Chapter Four
Cash
“HOW’S IT GOING, DARLING? IS all forgiven?” Ivy said mockingly into my ear as I walked across the street to the terminal garage in Nashville, pulling my suitcase behind me and enjoying the fall breeze. It had been a long time since I’d been in the US in autumn. I’d purposely waited to retrieve my “rental.” I was giving Sabrina time to discover she no longer had a car reserved before I swooped in and offered to save the day.
“No. Sabrina refused to speak to me,” I regretfully informed Ivy. Not that I expected Sabrina to forgive me, but I’d been hoping to at least give her an explanation for why I’d “ghosted her,” as she’d put it. Odd that she’d used the term ghost. As far as society was concerned, I was a ghost—I didn’t exist. But regardless of how she saw me, I’d been hoping my explanation would lead to a conversation. Instead, she put her headphones on and watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding twice during the flight, doing her best to ignore me. I had to wonder if she was prepping for her sister’s nuptials that hopefully would never take place. Sabrina had often spoken of her mother and aunt’s overbearing natures, much like the mother and aunt in the movie, from what I was able to glean.
Not to say that Sabrina didn’t love her family—she obviously did, from how she spoke of them. But she felt like she needed space, as distance always made her long for home. That was important to her. She wanted home to be a place she ran to and never from . For someone who’d never had a home to run to or from, I envied her.
Ivy laughed hysterically into the phone. “The Cash Denton alias has finally failed to land you the lady. Whatever will you do?”
“I have it under control,” I grumbled my lie. It was the least in control I had felt in a long time, including a few years ago when I had to disarm a bomb in Afghanistan and barely managed to do so before it killed thousands of innocent civilians. Spending the last several hours so close to Sabrina felt much the same way. My feelings for her were ticking to the surface, threatening to blow up this entire mission. Every time she jumped during a rough patch of air, I wished to take her hand and comfort her. I imagined I’d bring it to my lips and kiss my way up her arm to her bare shoulder, where I would linger, breathing in her sweet scent until I could no longer resist capturing her pink, pouty lips. Even more, I wished she could know another of my aliases—not Cash Denton, the man who’d left her once and who would leave her again. I would say the real me, but I wasn’t sure who that man was anymore. From what I remembered of him, he wasn’t worth loving.
“Just make sure my cabin has the surveillance equipment and weapons I need,” I snapped.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, we mustn’t let our emotions get the better of us,” Ivy reminded me. “By the way, a team is standing by, awaiting your arrival. You will have everything you requested. I’ll even make sure they turn down your bed and leave a little chocolate on your pillow.”
I couldn’t help but smile, even though Ivy was the most irritating person I’d ever met. “Make sure it’s Swiss chocolate,” I teased.
“Only the best for you, love. Now go and intercept her. Don’t let my hard work go to waste.”
I hung up and shoved the phone in my pocket, intent on doing as Ivy commanded. Just as I hoped, I walked into the consolidated rental car facility to find Sabrina near the Hertz sign, surrounded by her and Mia’s luggage, on the phone with her mom. Her Southern accent she normally didn’t use was out in full force.
“I don’t know what happened to the reservation, Mama. I made it when I booked the airline tickets, and I checked last night to make sure I had the email confirmation. But it all just disappeared. Mia is checking with the other rental companies now to see if they have anything.” She paused. “No, Mama, I will not miss Lexi’s bridal shower. Come hell or high water, we’ll be there.” Another pause. “Okay, fine, I promise we won’t take an Uber and get kidnapped or killed. Yes, you were right. I should have just let Daddy pick us up. Mama, I need to go. I’ll call you soon with an update.” Sabrina exhaled in a huff and threw the phone in her bag, her gaze landing on me with obvious displeasure. She narrowed her eyes at me as if her predicament were all my fault. She wasn’t wrong.
I took the in and sauntered her way. “Is everything all right?”
“It’s fine. Move along.” She waved her hand erratically in front of her.
“Are you sure? Perhaps I could be of some assistance.”
“Yes, you can, actually. Find another place to vacation.”
“Sorry, that I can’t do.”
“Ugh. Fine,” she spat. “Just make sure to stay away from me. You’re good at that.”
The hurt in her voice pricked me in ways I didn’t expect. “If you would just let me explain.”
