Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
He would call me his little brainiac, or smarty-pants, and though if anyone else had said it, I’d think they were making fun of me, he always did it with a warm twinkle in his gaze and a little lift of his lips that I liked to think was just for me. Hey, a girl could dream, and I knew that’s all I’d ever do about Shane Landon. Especially since I was always uncomfortable and inevitably did something awkward around him.
Yes, there was something about Shane that brought out the awkward girl inside me, and clearly that hasn’t changed.
“I’m ready,” he says, striding back into the kitchen, where he left me, this time fully dressed. He wears a dark pair of jeans and a light black jacket, which no doubt covers his weapon.
“Great.” I swallow hard, as things have just gotten real. Nothing says reality like a man with a gun. He shuts off the music outside and the lights indoors.
I follow him to the garage, where he sets the alarm to the house and holds open the car door for me to climb inside his navy and khaki-colored Jeep Wrangler.
“What’s your address?” he asks, and I rattle off the condo information.
He takes off in his hot car. My nerves have returned. If I wasn’t so afraid, I’d enjoy the ride, but I can’t stop wondering just what I am up against and why.
When I finally pay attention to my surroundings, I realize he is driving us in circles and taking off-the-beaten-path roads.
“Why—”
“Just in case you had a tail,” he says, reading my mind before I can ask the question in full. “Now here’s how it’s going to go. We get to your place, I go first. You stay behind me. You pack up some clothes and necessities first. Five minutes, and we’re out of there. Put everything in a brown paper bag or bland shopping bag and we’ll check it over at the office. Then we go to the safe at your apartment. We’ll grab your work and get the hell out,” he says, all sexy efficiency, his aviators covering his eyes as he glances my way.
“Yes, boss.” I salute him because I am actually calmed by his list of commands.
He frowns at me, and I shake my head, knowing he thinks I am being glib. “I’m serious. I’m not looking to get myself killed. I’ll listen.”
His shoulders ease down at my admission. “Where’s the safe?” he asks me.
I can’t help the self-satisfied smile that takes hold. “Beneath the shower. It’s waterproof.” I am rather proud of my hiding place.
“Nice,” he acknowledges, and I grin.
“Where are we going that I need clothes?” I ask.
“We’ll figure that out at McKay-Taggart, but obviously you can’t stay here,” he says as he pulls into the parking lot of her co-op. “Ready?” he asks.
I blow out a shallow breath. “As I’ll ever be. Let’s do it.”
He comes around to my side, and I follow him out of the car and into my apartment building.
Chapter Three
Shane
Talia’s apartment has been tossed. Someone is clearly looking for her treatment formula and her information on recreating it. Paintings have been pulled off the walls and even the mattress in her bedroom was removed from the bed as part of the search.
I have to admit I am impressed with her hiding place. I don’t call her my little brainiac for no reason. Now we have the satchel with her disks, flash drive, papers, and notebook, along with one shopping bag of personal necessities.
I want as few things as possible that could potentially be bugged with a tracker. The people after her are clearly determined, and I have no way of knowing whether they planned this in advance, in anticipation of her completion of her work.
We can grab anything else she needs once I determine where we are going. A safe house is one possibility, but I need more details from her first.
I call Ian from the road, and when we arrive at the high-rise building that houses McKay-Taggart, we meet up with my boss in a conference room on the same floor as the main offices.
Ian isn’t alone. Nor is he with any of the MT crew.
“You brought the girls?” I ask, shocked Ian’s twins are sitting at the table, coloring, but I have a hunch the quiet won’t last long. They are Taggarts, after all. Chaos will inevitably follow.
“Oh my God, they’re adorable!” Talia exclaims, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the children. “How old are they?”
“Five.” Ian turns, and I realize he has his infant son strapped to a carrier attached to his chest. And there are throw-up stains on his shoulder.
“Problem?” Ian asks, cocking one eyebrow, daring me to comment. “Because if there is, you should have had your emergency during business hours.”
I raise my hands in a gesture of peace. “No, no problem.” Ian won’t hurt me in front of his girls, but it is prudent to stay on my boss’s good side.