***
Maura gasped and sat up, her heart thudding as she looked wildly around the room. She was alone, the room still and quiet, the door closed. But she could smell James, the crisp note of his cologne and the slight whiff of pine and ocean salt that seemed to be his own scent. But she was alone.
She was left to her own devices in the guest room all the next day, pacing back and forth. One of the guards dropped trays of food on the desk three times and left without speaking. Maura thought about jumping him and taking his gun, but seeing a shadow move in the hall, she realized James doubled her security detail. "Bastard!" she growled. She was just eyeing the television and wondering if she could dismantle enough components to make a rough version of a cell phone when the door opened that night.
He eyed his pacing bride, wrapped in a sheet because he'd taken her ‘wedding’ dress and left her nothing to wear. "You need a shower," he said disapprovingly.
"Forgive me," she put just the slightest edge of sarcasm in her apology.
His brows drew together. "Go bathe. There will be clothes on the bed for you when you get out." James checked his Rolex. "You have thirty minutes." Waiting until he'd left, Maura angrily gave a two-finger salute to the door.
***
She was dressed and ready when he returned. James frowned as he looked her over. He might be pushing his luck with Fassell, but he enjoyed torturing Third in Command. Because Maura was beautiful in a well-tailored sleeveless cream dress, reaching mid-thigh and showing off her lovely, toned legs. The gorgeous clothes seemed to help armor her as well, she looked at him coolly, not flinching from his inspection. "Come." Maura passed him without looking, walking down the stairs and waiting in the foyer. "Put this on," James said, wrapping a green cashmere scarf around her shoulders. Taking a pale cashmere coat off the rack, he held it out. Still stubbornly silent. Maura slid her arms into the sleeves, smoothing her hand over the soft fabric.
"Is this the rest of the luggage, Mr. Pine?" guard #1 was lifting several bags from the hallway.
"That will be all." James’s cool voice was just behind her, his long fingers wrapped around her upper arm. "Let's go, Pet." He smiled as she stiffened.
James knew that Maura was giving him side glances, trying to figure out where he was taking her this time, but he said nothing. The lights of LaGuardia Airport came into view as the driver took an early exit and they parked next to a private airstrip used for corporate jets.
As they pulled up to a Bombardier Learjet 60, Maura looked at James as he removed her from the car. "Where are we going?" He ignored her as he walked her up the stairs and into the roomy cabin. She tried again. "Sir, where are we going?" His mouth turned up, just one corner.
"Have a drink." He handed her a glass of wine, seating her on one of the comfortable leather couches. Watching her lips part to refuse, James pulled out his phone and threw it in her lap. The first pictures were taken on a lacrosse field, the twins in sports gear, but Maura's breath caught in her throat when Meghan's picture came into view. Her sister was asleep in bed, the photographer had to be in her room at the care center.
"Drink it," his voice was cold and indifferent. Maura took the glass and drank, her eyes blazing at him over the rim. Chuckling briefly, he poured himself a Macallan Cask Strength and sat across from her, opening his jacket.
"Are you going to tell me our destination now?" Maura asked, sipping her wine every time his eyes landed on the glass.
"Not your concern, Pet," James said smoothly. "I just brought you aboard early to get you... settled before the others arrive."
"Others?" She rubbed her eyes, a sudden surge of weariness making her head feel fuzzy.
"Drink, darling." His heated fingers gently pushed the glass to her lips, forcing her to swallow the last of the wine.
James watched as realization hit her just as he quickly took the glass from her nerveless fingers. "Damn you..." she managed the two words before sliding sideways on the couch. Seating himself next to her, he lifted her head onto his lap, covering her with a blanket.
"Get some rest, darling," he soothed, "you need it. No bad dreams tonight..."
Later…
Her mouth was horribly dry when Maura forced herself into consciousness, she could feel the warm hand of James in her hair, idly stroking it as he examined some figures on an iPad. "Holbrook, send the figures on the second dig site, please." His deep voice resonated through the delicate bones of her face, making Maura shiver. "Ah, you're awake Pet."
"What time is it?" she asked softly, trying to sit up.
"Careful Pet. Your balance will be off for a few hours yet." James helped her upright, steadying her.
Maura painfully swallowed, trying to relieve the cottony feeling. "What did you drug me with this time?" Her voice was raspy with the effort of speaking.
James idly smoothed a curl behind her ear. "Just a light sedative. I'm going to be occupied, I can't have you making trouble here."
"Where's here?"
Maura was interrupted by the return of Nicholas, handing James another iPad. "Here you are, Mr. Pine." He darted his eyes to the cold countenance of his former partner and back again. James looked it over and nodded.
"Excellent work as always, Holbrook. You've always had the gift for finding all kinds of hidden information at a moment's notice. Like Morrighan's tragic childhood."
Nicholas stumbled, his shoulders hunching as if he was trying to bury his head between them to make himself disappear. Maura felt like a fist just punched the air from her lungs. Holbrook. Of course, she thought bitterly. I should have set Yagura on him when I had the chance. James watched the silent interaction with a smile. There would be no one but him for her to depend on.
