Laila started to reply, but her words turned into a strangled scream when muscled arms plucked her friend out of the air, a large hand covering Rosamie’s mouth.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mason reached out to grab Laila before she tumbled down the stairs in shock.
Guilt flared like fireworks in her caramel-colored eyes. Her head shot up to Ransom, who had snatched up Rosamie mid-step, wisely covering her mouth so she wouldn’t make a ruckus.
“I am going to spank you so hard,” Ransom growled in Rosamie’s ear.
“See, I told you,” Laila hiss-whispered before she caught his eye. Abashed, she looked down at her feet.
Jaw tight, Mason’s words came out in a growl. “Not here.”
Pointing down the stairs, he marched their motley crew down to the ground level. But instead of heading to the front doors, they moved down the hall to the emergency exit. With a sharp nod at Ransom, he signaled his wingman.
With a grunt that had nothing to do with how heavy she was, Ransom put Rosamie down, whipping out a small leather folio holding his specialized tools. In less than a minute, his partner had disabled the alarm on the door.
They were outside in the alley in the next minute, but he didn’t let Laila or Rosamie explain until they were blocks away in the parking lot where he’d parked his car.
“Now that we’re clear, would either of you like to explain what in the living hell you were doing in Joseph Dubey’s apartment?” He looked them up and down, noting the gloves and caps covering their long hair. “Dressed for a heist no less? You are aware that breaking and entering is against the law, right?”
His voice was a cold whip, a tone reserved for men in his unit who disobeyed orders.
Laila flinched, but he didn’t soften. He was too angry.
How could she have come here? They didn’t know if Dubey was involved in her friend’s death, but knowing she had willingly gone to his apartment had sent Mason over the edge.
What was worse—there had been no warning, no build-up. It was like getting hit by a truck and being sent over a cliff he hadn’t realized was there. Laila could wreck him without even trying.
For a man known for his control and calm under fire, it was an unsettling realization.
“It’s not breaking and entering if you still have a key,” Rosamie pointed out in a small voice when Laila continued to stare at the ground.
Mason ignored Rosamie. “Laila. What the hell were you trying to accomplish?”
She took a deep breath, lifting her chin to meet his glare. Her expression was steady. “Detective Silano called. The investigation is dead in the water because they can’t even question Joe. His family’s lawyers are stonewalling.”
Ransom grunted, pulling Rosamie’s back against his front. “I’m sorry, babe. I’m sorry for you both.”
Mason shot him a glare. “Somehow, I doubt Detective Silano encouraged them to investigate for her.”
His voice was still sharp enough to make Laila swallow nervously. “We have a very small window before Joseph either asks for his apartment key back or has the locks changed.”
“And just what did you think you were going to find? A signed confession?” The edge in Mason’s voice could have performed surgery. He didn’t like the way Laila cringed away from him, but his blood pumped hot. All he could picture was Joseph’s big hands wrapped around her slender neck.
“No… I was after this.” She flicked him a glance under her lashes before pulling out a sleek cell phone. It wasn’t hers.
He groaned aloud. “So, we can add theft to the list of charges?”
“I’m with Mason on this one,” Ransom said, making a sour face. “The fact that you two got in and out without being seen—”
“Which we don’t know for sure they did,” Mason interrupted, instinctively moving to block Laila from sight as a pedestrian passed them on the sidewalk.
Pausing, Ransom held up a finger. “Which we don’t know you did,” he acknowledged. “But getting the phone is pointless cause these things can’t be unlocked without a thumbprint or the PIN. Unless you also severed Dubey’s thumb in there as well, we’re SOL because those things aren’t as easy to hack as on TV.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Laila said, her shoulders straightening. “I know the passcode.”
Mason raised a brow, and she reddened. “I thought he might be cheating. I decided I couldn’t move out without proof, so I paid attention long enough to memorize it. But I never worked up the courage to actually look.”
Rosamie threw