by Kelly Moore
“I am,” I state, getting up on my feet.
“These physicians get paid based on the amount of people they see and how many times that one patient sees him. They bill for each visit. So, the more people they diagnose with cancer, the more money they get kicked back. Not only from the insurance companies but the pharmaceutical companies that they have made deals with. Are you following me?”
“So, you’re saying that they misdiagnosed healthy people by telling them that they have cancer?” He steps past Brooklyn and stands in front of me.
“I wouldn’t call it misdiagnosing. They intentionally tell the patient they have cancer and send them through treatments. I’d call that fraud, and in some cases, murder. These patients go through grueling treatments, many of them lose their jobs, their families, and some of them even commit suicide because they don’t want to burden their families. So, yeah, I’d call it murder.” I can feel my blood pressure rise from getting angry at the realization of what these companies have done.
“He’s right. These people that died didn’t have cancer, so that’s why the vaccine killed them. It attached to their healthy cells and grew cancer cells at an accelerated rate. I have to get back to my office and expose the truth.” She tries to walk past him, and I grab her arm.
“If you thought your life was in danger before, you’ve just surpassed that. They know you can prove what they’ve done. There is no way in hell they are going to let you or anyone that knows about it live. That’s including you, Mr. President.”
“I’m so sorry, Daddy.” A tear falls down her cheek.
“You look at me, Brooky.” I can’t contain my laughter. “There is nothing for you to be sorry for. You’ve discovered the cure for cancer. That was the proudest day of my life.” Brooklyn sniffs. “Don’t you ever be sorry because assholes want to profit off a disease that kills millions of people.” She folds into his arms like a small child.
“We need to get her and my brother in witness protection immediately.”
“What about you?” Brooklyn turns to face me.
“We need a plan C, remember?” I lock my gaze on hers. “I’m plan C.”
“What are you going to do?” she asks, her voice filled with worry and confusion.
“First thing I’m not going to do, is tell you because you ruined plan B.” I pull her willingly into my arms.
The president lets out a breath. “So, you really do love my daughter.”
“Trust me, I’ve tried not to.” I kiss the top of her head and run my hand down her hair. “In fact, I’d like you to talk her out of loving me. You and I both know it will never work out, sir.”
Brook fights her way out of my arms and hits me in the chest. “I can love who I want to love and no one, including my father, will tell me otherwise, you jerk.”
“We’ll deal with this later. Right now I need to make some phone calls. We have to get you new identities and into a safe house. You need to change your entire look. That goes for you too, Jake,” he says, walking away with his phone already to his ear.
“What am I supposed to do, wear a pink wig?” Jake puts his palms out in front of him.
“We’ll figure something out. Why don’t you go upstairs and try to get some rest before your life is turned upside down tomorrow,” I tell him.
“Brook’s right. What about you?”
“I’m going to go after the big players myself. I can’t do that with a new identity. I want them to see who is gunning for them.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Brook yells. “They will kill you.”
“Not if they think I’ve turned against you.”
“I don’t like it, John. If you can’t convince them, you’re a dead man walking,” Jake says.
“Let me worry about that. Your new job is to protect Brooklyn.” I lean in to whisper in his ear the location of cash and weapons on the property.
“Really? It’s been hidden in plain sight all this time?” He laughs.
“Before you go to bed, slip out and get what you need and load it in the Ranger.” I pat him on the shoulder to go and distract everyone else away from Jake.
I open a bottle of beer and join Matthew at the kitchen table. He sounds very presidential spewing off orders to whoever he is talking to on the phone. The agent stands a few feet behind him, keeping his eyes on me. Brooklyn tugs my leg out and sits in my lap. I really wish she wouldn’t do shit like this in front of her father, and yet, I’m glad she’s not embarrassed to be seen with me. She holds nothing back from him.
“You and Jake will leave with your father as soon as all the arrangements are made. I want you out of harm’s way as soon as possible.”
