by Gina Watson
Maybe she was being selfish, but in that moment she resented Evie for putting Augie in this position. If he were to get hurt trying to obtain Evie’s stupid divorce, she’d never survive it. It seemed silly for her to think that way, but she’d come to greatly care for him, this man who left everything behind to come so far to rescue her. She wished they could just leave now and head to Louisiana. She couldn’t wait to see his hometown, for him to show her his favorite haunts and restaurants. Of course, she had no assurances he’d be doing any of those things, but she hoped like hell he would.
*
En route back the way they had come, Augie eyed Mia through the rearview mirror. She stared out the window and occasionally nervously chewed at her bottom lip. Things had gotten way out of hand with her. He couldn’t believe he’d come so close to having sex with her. Intercourse, that is. Some would consider what they’d done to be sex. He’d wanted to pump into her, and she’d wanted him, but he had to be stronger than their desire. The only problem was, now that he’d had a taste of her, his brain wouldn’t stop peppering him with visions of her at the height of her desire, no matter how hard he tried to keep those visions at bay. Mia’s skin, slick with the sweat of their exertion; Mia’s body bowed, the veins in her neck throbbing from the strain; Mia’s sex swollen as he massaged her with his tongue. Fuck! He shook his head and swerved a little with that last image.
“Everything okay?” Gloria was in the front seat, navigating.
“Yeah. Some debris in the road.” And now he was lying to Gloria.
Mia leaned forward and cleared her throat. “So how do you two know each other so well?”
He felt Gloria’s eyes on him, but his never left Mia’s in the mirror.
“We were in the field together. Afghanistan.” Augie said.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Gloria, you did field work? That must have been tough.”
She pivoted toward Mia. “Why? Because I’m a woman?”
Mia shrugged. “Well, yeah.”
“I’ll have you know I’m just as strong if not stronger in spirit than any man.”
Mia’s jaw dropped.
“Enough with the uber feminism. I don’t think Mia’s accusing you of being weak because you’re a woman.”
Mia shook her head. “Not at all. I think it’s amazing. I was just imaging myself as best I could in your situation, concluding that I wouldn’t be successful.”
“You would have been,” Augie said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. You’d have surpassed them all.”
She met his eyes in the mirror as they shared the moment.
“I saved Augie’s ass more than once.”
“And I in turn saved yours.”
“Once.”
“Once.”
“So after that you guys were together?”
Damn, but she didn’t mince words. Ever. He could understand her curiosity, and it was within her rights to know the answers since he’d taken advantage of her body the way he had.
“We were. For about a year.”
She turned to stare out her window again. Gloria kept eyes on them both.
“Since we’re getting so personal,” Gloria said, “I might ask what the hell is going on between the two of you. Don’t think I didn’t notice you two bunking together last night.”
“I won’t have her sleep where I can’t keep an eye on her.”
Gloria scratched her neck. “Please! You were walking around naked. I saw you make a trip to the bathroom in nothing but what the good Lord gave you.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I’m just saying, there is more to the two of you”—she pointed accusingly at him and then at Mia—“more than you’re letting on. More than you’re admitting to one another.”
Gloria was right. It would be hard to let Mia go once he reunited her with her sister. Did he want a relationship with her? His need for her was growing too strong. A thought that scared the shit out of him.
Mia leaned forward. “Will you pull over at that gas station?”
“Is everything okay?”
“I just need the restroom.” She was tight-lipped and avoiding eye contact.
Augie sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He pulled into the station and Mia jumped out of the car before it came to a full stop.
“Mia!”
She ran into the store.
“Christ, Gloria, will you go after her, make sure she’s okay?”
Shaking her head, Gloria took off.
He hadn’t planned this very well. His ex-girlfriend in the car on an overland drive with his current … his current what? Fuck it all to hell. He strode inside and bought a pack of Camels and a lighter.
Leaning against the car, he inhaled the tobacco’s soothing qualities long and deep. He’d be hearing from both Mia and Gloria about his nasty habit, but at this moment he didn’t care. He wouldn’t be getting back into the car until he’d smoked two.
He was just finishing number two when they approached. Mia broke off pieces of chocolate and put them into her mouth while Gloria sipped on a drink. Both women stared at him but said nothing of his smoking. He took one long last draw and stomped the butt out with his foot.
*
An hour and a half later they were at the motel. They’d purposely chosen it due to its proximity to Nicolas’s condo. Through recon, Augie had learned that the guy stayed at a condo in town during the week. The setup was perfect for what he had in mind. He dressed in the clothes Gloria had brought at his request—black cargo pants, black shirt, combat boots. He grabbed the pack she’d also brought and removed the items he wanted affixed to his person. From a chair in the corner of the room, Mia watched him with shallow breaths.
Dressed, he secured the pack to his body. He pointed at Mia. “Don’t leave for any reason. I plan to be back in a few hours. If I’m not back in four, you’ll flee with Gloria. She’ll get you to your sister and Clay.”
“Shut up!” She stood abruptly and stomped over to him. “Just shut up, Augie. I don’t like any part of this.” She paced in front of him, wringing her hands. “Why do you have to do this? Can’t you just mail him the damn papers to sign?”
