by Nicole Vidal
“Here, please text Connor exactly these words. ‘Escape compromised. Need supplies and Tank at Point B.’” I hand her my phone.
After she finishes typing, she asks, “Are you going to explain what’s going on?”
“Yes, but we need to move first.”
Pulling onto the street toward the row of shops, we pass a restaurant that makes saltwater taffy in the window, a bunch of cute souvenir stores, and even an amusement park. I see why my clients choose to plant roots here. Norah gazes out the window, watching the scenery of her home pass by. Is she from here? I know nothing about her. I know what makes her back arch and what spots on her body elicit moans of pleasure and satiating orgasms. Anything deeper than that, I’m in the dark. My phone vibrates in her hand.
“Can you read that to me please?”
“Roger. Need bp?” Norah recites.
“Please reply ‘not yet.’”
Almost instantly, my phone vibrates with a reply.
“Connor replied, ‘Roger.’”
I nod and continue driving away from York Beach.
After ten minutes, I pull onto the interstate. Before speaking, I compose the thoughts in my head to share what Blaine told me. When I take her hand in mine, she turns to look at me. The fear of not knowing what I’ll say next is in her eyes.
“I will protect you, Norah.” I may not want to get married again, but I need to know she's alive and well, even if at the end of this there isn’t an occasional us anymore. She deserves the white picket fence. Does she even want that? Either way, I can’t give it to her.
“I know. It’s hard to grasp how I’m here right now. I don’t mean with you. I mean with professional you.”
I nod, hoping she’ll continue, but she clams up. “That was Blaine on the phone. The Morettis are actively looking for you. They’re looking for a ledger that has gone missing. They believe you have it. I had him pause all your credit cards and banking. I also had him deactivate your social media and remove your photo from the Quinn Sterling website.”
“I don’t have any ledgers.”
I nod.
“Escape is me?”
“Yes.”
“Why do I get the feeling there is so much more to that nickname than code speak?”
“There is. I don’t plan on sharing right now though.” It isn’t something I ever want to explain to Norah.
We get back on the road, and her gaze returns to the passing greenery, but she doesn’t pull her hand away. A few hours later, I pull into a small diner just off the highway. Once we sit, our server, Doris, approaches our table.
“What can I fetch for ya?” Doris is an older woman with short, gray hair and the standard waitress uniform. She’s exactly what I picture in my mind for a lifer at a greasy spoon diner. I wait for Norah to order first.
“I’ll have a cup of coffee, a water, a triple stack of pancakes, and crisp bacon,” she says, looking over the top of her menu.
“I’ll have a coffee, a water, and the western omelet.”
“What kind of toast?”
“Wheat, please.”
Doris walks away.
“Are you going to clue me into your plan?”
“I will, but not here,” I reply, gauging her reaction. I’ve never had a client as compliant and calm as Norah.
“Fair enough. Tell me more about you.”
It’s fair to say we know pretty much nothing about each other except for bedroom preferences and morning coffee. I also know how her body fills out a custom dress worn to a wedding. Flawless. With her luxury high heels on, we stand eye to eye. She has the perfect amount of curve to her hips and breasts just slightly larger than her frame should possess.
“Why?”
Doris delivers our drinks and saunters away.
“Honestly, I don’t really know anything about you other than things I shouldn’t mention here. Plus, what else are we going to talk about?”
“You.”
“Fine, a question for a question. You can only pass twice.”
“Fair enough. You go first,” I say, hoping to match the depth of her questions.
“Do you have any siblings?” she asks.
“Not exactly.”
“Care to expand on that?”
Doris returns to refill our coffee. As I prepare mine, I consider what harm there could be in sharing true details about myself with Norah.
“I answered your question. You don’t get two in a row.”
“I was looking for an actual answer, not some crafty way to dodge sharing anything real.”
“As far as I know, I don’t have any blood siblings. I was left at a fire station when I was a few days old.” Only a handful of people know that bit of information about me.
She covers my hand with hers. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. My parents and siblings are amazing. My father, Benjamin, is a former marine and a cop. Connie, my mom, taught math for thirty years. You will love them.” Where the hell did that come from? She isn’t going to meet my parents. “I have a younger brother, Cameron, who is a firefighter, and a younger sister, Jillian, who is a teacher. To answer the question in your head, I never sought out my biological parents. I never felt I needed to. My parents are amazing people.”
“Are Cameron and Jill adopted as well?”
“Yes. What about your siblings? Obviously, I know Kelly but I don’t know Joseph at all.”
“Why?”
“Other than the background check I completed when Blackthorne was hired to protect Kelly, we’ve never met.
“Makes sense. Joseph is my older brother. He works for the regional soccer team. He has a son named James. He’s married to his childhood sweetheart, Genevieve, and they have a son named Jackson. You may have seen them at Kelsey and William’s wedding but may not have put it together that he’s my brother. As you know, Kelly is my younger sister.”
