Page 21 of Sam to the Rescue

As a second thought, I call Slate. “Hey, boss. O’Brien and some not-so-special agent just showed up on my doorstep and tried to recruit me. You know anything about that?”

He curses. “Fuck.”

“What?”

“Tell me it wasn’t Sam who found the ammonium nitrate?”

“Of course, it was. Why?”

“Every security agency within a sixty-mile radius is on high alert. Remember the Oklahoma City bombing?”

“Gawd almighty. They don’t think-”

“Yeah, they do. The danger is imminent.”

I call back the detective and pitch my voice low, so my wife can’t hear. “I’m in. Just make sure, if anything happens to me, my family is well taken care of.”

Chapter 12

Sam

Sud’s voice carries from the loft to where I rock the baby on the floor below. The last few words of his conversation set my heart to racing.

Taken care of? What was that all about?“Who were you talking to?”

He leans over the upper railing. “Patten Securities is changing health insurance plans. Nothing serious.”

His eyes dart, clearly uncomfortable with the blatant fib so I push. “Really? Why?”

He shrugs. “Let’s not jinx it, eh?”

“Copy that.” I’ll call around for more intel, later. Then, there will be a reckoning. Partners do not lie to each other.

He sighs, his phone bleeps, and he reads a text. “Deena needs a driver.”

What the hell?“I thought we agreed. No bodyguarding during the week.” I hate how childish I sound but months ago we made a decision. Our relationship is more important than money.

“We did, sugar, but I can’t say no, not after she was almost shot. Besides, Slate has no one else to cover.”

For a moment, I wonder if Suds has a mistress but quickly shove the thought aside. No man who makes love to me the way he did last night could be on the prowl. This has to be about O’Brien’s recent visit.

“When do you leave?”

“Right about now. Sorry babe. Believe me, I would not do this unless I absolutely had to. You know that, right?” His large palms cup my cheek, penetrating my soul with his beautiful brown eyes.

“Yeah. I do.”But I don’t.A sense of doom settles in the room despite the sunny day outside. It’s as if our own personal thundercloud has gathered inside. Even Mikey notices and fusses.

“Are you really worried?” I jiggle him on my hip while Suds unlocks the safe to retrieve more weapons. This too, is unusual.

“After last weekend, yeah.”

“What about… you know, the whole sleep monitor thing?” It’s a shit move to bring up his disability but my heart is about ready to break in half.

He lied and he’s acting so strange. “I won’t be sleeping and if I do, it’s better I wake battle ready. In this case my problem is a plus, rather than a minus.”

With Mikey hugged between us, we share a heated kiss. His knitted brows indicate something is bothering him but I know better than to ask.

I will find out.