Red on the Run (The Syndicate-Born Trilogy Book 1)

by K. M. Hodge

  Katherine reached for his hand when the orchestra began the first notes of the prelude, bringing Madam Butterfly to life. It had always been one of her favorite operas.

  How did he know? Does he like the opera too, or is this just an elaborate part of his seduction of me?

  She didn’t want to question this moment, and instead decided to push away her nagging thoughts and let herself be taken in.

  By the final scene of the third act, her carefully put together face was in danger of being put to ruins by the hot, wet tears that stung her cheeks. Alex wordlessly handed her the handkerchief from his pocket, and she dabbed the corners of her eyes, not wanting to miss the scene before her.

  During “Con Onor Muore,” he reached across and held her hand. The music took her far away from her own problems. It was too easy to slip into the magic of her connection with him. Her mind wanted to escape so badly that it let her heart take control—that, and it was too hard not to be charmed by this handsome, intelligent, and thoughtful man.

  ***

  Seito Sushi

  Orlando, Florida

  April 1, 2008

  11:00 PM

  ~~~

  After the opera, Alex had a CIA town car take them to Seito Sushi. Being himself and sharing something he loved—like the opera—with someone was new for him. He felt a riptide-like pull wrenching at his heart, leaving him raw and exposed.

  Is this love? It hurt, but it was a bittersweet pain that left him wanting more.

  As they sat in the car outside the restaurant, she looked at him with sparkling blue eyes that made him melt.

  “You really are a good investigator,” she said. “Opera. Sushi. I couldn’t have planned a better evening.”

  Alex exited the car and walked around to help her out of the car. He couldn’t have wiped the grin from his face even if he tried. “Maybe you need someone who cares enough to do the investigative legwork to give you what you want.”

  She looked down at their joined hands, but did not reply.

  The silence made him nervous, but he pushed it away and took her by the arm into the restaurant. They ordered a variety of things on the menu, and both agreed in the end that the unagi rolls with the eel were the best they had ever eaten.

  After dinner, they returned to their hotel room on foot, wanting to enjoy the beautiful night air. Two CIA agents followed at a respectful distance.

  “Alex, tonight was amazing. Thank you.”

  He paused mid-step to look her in the eyes. “But...?”

  “But... I’m in no position to start anything with anyone.”

  He nodded, taking her hand back into the crook of his elbow. He felt her body relax as they walked back the rest of the way in a companionable silence.

  It was after 1:00 AM when they finally arrived back to their room.

  Katherine took off her shoes with a sigh. She looked as tired as he felt.

  He took her request—to slow things down and give her time—to heart, but he needed one more kiss. Before she could make it to the bedroom, he pulled her against him, kissed her, and whispered into her ear, “I’ll wait.”

  She shivered in response.

  It physically hurt him to refrain from kissing her again. “Goodnight, Katherine.”

  “Goodnight, Alex.”

  As she walked away to the bedroom, she looked over her shoulder at him one more time. When her eyes met his, he let out a small laugh, and she rewarded him with a shy smile and blush in return.

  God, she’s beautiful.

  The next morning, Alex awoke to the sound of his cell phone ringing. “Hello,” he answered, still half asleep.

  Katherine came shuffling out of her bedroom with her hair askew from sleep. “Who is it?” she mouthed.

  He sighed and his lips grew tight as he handed the phone to Katherine. “It’s for you.” He tossed her the phone in irritation. “It’s Jason.”

  Katherine’s face lit up, which inflamed him with jealousy. In a sullen huff, he stalked off to the bathroom to clean up and cool off.

  ***

  Katherine watched Alex leave the room in an endearing huff before bringing the phone up to her ear. “Jason? What’s wrong?”

  “Kat, thank God. Are you okay?” His tone quickly changed from relief to accusation before she had a chance to answer. “Why did Agent Bailey answer the phone? Where are you? Your boss won’t tell me anything.”

  “Slow down. What do you mean, my boss?” She felt her face grow hot at his accusatory tone.

