Page 24 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Savvy

I should be sleeping, but instead, I’m staring at the curtains, trying to figure out how to respond to my brother, Benjamin. We keep in contact through text, and until about an hour ago, I hadn’t told him what was going on. Since I couldn’t sleep, and he’s a night owl, I decided to fill him in.

Let’s say he’s not happy with my decision to stay anywhere near New York. He’s now insisting I come back to Connecticut and stay with him until all of this blows over.

I tried to explain I have someone protecting me, but when he said it would save money not to pay someone to protect me, I didn’t have an explanation for why I wasn’t being charged.

At first, this was related to an assignment Hunter was working on.

But now? Is he using all of his vacation time to be with me?

And he wouldn’t let me pay for the hotel room, and now, that also includes our dinner.

I’ll have to talk to him tomorrow about paying him back.

After texting my brother that I would think it over and get back to him tomorrow, I set my phone down. I need to sleep, but I can’t turn off my racing thoughts.

“What’s wrong?” Hunter asks.

The room is barely lit by a little bit of moonlight coming in from a gap in the curtains.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you,” I say.

“You didn’t.”

I plug my phone back into the charger and return to the bed. “I couldn’t sleep, so I was messaging my brother. Don’t worry, I didn’t say where we are.”

“I have an idea. Scoot over here.”

I move closer to him, and he wraps his arms around me.

“Is this okay?” he asks.

“Yes.” It’s more than okay. For the first time tonight, I start to feel relaxed.

“Hunter?”

“Hmm?”

“Remember when I told you about my ex and how he said women were drawn to his uniform?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Were you like that, too?”

He doesn’t answer for a moment, and I wonder if he fell asleep.

But then he shifts. “When I entered the service, I did notice I got more attention from women. But not long after enlisting, I met someone. We dated, and it got serious quickly. It ended badly several years later, and yes, I did go out with several different women then. But that phase didn’t last long. ”

“Oh, okay.”

“And I swore off relationships for a long time.”

I turn to face him. “That’s what your sister said, that you weren’t into relationships.”

He sighs. “I wasn’t. But that changed.”

“Why?”

“Because I met you. And I’m drawn to you in a way I’ve never felt before. Anytime we touch, I’m on fire. When you walk into a room, I get giddy. When someone says your name, I can’t help but smile.”

“Wow. I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”

He chuckles. “I’m not. But like I said, when I’m around you, it’s different.”

His arm that’s around me moves, and he cups my cheek. He stares into my eyes as if asking for permission. I want to kiss this man more than anything right now, so I lean forward and press my lips to his.

Like last time, the kiss turns hot and heavy fast. He’s up and over me, and I wrap my arms around his neck without breaking our connection. He grinds into me, and I want this man now. I pull on his shirt and he stills.

“What’s wrong?”

“I want to be with you more than anything. But not while we are hiding out.”

I can’t hide my disappointment. “Oh.”

“When this is over and we can focus on only us and not on who might come through that door, then I promise I will make you come as many times as you want. ”

I swallow. “Wow. That’s quite the promise.”

He grins as he rolls onto his side. “And one I will keep.”

I cuddle into him, and he wraps his arms around me. I fall asleep, dreaming about this man.

I wake up to the sound of Hunter’s voice. But he’s not talking to me. He’s on the phone.

“Thank you. I’ll tell her.” He sets his phone down and smiles at me. “They caught Bennett trying to cross the border into Mexico. He’s in federal custody now.”

I sit up and stretch. “That’s great, but how can they hold him now if they couldn’t legally before?”

He sits on the bed next to me. “Turns out Bennett is on parole, and one of the requirements is that he couldn’t leave New York. They will likely turn him over to the local police, and his parole will be revoked.”

“What was he on parole for?”

“Attempted murder.”

I shouldn’t have asked. “Oh. What about Marco?”

“He’s in Mexico and has been placed on a list not to be allowed to enter the US.”

I wonder if he was in Mexico this entire time or went there to meet his cousin. Not that it matters.

“So, no one is after me now, right?” Bennett is in custody. Bob is too after taking the plea deal. And Marco is in Mexico. “I can go home?”

He smiles. “You tired of me already?”

“No, of course not.”

He laughs. “I’m kidding. Yes, you can go home. It’s over.”

I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you. ”

“For what?”

“For keeping me safe. For staying, even when you didn’t have to.”

He presses his lips to my forehead. “There was never a version where I walked away.”

I pull back and meet his eyes. “So…this is it? I get my life back now?”

He hesitates, just for a beat, before nodding. “Yeah. You do.”

I let out a long breath. It’s over. Or at least it feels that way.

“Have you had any luck contacting your old clients?”

I glance up to see my new boss, Susan, standing at my desk. Maggie put in a good word for me after she found a new job here.

