try to get some work done while I can.”

“Well, I won’t keep you.” He heads back into the kitchen.

I check emails, and that’s when I notice Durango’s keys on the coffee table. He might need those. I grab my phone and decide to FaceTime him.

I smile. Yes, I want to see his face again already.

“Hey, something wrong?” he answers. His brow is furrowed.

“I’m fine, but you forgot your keys.” I hold it up so he can see it.

He stops walking. “Oh, crap. How did I do that?”

“You left in a rush.”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah, but I never forget anything. I’m coming back to grab them.” As he’s talking to me,he turns around and begins to walk back. “How are things with Axel there? All right?”

A man is walking behind him, and I can’t tell if it’s the phone camera or not, but he seems to be too close.

“Why is that man so close behind you?” I ask.

There is a click sound, and I think Durango took a photo. Based on the motion of the camera, it appears he’s jogging.

“Is everything all right? I can get Axel,” I say as I stand and walk to the kitchen.

Axel must have heard me say his name because he’s beside me in an instant. “What’s going on?” he asks.

“I think someone is following me. He was on camera when I was talking to Willow. I snapped a photo. But he appears to be gone. I’m going to pop into a restaurant, and I’ll send you the photo.”

The ding of a bell above a door comes through, and we can see tables and chairs through his phone camera.

“What’s your location?” Axel asks.

“No, you stay there. I can handle this.”

A notification comes through on my phone. I pull up the photo.

“Recognize him?” he asks us.

“No,” we both say.

“Okay, I’m going to call Harding and see if there are any loose ends with our last assignment.”

He ends the call. “Wait! Where are you?” I yell, but it’s too late. “We have to go find him.”

Axel shakes his head. “No, he knows how to deal with this sort of thing. And it could be a ruse to get me to leave you alone. I’ll call the office and see if one of the guys can walk this way to look for him.”

Axel steps away to make his call. I sink into the couch, feeling helpless. But Axel is right; if Tyler figured out where I was, hewould try to get me alone. But for Tyler to have figured out following Durango would lead to Axel’s leaving here is a stretch.

As soon as Axel ends the call, he turns to me. “Thunder is going to walk his route and check for him. He’s calling him, too. Hopefully, Durango stays in that restaurant.”

But what if he doesn’t? These men all seem to think they’re immortal. I don’t even know why someone would be after him. He’s been on several assignments since I’ve been in New York, and he doesn’t talk about any of them. I never ask questions because most of it is confidential.

But not knowing could put his life in danger.

Axel’s phone rings, and he answers. “Okay, thanks.” He ends the call. “Thunder found him, and they are heading to RHS together.”

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