Shed never done anything dangerous before. Shed lived her life following the rules, making sure everyone had what they needed and picking up the slack where she could. Putting herself deliberately in harms way went against her own sense of self-preservation. But for Jillian she had to. And she had to rely on this man to protect her. And youll be close by watching, right?
His expression softened slightly. Yes.
The small glimpse of consideration, of compassion, didnt assure her, instead it made her heart beat too fast and her mouth turn to cotton. It was clear he knew what he was asking of her was dangerous and yet, he still asked. And she had no choice but to confront her fears and do what needed to be done. For her sisters sake. And for her own. She wouldnt be able to live with herself if she hadnt done all she could to rescue her sister. She swallowed, trying to find her voice again. If I dont cooperate with you, Ill be arrested. The thought of jail terrified her. She didnt want to go to prison. If she were incarcerated, who would save her sister? Is that, right?
Yes. His frown wasnt a scowl but more troubled, which made her wonder if he wasnt as happy at the prospect as shed have thought.
Maybe he wasnt as cold as hed like her to believe. But then again, he was asking her to risk her life by following his plan. Was she crazy to trust him? Did she trust him? She smoothed her hand over her denim-clad thighs. What happens if he doesnt bring my sister to the fort?
He didnt flinch. His expression hardened. She hadnt thought it possible. His jaw must ache with tension. When we have him in custody, well get her whereabouts from him.
A sour taste settled on her tongue. That wasnt very reassuring. What if Santini doesnt show up?
Then well follow whoever does take the necklace. His words held a thread of impatience that hadnt been there before. Was he not used to anyone questioning him? They will lead us to Santini.
And to my sister, she reminded him with a good dose of her own hardness infusing her voice.
He nodded and visibly seemed to check himself. The impatience dissipated to be replaced with a placating look that grated on her nerves. We have every intention of recovering your sister.
His words should have assured her even if his expression infuriated her, but the way he said recover made her think the worst. A chill scraped across her flesh. The cold, harsh room seemed to close in on her, stirring up old fears to mingle with new ones. How had her life come to this? What should she do? How did she save her sister?
Please, Lord, dont let anything bad happen to Jillian. Give me wisdom. And the courage to act. What will happen to her husband, Travis?
Hell be arrested along with Santinis other men.
Jillian would be devastated. Liz would help her through her disappointment, and they would go home together to resume their lives, hopefully putting this whole ordeal behind them.
What if Santini figures out youre there? A shudder rippled through her as possible scenarios played through her mind. Shed be an easy target if Santini decided to eliminate her. And her sister. Can you guarantee my safety? My sisters safety?
I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and get your sister back safely, Blake answered, his voice low, resolute.
His determination rang through. He believed what he said, but could she? Could she put her life in his hands? Did she have faith enough to rely on someone else? Her natural inclination to keep people at arms length fought her need to depend on him. Depending on anyone was such a foreign concept. Did she have it in her to do so? What choice did she have?
It was either go along with his plan or go to jail, which would be a death knell for her sister. It looked as if she had only one option. A hard option for her. It would require her to dig deep to find the necessary will to trust, to count on this man.
Fine. She clenched her jaw, mirroring the way hed gritted his teeth earlier. The accompanying ache had her pressing her lips together to relieve the pressure before saying, Ill do it your way.
A flash of relief crossed his handsome face. Had he really thought she wouldnt cooperate, given hed threatened to arrest her?
Good. His tone wasnt nearly as sharp as it had been before. Youll have to follow my instructions to the letter if we are to succeed.
Of course hed say that. His words confirmed her assessment that he was a man who liked to be in control, to call the shots. Well, she had a dose of that, as well. She arched an eyebrow. Ill do whatever I have to in order to protect my sister.
I wouldnt expect anything less.
His voice vibrated with respect. The odd turnaround had her mind spinning. He approved of her standing up to him? For some reason that pleased her and irritated her at the same time. Had he been baiting her to see if shed fold under the pressure?
