Equity (Balance Sheet #3) Read Online Free Page A

Bailey’s bonds. Turner sat next to her, caressing her face. His lips moved, but I heard nothing but the rush of adrenaline in my blood. She didn’t need me.
    Out into the night, a swell of emotions in my chest threatened to show. As soon as I took in a deep breath of the cool air, I was able to tamp them down. With nothing left to do, I headed back across the street towards the truck and my car. It was late enough that not many cars had passed by.
    Inside the truck, I let my remaining team give me a report. One of the key things I was told was that they’d checked to make sure there weren’t any nearby security cameras that would have caught our rescue mission.
    When Matt came into the truck nearly an hour later, I understood the importance of that statement.
    “This goes against everything I stand for,” Matt began. I didn’t like his tone and how he started this conversation. I wasn’t sure what he was going to say. “But if we call the cops and they investigate how we found Bailey, it could be used against us. All the evidence we’ve found could be dismissed. Those two could get off on a technicality.”
    “No…” I barked.
    Matt held up a hand. “I know. It’s bullshit. That’s why I’m going to stay out of this and let your team handle it.”
    “What is the plan?” Even though Matt wanted to keep his hands as clean as possible, I was sure they ran it by him before it was approved. They hadn’t called me about it. I’d talk to James once this was over.
    “They’ve tranquilized the two with whatever stuff they used on Bailey.” My fist balled. “From what Bailey said they let her up to use the restroom. Her story of events will change from there. She will claim there was a struggle where she and the camera guy went down. She landed on the camera, which happened to be perfectly positioned at his mouth.” He quirked a grin at me before his serious cop face came back. He continued to tell me what Bailey would tell the cops. The part I didn’t like was that we had to leave her there with those two and move away in order to make it look like she saved herself, tranquilizing her captors before contacting the police.
    “Is she okay with this? Is she okay?” I asked in a rush.
    Tongue in cheek, Matt shrugged. “As well as can be expected. She’s shaking, and Turner has kept her calm.”
    My fist ached and wanted to hit something. In order to hide the emotions that were on my face, I turned my attention to one of the monitors that showed real time what was happening inside. Comforting her should have been my job. I felt helpless hiding there in the truck. She didn’t need me , I told myself.
    Matt put a hand on my shoulder before patting me like a child. He walked away and I didn’t curse him for the gesture. He understood. And he didn’t gloat that I’d lost her to Turner like he had to me a couple of months back. That only made me like the guy more. Fuck, I’d hated him for kissing Bailey; now I respected him.
    The upside was morning would be here soon and it would be all over. I’d forgotten to ask Matt if they made the identity of the culprits. Before I could, the team and Turner came back. “It’s a go.”
    Not wanting Bailey to be alone with the pair any longer than necessary, I held off. We had to move the truck and my car before the cops showed up. Response time would be short and we didn’t want to pass them on their way in. So I shuffled out with Turner at my heels. I’d hoped the guy would remain in the truck. It was good I guess. I had questions for him.

Chapter Eight
     
    When the door opened, a big blur of a man connected with my captor. I sucked in a breath even though I wasn’t out of danger. Kitty, despite the mask that covered her face, looked murderous. She turned and began to move quickly from the bed with scissors upraised.
    They’d decided to gag me to stanch any further comment from me during their video. I tried to warn Kalen, but my words were gargled and muffled.