Turning and walking back to her room, she already missed Ellis. His smile, his laugh, his keen intellect, and even his grumpy demeanor before his coffee.
If this was what being strong felt like, maybe it wasn’t what she wanted to be.
Chapter Eleven
Awkward and cold. That’s how Peyton would describe her relationship with Ellis after their conversation last night. She was awkward and he was cold. Now that she’d pushed him away, she didn’t know what to say or do. All the friendly, warm actions that she’d come to depend on from him were gone.
Normally he’d be up first in the morning, have the coffee made and the newspaper spread out over the table. She’d read aloud to him from the articles while they ate breakfast. It had been a silly thing she’d done her first day out of the hospital after the nurses told her that Ellis had read to her every day while she was in a coma.
Today, the coffee had been made but there had been no smiling greeting. There was no chatting as she picked at her eggs and toast. They orbited around one another in the suite as he read his emails and she pretended to read the headlines. He wasn’t being cruel or nasty. He was simply being professional.
She hated it, but she’d brought it on herself.
Ellis folded the newspaper. “We need to go out and get another burner phone and maybe even change hotels. I’m getting that feeling again. Yesterday I felt like someone was watching us but keeping their distance.”
His cop’s instincts. He’d kept her alive this long so she wouldn’t argue with them now.
“I’m tired. Do you mind if I stay behind here in the room? I can look for a new place to stay while you get new phones.”
He gazed at her sharply, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I don’t want you out of my sight.”
She hadn’t been for days but after last night, she simply needed an hour to herself. She couldn’t begin to gather her thoughts about this man when he was right next to her. He had a way of muddling her thinking and making her want to curl up in his lap, closing out the cruel world around them.
“I’ll stay here,” she pressed. “I won’t open the door for anybody. Wouldn’t I be safer here than out on the street?”
Stroking his chin, he pondered her plea. As smart as he was, he had to know this wasn’t because she was tired. This had everything to do with them.
“I don’t know–”
“You said it yourself. Anyone could get to me out there.” She pointed to the windows, the sun shining brightly outside this morning. “Surely the room is the safest place for me?”
He shook his head, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “And anyone could get you in here. The lock on that door isn’t solid steel. One good swift kick and it would fall apart. You’re vulnerable wherever we go, but at least if I’m with you I can watch for threats. No, you come with me.”
“But–”
“Goddamit, Peyton, will you listen to me?” he growled, hopping up from the chair. “I’m trying to keep you alive but if you don’t give a shit, I’ll catch the next flight back to the States while you visit Buckingham Palace and have tea with the Queen.”
That was his frustration and hurt talking so she didn’t rise to the bait. Her fingers curled around the edge of the table and she took another scalding sip of her coffee before replying.
“I do give a shit,” she said quietly. “I was just–”
“Trying to fucking avoid being in my company,” he stated, ice dripping in his tone. “I know. I’m a grouchy ass detective with bad table manners. Got it. Now get your fanny out of that chair and get ready to go. When we get back, we need to decide what we’re going to do next. If Jensen or your parents aren’t going to tell us anything more it might be best if we just went back home.”
Her home or his home? Separately or together? She didn’t take offense at what he’d said. She’d been around him long enough to know when he was hitting out at others like a bear with a sore paw. He was also worried as hell. His shoulders were rigid and his gaze was constantly darting around, looking for anyone that wanted to hurt her. The only place he even slightly relaxed was inside the suite. The immense stress he was under had to be taking its toll but he never complained about the lack of sleep or the incredible responsibility.
Retrieving her purse, she followed Ellis out of the hotel, neither of them saying a word. It was a relief to be outside and doing something, even if it wasn’t a fun or pleasant errand. Craning her neck to look up into Ellis’s face, all she found was the scowl she’d first seen when they’d met. It was his default expression with most people.
“Maybe we should call the others when we get back to the room? Find out if anything has changed at home,” she suggested, trying to break the chilly ice that had settled between them. All her instincts were urging her to reach out and take his hand but his remote demeanor had her keeping her distance.
“That’s fine.”
No, everything wasn’t fine. She’d screwed it up.
They couldn’t even talk to each other anymore. This was a man that knew some of her more humiliating secrets and she couldn’t find the words to make everything okay. She’d meant to push him away and she’d succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. What had she thought he would do? Smile and continue being wonderful when she’d given him an emotional smackdown? Maybe Bailey and Willow were right. She did live in a little optimistic fantasy world.
His arm went around her waist and curled tightly around her arm, but he stayed facing forward. “Listen to me closely, princess. Do not look over your shoulder, but I think we’re being followed.”
Her pulse kicked into high gear as adrenaline flooded her veins. He hadn’t been short with her because he was mad. He’d been watching to keep her alive.
It took every ounce of willpower not to turn her head and look. She wanted to see what he saw but then he hadn’t turned around either. This was all instinct. “What do we do?”