Sabrina held up her hand to silence me. “The only good excuses would be a coma or amnesia, and I already verified neither was the case, so save your breath.”
I was about to disregard her wishes when Mia appeared, harried and scowling at me. “Why are you bothering my cousin? Do we need to call security?”
I almost smiled. While it would be a nuisance, Ivy would have me released in minutes. “I just overheard her speaking to her mother and wondered if I could help.”
“Unless you have an extra car handy, we don’t need your help,” Mia barked before facing Sabrina. “Bad news. There is literally no car available to rent.”
“Are you serious? How can that be?” Sabrina wondered.
Mia shrugged. “It’s weird. One agent said they suddenly had a slew of unexpected bookings this morning.”
Sabrina grabbed her phone and looked at the time. “Even if one of our daddies left now, we wouldn’t arrive in time for the shower, and I promised Mama we wouldn’t take an Uber. Are there any off-site car rental places?”
“I had them check those too.” Mia grimaced. “Nothing.”
“I have a solution, ladies. I could drive you. We are going to the same destination, after all.”
“Absolutely not.” Sabrina grabbed Mia’s hand. “Come on. We’ll figure something out. Without him ,” she emphasized.
Mia bit her lip. “Sabrina, unless you want to risk the wrath of our mamas, maybe we should, uh ...”
“No. Nope. Just no.” Sabrina shook her gorgeous head.
I had to admit, seeing her flustered was enjoyable. I’d only ever known her to be calm and collected. Not to say she was boring—she was anything but that. In fact, she fascinated me. She had this way of making ordinary things, like food preparation, fun and sexy. Or even strolls through the gardens of Bordeaux. I loved watching her stop and literally smell the roses, then gush about how intoxicating the scent was. Little did she know how much I loved breathing in the lingering scent left in her hair.
“The offer still stands. I’d even be happy to let one of you drive if it would make you feel more comfortable.”
Mia pressed her lips together, definitely considering it. She eyed me, wondering what my game was. Unfortunately, this was anything but a game. They had no idea what could possibly go down. For that reason alone, I wasn’t letting Sabrina out of my sight. I didn’t care how much she hated me. As long as she was safe, that’s all that mattered.
Mia pulled Sabrina off to the side, but still close enough so I could hear.
“Sabrina, I know it’s the last thing you want to do, but just think of it this way: it’s four hours of your life, and as soon as we get there, we’ll sic Nana on him.”
Sabrina giggled her melodious laugh. I missed that sound. I also remembered how much she loved her Nana Rose, who was reportedly cantankerous.
Sabrina gave me a sideways glance, thinking it over. After several moments, she conceded. “Fine,” she breathed out.
I let out a silent sigh of relief. I knew if our agency could find Izan, those more dangerous could as well. That said, I wasn’t letting Sabrina out of my sight. “My rental is waiting in the garage.” It wasn’t your normal rental car, although the untrained eye wouldn’t be able to detect its high-tech features, like tire spikes and smoke screen systems. The car also had one of the agency’s newest features—morphing exterior panels. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to employ any of them.
The women reluctantly followed me through the garage and past rows of newly washed rental cars, each pulling two suitcases behind her. I’d offer to help, but I knew that would be unwelcome, and I needed to remain as unencumbered as possible in case of an emergency.
When we reached the enhanced sleek black Audi SUV, I activated the key fob that had been given to me back at headquarters. The car came to life and the doors unlocked. I turned so I could offer to place their luggage in the back when Mia dropped her suitcases, marched right up to me, and unexpectedly kneed me in the groin. “By the way, I never properly introduced myself. I’m Mia and I’ll be driving.”
I bent over, groaning, trying to keep from letting out a long string of four-letter words.
“Mia,” Sabrina’s tone fluctuated between cheering her on and berating her.
“Now he knows who’s the boss,” Mia defended her actions before grabbing the key fob out of my hand.
I stood up straight, pressing my lips together, doing my best to remain calm. The woman had messed with sacred territory, and she deserved a verbal tirade. But I thought the better of it when I faced the two gorgeous women, who silently dared me to say anything.
I’d faced terrorists and the worst scum of the earth, but I was quickly realizing I might be standing in front of my biggest opponents yet.