Chapter 23

23

The beefy car roared down the long drive, its engine a throaty growl that matched Alex’s turbulent emotions. She pulled onto the highway, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. The morning fog was burning off in fluffy clumps, revealing stunning seascapes and sheer cliffs that spoke of both beauty and danger.

She reached for the stereo, then remembered with a groan that this relic had an 8-track player. No Bluetooth here. Once she was sure the safe house was out of sight, she pulled off onto a scenic overlook, the tires crunching on gravel.

Her fingers hovered over her phone. Normally, she shared everything with Liv and Gabe and Mac, but this…. For some reason, the thought of sharing this foul information––of having to admit out loud that she might even believe it––kicked her straight in the gut. It would be yet another horrific example of her broken judgement-meter when it came to handsome men.

Maybe she was actually wrong this time. Maybe this was nothing. Better to keep it to herself until she was certain.

But how to explain this to Liv without revealing her suspicions about Jason? She settled for a half-truth, tapping out a quick message.

Can’t explain, but I need a new safe house. Now.

Liv’s response was immediate, bringing a ghost of a smile to Alex’s face. At least some things were constant.

On it.

The drive into town was a blur of conflicting thoughts. Alex found herself in a quaint coffee house, the aroma of freshly ground beans doing little to settle her nerves as she waited for Liv’s update. She doubted the place would be as sumptuous as the Redemption Creek choice, but she didn’t plan to be there long. Just enough time to dive into some serious research into the allegations against Jason. Her heart said she’d made a huge mistake not telling him about the strange info, but she’d learned long ago never to trust her heart.

But her instincts had been wrong before, hadn’t they? Like in Marrakesh, where her poor judgment had cost lives. The memory sent a chill down her spine, despite the warmth of the coffee cup in her hands.

She had to play this smart. Conservative. If the info was tainted, she’d owe Jason a huge apology.

She closed her eyes, praying for clarity, but found only more doubt.

“No biggie,” she said aloud, trying to convince herself. “He’d do the same thing, right?”

The lack of response from the universe was not reassuring.

While she waited for Liv to get back to her, she pretended to be absorbed in her phone, thumb scrolling aimlessly as she sipped her latte. The rich, bitter taste of espresso mixed with creamy foam coated her tongue. In reality, her gaze flicked from patron to patron, assessing potential threats.

The exhausted new mom in the corner, dark circles prominent under her eyes, nursed a steaming cup of herbal tea. The faint scent of chamomile wafted over, mingling with the café’s ever-present aroma of coffee beans. A bearded man with paint-splattered jeans lounged by the window, pencil flying across a sketchpad. The soft scratching sound barely audible over the low hum of conversation and the gentle clinking of ceramic mugs. At the counter, a sun-weathered older woman in hiking gear studied a trail map, her boots leaving small clumps of dried mud on the worn wooden floor.

Alex shook her head, chiding herself for the paranoia. Not everyone was out to get her. Though if they were, Jason would be a formidable adversary. The man moved like a panther, all coiled strength and deadly grace. She’d seen him in action, knew the damage those hands could inflict.

The quaint café, with its mismatched mugs and local art, seemed at odds with the harsh beauty just beyond the windows. Jagged cliffs plummeted to a roiling sea, a reminder that danger lurked beneath even the most picturesque surfaces. The muted crash of distant waves provided a constant backdrop to the café’s cozy atmosphere.

Her phone buzzed, the vibration startling against the smooth tabletop.

Arranged for a small cabin. Approx. 1 hour drive from your location. Directions to follow. Stay as long as you need.

Liv’s message, short and to the point, ended with an uncharacteristic, Love you. Good luck.

Alex’s nose wrinkled. For Liv, that was practically a tearful, rib-cracking hug. She must have inadvertently communicated more fear than she’d intended.

“Still,” she murmured, allowing herself a small smile, “it’s nice to be loved.”

