Page 53 of Her Noble Protector

Raiden kept his expression blank. “What else can you tell me?”

“She was in love with the leader. She would have done anything for him.”

“Is that the man that Lisa killed?”

Cami’s already-pale face went white. She nodded, then winced with pain. “Yes,” she gasped. “Maria saw Lisa shoot him. She got away. But Nic told me that everyone was killed. That meant Maria was killed, Raiden. Maria was killed.” The last three words were filled with desperation.

“Maybe she was, sweetie,” Raiden tried to console her.

Cami took a deep breath, then looked Raiden straight in the eye. “But you don’t think so, do you?”

Raiden shook his head.

“Maria wasn’t in the van,” Cami said slowly. “Do you think they’re taking Lisa to her?”

“I can’t be sure.”

“But that’s what you think, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve got to find her before they hand her over to Maria. Raiden, you have to. It will be bad. Really bad. You can’t let Maria get Lisa.”

Bile hit the back of Raiden’s throat. “I won’t,” he promised, praying he could keep that promise.

Chapter Fifteen

Raiden picked up the call from Clint as he was driving back from the hospital. A.J. was in the seat next to him.

“What do you have for me?” he asked.

“Lots of prints in the van. Two were in the system.”

“And?” Raiden asked.

“One’s in Phoenix. One’s here in Tempe. The cops are waiting on warrants.”

“Fuck that noise. I’m closer to Phoenix, text me the address. You take Tempe. Harry’s out, he can’t be down with this, Clint.”

“I’m leaving him here with Lydia. Even though he’s looking at me, he’s really on the patio listening to headphones.”

“Good.”

Raiden handed A.J. his phone. “Plug the address into the navigation system as soon as Clint texts it to me,” he requested.

She nodded.

“You’re going to Denny’s.”

She sighed. “I prefer I-HOP.”

“Let me put it this way; you’re going to whatever damn restaurant is open on the next exit,” he growled.

“You do know I can fire a gun, right?”

Raiden rolled his eyes as he put on his blinker.

“I never get to have any fun anymore,” she said.