Chapter 18
“Caroline, one day you'll be a mother, is that the legacy you want to leave your children?” Celine's quiet question shook Kate to her core. She’d never allowed herself to indulge in thoughts of a long term relationship, let alone marriage and children, but she couldn’t help imagining little black haired boys with light blue eyes running around the house.
Caroline's features hardened. “No, I don't. Let's get changed. I'll call Liam, my limo driver. We're friends. He'll come pick us up.”
“Not here. Have him meet us outside the west gate. We'll have to sneak out.”
The next few minutes flew by in a flurry as they yanked on their clothes and stuffed belongings into small bags.
“I'm ready. Once we get on the airplane, I'm taking us all on a one-way flight to Cabo.” Caroline slung a dark pink bag over her matching pink pullover.
“We can talk about vacations when we make it out of here. Keep quiet and follow me.” Kate went to the pair of French doors standing slightly ajar at the far end of the bedroom.
A faint summer breeze drifted through and a crescent moon hung low over the tree line.
But she didn't study the scenery. She was too busy searching for the roving patrol Ethan’s team had set up to pass by Caroline's bedroom every fifteen minutes.
She caught a movement and ducked back. “Okay, as soon as the guard clears the corner of the plantation, I want you to run straight for that wall and wait for me behind the bushes.”
Kate watched until the guard disappeared and then gestured Celine and Caroline across the yard.
Kate stepped into the doorframe and paused.
This would be career suicide. Even with the irrational feelings flowing freely through her body she recognized that fact.
But she also realized she couldn't live with herself if she was a part of anything that forced Caroline into an unwanted marriage for political gain. She’d left her home town for that very reason – to avoid capitulating to her mother’s wishes of the perfect marriage.
She wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing she’d allowed the same fate to fall on Caroline.
Kate took a deep breath and took off in a crouched run, her feet flying over the thick green grass. She didn't stop until she was hidden in the bushes, the only sounds in the night were their soft pants as they fought to catch their breath.
“This is the most exciting thing I've ever done,” Caroline whispered.
“Me too. I've never evaded a high-tech security team and a US Senator,” Celine said.
“Hush, or our adventure will be over before it begins.” Kate moved forward cautiously, making sure to hug the wall and stay in the dark shadows of the tall evergreen bushes.
A hidden wrought iron gate stood about ten feet ahead, guarded by another pair of roving guards.
They just had to make it through that gate undetected and they would all be free.
At least for now.
A limb snapped and Kate threw her arm back, pinning the other two girls to the fence.
One of the guards stopped in front of the gate and lit a cigarette, the smell of smoke a disgusting blur on the fresh fragrant night air.
“Can you believe this place?” he said to his partner.
“I tell you what, when my daughter gets married one day, she's getting a couple of grand for the wedding – that's it. Cotter spent more on his little princess’s wedding than most of us see in a lifetime.”
The other guard joined him by the gate, standing watch beside his friend. “That's the kind of shit you get to do when you rub elbows with the elite. Hell, Cotter's got more connections at the Pentagon than the president.”
“Especially now he's marrying his daughter off to the general in line to take over as commander of JSOC. I'm just glad I got out of the military when I did.”
JSOC, or Joint Special Operations Command, was the head of the Special Forces and oversaw all black, gray and white ops ran by the Teams. The guards continued completely oblivious to the three women standing not even 3 feet away.
“I don't like it,” the second guard said. “There shouldn't be that close a tie between the man holding the purse strings and the man commanding Special Forces. Feels like some bad shit is fixing to go down.”
The first guard tossed his cigarette down and squished it beneath the heel of his boot. “Not my problem. I did my time, and I'm content to sit back and take these cake jobs for easy money. Besides, did you see the chest on the bride? I almost feel sorry for the general.”
Caroline sucked in a deep breath and Kate slapped a hand over Caroline’s mouth just in time to muffle her outraged shriek.
The men moved on, oblivious, their soft chuckles dying off as the distance between them grew.
Another full minute passed before Kate let go of Caroline's mouth. “Come on.”
“Not until I get those jerks’ names.”
Kate rolled her eyes and tested the lock on the gate. “You really think your dad's going to fire them if you run back up there and tell him, 'Oh, by the way, I overheard their conversation when I was trying to escape your arranged marriage.' I don't think so.”
“I think your chest looks just fine,” Celine said.
Kate eased the gate open, did a quick check of the nearby perimeter and spotted a black limo parked a hundred feet down the road. “Come on, your driver came through.”
Kate stayed in the lead, sizing up the tall, lanky blond who climbed out of the driver side door at their approach. She didn't remember this guy on the security roster.
Kate shoved Caroline behind her. “Who are you?”
“Don't worry, that's Liam. He's been my driver for the past year.”
“Ms. Caroline, I came as quick as I could.” Liam shoved his hands in his pockets and shifted from foot to foot.
“Thank you, Liam. I'd like to leave right now if that's okay.”
Liam blushed bright red, ducked his head and opened the door. “Yes, ma'am. Of course.”
Once they were seated inside, he shut the door without another word, and cranked up the limo and drove off.
The divider glass was already up between the front and back cab, and Kate let out a relieved chuckle. “You almost gave us away.”
Caroline placed a pale hand on her chest. “Did you hear what they said? How could you expect me not to react?”
“I can expect you not to react because we were sneaking out of one of the most highly secured social events I've ever seen.”
“Looks like lover boy thought of everything.” Celine lifted a fresh uncorked bottle of champagne. “I think someone has a crush on Caroline.”
This time Caroline blushed. “Don't say that. Liam is sweet and thoughtful.”
“And you like him.” Celine finished the sentence for her. She poured a glass for each of the girls, forcing Kate to take one. “I know what you just did for her is a really big deal for your career. You need this, believe me. Enjoy it.”
Caroline raised her glass. “A toast to me, for standing up to my father for the first time in my life.”
The glasses clinked together. Celine and Caroline downed theirs in one gulp while Kate took a cautious sip. Fruity crisp flavors exploded in her mouth. “This is delicious.”
“It's Cristal.”
Kate took another sip, and another, and by the time she finished, her nose tingled and her toes felt warm. Kate yawned and stretched, a drowsy languor making her arms heavy. She sensed the limo slowing, and then it stopped.
Their door was ripped open and a man who was not Liam ducked inside. “Why are there three? There should only be the blonde.” He had a thick accent, something middle eastern.
Kate tried to demand he identify himself, but her lips wouldn't cooperate. Her vision blurred and then refocused on Caroline and Celine passed out in their seats. She fought the clawing darkness to stay awake.
Liam ducked past the first man and pulled Caroline out of the limo. “They each saw me, so we have to take them all. I don't care what you do with the other two—sell them, ransom them, kill them. You know what Mr. J said. No witnesses.”