“I think I should stick with you. You’ve kept me safe thus far, and besides, you’re going to need me eventually.”
“I can’t keep you safe anymore. I meant what I said to your father. Don’t love me, Brook. It will only cause you and your father more trouble. He could lose everything that he has worked his entire life for, and I’m not worth the risk.”
She sits back and crosses her arms over her chest, staring at me with anger in her eyes. “I don’t happen to agree with you.”
“Well, whether you agree with me or not, you will do what you’re told, or neither one of us will be alive to argue the point.” I slam my fist on the table.
Her father cuts off his conversation. “He’s right, Brook. You have to go with me.” He turns his body toward me in the chair. “The safe house won’t be ready until Monday night.”
“That’s two more days. We can’t wait that long to move.”
“I have more agents coming in tomorrow night, so we’ll just have to be vigilant until then. Nobody knows I’m here.”
“It’s only a matter of time,” I huff out.
Chapter Twelve
John
I toss and turn next to Brook the entire night. I’ve been trying to come up with a plan to work my way back into the agency. Miles might be my best bet. I need to convince him somehow that I’m now on board with killing her. Then it hits me. I will put an obituary out that my brother has died. He will believe that I’m after revenge. I finally roll over, relaxing enough to close my eyes.
“Are you awake?” Her tongue is tracing my ear. I look up at the clock, and it’s only been five minutes since I shut my eyes.
“I’ve been up all night.” I roll flat, and she lays her head on my chest, her hand working her way under the sheet, stroking me.
My mind wants to tell her I’m too tired, but her hand feels too damn good. I lay my head deeper into my pillow and close my eyes. My breathing gets shorter and more erratic with every stroke of her hand. I fight off the urge to lift my hips to absorb her downward movement. The little minx licks my nipple, making it harder to stay in control. I let out a moan. and her strokes become harder, then faster. Just when I’m about to let go, she stops. I lift my head to look at her.
“I’m in control of this one,” she says with a lustful look. She climbs on top of me, grabbing her bare breasts and squeezing her nipples. Then she takes one of her hands and guides herself, ever so slowly, down my cock. She rocks her hips back and forth before she starts riding me. I grab her hips to control her movements, and she pushes them away. She lays the palms of her hands on my chest and lifts up and down. She bites her lip to stifle her scream, and she lets go, taking me with her.
She lies down on my chest with her chest still heaving. I brush the hair out of her eyes. “Good morning,” I say and smile at her.
A sadness sweeps over her face. “I don’t want this to be the last time we are together.”
I roll her off me and we both lie on our sides facing each other. I place my hand at the spot where her tummy meets her hip. “I don’t want that either, but we don’t have any other choice. So, help me god, I don’t know how, but you got to me. I’ve never let a woman under my skin. I couldn’t quit thinking about you after our first night.” I lightly stroke her stomach. “You weren’t wrong. I am in lov
e with you but saving you so you can save the world outranks anything I feel for you. For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of who I am. A man like me doesn’t deserve a woman like you, but God knows I want you so badly.” I wipe a tear before it falls from her eye. “Please do as I ask. Go with your father and keep an eye out for Jake. I hate that his life has been so entwined with mine. He deserves to be happy, not running for cover. I need to fix this for both of you.”
She props herself up on her elbow and wipes at her tears. “You make it sound like you’re never coming back.”
“That’s a real possibility, and even if I make it out alive, I can never come back to you. Your work and your father’s career won’t survive you being with a killer.”
She places her hand on my chest. “I want you to know that I love you, too. And that’s a first for me too.” I wilt in to kiss her and hear a commotion downstairs. We both jump out of bed and throw our clothes on, taking the stairs two at a time.
