Hard to Handle

by Raven Scott

  Sam stepped back, completely surprised.

  “Kaylee! What the hell are you doing?” he demanded, looking around to secure the area while concealing his weapon again.

  “He tried to assault me!” she yelled, pausing in her attack.

  The man on the ground took the opportunity to wildly swing at her, catching her across the face and successfully knocking her off his body. Sam ran forward to protect her, reaching them just seconds after the thug kicked Kaylee in her side, scrambled to his feet, and took off into the bushes. Sam’s heart was thudding in his chest as he dropped to his knees beside her, and everything in his field of vision was suddenly red with rage.

  “I’m fine,” she immediately insisted, sitting up. There was blood dripping from a cut on her lip.

  “Stay right here, and don’t move an inch,” he commanded, tossing down Niko’s leash and jumping to his feet.

  In his desperate rush to get away, Kaylee’s attacker had left a clear path of waving tree limbs and bouncing leaves. He wasn’t fast, and he was very loud, hitting everything in his path. Sam had eyes on him within a couple of moments, then took him down from behind minutes later. As they both hit the ground hard, Sam immediately placed a knee hard in the base of his spine. Grabbing both of the thug’s arms, he pulled them back tight to disarm the assailant, then took out a handy zip tie from one of his jacket pockets and secured the guy’s wrists together.

  Sam then flipped the perp over and stepped over his body with satisfaction. Kaylee had managed to do some real damage. His nose was bleeding steadily and one of his eyes was already turning blue. Judging by how he’d curled into the fetal position, she may have also applied a good shot to his bollocks. Sam shook his head and started laughing. Once again, Kaylee had managed to completely surprise him.

  Fifteen minutes later, they were all in the main area of the park and Sam was handing off the perp to the NYPD. Kaylee was sitting on a bench with Niko at her feet, touching at her swollen lip. It was no longer bleeding. Sam watched her for a few minutes, trying to piece together the various things that just didn’t add up. Finally, he walked forward and sat down beside her.

  “Let me take a look,” he commanded. She cooperated, turning in her seat to face him.

  It was a small, straight cut and looked pretty clean.

  “I think you’ll live.”

  “Good to know,” she quipped.

  “What about your side? Does it hurt?” he asked, remembering the kick she had received.

  “No, it’s fine. I might have a little bruising later, but nothing serious.”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes watching other people go about their leisurely activities.

  “You can’t leave my sight like that ever again, Kaylee,” Sam finally said, now that he was calm enough to have the conversation. “Not for a second.”

  “I know. I didn’t mean to. It all happened so fast.”

  “It always does. So you need to always be in my line of sight outside of any secure areas. That’s non-negotiable.”

  “I get it. I know. It won’t happen again,” she vowed. “Do you think it was random?”

  Sam looked around, noting everyone’s movement and demeanor, constantly assessing the threat level around him.

  “Looks that way. The cops have had a couple of complaints about similar sexual assault attempts in a few of the parks. They’re checking if this guy matches any descriptions from other reported incidences.”

  “But you’re not sure,” she concluded.

  “We’ll see. But I don’t like coincidences.”

  “Yeah, me neither.”

  “Do you still want to go to that hair appointment?”

  She brushed a hand through her hair with a sigh.

  “Do I look like I’ve just been assaulted in the bushes?”

  Sam smiled and gently brushed a thumb across the tender spot on her lip.

  “Only in a good way.”

  She gasped and slapped him. “That’s terrible!”

  “What? Too soon?” She gave him a disgusted look, but he could tell she wanted to smile. That seemed to be the goal of all his comments these days. “I’d feel more badly about it if that poor fellow’s nose hadn’t been busted, and his balls shoved up near his spleen.”

  Kaylee did laugh then.

  “Hair appointment?” he repeated. “If we flag a cab, you might only be a couple of minutes late. Surely that’s acceptable.”

