Read Online Deliberate Deceptions: Hauberk Protection, Book 3 by Leah Braemel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leah Braemel
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didn’t know which was placing the suitcase by the door, but he’d be damned if he’d let her rip his heart from his chest again.
Maybe that was the question he should be asking himself: why did she still have the power to hurt him after all these years?
“Because you still love her. More’s the pity.”
He stared at Troy. “What?”
“You asked how she still had the power to hurt you.”
He’d said that out loud?
“I know you look at that picture in your desk a half dozen times a day. You still love her.” Troy tapped the top of Chad’s suitcase. “So, what are you going to do about it? You going to run? Because that hasn’t worked for either of you so far, has it?”
Chapter Seven
From the brightness of the clouds overhead, the sun was up on the other side of the mountains, though it had yet to reach the lower edges of the hill. A thick mat of pine needles and already-fallen leaves littered the path, crunching beneath her feet as Lauren jogged along the path. She ducked beneath an overhanging branch, taking care to make sure it didn’t fling back into her companion’s face.
She’d hoped to slip out of her room that morning without anyone noticing. But as soon as her door had opened, Andy had stepped out. The lack of time between his door opening and hers made her wonder if he’d been listening for her. Then she noticed the camera mounted on the wall opposite her door. Not listening. Watching.
She glanced back to assess him. Like her, he’d dressed for the occasion, although his holster held a Glock whereas hers had a Sig Sauer. Something about the way he carried himself told her he’d not be afraid to use it. An intricate full-arm tattoo flowered from beneath his tee’s sleeve, stopping just above the wrist. Probably so it wouldn’t show beneath a dress shirt. “How far do you normally run?”
Andy ducked beneath a tree branch before he answered, “About five K. I run more on the weekends.”
They’d run the perimeter of the compound—or the estate, as Chad referred to it—twice, which meant they were approaching the length of a regular run for them both. Although there was a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, Andy wasn’t breathing hard yet, which gave her the impression “more” probably meant he ran marathons. What impressed her most was that they weren’t running on a smooth city sidewalk. The rough trail they followed wound its way up and down the side of the…well, it was more than a hill but less than a mountain. They were high enough that the air was thinner than in D.C. Not as thin as in Colombia, but Andy wasn’t showing any signs of having trouble getting enough oxygen.
Face it , she told herself, the man was in shape . Chad had chosen his people well.
Pounding on the track behind them had her turning and ducking behind the nearest tree. Her hand was still reaching for her holster when she realized Andy already had his gun drawn and his body placed between her and whoever was intent upon catching them. Two seconds later, Troy jogged into sight and Andy lowered his weapon. “Hey, boss, what’s up?”
Troy hardly looked at his man as he spoke, his focus completely on Lauren. “I’ll take over here. Why don’t you get some grub?”
His gun holstered, Andy nodded and sprinted off toward the main house.
Lauren stepped back onto the path, watching him disappear down the hill. “He’s good.”
“He is. Damned good. But I wasn’t the one who hired him initially. That was all your ex-husband’s doing.” With the emphasis on ex. “Thought you should know—Chad’s asked to be reassigned.”
Shit. “You can’t let him leave. Not if you want him to stay alive.”
His hand slapped arrhythmically against his thigh as he stared off in the distance, no doubt considering the same ramifications and alternatives they’d already gone over. “How long do you think you’re going to be able to fool him?”
“Hopefully until we catch Harris.”
He turned a
Maybe that was the question he should be asking himself: why did she still have the power to hurt him after all these years?
“Because you still love her. More’s the pity.”
He stared at Troy. “What?”
“You asked how she still had the power to hurt you.”
He’d said that out loud?
“I know you look at that picture in your desk a half dozen times a day. You still love her.” Troy tapped the top of Chad’s suitcase. “So, what are you going to do about it? You going to run? Because that hasn’t worked for either of you so far, has it?”
Chapter Seven
From the brightness of the clouds overhead, the sun was up on the other side of the mountains, though it had yet to reach the lower edges of the hill. A thick mat of pine needles and already-fallen leaves littered the path, crunching beneath her feet as Lauren jogged along the path. She ducked beneath an overhanging branch, taking care to make sure it didn’t fling back into her companion’s face.
She’d hoped to slip out of her room that morning without anyone noticing. But as soon as her door had opened, Andy had stepped out. The lack of time between his door opening and hers made her wonder if he’d been listening for her. Then she noticed the camera mounted on the wall opposite her door. Not listening. Watching.
She glanced back to assess him. Like her, he’d dressed for the occasion, although his holster held a Glock whereas hers had a Sig Sauer. Something about the way he carried himself told her he’d not be afraid to use it. An intricate full-arm tattoo flowered from beneath his tee’s sleeve, stopping just above the wrist. Probably so it wouldn’t show beneath a dress shirt. “How far do you normally run?”
Andy ducked beneath a tree branch before he answered, “About five K. I run more on the weekends.”
They’d run the perimeter of the compound—or the estate, as Chad referred to it—twice, which meant they were approaching the length of a regular run for them both. Although there was a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, Andy wasn’t breathing hard yet, which gave her the impression “more” probably meant he ran marathons. What impressed her most was that they weren’t running on a smooth city sidewalk. The rough trail they followed wound its way up and down the side of the…well, it was more than a hill but less than a mountain. They were high enough that the air was thinner than in D.C. Not as thin as in Colombia, but Andy wasn’t showing any signs of having trouble getting enough oxygen.
Face it , she told herself, the man was in shape . Chad had chosen his people well.
Pounding on the track behind them had her turning and ducking behind the nearest tree. Her hand was still reaching for her holster when she realized Andy already had his gun drawn and his body placed between her and whoever was intent upon catching them. Two seconds later, Troy jogged into sight and Andy lowered his weapon. “Hey, boss, what’s up?”
Troy hardly looked at his man as he spoke, his focus completely on Lauren. “I’ll take over here. Why don’t you get some grub?”
His gun holstered, Andy nodded and sprinted off toward the main house.
Lauren stepped back onto the path, watching him disappear down the hill. “He’s good.”
“He is. Damned good. But I wasn’t the one who hired him initially. That was all your ex-husband’s doing.” With the emphasis on ex. “Thought you should know—Chad’s asked to be reassigned.”
Shit. “You can’t let him leave. Not if you want him to stay alive.”
His hand slapped arrhythmically against his thigh as he stared off in the distance, no doubt considering the same ramifications and alternatives they’d already gone over. “How long do you think you’re going to be able to fool him?”
“Hopefully until we catch Harris.”
He turned a
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