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Avery’s face was etched with concern. “There could be more in Paul’s apartment.”
“No doubt.”
Paul looked anxiously between them. “What do we do about them?”
“We leave them,” Mason and Avery said in unison.
He couldn’t help smiling at that. What was that quote Tai muttered all the time?
Great minds think alike. And fools rarely differ.
He hoped they tipped the scales at the front end of those wise words, but only time would tell.
Paul’s mouth dropped open. “Leave them? Are you serious?”
“If we take them, whoever’s tracking you will know,” Avery cautioned Paul. “Touch them and you might as well disappear now.”
Mason caught his brother’s eye. “She’s right. We need them to think you’re clueless.”
His choice of words drew a sour laugh from Paul. “Like that’ll be hard, right?”
Usually, his bro’s hangdog demeanor got under Mason’s skin, but this time, all he felt was compassion. Paul seemed lost and afraid.
Shouldering her purse, Avery pointed at the back of the restaurant. “I’m gonna head home. You,” she pointed at Paul, “get yourself to work on time tomorrow and do exactly what you normally do, okay?”
Paul hesitated before nodding.
Mason edged close enough to loom over her. “Where do you want to meet up tomorrow? We’ve got a lot of planning to do.”
She fished out her car keys. “Hattie’s Diner on East Ninth.”
“Good food?”
“Legendary.” She backed away. “Bring your wallet. You’re buying.”
Mason laughed as he watched her walk away.
He wanted to believe in her, and not entirely because she was smart and cute and brave. But he wasn’t about to trust her.
One thing he knew for certain—he’d be watching her every move until she proved herself. A fed could be a strong ally, but the stakes were too high to simply hope for the best.
For Paul’s sake, he had to be vigilant. No matter how intriguing his new “partner” might be.
10
The morning sunstreamed through the diner’s windows, warming the vinyl booths and coaxing curls of mist from the damp pavement outside.
Across the table, Mason polished off his plate of biscuits and gravy. He ate with military precision, focused and economical. Yet somehow, he still managed to look intimidating even while enjoying his food. Since sitting down twenty minutes ago, he’d charmed the waitress and cook alike.
To her, though, he gave nothing but cool politeness. Fine. She didn’t want a partner any more than he seemed to.
Pushing away her bagel, Avery met his gaze. “We need a strategy.”
Mason chased the last of the gravy around his plate with his last bite of biscuit. Once finished, he folded his hands on the table and looked at her directly. “Ten bucks says you already have a plan.”
She bristled, though she wasn’t sure why. Of course she was prepared. But his noticing grated on her for some reason.
“I did have a plan, before you barged in.”
