He stroked her back, making her skin erupt with goosebumps. “Are you cold?” He asked, finally finding his voice.
“No, that feels good though.”
“Good. By the way, if that’s the kind of reward I get for being good, I’ll be sure to be good a lot in the future.” He said, continuing to rub her back.
She rolled off him, and cuddled up next to him, content to just lay there in his arms. “Are you hungry? I can make us something to eat.”
“You can cook?” He asked, sitting up.
“Yeah, just about anything. I’ve been learning all summer.” She said, proudly.
“Well, then lead the way. I know how to cook too. My mother insisted that I learn.”
After foraging in the kitchen, they settled on an omelet, each doing their share of the work. In the end, they had a feast of warm cheese filled omelets, both agreeing that it was the best food they’d ever eaten. Once they’d cleaned up the kitchen, Leslie knew that she needed to call Michael.
That car had her worried, but she didn’t want to raise a false alarm. He had told her to call, even if she thought it wasn’t necessary, so she took her phone to the bathroom and punched in his number. It rang and rang with no answer, his voice mail finally picking up. She was reluctant to leave a message, so only said her name, then pushed disconnect.
Scowling at the phone as she came back in the room, she looked at Sebastian who was lounging on the couch, remote in hand. Shaking her head at him, she said. “Men are all alike. You haven’t been here more than a couple of hours and there you are with the remote in your hand.”
“I take offense to being compared to other men. Am I going to have to show you again how much better I am than all the rest?”
She crossed the room and straddled his legs, then took his face in her hands. “I think you’ve shown me that quite convincingly, but I wouldn’t mind another demonstration.” The long tee shirt she was wearing riding up her legs suggestively.
“I think I can manage that.” He said, pulling the shirt over her head.
The next morning they were on their way to the training facility when Leslie spotted the little red car in her rearview mirror. She didn’t say anything, but decided to take a different route to the training facility. If the car stuck with her, then she’d know.
Her heart dropped, when the car followed, still keeping a good distance between them, but she wasn’t deceived. It was impossible to believe that they’d found her that quickly from one picture that had only been on the internet for a matter of minutes.
Then she remembered that she’d tried to call Michael last night and he hadn’t answered, or called her back. She could understand him not answering last night, but he’d promised her that he would be available to her at all times, or that someone else would be. They had a secret code that could be used if someone had to stand in for him.
Sebastian had noticed the tension that was beginning to radiate from her, but there was nothing she could tell him when he’d asked if she was okay, so she’s said. “Fine, just a little tired. Funny, I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”
She flashed him a smile, until he relaxed back in her seat, silently deciding if he should believe her or not. Remembering the little red car from the night before, he began to scan the vehicles around them, but they’d arrived at the security gate before he could fully check.
They glided through security with no little red car in sight, so he relaxed back against the seat, promising himself that they would be leaving in his car tonight. He’d have to get to the bottom of this soon, Leslie was obviously in some kind of danger and he wasn’t about to lose her now that he’d found her. He had all the resources of Terrell Industries behind him, billions of dollars if he wanted, as well as a few friends who knew their way around the internet.
If that wasn’t enough, he’d tap into some of the favors he was owed from some not so savory characters he’d helped throughout the years. The thought of someone taking Leslie away from him just when he found her, make his blood boil. He was raised to protect the things he loved, and Leslie had quickly become one of those things.
He was beyond frustrated with the fact that he didn’t know who the enemy was. You couldn’t fight a battle with an invisible enemy. He was going to have to force Leslie to tell him what was going on. It was time for her to let him help her and he was going to have to convince her of that sooner rather than later.
They were both so wrapped up in their thoughts that they didn’t see the figure all dressed in black, hiding in the shadows. He saw them however, but he’d been ordered to make sure that he had the right person. Messing up would result in his death as well as his bosses, for now he’d watch and wait.
Leslie and Sebastian got out of the car, unaware that they were being watched, and walked right past the man to the elevator. He got a good look at Leslie’s face as they walked by and an evil smile spread across his face. The boss would be happy with his work, he’d found the one person who was most wanted by his organization.
There would be a promotion in this for both of them, not to mention a sizable bonus, straight from the boss. It was a shame that he wouldn’t be able to give the big man the news himself, but he was sitting in jail, waiting for his trial to start in a month. Of course once the woman was gone, there would be no trial.
He snapped a couple of pictures just to reassure himself as well as his boss and headed to the door he’d used to get into the parking garage. It had been difficult, but now that he was in, he’d have no problem getting back in. Tonight, the woman would die and his reputation would be secured for the rest of his life.
Leslie and Sebastian parted ways when they got inside the training facility. They would meet later in the day for Sebastian’s treatments. He was back on the playing field, not in full pads, but at least he was out there again. He’d missed it, but was worried about Leslie.