She hadnt. At least, not yet. She was too worried for her sisters well-being. When this was over and they were both safe, then shed collapse. But not in front of Blake Fallon. That would be not only humiliating and degrading, it would let him know that her bravado was just thatbravado, manufactured and fragile. But she would be brave. She had to prove to Blake, to herself, that she had the mettle to see this ordeal through. Only with Gods help could she do it.
A wave of fatigue crashed through her. Her shoulders drooped. She glanced at her watch. Theyd been here for a long time. She hadnt eaten since the midmorning snack on the plane. She needed to find a hotel, but mostly she wanted to get away from this confusing man. Can I go now?
Blake rose and picked up the box, tucking the necklace back inside. Ill escort you to a safe house.
Oh, goodie. Not. She would rather go alone. Then she wouldnt have these confusing and conflicting thoughts about the agent. Ill find a hotel, thank you.
Not happening. His tone was adamant. I want you where we can protect you.
Despite how irritating she found him, she couldnt deny that having some protection eased some of her anxiety. Shed be stupid not to accept. Shed already agreed to his plan, she now had to find it within herself to allow him to protect her in every way. That included her accommodations.
Fine. You can be in charge of where I stay. She rose and held out her hand. My box, please.
She wasnt going to let the box or the necklace out of her sight. The necklace was her only bargaining chip and the boxs sentimental value was worth more to Liz than the price of the uncut diamonds.
He hesitated for a moment, clearly uncomfortable letting her take ownership of the priceless bauble, before placing her mothers jewelry box on her palm. Her fingers closed around the wood, feeling the carvings dig into her flesh. Liz traced a finger over the roses carved into the side. A wave of sadness washed through her as she held the box in her shaking hands. She missed her mother so much. Liz had been only ten when shed passed, but her memories of her mother were still very vivid and bolstered her courage.
Liz was going to need every ounce of strength she possessed to make it through this nightmare. She sent up another silent prayer for help and safety for Jillian, for herself, as she followed Blake out of the interrogation room.
The CBS officer waited for them in the hallway with her suitcase. Exit through that door. He pointed to the opposite end of the hallway from where theyd entered.
The CBS officer waited for them in the hallway with her suitcase. Exit through that door. He pointed to the opposite end of the hallway from where theyd entered.
It needs to appear that youre going about the plan as normal, so go straight to the rental car pickup, Blake told her. Theres a phone in the glove box of your rental. When it rings put it on speaker so I can give you directions. Ill be right behind you.
Apparently they had anticipated her cooperation. She should be angry, but she was too freaked out and tired to stir the embers of anger. Though she nearly let loose a hysterical chuckle, no doubt born of fatigue and panic. Blake was certainly sure of himself. That could be a good thing. At least she hoped so. She grabbed the handle of her luggage and rushed out the exit, which led her back to the terminal.
She hurried through the security exit and out of the airport. Stars twinkled in the dark sky. She took a moment to breathe in the cold air to clear her head. The freezing temperature was painful to her lungs. Within seconds her face felt as if icicles were forming on her skin.
She crossed the street, heading to the car rental desk and stepped into line. A large body bumped into her, knocking her off balance. Hey!
A hard object pressed into her side. Dont scream or Ill put a bullet in you.
Terrified, Liz stiffened. She recognized the voice whispering in her ear. It was the intruder from her apartment. Santinis rival for the diamond necklace. She turned her head, wanting to see his face.
But he shifted out of her peripheral view and pressed the barrel of the gun harder into her ribs and growled, Dont look at me. Just walk.
Frantically, she searched for Blake as she stepped out of line with the man and moved toward a waiting car. She couldnt make out the drivers face. His dark gray hoodie covered his head and hung over his face.
The blare of a horn caught her assailants attention.
Lizs gaze whipped to the left in time to see Blake jump out of a nondescript sedan and run full speed toward her. From the corner of her eye she saw the Canadian customs officer racing to intercept her attacker.
The man with the gun cursed, then pushed her away, sending her stumbling toward Blake. Her would-be captor jumped into the waiting vehicle before the customs officer could reach him, and the little blue coupe took off like a rocket, weaving through traffic. The customs officer was on his phone in seconds, presumably calling other law enforcement to pursue the two men.
