Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents 7)

“No,” he gritted out from between clenched teeth.

“Then get in your car. Head to the National Harbor. I’ll call you again when you’re on the way.”

“What happens when I get to you?” But Dylan knew just what he planned to do. Jack, you’re a dead man.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Jack murmured. “One of us lives, and one of us dies.” A pause. “Now get in the damn car.”

The line went dead.

He stared into Noelle’s eyes. She knew what was happening. He brushed by her, but Noelle grabbed his arm. “Don’t! He’ll kill you long before you have any chance of getting to Rachel.”

Dylan pulled from her. “My job is to take down Jack. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.” And I’m getting Rachel back.

“He’s just going to kill you. You know that.” Her voice was low, pitched to only reach his ears. “You...you shouldn’t have said that you and Rachel were really involved. He was just calling to taunt you, but that changed things for him.”

“He’s hurting her.” No one hurt Rachel. No damn one.

“He’ll have a trap set for you. Please, Agent Foxx, think about this! He’s got this all planned. You know he isn’t an average killer.”

“That’s why the EOD is after him.” Because they knew just what sort of threat he posed.

“You need backup!”

“What I need...” He leaned in close because Thomas was coming toward them, and Dylan didn’t want the guy catching his next words. “I need her. Safe. Away from him. And I’ll do anything in order to get her back.”

Then he pulled from her. He stalked away from the alley that smelled of blood and death. He jumped in the SUV that he’d taken from headquarters earlier, and he spun out of the parking lot with a squeal of his tires.

* * *

RACHEL COULDN’T SPEAK because of the thick gag in her mouth. All she could do was listen to Jack as he taunted Dylan...and as the killer set the trap to lure him in.

When the call ended, Jack came back to her. She

didn’t see the knife in his hand. He’d used it on her moments before he’d called Dylan.

“The agent said you were lovers.”

Rachel didn’t move. He was just a shadow before her. A big, hulking—

A bright light flashed on, illuminating the area. They were in...an office. One that looked as if it was under construction. There were gleaming windows to the left and fresh Sheetrock to the right. Rachel inhaled and caught the scent of—

The river? A faint breeze blew through the window, bringing that scent to her. Jack had said that Dylan needed to drive toward the harbor, and now she realized just how close she was to the water.

She could even hear the lapping of the river outside that window.

“Was he lying? Tell me, Rachel, was Agent Foxx lying?”

She nodded and stared up at him. He still had on the ski mask. All she could see were his eyes. Eyes that were burned into her memory.

The knife came up and pressed against the side of her face. She tensed.

But he just cut away the gag. It fell from her mouth, and Rachel licked her parched lips.

“Tell me,” Jack demanded. “Say it.”

“H-he was lying...”

He stumbled back.