by Sheila Kell
He turned and walked out of the bathroom, smiling. That little spitfire heated his blood. It would be hard to keep his hands off of her while they are locked up together. If they became involved, she’d expect something he couldn’t give. He wouldn’t let things get that far.
While she dressed, he pulled out his secure cell phone and dialed. “Change of plan. I’ve added baggage, female baggage.”
* * * * *
Megan reappeared in lose fitting jeans, an oversized Baltimore Ravens sweatshirt and brown boots.
She rushed downstairs to Trent and knelt beside him. “Oh my God! Trent, are you okay?” Her fingers tenderly brush hair from his face. “Of course you’re not, you’ve been shot. Should I call an ambulance? What can I do?”
AJ shifted against the wall.
“Doll, listen to me, there isn’t much time. Go with, AJ. No matter who he is now, he’ll keep you safe. I trust that.”
“What about you? I can’t leave you for them to return and murder you.”
Trent placed a slightly bloodied hand on her cheek, boiling AJ’s blood. What intimacies had they shared? Had they been to bed together already? There had been the light scent of her lip stuff he’d smelled on Trent when he’d leaned over the injured man. Fuck!
“Come on, Megan. Let’s go,” AJ ordered.
“Go. I’ve already called someone. I’ll be fine.” Trent rubbed a clean thumb over her lips. “I’ll miss you, doll. Listen to him. I’ll talk with you soon.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly over hers.
AJ saw red. What the fuck? He’d had enough. “Let’s go.” He didn’t care how dangerous his voice sounded.
“Let me grab my bags and Bob.”
He snapped his eyes to Trent for help.
“She had bags packed for protective custody.” He turned to her. “I’ll take care of Bob. Grab only your hotel bag and go.”
She bit her bottom lip. Her luscious lip. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Now go, Megan,” he demanded.
“Where’s the bag?” They had to leave. AJ’s patience had stretched to its limit. He couldn’t watch her and Trent any longer, and he sure as hell didn’t plan to wait for the cavalry.
She turned to him, sadness in her eyes. Son of a bitch! She’d already fallen for Trent. He shouldn’t care. Shouldn’t.
“I’ll get it.”
“Hurry.”
She raced from the room.
“Did you call my brother?”
Trent tightened his lips. “Yes.”
AJ nodded. “Good call.”
“Keep her safe, AJ, or I’ll hunt you down.”
Megan returned with a small, wheeled suitcase, a laptop bag and a purse. He snatched the overnight bag from her, grabbed her arm and ushered her, none too gently, toward the door. “Let’s go.”
She looked back at Trent, worry written on her face.
“Loverboy will be fine.” AJ gritted his teeth.
He opened the car door for her and then put her bag in the back seat of the baby blue Honda Civic.
Damn Trent. Jesse had been right to call him, “God’s gift to women.” He’d only been around her a short time, and he’d already snatched her heart. He’d break it like all of the other women he’d dated.
AJ almost laughed out loud. Who was he to talk? That used to be his life also.
“Where’d you get this car? Please don’t tell me you stole it.” She licked her lower lip.
His hand itched to touch it with his thumb like Trent had. AJ didn’t have the right. She’d probably slap him, and he didn’t need her anger at the moment.
“The less you know the better.”
He had to put as much distance as possible between her house and Magic Shop turf before they found out she’d survived. They had an advantage. Her pursuers wouldn’t be looking for a couple.
She turned to him. “Where are we going?”
Her vulnerable gaze shattered his determination to remain cold and distant into a million pieces. “You’ll see when we get there.”
“I’ve heard that before,” she mumbled.
He laughed. Damn it. That fucking hurts. He’d been oblivious to the pain when he’d been rescuing her as adrenaline had pumped through his body at record speed. Now that he’d found her alive, the pain hit his body with a vengeance.
“Get used to it with me, my little dove. I’m glad this time you’re with me on your own. I didn’t want to hold a weapon on you again or throw you over my shoulder.”
“Yeah, why did you hold me hostage? You didn’t need me.” Her hands fidgeted in her lap.
“I needed a way out of there, and I needed to get you to leave before anyone showed up, or you talked to the police. I didn’t expect you to take me where I needed to go so I took the situation in hand.” When would she understand that even though he was an asshole, everything he’d done had been to protect her? No way would he have left her at the scene knowing what would happen to her. “If you’d have asked I might have taken you.”
He glanced at her. “I notice that ‘you might have,’ not would have.”
“Well, I’m thinking about whether I would’ve or not.” She kneaded her hands, her gaze forward.
He merged onto the interstate. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”
“What’s your last name?” she asked.
He looked at her and smiled. “Sands. AJ Sands.” Before today, guilt had never taken hold of him when he’d lied to a woman. Sure, the “I’ll call you,” was a standard lie all men told, but this…this was bigger. She’d hate him if she ever found out the truth. But he couldn’t suddenly become AJ Hamilton. Then his family could be used as bait.
He pulled a ringing phone from his pocket, looked at the number and answered.
“Yeah?” he asked harshly.
