Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
OUTSKIRTS OF VERSAILLES, FRANCE
“How’d Carter pull this off?” Ella asked as she peered at what looked like a small castle from the window of the SUV the team had acquired about two hours ago, shortly after leaving Henry’s estate. They’d abandoned the three Suburbans “gifted” to them by French Intelligence in exchange for two vehicles, minus tracking devices this time. Another “how’d Carter manage to do that?” added to the growing list of questions in her head.
“It’s a bed-and-breakfast and closed for the season,” Griffin answered, which wasn’t quite what she’d asked, but maybe Griffin didn’t know how Carter had arranged for their temporary quarters.
“Hmm.” Ella turned her attention to Jesse sitting next to her in the back seat, his gaze laser-focused out the window. There’d been no time for him to change, and with his hand resting atop the rifle on his lap, he appeared to be expecting another ambush.
They were parked in front of the bed-and-breakfast, waiting for the rest of the Falcon team to give them the “all clear” that it was safe to go inside.
Jesse had barely spoken a word since they’d driven away from Rochella’s estate, which was now in need of extensive repairs, and probably a crime-scene cleaning crew as well. But they’d left without a drop of Henry’s blood on Jesse’s hands, and for that, she was grateful.
There had been a few harrowing seconds during her and Jesse’s showdown in that study when she wasn’t sure what he’d do though. She’d resisted the urge to visibly sigh with relief when he’d finally grunted and shoved Henry into his chair unharmed.
“You owe her a thank-you and an apology,” Jesse had grumbled before striding Ella’s way. He’d reached for her hand and guided her from the study before Henry had a chance to speak.
And now, here they were in front of a magnificent place that looked like something straight from Beauty and the Beast. But the alarming events that had transpired earlier that night were still playing out in her mind despite the fairy-tale setting.
She had to admit it was charming, made even more so by the patches of pristine white snow clinging to the shrubbery and coating the ground. Ella guessed the place was several hundred years old and had maybe been a small chateau in its prime before it’d been restored and modernized here and there over the years.
“It’s beautiful, even in the dark. I can’t wait to see it in the morning,” Savanna said wistfully as Griffin reached across the console for her hand. “They’re still watching us, though, right? We ditched the tracked SUVs, but someone has eyes in the sky, don’t they?”
“More than likely.” Griffin looked back at Jesse, who didn’t make eye contact, so he focused on Savanna. “Hard to ditch a drone, but swapping vehicles and taking a longer route to get here was more about losing a possible tail from the, well, bad guys.”
Oh, true. Ella hadn’t considered that possibility. She also wasn’t overly concerned that French Intelligence probably had eyes on them right now, even if they had used her as bait, luring her straight into danger for whatever reason.
But the French and CIA wouldn’t just let them get slaughtered by this Chechen, whom she still knew nothing about, would they? If he tried to attack them again, she had to believe the intelligence agencies would surely swoop in with air support or something. “So, you think if this, um, Chechen was having us tailed, you were able to throw them off?” And what about Zoran? Where was he, and did he still fit into the picture of problems?
“We did our best to shake off anyone on the ground,” was all Griffin said, which prompted Ella to lean closer to the window and scan the starry sky.
“At what point are you going to fill us in on what’s going on, and who this scary-sounding Chechen is?” Ella asked, probably for the fifth time since they’d left the Rochella estate.
“I think it’s best we all talk when we’re together in the same room.” Griffin twisted in his seat and peered at Ella. “Gray updated his dad and A.J. on the situation before we left Paris though.”
“Oh. Well, at least someone knows what’s going on,” Ella said when Griffin gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, I’m a ball of nerves. I didn’t mean to be pissy.” But then she couldn’t help but ask, “Did A.J. lose his mind when you told him what happened tonight? Is he okay?”
Had A.J., or well, maybe Beckett, hit a few walls at the news of this new problem? The Chechen?
She’d love to talk to her brother, but the guys had taken her phone and powered it off in Paris to prevent it from being used to track their location. Savanna’s as well.
“I imagine A.J. handled the news as any brother would,” Griffin replied. “But the Hawkinses need to beef up security in light of the additional threat. Rory and Chris as well.”
