Page 80 of Striker
“We’ve got a team for those situations.”
“Really? Even here?” She couldn’t imagine a company taking care of murders. Wrapping them up as if nothing had happened.
“We’re equipped with the right people in every place we’re stationed. If you knew how big our operation was, even though it’s underground, you’d be surprised.”
He turned onto her road, and her building came into view. He steered into the driveway that led to the parking lot at the back. He pulled up next to her car. She reached for the door handle.
“You sure you’re gonna be okay?”
No. As a matter of fact, getting out of his SUV would be about as easy as jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. And there was nothing she could do about it now. “I’m fine.” She forced a smile.
He watched her intently. “Lemme see the phone Atlas gave you.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out the device.
“I know you’ve already got his number, but just in case”—he moved his fingers over the screen—“here’s mine.”
Gratitude welled in her chest. Too much. It was all too much. She’d never had so many people around her who truly cared. Who wanted to protect her. Alpha men who thrived on keeping people safe.
“Thank you.”
“I heard I’ve got ninety minutes to get there and back, so I’d better hurry.”
She chuckled and opened the door. “Be careful.”
“You too, doll.”
She shut the door and walked the short distance to her car. She took her keys from her pocket, hit a button on the fob, and opened her door. Dropping her purse in the seat next to her, she waved. Viper lifted his palm then rolled out of the parking lot.
She swallowed over the anxiety lining the back of her throat. Then she turned on the vehicle and glanced toward the building that had been her home for the last six months.
A place she couldn’t return to. At least not alone. The clock read 6:58 p.m. Shifting into drive, she steered out of the lot and onto the main road.
She had over an hour to kill.
Her stomach was too knotted to think about eating, but she needed to go sit somewhere— she’d go crazy just driving around. She really only knew a few areas. She hadn’t explored outside the downtown core.
She’d go to Gilligan’s Café. It was just a five-minute drive from her place and was usually packed, morning, noon, and night. She’d be lucky to find a table, but at least she’d feel safe. She turned onto the main street. Traffic was bustling.
Headlights, streetlights, and lit signs flashed past, overstimulating her tired eyes. Music hummed low through the speakers, and she turned up a familiar rock song. She wouldn’t think about Rex—as far as she was concerned, he was gone. No longer a threat.
Soon, Atlas would return. She didn’t expect to have an in-depth conversation about their future yet, but they’d at least spend some time together.
Her chest tightened. If he made it home safely.
She rolled to a stop at a red light. The café was down the street. Since the main road was busy, she’d hang a left and park on the side street.
The light turned green and she pulled into the intersection, swinging the car left. Headlights glared in her side-view mirror, making her squint. A spot opened up at the curb. She hit her blinker to?—
Bang!
A vehicle smashed into her from behind. She was thrown forward, and her chest hit the steering wheel. Her car fishtailed, bashing into another parked car. A low whistle screeched in her ears.
She grabbed her head. Pain beat across her temples and anxiety filled her chest. She needed to call for help. Had people been hurt?
She groaned and dug into her purse for the phone Atlas had given her. Outside, someone shouted. The concerned voice grew closer.
A young woman patted her window. “Ma’am! Are you all right?”