“It’s Todd.”
“How’d you get this number?” AJ growled.
“The old man called. He thought you might need some help since someone’s trying to kill you and that reporter.”
Fuck. AJ trusted him, but the more people who knew, the greater the risk to him and Megan.
“I hear you ran into more trouble. Anything I can do to help?”
“Not unless you can remove the hit on me.”
Todd laughed. “I wish that I could. So, now you’re on the run and have a woman with you. I know you, AJ. You aren’t going far. You aren’t going to let this go. Why not move on and stay alive.”
“I’m not moving on. The Magician tried to have me killed. I will find out who that fucker is.”
“If they find you, they will kill you and the girl too.”
AJ didn’t need to be reminded of the situation. It surprised him that Todd would even speak with him, must less offer assistance. Most of his old buddies didn’t wish to taint themselves by being associated with him.
AJ checked the rear view mirror. “Then I’d best make sure they can’t find us.”
The man sighed. “Do you know where you’re headed?”
“I have an idea. When I get there, I’ll let Arthur know.”
“Okay. Let me know when you need me. I’ll be there.”
He returned the phone to his pocket. He’d have to give Arthur a piece of his mind. This was unacceptable. If AJ had wanted other people to know his situation, he’d have told them. He’d wanted help from Arthur and Arthur alone. Otherwise why the hell would he call him and not Jesse?
“Where are we going?” she asked again.
Did she ever stop asking fucking questions?
AJ glanced at her tense body. “We need to stay out of sight so we’ll find a hotel and park in it for the night. But don’t get too comfortable, we’ll be changing hotels often.”
She gasped. “We’re stopping soon. Why aren’t we heading out of state or something? I thought
you said we had to leave.”
“Because I have some unfinished business.”
His direct statement ended the conversation.
* * * * *
Their hotel surprised Megan. She’d expected a seedy motel that rented by the hour. Some place that kept your privacy for a price. Not a chain hotel. She definitely watched too much television.
AJ swiped the card key and opened the door. “If all goes well, this is home sweet home for a couple of days.”
“Why can’t we have separate rooms?” she asked nervously. Sex between them couldn’t happen again. Dang if she still didn’t desire him though.
“Because I can’t protect you if you aren’t near me. Now that we’re here, you and I need to have a little chat.”
She removed her shoes and sat on the bed he’d dropped her bag on. At least there were two queen beds. These were close quarters but she could sleep in her bed and him in his. But the thought of sharing a bed with him warmed her blood. If his quick performance on her dining table was an example of his lovemaking, she needed more. She sighed hopelessly.
“What in the hell were you thinking? I told you not to go to the police,” he yelled, pointing his index finger at her.
That sparked her anger. Blood pumped fast through her veins. She jumped off the bed and raised her voice to match his. “Why would I listen to you? You’re one of them. And I witnessed a murder. Reporting it is what a law abiding citizen does.”
He released a heavy sigh. “Have I hurt you, Megan? I’ve tried to do nothing but keep you safe, but you just won’t listen. You had to do things your way. Now look what happened. They tried to kill you.”
“You have a death warrant too, so what’s the difference?” she asked defiantly, her arms across her chest.
He prowled closer. “The difference is that I expect to probably die, and you expect to live. One of us is wrong, and I’ve been playing this game far longer than you. I think I know what I’m talking about.”
“Not this time.” He had to be wrong. He was supposed to keep her safe. Trent assured her that he would.
“Why can’t you trust me?”
“I don’t know anything about you except you kill for a living.”
“You’re right.”
Bile burned the back of her throat. He’d said it so casually. He definitely was a killer. She’d hoped he’d only been trying to scare her before.
She thought about what Trent told her. AJ was right. She was playing a game in his world now. She had to trust him if she wanted to stay alive. “Okay, I’ll try to trust you.”
He watched her. “That’s all I ask. It’ll be tough these next few days. I need you with me. I need you to remain calm and follow directions, no matter what they are.” He sat on the bed closest to the door and slowly wiped his hand down his face.
“I’ll do whatever you tell me.” She sat, pulled her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and rested the right side of her face on top of them. “I don’t want to die,” she whispered.
“You won’t if you listen to me. The first thing is no phone calls. Give me your cell phone.” He held out his hand.
She jerked her head up. “How come you get to keep your phone?”
“I’m actually keeping two phones. Trust me, we’ll need them.”
She snatched her purse off the bed and found her phone, wanting to throw it at him. He asked too much. “Is this really necessary? I promise not to make any phone calls.” She waved it in front of her. “Doesn’t trust work both ways?”
“I trust you. But they could track us through your phone.”
“May I call my boss first? I won’t tell her where we are, I promise. You can monitor the call to make sure I don’t say anything wrong.”
“Why is it so important that you call her?”
“She expects me to be in police custody. She’s probably already heard about the shooting. I want to let her know I’m okay. She won’t say anything to anyone.” Well, except for Kelly, Janet, Kyle, Victoria and probably Merissa, but he didn’t need to know that.