  “All right, let’s do it,” she finally agreed and they both stood up. “What about Niko?”

  “I’ll hold on to him. He can keep me company.”

  They walked toward her building, where there were usually taxis waiting outside.

  “We never did discuss your security plans,” she reminded him. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I’ve ordered a few enhancements for the apartment, as a start. They should be delivered by tomorrow.”

  “How’s that possible? Tomorrow is Sunday,”

  Sam shrugged. It was very convenient to have a business partner who also owned a defense contracting firm. Even the most cutting-edge equipment was an email away.

  “I also have the floor plan for the Antonoli office, and I’ve drawn up a few options. But I can’t finalize them until I can inspect the current equipment.”

  “You’ve been busy,” she commented.

  They had reached the main street near her apartment, and easily flagged an available taxi.

  “I can take you to the office tomorrow if that would help,” she offered once they were seated and on their way. Niko was standing in her lap, looking out the window.

  “That could work, but let’s play it by ear.”

  “Okay, that all sounds like a good start.”

  Sam nodded. “You know, eventually you’ll have to tell me exactly what’s going on here, Kaylee. Or I’ll figure it out myself.”

  “What are you talking about? I’ve told you everything.”

  “Yet I still managed to be caught unaware.” He narrowed his eyes. “For instance, you neglected to mention that you’re a ninja.”

  Kaylee burst out laughing, but Sam was only half teasing.

  “How else do you explain your ability to overpower an assailant that’s at least half a foot taller than you and fifty to sixty pounds heavier? Particularly since his hobby is planning assaults on unsuspecting women. Which he’s likely rethinking at this point, I might add.”

  She grinned up at him, her twin dimples making a rare appearance and her brown eyes sparkling with golden specks.

  “You’re ridiculous. I’ve taken a few self-defense classes, that’s all. And I was pissed off.”

  Now Sam laughed deep and hard. She joined in, and they were both still chuckling when the cab reached the front of the salon. He paid the tab and took a hold of Niko.

  “I assume you’re keeping a record of your out-of-pocket expenses,” she noted when they were outside.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll just add it to your tab,” Sam assured her.

  “See that you do.”

  Sam and Niko spent the next hour and a half sitting in a very posh salon and spa watching her get spruced up. He didn’t have the heart to tell her she looked just as pretty after as she had before, and that it hardly seemed worth whatever extravagant costs they charged. She had wanted to walk back to her apartment, but he insisted they take another taxi. As much as he teased her about the attack, he preferred that she get home quickly so she could rest.

  The trip back was uneventful, and the apartment was empty when they arrived.

  “What time is Terry expected back?” he asked, starting his perimeter security check. Even at their height, you couldn’t be too careful. There was always the possibility of someone accessing the apartment from one of the adjoining suites.

  “I’m not sure. He didn’t say,” she said, walking into the great room and turning on one of the three large televisions.

  Sam completed his check, then returned to the front hall. “I’ll
be in the den then if you need me.”

  “Okay. I’ll see what Silvia left for us in the freezer. Or we could order something.”

  “Whatever you decide is fine,” Sam assured her before walking away.

  In his temporary office, he logged in to his laptop and opened one of the Fortis secure portals. In there, he retrieved a folder labeled ANTONOLI and pulled up the contents. Pictures and documents tiled across the computer screen, creating a virtual picture of the mission so far. Sam stood back and looked hard at the information collected over less than twenty-four hours.

  After four years with no contact, Kaylee had flown to Virginia, alone, wanting to hire Sam, and only him, for a security job. She was now working in New York for a development company, using her favorite alias. She was also having an affair with her boss that was not a well-kept secret. A competitor in the city contracting business wanted them to withdraw from a bid and was using strong-arm intimidation tactics. He’d sent a goon from Baltimore to attack her in her hotel room and pass on a message to her boss to pull out. Her attacker, a hired “freelancer,” didn’t appear to be a direct alliance or affiliated with a known organized crime family, or other organization. Those were the facts. The significance of the park incident was still undetermined, so Sam left it off the map for now.

