Chapter 194
Chapter 194:
Dallas was already awake. He stood at the window, peering through a gap in the cheap blinds, a cup of terrible vending machine coffee in hand.
“Someone is coming,” he said quietly. He turned and touched Eliza’s shoulder. She was asleep on the queen bed, still in yesterday’s clothes, looking small and exhausted.
Eliza surfaced slowly, her neck stiff. “Is it Buck p>
“Yes. Just like you planned,” Dallas said, his voice tight. “He took the bait p>
Eliza sat up and pushed her hair back. “I had to call him. It was the only way to get close to Dante without alerting his security team. Buck thinks I’m surrendering p>
𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗗𝗙𝘀 𝗼𝗻
“I hate this plan,” Dallas growled, moving toward the center of the room. “I should be the one facing them p>
“You’re the ace in the hole,” Eliza said. “If they see you, they run. If they see me, they get careless.” She met his eyes. “Hide p>
“Where?” Eliza asked, panic surfacing.
“I’m a ghost,” Dallas said, giving her a gentle but firm push toward the bathroom. “Go p>
Eliza slipped into the bathroom and pulled the door almost shut, leaving a sliver of space to see through.
Dallas didn’t vault out a window. He crossed to the armchair in the darkest corner of the room and sat, his black gear making him all but invisible in the shadows.
The key card slot on the door beeped. Buck entered, his voice rough and hungover.
“Rise and shine, sleeping beauty,” he called out.
He surveyed the empty room. Saw the rumpled bed. His lip curled. “Playing hard to get? Anson called last night. Said you were ungrateful. Said he’s washed his hands of you p>
Eliza stepped out of the bathroom. Her heart was hammering. “He’s right,” she said flatly.
“Good. That means Dante is your only option.” Buck set a plastic tray on the dusty table — a stale bagel and a bottle of water. “Eat. The car leaves at seven. Don’t try anything. The windows here don’t open p>
He turned and walked out. The door locked automatically behind him.
Eliza exhaled, her knees unsteady. “Dallas p>
He emerged from the shadows, his expression cold with fury.
“You need to go,” Eliza said quickly. “If Buck sees you here, he’ll know I have leverage. He’ll use you against me p>
“This is insane.” Dallas paced the small room like a caged animal. “Let me just have Zane p>
“No. Please.” Eliza stepped into his path. “Go back to the city. Get ready to receive the recording. I need you on the outside, ready to ride in when it counts. Not locked in here with me as a hostage p>
Dallas looked at her. He hated being on the outside. He wanted to be the wall, the shield, the weapon deployed at close range. But the resolve in her eyes was absolute.
“I’ll be at the club. Incognito,” he said, conceding ground he clearly didn’t want to give. “Zane is already airborne. He’ll run point from the city p>
He pulled her close. “One kiss. For luck p>