Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
The drive to Marie’s place took longer than Isaac thought it would, and it made him uncomfortable. He was constantly checking his mirrors to make sure they weren’t being followed, which wasn’t impossible even in the middle of a LA traffic snarl.
This was something he hadn’t missed while he’d been living in the wilds of Alaska and Guatemala. The only traffic jam in Alaska was if moose were blocking the road and if cows were crossing over the asphalt to get from one field to another in Guatemala.
“I can see some flashing lights ahead. Looks like there could’ve been an accident. I wonder if they need medical help,” Marie murmured.
“If the paramedics aren’t there we can stop if you want, but if you say there’s lights there, safe bet would be paramedics are on the scene along with law enforcement.”
“Still, even with all the medical knowledge paramedics have, a second pair of experienced hands could help.”
Marie’s need to provide assistance to the injured wasn’t a surprise to him, and in any normal circumstances he wouldn’t have an issue pulling over to help.
But the idea of Marie being out in the open and not knowing who or why she was the target of an attempted robbery/assault/kidnapping, curdled low in his belly.
She would be exposed to anyone who may be following them.
It was a risk he didn’t want to take, but telling her that was going to be like walking through a landmine—something done with extra care and vigilance.
The earrings he’d found sitting in the middle of his desk after he and Marie left the conference room, a gift from Cassandra he was sure, sat heavy in his jacket pocket. The second he’d seen them he’d wanted to rush down to Marie and demand she put them in—something that would not be met favorably.
Just like suggesting she stay in the car if it was an accident, convincing her to wear the earrings for her own safety would need to be treated the same way.
They inched forward, and he saw the lights Marie had been talking about. There were fire trucks and police cars, as well as an ambulance. If there was only one, that had to mean that not too many people were hurt and Marie’s services weren’t needed and he could keep her safe in the car.
As they approached the incident, from the corner of his eye he saw Marie lean forward a bit more, as if that would make the car get closer. “How does it look,” he asked, once again checking the mirrors and not seeing anything out of the ordinary.
“Not bad. The paramedics are standing around, so I’m guessing no one is seriously injured.” She sat back with a sigh as they picked up speed and the traffic spread out.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Are you disappointed that no one was hurt badly? I would’ve thought you would’ve been relieved?”
Marie chuckled. “It’s pretty wrong of me to wish something bad had happened, isn’t it?”
“A little,” he conceded.
“It’s just.” She paused and drummed her fingers on her leg. “I don’t know. Ever since I arrived back, I’ve been so busy getting settled, that I haven’t worked, and I feel a little lost.”
From the little he’d seen of her in San Carlion and the way she’d worked, he wasn’t too surprised by her confession.
“I understand that. It took me a long time to not stop being off duty when I first moved to Alaska. For eight years I was always on the lookout. Always in the thick of things in terms of what was going on with the cartel, that having time on my hands wasn’t something I was used to.
I can’t tell you how many logs I split in an effort to keep busy.
I had a good supply of firewood, which was a necessity in Alaska. ”
“Did you like it there?”
“It’s a beautiful part of the country, and there are plenty of places where you can be off the grid and keep to yourself.”
Issac indicated to exit the freeway, noting that there was only one car following them off, and it was a minivan he’d only just passed. Didn’t mean that bad guys weren’t possibly using the non-descript vehicle as a way to lull anyone into a false sense of security.
“Is that what you wanted to do? Disappear essentially?”
How much did he tell Marie? How much could she take to hear after everything that had happened to her already?
Now wasn’t the time to unload everything about his life as Javier Cortez and the events leading up to him joining the cartel.
He absently rubbed his belly where the scar from the bullet that had almost taken his life was.
He tried not to think about that day. Think about how he’d lost so many weeks of his life because he’d been in a coma.
One the doctors hadn’t quite been able to explain, because he hadn’t suffered a head injury.
“I needed some time to think things through.” It wasn’t a perfect explanation, but it was all he was going to give her at this time.
“That’s kind of why I went to San Carlion. I needed to get away from everything. Like you, to think and work out what I was going to do.”
