by Renee Rose
But then he’s back, offering his hand. He leads me to a take a seat on my sofa, and he pulls up the ottoman to sit right in front of me—interrogator to detainee.
No, that’s not what this is. My reluctance to tell him my father may have done something bad is not a good enough reason to keep silent. He’s going to help me. I can tell him what I know. I run my fingers through my hair which must be a mess after our escapade against the wall.
“I found out my dad was CIA. I thought he died in the service, but I guess that was a cover. He was on some kind of operation in El Salvador.”
Charlie watches me, that ever-alert awareness to his entire body. He’s so still—there’s no fidgeting, no movement, almost like a predator right before it pounces.
“I was digging around, trying to get into redacted files—same thing I did for you with the lab fire cases, only I couldn’t get much. So, I got bold and made a few phone calls.”
Charlie purses his lips. “And?”
“I called Director Scape. He told me to back off. That I might not like what I found out. Let sleeping dogs lie, that kind of thing.”
Charlie still doesn’t move.
“The next day I get a call from Agent Tentrite. She tells me she’ll prosecute if I hack any more internal files.”
He absorbs the information and waits. Not one to spend a useless word, this guy.
“This morning I called Senator Flack. He was at my father’s funeral. They were friends. He didn’t call back. When I got home, I found this.” I indicate the wrecked apartment and the bedroom with the photo. Tears pop into my eyes again as fear for my sister and nephew spikes.
“But what were they looking for here? Did you print anything out? Transfer files?”
I shiver. Acknowledging this fact makes everything so much more real. “I said I found a journal of my father’s. It wasn’t true, but I didn’t want to admit I’d hacked files.”
Charlie purses his lips and nods. “So, they want the journal. They may not stop until they get it.”
“I don’t have it!” My voice rises in pitch before I force myself to take a breath.
My phone rings and I snatch it up. “Sarah!” I cry when I see my sister’s name on the screen. I swipe right and answer. “Oh my God, where have you been?”
“Hey girl!” I hear nothing but cheeriness in her voice. “We’re here! Can’t wait to hit Disneyland.”
“Wh-what?”
“What an incredible surprise. Grady is over the moon. Thanks so much for swinging this, but next time a little heads’ up would’ve helped. I had a big project at work, and I had to call in sick to get here.”
“Wait, where are you?” I stand up, already grabbing my purse. Dune is right behind me as if he heard every word.
“We’re in Anaheim already. We took the hotel shuttle, checked in and came straight to the park. Didn’t you say to meet you at Space Mountain? Why all the cloak and dagger, anyway?”
“Uh, so you’re at Space Mountain now?”
“Yeah, but I don’t see you.”
“Right. I’m not there yet, but I’m on my way.”
“Tell her to get lost in the crowd,” Dune whispers.
“Don’t wait for me. Go ride a bunch of rides, and I’ll call you when I get there. Okay? Get busy, and I’ll find you.”
“When are you going to tell me what this is all about? Why the big surprise?”
“Go!” I practically shout, then dial it back in. My sister’s phone is probably bugged. My phone is probably bugged. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, whatever! See you soon.” Sarah hangs up, and I grab Dune’s arm.
“They have my sister,” I whisper in a choked voice.
“No. This is a mindfuck.” He shakes his head and touches my shoulder. “If they wanted to hurt her, they would have. This is an elaborate game to scare you. Either that or they plan to hold her hostage for the non-existent journal.”
I stare at him, my heart racing. “This just keeps getting worse and worse,” I whisper. “And the minute I called you in, I declared war.”
“Yeah,” he nods, grimly. “So, we’re going to get to Sarah and Grady before they do.” He takes the phone out of my hand, drops it to the ground and steps on it, crushing the electronics. “Only the burner phone from now on.”
I nod.
“You go first. Take my keys. My truck is parked on the street south of the building. Get in and drive to the west side. Pick me up there. I’ll see you in two-point-five minutes.”
