Page 10 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Savvy

My heart is pounding hard as I’m still trying to process that it wasn’t Bob who grabbed me on the street in the dark as I walked past his warehouse. It’s Hunter.

“Hunter? What are you doing here?”

He crosses his arms and stares at me. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Your sister said you were on an assignment.”

The corner of his mouth turns up. “You asked about me?”

“No, of course not. I’ve been staying at her place, and she mentioned you wouldn’t be stopping by because you were out of town.”

“Maria said you left the state,” he says, studying me.

“I did.”

“And why are you here tonight?”

A car drives our way, and I turn to make sure my face is hidden. While I did see Bob leave, he might return at any time.

“You’re the informant,” Hunter says matter-of-factly.

“What?”

“You filled out the FBI form at the library about this warehouse,” he nods to it.

How could he know that? He was still at the hospital when I went to the library.

“Were you discharged and then followed me?” I shake my head. That doesn’t make sense.

He chuckles. “You think I left the hospital just to follow you? Confident, aren’t you?”

“I don’t understand. You don’t even work for the FBI. Or do you?”

“No. Why are you wearing a wig?”

My hand goes to it. “So Bob wouldn’t recognize me.”

“He hasn’t seen you in that coat?”

I glance down. It’s my winter coat I wore because it has a hood, and I wanted to shield my face. Dammit, I wasn’t thinking. “He has seen this coat.”

“I need you to come with me,” he says as he holds out his hand.

I stare at it for a moment.

“Trust me.”

And for whatever reason, I do trust him. I know deep down he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I take his hand, and there is a rush of warmth throughout my body. He stares down at me as if he wants to say something. I want him to say something. Does he feel this, too ?

But either he decides against it, or I’m imagining all of this because he simply turns and leads me across the street.

We walk behind a building, and he drops my hand. I have no idea what’s going on, but all I can think is I want him to hold it again. I shake away that thought. I don’t have feelings for this man…do I? He caught me walking past the building I reported. I’ve got more important things to focus on.

Hunter opens the door and motions for me to enter. I step inside, and he leads the way.

“I found our informant, and I know her,” he says.

Durango’s there. I remember him from the hospital. There’s also a woman I don’t recognize.

“This is FBI Agent Stevens,” he says, motioning to the woman. “And this is my coworker, Durango.”

“I remember Durango,” I say.

He gives me a nod. Stevens holds out her hand, and I shake it. The woman is of average height and gives an air of seriousness.

“You’re the one who filled out that FBI tip form, aren’t you?”

I glance around the room. “I thought it was anonymous.” That’s what it says on the website. Didn’t it? I didn’t give my name.

“We flagged the IP address and traced it to the library. The library had cameras. Now we’re going to need more than a tip,” Stevens says.

So much for anonymous. “More?”

“Can I get your full name for the record?” Stevens asks.

I glance at Hunter .

“It’s all right.”

I nod and then give my full attention to Stevens. “Savanah Williams, but I go by Savvy.”

Stevens nods. “You’re Savvy. It’s making sense now. How did you learn about that warehouse?”

“My boss owns it.”

Stevens nods again. “What is your boss’s name?”

“Bob Kuffel,” I say.

“What kind of work do you do for him?” she asks.

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling a chill. “I’m a real estate agent.”

“Does Bob use that warehouse for any real estate business purposes?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Then how do you know about it?”

“He told me about it shortly after he bought it. He was excited because he got a good deal.”

Stevens paces and doesn’t ask any more questions.

But Durango does. “And he’s all right with you stopping by anytime over there?” He points across the street.

“I thought it was okay. I usually call him and let him know I’m on my way, but the other day, I didn’t. And yes, I regret that now.” I shiver again.

“Here,” Hunter says, taking off his jacket and placing it over my coat. I feel silly, essentially having two coats on until his fingers brush against my neck. It’s like he can’t help but touch me. But his facial expression gives nothing away.

The jacket smells like him. A mix of his soap and deodorant. He doesn’t seem to wear cologne. Whatever it is, I really like it. I close my eyes. No, don’t go there. This was only a nice gesture, and I appreciate it. No more.

“Tell me exactly what happened that day you went to see Bob at the warehouse,” Stevens says.

I tell her every detail, including that I don’t know if Bob saw me or not. He hasn’t said anything about it and was okay with me taking a few days off for relaxation. That was the excuse I gave him for needing a vacation.

Then the day after I was at the warehouse, Bob sent me to that building. The one that exploded. No way that was a coincidence.

