Jack chuckled. “Tall chap in a dark suit.”
The woman cast a glance toward Maddie. “Hmm. I understand. I was young once too, you know. But best hurry, love. Don’t want your lady friend’s husband finding you, do you now?”
Jack suppressed a grin when he heard Maddie choke. “Husband?”
“Come, darling,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her along. “We don’t want him finding us together again, do we? It was so embarrassing last time—what with your ankles over your ears . . .”
Maddie shot him a glare that would’ve made a lesser man cringe. But he couldn’t wipe the grin from his lips when he heard the proprietor’s giggle.
“Nice,” Maddie hissed when they emerged into an alley behind the store. “What the hell was that?”
“Just making sure our new friend had sufficient reason not to give us up should that asshole come in looking for us,” he assured her. He didn’t add that the image of her lying naked on the bed, her skin flushed with passion, had come to mind the moment he’d said it and had been another reason for them to make a hasty retreat.
“You recognized him,” she said, far too perceptive.
When he didn’t immediately answer, she pulled him to a stop. He glanced down at their linked hands, surprised to see her fingers still clasped firmly in his.
“Who is it, Jack?” she pressed. “Illuminati?”
He smoothed his thumb over her skin, finding the silky softness of her hand comforting. “Someone from my past—from before I was part of Will’s team. We’d suspected them of being connected to the Illuminati but weren’t able to prove it.”
When he dared meet her gaze, she was looking at him expectantly, but he wasn’t ready to talk. Not aboutthispart of his story.
He forced a smile. “Come on, love. Let’s put a little more distance behind us and then I’ll call for a ride. We’ll come back for the car later when our friend has given up searching for us.”
“Willhe give up?” Maddie pressed as they made their way toward the river. “He was looking for something in Claire’s house. I think running into you was just a coincidence.”
Jack’s brows came together in a frown, not quite so sure about that. How in the hell would they have gotten wind of the information on the flash drive so quickly? He’d expected some of Stone’s people to show up and try to intercept the information. But who the bloody hell had tipped off theotherbastards who were still looking for him? The reason Jack was sideways withthemwas personal. There was nothing “business” about it.
“Hey. You still with me?”
Jack’s grasp on her hand tightened, suddenly feeling like it was the only tether he had keeping him rooted in the present. “Yeah,” he told her. “Yeah, I’m with you.”