I have to force myself to gape at the precision of his instructions. There’s no time to marvel. I have two-point-five minutes to follow his orders. I move briskly out of my apartment and down the stairs. I’m paranoid, so every single human being I see looks like an agent watching me—even the little old lady walking her miniature schnauzer.
No one stops me. I get in the truck, start it up, and drive to the west side. Charlie emerges out of nowhere and gets in. He directs me through the Los Angeles streets toward Anaheim.
I’m a nervous mess, but his calm, clipped instructions keep me sane, focused. He drops the passenger side shade and uses the mirror in it to watch behind us.
“Turn into this alley,” he commands sharply.
I squeak and make the turn, my tires screeching on the pavement. “Are we being followed?”
“That’s an affirmative.”
He takes his gun out and cocks it.
“What are you doing?” I wail. Things have escalated too fast. I know shootouts happen. I know car chases happen, but they don’t usually involve me. He rolls down the window and aims at the car that turned into the alleyway after us.
“Just slowing him down.” He fires and the car behind us swerves.
“Turn right, back to the main street. Step on it,” he commands.
They return fire as I make the turn, but nothing hits us.
“Did you shoot someone?” I know I don’t sound like a CIA agent, but I’m rapidly going into shock here.
“No, I shot their tire. I’m not going to shoot one of our own unless I’m sure they’re going to kill one of us. And I don’t believe they have orders for that.”
“Th-this could be someone we know.” The thought occurs to me with a sinking sensation. It’s not some nameless enemy.
“Yeah. I couldn’t see their faces, but that’s another reason I think we’re safe enough. If a kill order had been issued, we’d know it.”
He speaks with such certainly. I have to trust he knows what’s going on here. He’s usually the guy doing the chasing.
It takes me an hour to get to Anaheim. We park and get out. “You know what the worst thing about this is?”
“What?” Charlie asks, eyes scanning the parking lot, the park, every bit of our surroundings.
“I’ve been talking to Sarah about bringing Grady to Disneyland since I moved here three years ago. I never made it happen and now—”
“Now they’re fine. You’ll have a chance to take them later.”
I lean into his quiet authority. Hope to God he’s right.
“Right now, you’re going to call your sister. Figure out a place to meet without saying it if you can.”
My fingers tremble as I call my sister’s number.
“Hello?” She doesn’t recognize the burner phone number.
“Hey, I’m here. Meet me at the ride I puked on when we were little.” I end the call before she can answer.
Charlie’s lips twitch. “Good work.” He pulls my suit jacket off and rips open my blouse, popping all the buttons off.
“Hey!” I yelp, even though I know what he’s doing.
“Sorry. I’ll buy you a new one,” he says. He ties the two ends of the blouse at my waist, leaving my camisole exposed in front. Then he rolls the waistband of my skirt down a couple times, shortening the length of my skirt by several inches. He hands me his ball cap. “Any chance you can get all that hair underneath this?”
I guess dying my long hair dark
red wasn’t my smartest move. Way too recognizable. I twist it up into a knot on the top of my head and pull the cap over. It doesn’t quite fit—my hair overstuffs the hat—but at least it’s covered.
“You need those glasses to see?” he asks, starting to take them off.
“Yes,” I jerk out of his reach.
His lips twitch again. “All right. Keep the cap low.” He throws his plumber shirt into the truck, transforming into hot Disney dad in an aqua t-shirt and jeans. He buys us entrance tickets, and we head in.
“I’m gonna guess Space Mountain.” He raises his eyebrows in inquiry and slightly amused look. It’s nice to see him without the blank super agent expression. Nice to know there’s a real guy underneath the warrior armor.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Actually, no. It’s A Small World.”
“Come on, you have to be kidding.” Even though we’re bantering, we walk fast, almost jogging. My hand is in his like we’re a couple on a date, and he smiles encouragingly like we’re running because he can’t wait to show me something, not because innocent lives are at stake here.
