I said, thinking I should feel heartbroken but giving into anger instead. It would be easier to keep going if I clung to that instead of pity. “I hate them, T.”
He pulled his feet in close to the curb and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Hate who?”
“The Alliance. They’ve stolen everything from me that they’re going to. From now on, they’re going to have to fight me for anything else they want to steal away.”
T cleared his throat, clasped and unclasped his hands. “That’s how your father felt … and you see where it got him.”
“I’d th ink less of him if he’d given in.”
T stood and pulled me to my feet beside him. “Then it’s time to fight, Brynn. Are you sure you’re ready?”
Chills struck and I shivered visibly. “Almost. First we have to find Cray.”
T grinned and the dimple in his right cheek made a rare appearance. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
I cocked my head and fell into step beside him. “Why does that grin look like trouble?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I lifted one eyebrow and cocked my head. He ignored the motion and said, “Someone broke into the Alliance offices today, broke the back door window out. There’s extra security at the doors but they didn’t notice the jimmied window in the back alley.”
I caught my lip between my teeth as the information processed. “ So we can get in?”
“We can get in.”
My heart tingled, and I gave a little squeal. “I honestly didn’t know if we’d make it this far. So, what happens once we’re in?”
“We find out where Cray lives.”
I shoved T playfully, my arms wobbly. “How do we find that out?”
“Person nel files.”
“ No details, huh? Just do it, and give me the good news afterward, will you?”
He took my hand, a crease of worry in his forehead before h e turned it to a smile and said, “That’s how I do my best work.”
CHAPTER 14
I stopped T before he climbed through the window. His golden hair reflected the one security light at the back end of the parking lot and his brown eyes were nearly lost in the night. “I don’t want to do this anymore,” I said.
He grabbed my shoulders and whispered fiercely, “What are you talking about?”
“Cray. We can’t involve him.”
T’s hands tightened on my shoulders. “Cray’s father is dead and Cray lied about his relationship with his father because he knew the Alliance was listening during the mourning. Don’t you think he has a right to be warned that they may be after him too?”
I didn’t want to live this way anymore, wondering who may be on a kill list and what my responsibility to them was —and what if he wasn’t in danger. Was it fair to disturb his life for a hunch? “Do you really think he’s in danger?”
T dropped his hands from my shoulders. “ Anyone associated with the men killed in this building is under suspicion. Don’t you think Cray talked to his father like you talked to yours?”
“I hope not, but we can’t know for sure.”
“Then I think there’s a pretty good reason to believe his life is in danger too.”
I let go of his shoulders and threw my hands in the air in surrender. “Then let’s go,” I said. “I don’t want the Alliance to get their hands on anyone else if I can help it.”
T placed his fingers under my chin and brushed the tip of his thumb over my bottom lip. His eyes softened, and his lips parted to speak. I waited but instead of speaking, he slipped his thumb away and turned toward the window. The building looked like concrete from where I stood, the window nearly chest high for me—not so much for T as he stood at least eight inches taller. His long sprinter’s legs made me feel a bit stubby as he opened the window and lifted himself on the sill. He worked his legs around, sliding feet first. As he disappeared inside, his feet made
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