Jake and Brooklyn’s father, along with the CIA agent, are in the kitchen. Jake has “Eye of the Tiger” blaring from the radio, and the three of them are hitting the pots and pans with spoons to the beat of the music. Jake takes his spoon like a microphone and starts lip-synching to the song. We both sit on the bottom step, and I wrap my arm around her shoulder. “Who would have ever thought I’d be sitting in my own home watching the president of the United States rocking out to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ on pots and pans.” Brook laughs and gets up to join them. I relax back and enjoy the show.
By noontime, several more CIA agents have arrived, and they’ve taken up space in the kitchen. I order us all some lunch from a mom-and-pop place on Duval St. Since Matthew wants to tour the grounds and get some fresh air, Brook and I sit on the rocking chairs, watching as his agents follow behind him.
“I don’t think I could live like that.”
“Like what?” she asks with a mouthful of pizza and cheese hanging down her chin.
“Being surrounded by agents all the time.”
“I’d say you get used to it, but they are the reason I would escape to Chicago. I never had any alone time.”
“I get it, but now you’re always going to have to have bodyguards or agents surrounding you. Even after you have new identities, someone will have to keep a close watch on you.”
“What’s going to happen to my dad?”
“He’ll fight them with the power of the presidency behind him. He will be safe.”
“Will I ever be able to see him again?” She places her plate down on the table between us and turns her body to face me.
“If I know you, you will figure out a way and so will he.”
Jake joins us on the porch, and he has more color in his face than I have seen in years. “How are you doing?” I ask
“I feel like I have a new lease on life. I haven’t felt this good in years.” He reaches over and takes Brook’s hand. “Thank you for curing me. I’m so sorry that all this is happening to you. You should be out celebrating your accomplishments, not running for your life.”
“I swear, if it’s the last thing I do, I will hunt down the men trying to take down Brooklyn,” I tell Jake.
“Enough of this seriousness. Let’s get our suits on and take a swim.” Brooklyn jumps up and walks into the house to get her suit, and we follow after her.
By nightfall, the house looks like a war zone. There are maps and papers all over the kitchen table. Matthew called in his head of security to pinpoint a new safe house and work out a plan to get them moved to the new location. One of the agents brought bags of clothes and wigs for Brooklyn to disguise herself. A wig and a beard were given to Jake. There are a total of six agents here now. Three are asleep so they can take the next shift. One is hidden outside, one is by the front door, and one at the back door at all times. Each of them is heavily armed.
We will have one more full day here, and then we go our separate ways. I look around the room for Brooklyn but don’t see her. Jake is heading up the stairs.
“Hey, have you seen Brook?”
He looks at me and then his watch. “She went to bed about two hours ago. It’s two in the morning.”
Some bodyguard I am. I was so engrossed in the plans that I didn’t even see her slip out. I quietly open the door to our bedroom. She’s curled up in the middle of the bed, sound asleep. I stand and watch her for a few minutes. I would love to wake her and make love to her one more time, but she needs her sleep for what’s ahead of her. I slip out of my clothes and gently climb in bed next to her. I hear her mumble something before she rolls into my arms. With her soft body pressed against mine, I fall asleep almost instantly.
“What the hell is that?” Brook screams, causing me to sit straight up in bed.
“It’s the fire alarm.” I jump out of bed and pull on my jeans, Brook dresses just as quickly. I take my gun from my dresser drawer and cock it back.
“There is smoke coming from under the door,” Brook says as she points at the smoke rolling into the room.
“Open the window,” I tell her as I head for the door. “Do not leave this room until I tell you.” I turn the knob and smokes rushes in. I look down the hallway, and I can see flames climbing the staircase. I go to Jake’s room and beat on the door. “Jake, are you in there?”
I hear the door unlock and I rush through it. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I didn’t hear the alarm until you were beating on the door.”
“Come with me.” I take him to my room and hand him my gun. “You and Brooklyn go out the window. Do not let her out of your sight. If you can get to the Range Rover, pull it out of the garage, take it to the end of the drive, and wait for me there. See if you can find the agents that are supposed to be guarding us.”
