Page 71 of Castling the Rook (Checkmate 3)

“Seems we need a come to Jesus talk. All of us.”

“It’s not wh–”

Jules nods toward the camera I watch them through. She stares directly into my eyes and lifts a brow. “Not only did we hear every shouted word, but we have it on camera.”

“Jules, no–”

“Boardroom, now!”

* * *

Jessand her sister walk the hall like it’s their green mile. Heads down, shoulders drooped, Alex and Oz push them forward like they’re regular perps and not their sisters.

Jules follows with a fiery rage made worse by complete control and silence. They move past me without meeting my eyes once. I’m still the puppy no one suspects, so as soon as the group step into the boardroom and close the door, I take the final chance I have and bound away from my desk. With the keys still in my hands, I sprint toward Alex’s desk and snag the evidence bag that contains guns, knives, Kane’s wallet and cell, and whatever other shit he had.

I don’t remove the weapons. I can’t do it. I can’t hand them back, but I take Kane’s cell, the images, and his wallet, and push them into my pockets. Sparing one last glance toward the boardroom blocked out by dirty blinds that are supposed to be white, I hit therecordbutton on X’s computer and turn the surveillance cameras off the way we have to do once a week when we reset the system. No longer being watched, no longer being recorded, I race down the hall and skid along the smooth concrete.

Kane’s enraged eyes meet mine. “About fucking time! Where have you been?”

“Shut up. Donotgo after her, Bishop. She’s with X. She’s in trouble, but she’s safe. Go straight through the kitchen and out the back. You’ll only get ten minutes before they figure it out, so run fast and do whatever you’ve gotta do.”

He accepts his things and stops with a glare. “Where’s my gun?”

“I can’t give you a gun, man. I can’t let you outandgive you a gun. Run now.” I push his shoulder and move him through the hall. “Go and find Eric. Get more from him.”

He stops us in the middle of the office space. If the guys simply opened the blinds, they’d see him. He stares at the glass like he just can’t bring himself to step away, his nostrils flare, his chest fills. “Take care of her, Cruz.” His eyes finally meet mine. “I’m begging you to take care of her. Get her to her friend’s place, behind the gate. She’ll be safest there..”

“I got it, I promise.”

He nods. Then he watches his shoes. Then he shakes his head. “Fuck.” Turning with agony plastered over his face, he races through the kitchen and out of sight. He’s gone, but my heart continues to race a million miles a second. I slip back behind Alex’s desk and reactivate the security feed, drop the keys back where they belong, then move toward reception like talking to Tiffany is the most important thing I have to do today.

Andi’s tinkling laugh reverberates through my chest and makes my heart give a one-two-knock. I miss her like I’d miss my head. I want to talk to her. I want tonight to be fucking over, because this espionage bullshit is just that…bullshit.

I just want a regular job, where I can help people and work my way up the ranks. I want to do something important, and not feel like shit because I helped a friend when he needed it. I wish I could go back to the barbeque at Oz’s place forever ago, storm across the yard and introduce myself to the beautiful and exotic Andi, then ignore the call that would forever change my life.

All I had to do was say yes to her, and no to Grady and Bishop.

All I had to do was not hang up on Dee tonight.

“Hey, Cruz.” Turning at her desk, Tiffany smiles and looks me up and down the way she has a few times over the last few months. Her eyes linger on the holster on my thigh, then her lashes flutter and make me sick to my stomach.

I want to talk to Dee.

I want to lay my head on her chest while she plays with my hair.

But that’s not how my life is supposed to go.

Three hours after letting Kane out, and two-hours and fifty minutes after X discovered him gone andstilldidn’t suspect me as their inside guy, I find myself standing in front of a set of twins who refuse to leave.

“You need to go home! Go to the estate. Let them cover you until Bishop’s done.”

Defiantly, Jess shakes her head and pulls her sister closer against her side. The sister cries like I’m the enemy. She shakes, scared of me, like I’m the bad guy who’s out to hurt them.

“Not going anywhere,” Jess snaps. “I’m staying until they bring Bishop back.”

“And if they don’t bring him back today?” I drop my hands to my hips. “You gonna risk a dead ass for however long it takes?”

“I’m not leaving. He needs representation when they bring him back. I’m just saving myself the trouble of driving across town.”

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