by S Cinders
“I guess the most important question is, ‘Did you want to kiss him?’” Mandy asked.
Alyssa nodded. “Hell yes, but maybe also no.”
Kim laughed. “Well, now that we have that cleared up.”
“I know,” Alyssa laughed as well. “It’s just that everything is so confusing right now and I know that the worst thing I could do would be to get physically involved with the FBI agent that’s protecting me.”
“But?” Mandy prompted.
Alyssa screwed up her courage and spoke the truth. “But I like him—really like him. There is something about being with him that makes me feel at peace. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Kim placed a hand on her arm. “It makes perfect sense.”
“And it doesn’t help that he’s so damn hot,” Alyssa grumbled.
“I really need to see this guy,” Mandy said, arching a brow.
“Maybe it’s all in my head,” Alyssa added, “because this morning he was all business. And the first place he wanted to go was Nate’s office. Once he learned Nate was here, he drove straight here. I don’t get it. Am I supposed to just be Agent Tabor’s indefinite sidekick?”
“It’s better than being his suspect,” Kim replied wisely.
“That’s another thing,” Alyssa replied. “I’m not so certain that I’m not a suspect. I honestly don’t have any idea of how the man feels about me. It’s frustrating, but I know this isn’t the time to be worried about my sex life or lack of one.”
“It’s always a good time to be worried about your sex life,” Mandy chimed in. “I wonder if your FBI agent would be interested in poker night. It’s hosted at our place next, and we can have a chance to spend some time together to plot our strategy.”
“Okay, Nancy Drew,” Kim said with a laugh. “Let the poor girl breathe. If you don’t want to talk about Agent Tabor, you can always come and play with baby Charlotte. My niece is the most beautiful baby in the entire world.”
Mandy patted Kim’s stomach. “As will be her cousin when he makes his entrance in the world.”
“It must be nice to have a sister,” Alyssa commented, noting the two interacting with each other. “I was an only child. My uncle never had children, so I am the only one left in my family.”
“I’m sure you are grateful to have your uncle still with you,” Mandy said kindly.
Alyssa flinched. Visions of her uncle flashed before her face, followed by the murder that had played itself over and over in her mind.
“What did I say?”
Alyssa heard Mandy ask the question, but it came to her as if through a haze. The blood—there was so much blood.
“Alyssa?”
Agent Tabor’s loud voice shook the memory away.
“Yes?” she asked shakily.
“It’s time to go,” he said shortly. His eyes took in the wild look in her eyes. The way she had responded to Mrs. Brand’s innocent question about her uncle had been telling. It would appear that Scott needed to pay Frank Vauban a call.
“Thank you for a lovely day,” she said to Kim and Mandy before gathering her things and meeting Scott near the door.
“Are you all right?” he asked gruffly under his breath.
“Peachy,” she whispered back and slipped beside him and under his arm so that she was now leading.
Her ass brushed the front of his jeans. Damn it all to hell, had that been intentional? There was only so much that he could stand. Just the thought of getting his hands on that round ass had his cock thickening in his pants.
It was neither professional nor appropriate for him to get involved with a suspect.
Only she didn’t look like a suspect. She looked like a beautiful woman that had been put through far more than she deserved. She also looked like a fireball that would likely burn him before tossing him back.
Scott didn’t have any desire to lose his job or discredit the Bureau, but he had a strong desire to shove his length inside of her and pretend that nothing else exists.
When he got to the bottom of whatever the mystery was surrounding her, she'd be free game. Glancing up at her, Scott fought the instant attraction that had been there from the moment they'd met. Was that a little wobble on her fancy-pants shoes?
"Alyssa?" he asked, causing her to stop. Once again, he came in close, allowing her sultry perfume to waft around him. But there was also another scent.
“Are you drunk?” he asked incredulously.
11
Much to Alyssa’s horror, her body chose that moment to hiccup. Her newly manicured hands quickly covered her mouth as she blushed prettily. “I’m not drunk.”
Scott’s eyes softened and a slight smile teased his lips. “I’m not shaming you, Alyssa. I was just surprised. I hope you had a good time with Mrs. Brand and Mrs. Livingston?”
Alyssa nodded. “Yes, they were lovely. It seemed, at least for a short time, that everything was normal again.”
“I can imagine,” he said dryly. “I don’t suppose that you want to tell me what caused things to go off-course?”
Alyssa felt that wall she’d erected between them slam back into place. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It was just some random break in.”
Scott’s lips pursed as he eyed her warily. Instead of pushing her further as he had the night before, Scott took a different approach. “Let’s go get some lunch, shall we?”
Relief washed over her. “I think a little bit of food would be a good idea. It might soak up some of this wine.”
Two hours later, Alyssa leaned back against the soft leather chair and laughed, with eyes dancing and feeling completely at ease, as Scott relayed a story about his kid sister.
“She truly told your date to prom that your last girlfriend was prettier?”
Scott grimaced. “It wasn’t our finest moment; that’s for sure. Ivy has always been outspoken. When she was younger, they said she was on the spectrum.”
“Autistic?” Alyssa asked.
