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Zeke
She was good—he’d give her that. She knew how to blend in. How to be invisible.
Unfortunately for her, so did he. Plus, he had the added advantage of years of special forces experience. He could find and track anyone, anywhere.
The question he kept asking himself was, Is it worth it?
Several times throughout his pursuit, he thought about walking away—as much for her benefit as his. He understood her reticence about meeting with Charley. He certainly understood her distrust, though he didn’t know why she felt that way. Perhaps it had something to do with why she felt compelled to do what she did—namely, a general lack of faith in a broken system.
He knew what had planted the seed of distrust for him—the clusterfuck that had gotten him dishonorably discharged. The same one that might have gotten him executed for treason had he not accepted their offer—claim responsibility and they’d let him walk away quietly.
His gut knotted, just as it did every time he thought about the papers he’d signed. He wasn’t a traitor, not to his country, not to his team, not to anyone. And yet, he’d signed a confession that said he was.
The worst part was the look in his teammates’ eyes. The disappointment. The betrayal. He’d hoped they’d see the accusations for the shams they were. That they’d recognize the whole shitshow was another government fuckup. Another cover-up. God knew, they’d been on enough ops, burying shit together. They should have known better. Goddamn it, they should have known him better.
Zeke exhaled and shoved the pain back, stuffing it into the box he kept locked in the back of his mind. That part of his life was over. What was done was done. Harping on it wouldn’t change anything. He wasn’t a SEAL anymore. He was a tattooist who moonlighted as a mercenary, and at the moment, he was getting paid to find and deliver one clever, tiny female. A female who was growing more intriguing by the hour.
He returned his attention to the task at hand, looking up at the multimillion-dollar chalet and sighed, glad that she seemed to have decided to stay put for the time being. She’d really put him through his paces with the busses and the train and finally, the Uber that had brought her here.
Soft golden light flowed from walls made of glass, spilled over cantilevered decks, and disappeared into the dense forest.
It was a far cry from the hovel where she’d been living in Parryville, which he supposed was the point. Staying unpredictable was the most effective way to remain undetected and mobile. Perhaps she’d taken his words about patterns and habits to heart.
He made his rounds around the perimeter. The chalet was remote; there wasn’t another place for miles. One primary road in with two semi-concealed alternate routes along the back and sides. Strategically positioned as it was on the forested slope, it blended into the landscape and had a fantastic view of the surrounding area. The garage beneath the house held several cars, including a Range Rover and a Maybach.
A slight and unexpected pang of envy zipped through him. The isolated chalet was either the result of a wealthy recluse’s paranoia or a master strategist’s wet dream.
After watching and circling several times, Zeke was convinced she was the only person there. He made his way into the house on silent feet. He found her on a couch in a sunken living room, bare feet propped up on a glass coffee table. She was wearing a plush white robe, her hair wrapped up, turban-style, the ever-present laptop atop her thighs. She looked as if she’d just stepped out of a spa.
Given the size and amenities of the place, she just might have.
He stayed in the shadows, studying her reflection in the expanse of glass looking out over the mountainside. It took a full minute, maybe two, before her back stiffened and her eyes lifted, searching the glass.
Her body relaxed when she spotted his reflection, and then she exhaled heavily. Without turning around, she said, “I figured I had at least one night. You’re even better than I gave you credit for, and that’s saying something. Not many people exceed my expectations.”
Zeke stepped farther into the room, irrationally pleased by her praise. “If it helps, you made me work for it.”
“Well, I guess that’s something.”
She closed her laptop and shifted in her seat to face him. She looked weary. He was pretty wiped himself after chasing her all day and half the night. Tired and annoyed and oddly ... relieved to have caught up with her. She’d been a half-step ahead of him all day.
“I hope you know it’s not personal, Zeke.”
He nodded. His mind knew that, but based on the way his chest had loosened with her words, other parts of him didn’t.
Unnerved by the softness of her gaze, he glanced around. Took in the stone hearth, exposed beams, recessed lighting. “Nice place.”
“It is, isn’t it? Private too.”
