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Fighting back the bile rising up the back of her throat, Inda stumbled around the corner and forced her stunned expression into a blank mask. Climbing into the SUV, she met Saint’s questioning gaze and shrugged.
“No one was in there except a mom and her little girl at the counter. Maybe Cipher knew River was onto him and tricked us.”
“You’re sure?” Saint frowned. “You swept the whole place?”
“Of course.” She hated lying to him, but she needed answers first. On her own terms. And she wasn’t going to get that if Saint blasted into the café and threatened Lucas with bodily harm. “This was a bust. Let’s go.”
“Well, damn, I was hoping River finally nailed him.”
“We’ll get him.” She clamped her jaw shut, struggling not to show the conflicting emotions brewing just beneath the surface. “I guess he’s more crafty than we realized.”
Understatement of the year,she thought, pulling out her phone and surreptitiously ordering an Uber. She was having a hard time trying to make sense of it. How in the hell could Lucas be Cipher? The revelation was such a blow because she’d been working with the man every day and never put two and two together. She felt like an idiot.
Then an even worse thought hit. Did he know whoshewas? Why she was working at C.C. Towers and how she was trying to dig up intel on Carlisle and The Agency? If the answer was yes, then he’d been playing her for a fool this whole time.
Spread your legs for me, Onça.
Jesus.Inda didn’t know if she was more pissed or hurt. All she knew was she needed answers fast.
It didn’t take them long to reach the warehouse and park. When Saint headed for the elevator, Inda hesitated. “You coming?” He punched the button and the door slid open.
“I’m going for a walk.”
He cocked his dark head. “You okay?”
“Just need some fresh air. I’ll be up in a bit.”
She felt his suspicious gaze on her as she turned away, but she didn’t care. At that moment, she needed answers desperately. Her team would have to wait a little longer.
Pushing through the side door, she hurried up the block and saw the waiting Uber driver already at the curb. After hopping inside, she ordered the driver to hurry.
It was a quick drive back to the Honeycomb Café and she jumped out, telling the driver to wait. She was still trying to wrap her head around how she planned to handle the situation. After a fast glance through the windows, she spotted Lucas at the counter. Deciding to wait outside for him, she ducked around the corner.
Lucas stepped out of the café a couple of minutes later carrying a to-go bag and a tray with two teas. He either really atetoo much from there or he was meeting someone. Inda assumed it was the latter and watched him cross the street and slip into his car.
Not wanting to lose him, she hurried up the sidewalk, doing her best to stay out of view, then dove back into the Uber. “Follow that car,” she said, leaning forward, hands braced on the seat backs. “We can’t lose him.”
The guy gave her a funny look then grinned. “Are you a P.I.? Or undercover cop?”
“Something like that,” she mumbled. “Just stay with him and you’ll get a nice, big tip.”
“No problem.” He slammed on the gas and her heart raced in her chest.
Twenty minutes later, Inda stayed out of sight in the back seat, watching as Lucas parked his car and walked through the front door of the St. Peregrine’s Hospice. After thanking the driver, she stepped out, quickly sent a hefty tip the kid’s way and followed Lucas.
???
When they first moved to San Francisco, Mary Sheridan loved the tea and scones from the Honeycomb Café. Even though she couldn’t enjoy them any longer, Lucas still brought them. He just gave them to the nurses instead.
Watching his mother die a little more each day was taking its toll. The only thing that had managed to distract him was hacking and the new job from Carlisle. Until Inda, anyway.That woman had the power to distract him in ways he’d never imagined.
Why the hell did she have to be one of the bad guys? The more he thought about it, the more it infuriated him. He’d finally met a woman who’d captured his attention in every way, and his job was to take her down.
The Universe was laughing at him.
After dropping the tray of goodies off at the nurse’s station and briefly chatting with them, he walked down to his mother’s room. St. Peregrine’s was a private palliative care facility that provided the highest quality of care and comfort money could buy. Emphasis on money because they only accepted cash. But, his mother deserved nothing less. Whatever he needed to do to make sure she was comfortable and received the highest personalized care, he would. Without question.
After the endless chemo and radiation stopped working, Lucas knew he had to come up with a realistic care plan. She started going downhill fast and too many trips to the ER and hospital began to take its toll on them both. After a lot of research, he chose St. Peregrine’s Hospice. The only problem was the cost, and it had snowballed fast. Luckily, Chadwick Carlisle had reached out at the right time and Lucas accepted his offer—gather as much intel on Ex Nihilo, a local terrorist organization, as possible. Now, Lucas could funnel payments from Carlisle straight over to St. Peregrine’s.
