Chapter 4
The night became silent around them, and Taylor stopped running.
Kam came up beside her. She still couldn't quite wrap her mind around the fact that he was standing there next to her.
Alive. Her heart wanted to take him in her arms and never let go, but her head told her to proceed with caution.
Three years was a long time for someone to change.
"Do you hear that?" she whispered.
"No more gunfire." Kam's breath tickled across her temple. Images of him holding her close on a beach, whispering promises for tomorrow, filled her mind. She gave herself a mental shake. She didn't know if this was the same person. She wasn't the same.
No, what she needed to do now was focus on getting them both out of here, preferably alive.
"We should get moving," they said in unison.
"I am a federal agent. I can take care of myself." She huffed and started to move again, watching her steps.
"I know. Even FBI agents work on teams." Kam moved with the grace of a cat on the prowl. Effortlessly silent.
"Fair. Where exactly are we going?" Taylor attempted to step exactly where Kam did.
"My truck is about another half mile on a service road."
They continued in silence, and Taylor took the time to think through everything she knew. About the case. About Kam. It was a lot to sort through.
Kam put his hand up and a finger to his lips.
The ones that she had kissed. She wasn't sure what she was thinking except that if he disappeared again, she wanted something to hold on to when she grieved all over again.
She wasn't sure she was strong enough to endure that pain again.
She had to guard her heart no matter how much it longed for Kam to take her away with him this time.
A stick snapped, and Taylor dropped behind Kam near a bramble bush. She didn't know much about plants, but this one looked like it would hurt if she had to drive beneath it.
Kam reached back and placed his hand on her knee.
It was like he sensed her unease and knew exactly what she needed.
She'd let it go this time, but she needed serious work on that wall around her heart.
A rustling came from the bushes in front of them as a large moose sauntered toward the path they had just vacated.
The beast would have towered over them even with them standing.
Hunkered down, it was as if it would only take a split second for them to be crushed.
Taylor held her breath until the moose disappeared through the trees. She blew out her breath and rested her head on Kam's back.
"Not a big fan of moose?" he teased.
"Not a big fan of being trampled to death by a two-ton animal."
"That little guy probably only weighed 1,000 pounds."
"Little? He was huge," she scoffed.
The early morning light was starting to lift the nightly shadows, and the humor in Kam's eye made her stomach flip. How she missed this. Wait. What happened to that wall she was supposed to have up?
She stood. "We need to keep moving." And I need to keep you out of my heart.
She took off in the direction they had been going. Why was her heart so willing to trust in this man? She had no idea where he was or what he had done for the last three years. It was a long time to be embedded with the Russians.
Davin trusted him. At least enough to let her go with him. She stopped walking and looked behind her.
"Agent Schulz is an excellent shot."
"He is. But he's not bulletproof." She looked at him in the dawn light. The shadows kept most of his features subdued, but she could still make out the scar. If Davin trusted him, she should try to keep her doubts in check, too. "I pray he didn't die because of me."
"You'd be worth it." Kam stepped toward her, eyes burning with desire. She knew he wouldn't hesitate to die for her.
She trailed her finger down his scar. "One day you'll have to tell me everything."
He took her hand away from his face. "We need to keep going."
"I thought you said that Schulz would be okay."
"I'm sure of it, but that doesn't mean there aren't more assassins coming for the bounty on your head."
Kam started walking again, but this time he didn't let go of her hand.
It was possible that the last three years hadn't turned him into a jaded person.
She was well aware of how her view of the world had changed since she started working for the FBI.
Being exposed to all kinds of evil in the world made it easier to see evil everywhere.
This was why her Bible study group was the most important thing.
Those ladies kept her grounded. Helped her realize there could be joy in the world. No matter how deep the darkness felt.
The forest ended at a rutted service road. An old pickup sat half-submerged in the ditch. Kam let go of her hand. They rounded the truck and climbed in. He twisted the key. The engine sputtered, but didn't roar to life.
"Come on. Come on." Kam tried again.
Nothing.
He hit the steering wheel. Movement down the road made Taylor turn her attention outside. A man dressed in all black started walking towards them, gun raised.
