Hold On To Me

by Elisabeth Naughton

  “I don’t think Shannon should go with you,” Ryan said. “Until we know what’s really going on, I think it’s safer if she’s not even in the picture.”

  Mitch agreed. “What are you thinking?”

  Glancing down at his wife, Ryan said, “I’m think my parents should disappear with all the kids for a while. Kendrick gave me the name of an elite security firm he’s used. They’re supposed to be the best of the best. I want them where no one can find them.”

  Ryan had obviously already realized the Cyphers would make the connection between Mitch and his brother-in-law. And having lost his family once before, he wasn’t about to let it happen again.

  “Are you sure about this?” Kate whispered.

  He leaned down and kissed his wife’s wrinkled brow. “Don’t worry, Katie. Nothing’s going to happen to the kids. And I’m pretty sure my folks will be thrilled to have them all under foot for a while. Even Shannon. They adore her.”

  “Simone will never agree to letting Shannon out of her sight,” Mitch cautioned.

  “Yes, she will,” Ryan said. “If we all convince her it’s the safest thing for her daughter.”

  Kate wrapped both arms around Ryan’s waist. “I’m ready for things to just be normal, you know?”

  “You and me both.” He hugged her back. “And they will be. Soon.”

  She drew back, ran a hand over her curly hair, and sent Mitch a weary look. “I’m gonna go lie down. Something tells me I’m going to need my rest for tomorrow.”

  Ryan reluctantly let go of her hand and watched her leave the conference room with a sappy, I’m head over heels in love look on his face.

  When the door closed behind her, Mitch asked the question that had been foremost in his mind since Kate had stepped into the room. “What about her?”

  “No one’s touching her,” Ryan said with dead calm. “She and I’ll get out of the city until we know more too. I’m not about to let anything happen to her either.”

  Mitch glanced down at the half-empty cup in his hand. Ryan’s plan made sense, but there was one very major flaw.

  “You have to tell her the truth,” Ryan said quietly.

  Yep. That was the flaw. Mitch knew Ryan was talking about Mitch’s association with the Cyphers, but right now all he could think about was the look of utter betrayal on Simone’s face when she’d found that earring. “I will.”

  “I’m serious, Mitch. If you’ve learned anything from me, it’s that secrets—big ones like this—can destroy everything. I nearly lost Katie because I thought I was protecting her by not telling her the truth. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Tell Simone everything. Up front. No holds barred. She’ll understand.”

  Mitch wasn’t so sure. And he couldn’t take the risk. Not yet. The first thing he needed to do was get Simone to agree to leave with him so they all had time to figure out what was really going on. If he let loose about his association with the Cyphers too soon, she’d cut and run faster than Speedy Gonzalez.

  “I will.”

  “This is important, Mitch. You gotta tell her everything.”

  He looked up. He and Ryan had been friends for years, since long before Ryan had started dating his younger sister, and in all those years, he’d never flat-out lied to Ryan. But tonight he did. Because telling Simone the truth wasn’t an option. At least not yet.

  “I will,” he said again. “I’ll tell her everything. Don’t worry. I’m not as dumb as you.”

  A sad smile spread across Ryan’s lips. “You are. You’re just too stupid to realize it. Now, let’s call Kendrick and wake his ass up so you can get into his house.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Simone wasn’t sure how she’d let herself be talked into this stupid idea.

  She looked out the passenger window of the sleek black Audi SUV Ryan had arranged for her and Mitch and watched the forest rush by. Her skin felt prickly, her head too jumbled with what-ifs, and whenever she chanced a look at Mitch beside her in the driver’s seat, wearing those faded jeans, that loose gray Henley, and the black knit skullcap Ryan had gotten for him, she was reminded of only one fact: he was the last person she should be with.

  Nothing had been resolved between them, he was still as pissed at her as before, and each time she closed her eyes, all she could see was that earring she’d found on his bed. Being alone with him was like waiting for a bomb to detonate.