  “When the police and I couldn’t find you, I tracked down your boss—the one I gave the drives to. He’s right here next to me. I had to twist his arm to let me speak to you,” he said in a rush.

  “Jason, I’m fine. This is just a precaution. Can you put Agent Richards on the phone?”

  His whining voice rattled her nerves. She needed to know what was going on and she needed to know now. What was he thinking tracking down my boss!

  “Agent Mitchel?”

  “Yes, sir, I’m here.”

  “Are you well?”

  “Yes sir. Forgive me for being abrupt, but can you please tell me what’s going on?”

  “Agent, I have some bad news. I’m very sorry to have to tell you this, but your sister Addie was murdered.”

  “Oh God,” Katherine cried out, and her legs started to give.

  “There was a note at the crime scene saying that you would be next if you chose to continue on your current path. We have reason to believe that they know the case was a ruse.”

  She stumbled back and fell into one of the hard-back chairs in the room, and began to cry.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Richards continued. “We want to do anything and everything we can to keep you safe, which means we need to move up our timeline.”

  She wiped her eyes with the pad of her thumb, too choked-up to speak.

  “Are you ready to hear the new plan?”

  “Yes, please,” she stammered as she tried to calm herself.

  “Things are going to have to move rather quickly. First off, we are going to need for Agent Bailey to come back to Washington on the earliest flight out.”

  As her superior rattled off the rest of the instructions, Katherine tried to pay attention but all she could think about was how she’d never see her little sister again. When he finished giving her the new orders, she heard a soft sigh on the other end of the line.

  “I’m sorry again for your loss. We’re going to do everything we can to catch these guys. In the meantime, we need to keep you safe.”

  “Thank you.”

  “All right, I’ll shoot you a message when the marshal and his men get there. Be safe, Agent.”

  “Yes sir. Thank you again.” She ended the call and tossed the phone on the sofa, then headed towards the bedroom to get cleaned up. On the way there she wordlessly pushed past Alex. She could sense his concern, but was too numbed by the news to acknowledge him.

  ***

  While she cleaned up, Alex went downstairs and got them coffee. He wanted to give her a little space since she seemed upset.

  When he returned to their room, she was standing out on the balcony. Her green cashmere sweater, tight black leggings, flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes made her a formidable sight.

  A glass of golden liquid sat on the ledge. She held one of his cigarettes in hand, as well. He stopped at the doorway of the balcony, sensing that she had constructed a wall while he’d been gone.

  She took a puff of the cigarette and turned to face him.

  He walked the few feet that separated them and took the glass, which smelled like scotch, away from her and put it on the other side of the balcony, out of her reach. He placed a steaming cup of coffee in the spot where the scotch had been, and nodded toward it.

  She shook her head no and avoided his gaze.

  He snatched the cigarette from her hand and took a drag, finishing it off before putting it out in the ashtray on the ledge. He could tell she was gett
ing pissed off with him, but he didn’t care.

  “Want to tell me what that call was all about?” He pulled her lithe body against his.

  She gracefully broke from his hold and walked past him, disappearing into the bedroom.

  He took a deep breath before following her back inside. “What are you doing?”

  She paused, giving him an irritated look. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing to leave!”

  He crossed the room and reached out for her, but she inched away from his touch. “After everything that’s happened, you’re just going to storm out of here without giving me an explanation?”

  She glared at him with such venom that he immediately withdrew from her.

  “Get out. Just get out of here!”

  The raw display of emotion convinced him to turn around and leave the room, but the moment he did he heard her burst into tears and collapse on the squeaky bed. He slumped down into one of the living room chairs. The sound of her sobs made his heart ache. He couldn’t just sit there and listen to her cry.

  This is ridiculous! He jumped out of the chair and went to her.

  She looked frail, with her body curled inward and her face buried in her hands.