"Lord, we could use you right now." Kam's prayer washed over her. Somehow, he had kept his faith through everything. She could feel another brick in her wall falling away.
Now she needed to survive long enough to discover more about the man she once loved.
Kam turned the key again, and the old truck stirred to life. He threw the truck into reverse and sped away from the hitman.
"Get down!" Kam shoved her head below the dash. The windshield shattered as small shards of glass rained down on her. Kam jerked the wheel, which spun the truck around. He shifted into drive and bounced down the service road.
Another shot rang out, but the back window stayed intact.
"Thanks," Kam mumbled.
Taylor peeked over her seat. Paul stood in the middle of the road, heaving his chest. She could make out the anger in his eyes as the sun lit up the morning sky. Taylor stared at him and nodded.
She would need to let him know that Kam didn't kidnap her. He had saved her. They all had in some way. That realization made her heart squeeze. It wasn't because she couldn't take care of herself. She just wasn't worth all of these heroics.
When she and Davin chased after Paul when he went dark, that was different. She was trying to save a fellow agent. A friend. Someone who was teaching her more about God.
Maybe they were just doing the same. An obligation of duty to a fellow agent.
She wouldn't know why else they'd chase after assassins for her.
She wasn't sure when she'd see those two again.
She'd only pray that they sorted out the whole mess she found herself in before she was sent to jail. Or the next assassin was successful.
She settled back in her seat. It was time to make a plan. Get her life back. "Where exactly are we going?"
Kam could sense that Taylor was struggling. She wore her emotions on her face, whether she knew it or not.
He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Davin and Paul kept you safe. We'll figure this out."
She ripped her hand from his. "No. They will figure out who framed me and I…"
"You what?"
"Stay alive."
She stared out the window. She may wear her emotions, but he wished that he could hear the thoughts buzzing through her head.
"Where are we going, Kam?" She turned toward him.
"Some place safe."
"I was already at a safe house."
"It wasn't safe enough." Kam squeezed the steering wheel.
She stiffened. "Do you think there was someone who leaked where I was?"
Kam shrugged one shoulder. "Or someone hacked into your system."
Taylor snorted. "I'm not saying it's impossible, but finding a meadow of only four-leaf clovers would be easier than hacking our system."
Kam smirked. "Sounds impressive."
"It is. I should know. I helped build it." She crossed her arms and leaned against her door so that she could face him.
He knew that she was good with computers, but she might have also gained more than defensive moves over the last three years.
"When we get there, you'll have to ask him how he did it then."
"What? Someone hacked the FBI? Someone you told to do it?" Each question got louder and higher-pitched.
"Relax. He is one of the good guys." Kam glanced her way. "Let's just say he works for the government."
"You know if you want me to trust you, you're going to have to stop giving me vague answers."
"It's hard to tell you everything given the oath you swore as an FBI agent."
He didn't mean the words to sound angry. He was proud of who she had become. She was tough and strong and determined.
"Well, you're in luck. They suspended me until the investigation is over."
Kam drew his brows together. "I thought Schulz got them to reconsider."
Taylor tilted her head. "He did, but Hollands still filed the report saying I was suspended. They were hoping this would keep whoever was framing me satisfied until they could figure it out."
She leaned in, arms uncrossed, eyes steady. A pause hung in the air. Then she sat back, like she’d heard enough without a word spoken.
"So, are you ever going to tell me exactly where we're going?"
He was thankful that she didn't ask where he got his information about her status as an FBI agent. "Max is a friend. His place isn't exactly on any map."
"Is this friend someone you met while working for Spartak?"
Maybe it was time to give her some answers. "First, I never defected to the Russians. Second, yes, he is someone I met while working undercover in Spartak."
"I knew you were a patriot, but why did you leave me?"
Her last words were softly spoken; he had a hard time hearing them over the rumble of the engine. Trees passed them by as they wound their way through the forest. They'd soon be back on a paved road where he'd have to pay more attention for another assassin.
He decided to take advantage of the quiet moment and give her another piece of truth.