The warmth of that thought lasted approximately three seconds before her paranoia kicked back in, her fingers tightening around the smooth ceramic of her mug.

Her gaze drifted to the window, watching a seagull ride the wind currents above the cliffs. Her thoughts, however, were firmly fixed on Jason.

He was a force of nature, as wild and unpredictable as the churning sea below. In a physical confrontation, she knew she’d be outmatched. She’d seen him take down men twice his size with a fluid grace that was almost beautiful in its brutality. His hands, capable of such gentle touches, could just as easily snap bones.

And yet ...

The idea of him turning those skills against her seemed as impossible as the sun deciding to rise in the west.

She’d trusted him. Implicitly. Completely.

Which was not in any way reassuring. Her trust meter had been smashed a long time ago. If she ever had one.

Her fingers absently traced the thin, silvery scar that ran from her elbow to her wrist. A permanent reminder of the last time she’d been so blind. Marrakesh. The name alone brought a bitter taste to her mouth, overpowering even the lingering notes of her latte.

“You’ve been wrong before,” she whispered to her reflection in the window. “Spectacularly, disastrously wrong.”

She closed her eyes, inhaling the rich scent of coffee and pastries. When she opened them, her reflection stared back, eyes hard with resolve. She couldn’t afford to let her heart overrule her head. Not again. Not with so much on the line.

“Trust,” she muttered, “but verify.”

The seagull outside gave a mocking cry, as if laughing at her indecision.

She strode out of the café and into the tiny market next door. The bell above the door jingled cheerfully. She grabbed a basket, her mind already cataloging essentials. This new safe house was unlikely to rival Redemption Inc.’s cushy setups.

“Peanut butter, crackers, bottled water,” she muttered, navigating narrow aisles. And frozen dinners. Lots of them. Her free hand tapped a restless rhythm against her thigh as she planned her next move.

“Get to the safe house, then authenticate the intel,” she reminded herself, tossing a can of beans into the basket with more force than necessary. The elderly cashier raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

An hour later, she found herself on a winding mountain pass. The old muscle car groaned as it climbed, leaving behind the cool embrace of the redwoods. Chaparral took over, hot and dusty, the air shimmering above the blacktop.

She navigated another hairpin turn, knuckles white on the steering wheel. Sweat beaded on her forehead, the car’s ancient AC wheezing feebly against the oppressive heat. The scenery blurred past, a monotonous tapestry of sunbaked scrub and rocky outcroppings, each bend in the road offering a new potential ambush point.

Jason would know something was wrong by now. He’d have found a way to get to town and ask questions. He’d know where she’d been, but not where she was going.

Her eyes flicked constantly between the road ahead and her rearview mirror. Each passing car sent a jolt of adrenaline through her system. A black SUV appeared in her mirror, gaining ground rapidly.

The SUV drew closer. Foot hovering over the accelerator, Alex tried to think of evasive tactics. Then the vehicle turned off, revealing a family of tourists. She exhaled sharply, forcing her grip to loosen on the wheel.

“Get it together,” she muttered, shaking her head.

She chided herself for the reaction. This was exactly why she needed to maintain distance, to verify the intel objectively. Yet a small part of her longed to see his face in her rearview mirror, a sign that he cared enough to follow.

The miles ticked by, each one ratcheting up her inner conflict. Her shoulders ached from being hunched over the wheel. The heavy air inside the car seemed to press down on her, making each breath a conscious effort, laden with doubt and second-guesses.

Then, just as the constant vigilance began to wear her down, a flash of movement in her rearview mirror jolted her back to full alertness. Another black SUV roared up behind her, bigger than the last one, eating up the distance with terrifying speed. Her heart leapt into her throat as the behemoth of a vehicle drew close enough for her to make out the driver.

Jason.

His face was a mask of grim determination, eyes locked on her car with laser-like focus. Her breath caught, her mind reeling as conflicting emotions warred within her. Relief and terror danced a frantic tango in her chest.

Was he here to save her? Or to silence her?