they are because if I’m being hunted, you’re all in danger. I don’t give a flying fuck if the lines are crossed. This one’s personal. If they go after Ember, they’ll have to come through me.”
Jacob’s voice became professional, transforming from a concerned younger brother to the chief operations officer of a billion dollar security firm. “You’re not overseas. These people have not been identified or coded as threats or cleared for termination.”
Joseph’s evil laugh hung in the air. “If they try to take her out, they’ll die.”
“You’re an asset who works overseas .”
Joseph scrubbed his hand over his face and exhaled loudly. “Thanks for the 411, like I didn’t fucking know that. I’m going after Ember. I’ll protect her, no matter what it takes.”
“I understand but any link between Joseph King and your actual function in this organization would constitute a death sentence for both her and for you. A hit would be put out on her simply as retribution for your previous work.”
“I’m well aware of that fact. I don’t need you or anyone else to remind me. I live this fucking solitary life every God-forsaken day. Make no mistake—I’ll do what I need to do in order to take care of her.” If push comes to shove, I’ll gut the sorry son of a bitch like a fish.
“Understood. Check in when you can.”
“Yeah, right.” Joseph pulled the phone away from his ear.
“Hey, Joseph?”
“What?”
“You don’t have to work this alone. All our resources are at your disposal.”
“Got it. Thanks, little man.”
Joseph hung up the secure phone and looked at his watch. He dressed methodically. He swallowed back the last pain pill, and the empty bottle of oxycodone rang as it hit the trash can. Pulling his pack off the bed, he tucked the phone in the outside pocket and carefully shouldered it, wincing. This is going to be an interesting week. Exiting the hotel, he took a taxi to Dulles Airport and boarded one of Guardian’s many jets. As the plane waited on the tarmac for clearance to take off, he called Ember.
She answered the phone quietly and he could hear the stress in her voice. “Ember, I’m on my way to you.”
“Thank you, Joey.” Oh, wonderful, she sounded like she was crying. Just what he needed.
“Where’s the next stop for the bus?”
He heard Ember pull a ragged breath in before she spoke. “Joey I’m so sorry for being such a wuss. I’m a lot stronger than this. The entire situation is just so bizarre. I feel like I’m an unwilling participant in an episode of the Twilight Zone.”
He understood the feeling all too well. She probably needed to be reassured. Like he had any experience with that. What the hell, he’d try. “Yeah, Emmy I can see why you would feel that way. Don’t worry. We’ll work through this. Now, do you know where the next stop is?”
She laughed. Not the sweet sexy sound he remembered, rather a stress filled attempt at laughter. “In other words, answer my question, you sniveling woman. Yes, I do know the next stop. According to the schedule, it’s Springfield, Missouri, in about five hours.”
What the fuck? Like he had ever spoken to her like that . “Sniveling isn’t a word I’d use. Listen, when the bus stops, take only what you carried on with you and get off. Leave your suitcase in the luggage compartment under the bus. Don’t advertise the fact you’re not getting back on. Walk if you can or take a cab to the nearest hotel with outdoor entrances to the rooms. Normally, these types of hotels don’t install outdoor surveillance. Check in using cash if at all possible. Go to a local drug store and buy whatever it is that you women buy to change the color of your hair. Hit a clothing store and buy new clothes, clothes that you normally wouldn’t wear. Cut your hair if it is still long, color it, and change your clothes. Once you have changed your appearance, try to leave that hotel without anyone seeing you and
Jacob’s voice became professional, transforming from a concerned younger brother to the chief operations officer of a billion dollar security firm. “You’re not overseas. These people have not been identified or coded as threats or cleared for termination.”
Joseph’s evil laugh hung in the air. “If they try to take her out, they’ll die.”
“You’re an asset who works overseas .”
Joseph scrubbed his hand over his face and exhaled loudly. “Thanks for the 411, like I didn’t fucking know that. I’m going after Ember. I’ll protect her, no matter what it takes.”
“I understand but any link between Joseph King and your actual function in this organization would constitute a death sentence for both her and for you. A hit would be put out on her simply as retribution for your previous work.”
“I’m well aware of that fact. I don’t need you or anyone else to remind me. I live this fucking solitary life every God-forsaken day. Make no mistake—I’ll do what I need to do in order to take care of her.” If push comes to shove, I’ll gut the sorry son of a bitch like a fish.
“Understood. Check in when you can.”
“Yeah, right.” Joseph pulled the phone away from his ear.
“Hey, Joseph?”
“What?”
“You don’t have to work this alone. All our resources are at your disposal.”
“Got it. Thanks, little man.”
Joseph hung up the secure phone and looked at his watch. He dressed methodically. He swallowed back the last pain pill, and the empty bottle of oxycodone rang as it hit the trash can. Pulling his pack off the bed, he tucked the phone in the outside pocket and carefully shouldered it, wincing. This is going to be an interesting week. Exiting the hotel, he took a taxi to Dulles Airport and boarded one of Guardian’s many jets. As the plane waited on the tarmac for clearance to take off, he called Ember.
She answered the phone quietly and he could hear the stress in her voice. “Ember, I’m on my way to you.”
“Thank you, Joey.” Oh, wonderful, she sounded like she was crying. Just what he needed.
“Where’s the next stop for the bus?”
He heard Ember pull a ragged breath in before she spoke. “Joey I’m so sorry for being such a wuss. I’m a lot stronger than this. The entire situation is just so bizarre. I feel like I’m an unwilling participant in an episode of the Twilight Zone.”
He understood the feeling all too well. She probably needed to be reassured. Like he had any experience with that. What the hell, he’d try. “Yeah, Emmy I can see why you would feel that way. Don’t worry. We’ll work through this. Now, do you know where the next stop is?”
She laughed. Not the sweet sexy sound he remembered, rather a stress filled attempt at laughter. “In other words, answer my question, you sniveling woman. Yes, I do know the next stop. According to the schedule, it’s Springfield, Missouri, in about five hours.”
What the fuck? Like he had ever spoken to her like that . “Sniveling isn’t a word I’d use. Listen, when the bus stops, take only what you carried on with you and get off. Leave your suitcase in the luggage compartment under the bus. Don’t advertise the fact you’re not getting back on. Walk if you can or take a cab to the nearest hotel with outdoor entrances to the rooms. Normally, these types of hotels don’t install outdoor surveillance. Check in using cash if at all possible. Go to a local drug store and buy whatever it is that you women buy to change the color of your hair. Hit a clothing store and buy new clothes, clothes that you normally wouldn’t wear. Cut your hair if it is still long, color it, and change your clothes. Once you have changed your appearance, try to leave that hotel without anyone seeing you and
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