“You said Zoran most likely wouldn’t come after my family since that’s not his style, but this, um . . . Chechen might?” Ella asked, noticing Jesse shift on the seat, obviously uncomfortable by the fact that his best friend and sister were going to need more protection because of what was happening.
“According to Carter, anyone is fair game when it comes to that man, so we’ll need to bring additional support to Alabama to watch over everyone there,” Griffin responded, still keeping his comments vague-ish about this “man” that the guys clearly feared more than Zoran. “Jack’s motioning for us to come,” Griffin tossed out a moment later.
“Wait,” Jesse said, and Ella startled at his sudden command. “Let me get the door for you. I want to have your six as we walk in.”
Have my six? Her eyes locked on to him as he exited the vehicle and prowled around the front of the SUV with the grace of a panther. Upon opening her door and helping her step out, he quickly escorted her toward the side door where Jack waited for the four of them.
“You okay?” Savanna whispered to Ella as she came up beside her. “I am, but I’m not, if that makes any sense. Just trying to keep as calm as you were back in the safe room. You know, be optimistic that everything will work out.”
Savanna really was an optimist, especially since she’d met Griffin because, with his help, everything had worked out when she’d found herself embroiled in trouble. She’d even found love again because of that danger. Ella wasn’t so sure things would work out the same for her. It was hard to maintain any level of optimism when there was a man out there gunning for them, especially a man that even Carter seemed to fear.
“I’m feeling a bit broken, to be honest,” Ella quietly confessed. “Just last week, I was opening Christmas presents with my family, and today I’m in France being chased by psychopaths.” When Jesse momentarily stopped walking, she realized he’d overheard her.
From her peripheral view, she spied Jesse’s focus fall to the rifle held securely in his grip before clearing his throat and moving forward again.
The broken one. That’s how Jesse thought of himself, and she hadn’t meant for her words just now to hurt him or for him to think he’d “rubbed” off on her.
“I have to believe we’ll be okay. We’re strong, Southern women, remember?” Savanna’s confidence had definitely been renewed with Griffin back at her side, that was for sure.
“Right.” Ella managed a quick smile, then followed Jack into the common living space.
Some of their bags were already in the room, and Ella spotted one of her suitcases. Carter and his teammates had inspected their luggage for tracking devices while still in the trunks of the three SUVs before they’d even left Rochella’s and ditched those vehicles.
She removed the jacket Jesse had placed over her shoulders back at Henry’s estate and set it on one of the loveseats by the fireplace. Maybe she had time for a shower and clean clothes? Of course, answers were all she really wanted right now.
Carter was balancing a laptop on his palm when he strode toward her and Jesse. “I know you want answers. But why don’t you wash up first. We have some more calls to make.” A mind reader as well as mysterious, huh?
“I think that’s a good idea,” Griffin said, looking at Savanna and placing a hand on her back. “Come on, you too. I’ll take you to one of the rooms.”
“You’re not leaving my sight.” Jesse’s deep, authoritative tone stopped Ella in her tracks just as she was about to reach for her suitcase. He set down his rifle and removed his vest, then unstrapped a metal-looking plate he’d had on over his shirt. “Let’s go.” He didn’t take off the sidearm strapped to his thigh or the one holstered at his hip. And where was that knife he’d been so handy with? Would he have used that on Henry had she given him that “one minute”?
But he didn’t hurt him. He did that for me , she reminded herself.
Jesse grabbed one of the suitcases Ella had packed back in Bama, then directed her toward the staircase with a tilt of his chin.
Ella was about to follow orders, but at the sight of Sydney kneeling and searching a bag, she paused. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you, Sydney.” She waited for Sydney to look up at her. “You risked your neck for us.”
Sydney gave her a blank look, seemingly uncomfortable with the thanks or possibly unsure of what to say or do. All Ella got from her was a nod before she returned to digging through the bag, shaking her head and muttering to herself. The only thing Ella could make out was something about Aleksa and “what a waste.”
Starting again for the staircase, she clocked Gray’s gaze pinned on Sydney, something she’d noticed happened often. It was curious, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it because Jesse gently nudged her to get a move on with the bag.