“And did you?” he queried as he slowed and found a free spot not far from her apartment building. He would’ve liked to have gotten closer to the front door. Luck wasn’t on his side, but he would remain vigilant until he was sure she was safe.
“In some ways I did. There are always things that can’t be solved, no matter how hard you want them to be.”
“I hear you. Will you stay here until I can come around and open your door?” As an independent woman there was a chance she wouldn’t like him doing that, but he wanted to scope the area before he let her out, and keeping her seated was the easiest way to do it.
“Why?”
Yep, as expected he got some push back. “Because I asked nicely?”
Marie rolled her eyes, but her lips quirked up and her blue eyes sparkled in the late afternoon sun. “I’m sure it’s for some security reason, so on this occasion I’ll concede, but don’t expect me to always be this malleable.”
Isaac clamped onto the insinuation that there might be a next time. After running into her again, he hoped there would be a lot of next times. “Thank you.”
He waited for a car to pass before he opened his door, closing it quickly. He leaned back against the car and surveyed the street, not noticing anyone lurking in the shadows. Or a slow car approaching them.
Once he reached her side he had the door open in seconds.
He reached out a hand, and was pleased when he felt her soft one take it.
Isaac kept her close to his side as they made their way to the building.
He stood behind her, protecting her six as she inputted the code to allow them access.
All the while watching for anything that would put them in danger.
“Afternoon, Ms. Hughes,” the doorman greeted them.
“Hi Felix. Is your wife okay now?”
Felix grinned wide. “Yes, thank you. I appreciate you coming to see her last night to check her over after she fell.”
“I’m glad you called, and it wasn’t a hardship. Just make sure she keeps off that ankle for a few more days, and she should be okay. But if it does get worse, make an appointment with your primary care provider to do further tests.”
“I will. Have a good rest of your day.”
Isaac took in the whole interaction. With one small gesture, Marie had garnered the complete adulation and trust of the doorman. Felix would make sure Marie was looked after, and Isaac bet he wouldn’t let anyone up that wasn’t known to him.
“Thanks, and this is my friend, Isaac Warner. You can add him to my approved guest list.”
“Will do.” Felix looked him over, and Isaac reluctantly let go of Marie’s hand so he could shake the other man's.
“Good to meet you, Felix.” Their encounter was brief, but Isaac made a mental note to talk to the man after he’d seen Marie safely to her apartment.
The journey to her floor didn’t take long, and soon they were standing out the front of her home. Marie fiddled with her keys, before inserting one into the lock. “Thanks for seeing me up. As you can see, nothing bad happened. You can go now.”
Her brusqueness didn’t put him off, he fully expected it. “I’d like to check your apartment if you don’t mind.”
“Whatever for? As you can see, no one can get up without getting buzzed, or using a code to get into the building. If anyone had been looking for me, Felix would’ve said something. Whatever happened outside Mom’s building was one of those freak things that happens.”
Isaac placed his hand on the door frame above her head.
The action brought him closer to her. “There’s every chance that you might be right, but all through my time undercover I learned to trust my gut.
To trust the feeling I got when things weren’t what they seemed.
Nine times out of ten, those feelings saved me from getting killed. ”
“Is there a point to why you’re telling me that?”
“Yes, there is. I have a feeling that not everything is what it seems about the attempt to take you today. Something is off. How did they know where you were? That you’d ordered that particular ride.”
Fuck, I should’ve given her phone to Cass to scan for anything that shouldn’t be there.
“That’s…” Marie swallowed. “That’s ridiculous. I think you’re making too much of it.”
Isaac stroked a finger down her cheek. “What if I’m not? What if there is someone after you?”
Marie pushed against his chest, and he took a step back. “That’s enough. I don’t know why you’re trying to scare me, but it stops now.”
She had the door open and had stepped through before he could say anything. From his vantage point he could see that there were taped packing boxes scattered in the living room. The curtains were drawn across the windows.
There were plenty of places for someone to hide. Everything in him wanted to charge into her apartment and haul her behind him while he checked every nook and hiding place.
Yet he remained at the door, because he wasn’t going to invade her private space without an invitation.