Chapter 25
Fleur
Another small town.
Another day of angst.
Another day of wondering about the future and whether my brother’s body was being handled with grace.
But we were nearing the end of our journey and when Montgomery had to stop at a traffic light, I casually glanced in his direction.
The four days we’d been together on the road had been stressful, at least at first, but I’d found myself enjoying certain aspects of our trip.
Maybe I’d look back and realize how ridiculous that seemed, but with radio reception shitty almost the entire way, not being able to eat in a restaurant, and remaining sequestered for every meal, I’d learned a lot about him.
What I’d found was confusing as well as thrilling. I liked him genuinely as a person. He was funny and had no issue making fun of himself. He was even playful when he wasn’t staring out the hotel window, remaining a powerful guard dog.
He adored junk food, even though I had a feeling he’d never admit the truth to anyone. That meant now I had something to hold over his head.
“What is that look all about?” he asked, chuckling as he glanced into the rearview mirror.
“If I had a nickel for every time you’ve looked into that mirror, I don’t think we’d have any issue with watching our funds.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, I am trying to keep us alive.”
“Ah, that.” I waved my hand at him, biting back a smile. He was also meticulous in everything he did, including checking the locks, the windows, and after every stay at a hotel, he had some contraption to make sure no listening devices or bombs had been attached to the vehicle.
Certainly nothing Tilly and Bart had managed to come up with.
“So, the look?”
“You’re demanding as hell. The look is that you’re different than a few days ago.”
He scrunched his face, another moment that highlighted the sexiness of the creases in his face. One disguise he had adhered to was growing his beard. Now it was long enough I could and had run my fingers through it.
“How so?” He made a turn, heading for a gas station.
“This might sound crazy, but you’re more at ease. Do you realize that other than the first day, you haven’t used your cane?”
The look of surprise in his eyes was followed by a series of grunts. While he rubbed his thigh, almost instantly he pulled his hand away, fisting his fingers. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
“Your pain was a result of the tension you were experiencing.”
As he pulled into the parking lot, forced to wait behind a car getting gas, he grinned in the evilest of ways. “And I’m not tense now? Keeping you safe is a very important job.”
“Yeah, I know. But you don’t need to worry about winning friends and influencing people.
” His face scrunched again and I snorted.
“You rich people are all alike. What I’m saying is that living off junk food and staying in shitty motels has brought out the real man who was already right there deep inside. Fighting to be freed.”
While the passion was sparse, mostly because of his fear of being unaware of an attack, the tension between us remained completely electric. So much so I remained in a constant state of arousal.
Reaching over, he squeezed my leg. “Money doesn’t create tension, Fleur. The people involved do.”
“Then that means you’ve not very good at handling people.” I pressed my fingers across my lips, unable to keep from laughing. “You’re too easy to toy with.”
“And you’re a brat. Stay in the vehicle. I need to make a phone call.”
“What if I need to pee?”
He shook his head as if never having heard a woman use the word ‘pee’ before. “Then by all means go to the restroom.”
“Can I get a Snickers bar, Daddy? I’ve been very good.”
My testy little comment brought a finger to my face. “You’ve changed too. No longer the lady I met, the girl in the gauzy skirts and with a love of all things fortune cookie.”
I grabbed the ballcap, gently placing it on his head. Being so close to him was even more thrilling than I’d felt before. Maybe because we’d grown closer, so much so I longed to kiss him. Nope. We were on the road and had to keep a watchful eye.
He took a deep breath before shoving his weapon behind his shirt into the waistband of his jeans. At least the activity no longer terrified me. “Bad girl.”
“Don’t forget when you pay cash you need to go inside first.”
As he climbed out, I noticed that he scanned the entire parking lot, including paying attention to the few vehicles in line before heading inside.
The way his shoulders slumped was a clear indication he’d never get used to being on a limited budget.
But I had to admit to myself that as much fun as I’d had roughing it with the man over the last few days, I wouldn’t mind a few creature comforts like a long, hot bath instead of worrying about going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and seeing cockroaches.
I shouldn’t judge the entire road trip on the one hotel that had a flickering neon sign that I could swear spelled out Motel Hell. We’d both slept in our clothes worried about bed bugs.