“I was focused on you that night. You looked runway ready in that black, silk dress.” I was instantly attracted to Norah the moment I met her. That dress pulled the last thread of my resolve. We’d run into each other a few times before anything happened between us. That night I couldn’t help myself. I was clear about my intentions—just a purely physical relationship. No dates, no attachments.
“Thank you. You should have been focused on your job.”
Doris delivers our food.
“Your sister, brother-in-law, and Mabel were adequately protected.” I dig into my plate and shovel the food into my mouth.
“Breathe, Jacob. Your food isn’t going to run away.”
Smirking, I say, “It’s a habit.”
“From where?”
“When I enlisted, I learned to eat quickly because we needed to be finished before the person to our right. Unbelievably, I have slowed down a bit.”
While I wait for her to finish eating, I scan the room again and consider my next few questions. After paying our bill, I follow her into the ladies’ room, locking the door behind us.
Chapter 9
Norah
“I can handle this myself,” I say as he follows me inside the restroom.
“I know you can, but I still need to do my job.” I sigh and close the stall door.
As we leave the bathroom, two women wink at me. I wish. Frankly, I need and soon. I understand the distinction he drew last night, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want him filling me despite the reason we’re together right now. Jacob rounds the back of the car after closing my door. I wonder if he only does that for clients or for women he dates as well.
“What about your parents?” he asks, pulling back onto the interstate. Then he twines his fingers with mine. I’m continually reminding myself that he’s simply supporting me. His need to touch me doesn’t mean anything. Even so, it’s driving me crazy with want.
“My parents were high school sweethearts. They stayed together through college, even though it was long distance for them. Did you go to college or enlist right out of high sc
hool?”
“I went to the US Military Academy and got my degree in management with a minor in cyber security. What about you? Where did you get your accounting degree?”
“I went to Boston University for undergrad. I started working at Quinn Sterling as an intern my junior year. While I worked, I got my MBA from Harvard Business School.”
“That’s impressive.”
I smile. “How many tours did you do?” I wonder how deep I need to dig before he uses one of his passes.
“Three. What is your favorite color?” An easy one.
“Violet. You?”
“Green. No-go pizza topping?”
“Anchovies. You?”
“Pineapple. Why did you sigh when I moved your bag?”
“No man I’ve ever dated acts as gentlemanly as you.”
“Meaning?”
“You know I’m capable, but you still want to take care of it for me. You open doors for me, pull out my chair, and carry things. I’m sure it’s a testament to your parents.”
“Thank you. I’m aware of your capabilities, each one highly attractive, but you shouldn’t need to carry, move, or do anything that isn’t necessary. My mother would castrate me if I didn’t pull out your chair, open doors, and hold them for you. Why did you choose Quinn Sterling?”
I sigh.
“You don’t have to answer.”
“I know. The firm is one of the best in the northern hemisphere, if not the world. Plus, Stan was willing to take a chance on me.”
“You proved him right. Present circumstances notwithstanding, you did the right thing.”
“Maybe. No, I did the right thing. I just didn’t know it would put my life in danger.”
He squeezes my hand tighter.
“Where are we going?”
“Blackthorne has a bunch of safe houses, for lack of a better term, scattered on the eastern seaboard and a few on the west coast. Connor will meet us at Point B with supplies.”
“How long before I can let my family know what’s going on?”
“Once we meet with Connor and have the supplies, you can contact them. If I need to find another way, I will. It should be today though.”
I glance over at him as he drives. He looks relaxed, but he isn’t. I’ve seen him completely relaxed; that isn’t it.
“What does supplies include?”
“Basics: food, weapons, and cell phones. Why? Do you need something specific?”
“I may need a coat, depending on where we’re going, and some contact solution.”
“I gave Connor your sizes. He'll bring everything you need.”
“How did you explain that?”
“He knows about you.”
“How do you know Connor?”
“Connor and I have been best friends since birth, I guess. We were assigned to the same unit for the entire time we served. He was my first call when I decided to create Blackthorne.”
“Did he come up with the nickname?”
“Yes.”
“What does it mean?”
“Still not sharing details on that yet.”
The longer it takes him to explain, the more intrigued I get.
“What is your plan after that?” It’s an awful predicament for me to be stuck with Jacob for an indefinite amount of time, especially considering he keeps touching me like we’re a couple.
“It’s still a work in progress. Right now, I need to get you somewhere I can control and gather more information.”
“Thank you. I’m sure my questions are annoying. I feel out of control right now. I’m a planner. Order and predictability are necessary for me to function, especially in my work life. I don’t like when my plans go awry. This situation is completely out of my comfort zone.”
Lifting my hand to his lips, he kisses it before answering. “I know. This isn’t abnormal for me. Well, I haven’t taken a field assignment in a few years, but I can handle your situation.”
“It’s one of the reasons I called.”
“Why else?”