“Mia, you know why I can’t do that.”
“But killing him isn’t the answer. You’ll be the one made to deal with the fallout for the rest of your life.” A shaky hand rose to cup her mouth as she coughed around a sob. “And that’s if you survive. What if he ambushes you? What if he’s expecting you? What if—”
He tugged her over to sit in a chair and took the one across from her. “Mia, he’s not expecting me. I’m going to do what has to be done. If I feel he’s not a threat, he’ll live. I have no problem letting him live out his days here in Canada, but he needs to assure me.”
“What if he won’t?”
“If he won’t, then he won’t live.”
She shook her head and her lip quivered. Her eyes closed tight and tears streamed down her face, meandering like a river. He looked at Gloria, who just shrugged.
“I’m gonna go get a bag of chips,” she said, leaving the room.
“Augie, please. Will you please promise to try to let him live?”
“He ordered you kidnapped. And with force. If you need a reminder, just look at the burns on your neck, burns that have screamed out at me every time I look at them. And what of Eve?”
She pressed her hand against her neck. “I know all that, but I don’t believe in murder. I’m so glad you came into my life—the sacrifices you’ve made to help me are beyond anything anyone has ever done for me—but if something happens to me, then it’s my time to go. I don’t want to forge life from death. I don’t want you to have to live with the emotional impact and the pain of the actions involved in killing a man. Knowing I contributed to your emotional pain would hurt me more than anything that could be done to me physically.”
He was speechless. The woman was unconditionally selfless. He’d never in his thirty-five years known anyone like her.
She would risk her life to save a man responsible for almost having her killed. He didn’t know what to say.
Her concern for his wellbeing spoke volumes about how much she cared for him. He’d been in the business of helping people, but had never been cared for himself.
Mia stopped crying, bit her lip, and looked down at her feet.
Augie sat back in the chair. She was right. Hadn’t he even questioned all the senseless killing? Killing in the name of freedom. Killing disguised as protection. Killing for oil, land, and religion. He’d had enough. In that moment he realized he didn’t want to kill Nicolas. Probably couldn’t even go through with it. Damn, she may have just saved his life. He hadn’t had to kill in his line of work as a sheriff. The last time he’d taken a life was in that fucking desert.
Within a blink, soft, warm hands were around his neck, pulling him into her body with the fierceness of a protective mother bear.
“Augie, we can come up with a plan B together.” Trembling hands palmed his cheeks. “Please.”
He swallowed back the lump in his throat. Her emotion seeped from her and washed over him. He was too affected by her, but he was powerless to stop how she made him feel. “Yeah, okay,” he whispered, feeling dazed. But he also felt as if a hundred-pound weight had been plucked from his chest.
She leaned in and kissed his lips, deepening the kiss on a sigh.
The door banged open. “So are you going or what?” Gloria rolled her eyes at him as she closed the door with her foot.
“We’re going to make a new plan that doesn’t involve Augie murdering a man.”
“Are we seriously having second thoughts about killing that shitbag?”
“It’s not good for Augie’s recovery.”
“Recovery?”
Augie stood. “I haven’t killed since Afghanistan. I’m not sure it’s such a well-thought-out plan after all.
“I’ll present him with the papers and suggest he sign.”
“That’s a death mission.” Gloria’s eyes were intense and unwavering.
“I think we should ambush him at work.”
Mia’s suggestion, her we, was never gonna happen.
He cupped her shoulder and pulled her toward him. “I want to get something clear right now. There is no we. It’s still just me, alone.” He rubbed his upper lip with a finger. “And right now I’m gonna go take a walk so I can clear my head.”
Outside, he inhaled deeply, cherishing the sense of relief he hadn’t known he wanted and needed. The thought of confronting Nicolas Renaud at work wasn’t a bad one. He’d read enough about the guy to know that he had a commercial real estate business that served as a respectable cover for his covert illegal activities. For the most part the business was legit. It had even been investigated, and every little thing had been on the level. That was key because it meant he operated legally during working hours. If Augie did in fact confront him at work, Nicolas wouldn’t be able to fight or kill. Further, enough had been compiled on the guy—enough of his suspected crimes south of the border—that were he to step foot on American soil, he’d be arrested and consequently jailed for a long time. Augie could use that information to threaten Renaud from ever coming to the States after the Brown sisters. Hell, the whole crazy thing just might work.
His mind filled with images of Mia’s slim curves, wavy long hair, sincere lavender-gray eyes, and those hard, pointed nipples that made his mouth water. She even had a couple of crooked bottom teeth that he loved. He’d watch her lips when she spoke just hoping for a peek at those teeth. She had him hot and bothered by just standing in a room.
Shit, he had it bad.
He laughed at himself. And then he laughed at the memory of her carrying a fish and a rod. The way she captured and gutted that fish amazed him more than anything he’d ever seen a woman do.
He lit a cigarette and took a few drags to get the tobacco pumping through his system. His part of the plan was new, but the original rules would apply for the girls. If he wasn’t back within the hour, they’d take off in the car. The more he considered the plan, the more he thought it was foolproof. The guy would sign or he wouldn’t. Either way, Mia would make it safely to Louisiana and to her sister and Clay.