The sidewalk was crowded as they continued down the street. Her skin crawled as she could physically feel eyes on her back. She’d thought she’d become used to the idea of being watched.
Guess not.
“I’m deciding that now. We have a few options, each one worse than the last. We could try and catch a taxi and hope we get lost in the traffic. We could get to the nearest Tube station and catch the next train to anywhere. We could go into one of those shops and hope they have a back door into an alleyway. We can keep walking and try and shake them.”
He was right, none of them were ideal.
“I trust you.”
For a moment she thought his steps had faltered but he’d simply pushed them forward, trying to get her walk faster. They were moving quickly down the sidewalk now and she’d broken out into a sweat, whether from fear or exertion she didn’t know. Maybe both.
“Do you?” he asked, his voice tight. “Because they’re gaining on us. I can feel them behind me. I think there are two of them. I hope, anyway. Two I can take. Three or more and I just might get my ass kicked.”
She didn’t know what he was talking about but he continued speaking as if she did. “This is how we’re going to play this, Peyton. We’re going to dart in and out of these shops. I don’t think they’ll try anything when there are a lot of people around. But if we get separated for any reason, we need a meeting spot. Where is that place you’re always talking about?”
“The Tate Modern, and I’m not leaving you.”
She could see the corner of his mouth turn up. “I could have sworn not twenty minutes ago you were anxious to ditch me. Here’s your chance.”
She hadn’t been thinking straight. “What happened to I’m safer with you?”
“Normally I would stand behind those words but I can’t guarantee that you and I can stay together. Let’s see if we can shake them. If we can’t, we’ll get in the first taxi we can find and get the hell out of here. You have your passport, right? We can’t go back to the room.”
She did. He’d always preached that she shou
ld be ready to abandon the hotel at any moment. It looked like she was going to lose her favorite red cotton sweater.
“What if they follow us in another taxi?”
“I didn’t say it was a perfect plan. I need to call the others and then find a place to lie low until I figure out our next move.” His tone was soft but urgent as his fingers flew over the face of his phone. “Remember what I said. If anything happens to me, you find someplace to hide for a day or two, wait for the others. Have them come get you. Do you understand?”
She did and she didn’t like it in the least. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
They were stopped at the crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn. “You will do what you need to do to survive. If they hurt me or kill me, you need to run. Far and fast. I can’t help you if I’m incapacitated so don’t hang around to assess the damage.”
“You’re a grouchy old bastard,” she muttered under her breath as they crossed the street.
“And then some,” he agreed. “They’re even closer now. It feels different this time. Normally they just hang back and watch. They’re stalking us like prey, making us walk in circles, trying to confuse me. Let’s go into that bakery.”
The prickles on her neck were growing in intensity. Her own heart was beating so loudly it was amazing that all of London couldn’t hear her. The smell of freshly baked bread permeated the air as they crossed the threshold into the shop crammed full of people.
“This way,” he said suddenly, grabbing her arm and dragging her around the counter. The employees were so busy with the crowd they didn’t even notice two people heading into the backroom. “Don’t say anything while we walk through here. With luck they won’t notice us.”
Her mind whirred and she nodded. She kept her head down as they walked by the hot ovens and out of the door that had been propped open to let in a cool breeze. Quickly they shot down the alley and into the back door of another shop. This back area appeared to be a storage room but luckily no one was in it as they hurried through another door to what she hoped was the main area.
They almost smacked into a young woman when they opened the door and she whirled around, hands on her hips, an unhappy expression on her face.
“What were you doing back there? That’s for employees only.”
Ellis shot her his most charming smile. “Sorry. Lost Americans. Lovely country.”
They were out the front entrance and back on the street before she could reply. Half running now, they crossed the street and headed up the block.
“Did we lose them?”
“I think they split up and one of them is behind us. We need to try another tactic. Are you ready?”
Probably not, but it didn’t matter anyway. Her answer was lost in the wind as he opened the door to an idling taxi and shoved her inside, tossing a stack of money at the driver and shouting at him to go. Now. The driver’s mouth hung open but he seemed to get the message, revving the engine and tearing away from the curb.
The cab driver turned sharply and she fell against Ellis, her stomach heaving in her abdomen and her body trembling all over.
“The Eye,” Ellis grunted, twisting in his seat so he could see out of the back window.
“Did we shake them now?”
He turned back, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath. “I think so but just in case we’ll take this cab to The Eye and then switch to a new one. Looks like we can’t go back to the hotel and I think staying in London is also a huge no. I think we need to get to the station and take the first train out of the city.” He looked at her strangely. “Peyton, are you listening to me?”
She nodded numbly, barely able to speak. “Yes.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know.”
The thought of what could have happened back there had slapped her sideways, grabbing her complete attention.
