“What’s happening?”
“I’m just carsick. I’ll be okay. Where are we going?”
“To my car. Then, Munich.”
She nodded and turned her gaze to the road. I reached over, taking her hand. I craved her touch, longed to feel the connection that had been missing for so long.
But the road took its toll on her, and soon after she was slumped down in the seat. Every curve seemed to make her feel worse, but when I slowed, she winced and shook her head. “Just drive. Get me the hell away from here.”
We were less than a mile from where I’d parked when she launched upright. “Shit, pull over.”
I veered off the road, gravel kicking up under my tires. We jerked to a stop, and she flung open her door, leaned over, and violently heaved the contents of her stomach onto the grass.
When she was finished, she collapsed back into the seat and threw a hand over her forehead, her eyes closed. She looked as miserable as I felt for her.
“Come here,” I said softly, urging her into my arms. She complied, only to slide down, draping her body across the console and her head resting in my lap. I gently ran my fingers through her hair, trying to offer comfort in any form possible.
In the rearview mirror, I spotted a flickering orange light on the cliff behind us and made a quiet sound of surprise.
“What is it?” she asked.
“That house I threatened to burn down? It’s on fire.”
She didn’t lift her head from my thigh. “Maybe Plavko did that for you.”
Maybe. Or maybe it was just the Special Ops team covering their tracks. I didn’t want to rush her, but it was risky to stay here. “My car’s not much farther.”
“Then let’s go,” she croaked.
I put the Mercedes in gear and pulled back onto the road. As we drove, I had one hand on the wheel and the other on her shoulder.
A few turns later, I skidded the Mercedes to a stop beside the Range Rover I’d bought in cash to make sure it couldn’t be traced back to me in case my plan went sideways. I carried her from one passenger seat to the other.
“How long is the drive?” she asked when I buckled her in.
I hesitated. “Twelve hours.”
I didn’t mention we’d have to cut through the mountains.
She turned her eyes forward, resigned. “Any chance you’ve got a change of clothes for me? I don’t want to be in this dress another second.”
I didn’t. All I had was a bottle of water, which she took and gulped down.
Her haunting eyes locked on mine, full of love, and it came out as a half-truth. “I guess I’ll have to ride naked.”
Her statement was so unexpected, so needed, it punched a relieved laugh from my center. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”
I put my mouth on her then, my whole body flooding with warmth at the connection. It was one I’d never get enough of, and I wanted to make it stronger. Lasting.
“When we get to Munich, you’ll need to change your name,” I said.
“Okay.” It came out borderline annoyed because I’d paused kissing her.
“And I figured,” I whispered against her lips, “you could take mine. If you wanted to.”
49
TEN MONTHS FROM NOW
