Escaping Vegas (The Inheritance Book 1) Page 8

  He flashed a grin over his shoulder. “You just won’t give up the ghost on that, will you?”

  “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck . . .”

  “It might be a wolf in disguise.”

  “Isn’t that interesting imagery,” she said, looking behind her before starting down the staircase with Cole. The hallway was empty. As was the stairwell. Her boots tinged off the metal steps, while his descent was notably quieter.

  Outside, the gloomy day cast down a light sprinkle of rain, just enough to wet the roads and ruin the pristine detail of newly washed cars. Madalina crossed the parking lot right on Cole’s heels, nervously glancing at each car in the row leading to the Jaguar. She half expected someone to pop up from a backseat, grinning like an evil clown in a horror movie.

  Her imagination was running away with itself.

  Cole held the passenger door open for her, constantly surveying the parking lot. Thanks to the way the car in the next slot was parked, it gave Madalina and Cole little room to maneuver. She had to squeeze past him, bodies brushing snugly together. Her eyes met his for a fleeting moment. He stared at her, expression unreadable. Sinking into the seat before he advised her to hurry up, she plopped her purse on her lap and fastened the seat belt. She wasn’t sure what made her heart race more: the eye contact with Cole, the nearness of their bodies, or the threat of their adversaries.

  Once Cole was in the car, she slanted a look sidelong, unable to keep from secretly admiring his profile. His jaw. The strong column of his neck. She particularly enjoyed the way his shoulders filled out the shirt. He was still an enigma, and she didn’t know where all this would eventually lead, but she couldn’t deny her attraction. His diligence in keeping her safe was slowly eroding away her resistance.

  “Which way am I going?” he asked as he pulled out of the hotel parking lot, breaking her spell.

  Madalina gave him directions as she settled her coffee cup in one of the holders. Cole had left his drink behind. She imagined he didn’t want to be burdened in case they suddenly had company.

  Cole decided on the most upscale, expensive store in the entire mall to do his shopping. Madalina hadn’t been spot-on with her accusation earlier, but there were hints of truth in it. He’d learned long ago that quality beat out cheap design every time, and he didn’t mind paying for clothes that would last longer than one spin through the wash cycle. He preferred brands with a history of dependability and decades of customer satisfaction. Price did not dictate his choices—although he wouldn’t ever pay three grand for a pair of jeans. A hundred bucks got him a sturdy pair of jeans or khakis or slacks that he could count on to see him through at least half a year’s worth of wear.

  What he liked about the upscale stores was the customer service. No sooner had they entered the men’s department than an employee politely inquired about their needs or wants, and Cole didn’t hesitate to spell out exactly what he was looking for. Another blazer to replace the one he’d left behind (out of necessity) in Vegas, several button-down shirts to go with several pairs of pants, and dress shoes. The employee, a petite redhead with sultry eyes and a pouty mouth, listened attentively to every specification. She didn’t hold back an appreciative gleam in her gaze during the exchange, but didn’t openly flirt.

  Cole caught Madalina watching him often, a surprised, intrigued expression on her face. Every time he looked at her, he remembered the vision she’d presented sleeping: dark hair spread over the pillow, cheeks flushed, her full mouth relaxed and pliant. Stripped of her feisty comebacks and prickly agitation, she’d looked stunningly innocent and vulnerable. He’d been surprised by the urge to trace her cheek with his finger, to wake her up with a kiss instead of an inquisitive stare. Cole had the capacity for tenderness; he just didn’t indulge in it very often. Didn’t need it in his quest for periodic sexual satisfaction.

  When the employee returned with an armful of clothing, Cole approved the lot without trying anything on. Each article had been chosen to complement his build and coloring, and the lady doing the choosing proved to have an excellent eye. It spared him an hour of pawing through racks, an hour he didn’t want to waste. The only things he chose himself were undergarments and socks. The employee departed to hold his items until they were ready to check out.