Clever, clever man.
“No. I ate too much ice cream and got overheated. I threw up right in the boat.”
Charlie winces as he navigates smoothly through the throngs of people. We’re surrounded by the din of music and people, the smells of sweet confections and body odor. He gets us to the ride in record time.
“There!” I point. My sister and Grady stand in front of the ride, Sarah’s arms folded over her chest, annoyance tightening her face.
Charlie’s scanning, scanning everywhere. “You get Grady. I’ll take your sister. Meet at the truck in ten.”
My feet scramble to catch up with the orders. Okay, so we’re splitting up. Good plan. Charlie’s already cruising right for Sarah.
“Sarah!” Grady exclaims as if they’re long-lost friends. He opens his arms wide for a hug. Sarah flashes me a frown over his shoulder, right before he envelopes her.
“Hey, Grady!” My nephew runs to give me a hug. “Come on, I want to show you the best ride, ever.”
“I wanted to do Splash Mountain,” he protests. “And we already had to get out of line to meet you here.”
Charlie’s already said something to Sarah and whisked her away. She knows where I work. If he told her she’s in danger and he showed up with me, she should go along with it. Hopefully, I can wrangle Grady into listening, too.
“Grady, Grady, listen.” I bend my knees to look him in the eyes. He’s eight years old and a smart kid, he’ll understand. “We’re in trouble. Someone’s after you and your mom and me. So, I just need you to pretend we’re heading for a ride, but I’m going to get us out of here as fast as I can. Got it?”
His face goes pale, but he nods, immediately trotting beside me without another protest.
Good kid.
I see a guy move from a nearby railing and fall into step behind us.
Shit.
I yank Grady into a candy shop, then squirrel through to exit out the other side.
My tail is still there.
“Okay, Grady, they’re following us. Any ideas?” Kids are way smarter than people give them credit for. And sometimes, they have ideas an adult would never consider.
He takes off sprinting at top speed. Well, that’s one idea. I run to follow him.
The guy behind us also jogs to keep up.
Grady weaves in and out of people. I almost lose him myself and have to push to keep up with his agile darting.
We end up driving into a thicker mass of people and… the six p.m. parade.
Genius.
I don’t know if Grady led us here on purpose, or it was just luck, but it’s a perfect place to disappear. I trail my nephew as he ducks through the throng, then, miraculously, we’re at the entrance.
“Great work, buddy. This way.” I lead him toward the truck, hoping Sarah and Charlie had equal luck.
When I get near the truck, I find Charlie leaning against some other car, kissing Sarah.
* * *
Charlie
There’s a guy fifty yards away, scanning the parking lot. I kiss Sarah for cover, right when Annabel arrives.
For the record, they may be sisters, but Sarah neither tastes nor smells like Annabel. My body doesn’t have the animalistic reaction I have to Annabel. Which means the lust I feel for her isn’t just the emergent wolf in me. There’s something more to this attraction.
While I work the kiss, I hold an electric lock opening device up to the door lock of the Lexus SUV we’re leaned up against. We can’t drive the truck out of here if we hope to escape unfollowed.
I break the kiss when the door beeps and pull the door open. “Get in,” I order in the same low, calm voice I use for every command under pressure.
I take the driver’s seat because, this time, we really need to lose any tail we pick up. Plus, I don’t think I’ll need to fire a gun. Hell, I’d better not have to fire a gun around Disneyland. I’m an excellent shot but taking chances with innocent children would kill me.
Annabel and Grady jump in seconds later. She takes the front passenger seat and glowers at me. I use the same device to start up the car and drive out of Disneyland, watching my speed, so I don’t attract attention.
“I like your car,” Grady says.
“It’s not his,” Annabel mutters. She snaps her gaze to me. “Did you just kiss my sister?”
“Yeah, do you even know each other?” Grady asks from the back seat.