  “I think we should go back.” She turned away from the window and fixed her gaze on the snazzy console of the new vehicle, so much nicer than that interior of the beat-up old Land Rover he loved.

  “We’ve been over this a hundred times already.”

  Frustration welled inside her. He wasn’t even bothering to look at her. “I know. I just… Shannon would be better off with me.” Where Simone could see her and touch her and make sure the girl didn’t do something stupid, like run off again.

  “Shannon’s safer where she’s at. Ryan’s people will make sure no one finds her. End of story.”

  His voice was blunt and unyielding—a lot like Ryan’s when he set his mind on something—and Simone didn’t like it. Crossing her arms over her chest, the red cable knit sweater Kate had brought her scratchy against her skin, she looked out the windshield and worked to keep her temper in check. A light rain had started falling the farther they drove into the California mountains heading east, and she was starting to worry it might turn to snow before they got wherever it was they were going.

  God, she hated snow. And she did not want to be snowed in anywhere with Mitch.

  “I want to call her.” They’d been out of cell phone range for twenty minutes, and every second she was unable to talk to Shannon was wearing against Simone’s already frayed nerves.

  Mitch heaved out a sigh, rested his elbow on the windowsill, and rubbed his forehead. “You’re gonna be a joy the next few days. I can already tell.”

  She looked his way, then wished she hadn’t. A few locks of his hair peeked out from behind the knit cap, and the dark stubble on his jaw from three days without shaving was so damn sexy, she had to fight the urge to run her hand over it like she’d done a thousand times before.

  Forcing her gaze back out the windshield, she ground her teeth. A week hiding out in a cabin alone with him while Ryan’s PI looked for information on Steve’s case? She’d never survive it. Especially not with her conflicting emotions where he was concerned.

  Dammit, those raindrops were definitely turning to snowflakes. Her anxiety shot up another notch. “No one said we had to spend time locked up together. In fact, I think it would be easier if we weren’t. If we go back now, I can find my own place to hide until Ryan’s guy gets back to him with more information.”

  Mitch slanted her a yeah right look. “Not a chance, sweetheart. I let you out of my sight, and I know exactly what you’ll do. You’ll cut and run. And I’ll be left with those Delta Team-wannabes all over my ass. No, until we figure out what’s going on and how to get out of this mess, you’re stuck with me.”

  Her frustration grew to exponential levels. It was all she could do not to snap at him. Then a thought occurred.

  She bit her lip, but figured, what the hell. It was worth a chance. “There is a way out that doesn’t require either of us to be together.”

  “Witness protection? No, thanks. I happen to like my life. Besides, you said your case manager was compromised.”

  “Not witness protection. People disappear every single day. With Ryan’s resources, you could do just that for a while. At least until things calm down. Take a few months off and go somewhere. I’m sure you have plenty of vacation time banked.”

  He looked at her, his features a blend of disbelief and incredulity, then refocused on the road and shook his head. “It’s still abandoning my life, and sorry, sweetheart, but I’m not interested.”

  Simone’s frustration bubbled up and over. “Dammit, Mitch—”

  “Look, we’re not making any decisions until we know more, so just deal wit
h it. You got me into this mess, you can stick around until we can figure a way out of it. In a week, if we still don’t have any answers, you can argue your case until you’re blue in the face.”

  “It’s only worth the effort if the opposing party will listen,” she snapped, “which we both know you won’t.”

  She huffed and looked back out the front window. The man was exasperating. He didn’t want to be with her any more than she wanted to be with him, so why was he agreeing to this? And on top of all that, the snow was getting thicker, the skies darker, just like her mood.

  “Hey.” He shifted lanes to pass a semi. “I can be as agreeable as the next guy.”

  Simone gripped the armrest at her side. Why the man couldn’t use a blinker, she’d never know. Most days, that fact only irritated her. Today, on slick roads that were already turning white, it terrified her. “Yeah, I know how agreeable you can be. I felt it stabbing me in the back.”