“I’ve watched you work. Hell, I was part of it when the package arrived at Kelly’s store. You’re thorough; plus Nicholas is hard to impress. If he lets you keep Kelly safe, I will be too.” Keeping him at arm’s length, considering my attraction to him, is going to be difficult. Our arrangement is perfectly fine. It was anyway. The more time I spend with him, the more time I want from him. Get a grip, Norah! He doesn’t want a relationship.
“You will. You are,” he replies with a quick glance in my direction.
I feel safe with him, although I don’t think voicing it is wise. Adding more pressure to this situation isn’t a spectacular idea.
“Where are you from?” I ask, changing the subject.
“I was born in upstate New York. I grew up in Pennsylvania. I live near the coast in Maryland. What about you?”
“I was born in Massachusetts, but we spent our summers in York Beach. When my mom fell ill, we moved into the beach house permanently. Joseph purchased it for James from our father soon after her death. Dad went back home.”
Jacob cups the side of my face with his right hand, dragging his thumb across my lips. I fail to stifle a deep sigh.
“After college, I had a townhouse in Beacon Hill. Then I started working from home most days, so I moved back to York Beach after finishing my MBA.” I caress the delicate necklace my mother gave me as I gaze out the window, watching the snow along the shoulder increase the further we drive. “Thank you for knowing this is important to me. I know I never told you.”
“You’re welcome.” We drive in silence for a while before his phone vibrates in my lap.
Chapter 10
Jacob
Baffled by her compliance and calm demeanor, I drive toward our first point. I knew she was smart, but I didn’t truly know how brilliant until today. Only in passing did I know about her mother from working with Kelly. Pocketing her necklace was an instinct. I’m glad I did.
“Can you read it to me?”
“It’s from Maia. ‘K wants to talk to client. I kept her away from the townhouse, but she knows something is up because N hasn’t responded.’”
“Please reply, ‘Stall as long as you can. I hope to contact K later today.’”
“Maia replied, ‘Will do.’” I turn left onto a dirt road near the lake, slowing to meet the speed limit. It’s eerily quiet. This area is bustling in the summer months. Fall, not so much.
“Could you text Connor ‘Site prepped’?” She sends the text, and as we round the lake, he responds.
“‘Yes. About to leave. Need me to stay?’”
Before I can have Norah respond, two black SUVs approach us from behind. My heart rate ticks up. I reach across the seat, pulling her down, pressing the top of her head against my thigh.
“Stay there!” I bellow. “Reply ‘Have company. North side of the lake. Need Tank at least.’” I punch the accelerator and move around the lake as quickly as possible. There’s a network of tertiary roads winding around to other secluded cabins should we need to move off the main road. How did they find us already? I took the longest route possible, and we switched vehicles. She doesn’t have a phone or laptop, nothing to track her with. Unless….
As I speed over the dirt road, both vehicles closely behind me, I glide my hand up from her hip, over the dip of her waist, around her taut abdomen.
“Seriously? That isn’t helping right now.”
I smile inwardly, glad I’m not alone in my sexual frustration. “I’m looking for a tracker. There’s no way they found us without one. Did you have any other cuts or spot that felt uncomfortable at the hospital?”
“My temple, the injection site, and the back of my neck.” Gripping her soft hair, I shove it to the side.
My phone vibrates again. “Vehicles sandwiched between us. I’ll cut them off one by one,” she reads aloud.
Pressing along the curve of her neck, across the top of her back, and upward into her hair line, she winces. At
the base of her hairline in a small hollow, I find where they inserted the tracker. I reach over to the glove box, pulling out the first aid kit. Without a word, she unzips it for me. Gathering supplies, I set them in the cupholder.
“I need you to climb up here and drive so I can dig the tracker out of the back of your neck.”
Moving quickly, Norah climbs into my lap and takes the wheel. Ignoring her against me and the tease of her scent—orchids and vanilla—I refocus on the task at hand. I have never been attracted to a client during an assignment. Now I’m rethinking sending Callen to protect Miss Goldberg.
“Just keep driving around the lake at a steady speed. Try not to slow down too much.”
“Okay.”
“Can you twist your hair up?” Wrapping my arms around her, I retake the wheel and attempt to focus on our current situation, not her perfect ass nestled against my shaft, which is hardening rapidly. If she notices, she doesn’t indicate as much. She takes the hair tie from her wrist and twists her hair into a topknot.
“I’m sorry, this is going to hurt.”
She nods curtly, focusing on the road ahead. After cleaning the area, I take the sterilized knife and make a small incision near the implant site. Her hands tighten on the wheel, but she doesn’t acknowledge the pain otherwise. Locating the tracker with my fingers, I hold it in place and extract it with a set of tweezers. I set the chip in the cupholder, clean the back of her neck, and add a small bandage. I’ll recheck later and determine if it needs a stitch or two.
Twisting to look behind us, I see Connor has successfully eliminated one of the vehicles. I text him before moving Norah back to the passenger seat.
Me: Found a tracker in her neck. Just removed it. Will need to plant it somewhere.
Connor: Roger. Let’s get you two out of here.