Scott nodded. “She’s extremely high-functioning. Normally you wouldn’t know if she didn’t tell you. However, if you’ve been around anyone on the spectrum you would probably notice the similarities. She is brilliant and fully aware of it.”
Alyssa liked the way that Scott smiled as he thought about his younger sister. She also felt a pang of regret that her parents hadn’t had more children. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been loved or had a happy existence. She just felt that somewhere along the way she’d missed out on something.
“She was certainly a surprise for all of us,” Scott continued. “Anyhow, Ivy’s in college. I don’t know what she’ll end up graduating in. Knowing Ivy, she will have a few majors under her belt...”
“What do your parents think about that?” Alyssa asked.
“They worry about her, of course,” he answered. “But she’s a good kid, and they know that I’m here if Ivy needs anything. I just can’t believe she’s old enough to graduate. It has always seemed like she was such a little kid.”
“How many years apart are you?”
“Twelve years,” Scott replied. “I was horrified as a twelve-year-old to realize that my parents were still having sex. I don’t know what I’d thought. I suppose the idea of the stork wasn’t completely out of the question. Then when mom and dad went on and on about how long they had tried for another child, it was the worst form of torture.”
“And yet you adore your sister,” Alyssa said, stating her observation.
The tips of Scott’s ears pinked a little, but he didn’t look away. “I do adore my sister. In terms of schoolwork, especially mathematics, Ivy always excelled. But she struggled quite a bit with personal relationships, and kids can be pretty mean.”
Alyssa nodded. “They can be the worst.”
Scott continued, “She told me once that she didn’t need to have friends her age because she’d always have a best friend in me. I was twenty years old. The last thing that I wanted was some eight-year-old little girl following me
around everywhere.”
“I can’t imagine you pushing her away,” Alyssa said kindly.
Scott shook his head. “I couldn’t, and I’m so glad that, in my stupidity, I didn’t destroy that relationship.”
“I’m sure you weren’t completely stupid,” Alyssa replied saucily.
“Oh, I was,” he assured her. “I thought mullets were the ultimate cool hairstyle. I was trying to grow a beard, but it only grew on the sides. My dad told me it looked like pubic hair.”
Alyssa choked on her drink, unable to contain her laughter.
“Him, I haven’t forgiven,” Scott replied with dancing eyes.
“But the question is,” Alyssa asked, “Have you grown your beard out since?”
“Lord, no!” Scott unconsciously brought his hand up to pat his handsome face. “Likely it would be far different now. When I was twenty, I barely had to shave twice a week. But in recent years it’s more like twice a day to have a close shave.”
Alyssa thought about the five o’clock shadow that had graced his cheeks the night before. They certainly did something for her.
“Now it’s your turn,” Scott said, reaching for the bill.
“How much do I owe you?” Alyssa asked, pulling out her purse.
Scott’s expression fell. “You don’t owe me anything.”
Alyssa wasn’t sure what she’d said to upset him. One moment they were sharing stories of their past and the next he was looking at her with a blank expression. It didn’t make sense.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” she offered in a low voice. “I just don’t want to take advantage of our relationship. I know I’m here because of the FBI.”
He nodded. “Precisely, otherwise you would never be here with a guy like me.”
Alyssa’s head snapped up. “Wait… What? What are you talking about?”
“I get it,” he said shortly. “You want to keep things professional. That’s probably how it should be.”
“I never said that,” Alyssa returned hotly.
Scott’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t have to.”
The waiter came up to the table and eyed them with disdain. “Could you please keep it down? We’ve got other patrons that are complaining.”
That seemed to work like a bucket of water on Alyssa. Embarrassed, she paid her half of the check and quickly got to her feet.
Scott threw some bills down and grasped her arm to escort her out.
Neither said a word as they made their way out of the swanky New York restaurant.
“Why do you hate me so much?” Alyssa said, breaking the silence once they were safely on the street.
“Hate you?” Scott barked an incredulous laugh.
“It’s not funny,” Alyssa snapped.
“I never said it was,” he was quick to answer.
“Then why are you acting like this all of a sudden? What did I do?”
Scott huffed. “You were fine talking to me all afternoon. But when I try to pay, you act like it’s a date and you immediately shy off. You won’t tell me anything about what happened to you, to your family. I feel like we’re playing this cat-and-mouse game.”
“That was never my intention,” she broke in, starting to feel some anger of her own blossoming. “You’re just as bad. Coming on to me in your kitchen and then dumping me with strangers at the spa.”
“You know Mrs. Livingston,” Scott pointed out.
“Yeah, well, define ‘know.’ I have met Kim Livingston twice in my life before today, and both of those times I was clinging to her husband like a spider monkey would be its mother. I’m still shocked they didn’t try and rip my hair out today.”
“Why were you all over her husband?” Scott asked.
Alyssa opened her mouth to answer and then quickly shut it. “Look, I’m not trying to be difficult. I just want to keep everyone safe.”
“You aren’t safe as long as I don’t know what kind of danger you’re in. You need to tell me what’s going on!”
“And you won’t be safe if I tell you,” she replied softly.
