Love & Deception (Agents in Love - Book 1) (9 page)

She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“What do you mean? I’m not with anyone. The killers found me. Help
me.”

Walking toward the doorway, he tried once
again. In her dazed state, he had a better chance of getting
information out of her—though he hated himself a bit for doing it.
“I mean, who’s helping you here in town? Muhammad?” Another thought
occurred to him. “Shelley?”

“You. You’re the only one. I prayed you’d
find me somehow, save me from him.” Coughing wracked her body
again. “It hurts to breathe.”

“The jerk choked you. You’ll be sore for a
while.” He stepped outside, hoping if he left the door open someone
would happen by and finish Stephen off. “Let me take you to the
ER.”

“Shoot. No. I’m sorry. I’m asking too much.”
She lifted her head off his shoulder, the blood coating her face
shifting to a rusty brown as it dried. “Put me down. I’ll drive
myself home. I shouldn’t involve you in this.”

He grunted and held her tighter, carrying
her to his car. He opened the passenger’s door and carefully placed
her inside, pulling the seatbelt across her lap and fastening it.
“Where are your car keys?”

She patted the pocket of his suit jacket,
which she still wore, and pulled out keys.

He took them from her and closed the door,
walking to the Camry. After placing the keys beneath the driver’s
side floor mat, Nick swiped his smart phone and brought up the
boss’ phone number.

“You find her?” Paul asked in greeting.

“At Stephen’s house. Your little errand boy
needs help, but he’s alive. Carlie’s keys are in the usual place.
Get her vehicle back to her house, then stay away from this case.
Either that or pull me from it. I had things under control.”

“Don’t presume to tell me what to do or
I’ll—”

“Have me taken out? I thought we were closer
than that, but I guess times change.”

“Be reasonable,” Paul said. “We’re talking
about something bigger than you and I, Nick. Your target and her
terrorist friends are dangerous. We have to think about the people
they’ll hurt if they succeed.”

“I know that.” It was the whole reason he
joined S.A.T.O. He wanted to protect people. Nick walked to the
Porsche, unable to see Carlie through the dark tinted windows.
“That’s also why you need me now more than ever. The target’s
spooked and somehow knows you’re on to her. She said I’m the only
one she can trust.”

“It sounds like you want to protect her. You
don’t think she’s innocent, do you?”

“Innocent until proven guilty, isn’t that
the way our country works?”

“Find the bracelet, Nick. I know she has
one. Then you’ll see I’m right.”

What if she did have it? She was afraid, and
she didn’t want police involved. There had to be a reason. Having a
piece of jewelry that could wreak havoc on the country would be a
good reason to want to remain anonymous to the police.

He sighed. “If she has the bracelet, or I
can connect her to the terrorist organization, I’ll do things your
way. For now, let me do it my way.”

“I’m counting on you. The whole country
is.”

Disconnecting the call, Nick climbed into
the car. Carlie breathed regularly and she appeared to be asleep,
though he hoped she wasn’t unconscious.

“Carlie, hon, can you wake up a little?”

“Hmmmmm.” She shifted in her seat, but then
cried out, opening her eyes. “Crap. That hurts.”

“I’m going to drive you home, okay? I’ve
arranged for your car to be taken there later.”

She shook her head as though to clear her
confusion. “I can’t go home, Nick. I thought you understood. I need
your protection.” She sighed and looked out the windshield,
avoiding his gaze. “I shouldn’t drag you into my problems. Go ahead
and take me to my house.”

Searching her place could wait for another
day. The target had to believe he was on her side.

“You’re coming home with me, Carlie. I won’t
let anyone else hurt you.”

Carlie must have drifted in and out of
consciousness. Time flew at a rapid rate—either that or Nick sped
through every light in town. She closed her eyes again, just to
rest them for a moment.

Someone grabbed her shoulder and shook it.
Carlie tried to bat them away, but pain erupted in her stomach when
she shifted. With supreme effort she opened her eyes. Nick stood
over her outside the open passenger’s door.

“Can you hear me?” Concern narrowed his dark
eyes. “Are you sure we shouldn’t take you to the hospital?”