He’d put in a call to his brother who had reported that the car was leased to an investment company, it would take more time to dig into it further. Frustrated, he went out onto the field and took his frustration out by running three miles. His knee felt good, of that he was thankful, but it would still be another week before they would let him play.
Leslie finished setting up for the day, then excused herself to call Michael. She locked herself into one of the offices and punched in the number. It just rang and rang, then again went to voice mail. Again she left her name but no other message, she was afraid to. Michael had given her one other number that she could call in an emergency, she’d memorized it as well.
Punching in the number, she waited while it rang. A woman finally picked up and asked her for the password, without hesitation she said. “Cat litter.” Then waited for the corresponding word from the woman.
“Dog food.” She said. “How can I help you, Leslie?”
It was a little discerning to find that the woman knew her name. But she plunged on, “I can’t get a hold of Michael, he’s not answering his phone. I’ve left my name last night and he hasn’t called me back.”
“I’m afraid that we’ve also lost contact with him. I wouldn’t be alarmed, it happens sometimes.” The woman’s voice sound strained, why Leslie wasn’t sure.
“Why don’t you tell me where you are and I’ll send someone to pick you up.” The woman suggested.
“I don’t know about that, Michael told me to never tell anyone where I am. Doesn’t he have a partner who handles step ins? Someone who already knows where I am.”
“Well, he does, but he hasn’t been notified yet.”
Leslie was quickly beginning to get a bad feeling about this conversation. Michael had explained in great detail how the program worked, nothing that was happening seemed right. That woman should have never asked where she was, she was supposed to arrange a meeting place, not offer her a ride.
“I’ll wait for that person to call me.” She said, hanging up the phone.
Pacing the off
ice, she realized that there was nothing else she could do for now, she would just have to wait for a phone call from either Michael or his partner. Until then, she’d just have to be patient, and try to put it from her mind. If she hadn’t heard from someone by tonight, it might be wise to get out of town.
It would be painful to leave Sebastian, but her life might be in danger. She’d leave him a note explaining the whole thing. Once she was gone it couldn’t do any harm to tell him the truth. Maybe someday they’d be able to be together, but she wasn’t about to risk both of their lives.
Chapter 7
By the end of the day, she knew that she had to leave. Michael still wasn’t answering his phone and no one else had called her. The trial was still a month away and she needed to disappear and fast. She’d written a note to Sebastian and left it in his locker, since she planned to be gone before they came off the field later that afternoon.
The minute the players had gone back on the field after lunch she grabbed the bag she kept there for just such an emergency and headed for the door. But just as she was about to leave, one of the players came back into the training room complaining of a cramp. She dealt with the cramp, easing it with her powers quickly and quietly then sent him on his way.
She started again to leave, but another player stopped her on her way out. Giving up, she dropped her bag and decided she’d have to make her escape after practice. She knew that there would be a scene with Sebastian, but obviously that couldn’t be helped. He’d just have to understand.
When the players came in from the field and went into the locker room, Leslie was tempted to flee right then, but there was a line of players begging for her attention so she stayed. She knew exactly when Sebastian walked into the room, she could feel the electricity immediately. It was a shock to realize that she knew exactly how mad he was, the quality of that electricity had changed.
Looking up, she saw him scowling at her from across the room. She could see the letter still gripped in one hand, and he had a duffle bag gripped in the other. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on finishing with the player she had been working on, glad to have a few minutes to collect her thoughts.
It would be so easy to let him come with her, a relief to have someone on her side, watching her back. But she couldn’t be that shellfish, he had people who loved him, people who would be upset if he got killed. Once finished, she stood up, squared her shoulders, and prepared for a battle.
Without a word, she grabbed her bag and headed for the tunnel to her car, knowing that he would follow. He caught up to her in a few strides, then fell in step next to her. “I got your letter, guess you couldn’t get away soon enough.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s for the best. For your safety.” She said, trying to walk faster.
“You can’t get away from me that easily.” He said, pulling on her arm and making her stop.
“I have to. You just have to believe me.” She said.
“At least you could have told me in the letter why you had to leave, I deserve at least that much.” He said, looking into her eyes.
“Don’t you think I would tell you if I could? I don’t want this to end this way anymore than you do. It’s killing me and you’re just making it harder.” She said, pulling away and starting for the elevator to the parking garage.
“I don’t think you understand how much I can help. I have a lot of connections, not only in this town but across the country. I’m a billionaire for heaven’s sake, money can buy just about anything, including your freedom from whatever is going on.” He said, following her into the elevator.
She was silent for a long time, a war going on inside her. She wanted more than anything else to tell him everything, have him fix everything. But she didn’t want him to get killed and no amount of money was going to buy her way out of this.
“You can’t go with me. We’re not going to discuss it any more. I’m leaving, but someday I’ll be back. I promise.” She said, stepping out of the elevator.
