Page 19 of Stolen

Well, they had plenty of time to find out.

She followed the trail of clothing back toward the front door until she found her purse, and her phone. She hesitated, glancing toward the bedroom, and then dialed a particular number. When a voice answered, she said, “Kane Colton, please. Identification three six five five break alpha.”

After a few moments came the crisp, no-nonsense voice of one of her father’s best friends, her honorary uncle. “Colton here.”

“Hey, Uncle Kane,” she said, ignoring the fact that he was the Lieutenant Commander of the National Shifter Enforcers, and she should be calling him ‘sir.’ The lifelong habit of annoying him was hard to break.

She said, “Mission accomplished. Have you talked to the crypto department? Did you get anything good off the memory stick?”

“We got more than we hoped,” he said. “Good work. Any problems?”

“None,” she said. “I gave the stick to Gunn, per the deal we made.”

Kane was silent for a moment. She knew he hadn’t been happy with that part of the deal. He said, “I assume there’s no point in ordering you to try to steal it back?”

There was a world of layers in that comment. She was pretty sure he knew she’d fallen for Gunn, and he knew that she wouldn’t double-cross him even if he asked her to.

“I trust him,” she said. Then she added, “This is also a courtesy call. To tell you this was my last job. I’m turning in my resignation.”

There was a short silence, and then Kane said, “I can’t say I’m surprised.” So he had picked up on the relationship between her and Gunn. After a moment he added, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me too,” she said.

Kane said, “Have you told your dad? Or are you expecting me to do that?”

“You,” she said immediately. “You’re used to his ranting, and also, you’re big enough to smack him down if he goes crazy.”

“Mmm,” was all Kane said. “Tell Gunnar Jorgenson that if he breaks your heart, your father and I will hunt him to the ends of the earth and kill him an inch at a time. As painfully as possible.”

Michelangela felt her heart go all squishy. “You’re the best, Uncle Kane. I love you too.”

“Until that resignation crosses my desk, that’s, ‘I love you, sir.’”

“Yes, sir. Goodnight.”

Chapter 10

Gunn and Mikey were having a late breakfast when the call from Switch came in.

“What have you got?” Gunn asked.

Switch said, “It seems your friend and his cartel squeeze were right. De León is on the move.”

Gunn suddenly lost his appetite. He got off the bed, and Mikey stopped eating.

“Where?” he demanded. “How long ago? Where are they headed?”

“Sheesh, one thing at a time. They flew into the US by private jet, two days ago. Two and a half, really, since they came sneaking in by night.”

Just about when Hawk and Ariana were having their ‘bad feelings’.

Switch went on, “Two planes—one with Ricardo and his lieutenants, and one troop transport full of soldiers. They landed at an off-the-grid airfield in New Mexico.”

“Shit,” Gunn muttered. “Any word on where they were heading?”

Switch said, “You hoping they were on their way to California for a Disney vacation? Sorry to burst your bubble. Last intel was that they were remaining there for a couple days, to arrange ground transport, and then they were going to fly on to meet said transport somewhere in the mid-Atlantic area.”

The mid-Atlantic states were less than a day’s drive from Outlaw Ridge. This was looking worse and worse.