Page 60 of Off the Grid
“Don’t even start, Parker. It wasn’t by the book, but what other choice did I have?”
A defeated sigh came through the line. “Keep going.”
“I broke in sometime around dawn and got her out of there, but the guys who initially grabbed her pursued. The only way I could lose them was by taking the motorcycle into the woods. We got lost. A massive storm hit. We found shelter in a house. And just now, we crashed a wedding so I could borrow someone’s cell phone to call you.”
“Where’s the wedding?” Classic Nate—taking everything in unfazed and then straight back to business.
“I’m not sure… Hold on.”
Leo turned around, searching for John. Watching McKenzie leave with that guy must’ve really done a number on him if he’d forgotten to get an address.
“Hey, John!” he shouted. The man in question waved back to signal he’d heard. “Where are we right now? What’s this house called?”
“The Balsam Estate,” John called. “One Balsam Lake Drive.”
“Thanks!” Leo spun to face the water again, if only to keep his eyes from searching for McKenzie’s telltale form. “We’re at the Balsam Estate, One Balsam Lake Drive.”
“I’ll try to get a team there as fast as I can.”
“Take your time,” Leo interjected quickly, not sure why his gut reaction was to fight off the rescue. He shook his head. “The roads are shit, or so I’ve heard. Apparently, the storm brought down a bunch of trees. We’re secure here so if it takes a while, we can wait. I mean, don’t dawdle, but I just wanted to warn you about the conditions so no one is surprised.”
“Maybe the boss will splurge for a chopper.”
Leo snorted. “That’ll be the day.”
“He’s been really broken up about your disappearance,” Nate continued in a wry voice that made Leo immediately want to roll his eyes. A grin came to his lips instead. “He only called you areal fucking assholeabout ten times.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“The whole New York field office has been scrambling to find you,” Nate said, tone returning to its serious nature. His partner never joked for very long, but Leo didn’t mind. Sarcasm was his job. “They were nervous. We all were.”
That was about as sentimental as the two of them ever got, and Leo could easily read beneath his partner’s tone.I was scared out of my mind that you were dead, was what Nate was trying to say.
“Unfortunately, it’s going to take a lot more than a few mobsters for you to get rid of me, Parker.” Or, in agent speak,I was really fucking scared too.“Tell Jo that McKenzie is a little banged up and bruised, but she’s fine, and I’ll have her home soon.” Translation,We barely made it out alive, but we did. And we’re both okay.Leo cleared his throat. That was enough of that. “Any update on Ryder before I go? Or on the third friend, Addison?”
“Negative,” Nate growled. “They’re still on the loose.”
Leo read that snarl loud and clear. “What is it?”
“I’m in Arizona.”
“And that stick up your ass is starting to chafe in the dry desert air?” he teased, then something clicked. “Oh! Ryder’s mom lives there, right?”
“Right,” Nate said. Leo knew his jaw was clenched. He could perfectly envision his partner forcing the words through grinding teeth. “Jo said she had a hunch Ryder was headed here. She wanted to fly all the way across the country,just in case.”
“Let me guess,” Leo cut in, unable to keep the humor from his tone. “You think little Jo Parker might not be as reformed as she claims?”
“Something like that.”
Leo couldn’t help it as a laugh escaped up his throat. “You’re the one who wanted to date a criminal, Parker. I just came along for the ride.”
“She’s not— Well, she was— But she—” Nate cut off with a sigh. “Goodbye, Leo.”
He shook his head. Jo certainly kept things interesting, for everyone involved. “Call this number when you hear back from the team in New York.”
“Will do.”
They hung up. Leo dropped his arm and closed his eyes before taking a long, refreshing breath of that crisp forest air. Behind his closed eyelids, two very different scenes played, oscillating back and forth. One of McKenzie below him, ecstasy written across her face as her fingers dug into his shoulder blades. The other of her backside as she walked away.