“It was a pretend kiss, honey,” Sarah chuckles drily, “because someone was looking at us.”
Annabel’s still glaring daggers at me which, I have to admit, turns me on. I like the idea of receiving her anger, soothing her. I like the idea of her jealous.
Way too much.
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing with this woman, but I’m in way over my head.
I probably just gave up my job for her, for one thing. And I don’t have the kind of job you can quit. You either retire, or you go out in a body bag. They don’t like loose ends in the CIA. I don’t think they’re going to fire me and let me be out in the world with everything I know.
In fact, I’m sure they won’t.
Of course, I have every means at my disposal to disappear permanently, so it’s not that big a worry.
The bigger concern is the magnitude of my attraction to her, and what I’m going to do about it. Even if I don’t lose my job over this, I don’t live the kind of lifestyle that allows for a relationship. Even more, I don’t even know if I’m safe for her to date.
Do werewolves attack people at full moons? That’s the lore. I’m certainly finding my aggression and sexual desires mounting each day we draw closer to the full moon.
I glance over at Annabel, whose jaw is set, eyes pinned to the road. “I’m sorry.” I use a low voice. “I won’t do it again.”
Surprise dances over her face followed closely by a pretty blush.
“I don’t have a sister fetish, I promise.” I reach over and squeeze her hand.
I think she wants to stay mad, but her lips tug up in a reluctant smile. And it’s incredible what that smile does to me. I’m suddenly high over our escape, adrenaline bringing me a joy I don’t usually allow myself to experience.
And touching her brings on an erection so hard, I have to shift in my seat to alleviate the discomfort.
Annabel—ever observant—glances down at it and back up at my face. Her smile grows.
“So, when are you going to tell me what in the hell is going on?” Sarah demands.
Right. Focus, Dune. Lives are at stake here.
Annabel turns in her seat to address Sarah. “Charlie and I work together. We had a mission in LA that might have been compromised.”
A low rumble reaches my ears, and I realize I’m growling. I cut off the sound just as Annabel turns to me curiously.
Sarah pulls Grady in tight against her, but the youngster pushes his mom back off.
“Yes, sort of,” Annabel answers.
“So, the plane tickets—the trip to Disneyland—it was to get us safe? Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“I didn’t send the tickets.”
Sarah pales and yanks Grady against her, this time ignoring his struggle. “So, now what?” she asks in a shaky voice.
“I’m taking you somewhere safe,” I speak up. “And you’ll have to stay there until Annabel and I get things figured out, so it’s safe for you to go home.”
Annabel shoots me a grateful look that makes my dick throb.
I drive them to my cabin in the mountains. It’s the most secluded safehouse I have at the moment and a place I’d feel comfortable leaving Sarah and Grady alone. The only drawback—I don’t know if I can contain the monster inside me once I’m up there. And I sure as hell don’t know what will happen if I come dragging myself back naked and covered with blood when I’m done hunting.
I don’t even consider my biggest fear because I’m the kind of guy who refuses to surrender to worry. But fuck, if there’s any sign I’m a danger to these people, I’m going to have to leave them. Maybe even figure out a way to end my life which goes against every instinct in my body—I’m wired for survival at all costs.
* * *
Annabel
Charlie gets quiet as he drives us up a dirt road winding up the mountain. Or maybe he’s always this quiet. It seems strange that I don’t know. I feel so close to him, and yet we haven’t spent that much time together—very brief snippets over the past few years as his handler, and now, today, that’s it.
The moon is half full, peeking through the trees as we wind higher. We arrive at a tiny, solitary cabin, tucked away from everything. It appears old and rustic, but there’s a satellite on the roof and inside is simple but comfortable. Grady and I walk around, taking in the place. The cupboards are already stocked with enough non-perishables to last a month. Charlie stopped at a convenience store on the way up to pick up basics like milk, eggs, fruit, and bread.
A desk is against the wall of the living room, wired with the latest high tech, government-issue equipment.