He rubbed a palm over the lower half of his face. His end of the day stubble scratching it broke through the silence. “That is the only call you may make, and be quick. Let’s go over what you’ll say.”
She smiled. She’d won. “I will call her whenever I want, and she can call me.” She’d take a stand with him.
“No, you won’t,” he firmly stated.
“Then you can’t have my phone.” She clutched it tighter. She knew she shouldn’t use it but it was her only lifeline if AJ didn’t protect her.
He raised his eyebrows, amusement dancing in his golden brown eyes. “Megan, do you know how easy it would be for me to take that phone from you?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, hiding the phone under her armpit. “If we’re not leaving the state, I’m going to work, and I need contact with her to coordinate my stories. This is important to me.”
“Let me check her out, and then I’ll make my decision but you won’t call with your phone. You’ll use my burn phone. That’s final. Our lives are too important.”
She sighed and dropped her arms. “I guess I don’t have a choice do I?” As she reached over to hand him her cell phone, it rang. She pulled it back and answered.
Would he snatch it from her? He certainly looked as if he would.
“Hello.”
“Thank God, baby.”
She should’ve checked the caller ID. “Hello, Marcus.”
AJ’s jaw tightened. His gaze bored into hers. That was not a look of a happy man.
“Thank God, you’re okay. I just heard. Where are you? I’ll come get you and protect you.”
“No,” she quickly replied.
“Come on, baby. You don’t have to forgive me or even like me, but you need someone to keep you safe. We’ll catch a flight and get away from here until it all blows over.”
“I’m safe. You don’t need to worry about me.” Oddly, she felt safe with AJ. Maybe because Trent told her she’d be safe. Maybe because her body craved his.
AJ ran his finger across his throat. His get off the dang phone message was loud and clear. Except dang wasn’t the word that seemed to vibrate from his tense body.
Wow. The tightness in his muscles displayed the well-defined sculpted body. She almost drooled. She had to get hold of herself. This would not happen..
“I do worry. I still love you. Where are you, baby? I’ll come get you. Please let me keep you safe.”
He didn’t listen or give up. “I’m fine where I am. Goodbye, Marcus.” She ended the call before he could beg again.
AJ crossed his arms across his broad chest and narrowed his eyes. “Who was that?”
She shrugged. “No one important.”
“I’ll decide who’s important. Now, who is Marcus?” A muscle in his jaw twitched.
“He’s my ex-fiancé.” She almost added cheating, son of a gun.
“How long?”
She looked at him, confused. “How long what?”
“How long since you split?”
“Six months.”
He reached for her cell phone.
“I still get to call Kristen before I give it to you.” She held it protectively against her chest.
“Here use this one.” He pulled one from his pocket. Not the one he’d used earlier. “Make it quick.”
She smiled and dialed. The call to Kristen was brief as promised and the weight on Megan’s shoulders lightened. Her boss had heard about the shooting and had been understandably concerned.
She agreed to write an article about it, another firsthand experience. Attempted murder of a journalist would be big news. Her boss told her the police attempted to get her to stop the story on the murder citing investigative confidentiality or some bull-crap like that.<
br />
Kristen had offered to pick her up and deliver her to the FBI. She didn’t like her hiding on her own. Obvious disappointment filled her voice when Megan refused to share her location.
While she’d talked with her boss, AJ had disassembled her cell phone and hidden it in his black duffel bag.
She remembered where he’d put it and how he’d taken it apart.
* * * * *
Megan wouldn’t let it go. Even now she planned to write articles on Magic Shop. AJ didn’t know how to convince her to stop. Sure she had another valid reason to want to end the criminal organization, but she wasn’t ready for this level of battle. And it would be a battle.
Once he’d made it clear he’d be staying to finish this, she hadn’t asked again about leaving town. She seemed eager, excited. Exactly how she’d been when she’d try to interview him. Dammit.
He shouldn’t have allowed her to bring her laptop or talk with her boss, or that fucking Marcus.
As she strode to the bathroom, AJ caught himself watching the sway of her hips and thinking of her long, shapely legs wrapped around him again. He groaned and shifted himself in his pants.
He jerked the phone out of his pocket with more force than necessary and dialed.
“We’re staying at the Days Inn in Woodlawn,” he said before Arthur could answer. “And don’t fucking tell anyone anything about me again.”
The man on the other end of the phone cleared his throat. “Do you think you’re safe there? It’s not very far away from trouble.”
“We’re as safe as we can be. I doubt they’ll look for us here. They’ll expect us to be further away, and they don’t know that we’re together.”
“She should be in protective custody instead of following behind you.”
He didn’t like it, but Arthur was right. “I’ll talk with her about it, but after her experience I doubt she’ll trust any law enforcement agent again.”
Arthur snorted. “Are you sure you want to do this? Dying isn’t worth it. Yeah, I’d be pissed if they tried to kill me too, but now you have an innocent woman to consider.”
“I’ll protect her.”
Arthur’s words stuck with AJ long after the call. Was there anyone he knew and still trusted? He’d been out of the loop too long.