Truthfully, she wasn’t sure. However, she
knew hospitals wanted things like social security numbers and
insurance forms and payment. She had none of those things and
feared they would call the police.

Without a friend’s help, she’d never have
been able to open a business while staying in hiding. She worked so
hard for this dream, and if her enemies had found her, it no longer
mattered. Then again, Stephen might just be a random creep, upset
she wouldn’t date him. If that were the case, she needed to stay
hidden from bigger threats. She couldn’t visit the hospital.

“I think I’ll be fine.” She lifted her hand,
intending to caress Nick’s face and reassure him, only to realize
blood coated it. A shudder coursed through her. “I need a shower.”
The car’s dome light revealed splotches of drying blood covering
her clothing. “I’ve ruined your jacket.” For some reason, that was
the biggest insult of the night. Tears blurred her vision. “I’m
sorry, Nick.”

“Hush. It doesn’t matter.” He slipped an arm
between the seat and her back, pulling her from the car. “Let’s get
you inside and cleaned up.”

Carlie ground her teeth against the pain,
setting her feet on the ground. Nick made motions to scoop her into
his arms, but she shook her head. “I need to walk.”

“Your injuries are bad.” He once again made
moves to lift her.

“If I can’t walk, I’m worse off than I
thought and better go to the hospital.” And face the police.

Nick nodded, though his face closed down. “I
feel so damn helpless.”

She guessed he didn’t often experience that
emotion. “Too bad we didn’t practice defenses instead of having
dinner, huh?” She attempted to laugh, but another look at his
solemn face stopped that inclination. “Nick, you can’t blame
yourself. This is my problem. I really don’t think I should drag
you into the middle of it.” She looked into his eyes, cupping his
cheek in her hand despite the blood. “But I
am
so grateful
you rescued me.”

He swiped his thumb lightly against her
cheek. Carlie winced as he drew away. “Your cheek’s bleeding pretty
bad. It might need stitches.”

“Maybe they have butterfly bandages at the
front desk?”

“Okay.” He shook his head. “No doctors. I’ll
figure something out.”

He put his arm around her back and Carlie
leaned on him during the painful process of walking into the hotel.
She counted herself lucky he had the foresight to bring her through
a side door and not parade her past the clerk working in the lobby.
Even now, before getting the entire picture, she was sure she
looked frightful.

It took forever to make it to Nick’s room,
but thankfully they didn’t see another person. He turned on every
light switch they walked past, looking around as though expecting
someone to attack them. Perhaps he was afraid the people after her
discovered where they went. She knew she asked too much of him, but
now that she was here, she really didn’t want to face going home by
herself. Nick’s superior fighting skills afforded her a sense of
security she loathed giving up.

He led her past the sitting room, through
the bedroom, and into a giant bathroom, helping her onto the closed
lid of the toilet. “I’ll run water into the bathtub. I don’t think
you’re strong enough to stand for a shower.”

Carlie glanced longingly at the freestanding
shower. “I have to get this off me. I can’t soak in a tub with his
blood.”

“You know what you’re capable of better than
I do.” He crossed the space and ran water into the whirlpool tub.
“A quick shower and then into here, okay?”

Now that her fear was fading, she couldn’t
help but be impressed at his care for her. “Thanks for
understanding...and being a gentleman.” Bile roiled in her stomach
and she added bitterly, “If he were here, Stephen would insist on
soaping me up instead of just running water.”

Nick glanced up from his crouched position.
“If you need help, I’ll help you, but I won’t take advantage of
you.” His hawk gaze caught her. “Did Stephen do something before
beating you?”

She pushed strands of blood-coated hair away
from her face. “Not really.”

Nick’s lips tightened. “How far did he
go?”

She blanched at the way his face reddened
and the rage in his eyes. “Just kissing. He wanted more, but I said
no.”

“And he took no for an answer?”

His voice was so soft and yet full of such
venom, Carlie shivered and hugged her arms to her body. “If you
must know, the prospect of beating me to death seemed more arousing
to him than sex.” She sighed, taking a hard look at her actions.
“I’ve always been too gullible. I felt sorry for him, but he had
this planned from the start. He even wore a protective cup so I
couldn’t drop him to his knees with a kick.”