When I interviewed, Susan said it would be fine if I couldn’t get any of my old clients because my reputation was excellent. Yet, she continues to ask me about them. All three weeks I’ve been working here.

“No luck yet.” Several of them stuck with Maggie since she was there for them in my absence.

Susan purses her lips. “I understand. A man called and asked for you. He has a particular property he wants to see. Here’s his information.” She hands me a piece of paper where she has handwritten a man’s name and phone number.

“Thank you. I’ll call him right away,” I say .

I stare at the paper. Tom Smith. The man’s name isn’t familiar, so I decide to search it to see what I can find out about him. I wish I had more to go on than Tom and the most popular surname in America. I’m not able to determine which one he is.

I use my cell phone to call him.

“Tom here,” he answers.

“Tom Smith? This is Savanah Williams.”

“Oh, yes, thank you for calling me back. One of my business partners speaks highly of you. And since I’m in the market for a building, I wanted to find out if you had time to show me one.”

This could be a great win to show Susan.

“Oh, yes, of course. I’m curious. What is your business partner’s name?”

“Chris.”

Huh, I’ve worked with a few people named Chris, both men and women.

He doesn’t offer any more but goes straight into the building. “The building I want to see is vacant, and I’m hoping we can see it today if that works for you,” he says.

He rattles off the address, and I look it up. It is indeed vacant and for sale. It’s about a thirty-minute drive, and one of my favorite lunch spots is on the way.

“Could you meet me there in an hour?” I ask.

“Sounds great. See you then.” He ends the call.

I submit my lunch order online so it will be ready when I get there. Then I grab my coat.

“Oh, are you leaving?” Susan asks.

I turn to see her leaning in the doorway of her office. “ Yes, the contact you gave me wants to see a building today.”

She claps her hands together. “That’s wonderful!”

Susan doesn’t have an online log system set up yet, so I left the address on my desk. Although she’ll only need it if I manage to sell the place.

“Don’t forget to take the company car.” She waves toward the garish beast.

I reluctantly grab the key fob for it. Truth be told, I’d prefer to use my own car.

Don’t get me wrong, the car is nice enough, but it’s bright baby blue and has a large butterfly painted across the back, with Susan’s name and number on each side.

I get that she wants it to be seen, but I don’t really like being seen in it.

It’s my first month, and I’m not going to fight this battle now.

I drive the blue beast to pick up lunch and eat it in the car while in the parking lot.

What I hadn’t counted on was how many little kids would be excited by this car.

Not one small child has been able to walk by without commenting on the butterfly.

I manage to scarf down the soup and sandwich without wearing any of it.

Something I consider a win. I should have allowed more time.

But it all works out, and I arrive at the vacant building one minute early.

The building is more than vacant. There are vines growing up the side of it, and the property is overgrown with bushes.

Between that and the long driveway, it can’t be seen from the road. That’s not a good thing for a business.

I park next to another car. It must be Tom’s, but he’s not inside. He can’t get into the building without me, so I wonder where he went. I exit my car, and he walks around from the back of the building.

“Mr. Smith?” I ask.

He smiles and holds out his hand. “Yes, Ms. Williams?”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

He’s wearing an expensive suit, and his nails appear to be manicured. This man takes care of himself.

Unfortunately, he stands too close for my comfort, so I take a step to the side and motion to the building. After everything I’ve been through, I need more space than I used to.

“Can you tell me why you picked this place? It seems to be in disrepair,” I say.

He laughs as he steps close to me again. “Yes, but that usually means I can get a deal on it.”

I take a step back, plastering on a smile. “True. Sounds like you know what you’re doing.”

Trying to create some space, I move toward the front door where a lock box is located. I managed to get the key out, despite my shaking hands. My mind goes back to when Hunter asked if I was scared during showings. I have been, but today, it’s more.

I unlock the door and open it to allow Tom inside first. He walks in and looks around. I sigh with relief. He really is interested in the building, and I’m being paranoid. Of course, the last few weeks would make anyone paranoid.

He walks around inside, looking closely at the walls, which is odd.

“Do you have any questions about the building?” I ask .

He shakes his head as he slowly walks around. After he circles the place, he steps up to me again. “Have you been in the real estate business long?” he asks.

“I have. And if this building doesn’t suit you, I’m sure I can find you something that will.”

He nods. “I’ll think about it.” Then he steps out the door.

I follow. “Okay, well, you have my number if you want to put in an offer.”

“I do. Thank you. You’ve made this easier,” he says and then walks toward his car.

I turn my back to lock the door. That’s an odd way of putting it. I’ve made it easier. He didn’t even have any questions.

Suddenly, his hand is wrapped over my mouth and nose. I try to kick backward and fight him off, but he’s holding me tightly against him.

My gut was right, and I didn’t listen to it. I breathe in, and it smells funny. His hand moves, and that’s when I realize he’s holding a cloth over my face. Before I can fight him off, I’m sleepy.