Cast in Shadow (Shadow SEALs), page 8
She slipped into the shadows of one of the many brick buildings and paused to look back. Her heart was beating wildly. How could she have forgotten he had the locator app on his phone or that it was how he’d found her in the first place?
Lapses like that could get her killed ... or worse. She shivered, thinking of that farmhouse goon’s threat to start removing body parts as a method of persuasion. It was a completely different scenario, she knew, but this was the second time in a week she’d been caught unaware. She couldn’t chance a third.
She saw Zeke step out of the café and scan the lot. She hated the way the sight of him lit her up on the inside. Hated the way part of her wanted to return to him and make the most of their final time together.
A day or two of pleasure wasn’t worth the risk, no matter how sexy he was.
Besides, chances were, he wasn’t too keen on her at that moment. What had he told her? That having to chase her down would make him cranky.
She smiled at that. Had the inappropriate thought of how she could get him to channel that irritation into something more pleasurable for both of them. Then, she shut those thoughts down and concentrated on what she was going to do next.
It was a shame she wasn’t as adept at stealing cars as Zeke was. There were quite a few of them to choose from.
Her eyes landed on a small covered frame, partially enclosed with Plexiglas and several people waiting. A bus stop. If she could make it there, she could hop on and put some distance between her and her pursuer. She started moving again, angling herself toward the stop. Fate must have been on her side because a bus was approaching at that very moment.
She paused, watching as people got off and more got on. She blended into the waiting crowd, using a tall man as a shield.
Aggie settled in on the side farthest away from where Zeke was. Panic tried to take hold when she realized Zeke had seen the bus, too, and was jogging toward it at a speed far too fast for her liking. The tension increased when an elderly woman getting on held things up, searching in her suitcase-sized purse for her senior citizen’s ride card so she wouldn’t have to pay full price.
Aggie reached into her bag and extracted enough for another fare, then moved forward and dropped exact change into the box for the woman. “I’ve got a job interview, and I don’t want to be late,” Aggie explained.
Instead of showing appreciation, the older woman sniffed and said, “Well then, I suppose you should have left earlier.”
The bus driver gave Aggie a sympathetic look and closed the doors. Aggie retook her seat and searched out the window but didn’t see Zeke. A bad feeling skittered down her spine and set up shop at the base and didn’t relent, even as the bus began to pull away.
One step at a time, Aggie.
Zeke wasn’t on the bus. That was the important thing.
Aggie exhaled, sat back in her seat, and took several discrete, deep breaths in an attempt to calm down.
Her heart raced at each of the next three stops, half-expecting to see Zeke boarding at each one. She’d already moved seats to one in the back with an emergency exit window and committed the opening instructions to memory. If necessary, she could be out within seconds.
But Zeke didn’t make it onto the bus. Nor did she see him skulking around.
Yet she couldn’t relax. Zeke wasn’t the type to give up so easily. In fact, she realized with self-annoyance, she’d be rather disappointed if he did.
Eventually, Aggie got off the bus at a regional rail station. She lurked around for a while but didn’t see any indication that she was being followed. Got something to eat. Played on her phone in the shadow of a large Ficus with an excellent view of the main entrance. Bided her time until rush hour, then blended into the wave moving toward the cars.
She boarded a train heading west and began to breathe easier when she saw the familiar landscape taking shape in the distance. The best place to hide was the place no one would ever look for her.
Home.
Chapter Fifteen
Zeke
She was good—he’d give her that. She knew how to blend in. How to be invisible.
Unfortunately for her, so did he. Plus, he had the added advantage of years of special forces experience. He could find and track anyone, anywhere.
The question he kept asking himself was, Is it worth it?
Several times throughout his pursuit, he thought about walking away—as much for her benefit as his. He understood her reticence about meeting with Charley. He certainly understood her distrust, though he didn’t know why she felt that way. Perhaps it had something to do with why she felt compelled to do what she did—namely, a general lack of faith in a broken system.
He knew what had planted the seed of distrust for him—the clusterfuck that had gotten him dishonorably discharged. The same one that might have gotten him executed for treason had he not accepted their offer—claim responsibility and they’d let him walk away quietly.
His gut knotted, just as it did every time he thought about the papers he’d signed. He wasn’t a traitor, not to his country, not to his team, not to anyone. And yet, he’d signed a confession that said he was.
The worst part was the look in his teammates’ eyes. The disappointment. The betrayal. He’d hoped they’d see the accusations for the shams they were. That they’d recognize the whole shitshow was another government fuckup. Another cover-up. God knew, they’d been on enough ops, burying shit together. They should have known better. Goddamn it, they should have known him better.
Zeke exhaled and shoved the pain back, stuffing it into the box he kept locked in the back of his mind. That part of his life was over. What was done was done. Harping on it wouldn’t change anything. He wasn’t a SEAL anymore. He was a tattooist who moonlighted as a mercenary, and at the moment, he was getting paid to find and deliver one clever, tiny female. A female who was growing more intriguing by the hour.