“Then he never intended to have sex with
you?”

She sighed. “I told him that was a defense
I’d use against a man attacking me and he took precautions, so I
guess he planned on beating me from the beginning. I think him
asking for sex was just something he would have liked, but not
necessary. His main goal was to kill me.”

Nick turned the water off and stood. “Why
would he attack you? What did you ever do to him?”

A part of her ached to tell him, tell him
everything. Didn’t she owe it to him? After all, he could be in
danger by protecting her. Plus, he saved her life.

She stood, and her muscles protested. Her
neck was tight and uncomfortable and pain burned in her stomach.
She wondered if she’d be able to move in the morning, but perhaps a
hot bath would help.

“I need to clean up, Nick.”

He nodded and took a hesitant step for the
door before turning back. “You’ll be okay on your own?”

“I’m sore, but I really think I’m fine.”

“Your face is still bleeding.”

Reaching up, she touched tenderly around the
area where Stephen split open her cheek. “He has one heck of a
backhand.”

Nick closed his eyes and breathed in loudly
through his nose, blowing the air out forcefully. “I should have
followed you home. This is my fault.”

“No. This has nothing to do with you.” She
owed him the truth. “I want to tell you what I’ve gotten you into,
but I can’t do it covered in blood. Let me clean up and then we’ll
talk.”

A look that might have been surprise flitted
across Nick’s face. “Take your shower and then soak for a bit. I’ll
find supplies to take care of your cheek and something for you to
sleep in.” He walked from the room and shut the door.

Carlie hoped he still wanted to help her
once he found out who she ran from.

***

Nick waited to hear the shower turn on so
Carlie wouldn’t hear when he called Paul. “Your boy did a number on
her,” he said quietly. “I need medical supplies at my place. Pain
pills, ice packs, bandages. He split her cheek open. I’m not sure
about other damage. She refused to go to the hospital, so you
lucked out there.” He paused to reign in his anger. “Less
paperwork.”

The phone line muffled, and Paul barked
orders to somebody. “Your supplies are on the way. I had to bring
my doctor in here. One of you broke his nose.”

“That would be her.” Nick chuckled, happy
Carlie managed to hurt him. “I nearly snapped his damn neck, but
refrained.”

“Do you need the doctor there?”

“No. She says she’s fine, and another person
might spoil things. I don’t like what you did, but it worked. She’s
cleaning up and then wants to tell me why someone’s after her.”
Nick walked to the dresser and rummaged in the drawer, looking for
something Carlie could wear. He pulled out one of his t-shirts.
“The bad news is she knows the government is on to her. The good
news is she doesn’t know I’m with you.”

“So, you believe me now that she’s involved
in this.”

He didn’t want to, but she pretty much
admitted it. “I’ll know for sure soon enough. Maybe I can get her
to show me the bracelet, if she has one.”

“We need that bracelet, Nick. It’s
dangerous. Just don’t do anything to warn her away. She might get
suspicious if you ask about it.”

“As long as I’ve worked for you, have you
ever known me to botch a job?” Nick needed to make sure Paul
remembered how important he was to S.A.T.O. He was a good agent,
even if he didn’t always agree with the boss.

“I’m flying out in the morning, but I’ll
expect a report on everything as soon as you have time alone.”

Nick smiled, knowing he won the real battle.
Paul was trusting his judgment again. “Sure thing, boss.”

“Your supplies will be there soon.” Paul
disconnected without saying goodbye.

The water in the shower turned off and Nick
crossed to the bathroom with the shirt in his hand. “Are you doing
okay?” he asked through the door.

“I’m fine.” He heard splashing and figured
she must have climbed into the tub.

“I’m going to reach my hand in and set a
shirt on the counter for you, okay?” There was silence from the
other side of the door. “I promise not to look.”

“It—it’s fine. I...trust you.”

He opened the door and blindly shoved the
shirt onto the countertop, not even looking into the mirror in case
she happened to catch him at it. “I have supplies on the way. How’s
your cheek?”

“It won’t stop bleeding.”

“Probably the hot water.” Nick heard a knock
on the front door. Paul was speedy when he put his mind to it.
“Sounds like the supplies are here.”