Sebastian, not happy with her response, reached for her again and pulled her to him just as a gun shot rang out. He heard the bullet whoosh by his ear and reacted immediately, pulling Leslie to the ground with him. Two more shots rang out, the bullets hitting the concrete wall behind them.
Sebastian had covered Leslie with his body to protect her, but now all had grown quiet, so he lifted his head and looked in the direction the shots had come from. He spotted the shooter way up in the corner of the garage, perched on the top of an SUV. He didn’t have a good angle on them where they were on the floor.
His car was parked on the other side of a concrete wall, if they could get to it, they could make a quick escape. Sliding his body off of Leslie’s he pointed to his car and motioned that they should crawl to it. It would be a long trip across a very open space, but the shooter didn’t know that Sebastian had spotted him so they had the advantage.
He was also relieved that he’d brought his new mustang today, it was his favorite car but he didn’t drive it much. But, it was fast and they needed fast now, that guy might not be working on his own. If he had someone waiting outside, speed might be the only thing that saved them.
Taking deep breath, he gave Leslie a little shove and they began to inch their way toward the car. Several shots hit the wall behind them but obviously the shooter couldn’t get the right angle. Sebastian heard him cuss, then the unmistakable sound of him getting off the roof of the SUV.
“Run.” Sebastian said, getting to his feet and pulling Leslie to hers.
They made it to the car and jumped in, they could hear feet pounding on the pavement of the garage behind them. Sebastian threw the car into gear and backed up, knocking the man down just as he came around the corner, huge gun in hand.
“Get down now and hold on.” Sebastian said, throwing the car into gear and flooring it.
They sped out of the parking lot, tires squealing and crashed through the security gate, the guards waving their arms at them until they saw the man with the gun come running out of the garage. They both pulled their guns, yelling at him to stop, but he ran the other way and disappeared into the city.
“Stay down there, I don’t know if we’re being followed. I don’t know where to go, I’m just going to drive for now.”
“Okay, but then you’re going to drop me off at the bus station.” She said, from where she was crouched on the floor board of the passenger seat. She tried to sound tough, but it was hard to do.
“No way, whatever is going on, I’m in it now. You think they won’t come after me now?”
She just buried her face in the seat, suddenly too weak to fight with him anymore. “Fine” She said, her voice muffled by the seat.
“What?”
“I said, fine. If you want to get yourself killed trying to keep me safe, there’s nothing I can do about it. Can I get up yet, I feel stupid.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s safe. I don’t think anyone is following us, but you’re probably better than I am at this so you check.” He said, clearly still mad.
She sat up, then began to scan the traffic around them, after several miles she was satisfied that they weren’t being followed. “We’re clear. I need to go to the bus station.”
“I told you that I’m not leaving you now. We’re in this together and now you better tell me what is going on.”
“I will but I need to go to the bus station and pick up my other bag.”
“Okay, but you better start talking.”
By the time they arrived at the bus station, she’d told him most of what had happened that night in Las Vegas. He parked the car and listened while she told him the rest of the story, ending with her multiple calls to Michael and the strange call she’d made to the other number. They sat in silence while he absorbed everything she’d just told him.
“You see now why I didn’t want you to get involved and now you are. It’s not like they won’t know who you are.” She said, sudde
nly bursting into tears as the reality of that sunk in.
“Hey, it’s okay. I can take care of both of us. We just have to disappear for a few weeks.”
“I should have never gotten involved with you, it’s going to get you killed.” She said, the tears still running down her cheeks.
“I think you’re underestimating me. Let’s dry these tears and go get that bag, then we’ll come up with a plan.” He said, gathering her into his arms.
She continued to sniffle for a few minutes, feeling some relief just to no long have to keep any secrets from Sebastian. “Well, at least I don’t have to keep this a secret anymore. That’s a relief if nothing else.”
“Just think, we now get to spend the next month together on the run. Kind of romantic, don’t you think?”
“This is not exactly my idea of romance, just remember that.” She said, finally able to smile.
“That’s better.” He said, kissing her.
“I’ll be right back.” She said, reaching for the door.
“No way are you leaving my sight.” He said, getting out of the car too.
He followed her into the bus station to a wall of lockers, she pulled a key out of her pocket and opened one. Pulling a big duffle bag out, she smiled at him and said. “Insurance.”
Back in the car, she unzipped the bag to show him that it was mostly full of clothes and personal items, but also held a big baggie full of cash. “This is my insurance, enough cash to live on for a month easily.”
“Where did you get that? There must be thousands of dollars in there.”
“This is the money that I won in Las Vegas, I’ve been carrying it around with me since that night.”
“You kept all that money at the bus station?”
“It seemed like a good idea. Those lockers are monitored by security cameras so I wasn’t worried about it getting stolen. Plus I knew that if I needed it I might not be able to go home to get it, and I was right.”
Be Mine Forever (Brothers From Money #2) Page 7