  “All right. Your turn,” Cole said, ushering Madalina through the broad walkways to the ladies’ department. Glass glittered and sparkled to the right along the makeup and perfume section, mirrors flashing back their reflection. Somewhere in the store, on a small dais between sections, a pianist plucked out a classical piece with expert skill.

  When they arrived at the expansive women’s department, Cole bent near Madalina’s ear to whisper. “Get anything you want. I’m buying.”

  One could learn a lot about other people by observing their habits and seeing how they treat other people. Cole shocked Madalina with his precision and businesslike attitude while he explained to the redhead what he wanted. The employee couldn’t quit staring at Cole with ill-suppressed desire, yet she remained schooled and professional as she saw to his needs.

  Madalina just bet the woman would like to see to all of Cole’s needs. Taming the flare of annoyance, she allowed Cole to escort her through the store, aware of the way his hand almost-but-not-quite rested low on her spine. Her dread at having to spell out her sizes out loud fled when Cole whispered to pick out anything she liked, then decisively dismissed an oncoming employee. He hadn’t minded allowing someone else to choose his clothing, yet apparently didn’t want the same for her. Madalina thought he must understand how much fun most women had while shopping. Clearly, her ownership of a clothing boutique suggested she enjoyed clothes overall, and to be set free to shop as she would was a dream.

  A tainted dream, she admitted. It would have all been so much better if she wasn’t persistently looking over her shoulder. She had the idea to deny Cole’s offer to pay for her purchases. After all, she owned her own business and made her own money. Granted—with the economic downturn and people tightening their wallets, profits had been slim over the last six months, and she’d had to tighten her own spending to accommodate.

  On the other hand, she argued with herself, when would this opportunity arise again? No man she’d ever been in a relationship with had offered to take her on a shopping spree. None of them would have been able to fend off her attackers, either.

  With yet one more glance over her shoulder, scanning the interior of the store near the women’s department, she stepped up to the racks and started shopping. Cole didn’t hover, didn’t crowd her and point out things he thought she should wear. He lurked back at the edge of the section, keeping a constant eye on people coming and going. His vigilance charmed and reassured her. He meant business when in bodyguard mode.

  Madalina chose clothing suitable for her sudden life change. High heels and beautiful dresses weren’t practical if she had to scale fences and dash down streets. She opted for a button-down shirt of baby blue, five tees of varying colors, a pair of jeans, and a pair of tan slacks. Because it was the middle of summer, she added two pairs of shorts. While she attacked the undergarments, she spotted Cole gesturing to the redhead. He did most of the talking and sent her off on some strange mission.

  Stocking up on underwear, socks, and a few extra bras, she handed the purchases off to an employee. While those articles were taken to be held at the counter, Madalina picked out a pair of sandals and tennis shoes from the shoe department, which butted up smartly against the women’s.

  Finally, she was done.

  “I probably got more than I should have—” she started to say, but Cole interrupted.

  “Don’t worry about it. I told you to get what you needed. I didn’t see a glittery dress in there anywhere, though,” he said, escorting her next to the checkout counter. He pulled a credit card from his wallet and handed it to the clerk.

  “I didn’t think a
cocktail dress would be fitting—or necessary—with us living like we are.” Madalina kept her voice low.

  “I guess you forgot about the dinner you promised me tomorrow night.” He signed the slip of paper the clerk handed over, put his card back in his wallet, and slipped the wallet into his back pocket.

  Madalina shot Cole a startled look. “You never said anything about dinner.”

  He winked, then handed her a large bag of clothing. What he’d asked the redhead to do became apparent when two medium-size duffel bags were handed across with their purchases. Instead of suitcases, Cole had bought duffels. Easier to move quickly with.

  “All right, I think we’re set for now. Let’s go.” Cole carried his own bag, a garment bag with the blazer in it, and both duffel bags.