Sighing, I glanced around the parking lot as he was opening the door. Before he walked inside, he gave me a long, heated look. Even from the twenty yards away, I could tell what he was thinking.
Behave.
I shifted in my seat and barely thirty seconds later, I realized I really did need to pee.
I grabbed the keys and got out, grabbing the prepared duffle bag before locking the door behind me.
I’d be damned if I’d allow anyone to steal what little we had to our name.
Including my to-go bag he’d stood over me watching as I packed.
I’d been instructed never to go anywhere without it.
Fine. I was being a good girl after all.
At least the gas station was one of those fancy ones that combined ordering food and purchasing your favorite frosty beverages with clean bathrooms and multiple gas pumps. I didn’t see Montgomery as I headed into the ladies’ room.
When I was finished, I thought I heard his voice just as I rounded the corner to head back to the body of the store.
“Yeah, I know, but I have no doubt Zane is a part of this. I don’t know how, but you need to have our men continue to scour the internet.
Maybe he’s playing Papovek or maybe they’re in business together, but there’s a trail.
We just need to find it. I also don’t care that Zane wants her back. I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
Wait a minute. He had news on Zane? How? I inched closer, even controlling my breathing so he wouldn’t catch me listening in on his conversation. I’d been pretending like this was a game when it was simply another aspect of the life he was used to living.
He was exasperated. I knew it to be true since he always paced when I irritated him.
“We’ll be in New Orleans tomorrow night.
After that, heads will roll. I don’t care if there’s nothing pointing us toward the Russians or to Zane.
They’re working together. They’re dangerous, including to the people back in Stowe.
I tasked Gio to send a few of our soldiers into town to keep them protected and to be there in case another group of bastards show up.
” He checked his watch then moved closer to the window, leaving me far enough away I couldn’t hear what was being said at the end of the conversation.
In danger. I hadn’t given any thought to the possibility that my friends would be in any danger. Oh, my God. I had to warn them.
Backing away, I hurried into the restroom, praying I’d have reception. Thank God, there were two bars of reception, maybe enough for the call to go through.
Another wave of panic was trying to settle in, but I refused. Every muscle in my body was clenched as Bekka’s phone rang. The girl screened calls like the best of them, especially with unknown phone numbers from a burner phone. I only hoped she’d listen to her voicemail.
“Bekka. It’s me. Yes, we’re fine. I need you to listen to me.
I just found out men could be coming there to try and find out where I am.
They might do something terrible. Please talk with the sheriff and let everyone know to be extremely cautious.
You can’t contact me, but I’ll call you back when I’m safe in New Orleans. Be careful, girl. I love you.”
After ending the call, I held the phone to my head, praying nothing had happened to anyone I cared about. And if Zane dared try to ruin the rest of my life including the happiness I’d found with Montgomery, I would kill the man with my bare hands.
As I left the bathroom to purchase the Snickers bar, my mind processed what I’d just promised myself.
I did care about the man standing outside the Blazer, pumping gas like he was a regular guy instead of a ruthless, dangerous powerhouse.
But the question that continued to linger in my mind was how far the care would go once the danger was over. Then what? What if he honored my request and let me go?
Another strange moment of despair rushed into my system.
I wasn’t certain I could tolerate losing him.
How odd.
How amazing.
My God. I was falling in love. Now what?
I hurried back to the vehicle, holding out the Snickers bar.
“What took you so long?”
I’d gotten used to the gruffness in his tone and since I’d overheard his conversation, I didn’t bite him in return. “I told you. I had to pee and I wanted my Snickers bar.” I ripped the package, taking a mouthful while he finished pumping the gas.
His nostrils flared indicating sheer annoyance. A part of me wanted to continue egging him on.
“Bite?” I did my best to stretch my arm across the top of the Blazer, but only after stepping on the running board.
He cocked his handsome head, pointing to the vehicle. “Get inside.”
“Yes, sir.” Unlocking the door, I slipped in, acting as if I wasn’t going to allow him to climb in.
As he bent over, staring at me through the driver’s window, I read more concern on his face than I’d seen before.