Brooklyn latches on to my waist. “I’m not leaving here without you or my dad.” Her eyes are wide with fear.
“I’m going to go find your dad. He was sleeping in the downstairs bedroom. I will get to him and bring him to you. Now please, for the love of god, do what you’re told.” I grip her by the back of the head and plant a kiss on her forehead. “Go, and don’t leave Jake’s side.”
I wait and watch them climb out of the window. As soon as Brook’s feet hit the ground, Jake takes her by the hand and heads toward the garage. I snag a bandana out of my drawer and wrap it around my nose and mouth. I open the door and move toward the stairs that are almost engulfed in flames. I step on the top landing and jump over the rail, landing on my feet. Through the smoke, I can make out an agent slumped over in a chair. I make my way to him, avoiding the flames. He has a dart sticking out of his neck. I feel for a pulse. He’s still alive. Whoever did this probably knocked out all the agents. I pull him out of the chair and drag him outside where I find the agent that was guarding the front door. I pull them to safety and head back inside the house, dragging the hose behind me. I spray my way into the kitchen that the fire has already engulfed. I water down the flames leading to the bedroom door where the president was to be sleeping. The second my hand touches the knob, I hear it sizzle and feel the burn from the heat just as I jerk it away.
“Matthew, are you in there?” I listen but don’t hear anything. I spray the knob with the hose, trying to cool it down. I try again, and it has cooled off enough for me to open the door. The room is covered in thick black smoke, and I can’t see anything. I get down on my hands and knees and start crawling, feeling the area around me. A few feet in, my hand collides with a foot. I don’t have time to see if he’s alive or not. I need to get him out of here before the roof collapses down on us.
Smoke fills my lungs, and I start coughing. My eyes are burning, and tears are blurring my vision even more. I pick him up and throw him over my shoulder. His body is limp. I try to go back out the way I came in, but the doorway is now engulfed in flames. I hear the ceiling creak, and I jump out of the way just in time for the ceiling to come crashing down around us. I hit the floor and send Matthew flying into a dresser. I hear a faint mo
an as he hits. I scramble back over to him and pick him up again. The only way out is the window. I lay him on the bed and grab a shirt out of one of the drawers. I wrap it around my fist and crash it through the glass. One piece flies back, and I feel it as it slices my cheek. I flinch, but I don’t stop with my efforts. I have to get us out of here. I finish breaking out the glass, and I haul him over my shoulder again. The glass slices my bare feet as I step out onto the porch.
I get him to a safe spot on the grass, and I feel for a pulse. This time there is none. I start CPR, and after only one round, he’s gasping to draw air into his lungs. “You’re okay. I need to go see if I can get the other agents out. Stay right here, I’ll be back.”
He nods that he understood me through a coughing fit.
I run around to the back for the basement door. The three agents that were sleeping were on cots down there. I open the combination lock and swing open the double wooden doors, but it’s too late. The fire has taken over, and there is no way for me to get inside. “Fuck!” I slam the doors shut.
I head back over to Matthew, who is sitting up now. The Range Rover comes flying down the driveway with a fire truck close behind it.
Brook jumps out of the Rover before it even comes to a stop. “Daddy!” she yells and is on the ground beside him. Jake jumps out and looks at the house that is now a total loss. His hands rub his bald head as he lets out a cry. I feel his pain, knowing all our memories have gone up in flames.
Within a few minutes, there are four fire trucks, eight police cars, and an ambulance. The two agents, plus the one that was outside, have all woken up from the drug that was shot into them. They surround the president and Brooklyn. When the police realize who he is, they form a barricade around the property, not letting anyone in.
I walk over to where the president is now standing. “All of you need to leave here now. Have your men get you somewhere safe until you can get them to the safe house.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, Brooklyn is in my arms. She wipes the blood that’s running down my cheek. I need to have this looked at. I reach up to grab her hand and wince at the connection. She takes my hand by the wrist and rolls my hand over.