  “You should let me carry more,” Madalina said as they stepped out into the drizzling rain. The temperature remained an uncomfortable eighty degrees, adding an oppressive humidity to the air. “You might need your hands.”

  “You’re starting to think like me. I’m not sure if that’s exciting or scary,” he muttered.

  Madalina laughed. “Well, it makes sense.”

  “It does. So does dropping everything if I have to fight. I’d hate to burden you with all this.” He led the way across the asphalt to the waiting Jaguar. The black paint gleamed; the fine layer of dust that had accumulated from the drive through the desert had been washed away by the rain.

  “You should see the pallets of clothes we get. You’d be surprised how much I can carry when I want to.” Madalina preferred to stow her bags in the backseat, while he put his in the trunk.

  Inside the Jaguar, Madalina buckled in, lamenting that her coffee was now cold.

  “Where do you want to eat?” Cole asked as he started the car.

  “Anywhere is fine. I’m good with grabbing something and eating in the car.” Madalina didn’t want to look over her shoulder every other second sitting in a restaurant filled with fifty other guests.

  “Then that’s our plan.”

  “I’ll call Lianne when we’re done and tell her we’ll be coming by later tonight.”

  “Maybe from a pay phone.”

  “Why? Do you think they’ll somehow tap into my cell phone? They’d be able to locate us then, wouldn’t they?” Madalina realized that with advances in technology came consequences she couldn’t have ever foreseen. The ability to hack into systems and track people or read their e-mails or listen to their phones was real. Now it didn’t just affect the governments of the world; it affected her, a peon who was barely staying one step ahead of the enemy. She lacked the skills to return the favor, which gave them a huge advantage in this game of hunt-and-escape.

  “I don’t know. I’m starting to wonder if they’ve got even more sophisticated connections than I thought. The men who showed up at your house weren’t the same ones who chased us out of Vegas—unless they got an airlift across the desert. That means this little operation is more spread out than we first realized.”

  “Great. That’s what I wanted to hear,” she said, unnerved by the news.

  Four turns later, as Cole cruised up to a red light, Madalina saw him frown into the rearview mirror. She twisted a look out the back window. A plethora of vehicles were also stopped, although she didn’t recognize any as the sedan that had been sitting in front of her house. The incessant rain didn’t help visibility. Streaks ran down the glass, blurring her view.

  “What’s wrong? Why are you frowning?” she asked, sitting forward in her seat again. The wipers swish-swish-swished in tandem.

  Cole said, “I’m not positive, but we might have picked up a tail.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Lunch consisted of salad and grilled chicken, which Madalina ate nervously while constantly glancing out the window. Cole had done his best to lose the suspected tail, one he’d never identified as absolute; and pulled into a fast-food joint long enough for them to order food, park with the engine idling, and eat. She hated to shove the food down in such a rush, but she didn’t want to sit there any longer than they had to. Her knee bounced and jittered, a telltale reaction to the stress. “This is ridiculous. Just when I think I have a chance to breathe, to figure out what to do, this happens. The agents show up or we have a close call, and we have to engage in evasive maneuvers. I have to be honest, Cole. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

  Between bites, Cole said, “If it makes a difference, I think you’re holding up exceptionally well. You haven’t devolved into a meltdown, and you’re able to function, which is impressive considering our circumstances.” He paused, then added, “We’ve eluded the agents so far, but we’ve been lucky. Either that, or they’re holding back.” Cole took a huge bite of his grilled chicken sandwich.

  “Why? Why would they hold back?” Suffused with a warm flush at Cole’s unexpected praise, Madalina nevertheless focused on the topic at hand.

  “If they are after the dragon and didn’t find it in your house, then maybe they’re waiting until you go somewhere they think you’ll pick it up. Like the bank with the safe deposit box. We haven’t gone there yet, so they might be biding their time. You also haven’t been to work, to your parents’ house, or anywhere else that seems to them like it might be a hiding place. You know how it goes. They can’t find it, and you’ve been hard to grab every time they’ve tried, so now they wait until they know you have it—then make another attempt.” Cole swiped a napkin across his mouth and checked the mirrors, a habitual exercise he’d been doing since they left Vegas.