He stomped the cigarette out at the door. Tomorrow he’d be ready to confront Nicolas Renaud. Tonight he’d sleep—without the nightmares.
Chapter 11
“No way!”
“It’s not open for discussion, Mia. You will let Gloria drive you to the States if I’m not back within the hour. Promise me.”
“I will promise no such thing.”
“Will you have my concentration divided then? I’ll be so worried about you I might get hurt or worse. However, if I had your word, I’d be able to focus on the mission.”
Gloria smirked, aware of his intention.
Mia frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise to go to the States with Gloria.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want the nine?” Gloria held up a holster.
He shook his head. “Won’t need it.” He grabbed the folder that held the divorce documents and exited the car.
The glass building was shaped like an egg. From across the street, the designer mullioned windows shone metallic and black in the sun. It was quite the impressive and imposing structure, and Augie wondered if Renaud chose to rent office space in the building based on that fact alone. Inside he consulted the directory. Renaud Property Management was on the thirty-fourth through forty-second floors. The CEO occupied room 42 A-B.
Cameras were everywhere. One of two things was going to happen: Thug One and Thug Two would identify him in a matter of moments and chaos would ensue, or they wouldn’t make an appearance and he’d be able to ease into a conversation with Nicolas.
The elevator whisked him with remarkable speed straight to the penthouse offices. A nicely subdued ping alerted him that the door would be opening. The elevator exited into a lobby, the soothing background music in stark contrast with his mood and the blood rushing through his veins.
A woman behind the counter stood at a computer.
“Good morning. May I have your name please?”
“Fletcher Smith.”
“I don’t have you on the schedule, Mr. Smith. Did you have a meeting with Mr. Renaud?”
“Er, no, I don’t have a meeting.”
“Is there something I can do for you?”
“Tell Nicolas I have information regarding Everleigh.”
Her brow hitched. “Please have a seat.” She gestured toward a set of black couches. “Mr. Renaud will be right with you.”
She bounded across the marble floor in her well-fitted suit, heels snapping all the way to another office. The sound of shoes silenced immediately behind the frosted glass.
A moment later the efficient snapping advanced toward him.
“Mr. Reynaud will see you now.”
He stood and offered his sexiest smirk to the overly blond woman. She held her eyes down, her hands clasped in front of her. How sweetly reserved.
Augie wondered what she knew of her boss’s other businesses.
He entered an office with thick, plush, and expensive beige carpet, more black couches, a coffee table, and large windows overlooking the city. In the center of it all, at a mammoth desk crowded with files and papers and other office shit, sat Nicolas Claude Renaud. Expensive dark blue suit and tie. Dark hair, dark eyes, trendy facial stubble. Handsome, but a total dick. His fingers rummaged through papers and he seemed somewhat frantic and disorganized. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his jaw ticked. He scrubbed his face and started digging through a different stack of papers.
“Goddammit Francis I asked you for my fucking passport.” He yelled without looking up from his papers.
Papers fell from the desk as he clumsily searched for something he could not find.
Augie started speaking. “The Brown sisters have been safely freed from your grasp, e
nsconced in a place of their choosing. Though ensconced may be the wrong word as they are not in hiding. That is, they are not hiding from you.”
“Who the fuck are you?”
“I’ve been hired to serve you with divorce papers.”
That did the trick. Renaud stopped searching, and his black eyes squinted at Augie, a stare so intense, blinking was out of the question. Augie gave back as good as he got. He held the folder on top of his hand, steady as a rock.
“I have the papers here for you to sign. Uncontested, of course. Your connection to the Browns ends now.”
Renaud’s neck went tight, and a thick vein funneled down the side and pulsed to life. He pushed his chair from his desk. “If we’re not together it means one of two things: we’re both dead or I alone am dead. Either way, somebody dies.”
“That can be arranged.”
Renaud wiped his face with his hand and stood. Tall and fit, he was a good match for Augie.
“The thing is”—Augie scratched his brow with his thumb—“they are in the States. Where there’s a file an inch thick on you. You cross the border, you’re going away for a long time. Your hands are tied, so sign for the divorce. It’s time to move on.”
“If I can’t have her, I don’t want anyone else to.”
“Marriage to you hasn’t stopped her from moving on. Clearly it’s stopping you in your tracks, but she’s moved on. Completely.”
His intense dark pupils were unnerving. Augie’s breath caught and even though he’d trained long and hard to remain cool, he felt a bead of sweat drip down the back of his neck. Would he survive this? It could go either way. Would Renaud blow? Would he concede? Augie stood steady, giving nothing away.
Please, God, if you’re listening, I’d like to do this for the Browns and for Clay.
Nicolas exhaled through clenched teeth. “Damn bitch isn’t worth it. She’s always been a lousy fuck.” He stretched his neck from side to side, popping the tendons. “You do understand, she’ll get nothing.”
“I understand.”
“What claims has she made?”
“Claims?”
“A clean break for uncontested divorce is granted when one party admits to receiving mental or physical abuse. What has she accused me of?”