He returned his attention to the task at hand, looking up at the multimillion-dollar chalet and sighed, glad that she seemed to have decided to stay put for the time being. She’d really put him through his paces with the busses and the train and finally, the Uber that had brought her here.
Soft golden light flowed from walls made of glass, spilled over cantilevered decks, and disappeared into the dense forest.
It was a far cry from the hovel where she’d been living in Parryville, which he supposed was the point. Staying unpredictable was the most effective way to remain undetected and mobile. Perhaps she’d taken his words about patterns and habits to heart.
He made his rounds around the perimeter. The chalet was remote; there wasn’t another place for miles. One primary road in with two semi-concealed alternate routes along the back and sides. Strategically positioned as it was on the forested slope, it blended into the landscape and had a fantastic view of the surrounding area. The garage beneath the house held several cars, including a Range Rover and a Maybach.
A slight and unexpected pang of envy zipped through him. The isolated chalet was either the result of a wealthy recluse’s paranoia or a master strategist’s wet dream.
After watching and circling several times, Zeke was convinced she was the only person there. He made his way into the house on silent feet. He found her on a couch in a sunken living room, bare feet propped up on a glass coffee table. She was wearing a plush white robe, her hair wrapped up, turban-style, the ever-present laptop atop her thighs. She looked as if she’d just stepped out of a spa.
Given the size and amenities of the place, she just might have.
He stayed in the shadows, studying her reflection in the expanse of glass looking out over the mountainside. It took a full minute, maybe two, before her back stiffened and her eyes lifted, searching the glass.
Her body relaxed when she spotted his reflection, and then she exhaled heavily. Without turning around, she said, “I figured I had at least one night. You’re even better than I gave you credit for, and that’s saying something. Not many people exceed my expectations.”
Zeke stepped farther into the room, irrationally pleased by her praise. “If it helps, you made me work for it.”
“Well, I guess that’s something.”
She closed her laptop and shifted in her seat to face him. She looked weary. He was pretty wiped himself after chasing her all day and half the night. Tired and annoyed and oddly ... relieved to have caught up with her. She’d been a half-step ahead of him all day.
“I hope you know it’s not personal, Zeke.”
He nodded. His mind knew that, but based on the way his chest had loosened with her words, other parts of him didn’t.
Unnerved by the softness of her gaze, he glanced around. Took in the stone hearth, exposed beams, recessed lighting. “Nice place.”
“It is, isn’t it? Private too.”
“One of your targets’ assets?”
“You could say that,” she agreed, eyeing him critically. “Are you still determined to take me to Charley?”
He nodded. He didn’t feel good about it, but he’d committed himself to the task.
No one said he had to drop her off and leave, however. Perhaps he’d stick around long enough to ensure that Aggie could walk away and disappear again if she didn’t like whatever Charley had to say. Hell, maybe he’d go with her.
“It’s been a long day for both of us, and I’m beat,” she said, rolling her shoulders up and back in a graceful motion. “What do you say we take the night off and enjoy it? Indulge in a hot bath, quality liquor, and a bed that hasn’t had hundreds of bodies lying on it?”
That did sound good. Too good.
“Why? So you can take off again?”
“I promise, no more running tonight.”
“Seems I’ve heard that before.”
“I’ve never lied to you, Zeke,” she said softly. “And I kept my word that night, didn’t I? I didn’t make any such promise last night.”
He grunted, which made her smile for some reason.
She made an X over her chest. “Cross my heart. I’m not going anywhere for at least twelve hours, maybe more. Honestly, I couldn’t even if I wanted to, which, for the record, I don’t.”
She rose from the couch and yawned. “Whatever. I’m going to bed. You do you. Both the bar and the pantry are well stocked, so help yourself.”
“How very generous of our absent hosts,” he said dryly.
“That’s the spirit.”
She disappeared down the corridor, leaving him watching the sway of those curvy, petite hips. Hips that tugged at him like an invisible string.
Appearances were deceiving. She looked so delicate, but she was anything but. She was smart and quick and had the same fierce need to fight for the underdog as he did.
He followed the call of that sway, envisioning removing that towel and robe and climbing into bed with her while rationalizing that he was only doing his job.
He entered a spacious bedroom suite. Like the living area, it boasted an entire wall of windows with a spectacular view. A large flat screen was mounted above a stone hearth. A partially open door at the other end of the room hinted at a bathroom three times the size of the last hotel room they’d stayed in.
The massive bed on a raised dais was what drew his immediate attention, however. Draped in fluffy white bedding, it looked incredibly inviting. After several nights of only light sleep and long days of driving, he was nearing his limit.
She went over to the hearth and pressed a button, and flames sprang up. Then, she turned and arched a brow at him. “You don’t trust me?”
“Forgive me if I’m skeptical.”
“I guess I deserve that,” she said on a sigh. “I wasn’t nearly as ill as I made it seem. But if it makes you feel any better, I really did have a rough night. That dinner didn’t agree with me.”
“So, you lied and convinced a chambermaid I was an abusive asshole, so she’d help you escape.”
