The Line: The Complete Series

by Nikki Rose

  This particular Friday night I needed the time out more than ever. The next day Hunter and Olivia would be flying off to Greece for their romantic honeymoon mission. I planned to have more than my usual two-drink limit that night.

  I threw on a pair of skinny jeans, ankle boots, and a burgundy sweater after freshening up from work. Theo and Stephanie were swinging by so we could all walk the two blocks to the bar together. Mark had a date joining us so they were meeting us there.

  I looked in the mirror and double-checked my loose curls one last time as the intercom buzzed. I rushed over and hit the button.

  “Be right down.”

  “Okay. Hurry up. It’s freezing out here.” Stephanie’s voice crackled through the speaker.

  “I told you to wear a warmer jacket,” Theo’s voice was more muted, not directed at the speaker.

  “It didn’t match my outfit.”

  “Women.” He chuckled then directed his voice toward me. “Hurry up, Addy before I have a popsicle as a wife.”

  “Be right down.” I shook my head, laughing at the two of them before throwing on my jacket and grabbing my purse.

  We were just turning the corner away from my apartment building when a loud explosion shook the ground and everything around us. We all ducked. As I straightened, I turned around to see where the blast had come from. Smoke billowed from the third floor of the apartment building just across the alley from mine. I looked up at the fire raging through where the sliding glass doors once stood. It was Hunter’s apartment.

  As that realization clicked, panic welled up inside me. I bolted toward the apartment, running as fast as my legs would carry me. Theo’s broad arms wrapped around my waist just as I made it to the sidewalk in front of the apartments. He lifted my feet off the ground and pulled me back. I screamed, kicked, and cried as he held me.

  “Addy, no. You can’t go in there. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Let me go. You don’t understand. He doesn’t leave till tomorrow. He’s still in there.” I screamed the words without pausing for a breath.

  “Who’s in there? Addy, calm down. Talk to me.”

  “Hunter. Hunter’s in there. I have to get to him.” I screamed out until my voice cracked and I choked on my cries. I finally gave up the fight and fell into Theo’s arms sobbing.

  Sirens wailed from a distance and soon firemen lined the street, pushing us back from the building so they could secure it.

  Men in fire gear rushed in as others began spraying water on the building from the outside. flames lit up the night and smoke filled the air as it spread and the firemen worked to evacuate the building and extinguish the blaze.

  Men, women, and children all filed out of the building. Some who had obviously been closer to the blast were being escorted out by firemen. I scanned each of their faces, hoping and praying one would be Hunter but there was no sign of him.

  Finally, the fire was put out and I overheard one of the last firemen as he came out of the building. “We’re clear. We need to get a bomb team out here. This was no accident.”

  “Wait,” I screamed out, finding my strength again and breaking free of Theo’s unsuspecting arms. “Hunter. He’s still in there. He lives in apartment 354.”

  “Shit. Ma’am, just a minute.” He turned to the fire chief who stood with several other men. “She says she knows the man who lived in 354.”

  “That looked like the explosion’s origin. No one could have survived that blast.” One fireman said.

  “Ma’am,” The fire chief looked at me with pity in his eyes. “I’m sorry, the blast was extremely violent. There’s no way to tell if someone was in there until we get someone out here to test the wreckage for DNA.”

  “DNA?” I repeated, completely bewildered.

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “I don’t understand. Hunter. He was in there. He wasn’t leaving town until tomorrow.”

  “Ma’am, if anyone was in there...” The chief furrowed his brow, struggling to get the right words out. “I’m sorry but, there’s no way anyone could have survived the blast from inside that apartment.”

  “No.” I cried out and my legs gave way below me as I dropped toward the ground.

  Strong arms wrapped around my midsection, keeping me from hitting the concrete. I expected it to be Theo, but then I heard Chris’s voice. “Whoa, Addy. I got you.”

  I turned in his arms and a new wave of sadness took over. I shook violently with each sob as I cried into Chris’s chest.

  “Addy, tell me what happened?”

  “A bomb, in Hunter’s apartment. He’s—He’s—”

  “Right here.” I must have been delirious with grief because I could have sworn, I’d heard Hunter’s voice.

  I jerked my face up from Chris’s chest and looked behind him as Hunter reached us.

  “Hunter?”

  “I’m here, Addy. I’m okay.”

  I ran to him, diving into his arms and wrapping my arms around his waist so that my head was buried into his chest. I breathed in his scent and cried. “I don’t understand. How are you okay? They said—”

  “I wasn’t in my apartment. Chris took me out for a drink before my trip tomorrow.”

  “Which if this was intentional, will have to be postponed,” Chris added from where I’d left him.

  “I thought you were dead. Oh god, Hunter. I thought you were dead. I didn’t know how I’d live without you.”

  “Addy, I’m okay. I’m right here.” He held me tight and stroked my hair.

