Page 36

Damon took a deep breath, searching the files once again. “If there is, I don’t see it. This is enough to potentially implicate Alfaro, but without knowing the intended victims, there’s no way to prevent additional murders. Or to determine if anyone else is involved.”

“You’re right. It would be hard to convince the FBI that the people supposedly ordering the product are really on the take.

However, either Alfaro or someone else is aware the information was stolen.

That will create an even more dangerous scenario.

” Sighing, I glanced at Maddox, his expression thoughtful.

Maddox nodded. “Someone wanted you to have the information because they knew you’d figure out a way to use the contents if only by writing a story.

What concerns me the most is that someone wants you dead.

Alfaro or one or more of his customers? Or an entire alliance?

Alfaro would need more than one person to help him gain unlimited access to the country. ”

The ugly realization should be traumatizing.

Instead, I was eager to continue the pursuit.

“We need to think this through to determine what we’re going to do.

We need to figure out a way to cross reference and maybe see if we can narrow down the list of suspects to potential victims.” I wasn’t certain if my suggestion was worthwhile.

“A needle in a haystack,” Damon threw in as he grabbed his beer. “A dangerous one.”

“You’re not going to get involved,” Maddox insisted. “Your life is in danger, Charmaine. What happened tonight will happen again.”

“I can’t just do nothing. You know we’re sitting on a ticking timebomb.” I had a feeling my plea was falling on deaf ears.

Maddox turned toward me, cupping my face. The tender moment wasn’t lost on Damon, who shifted in his seat, even grumbling under his breath.

“That’s exactly what you need to do. Allow the process to work.”

I had a feeling he wasn’t being entirely truthful. “And do nothing.”

“And live your life. Turn over the information to the Feds.”

Why the hell was he suddenly changing his mind? I searched his eyes, trying to find some sense of reasoning other than that he was being protective. “I don’t understand.”

He inched closer. “I don’t want you killed, Charmaine. There’s no story that’s worth it. Go back to living your life. Report on the orphanages. Make a difference in their lives. That’s important to you.”

I sucked in my breath, attempting to control my temper. Something was off.

“Can you do that?” he asked, his tone more insistent.

“You’re asking me to ignore everything I stand for as a journalist.”

“I’m asking you to live.”

Damon cleared his throat. “Do you want me to leave?”

“Not necessary,” Maddox answered, his eyes imploring.

“I just don’t know if I can do that.”

“You’re going to need to trust me.”

That was a clue. Swallowing, I leaned into his gentle touch as he brushed his thumb back and forth across my face. “Fine. Then what? We give the Feds the drive?”

“Do you have a printer, Damon?”

“I have seven. You want me to print off the spreadsheets?”

“Yeah,” Maddox stated. “I do. And pretend you never saw us.”

“Happy to print whatever you need, buddy; from what I’ve seen, you both need to be careful. This isn’t just a ticking timebomb. This is a recipe for mass exterminations that could allow Alfaro to infiltrate dozens of countries.”

Maddox grinned. “Exactly.”

Damon snorted. “You’re still a danger junkie, dude. Let me print them for you. Just one copy?”

“Just one copy.” Maddox was insistent and while every part of me wanted to grill my protector on what the hell he was getting at, I knew when to keep my mouth shut.

“Do you guys want to stay here?” Damon asked and almost immediately, I heard the hum of at least one printer.

Maddox took a deep breath. “I don’t want you involved any further. We all know the bastards will be searching for us.”

“What about the hotel?” I asked in a mere whisper. It was beginning to settle in that I had accidentally on purpose stumbled into something that I couldn’t handle alone.

“We can’t go there.” Maddox narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze from one screen to another. “Damon. Do you have an older vehicle we can borrow?”

The man laughed. “Hell, I have six of them. You need one, you got it. Where are you going?”

“Somewhere safe. If anyone asks, you never saw us. I’ll send you a check for the repairs on the Humvee and let you know where I drop off the other vehicle so you can retrieve it.”

“No need for money, buddy. Just remember I might need a favor at some point. By the way. If I know you well enough and I doubt you’ve changed, you’ll want additional fire power.”

“Couldn’t hurt.”

“Just remember that you might need help.”

“You offering?” Maddox asked.

“You don’t want help from me, my friend. I’m a liability. You only came here because you had no other choice. What you need is someone you can count on. Think about Kage or Stone. The three of you were close.”

“Yeah? Well, we’re not any longer.”

Damon shook his head. “Stubborn as always. Keep him out of trouble, Charmaine. He’s always been a ballbuster. Funny thing is. That’s why I’m still alive and living such a lavish lifestyle. He refused to take any of my shit. Turned me into the man I am today.”

“I don’t know if I can do that. Maddox has a mind of his own,” I told them both. I’d never seen Maddox look so worried, including when we’d been stuck in a cave in the middle of a jungle.

Maddox kept his gaze locked on mine. And when Damon turned his head, concentrating on gathering the information, he mouthed the words he’d said before.

Trust me.

Additional firepower.

Damon had handed over several weapons and extra ammunition, tossing them in a duffle bag.

I’d seen the man’s arsenal, a hidden closet in his house where he stored hundreds of weapons from guns and explosives to knives.

While I hadn’t asked what the man was involved in, I doubted whatever it was maintained legal status.

Right now? I was just grateful it seemed someone was in our corner.

Maddox had strapped another gun to his calf, sliding two knives into his jacket along with at least two magazines of ammunition.

It felt like we were going to war.

The thought kept a cold chill wafting through me.

The road was dark, Maddox purposely remaining off the interstates. He’d mapped out where we were going and I’d placed my trust in him.

After almost forty-five minutes, he’d finally pulled off onto an exit.

Various twenty-four-hour gas stations remained in the periphery of my vision as he passed, heading deeper into a more rural area. Maddox was determined to find a safe location for the night.

Then what?

What would happen tomorrow?

“Who is Kage?” I asked as Maddox rolled into the parking lot of a small motel.

“Someone I used to know.”

“Someone you served with in the Navy.”

He studied the rearview mirror as he pulled the car around to the side.

He’d purposely remained in Virginia, finding a more rural location for us to spend the night.

He’d said little on the drive, his silence as unnerving as what we’d discovered earlier.

With the drive in his pocket and the printed spreadsheets in a sealed envelope, I still was clueless as to what he was thinking.

Or why all of a sudden it had seemed he didn’t trust Damon. Maybe he didn’t trust anyone while asking me to do so.

I’d known better than to ask him on the drive as he’d been concentrating on watching the road. He’d kept his weapon on the dashboard and every few seconds, I’d glanced at it just to remind myself that what we were facing was more dangerous than I’d originally believed.

“A story that doesn’t need remembering, Charmaine.”

“Because you don’t trust me?”

After placing the gear into park, he dropped his head slightly. In the eerie glow of the dashboard, his face appeared more haunted than before. “There are some things in life we choose not to remember to stay sane. This is one of them.”

“Does it have to do with you being held prisoner by Alfaro?”

“No, it does not. Not this go-around. I’m going to get us a room. Stay here. If you see anything, honk the horn. Do you understand?”

I shivered. “I understand.”

“Stay in the car.”

“I will.”

He moved to open the door then paused. “I’m not a good man by traditional standards, Charmaine, but I’ll promise you I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe so you can return to your life.

If you can trust me.” When he tipped his head, his eyes locking with mine, I realized I’d never felt this close to anyone. “Can you do that? Trust me?”

The answer was easy and said for the first time without reservation. “With my life.”