  Except for Kaylee’s reaction to the assault that afternoon. Strong, capable, and unintimidated. Trained to defend herself.

  Sam stroked his low beard. What was the statistical likelihood of a wealthy and privileged socialite who had never been victimized choosing to take self-defense classes long enough to be effective, then becoming the specific target in a coercion racket?

  He really didn’t like coincidences. Something wasn’t adding up, and Sam was absolutely certain Kaylee was at the center of it. Either she was being manipulated or she was manipulating Sam. He just needed to figure out which.

  His cell phone vibrated with a message. It was from Renee.

  No luck accessing Paterson bid through public domain files. Will get Raymond on it on Monday. Hope you’re enjoying your vaca.

  Sam went back to examining the files and thinking. Kaylee was right about how difficult it would be to get the names of their competitors. It was one of the main reasons she and Terry cited for why they didn’t want him to focus on identifying and neutralizing the threat. Was that all there was? After further review and consideration, he mapped out two immediate objectives, besides keeping Kaylee safe. One, get the name of the other competitors using Raymond’s gifted digital skills. Two, try to discover why Kaylee had proactively developed solid self-defense skills.

  CHAPTER 13

  Terry returned in time to eat dinner with Kaylee on Saturday evening. They had beef stew, and Sam opted to eat his in the den. She watched television, and Terry packed for his trip to Paris. Then they went to bed, sleeping in his room. By the time Kaylee woke up at eight o’clock on Sunday morning, he’d already left for the airport. She returned to her room and quickly dressed for a run in knee-length leggings and a tank top over a sports bra. Her weather app said it was currently sixty-eight degrees with a warm day ahead.

  Sam was already in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee, when she walked in to get some water. He was dressed in loose shorts, a technical T-shirt, and running shoes.

  “You’re all set,” she said, a little surprised.

  “I’m an earlier riser. Been up since five-thirty,” he explained with a shrug.

  “Really? I hope the sofa bed was comfortable enough,” Kaylee stated, grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge.

  “It was fine, no complaints. I’ve been known to sleep standing up.”

  They looked at each other for a few seconds.

  “Did you see Terry before he left?” she finally asked.

  “I did. Don’t worry—he still has all his giant teeth.”

  Kaylee almost sprayed water across the room.

  “That’s not very nice,” she reproached, turning away.

  “No, it wasn’t,” Sam acknowledged, cool as a cucumber. “Neither is taking off while your girlfriend is in certain danger.”

  Kaylee sighed, trying not to take the bait.

  “That’s why you’re here, Sam. Right?”

  “Am I a surrogate for all his duties, or just your safety and security?” he asked softly. “My skill set is pretty vast.”

  Kaylee just looked back at him, her lips tight with disapproval. Finally, he sighed, clearly disappointed that she wouldn’t participate in the banter.

  “I’m ready whenever you are,” he finally stated, putting the empty coffee cup in the sink. “How long do you want to go?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s my first run in about a week so maybe just three or four miles? See how I feel?”

  “How are you feeling after yesterday?” he continued, walking up to her. “Any soreness? Bruising?”

  He was about to touch her side, but Kaylee stepped back out of his reach. Things tended to go sideways whenever they touched each other.

  “I think it’s okay. I’ll probably take a long soak in the tub this morning when we get back.”

  “Good plan.”

  Kaylee pulled on her shoes by the front door just as the white terrier came bounding toward her.

  “Let’s give Niko a quick walk, then we’ll head out.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they were outside the front entrance of her apartment, and Niko was back upstairs resting on his dog bed.

  “Do you have a favorite route?” Sam asked as he looked around and double-checked his gear. No one would suspect that his nifty little cross-body knapsack had a gun, knife and a few other security essentials. He checked his watch, and looked around again, ever vigilant.