Scott leaned in close and whispered, “Take a chance on me, Alyssa. Let me help you.”
12
Alyssa’s heart felt like it was pounding so hard that it could come straight out of her chest. She was tempted, horribly tempted, to share what had happened with her uncle. However, it wasn’t something that you talked about out on the city streets.
“Tell me,” Scott encouraged, taking her hand. “Let me help you.”
“You can’t help me,” Alyssa choked out. “I’m not just being evasive or acting like a spoiled brat. You don’t know, and I can’t tell you. Look, let’s just go back to your apartment.”
Scott hesitated only a moment before nodding and escorting Alyssa to where the car was parked.
Neither spoke as Scott made his way to the driver’s seat and locked the car doors. Alyssa noted the way Scott checked the mirrors and surrounding buildings. His back was ramrod straight as he started the car and pulled away from the curb.
Was he upset with her, or did Scott sense the same danger that she had?
It hadn’t been over twenty seconds when a sleek black car pulled away from the curb and began to follow them.
“Looks like we have a friend,” Scott said, tightening his hands on the steering wheel.
Alyssa turned and got a good look at the car. The windows were heavily tinted so they couldn’t see who was inside the vehicle.
“Who do you think it is?” Alyssa asked in a shaky voice.
Scott glanced at her. “That’s the same thing I was going to ask you. Come on, Alyssa. I need to know what we’re up against.”
“Maybe it’s not about me,” Alyssa said weakly. “Maybe it’s someone else from another case. You are an FBI agent. Surely there are dozens of people that want to kill you.”
Scott gave her another dry look. “Nobody comes to mind off the top of my head.”
The other car slowly edged its way forward, coming closer and closer until there were mere inches between their fender and Scott’s bumper.
“Hold on,” Scott warned through clenched teeth.
With a sharp yank of his wheel, Scott turned their vehicle to the right, narrowly avoiding an oncoming dump truck. The black car had no choice but to slam on their brakes or hit the larger machine, buying Scott and Alyssa a little time.
Scott maneuvered the vehicle down a side street and then, as soon as he hit the main road, they took off like a shot.
Avoiding the open areas, Scott drove them down every back alley. There was no possible way the sleek black car could have followed them, and yet, the moment they pulled out of the latest side street, the black car was on their tail once again.
“What are we going to do?” Alyssa asked, as the black car once again moved up within inches of Scott’s bumper.
“We go home,” Scott said firmly. His no-nonsense tone helped to calm Alyssa’s nerves.
“And let them find out where you live?” Alyssa asked incredulously. “I don’t think so.”
“I think it’s our only choice,” Scott snapped, right as a strange whistling noise went past the open window.
“What in the fuck was that?” Alyssa shouted in horror.
“They’re shooting at us,” Scott said grimly. “Hold on to your purse, this could get a lot worse.”
Another whistling noise whipped past the window.
“Duck,” Scott yelled, trying to force Alyssa’s head down as he took a corner way too fast.
“You’ve got to slow down,” Alyssa cried out just as the car behind them slammed into their bumper. Alyssa shot forward, knocking her head against the glove compartment. For a moment, she saw black dots invading her vision.
“Alyssa, for fuck’s sake, are you all right? Alyssa?”
“Yeah,” she answered weakly to Scott’s panicked question.
Another crash into the bumper sent their car spinning out of control. The contents of Alyssa’s stomach threatened t
o reappear as the world spun. Helpless to control the car, Scott grabbed Alyssa's shoulders and attempted to protect her as the car began to roll.
Images from the other night came flashing back into Alyssa’s mind. This had to be Uncle Frank or one of his goons.
They say when you’re about to die, your life flashes before your eyes. Alyssa wasn’t sure if that was true, because instead of her life flashing before her eyes, the events of the past few weeks were suddenly coming together.
Things began clicking into place, like a jigsaw puzzle, each piece prompting the next. Her parents’ car crash just a few short weeks ago, followed by Uncle Frank reentering her life. The police insisting that their crash was an accident, despite Alyssa's insistence that her father was an extremely careful driver.
Alyssa had exclaimed repeatedly that her father wouldn’t have been speeding. He never drove recklessly. It had been Uncle Frank who convinced her she didn’t know him as well as she’d thought.
It was Uncle Frank who was suddenly the executor of her parents’ will, even though the brothers had gone through a falling-out decades before. It had been Uncle Frank standing there with a knife up to the public official’s throat in his Manhattan home.
It had been Uncle Frank who’d killed the man in cold blood and mocked her terror. He had issued the warnings if she told anyone. Alyssa knew that she’d been a fool.
Now she and Scott would die, and he’d never even know who’d been behind it. Scott would die because she hadn’t the guts to stand up to Frank. Instead, she’d played right into his hands, and now that she’d kept her mouth shut, nobody would even know who to look for.
No, Alyssa didn’t see her life in those final moments. Instead, she was filled with regret for things she’d never done.
Another violent lurch and the car spun in midair before landing upside down with a resounding crunch. The car was smashed beyond recognition. Smoke billowed from the engine and the smell of gasoline began to fill the air.
Inside of the vehicle was still as death.