  He turned to look at her, and her skin grew hot, but she didn’t meet his gaze. Couldn’t. Because she could still feel that earring pressing into her flesh, followed by the bitter bite in her chest when she’d realized what it meant.

  “Do you really want to go there right now?” he asked in a low voice.

  No, not now. Not ever. She’d decided late last night that breaking up with him had obviously been a good idea, considering how fast he’d turned to someone else, and even though she regretted how she’d gone about that breakup, at least now she knew she’d saved herself—and Shannon—from heartache somewhere down the line. Better to do it now, rather than when Shannon was really attached to him.

  Right. Like Shannon isn’t already head over heels in love with the guy, just like you.

  She shifted away from him, leaned her head against the headrest, and closed her eyes, fighting back the misery. “I’m going to sleep. Wake me when we get there.”

  So I can hide from you in my bedroom for the next few days. And pretend my life is not a total disaster.

  Yeah, this was turning out to be a brilliant plan.

  “This is the house?”

  Mitch could tell from the tone of Simone’s voice that she wasn’t impressed. He drove slowly forward and glanced in his rearview mirror at the gate closing behind them. Ahead, a three-car garage sat below an A-frame style log cabin. Trees and brush butted up to both sides of the garage, preventing a view of the rest of the property. There was no front door, no path, nothing but what looked like a tiny cabin.

  “Worried?” he asked.

  Simone crossed her arms and shrugged, avoiding eye contact like she’d been doing the whole trip. “When Ryan mentioned your rock star friend owned this place, I expected something a little…I don’t know…fancier.”

  By fancier she meant bigger. So she could get away from him. For a second, Mitch considered turning around and finding someplace small so they would be right on top of each other. That, at least, would force her to deal with issues still unsettled between them, but common sense told him that was a bad idea. No one knew they were here, no one could link this place to either one of them, and Kendrick’s security was top of the line. Which, right now, they needed.

  The gate opening had signaled the security monitor, and without even having to let anyone know they’d arrived, the middle bay of the garage rolled upward.

  Lights illuminated the large garage as they drove in and parked. White walls surrounded them. A brand-new silver Range Rover took up the first bay; a dusty black Yukon took up the third. Four different ski pairs hung off hooks along the back wall, and a variety of different size boots were lined up below.

  Mitch shoved the car into park in the middle bay and popped his door. “I guess you’ll find out in a minute, won’t you?”

  As they were climbing out of the car, a door on the left side of the garage opened, and a man with dark hair, wearing jeans and a sweater, waved their way. “Welcome. I’m Ben Ford. I hope your drive up wasn’t too bad.”

  Mitch shook his hand. “Thanks. I’m Mitch. This is Simone. The drive was fine. Snow’s picking up a little now though.”

  Ford held his hand out to Simone, who accepted it hesitantly. He rested his hands on his hips. “We aren’t supposed to get more than an inch and it’ll probably melt by tomorrow. Why don’t I show you around, then I’ll come back and get your stuff.”

  “We can grab it,” Simone said.

  Ford smiled, a twinkle lighting his eyes as he focused on Simone, but she didn’t return the smile. “All part of the job.” He turned and headed back for the door he’d come through. “Follow me.”

  So she wasn’t just being cold to him. Mitch wasn’t sure if that was good news or bad. He made it to the door, but Simone’s hand tugging on the sleeve of his Henley drew him to a stop.

  “Who is this guy, and how do you know we can trust him?” she whispered.

  Heat permeated his shirt where she touched him, and the sweet citrusy scent of her perfume wafted in the air around him, reminding him of every second they’d spent together the last six months. Part of him wanted that back, but an even bigger part just wanted answers. “He’s part of Kendrick’s permanent onsite security team.”

  “And Kendrick’s rarely here,” she countered. “That doesn’t exactly put me at ease.”

  They were barely on speaking terms. If he had any hope of getting through the next few days so he could get the answers he wanted, he needed to work on being civil and stop being such a smartass.