She shrugged, an elegant lift of those feminine shoulders. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“How’d she get you out? Linen service? Delivery van?”
Her lips quirked upward. “I’m impressed. The linen service cart took me to the laundry facility. From there, an HVAC service van took me off the premises. The HVAC guy just happened to be the maid’s boyfriend. What gave me away?”
He thought about telling her he was just that good, but since she was being forthright, he could be too. “She came to do the room, and when I showed her your picture, she looked at me like I was Satan incarnate. In fact, she actually called me that in her native language.”
Her tired eyes twinkled with amusement. “Educated guess, or you can actually speak Cebuano?”
He said nothing. Officially, the time he’d spent in the Philippines had never happened.
Understanding softened her features, and she didn’t pursue it. “And then you used the locator to track me to the café. Pretty sloppy on my part, huh? I don’t usually make mistakes like that. Well, live and learn.”
It was sloppy and very out of character for her. Additionally, she didn’t seem particularly upset that he’d caught up to her. A niggling unease skittered down his spine. Maybe she had deliberately led him out here. Then, he gave himself an inner shake. He was overtired and overanalyzing.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
“What else is there to say? I told you, I’m tired. I’ve been through a lot in the last week. I’m going to bed. Fair warning: if you try to drag me out of here before noon, I will hurt you.”
With that, she stepped up to the raised bed, shimmied out of her robe to reveal a silky sheath that left nothing to the imagination, and slipped between the covers.
Chapter Sixteen
Aggie
Aggie was aware of Zeke’s pacing well into the night, though he had to be as exhausted as she was. It went on for a while before she heard him go into the bathroom. The quick shower he took was a testament to his self-discipline. She’d lingered for much longer. Once she’d gotten under the therapeutic massage showerheads, she hadn’t wanted to leave.
Of course, she knew why he’d made it such a quickie. He was afraid she was going to ditch him again. Her theory was confirmed when the first thing he did after emerging was make his way over to the bed and confirm she was still present and accounted for.
She smiled into her pillow when he grunted softly. He did that a lot. He was somehow able to manipulate the muscles in and around his throat to produce this soft, subtle, and wholly masculine sound that, in one short burst, spoke entire sentences. She interpreted this last one to convey something like, Well, damn, she really is still here.
Regardless, he needn’t have worried. She hadn’t been kidding about not going anywhere for a while. The trick was going to be getting him to stick around long enough for her to get the information she’d come for.
She heard him moving around the kitchen and breathed easier. She was glad he’d decided to unclench a little and get himself something to eat. The cupboards were well stocked with nonperishables, and the Sub-Zero had enough protein to last several months at least. The poor guy had to be hungry. Maintaining a physique that lean and muscular probably required ten thousand calories a day.
As tired as she was, sleep remained elusive. She audibly tracked his movements through the chalet. Knew that after he satisfied his immediate need for food, he would scope out all the possible entry and exit points. He might even fashion warning devices in case she tried to sneak out in the middle of the night.
Eventually, he returned to the room. He did so silently, but she didn’t need sound to know he was there. She felt his presence in her very core, like a heavy static charge that hung in the air right before a powerful thunderstorm. Building. Imminent.
She could feel his intense stare, too, as he stood there in silence beside the bed, the soft pop and hiss of the gas fireplace creating soothing background noise. He was probably carefully weighing his options, deciding what to do next. There was only one bed in the suite, and she was in it. He needed rest, but he wanted to stay close, so crashing in one of the other bedrooms was a no-go.
Would he lay himself out on the floor at the foot of the bed or in front of the door? Or would the allure of a mattress and a down comforter prove too tempting to resist?
Then, she heard him grunt softly—she was really becoming absurdly fond of the sound—and felt the bed shift under his weight.
Her smile widened. The bed was big enough to hold them both comfortably. They could both lie there all night and never touch, which was no doubt what he had in mind. But the opportunity was simply too good to pass up. The hotel rooms they’d stayed in had two queens, but here, there was only one California king.
After several minutes passed, she rolled over in her feigned sleep, closer to him. Close enough to feel his body heat and fill her lungs with the scented soap from his recent shower.
She pressed against him lightly and sighed. His body stiffened, then eventually relaxed. Then, and only then, did she give in to the heavy pull of slumber.
* * *
He snored. As his heavy, powerful arm held her tightly against him, the low rumbles vibrated through her entire body. It wasn’t unpleasant.
She took a few minutes to appreciate the sensation. Relished the feel of smooth skin and coarse hair beneath her cheek and thigh. The steady, strong beat of his heart and the rhythmic rise and fall of a sculpted chest.
And why shouldn’t she? It had been a long time since she’d allowed herself to get close to anyone, and it probably would be an even longer period before she allowed it to happen again. She might as well enjoy it while she could.
Eventually, the call of nature grew too strong to resist, and she had no choice but to relinquish her living body pillow and heed the call. She managed to extricate herself without waking him. After taking care of personal business, she donned her robe and padded out to the kitchen in search of the two-thousand-dollar coffee machine there.