“One of your targets’ assets?”
“You could say that,” she agreed, eyeing him critically. “Are you still determined to take me to Charley?”
He nodded. He didn’t feel good about it, but he’d committed himself to the task.
No one said he had to drop her off and leave, however. Perhaps he’d stick around long enough to ensure that Aggie could walk away and disappear again if she didn’t like whatever Charley had to say. Hell, maybe he’d go with her.
“It’s been a long day for both of us, and I’m beat,” she said, rolling her shoulders up and back in a graceful motion. “What do you say we take the night off and enjoy it? Indulge in a hot bath, quality liquor, and a bed that hasn’t had hundreds of bodies lying on it?”
That did sound good. Too good.
“Why? So you can take off again?”
“I promise, no more running tonight.”
“Seems I’ve heard that before.”
“I’ve never lied to you, Zeke,” she said softly. “And I kept my word that night, didn’t I? I didn’t make any such promise last night.”
He grunted, which made her smile for some reason.
She made an X over her chest. “Cross my heart. I’m not going anywhere for at least twelve hours, maybe more. Honestly, I couldn’t even if I wanted to, which, for the record, I don’t.”
She rose from the couch and yawned. “Whatever. I’m going to bed. You do you. Both the bar and the pantry are well stocked, so help yourself.”
“How very generous of our absent hosts,” he said dryly.
“That’s the spirit.”
She disappeared down the corridor, leaving him watching the sway of those curvy, petite hips. Hips that tugged at him like an invisible string.
Appearances were deceiving. She looked so delicate, but she was anything but. She was smart and quick and had the same fierce need to fight for the underdog as he did.
He followed the call of that sway, envisioning removing that towel and robe and climbing into bed with her while rationalizing that he was only doing his job.
He entered a spacious bedroom suite. Like the living area, it boasted an entire wall of windows with a spectacular view. A large flat screen was mounted above a stone hearth. A partially open door at the other end of the room hinted at a bathroom three times the size of the last hotel room they’d stayed in.
The massive bed on a raised dais was what drew his immediate attention, however. Draped in fluffy white bedding, it looked incredibly inviting. After several nights of only light sleep and long days of driving, he was nearing his limit.
She went over to the hearth and pressed a button, and flames sprang up. Then, she turned and arched a brow at him. “You don’t trust me?”
“Forgive me if I’m skeptical.”
“I guess I deserve that,” she said on a sigh. “I wasn’t nearly as ill as I made it seem. But if it makes you feel any better, I really did have a rough night. That dinner didn’t agree with me.”
“So, you lied and convinced a chambermaid I was an abusive asshole, so she’d help you escape.”
She shrugged, an elegant lift of those feminine shoulders. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“How’d she get you out? Linen service? Delivery van?”
Her lips quirked upward. “I’m impressed. The linen service cart took me to the laundry facility. From there, an HVAC service van took me off the premises. The HVAC guy just happened to be the maid’s boyfriend. What gave me away?”
He thought about telling her he was just that good, but since she was being forthright, he could be too. “She came to do the room, and when I showed her your picture, she looked at me like I was Satan incarnate. In fact, she actually called me that in her native language.”
Her tired eyes twinkled with amusement. “Educated guess, or you can actually speak Cebuano?”
He said nothing. Officially, the time he’d spent in the Philippines had never happened.
Understanding softened her features, and she didn’t pursue it. “And then you used the locator to track me to the café. Pretty sloppy on my part, huh? I don’t usually make mistakes like that. Well, live and learn.”
It was sloppy and very out of character for her. Additionally, she didn’t seem particularly upset that he’d caught up to her. A niggling unease skittered down his spine. Maybe she had deliberately led him out here. Then, he gave himself an inner shake. He was overtired and overanalyzing.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
“What else is there to say? I told you, I’m tired. I’ve been through a lot in the last week. I’m going to bed. Fair warning: if you try to drag me out of here before noon, I will hurt you.”
With that, she stepped up to the raised bed, shimmied out of her robe to reveal a silky sheath that left nothing to the imagination, and slipped between the covers.