The Agent
My feet are killing me.
The elements of the forest floor tore up the soles of my feet while I was running through the woods. The adrenaline in the moment distracted me from the pain. Now that I'd reached the main road, my cuts were screaming with every step on the pavement.
I hadn’t looked back after I’d knocked that asshole out. I kept running, determined to get to safety.
In hindsight, I should’ve tied his ass to a tree and came back for him later. I wanted to kick myself in the ass for not thinking of it sooner. He was probably awake and long gone by now.
Still, I glanced over my shoulder just in case.
My shoulders fell at the sight of darkness behind me. I was still alone.
Limping on my sore feet, I followed the street lights up the road, scouring the other side of the road for a lit building. At this hour, most of the establishments were closed. And I had to be careful if I chose to walk into a bar.
One look at my dirty, disheveled dress and the men inside might think they’d gotten lucky. I wasn’t some damsel in distress they could take advantage of.
I just needed a first aid kit and a phone call. And I wasn’t about to flutter my lashes to get it.
My hopes rose as I spotted a small inn at the top of the corner.
I hurried across the street towards it.
The warm aroma of nutmeg and ginger greeted me as I walked inside the small lobby.
An older woman sat behind the front desk with a novel in her hands and a cup with a swirl of steam in front of her.
At the sound of the chiming bell, she looked up from the book.
The inviting smile on her face was quickly replaced by worry at the sight of me.
“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed, rising from her seat. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “May I use your phone?”
“You’re hurt,” she commented. She rushed over to me and grasped my hands. Pulling me over to the small couch, she added, “I’ll call the police.”
“No,” I insisted. “I’m fine, really.”
Her lips pulled into a disbelieving frown. “Anyone who hurts another person isn’t worth protecting.”
“I’m not-” I sighed, growing frustrated. “I’m Special Agent Simone Nichols with the FBI. I’m working on a case, and I need to call my partner to give him an update.” It wasn’t a lie. Technically, I was on a case - just not an official one.
Her brows rose in surprise. “Oh! My apologies, agent! I’ll grab my cell.” She hurried back around the desk and shuffled through her purse. She held it out to me as she rushed back over. “Let me grab the first aid kit - and make you some tea. You look like you’ve been through hell.”
“I have,” I said, cracking a smile. “Thank you.”
As she disappeared behind one of the “Staff Only” doors, I dialed Gabriel’s number. I prayed he’d answer despite the unfamiliar number.
“Hello,” he answered groggily after a few rings.
“Gabe, it’s me,” I said.
“Simone?” Static crackled as he fidgeted in his bed. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting your back cracked right now?”
“Ha, I wish. Dinner went way left. Can you pick me up?”
“Yeah, of course. Where are you at?”
I glanced around the lobby, searching for the name of the inn. “Sweet Serenity Bed and Breakfast.”
“Girl, that’s miles away from the restaurant you said you were going to. How the fuck did you get there?”
“I’ll explain when you get here.”
“Alright. Be there in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you.”
The woman emerged with another steaming hot cup, blankets and a first aid kit. She offered me a kind smile as she pushed the hot tea into my hands. “Chamomile tea,” she explained. “To soothe your nerves.”
“Thanks.” The tea lightly burned my lips as I took a sip. The little bit of pain was worth the warmth it spread across my body. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until now.
She placed the blanket over my shoulders before the shivers could start.
I thanked her again. “You’re very kind.”
“Oh, it’s my pleasure. My name is Cora, by the way.”
“Simone. It’s nice to meet you.”
She pointed to my feet. “May I patch you up?”
“Oh, no. I can do it.”
Ignoring my command, she made me lay against the arm rest and pulled my legs into her lap. “I think you do enough on your own,” Cora commented. “It’s alright to let someone take care of you.”
A tiny knife twisted in my chest. Not because her words were cruel, but because they were true. I opened my mouth, ready to ask how she knew that.
“A lot of people come through here,” she explained before I could. “Reading people is second nature at this point.”
Cora touched one of the alcohol drenched pads against my soles, and I instinctively pulled back at the sting it brought. “It’s alright,” she whispered, holding my ankle to keep me still. “I’ll be as gentle as I can.”
Keeping her promise, she quietly tended to my wounds, treating every single cut with the utmost care.
I watched her as she worked, wondering how many strangers she’d taken in and cared for as if they were her own. She reminded me of my father’s mother: a Good Samaritan willing to help anyone in need. After the night I’ve had, her warm presence was a safe haven to decompress in.
“Where is he?” Gabriel said as he walked through the front doors of the inn. One glance at me and every bit of reform he’d undergone as an adult disappeared, replaced by livid eyes and balled fists. “I swear I’ll kill him.”
Cora giggled at Gabriel’s rage. “I’ll join you.”
“It wasn’t Justin,” I told him before he could get too riled up. He has been through enough tonight. The last thing he needs is Gabriel tearing into him too.
“Then, what happened?”
I glanced at Cora, knowing we shouldn’t be discussing this in front of a civilian.
Thankfully, she got the message. She cleaned up her supplies and retrieved the cup of tea. “Seems like you’re in good hands now,” she said. “Feel free to stop by if you’re ever in trouble again.”
“I’ll be back for another cup of that tea,” I assured her. “Thank you, again.”
“Of course. Take care of yourself now, sweetheart.”
Before I could attempt to stand, Gabriel lifted me up in his arms and carried me out bridal style. “I can walk,” I told him.
“You are going to sit your ass down somewhere,” he replied as he walked out to his car. He opened the passenger door and plopped me down inside. “Now, what the hell happened tonight?”
Sighing, I told him the entire story. My masked assailant showing up at the dinner table. His claims of kidnapping Justin. Being held captive in the backseat of a trunk. My fight to escape.
With every word, Gabriel’s face scrunched up more and more.
“We need to take this to Cooper,” he said once I’d finished.
“What? No! The only thing he’s going to do is put a protective detail on me.”
“As he should. You almost died tonight.”
“But, I didn’t.”
“But, you could’ve.”
I averted my eyes, disliking the truth behind his words. I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but I did get lucky tonight. There were one too many moments that could’ve gone left - where I could’ve died. It was a miracle I was still alive.
Gabriel softened his voice. “Look, I’m proud of you for handling yourself this time around, but God only knows what else that asshole has up his sleeve. And I don’t…I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t,” I promised. “He’s already taken two shots at me and missed. Clearly, I can handle him.”
“Don’t speak too soon. They say the third time’s a charm.”