The swollen state of my poor appendage can only be blamed on her. She thought I wasn’t watching but hell, how could I not notice how she squirmed and rubbed between her legs. When she asked me to stop for a bathroom break, I knew what she needed and wished I could help but now is not the time.
Soon, baby.
Hidden in the dark, back seat of my SUV, I unzip my fly and relieve the pressure. This frees more oxygen to the brain. No doubt, God is laughing his ass off because never, in recorded history, has there been a more unlikely trio of heroes.
“Ladies, I can’t decide on our next steps, until you letme in on what happened before we met. Let’s start with you, Ophelia.”
“Please, call me Lia or Sky. Unlike Hamlet’s girlfriend, I’m not insane, nor would I consider suicide for want of the love of a self-absorbed asshole.”
No doubt, the barb was intended for me, but I slept through most of English Lit, and her joke falls flat. Hoping for a truce, especially from Shakespeare, my fingers reach around the headrest and massage her tight shoulders. One satisfied moan and instead of the seductor, I become the one seduced.
Perhaps I should try a different tack. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, but you have to admit, you’ve been lying since I arrived here.”
“Only because Brownstone insisted.” Her loyalty, while admirable, may be misplaced.
Flies, honey, and vinegar in mind, I begin anew. “Sky, tell me how you met your handler.”
Asmy digits work their magic, her neck muscles loosen, and she sighs. “I’d been working for Tommy for over a year when a men-in-black-dude sat next to me in a bar. He claimed to be a recruiter for the FBI which should’ve been my first warning. You see, most law enforcement agencies don’t offer employment to people who have ADD.”
Brows raised in the rearview mirror, she glances off the highway. Although her admission surprises me, I don’t comment. Clearly the Feds did their homework and used her deepest desire against her.
The blinker clicks, she moves into the fast lane, and stares at the white dotted line in the road. “The next day, the same suited stranger upped the ante and claimed he could guarantee me a cushy job if I agreed to be his informant. Of course, I declined. After he mentioned nukes and swore all I had to do was help find their location, I caved. Piece of cake, right? Before I could start my assignment, armed men attacked Tommy’s estate. We left under a barrage of bullets and waited at the Rehoboth safe house for over a week. Later, I received a message in the form of tour tickets on my burner. You’ve seen the rest, firsthand.”
As her story digests, I turn toward the insightful teen. “Anything you want to add?”
Closing her eyes, Charlie purses her lips for almost a minute, then adds, “Now that you mention it, I did see the letters O R A on the mercenaries’ shirts.”
Ah fuck.My jaw drops, I scroll through my photos, and hold up the screen. “Did it look like this?”
“Uh-huh. Who are they?” Brows furrowed, the girl glances up at me.
At first, I can’t believe the teenager never heard of them. Then, I recall what she said about having limited access to social media and give her the abridged version. “The Only Remaining Americans. They haveone agenda, to bring down the government and start over. The constitution, they say, is the problem. Without it, we wouldn’t be arguing over first amendment rights and gun laws.”
A master at the game of intrigue, I play out possible scenarios in my head and come to one conclusion. “We need to get Charlie someplace safe.”
“Charlie is sitting right here and has perfect hearing.” The kid deserves to understand my reasoning.
“You are your father’s weakest link. The only reason they would’ve risked storming your house is to use you as leverage and force your dad’s hand.” Once my words sink in, her stubborn chin retracts and cheeks red, she nods.
“Mmm. You’re probably right.”
“It’s only for a day or two.” Eyes on the road, Sky reaches over the cupholder to squeeze the teen’s bicep, then flicks her gaze toward me. “Where do you suggest we take her?”
“Ever been to New York City?” I wink at the kid, and as a smile expands over her face, I ring my nocturnal brother.
“Whazzup?” Despite the hour, I’m not surprised he answers on the first ring.
“I’m in a bit of a jam.” To admit I need help does not come easy and I brace for the fallout.
“So, what else is new?” Normally, his jibe would roll off my back, but I haven’t had any sleep and am in no mood for brotherly bullshit.
“Come off it. When was the last time I asked for a favor?”
“The time we bailed you out of jail?” Showing no mercy, he snickers and my patience snaps.
“Holy shit. You’re dredging up my freshman year in college? Seriously. If you can’t do it, I’ll find another way.”
The clacking keys stop, and he inhales sharply. “Does this have something to do with the nukes?”