  “Hunter, I—”

  Hunter lifted my face to his and kissed me hard and deep with so much passion that my knees went weak for a whole new reason but his strong arms wrapped around me and held me up. His hand pressed my body firm against his as he continued to kiss me right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

  “We need to get you off the street,” Chris said with some urgency in his voice. Hunter pulled his lips from mine but kept me against him. “If someone targeted your apartment specifically, we could have a bigger problem. Most likely they’re watching to make sure their plan worked. You could be a target now.”

  “He’s right.” Hunter pressed me hard against his body and scanned the street. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Just a sec.” I looked around for Theo and Stephanie but my view was blocked by the fire trucks. I ran through the crowd and found them on the other side. I just had to try to come up with some excuse. I knew I couldn’t tell them everything but lying to them made me sick. “Hey, my friend, Hunter is okay but his apartment was damaged in the explosion so I’m going to go with him to deal with insurance and all that.”

  “Was it a gas explosion?” Theo asked curiously.

  “That’s the most likely explanation.”

  “Okay, well call us later. And, let us know if there’s anything we can do for you or your friend.” Stephanie added.

  “I will. Thanks, guys.”

  Chris looked concerned as I returned to him and Hunter. “You didn’t tell them anything about us or the case, did you?”

  “Of course not. I just told them I was going to help Hunter with dealing with insurance and stuff.”

  “Good thinking.”

  “I’m smarter than you give me credit for.”

  “Yeah well, you’re still interested in this guy so the jury’s still out.” Chris teased and Hunter hit his shoulder.

  We hurried to Hunter’s car glancing both directions as we went. Whoever had blown up his apartment was obviously after him. Since they failed it was only a matter of time before they tried again.

  We drove quickly taking side streets and doubling back to make sure we weren’t being followed. We took so many turns I wasn’t sure that I’d ever find my way out. Finally, we pulled up at an old abandoned factory. I looked around the old boarded-up windows and crumbling brick. as far as finding a safe place this would not be at the top of my list.

  We walked around back to a door marked emergency exit. Chris took hold of a c
orner brick in the wall and wiggled it free exposing a high-tech finger scanner. He placed his thumb on the scanner and waited for a quiet beep. An internal locking mechanism on the door clicked and he put the rock back in place before pushing open the door. I stood in shock for a moment before Hunter’s firm hand ushered me in.

  As we stepped inside, we were transported from an old abandoned warehouse to a sleek, clean office space. Several workers chattered in their designated workspaces and the sound of keyboards clicking filled my ears. It was the unmistakable sound of your average office environment.

  “What is this place?” I looked around feeling like Dorothy after she entered the Emerald City.

  “This?” Chris said with his arms open wide. “This is the headquarters.”

  “Headquarters? Am I supposed to be here?”

  “Probably not.” Hunter smiled at me. “But I think we’re a little past protocol at this point.”

  He had a point there. I doubted his protocol included kidnapping a girl and holding her for weeks. I just hoped he wouldn’t get in trouble for bringing me here.

  “Mr. Wright,” A pretty looking thirty-something-year-old woman called from a desk near the front of the office space.

  “Wendy,” Hunter spoke fondly and hurried us over to her desk.

  “I’m glad to see you’re all right. Word spread quickly about the bombing. And this must be the girl.” She turned her focus to me. “Addy?”

  “That’s me. How do you—?”

  “For a bunch of secret agents, no one around here can keep a secret.” Wendy chuckled.

  She turned back to Hunter. “Mr. Applegate is waiting for you in his office.”

  “Thanks.”

  I waited in the main area under the watchful eye of Wendy, the receptionist while Chris and Hunter met with their boss. Apparently, I wasn’t cleared for his office. Hunter was alive and safe, but someone had tried to kill him. The thought left dread lingering in my gut. Sitting there watching agents scurry around the large space gave me time to think about a lot of things.

  I almost told Hunter I loved him—maybe I did. When I thought he was dead, I thought I might die too. I couldn’t imagine a world without him in it. But, how could we even start to have a normal life together after everything? How could I be in love with someone who had done the things he did?

  I needed to give myself time to clear my head and adjust to being on my own again. One day I’d find a guy who was right for me. I’d be able to sit in the living room of our home and tell our kids the story of how we met and fell in love—and none of it would include kidnapping or murder.

  Maybe I needed to see a therapist about my feelings but then I wasn’t sure if I could even explain them to some stranger. I just needed to give myself time. I was doing okay for the most part before I thought he’d been in that explosion. Not wanting someone dead wasn’t the same as wanting to be with them.

  CHAPTER 27

  Hunter

  “You’re off regular duty until further notice. If we need you for a case it will be in-house issues where we know you are protected.”

  “Sir, with all due respect I’m not sure that’s necessary.”

  “This is not a request. Also, you will be placed in another apartment across town. The address will be need-to-know only until we know who was behind all this.”

  “What about another apartment in the same building. I really don’t want to be so far from Addy—uh, in case she’s still a target.”

  “We will send another agent to keep an eye on her.”

  “Sir, please? I need—”

  “Director Applegate, if I may...” Chris interjected and the Director nodded. “Whoever is responsible for the bombing most likely is in our agency or familiar with it at the least. They would know protocol would be to relocate an agent some distance from the initial attack. If we go by the same book as them, they are going to have our plays in hand. If we go off script then it may throw them off their game.”

