Alyssa fumbled with it, her hands shaking. The buckle’s click sounded too loud in the confined space. “I can’t believe…”
Her voice trailed off. She was right there—no buffer between them. Just her and him and their breakup.
“Rewind,” she said, facing him. That was Alyssa—always processing, always trying to understand before reacting. “Cartels at Rob’s party? Blake in that room where they were negotiating? You…” She gestured at him. “None of this makes sense.
Mack focused on the road. The long driveway was barely visible, the tire tracks already filling with fresh snow. “You walked into a meeting you shouldn’t have.”
“Those men?—”
“Are dangerous.” He turned onto the main road, or what he hoped was the main road. Visibility was dropping fast. “They’re drug traffickers.”
“I don’t believe it. Rob would never?—”
“Mr. Thorne most likely doesn’t know. Your brother does.”
“What? No.” She said it with a note of incredulousness. “You must be mistaken. Blake works for Rob.”
Because it was easier to believe Blake was the golden boy and could do no wrong.
“I know that. Mr. Thorne’s assistant contracted my employer to help with guest security.”
“And you knew those men were there?”
“Yes.”Always with the questions. “There was an undercover op going on that you nearly blew.”
The SUV’s radio crackled. “All units, I-90 eastbound closed at mile marker 96. Major multi-vehicle accident. Whiteout conditions. Estimated closure: four to six hours.”
Mack’s hands tightened on the wheel. The interstate was the direct route to the Shadow Point compound.
His phone buzzed. A weather alert popped up on the built-in dash screen. Blizzard warning extended through tomorrow morning.
The GPS chimed helpfully. “Rerouting... calculating alternative route...”
He could feel her gaze on the side of his face. “Where are you taking me?” she demanded.
“SPS compound. You’ll be safe there.”
“The what?”
“Shadow Point Security. It’s who I work for.”
“And you’re doing sting operations in wealthy families’ estates on drug traffickers? Oh, this is one for the books. Have you lost your mind?”
If he looked at her now, if he saw those green eyes he’d once known better than his own reflection, he might lose his cool.
But up ahead, he saw flashing lights. “Shit,” he said under his breath.
She sat forward. “Looks like a pile up. The police are diverting traffic.”
“If the interstate is closed, the compound’s unreachable.” He slowed, followed the snake of cars and trucks onto a state road.
“I can’t believe this,” Alyssa said, shaking her head. She pulled out her phone. “I’m calling Blake and getting an explanation.”
He shot out a hand, stopping her before she could dial. “He won’t answer, trust me. Not until the negotiations are over, and then, he’s going to be walking a fine line between turning you over to the cartel and figuring out how to keep you safe.”
“You’re talking about my brother!”
He slammed a hand on the steering wheel, wishing he could pass all the slow vehicles. “Yes, that’s the one. Your brother, who’s apparently working for cartels these days.”