“What does that mean?”
“Just like it sounds. We were supposed to go in all shock and awe, take some cash, and get out.”
“Did you really think it would be that easy?”
“Samer said it would be.” The kid shrugged as if that made it all okay. “He said our guns would keep anyone from fighting back.”
“Is that why you shot a round into the ceiling? To scare everyone into submission?”
Elias nodded again. “I didn’t think…” He swiped angrily at his tears. “I didn’t think that lady guard would come at me the way she did.”
From his place beside Raegan, Rocky huffed out a breath and shook his head. “Guess that was his first mistake, huh?” He flashed her a slightly crooked grin.
“Story of my life,” she muttered low. “Everyone always seems to underestimate me.”
“I sure as hell did.”
Their gazes locked, and for a moment, it was as if they were back in his kitchen, and she was lying naked with his hand between her thighs. The connection she felt with this man made no sense whatsoever, and yet…
I feel like I’ve known him forever.
“What were you practicing for, Elias?”
Agent Atwell’s next question tore Raegan from her scattered thoughts. Both she and Rocky turned their attention back to the happenings on the other side of the glass.
“What do you mean?”
“You said that hit was practice. I need you to tell me what you were practicing for.”
“Something big.”
Raegan’s spine stiffened as all of Rocky’s muscles locked down tight.
Here we go.
“So the bomb and the robberies are connected.”
Elias nodded. “We only did five at first, just as a trial run. Samer wanted…” His skinny throat worked with a hard swallow. “He wanted to test response times. See how fast the cops could get to the scenes, how many showed up, how long they stuck around after…”
“I don’t understand.” Atwell rested her elbows onto the table’s smooth surface. “Why would a guy like Samer care about any of that stuff?”
“Because the real plan…the one we’re supposed to pull off soon…it isn’t going to be just five US Bank branches.” The kid’sdark, defeated eyes lifted to meet Agent Atwell’s once more. “It’s going to be all twenty.”
The air left Raegan’s lungs in a rush. “All twenty?” Her eyes shot back up to Rocky’s. “And he’s speaking as if the plan is still in place.”
“Samer’s only down three guys.” Rocky nodded. “Guy like him isn’t going to let three tagged kids keep him from his end game.”
That was the problem. They still had no idea what the asshole’s end game was.
One thing she did feel positive on…
“It’s a distraction.” Agent Atwell seemed to read Raegan’s thoughts. “Twenty bank heists all at once…” A quick shake of her head. “That would take up most of the city’s emergency resources. We’re talking FBI, the CPD, CFD, ambulances…” The pretty brunette gave a confident nod. “That’s it, isn’t it? Samer is planning to have his men rob all twenty banks at once, so we’re spread too damn thin to stop the real threat.”
Raegan watched Elias’s reaction, the breath in her lungs frozen in place as she and Rocky waited for his response. Agent Atwell, however, had apparently run out of patience, because the next picture she placed on the table was one of the boy’s mom and little sister.
“Think about your family, Elias.”
He flinched, turning his gaze anywhere but that picture.