  “What do you recommend?”

  “Whatever the book says, do the opposite. Obviously, he can’t be put back in his apartment since it’s a crime scene, but in the same building, maybe even the same side of the building. It would throw them off.”

  “I like the way you think, agent. Make the arrangements. Talk to Wendy out front and she can make the necessary calls.”

  “Thank you, sir,” I added and gave a grateful glance at Chris.

  When the meeting was over, I hurried out the door to get back to Addy. I had driven myself crazy in the time we’d been a part and all I could think of was making up for lost time. I never wanted to let her out of my sight or my arms again. If I had anything to do with it, I wouldn’t have to once this was all over.

  I longed to return to the peace and tranquility of the cabin, this time with Addy, a willing and eager guest. I thought about our time beside the fire in the clearing where she’d painted that beautiful work of art. It had been hanging in my apartment and I prayed it had survived the blast. I could still feel her soft skin under my hands as I laid her down on the ground. I could still hear her soft moans and cries as she reached her climax.

  She sat near Wendy’s desk and while Chris made arrangements involving my new residence, I hurried over to her.

  “Hey, sorry about that. I had to iron out some things with my boss.”

  “It’s no problem. Get everything taken care of?” I wasn’t sure if it was just me but she seemed colder.

  “Yeah. You okay?”

  “Just tired. It’s been a long day.”

  “I’m sure you’re exhausted. I was thinking of going to stay at my cabin for a week until other living arrangements in the city were worked out. What do you think?”

  “I’m sure you could use the time to relax after everything.”

  “I was thinking you could come with me. It could be a nice little escape for us.”

  “Thanks, but I have to work. I really need to focus on getting back into my normal life again.”

  “Oh. Yeah, I get that. Maybe once I get settled in to the new place you could come over and I could cook dinner. I won’t be able to go out much until all this is settled but we could watch a movie or something.

  “Hunter...I don’t think I can do this anymore. We had good times but we’ve just been through too much I don’t think I can get over. We’d never be able to have a normal life.”

  My heart sank into my stomach. I knew what she was saying held some truth but my mind and my heart were battling as I listened to her words. “Addy, I love you. I can’t imagine living without you.”

  “If you love me, then you need to let me be. I want a normal life. Not...this.”

  How could I argue with that?

  Addy wanted me to let her go. She said if I loved her that I needed to let her live her life. She needed a chance at a normal life and I couldn’t blame her. I had Chris take her home and I hitched a ride with a rookie I knew lived nearby. It may have been juvenile but I just couldn’t stand the thought of being so close to Addy and not be able to have her. Maybe one day it would be easier, but not that day.

  Three and a half weeks and my heart still hadn’t gotten the message that Addy wanted nothing more to do with me. It was a pill hard to swallow. I couldn’t imagine moving on. Even if I wanted to forget about her, I wasn’t convinced she was out of danger. My new apartment was just below my old one, putting me even with her apartment.

  I didn’t have a balcony like my last apartment but the large picture window offered me an unobscured view of Addy’s apartment. She didn’t want to be with me but I would protect her whether she liked it or not.

  The Director kept my duties restricted to in-house work. Between that and staying in my apartment, I was about to lose my mind. I knew it was best but it didn’t make it any easier.

  I sat in my usual chair in front of the living room window watching Addy’s apartment like I did every day. My mind wandered back to our time together. There were definitely some bad times
but the good far outweighed. I wished she could see that.

  I was pulled from my thoughts by the sudden buzz from my intercom.

  “Who is it?”

  “Hunter, it’s me.” Olivia’s sultry voice cooed through the speaker.

  “Olivia?” I hit the button to let her up and hurried to the door once she made it up. “What’s going on? Is there a case?”

  I looked for any excuse to feel relevant. I moved from the doorway to let her in and led her to the couch.

  “No case. I was actually just checking on you. I know it can’t be easy being sidelined.” She rested her hand on my arm.

  “I’m doing alright. I still get thrown a case or two.”

  “In-house. I heard. Still, it can’t be easy being stuck in this apartment most of the time. I thought you might need some company.”

  “Thanks, but I’m doing okay.”

  “How are you handling things with Addy? You two still seeing each other?”

  “No.” I bit out the word.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Olivia tilted her head and feigned sympathy. I was an agent. I could pick up on a person’s sincerity. “I was afraid things with you two might not work out. It’s hard for someone not in the agency to understand what we do and why we do it. I’ve found it’s better to keep things casual but to stick with someone in the agency. It’s mutually beneficial without complications.”

  I didn’t want this woman in my home. I didn’t want anyone in my home anymore—except the one person who never would. I had to force myself to be polite. “Well, I appreciate you checking up on me, but really, I’m fine. I’m sure you’re a busy woman and probably need to be on your way...”

  “Can I at least get a drink before I go?”

  “Sure. What will you have?” I rose from my chair and made my way to the kitchen.

  “Do you have any wine?”

  “I think I have some red.”

  “That would be perfect.”