  Madalina chewed through her next bite, dismayed that Cole’s reasoning sounded entirely plausible. “It’s never going to end. And if those bastards think I’ll give up the only serious collectible my grandfather left me—they’re wrong. That’s all I’ve got left besides pictures and the money and my memories.”

  “They might not take no for an answer, honey,” he said in a very quiet voice.

  “Then I’ll have to figure something out. They can’t do this to me. It’s mine, and it was my grandpa’s, and I’m not giving it up.” She finished only half the salad before capping the plastic bowl and setting it into the fast-food bag. Her appetite had vanished with the talk of the dragon.

  “Something tells me that those men feel the same way. Whatever they’re after, whatever they want, they think it belongs to them and won’t stop until they get it.” Cole wadded up the foil wrapper and tossed it into the bag with the rest of the trash. “You should have finished your salad. You’ll probably need the energy.”

  “I can’t, Cole. I’m just . . . you know? Upset. I’ve been trying to forget that my house is in shambles, that my landlord is probably going to charge me for the damage, that I don’t know why someone is after me, that I don’t have anywhere to live—”

  He draped an arm across the back of her seat and leaned across the console. Madalina cut a look at his face, at the concern that made the fool’s gold flecks shine and flicker.

  “I know it’s a lot. You’ve been dealing admirably with the stress, but no one can fault you for being upset. Anyone would be. I wouldn’t be happy to come home to that mess, either. We’ll figure it out, all right? We’ll figure it out.” He studied her face, looking between her eyes, her mouth, and back again.

  Madalina considered herself strong-willed, resilient, and totally self-sufficient—under normal circumstances. Sometimes even in emergencies she’d kept her cool and had done what needed to be done. In just this moment, she felt totally out of her league. Defenseless, helpless. And she loathed the latter most of all. Helplessness wasn’t a condition she was used to. What made it worse was that she wanted to lean into Cole’s strength, to sink against his heat, to feel his pulse and let him provide a shield for her to hide behind. That desire was not one that went with her ideals of being self-sufficient and strong, yet she told herself that everyone was human and, sometimes, a hug could make every
thing better. Maybe he recognized the desire in her eyes or understood her need. His arm dropped from the back of the seat to her shoulder and pulled her in.

  Cole West felt just as solid and strong as she had imagined. Tucking her face into his throat, she breathed in his masculine scent. Against his skin, she whispered, “I just want it to be over. It’s terrible that I feel guilty for leaning on you, for needing you to help me.”

  “People call the police for help all the time. This isn’t all that different, not really. I’m just a private cop, so to speak, without all the bells and whistles. It doesn’t say anything about your ability to deal with this kind of trouble because you’ve got me to help you. Not everyone in this world is trained to handle these situations.” He stroked his fingers through the strands of her hair, a gentle sift and rub like he was testing for softness.

  Any other time, Madalina might have wilted under such a tender assault. She’d seen what those hands could do, had witnessed their skill at defense and protection. Today, her nerves wouldn’t let her do more than enjoy the contact on a surface level. His reassurances made her feel marginally better.

  “Thanks, Cole. I don’t know what kind of dumb luck it was that I ran into you, but I’m glad it was you and not someone else.”

  “You mean you don’t batter men with your purse all the time for attention?” His breath rustled against her hair.

  She shook with a small, silent laugh. “Surprisingly, no. I guess I should slip and lose my balance more often.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  Outside, the rain intensified. The sprinkle turned into a deluge, hammering the windshield in blinding sheets. Madalina tilted her head back only far enough to see Cole’s face. She was close enough to feel his breath on her lips. He scanned the lot over her head, although what he thought he could see in the downpour was beyond her. Meeting her eyes again, he cupped the back of her skull like he might ease her in for a kiss.