SIMEON
Iretire to the terrace with Jack, loving how the seats overlook a spectacular view, noting a bottle of bourbon and two glasses resting on the marble-topped table.
I lean back in my seat and tip the glass to my lips, relaxing for probably the first time since I began this nightmare mission from hell.
Jack fills me in on what happened after we massacred Liam’s jet and the subsequent fallout and escape from the Goldsworthy building.
When he finishes, he chuckles. “Felipe was pissed. He was angry his carefully laid plans went up into the clouds, and he is running around like a chicken without a head by all accounts trying to find you.”
I allow myself a smile, loving the image he portrays.
“I understand congratulations are in order.”
He raises his glass, and I note the wedding band circling my left-hand finger.
“Yes, phase one complete and phase two–” I smirk, “already in the bag.”
His eyes widen. “How, I mean–” He ignores my smirk and shakes his head. “I should have guessed. No wonder she’s missing in action.”
He reminds me that Alice has been gone for well over an hour, and for some reason, there’s a void beside me that it appears only she can fill. I hate how my mind wanders to where she can be, and I push it away and get back to business, for some reason hating how I just discussed what happened with Alice as if it had no consequence.
“So, do you have an ETA on the jet?”
“It should be here by morning. The flight plan is being updated, and we are checking that our men are in the tower.”
I don’t know how Jack has the ability to pay everyone off connected with our plans. It’s an admirable quality that I admire, which is why I can’t operate without him.
“None the less, we should prepare for visitors. Is the house on lockdown?”
“Yes. The perimeter is guarded with a laser beam, and we have guards stationed at every exit and patrolling the grounds. The house comes with excellent security, and once those doors lock at night, they can only be opened from the inside.
“Who is inside?”
“You, me, and Alice. The rest of the guards are taking turns to sleep in the guest cottage on the grounds.”
“Good.”
Jack takes a call and smiles as he cuts it.
“Food and supplies are at the gate. Harry is checking it out and won’t allow anyone in and screens everything before he delivers it to the door.”
“Perfect.”
I stand, unusually restless, and nod toward the house. “I’m going to freshen up. Have the change of clothes delivered to my room.”
“Which is?”
“With my wife, of course.”
My arrogant smirk doesn’t go unnoticed, and he grins. “Of course.”
We split up to our individual tasks, and I’m surprised at my haste to reach the room Alice decided on.
I search two before I find her, the room in darkness as the sun dipped below the horizon an hour ago. She is thrashing about in the bed, and as I head to her side, her erratic breathing and pained expression matches the small cries filling the silent space.
For some reason, it concerns me, and the bed dips as I lie beside her. My arm reaching for her, to protect her, reassure her, or merely because I can’t ignore my desire to touch her.
She stirs and with a start pulls away. “What the–”