Blake grabbed her by the biceps. Are you okay, miss?
Taking his cue to act as if they didnt know each other, she nodded, Im fine, thank you.
She shrugged out of his hold, unsettled by the way his hands burned through the material of her coat to her skin.
He nodded and returned to his sedan. His tall, lean frame folded into the drivers seat. She watched him drive away with anxiety twisting her up in knots. Feeling exposed, she hurried to the car rental counter. After signing for the rental car, the man handed her a set of keys to a silver sedan.
Once inside the vehicle, she locked the doors and then opened the glove box to find the phone Blake had said would be there. She had to admit she was grateful to have him on her side. She was nuts to think she could have pulled off rescuing her sister alone. Within seconds the small cell phone rang. She pressed answer and then the speaker button as shed been instructed. Hello.
All right, Liz, came Blakes voice. Some of her tension eased, knowing she had a link to him through the phone. The address where youre going has already been programmed into the cars onboard GPS. Start the car and hit the route button. Ill fall in behind you. Nathanial will also be following. If we think youre being followed, well give you further instructions.
Okay. Her hands shook as she started the car, then hit the route button on the navigation system in the dashboard. Immediately a disembodied female voice gave her directions to follow.
She gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove through traffic. A surreal sensation blunted the edges of her fear. Was she really doing this? That man with the gun was probably Ken. He was the same man who broke into my apartment. I recognized his voice.
Ill let Nathanial know.
A shudder worked through her, tensing her shoulders even more until they were hiked all the way to her ears. The man had almost had her for a second time. Thankfully, Blake had been there. But could she count on him to save her again? To save her sister?
She prayed so. Because if Blake failed her, then her sister would die.
Nathanial caught the license plate of the vehicle he jumped into. Blakes voice filled the car. Local police will track it down, but Im sure those two will ditch it and find other transportation.
He must have been on my plane, she said, realizing that if Blake hadnt detained her, that man might have succeeded in kidnapping her and taking ownership of the necklace.
He used an alias, Blake told her. Well have our people reexamine the flight manifest and see if we can catch him on any of the airports video feed.
The other guy must be local and provided him with the gun, she hypothesized.
Yes, that thought crossed my mind, Blake admitted.
She sighed. Im freaking out that there are two people trying to claim the necklace as theirs.
It does complicate things but dont worry, well keep you safe.
She hoped so. I appreciate that.
Traffic slowed as she approached the Rainbow Bridge where shed cross the border over the Niagara River. She glanced in her rearview mirror and realized Blake was in the car directly behind her. For some reason that made her feel protected and exposed at the same time.
She crossed into Canada without incident and continued to follow the navigation system to a tall red brick building.
Circle the block, Blake instructed. To make sure no one is following.
She did as he asked, noting that hed fallen back by several cars. When she passed the front of the building the second time he said, Were clear. Park in the garage and wait in the car for me.
She found a parking spot in the corner near the stairs. A few minutes later, Blake drove in and parked two places down.
He hopped out of his car and walked over to her. She unlocked the doors so he could grab her bag from the backseat. She climbed out and came around to his side.
This way. He led her up the stairwell and into the buildings entryway. Warmth suffused her, chasing away her chill. She shrugged out of her coat and draped it over her arm as she looked around. Immediately she was taken with the marble floors, the art deco decor and the lovely antique pieces scattered around the lobby.
What is this place? she asked.
Where the team is staying, he answered.
The ding of the elevator car arriving echoed off the polished marble floor and cut her off from asking more questions about her surroundings. The doors slid open. Staring into the box, her throat constricted. The muscles in her shoulders tensed. He laid his hand to the small of her back, urging her to move. His touch was warm through her pink sweater and created tingles on her skin, distracting her enough to enter the elevator car. She plastered herself against the wall and gripped the handrail as Blake entered, dragging her suitcase behind him. He was a good head taller than she and so attractive he stole her breath.