Once they reached the landing, Ella chose the first bedroom that she came across. After flicking on the lights, she swallowed a little gasp at the quaint room laid out before her.
The wall behind the king-sized bed was a soft purple which showcased the gorgeous headboard—an intricately stitched needlepoint design of colorful wildflowers held within a gilt frame, something one might expect to see in a French castle. Vintage leather suitcases stacked on each side of the bed served as nightstands, and the lamps resembled old-fashioned lanterns. “Charming,” she said under her breath, forgetting for a hot minute why she was there. This was most definitely not their honeymoon.
It’s all a sham. Even Henry’s offer.
The sound of the door clicking shut tore away those depressing thoughts. Turning, she found Jesse had already reached the bed, set her suitcase there, and was in the process of opening it for her. “I’ll wait here while you shower.” He sat on the bed and removed his Beretta M9—which she recognized because A.J. and Beckett had the same one—and held on to it, resting it on his thigh.
“You, um, think you need that?” she asked while searching the bag for toiletries and a change of clothes. It was late, but she doubted Jesse would approve of her wearing her pajamas around his teammates, not that she would anyway.
“Not taking chances,” Jesse remarked, his eyes shifting to the wood floors as if he were avoiding eye contact. “Ella,” he said when her back was to him.
She went still at the unexpected tenderness with which he’d spoken her name. “If you’re going to apologize about what happened tonight, you don’t need to. From the sounds of it, we were all manipulated. I assume it’s a greater-good kind of thing though.” She turned to the side to look at him. “Does it suck? Of course. But like you said on the plane . . . it was a necessary evil.” With that, Jesse blinked as if stunned by her choice of words, and maybe she was a little surprised as well.
Part of her bought into what she’d just said, and the other part—the jury was still deliberating.
Without waiting for him to comment, she went into the connecting bathroom, closed the door, and dumped her stuff onto the vanity alongside the single sink. She pulled aside the pale purple shower curtain surrounding the clawfoot tub and turned on the water for the shower.
“Three minutes,” Jesse said from the other side of the door, knocking twice. “After that, I’m coming in to make sure you didn’t slip and fall.”
“That’s hardly enough time.”
“Four,” he countered with a grunt, and she rolled her eyes but didn’t protest.
She couldn’t wait to get rid of the clothes she’d worn for what felt like weeks.
Once free of them all, she stepped into the shower and let the not-yet-warm water pelt her tired body.
“You shouldn’t have resisted,” she said, knowing Jesse was most likely leaning against the door and able to hear her. “You were tasered because of me. I’m sorry.” She went on when he remained quiet, “I didn’t want to go with Henry when they released us, by the way. The officers forced us. I didn’t want to leave you there. That killed me, just so you know.” Her voice broke this time, and she wasn’t sure if he’d heard her last words over the running water that was taking forever to heat up since it’d most likely not been used in some time.
“I’m just thankful you’re okay.” His voice was too close, which meant only one thing.
Ella parted the curtain enough to peek out, finding Jesse inside the bathroom with his back to the closed door.
“What happened to my four minutes?”
He cocked his head, and the twitch of his lips, like he was fighting a smile, took her by surprise. “You were talking to me. I didn’t want to be rude and miss what you were saying.”
“Oh, is that so?” The sight of her “husband” standing there fully clothed and watching while she showered behind a nearly sheer curtain pushed all the dark thoughts away.
“Do you want me to leave?” His sultry voice was teasing now, and he rolled his tongue between his lips.
She thought back to when he’d licked her pussy and sent her into orgasm heaven on board that plane. She couldn’t believe how much she’d been missing before that magical moment between them.
Jesse pushed away from the door and took one step closer to the tub. “Do you?” he asked again, his tone deeper this time.
She pressed her thighs together, the sound of his commanding voice sending a little jolt between her legs. “You can stay,” she whispered, “but maybe move back to the door again.” I might completely forget what happened tonight and pull the curtain back and let you enjoy another show. Participate again too.
