Page 13 of The Hitman's Omega Priest
Kensley might never see those belongings again, but he couldn’t grieve the loss right now. His brain was too full of his intense attraction to Bishop and the immense danger they were in right now. He had to live in the moment and do what Bishop told him to.
“We’re about five minutes from my place.” Bishop’s voice startled Kensley after such a long silence. “It’s got underground parking, but you can’t walk upstairs in that robe. It’s too recognizable, and there are security cameras in the elevators.”
“Don’t you think me walking to your apartment in my underwear will be a little suspicious?”
Bishop chuckled, a deep, rumbly sound Kensley had dearly missed. “Little bit. Listen, it’s going to be safer for you to stay in the car when we get there. The back windows are tinted, and it’s a secure building. No one is likely to peek into the backseat.”
Kensley disliked the idea of waiting in the car, but this was Bishop’s line of work and far beyond Kensley’s comfort zone. “For how long? You’re coming back, right?”
The car slowed, and Kensley heard the click of the turn signal. “Yes, I shouldn’t be gone longer than ten minutes. I need to call King, and I’ve got a bug-out bag ready to go in the closet. I just need to grab some sweats for you.”
“Sweats?”
“No offense, Elder Thorne, but you aren’t going to fit into my jeans without an extra-small belt to cinch around your skinny waist.”
Kensley laughed, and the sound felt inappropriate given their dire situation. “No doubt. So, we aren’t staying here?”
“No. My face might not be the same as it was when people called me Bishop, but folks at the church know Drew Burton’s face. As soon as the authorities get involved, they’ll come looking for me. You aren’t the only person who disappeared from the fundraiser tonight.”
“Good point. Okay, I’ll stay put and out of sight, I promise.”
“Thank you. Are you hungry? I didn’t see you eat anything tonight.”
His stomach answered that question by releasing an audible growl. “I didn’t eat, no.”
“All right, I’ll grab some protein bars and whatever else I’ve got in the cupboards. We can’t risk swinging by a drive-thru.”
“I understand. Anything you have is fine.” He nearly asked what was in a bug-out bag, but it seemed self-explanatory, and Kensley didn’t want to come across as sheltered as they both knew he was.
As if the sheltering is my own fault.
The car slowed more, dipped, and it got even darker. The cement passing overhead, instead of the night sky, told him they were in the parking garage. He didn’t know how many levels down Bishop drove before pulling into a space and turning off the car. He could see the back of Bishop’s head, which disappeared and then came up with a ball cap on it.
“Sit tight, Kens, I’ll be back as fast as I can, I promise,” Bishop said.
“Okay. Um, be careful.”
“I will.”
Bishop climbed out. The door shut and locked, plunging Kensley into eerie silence that was almost too loud. He adjusted his position slightly, because his left foot was starting to fall asleep, but he didn’t want to rock the car. That was a dead giveaway he was inside, if anyone happened to pass by. He didn’t know how large the apartment complex was, but he imaginedfairly huge if it had its own parking garage. And it was Saturday night, so residents were probably coming and going all evening.
With nothing but his racing thoughts for company, Kensley settled in to wait.
Bishop had spent the last thirty minutes anticipating an ambush at any moment, and he was impressed they made it from that exterior vent all the way to his building with no interference. Using his injuries from the explosion to their advantage and obtaining plastic surgery during his recovery had given Bishop a new face, as well as the ability to move around in the world anonymously. It had allowed him to watch Kensley, to establish a rapport with him, and to be in the perfect position to save his life tonight.
Now he had to take the next steps to ensure they both stayed alive.
A baseball cap and fake eyeglasses weren’t the most original disguise, but he needed to protect his identity until they got out of town. He avoided the elevators and was breathing hard by the time he made it up six flights of stairs to his floor. He’d chosen an apartment close to the stairwell for exactly this reason. He managed to get inside without running into any of his neighbors.
After taking a moment to catch his breath and double-check no one was hiding anywhere in the apartment—he’d taken all the doors off their hinges and the tub had a clear plastic curtain, leaving almost no blind spots—he called King.
“Are you safe?” King asked.
“You’ve heard?”
“It just hit the police scanners. Armed robbery at the cathedral, five suspects, one priest and one guest unaccounted for.” King released a harsh breath. “You got him out?”
“I did. I’m getting a few things, and then we need to leave town. As soon as your enemies figure out Drew Burton disappeared with their target, my identity won’t be safe.”
