“We should call 911,” she whispered.
“We can’t. I’ll explain soon. Come on, Addy. Let’s go.” He stepped her around the guys, knowing Big Joe’steam would sweep the mess under the rug and look into Wilkes and his story. Leaving him alive grated, but Noel hadn’t wanted to kill anyone else in front of Addy. Not if he didn’t need to.
He walked her out the back, tucking his pistol in the back of his jeans and covering up with his coat.
She said something, still leaning against his chest, clinging to him like a burr.
“What’s that?” He felt an urge to protect, to keep her safe, that went deeper than any need for justice or anger. Concern for Addy was his top priority.
“The c-coffee and p-past-tries are b-back there.” She sobbed as she added, “I g-got them for y-you.”
God. What a mess. He kissed the top of her head and pulled them into a shadowed alley between two shops. “Addy, I’m so sorry. Sovery sorry. It’s okay. You’re safe. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
She wiped her eyes on his sweater and pulled back. But even crying, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “What happened, Noel? W-why did you have a gun? Why no police?”
“I’ll tell you back at the hotel, okay?”
“I want coffee. R-right now.”
She didn’t seem too together, her eyes stillglassy, her voice shaky. But he would do anything to make her feel better.
“Okay.”
“From…Morning Josefine.”
He’d passed it on his way to rescue her, almost too late as he’d seen her disappear inside the old diner. “If that’s what you want.” He wiped her eyes. “Don’t cry, honey. I swear, I’ll explain all this.” And if she never wanted to see him again, he’d leave. It wouldkill him, but he’d leave.
Content that no one would move on her in so crowded a spot, he sat her at a corner table in the busy cafe, where he could see her while he stood in line to get her coffee. He fetched them two coffees and a bundle of sweets, then returned to her.
“Let’s go.”
“No.” She frowned. “I want to stay here.”
He sighed. “Fine.” He pushed her coffee nearher.
She sipped it and looked at him in surprise. “This is good. Just the way I take it.”
Of course it was. Noel knew a lot about her. “I pay attention.”
“I guess you do.” She tentatively looked in the bag but didn’t reach for any food. “Noel. Talk.”
He sipped his coffee, considering how much to tell her. “I’m not actually an investment banker.”
She narrowedher eyes but said nothing.
In a low voice, he said, “I work for an organization that cleans up messes around the world.”
She put her coffee down. “What organization?”
“I can’t say.”
“Can’t or won’t?” she challenged in a louder voice. Then seeing his frown, she lowered hers again. “CIA? FBI? NSA?”
He nodded.
She blinked and trembled. “Seriously?”
“I’m not on any books. Not in any database. I don’t exist, Addy. But I want to.” So much. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her that last night. He glanced around, saw them still somewhat safe surrounded by couples and young mothers and fathers with kids. “I was young when my parents died. I had no one to take me in. I tried foster care. It didn’t take.” He didn’t want her to feel sorry for him,but better pity than fear. “I was on the streets for a very long year when a man found me. He introduced me to a new career path.”