As the taxi sped through traffic, the enormity of what had almost happened hit her like she was running into a brick wall at a hundred miles an hour. Evandria had escalated and were now actively seeking them. Wanting them dead. A wave of nausea came over her and she had to fight to keep her breakfast down, her hand pressed against her stomach.
They were sitting ducks and Evandria’s men were the hunters.
Time to disappear.
Chapter Twelve
The train ride to Oxford took less than an hour and a half. Ellis and Peyton had left everything behind so they were going to have to replace all their clothes and toiletries and then find a place to stay for the night.
He’d given all of his cash to that cabbie to get him to drive like a maniac and break a few traffic laws.
He’d be upset if he and his friends hadn’t thought ahead. Both Josh and Chase owned corporations and they’d each given him a corporate credit card in case they needed a large expenditure but didn’t want to use their names. Evandria probably knew about their company names but it wouldn’t be the first listing they’d look under. It might slow them down. A little.
Once he found them a place to stay, he and Peyton could sit tight for a day or two until he, Chase, and Josh decided their next move. His vote was to return to America. He felt more in control of the situation there, although he didn’t know why. It was just as dangerous in the States as in London. At least if he was in Williamsburg, he’d know the local cops and have backup when things got messy like today.
It was too bad he and Peyton weren’t in Oxford on vacation. It was a lovely place and the people seemed friendly, although Ellis had already coached her not to chat too much with anyone. The one thing he didn’t want them to do was make any sort of impression on the locals. It would be hard for a woman who looked like Peyton to fade into the background but they needed to try. If Evandria’s goons came asking about them, Ellis wanted the people to be able to honestly say they hadn’t seen them.
“First things first,” he said, that feeling of being watched no longer present. For now, at least, they had some breathing room. “We need new burner phones and we need clothes and toothbrushes.”
He wasn’t sure he liked the way Peyton looked at him as if he had two heads and three nostrils. Did she think they should be doing something else?
“How can you be like this?”
“Like what?”
She motioned around them. “Like…this. One minute we’re close to being annihilated by a secret society and the next we’re picking out underwear. That was probably the single scariest moment of my life back there. They wanted us.”
He nodded, careful not to feed into her fears. She needed him to be calm and strong right now. “They did, but they didn’t get us. They won’t get us if I have anything to say about it. As for how I do it, I just try not to think about it.”
Cocking her head to the side, she rubbed her temple. He needed to make sure she didn’t overdo. She wasn’t long out of the hospital. “That’s the big detective secret? Just don’t think about it. Words of wisdom.”
“Everything isn’t a sonnet, princess. Now let’s buy you some panties. Hell, that may be the first time in my life I’ve said those words.”
They didn’t get far before Ellis’s phone buzzed and he checked his texts. Chase and Josh were all over the situation as he’d known they would be. He stopped on the corner and moved out of the way of foot traffic, keeping Peyton at his side.
“Josh, talk to me.”
“Are you there?” his friend asked. “We got you a place to stay centrally located about a ten minute walk from the station. According to the website, there are lots of shops and restaurants close by. The reservation is under my corporate account. I texted you the information.”
One item checked off the list.
“That sounds great. Hopefully this will be the last call on this phone and we’ll be on a new one here within the hour. What about you?”
“We’re moving to the next on the list.”
Ellis had given his friends several burners and he had the li
st of numbers in his pocket.
“Good move. We can’t be too careful, especially after this morning.”
“Do you really think they were trying to kidnap Peyton? Maybe you too?”
He was convinced of it. They’d been too close for anything else.
“I do,” he said firmly. “They’re raising the stakes since Caldwell was caught and now she’s talked to her brother and father. I think we can safely say that they didn’t like that at all.”
Peyton elbowed him in the ribs. She didn’t like it when he talked about her as if she wasn’t standing right next to him.
“I’ll call you when we get settled into our room. Then we need to discuss the next steps.”
“We can come get you. Willow said she can have the jet gassed up and be there in no time.”
Ellis had thought about that but it seemed more dangerous to have the four of them traveling. He wouldn’t put it past Evandria to take down an airplane. If they hadn’t already. Everything that had happened in the past was now suspect.
“I think we should lie low for a few days. See if they try again.”
“Whatever you think. We can talk about it later. Anything else we can do for you?”
“Nothing. We’ll talk tonight.”
He hung up and turned back to Peyton who had been waiting patiently. Sort of.
“Are you ready to go shopping? It’s on Chase today.”
Wrinkling her nose at him, she nodded her head. “How many days am I shopping for?”
“I don’t know. Let’s start with two and go from there.”
And no more. He wanted to get them home as soon as humanly possible.
It was back to awkward. While they’d been on the run, Ellis had – mostly – reverted to the man she’d become close to these past weeks. Always intense, he’d gone into overdrive getting them out of London but he’d succeeded, which was why they were hanging out in the hotel room, still alive. Still breathing.
Kiss Midnight Goodbye (Midnight Blue Beach Book 3) Page 8
