Page 29 of Hawkeye

“Okay.”

When I turned back toward the shadow box, I realized what had caught his attention. A man was in the reflection, hands in his pockets but looking at me.

Calder stepped away from the table, but the man was already moving. By the time Calder reached the public doors, he was gone.

Wraith met Calder on the sidewalk and showed him something on his phone. Then they came in.

“Got a picture of him.” Wraith turned his screen toward me. “Does he seem familiar?”

I studied the photo. “I know him. Not his name, though. I think he’s been here when Tippon’s company dropped off a large consignment. Maybe a few times.”

“Let me see.” Mr. Smythe shook his head after looking. “I don’t know his name either. He always stayed by the van.”

“Then it’s a good thing two of our guys are tailing his vehicle,” Wraith murmured.

A muscle jumped in Calder’s jaw. “They better not lose him.”

Mr. Smythe smoothed his tie down. “That was unexpected.”

“Sorry, but I’m gonna get Josie out of here.” Calder gripped my elbow. “The guy came for her.”

Mr. Smythe nodded. “I understand.”

We were almost to the staff door when his phone buzzed. He answered on the first vibration, listened, and the hand at my back went still.

“Do not touch him yet. We’re already headed to you.” He ended the call and looked at me. “They followed him to the street behind your mother’s shop. He’s parked where he can see the rear stairs. Taking pictures of both exits. Watching the roofs and the alley.”

My stomach twisted. “Mom’s there.”

“Smoke’s there with her,” he reminded me.

Luckily, the drive was short. Two brothers met us at the front of the boutique. Mom hurried over to give me a hug.

“Upstairs. Both of you.” Calder sent the two guys with us before I could say anything.

I stood at the kitchen window that looked over the alley. There was a dark sedan, and the man from the gallery had a phone up, angled at our door.

A Black Castle SUV turned onto the far end of the block. Another rolled into the alley from the opposite side. The man saw the first vehicle and did not wait for the second. He threw the sedan into reverse, clipped a trash can, and shot through the gap that was still open.

I pressed my palm against the glass, frustrated that he’d come so close to my mom but had gotten away.

Calder came up the stairs with his phone already on speaker mode. Cipher’s voice carried to me as he explained, “The exterior cameras captured the guy’s face, plate, and estate-company decal.”

“Good,” Calder bit out. “He got too damn close. There are fresh tool marks around the rear lock. Someone tested it while that asshole took pictures of both doors.”

My mom gasped, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, feeling awful that she was in this mess because of me.

Calder ended the call and announced, “You’re both staying in a Black Castle apartment tonight.”

I arched a brow. “That sounded like an order.”

“It was. Somebody tested your lock while another man watched both exits. You can be irritated after I get you behind a door he can’t reach.”

Mom looked him over with considerable approval. “I like him.”

“Of course you do,” I sighed.

His mouth curved the slightest bit at the corners. “Pack what you need for a few days, baby doll. My guys will handle the shop.”