Alex turned the corner behind the reception area and stepped around the crew of Spark agents and building techs clustered around the electrically sealed access to the upper levels. A heavy rock propped open the rear door, and a pair of agents stood to either side of it. The lock plate was blackened and melted, so they had managed to get some opened, even if by force. Was the Councilor stuck upstairs in his offices? The thought of the man having a panic attack over being confined to his office made Alex’s lips twist briefly into a smile. Then he sobered.
The Councilor was far more likely to be having an apoplectic fit of fury, which would not bode well for Lena. Especially with the speed at which they were getting everything open. The more agents flooding Azcon looking for her, the harder it would be for him to smuggle her to safety.
Alex didn’t pause when he hit the parking lot. Salas and the Security boys Merritt had insisted on including in the search trailed behind him. “Understand the assignment and the goal?” He tossed the words back over his shoulder.
At the affirmative sounds from behind him, he crossed to the little Volt. He tried to swing into it as he normally would. Agony hitched in his chest and caused him to stop. He pressed his curled arm tight against his ribs. Once he’d caught his breath, he eased his way into the car and gingerly swung his legs into the foot well.
He’d sent Salas to her mother’s house, and the Security team had instructions to go to Danny’s house. Alex had chosen to check on her sister. He hoped Lena had listened to him and gone straight to Ace, but if she hadn’t, he was betting she’d go to her sister. It made sense that she would go there to check on them after Lucas had pulled them in for questioning.
First, he’d stop at the Piece of Asp to be sure Ace wasn’t there waiting. It was almost three. The bar sat on West Alameda, which fed into the Northwest grid, where Lena’s sister lived. While he was on his way to her sister’s, he’d double check that Lena had gone straight to Ace. Assuming she’d followed Alex’s instructions, she would have made it to Ace’s before he’d left for his appointment with Alex.
He cursed at himself. He was making a whole lot of assumptions lately. Lena was screwing with his head and his standard procedures. He needed to get her to Fort Nevada and get himself back on track so he could repair the wide wake of damage she’d unwittingly done to all of his plans.
And to your focus, asshole. You’ve spent too much time distracted by big green eyes and freckles. What do they have to do with what she can do with the Dust? Get the girl safe. Dump her at the fort. Get your head back in your fucking sweet spot before you get yourself killed.
He forced himself to take deeper breaths as he shifted into drive and pulled out of the lot. He had to breathe, even if it hurt. He needed his mind clear. He worked on his focus as he drove to the bar. When he parked, his ribs still hurt like hell, but no more sudden moves, and he’d be fine.
He pushed into the bar. Light from the sunny day outside fell into the room, illuminating Ace. He sat at the bar, spinning a glass of water between his palms over and over. Alex stopped, and Ace raised his glass a couple of inches in greeting before gulping the water down.
“Hey,” Ace said to Alex as he crossed to him, “You ready?”
He shook his head, already furious. “Were you at home before you came here?”
Ace frowned. “Yeah. Why?”
“And Lena wasn’t there?”
“No, she left a note. Said she was going to talk to her family, and she’d be back. She’ll be back.”
He looked at the floor, cursing. When he looked back up at Ace, he didn’t bother to hide his anger. “Stupid girl. I don’t have time for this.”
Ace pulled his head back, brows furrowed.
“Go home and wait for her, Ace. I told her to go there. But she didn’t do as she was told.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She came in. Came to find me. But my partner got to her. I tried to buy some time, but then he brought her mother in.” Alex stopped. He shook his head. “They killed her mother. It was an accident. Sort of. And Lena—”
“Council agents killed her mother?” Disbelief warred with outrage on Ace’s face. “In front of Lena?”
He nodded.
“In front of her?”
“I said that, yes.”
Ace’s eyes narrowed. He leaned in toward Alex and whispered tightly, “Don’t you get short with me, Agent. You say you’ll protect her, then the next time I see you, you tell me Mercedes is dead? That they killed her in front of Lena? While you were buying time?” Ace leaned back. His face twisted, as if he had tasted something foul and was ready to spit it out.
“I got her out.” Alex said flatly. “I told her to come to you and wait, that I would get her out of the city. And I can. But she didn’t go to you, so now I have to find her. I’m running out of time.” He turned and reached for the door, bracing himself to pull it open.
Ace grabbed his shoulder and spun him back around. “Then you should have done a better job of getting her out. What the hell were you doing?”
Alex’s breath caught in his throat. The pressure built, waiting to be expelled, but the agony that had flared in his side would explode. He allowed the breath, and the pain with it, to hiss out between his lips. “I was busy trying to get the rubble of the side of the Council building off of me. It took a while.”