“What’s wrong?”
“That was my sister.The investigator who’s been looking for you?”
“Dave Hatch,” she said.
Ford nodded.“He’s dead.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FOUR DAYS LATER, Ford watched Nat’s beautiful face as she slept next to him in the private plane’s plush seat.Even the skillful landing at Van Nuys airport hadn’t been enough to rouse her.He glanced out the window of the private jet as it taxied toward the small general aviation airport.The early evening sun baked the San Fernando Valley dry, eliciting shimmery waves from the tarmac, and glinting off every shiny surface.
He turned his attention back to the woman tucked up against his side and leaned close.“Nat,” he said in a stage whisper, reluctant to disrupt her peace.She’d struggled to sleep the last couple of nights, worried that her enemies would find them before she could ensure Erik’s safety.
Once she explained her situation to multiple—somewhat disgruntled and disbelieving—consular staffers, things had moved…slowly.At least initially.There was a lot of paperwork.Discussions with the Swiss police about heraliveness.Discussions with the embassies in Paris and Bern.Calls to her parents and Gretchen.
The official who’d talked to Natalie’s mom handled the whole thing with exceptional care, paving the way for her to share a tearful video call with her parents.They’d been at once ecstatic and in shock, torn between celebrating her return while losing their minds over her brother’s kidnapping.
Thankfully, they’d kept the personal effects that the Swiss police had sent home with her “remains,” and could provide the embassy with copies of her birth certificate, passport, and driver’s license to prove her identity.Due to the unusual situation, the amount of press coverage, and the danger to her life, the US State Department expedited her request to return to the States.
Ford and Natalie had waited out the embassy’s vetting process in an apartment in Marseille’s Le Panier district that Lehmann had procured, once again proving her worth.The old part of town with its narrow cobblestone lanes, stone walls covered in vibrant street art, and potted plants outside recessed doorways was the perfect place to hide out.Difficult to access, maze-like paths, and a high population density.But still neither of them had been able to fully relax.
He doubted either of them would breathe easy until Erik was safe and Natalie’s adversary was behind bars.Or dead.
It was during the downtime in Marseille that Nat had finally revealed the true extent of her job, shared that she and her teammates weren’t simply investigative journalists but more like… Well, honestly, they weren’t much different at all, except for the part where they illegally “redirected” their targets’ funds to the victims, like a modern-day Robin Hood with a feminist twist.Oh, and occasionally used questionable tactics to obtain evidence.
Nat had been shocked at how well he took it.“I thought this would violate your morally upright, law-abiding sensibilities.”She’d said it with enough fondness that he hadn’t taken her words as a slight.
He’d had to think about why her admission didn’t bother him more.Holding her hand while he figured it out helped.“Laws are supposed to exist to promote safety and security for everyone.I’m forthat.What you’re doing is making the world safer for the people who need protection the most.My main concern is the risk to you.Legally, and especially, physically.”
Gretchen and her family’s involvement in the formation of the team had also initially surprised him, but the more he thought about what the woman had been through, maybe not.She’d rallied Blaze’s victims to share their stories with law enforcement and ultimately prevailed against that human shit stain.
That she’d mobilized her energy and her new network to take on additional deserving targets wasn’t such a stretch.
“You’re really okay with it?”Nat had asked, her gaze roaming his face warily.
“It scares me, but I’m proud of you.”
She beamed at him, her cheeks flushed.
“You’re doing something important.Something impactful.”He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her fingertips.“That’s rare.”
Her eyes warmed at the touch of his lips, but she tilted her head.“You think you don’t?”
He shrugged, distracted by her soft skin.
“Ford.”She waited for him to stop and look at her.“You saved my life.That alone is enough, but because of you, I’m here to do what I do.”
He’d been trying to keep the conversation about her, but his chest warmed at her words.He may not have gone about it well, but hehadultimately kept her alive.Twice now.Thank God.
“And you’re protecting Henri.Again, plenty enough on its own, but if his testimony helps convict Deschamps, you’re a part of that too.”She leaned close and kissed him hard on the mouth.“Don’t sell yourself short.Everyone has an impact.Good or bad.Yours is pretty outsize compared to the general population, and heavily weighted towards good.I’mproud ofyou.”
“Thank you.”He’d kissed her back.“Have I told you I love you lately?”
“You might’ve mentioned it once or twice.”She gave him the saucy smile that heated his blood.“Ditto.”She leaned in and gently bit his bottom lip.
They’d ended up in bed for the rest of the afternoon.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like that.Had heever?So…happy?