  “Not really,” she admitted. “I usually just start on the street and head over to the promenade at Battery Park.”

  “Right then, you can lead the way. But you need to stay by my side at all times, within reaching distance. I will stay on pace with you. Any instructions I give need to be followed exactly. If anything looks dodgy, we turn back.”

  “Yes, sir,” Kaylee replied, hiding a smile. She noticed that when he got a little worked up, his accent deepened and he used words like “dodgy.”

  “Let’s get off then,” he urged.

  Kaylee relaxed her shoulders and started running, choosing a pace that felt comfortable and sustainable. She focused on her feet, strides, arm swings, and deep breathing. It was a strong pace, and Sam didn’t seem to have any trouble keeping up with her. He stayed on her right side, always right by her elbow and close enough to touch without crowding. About twenty minutes in, her breathing was louder, and her posture and alignment required more focus. But Sam didn’t seem at all affected. Kaylee could hear the regular bounce of his goody bag against his back, but nothing else. Not his breathing or even feet striking the pavement. How can such a big guy be so stealthy? she wondered.

  “How are you doing?” he asked at the thirty-minute mark, with no hint of being winded.

  “Good,” she gasped, taking a quick look over at him. Was he even sweating?

  “We just hit three miles. One more?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  About ten minutes later, he signaled with a touch on her arm. They slowed to a walk, and Kaylee took in big gulps of air to bring her heart rate down. She used the edge of her top to wipe down her face. Within a few minutes, everything was feeling much better.

  “Whew! That was pretty good, right?” she asked him, feeling a little giddy from the high.

  “It was very good, I’m impressed.” Kaylee laughed “How long have you been at it?” he asked.

  “A few years now, off and on,” she replied, breathing deep and loving the feel of it. “I had a friend in Baltimore who invited me to join her running club, and I couldn’t believe how out of shape I was. Then the more I did it, the more addictive it became. I even started training for the Baltimore marathon.”

  “You didn’t do it?” he asked as they headed ba
ck toward the apartment.

  “No, I moved back to McLean, and I didn’t have the time anymore,” she admitted, trying to keep her tone light. “But I started up again last year when I started working for Terry. I ran the NYC marathon last year.”

  “Really? That’s bloody impressive,” Sam stated, sounding genuine.

  “Yeah, well, it was my first and my last,” Kaylee told him. “It was pure torture! Why would anyone put themselves through that on a regular basis? I almost threw away my running shows the next day.”

  Sam laughed. “So no more marathons?”

  “Maybe a 10K. Or a half marathon. But that’s it.” He continued chuckling, his focus still very much on examining their surroundings. They walked the rest of the way in easy silence.

  “So, what do you think? Can we do this every morning?” she asked when they were home.

  “Probably, with a few concessions,” he told her. “We’ll need to change the time slightly each day and take different routes.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “And I need to confirm your transport to and from the office. Then, we can decide on a running schedule.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He scowled, but there was a hint of a smile. “Cheeky lass. Now, head off for your soak in the tub. I want to have a look at you after. At your side, I mean,” he quickly added.

  Kaylee looked down.

  “Then we can head to your office whenever you’re ready,” Sam finished.

  She nodded, cleared her throat, and walked away.

  Twenty minutes later, Kaylee was reclined in her large bathtub filled with scented bubbles and Epsom salt. Pop tunes from the collection on her cell phone were playing through the built-in speaker system. She tried relaxing but couldn’t. Things were not going according to plan, and she had to find a solution, fast.

  On the surface, Kaylee should be happy with the progress. The Paterson bid had caught the attention of the right people. They’d applied some of the pressure tactics she’d anticipated. Engaging Sam had always been a strong possibility, and Kaylee had been fairly certain he would take the job on her terms. But he was supposed to believe that she was a lying, cheating slut. Someone who would have an open affair with her married boss. Someone thoughtless and selfish, undeserving of anything more than the basic security required by the job. That was the only way this would work.