  He tentatively sat down beside her and tugged on one of her arms, pulling her into his welcoming embrace. To his great relief, she let him hold her until the crying subsided.

  A hard knock came to the door, startling them both. A soft voice announced, “Room Service.”

  We didn’t order any room service. He reached for his gun on the bed stand and rose to answer the door, glancing at Katherine’s worried face on his way out. Before he opened the door, he peered through the peep hole at the convex, distorted face of a bellhop.

  “We didn’t order any room service,” he said through the closed door.

  “I have a delivery for a Katherine Mitchel,” the bellhop responded.

  He threw open the door and stepped out of the way with his gun drawn. “Who sent you?”

  The young man’s eyes grew wide and his hands flew up in the air, causing him to drop the flowers. “Please don’t shoot!”

  Alex looked down at the flowers now lying in a heap on the floor. “Don’t move!” He crouched down, his gun still trained on the bellhop, and picked up the flowers.

  Katherine walked up behind him and took the elaborate bouquet from him.

  Alex motioned the frightened young man into the room and over to the sofa.

  Katherine plucked out the card and read it out loud. “Kuriosity killed the Kat. Enjoy your little affair, Red. It won’t last.” She dropped the flowers and the card and slumped into one of the overstuffed chairs. Scattered petals lay discarded around the bouquet, giving off the faint aroma of lavender and baby’s breath.

  “They know where you are. How do they know?” Alex asked under his breath.

  Her eyes closed. “It’s even worse than they thought.”

  He bent to pick up the card and tossed it at the bellhop. “Who sent you?”

  The man shook and stuttered, “I—it was left at the desk. I—I don’t know anything!”

  She looked up at the bellhop. “How did you know my name?”

  His fearful gaze met hers. “The man who dropped them off said to send them up to this room and ask for Katherine Mitchel. Please don’t kill me. I promise that’s all I know.”

  Alex kept his gun trained on the distraught young man while he grabbed Katherine’s deactivated cell phone from her bag. He scrolled through her photos, pulled up the first one he found of Charles, and showed it to the young man.

  “Is this the man who dropped them off?”

  The bellhop shook his head no.

  Alex sighed, lowered his gun to his side, and fished out his FBI badge from his jacket to show to the young man. “I’m going to need the surveillance tape with the man who dropped off this package. Is that understood?”

  The man nodded.

  “Good. Talk to your manager and make that happen. Go!”

  The bellhop jumped up and ran back out the door, which slammed shut behind him.

  Alex gave himself a moment to calm down, then put down his weapon and went to Katherine, who had gone back into the bedroom

  When he walked into the room, she looked up at him. “My little sister.... They killed my sister because of what I know.”

  She clutched at her abdomen. “Jason’s been trying to get a hold of me. He was worried because he couldn’t find me. A note left at her crime scene said that if the investigation continued, I would be next. They know where I am, Alex. I have to leave right away.”

  His chest tightened as he sank down onto the edge of the bed.

  She took a deep breath as she zipped her bag closed. “Jason finally tracked down Richards, who got to Barnes. Director Barnes himself is trying to get me instated into the witness protection program a day earlier than originally planned. In a few minutes, I’m supposed to meet with the Federal Marshal who’s to be assigned to me. It’s someone the Director knows personally, someone he trusts implicitly.”

  His phone buzzed with a text message from ASAC Richards.

  The marshal is waiting downstairs.

  It was most likely his friend Brian Williams, which made him feel a little more reassured. He relayed the message to Katherine.

  She responded over her shoulder. “Barnes wants you to return to Washington on the earliest flight out.”

  A numb feeling settled in as he stared at the floor. “I’m sorry about your sister.”

  She wordlessly grabbed her bag and started for the door. The light from the living room cast against her blonde hair as she paused and turned to face Alex with tears in her eyes. “Goodbye.”

  He sprung up from the bed in a panic, and followed after her, catching her before she could walk out the door. Desperate for her to stay, he spun her back to face him, causing her to wilt in his arms. Her lower lip began to quiver—his undoing.

