Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL
Lennon
It’s official.
My short-lived freedom is over.
Living in the basement of a small-town library and pouring everything I have into a new job to prove myself might not be a dream for some, but it was for me.
I thought enough time had gone by that I was safe. If I only had a passport, I would’ve left the country. There’s no way Andrei would risk crossing the border into Canada. He won’t even get on a commercial plane.
My only hope was hiding in plain sight. There was no way I could work without a phone, and there was really no way I could buy a new prepaid cell every week.
Talk about throwing up red flags at work.
Devon worked for British intelligence. I had no idea that was the case until after I took the job.
After Blake gave me the lowdown on everyone in town, I was too desperate to keep my job to leave.
My only hope was that he was too afraid to step into the U.S. of A. But I guess my desperation is nothing compared to his.
I didn’t escape quietly.
If I left a tsunami in my wake, then Andrei is a tornado who found me and followed me all the way across the country.
Through all this, all I can think about is the way Jett claimed me. I’ll never forget the way his lips felt on mine, the way he held me to his chest, or the way he tasted.
Jett has a way of pressing me for information at times but giving me silence when I need it most. It seems all he has to do is look at me to know what I need.
I’ve never had that before.
No one has ever cared what I need.
We finally escaped the atrium. When the elevator doors shut, Jett never let go of my hand, and I didn’t argue.
I might have fallen into a puddle on the floor in gratitude.
His hold gave me the strength I needed to put one foot in front of the other.
I don’t even care what happens next. Andrei is out of sight for the time being.
Jett’s door beeps when he unlocks it. He opens the door and gives me a nudge. It’s the first time he’s let me go since we saw Andrei. “Let’s get you inside.”
I do as he says and drop my bags to the floor. The tremble in my tone proves what I’ve been feeling ever since Andrei sent me that text. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I never meant to drag you into this.”
He tosses my duffle onto the bed. He’s a mix between pissed and frustrated.
I don’t blame him either way. “I’m not worried about me.
I want to know what that was and why your creepy-ass uncle seems to think you’re his.
We’ll get to the rest of the long list of shit you need to explain, but let’s start with that.
You clearly didn’t want him to find you, but he did.
The car is making sense now. Not completely, but marginally. ”
I shake my head. “I can’t. It’s bad enough that Andrei is here. He’ll have to leave eventually since there are no rooms available. I’ll go back to my office for the night. No one is getting into the back offices without permission. I’ll be fine.”
At the mention of leaving, Jett loses whatever patience he was holding onto. “You’re not leaving this room tonight, and you’re damn sure not doing it by yourself. That guy looked like he wanted to tie you up, throw you in a trunk, and take you against your will.”
The blood drains my face, and my knees go weak. I take a step back and my ass falls to the edge of his big, king-sized bed.
Jett moves in front of me. “Holy shit. Was he really going to do that?”
I shrug.
“What the fuck, Lennon? You’re a grown woman. What kind of uncle would do that?”
I can’t take it anymore. I have nowhere to go and nothing left to lose. “He’s not my uncle, okay?”
Sarcasm bleeds through his tone. “Well, that’s a relief. I feel so much better letting you leave on your own since you’re not actually related to the guy who’s giving crime docudramas a run for their money.”
Tears pool in my eyes.
He drags a hand down his face before pulling a chair right in front of me. “Sorry, even though I meant every word. If he’s not your uncle, who is he?”
I stare at my entwined fingers in my lap. “I worked for him ... sort of.”
Jett leans forward and does what he did right before he kissed me. He lifts my chin and forces me to look into his beautiful dark eyes. “What do you mean sort of?”
“It’s really fucked up, Jett.”
His hand slides up the side of my face to cup my cheek. “You’re scared.”
I wet my lips but can’t bring myself to say it, so I nod.
His thumb brushes my cheek. We sit here for long moments. It seems like he’s trying to figure out what to do with me.
I need to let him off the hook. “I’ll leave—”
But he interrupts and does it with his thumb pressed to my lips. “It’s been a long day. Get your stuff and do what you need to do to get comfortable. I’ll order room service. Not what I had planned, but dinner delivered from The Greenhouse doesn’t suck.”