She still couldn’t believe she’d started touching herself on board the plane the other night, feeling the need to get off knowing Jesse was in the bathroom stroking his cock while thinking about her. It’d been brazen and bold and downright crazy. And she didn’t regret it for a second, not even after their slight tiff about his hitman job that morning before the police had intercepted the jet.
How could she regret it when her body yearned for this man on so many levels? The fact that she was aroused and turned on right now was evidence of their insane chemistry. The physical and emotional connection was off-the-charts.
And he’s gone from my hate list, so there’s that too.
Jesse backed up against the door and rubbed the muzzle of his gun along his thigh, which should have shocked her back to the gravity and danger of their situation, but it didn’t.
“Maybe I should wait outside.” His eyes moved over the curtain again, like if he looked hard enough, he’d be able to see through it. “I can’t be distracted again.”
Again? Like he’d been with Zoran that day last year? When she’d read between the lines of what he’d said to her on the plane, that Zoran survived because he was distraught over her upcoming marriage to Brian, she hadn’t been sure how to react.
“Jesse?” she whispered, feeling a bit panicked that he was going to cut and run. Not physically, but emotionally bail on her.
“What?” The word came out choked, like a muffled sound as if he were dealing with an internal battle of some sort, and she needed to pull him to her side before he surrendered to the worries and bad thoughts. She prevented him from unleashing on Henry, so there had to be hope.
Her heart was pounding furiously as her nerves took over, but with both hands, she parted the shower curtain, relieved the water was now warm and allowed her “husband” to see her completely naked for the first time in three years. On the plane, he’d seen most of her, but not all of her.
“What are you doing?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“Nothing has been real,” she began in a soft voice, shivering despite the warmer water, and her nipples hardened to painful points. “The marriage. The Southern gems. Nothing. But what I feel for you here and now, despite all the craziness . . . is real.” She set a hand over her heart and kept going so she wouldn’t break down and sob. “What I feel for you right now, it’s real. And no one can take that from me.” She swallowed. “From us.”
He stepped forward. “What are you saying?”
“You need to know that as angry as I might get with you at times, or as scared as maybe I’ve been . . . my vows to you were real.” I love you. I’ll always love you. But why couldn’t she say that right now?
Jesse’s gaze fell to the tiled floor, his chest expanding with a deep breath as he holstered his sidearm, and she nervously waited for his next move.
Shifting his attention to the door, Jesse clicked the lock in place before turning to her. The strain in his jaw beneath his facial hair and the vein at his neck were signs he was still trying to fight something. Or maybe he was fighting his desire to come to her?
“Are you going to reject me, Jesse Edward McAdams?” she whispered. “Or are you going to love me?”
Two steps closer, and he was within arm’s reach. “I told you my vows were real. So are the photos in my wallet. All of it,” he returned in a low tone that had a shiver going down her spine. “How I feel about you, and how I have always felt about you is more real than my own existence,” he rasped while erasing the last bit of space between them, and without hesitation, he cupped the back of her head. He looked deep into her eyes and added in a hoarse voice, “It’s so real that in three years, I haven’t so much as touched another woman.”
His lips met hers, and she sealed her eyes as his tongue explored her mouth, and it took her a few seconds to truly comprehend what Jesse had confessed. And he’d said a hell of a lot.
She didn’t want to cry because of his confession. She didn’t want to break into an ugly sob at the fact he’d admitted he hadn’t been with another woman since New York, not while they were kissing, but . . .
The tears unleashed anyway, blending in with the water overhead. Jesse must have heard the emotion choking her up, or felt it in her kiss because he slowly eased back and brought both hands to the sides of her arms, holding her tight while her wet skin soaked through his shirt.
She needed to tell him about Brian. To tell Jesse he was the only man she’d been with since New York too. And the only man, as of the other day, who’d gone down on her . . . ever. Ever-ever. Thirtysomething years old, and she’d never let a man set his face between her legs until Jesse.
But the knock at the bathroom door had Jesse stepping back, and he drew the curtains together as if terrified one of his teammates would see her naked body.
“Hey,” Griffin called out from the bedroom. “Thatcher’s on the phone, and he’s finally ready to talk to you.”