  He wrapped her in an embrace, and a lump formed in his throat when she tilted her head and her glassy eyes looked up at him with unabashed warmth and desire. Without taking his eyes off her, he lowered his head and captured her lips with his own—imbuing her with his desperation.

  As the kiss deepened, Katherine wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Her soft velvety tongue welcomed his into her warm mouth. Whatever control he might have had started to unravel as he forcefully pressed her against the door, closing it shut behind them. He heard her gasp, but from pleasure or pain he wasn’t sure.

  His desperate kiss crushed her mouth, but it wasn’t enough to meet the deep-seated need that gnawed at him with each passing second. It hadn’t occurred to him to prepare for this moment when she would leave without him. He tried to push out of his mind the nagging voice in his head that said he should stop and let her go.

  As his impatient mouth explored the crook of her neck, his overeager hands worked their way underneath her shirt, making Katherine shiver and whimper in what he hoped was delight. His splayed fingers captured her breast, and she moaned deeply into his ear.

  Madness. This is sheer madness.

  Without thinking, he tugged her shirt up, only to be stopped by her shaking hand. “Alex... we can’t.”

  Her words sounded hallow in his ear. Unable to stop himself, he pressed himself against her.

  Instead of pushing him away again, she wrapped her arms around him and slipped her hands into the back pockets of his jeans.

  His hands once again found their way underneath her shirt, making her gasp and rub against him harder. “Don’t go! Just a little longer,” he said, pleading with her.

  Katherine cried out as his mouth once again nipped and sucked the sensitive spot on her neck, which he’d discovered the day before. When his hands abandoned her breast and started to tug at her leggings, she twisted her body away from him. “I have to go. They’re waiting for me,” she said.

  “Can’t we can just take off somewhere? Just you and me? N
o one will find us.” His hands grasped hold of hers and brought them up to his chest, where his heart beat for her alone.

  The anguished look in her eyes sliced through him, making the parting that much harder. He pulled her once more into his embrace, her hand still pressed against his beating heart, and kissed her with an aching tenderness. The salted taste of her tears filled his mouth. “Just you and me,” he whispered against her lips.

  She sucked in her bottom lip and looked away from him with her forehead still pressed against his. “I can’t. I have to go.”

  His antics were just delaying the inevitable. “You’re right. You should go.”

  He stepped back, picked up her bags, and handed them to her. Her face wilted before his eyes, and he shoved his hands into his pockets to keep himself from touching her again. “Katherine....”

  She turned partway, her eyes filled to the brim with tears. “Yes?”

  “I’ll wait.” His voice cracked but he didn’t look away.

  She rose on tiptoes and tenderly kissed him one last time, a short, sad kiss that did more to break his heart than appease it.

  In the space of one breath, she opened the door and left.

  As the door closed, he butted his head against it and angrily wiped away the tears that had begun to fall.

  Chapter 5

  Green Hill Cemetery

  Danville, Virginia

  April 4, 2008

  6:00 PM

  ~~~

  “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our sister Adeline Mitchel, and we commit her body to the ground—earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

  Alex stood at Katherine’s sister’s gravesite, shivering in the cold spring wind, an unseasonable cold April day at just thirty-two degrees. He shoved his gloved hands deep into his pockets in a vain attempt to keep them warm.

  As the ceremony concluded, he walked over to Katherine’s twin brother, Scott, and extended his hand in greeting. “Hi, Senator, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Alex Bailey, Katherine’s partner at the FBI. I just wanted to extend my condolences to you and the family over the loss of your sister.”

  Scott gave him a firm handshake. “Thank you. It’s too bad Katherine couldn’t be here. It’s as though I lost two sisters and not just the one. Have you heard from her? I don’t suppose you know where they sent her?”