I pull his hand from my face. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to. Take all the time you need. We’ll talk when we eat.”
“I don’t have anyone I can trust.”
“That’s why you’re here.” He stands and pulls me up with him. “You can trust me.”
He’s about to let go of my hand, but I grip it tighter. “Why?”
He doesn’t answer.
He pulls me into his chest and claims my face again like he did downstairs. It was the act that pushed Andrei over the edge. When Jett kisses me this time, it’s not for show or to piss anyone off or to keep me safe.
This time there’s no tongue, but it is intense in a whole new way. It’s chaste and way too short. He leaves me wanting more when he pulls away far enough to look into my eyes. “That’s why. I’ve wanted to do that for days. I’ll make sure you know that you can trust me in every way.”
I bite my lip.
“Lennon?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re not leaving here tonight. And you’re not leaving my side until we get this shit figured out.”
I finally give in.
Not because I have to.
But because I want to. The need to trust someone overwhelms me.
“Okay.”
He finally releases me. I pick up every bag we brought with us and go straight to the bathroom. I may be able to trust him, but that doesn’t mean I have to tell him everything.
There are some things that I’ll never tell anyone.
Jett
Iorder enough food for four people, because I have no idea what she wants. I open my cell and type in the name that’s etched in my brain.
Andrei Petrov.
I’m not surprised, but I am.
There’s nothing. Not even a useless White Pages listing for him.
I fucking hate my forced medical retirement from the Army every day, but today it sucks more than ever. I have no in. No contacts. No high-level security access to any fucking thing.
I flip over to a text thread that I rarely use.
Me – I need a favor.
Devon – Well, well, well. We just got done talking to Blake.
Fuck. The kid is too likeable to be pissed at. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Me – Yeah, we’ll talk about that later. You have contacts. Harlow told me. I need information on someone.
Devon – Someone other than Lennon Shaw?
Me – I’ve got that covered on my own.
Devon – That’s what I hear, mate. I thought I worked fast. Still doesn’t mean I’m fucking happy about it.
If I didn’t give a shit about Lennon trusting me, I’d tell him he has more pressing things to worry about under his roof.
Moving on.
Me – I want to know everything there is about a guy named Andrei Petrov.
I don’t get an answer right away, but I do get a fuck ton of bubbles.
Me – Don’t ask why, because I won’t tell you. At least not yet.
More bubbles.
Me – I’m going to assume your answer is a yes. And you can thank me for coming straight to you instead of Harlow. If I have to ask her to ask you, I will.
Devon – That’s bloody low, and you know it. I can’t say no to her in anything.
Me – I know. Should I text her instead?
Devon – Fuck no. Do not involve your sister. I’ll see what I can do.
Me – Appreciate it ... bro.
Devon – I didn’t realize we were at the bro stage yet. Good to know. I’ll remember that when I want to emotionally blackmail you.
Me – I’m actually looking forward to that.
Devon proves when he’s had enough, he’s had enough.
Devon – I’ll hit you up when I find something. Don’t wait up. I’ve used and abused my contacts in the last few months. I’ll do some digging on my own first.
Me – I’ll take it.
Devon – If Lennon quits on me and runs away, I’ll hold you responsible.
I’ll hardly be responsible, but I don’t tell him that.
Me – Fair enough. Tell my little sister hi.
And that’s it. No bubbles and no answer. But I know Devon well enough to know he’ll come through for me.
And depending on what Lennon tells me tonight, we’ll see if she’s telling the truth.
I turn when I hear the bathroom door open.
Lennon stands there in a pair of ratty sweats that swallow her whole. Her hair is piled high on her head. This time, she really is makeup free.
She’s so fucking beautiful and tortured, I can’t take it.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
I lift my chin. “Fuck calories and cholesterol tonight. I’ve got a lot of food coming. Hope you’re ready to talk.”
She bites her lip.
Shit.
This isn’t going to be easy.