Chapter 3
CHAPTER
THREE
Natalie stood near her front door for a few seconds after Timothy drove away, her father’s warning echoing in her mind. Men aren’t always who they pretend to be.
What did he mean by those words? Did he know something she didn’t?
She needed to learn that answer, and there was only one way she could think to find out.
Even though she’d known Timothy for three months, what did she really know about him? Sure, he was kind, funny, attentive. He remembered her favorite coffee order and actually listened when she talked about work.
But the specifics of his life remained vague. She knew he had a consulting job that required frequent travel. He had an apartment she’d never been inside. And she’d seen the way he sometimes got a faraway look in his eyes, like his mind had gone to another place though his body remained with her.
Before she could second-guess herself, she hurried through her house to the garage. Her hands shook slightly as she climbed into her silver BMW and hit the garage door opener.
She had maybe thirty seconds before Timothy’s car would be too far ahead to follow.
Natalie turned the key, and her engine roared to life. She backed out of the garage quickly. On the road, she spotted Timothy’s taillights turning at the end of her street.
Heart pounding, she followed.
She’d never followed anyone before, and it was harder than it looked in the movies. She had to hang back far enough to avoid being obvious while remaining close enough not to lose him.
Where exactly was he headed? His apartment? The airport?
He’d told her he lived in the neighboring city of Norfolk and that his place was nothing special. Had said her house put his home to shame.
She’d told him she didn’t care, but he’d just laughed off her words as if amused.
Would he head to his place now? Or was he headed straight to his business trip?
She supposed she was about to find out.
It was a good thing she had a full tank of gas.
As Timothy turned away from the resort area and headed south toward the rural part of the city, her muscles tightened.
This seemed like a weird direction to take for a business trip—and this certainly wasn’t the way to his apartment.
Her heart pounded harder in her ears.
The farther she traveled, the more the road became less congested with hardly any other vehicles.
Timothy was sure to notice the lone car behind him.
Self-doubt slammed into her.
Maybe she should turn around. Forget this whole crazy idea.
She was only doing this because her dad had put uncertainty into her head about Timothy’s trustworthiness. She’d wanted to prove her father wrong, and, in the process, reassure herself.
Besides, she’d already come this far.
Maybe she should just stick with this until she found some answers.
Drawing in a deep breath, she turned off the road.
She needed to make him think she’d disappeared. That made sense, right? She was no expert, but she did pride herself on being logical.
She cut her headlights, did a U-turn, and pulled back onto the road.
It was dark enough outside right now that maybe he wouldn’t see her vehicle behind him.
Maybe.
With her hands trembling on the steering wheel, she prayed she was making the right choice.
Hudson’s training kicked in the moment he sensed the surveillance.
Someone had been following him since he left Natalie at her house. He’d spotted the same headlights in his rearview mirror too many times for coincidence.
Then the car turned off the road and the headlights suddenly went out.
But there was no reason for someone to turn there. There were no houses nearby. No neighborhoods. No stores.
Sigma. It had to be.
Somehow the terrorist group had discovered his identity and connected him to Natalie.
His blood ran cold at the thought.
He wasn’t worried about himself.
But he was worried about Natalie.
He couldn’t stomach the thought of her getting hurt. If her father was truly the leader of the organization, Hudson didn’t think the man would actually harm his daughter. But that didn’t mean Natalie wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.
Besides, being the leader of Sigma would mean Richard had enemies of his own.
Once people who worked for Sigma realized they’d been deceived, they’d be angry.
Recruits from Sigma had led employees to believe they were working for a secret US government program.
They were actually working for a terrorist organization. They’d want retribution.
Hurting Natalie would hurt Richard.
Whichever scenario was true, Natalie could be hurt.
Hudson would do everything in his power to keep her safe.
He’d hoped to lose the tail on the winding back roads through the Pungo area, but he had no doubt the vehicle still trailed him.
Now he had to make a last-minute decision about what to do.
His jaw hardened as he turned off the winding country road onto a smaller road. A plan formed in his mind.
He knew exactly where he’d head.
He’d lead the person following him into a trap.
Then he’d demand answers.
He’d demand they leave Natalie alone. He’d insist she knew nothing about him and who he really was—because she didn’t.
Hudson kept heading down the narrow road, his muscles tightening as he prepared himself for whatever might happen next.