His friend’s brown eyes turned to him sheepishly. “I figured you’d want these ASAP.” He handed Roarke a manila envelope.
Roarke accepted the package, tore open the end, and pulled out the IDs. He’d decided to have Laine’s and Emmy’s made with the last name of one of his aliases. He had more than a few and had chosen to use his Turkish one, which hadn’t been used in almost a year.
The images looked perfect. “Fucking amazing, man.”
“These’ll check out everywhere. They’re legit passports issued under your new Turkish names. Just be sure you’re not carrying any IDs with other names along with this one. You could be stopped and searched anytime.” He directed these instructions to Laine.
Roarke had already paid him for the service. He held out his hand. “Thanks, really appreciate you swinging this so quickly.”
“No problem. I’m only a phone call away if you need anything else.” He waved at the girls again and slipped out the door.
Emmy, now more at ease, went back to prancing around the kitchen while Laine came over to inspect the new documents. “Ohmigod,” she wheezed, placing her hand on her stomach.
He leaned closer. “What’s wrong?”
Her throat bobbed on a swallow. “Um, nothing. It’s just— Wow. A lot to take in. I can’t believe we have fake passports so quickly. This is all so surreal.” Her eyes held fear.
“I get it. My first alias freaked me out. It’s weird seeing your picture next to a foreign name and information. Once we get back to the US, you can dispose of this if you wish.”
She nodded. “I have a lot to consider. I might even change our last name anyway, just to make sure Cameron doesn’t find us.”
A ball of lead pulled at the bottom of his stomach. That was the last thing he needed to fucking worry about—being at work overseas while Laine and Emmy were defenseless halfway across the world.
“Are we going home now?” Emmy asked, sliding across the tile in her socked feet and nearly running right into Roarke.
He caught her and hauled her into his arms. “You’re going as a checked bag, kiddo.”
She let out a giggle.
He swooped her back onto her feet. “Let me grab a few things first.” He went to the bedroom and packed his carry-on, then he grabbed the extra bag with Emmy’s snacks and activities for the plane.
A few minutes later they were in the parking garage.
He placed their bags in the hatchback of his rented SUV while Laine and Emmy got in the back seat. After shutting the door, he rounded the vehicle to the driver’s side. He started the engine once they were all buckled.
The orangish lights on the low ceiling blinked through his windshield as he followed the maze of arrows to the exit. The airport wasn’t far, but he didn’t want to take a cab. The fewer people who saw Laine and Emmy, the better.
He stopped at the marker while the garage barrier raised. He glanced left and right, then pulled out onto the street.
Smash!
Roarke’s shoulder slammed hard against the driver’s side door. Emmy’s scream pierced the air.
Angst fissured through him. In a split second, he located the car that had crashed into the passenger side. A man wearing a ski mask leapt from the vehicle and stalked toward the back door of the SUV.
Roarke withdrew his gun. “Get down!” he bellowed at Laine.
His blood pressure spiked. Being separated from them, even just by a seat, filled him with icy-cold dread.
Laine covered Emmy, and they dropped to the footwell. Roarke aimed as the man yanked open the rear passenger door. He fired, and the bullet smacked the man in the chest.
The asshole staggered, but Kevlar stopped the bullet.
“Get back!” Roarke ordered.
But the man leaned into the vehicle and grabbed Laine’s hair and Emmy’s arm. Laine fought, swinging at the attacker’s face. Roarke unhooked his seatbelt and stretched toward the back seat.
Laine’s punches caused her to loosen her hold on her daughter. The man yanked Emmy toward the door. Laine’s scream overpowered Emmy’s, making Roarke’s ears ring.