  “Look,” he said, forcing the animosity from his voice, “I know you’re nervous, but there’s no one I trust more than Kendrick—except maybe Ryan. If Kendrick trusts Ford, then I trust him.”

  The look in Simone’s brown eyes said she didn’t feel the same, but she pursed her lips. “Fine. For now. But let’s not give him any personal information. The less he knows about us, the better.”

  Mitch nodded. “Agreed.”

  She let go of his arm, and a cool brush of air replaced the warmth, sending a shiver of disappointment all across his skin. He wasn’t sure what was going on behind the scenes, he wasn’t even sure what Ryan’s PI would find, but he was sure of one thing: he wasn’t over her. And at the moment, he wasn’t sure what to do about that—or if he even wanted to do anything about it.

  Stepping back so she could walk in front of him, he watched as she brushed her dark, shoulder-length hair back from her face and headed through the door. Her body brushed his as she moved, and his stomach tightened just being close to her again.

  Shaking his head at his pathetic weakness, he followed her through a small hallway. A set of stairs disappeared up and to the right. Ahead, Ford reached for a parka from a line of hooks along the left wall, shrugged it on, then punched a code into the keypad next to another door.

  “The garage is separated from the house for privacy,” Ford announced. “So be sure to bundle up before you come out here for anything.” He pushed the door open and led them across a curved walkway that angled toward an enormous log-style house, already lit up against the darkening sky.

  “Wow,” Simone whispered.

  “This more what you were expecting?” Mitch asked her.

  Simone’s gaze skipped over the two-story monstrosity. Pine trees rose to the gray sky, and around the side of the building, Mitch could see the beach and lake beyond.

  “I guess,” she answered. “This is insane. No one can even tell this place is back here from the road.”

  “That was the goal.” Ford stopped at the front door and slid a key into the lock. Mitch and Simone waited while he unlocked the door, then pushed it open. “After you.”

  Mitch followed Simone into the house. The walls were decked out all in wood, the ceiling with rounded beams. He glanced around while Ford typed a code into the security system, his gaze skipping from the wide staircase that led up to the second floor, to the archway that opened to an office on his left, then ahead to a short hall that opened to an enormous great room and kitchen with a two-story rock fireplace that ro
se all the way to the ceiling and a wall of windows that looked out over the lake.

  Ford led them into the kitchen. “I stocked the fridge earlier. If there’s something you want that’s not here, just let me know, and I can get it for you. The bedrooms are all upstairs. There are four. All have views of the lake, so use whichever one you like best. Every door and window is wired, so be sure to use the code before you go in and out. There’s a hot tub on the patio and a small pier accessible from the yard, but keep in mind that there are sensors that alert us when someone moves from the beach to the yard, so if you plan to go down to the pier or the beach, be sure to deactivate that sensor or let me know so I don’t think we’ve had a breach.”

  Simone turned a small circle, taking it all in. “Which bedroom do you use?”

  “I don’t stay in the house,” Ford answered. “Security’s set up in an apartment over the garage. You’ll barely even know I’m here, unless we have an issue.” He looked from Simone to Mitch, then stepped back and motioned with his hands. “Follow me.”

  He led them through an archway and into a library. Bookshelves lined two adjacent walls. A couch and two plush chairs filled the space, angled toward the fourth wall and built-in entertainment center. But instead of pointing out the features, Ford pushed on a section of the bookshelf molding. A click sounded, then the entire middle shelving unit opened outward with a hiss, revealing a thick steel door. Lights came on in the room behind.

  “This is the safe room,” Ford announced, stepping into the small space no bigger than Mitch’s laundry room at home. The walls were all concrete. Three were bare. The fourth was decked out with a counter holding a computer keyboard and joystick, cabinets below, and a series of monitors mounted to the wall above. “If an unauthorized person steps foot on the property, you’ll hear my voice on the intercom instructing you to go to this room. Once inside, lock the door and wait for my instructions. These monitors are linked to mine in the security center so you can see what’s happening on the property.”