Hunter’s hands go to his hips. “That was the day before the building explosion?”

I stare out the window. “Yes.”

“The police ruled out Clinton as a target. You were the target, Savvy,” Hunter says.

Clinton wasn’t the target. I think I’m going to be sick. I scan for a garbage bin, anything. I spot a bucket in the corner and run to it. I vomit.

“She needs to be in protective custody,” Stevens says. “She’s a witness and now a target. We will need your testimony.”

“Wait! What?” I ask. “Testify against Bob? Then he’ll know I told the authorities about him.” No, I can’t. Tears well in my eyes. “If he finds out I turned him in, I’m dead.”

Hunter is beside me. “Savvy, look at me.” His voice is calm. Too calm. That scares me more than shouting would. “Breathe with me,” he says.

I am breathing fast. I do as he says, and I take one big, deep breath and then slowly let it out .

“Again,” he instructs.

There’s something in his eyes, something that flickers too quickly to name. Is it concern? Guilt? Something more?

“Okay, I agree with Stevens that you need to be protected. As for testifying, it may not be necessary.” Hunter gives Stevens a look, and she doesn’t say any more. “Now, did you drive here?”

I nod. “I planned to go back to your sister’s place.”

“That sounds good,” Hunter says. “I’ll check up on you tomorrow. But first, I’m going to walk you out. Where are you parked?”

“A few blocks over.”

Stevens doesn’t object, thankfully. We walk in silence. I’m not up for small talk, and he doesn’t strike me as one who enjoys it anyway.

By the time we get to my car, I’m clear-headed again. “What is going on? Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Nice?”

“Yes, nice. We haven’t really gotten along before, but tonight you’re being really nice. Too nice.”

“You seemed kind of vulnerable. I figured being an asshole could wait. Are you all right to drive? Or do you want me to?”

“Drive my car? Not a chance.”

He laughs. “Oh, come on, you’ve never seen me drive.” His gaze lingers. Then it’s gone, and he slips into his professional mode again.

“It’s not you. I’m fine. But thank you. Besides, you don’t fit in it. ”

He nods.

I slip off his jacket and hand it back to him. “Thanks again.”

Headlights head our way, and I panic, pressing myself into Hunter’s chest as the vehicle passes. I’m tense, waiting. His arms don’t move, but I feel safer against him.

“It wasn’t Bob,” he says.

I step back, relieved.

“Okay, I should go,” I say.

I slide into the driver’s seat and pull away before he can try to take over. When I walk into Maria’s place, she’s working on her laptop while sitting on the couch.

She jumps up and closes her front curtains. “Hunter called and told me you were the target of that explosion. I can’t imagine how scared you must be.”

“I am.”

“Why are you wearing a wig?”

I take off my coat and the wig. “I needed to see if my boss was really selling guns.”

“You risked him seeing you? Why? I thought you already knew the answer to that question.”

I nod. “I had hoped I was wrong. Don’t worry, Bob didn’t see me. But your brother did.”

She frowns. “He mentioned in the call you were the target, and you need to stay here for a while. Nothing else.”

I tell her everything that happened. “So yeah, I guess I literally walked into the middle of one of his assignments. And now here I am.”

“Okay, did you tell anyone you are staying here? ”

“Hunter and the two people he was working with,” I say.

Maria turns on her security system. “We are locked in now.” She turns to me. “What are you going to do about your job? Can you keep not showing up?”

I grab a pillow and hug it as I sit on the couch. “I can’t exactly serve myself up on a platter to Bob now, can I?”

She sits on the other end of the couch. “No, I don’t mean that. What about your clients?”

“I might lose them. I’ll call Maggie tomorrow to see if she can help me out.”

She curls her feet under her. “But Maggie is Bob’s assistant. She might be working with him.”

“I don’t think so. Besides, I wouldn’t tell her where I am. I’ll tell her I’m having horrible headaches from the explosion and ask if she can let my clients know.”

“Will she?”

That’s a good question. She’s not my assistant.

“I don’t know.”

If I do call her, I’ll have to borrow Maria’s phone. I still haven’t turned mine back on yet.

“I’m going to bed. Thanks again for letting me stay here.” I head to the guest room and get ready for bed. I wish I were at my cabin, where it’s quiet and peaceful. But Bob knows about it. Maybe I can stay at Maria’s place up there. I’ll ask Maria about it in the morning.

I close my eyes. I might have put myself in danger, but I’m tired of hiding. Tomorrow, I’ll take control of my situation.