Chapter 20 #2
He pulled to a stop when he noticed there were other people in the room.
“That would have gone over well during my meeting,” she quipped.
Ethan cut straight to business. “This is the pilot we spoke about.”
I was exhausted and wearing sweatpants, of all things, but I steeled my expression to look professional and confident. Shawn Dunn ran one of the largest beer companies on the planet. Even if he didn’t have a position for me, he was sure to have connections.
I straightened my posture and approached with a hand out.
“Mr. Dunn, I’m Olivia Wallace. Nice to meet you.”
“Please, it’s Shawn.” His grip was firm. “He didn’t say you were a woman.”
Kara beat me to it. “Does that make a difference?”
“Of course not,” he said quickly. “It’s just unusual.”
It had secured my last job, the one where I’d almost died. Where you did die, remember? The sting of my hand had faded enough to let me temporarily forget Ethan’s knife.
“It’s uncommon,” I said, “but I have plenty of experience.”
“Do you speak any languages other than English?”
“Spanish, and I’ve been learning Italian.”
Shawn glanced at Ethan. “German?”
My confidence flagged. “No, but I’m willing to—”
German poured from him, and irritation knifed into me. I could no longer handle people speaking languages around me I didn’t understand.
“English, now.” The command from Kara fell on Shawn, a hammer made of ice. Apparently, she didn’t like the German either, and if Kara kept this up, I was sure we could be fast friends.
“English is better,” Ethan agreed. “I need both of you to understand that you’re in danger. Jason and Laurel, too. One of the men Juric worked for, he’s coming here to Munich.”
Kara tensed. “Why?”
“Because you’re here. He thinks you have information about who killed his brother.”
Color faded from her face. “Do I?”
“Yes.” He scrubbed a hand over the stubble etching his jaw. “I don’t know how this is going to play out. The quickest way might be to deal with the situation head-on, but that’s going to be a challenge. My cover is as this man’s translator and security.”
I couldn’t catch my breath. Giovanni Abramo was coming to Munich. Why the hell had Ethan brought me here?
“I’ll let you know more,” he continued, “when I know more. Until then, stick to your security procedures and don’t take any meetings with people you haven’t vetted.” He paused, swallowing a preparing breath. “I’m also going to need a favor.”
Shawn arched an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“Olivia needs a new identity. You did it with Laurel, so you know people who can make that happen.”
He made a face, looking dubious. “You’re telling me you don’t have those resources?”
“I do, but . . . I can’t.” Ethan set his intense gaze on me, and his voice lost some of its strength. “The situation’s complicated.”
My lungs squeezed tight. No shit, it was complicated.
Rather than think about it, my focus shifted to the couple. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a burden.”
I’d been on my own since coming to Europe, and I didn’t like depending on other people. But I’d accept any help I could get because I was smart enough to know there were no other options.
If Gio or Vitale figured out I was still alive, it wouldn’t just be my life. It would be Ethan’s too, plus the others he’d hinted at in South Africa. Did he mean the people standing before me?
I hadn’t noticed Kara drifting closer to Shawn until the moment his arm slipped behind her, pulling her against him. This simple gesture, affirming their desire to be close, was sweet. Touching.
Touching?
When had I become so sappy?
“You won’t be a burden.” Kara’s voice was reassuring, and she smiled at Ethan. “It doesn’t even begin to repay what you did for us.”
It was clear he didn’t like the role of ‘hero’ being placed on him. He all but squirmed under her warm, grateful look.
Or . . . was something else going on with him?
Shawn’s hand disappeared into his suit jacket so he could produce a pen and a business card. “I have a corporate room at this hotel,” he said, scribbling on the back of the card. “I told them a new pilot for Osterh?gen was coming in, so they’re expecting you.”
When it slid forward, Ethan and I both reached for it, but somehow I beat him. “Thank you.”
Shawn nodded. “Of course.”
“The man who’s coming here,” Ethan said, “believes Olivia is dead, so she can’t be seen with either of you. A cockpit’s fine, as long as you two aren’t passengers.”
Shawn straightened. “All right.”
“Good.” He put his hands on his hips, and his expression went utterly serious.
“This is really important. Next time you see me, if you don’t know I’m coming, then you don’t know me.
I’ll try to stop that from happening, but sometimes things move too fast and I can’t give you any warning.
It could go badly for me if this man finds out I’m not who I say I am. ”
Kara’s throat bobbed, as if she swallowed hard.
“Understood.” Shawn let that hang for a moment, before shifting his attention to me. “Jason, my brother, will meet you tomorrow morning to get you settled. There will be a car waiting for you outside the hotel at eight.”
“Thank you.”
Ethan asked it like he already knew the answer. “I don’t suppose you’d consider postponing your wedding until this is all over?”
Kara’s laugh was tight. “You go right ahead and talk to Gisela Osterh?gen about that. Jason and Laurel denied her a big wedding, and the only way my sister got off the hook was to make her a grandmother.”
“My mother has a way of getting what she wants.”
Kara gave her fiancée a knowing look. “Thank God that trait skipped you.”
He smirked, but then sobered as he looked at Ethan. “Postponing’s not an option, but security will be strict.”
“All right,” Ethan said. “Be careful.”
“Same to you both,” Kara answered back.