Quinn I (Undaunted Men #1) (5 page)

Distressed, I cried out, “I’m so scared, Connor.”
 

“You should be scared. You don’t know what he’s capable of. Today was a good day,” he ground out. “He’s become unhinged, and if you don’t get away now, there will be no way out. You’ll be constantly trapped in ultimatums.”

“Oh, God.” My eyes fluttered closed as a few tears slipped out. He let go of my chin and pulled me against his broad chest. I buried my face into the side of his neck, wrapped my arms around him, and quietly sobbed.
 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry.” He murmured sweet nothings over my head as he tenderly stroked my hair, consoling me after his outburst. I should hate him beyond words, but I still loved the Connor I grew up with. The compassionate Connor, the one who was holding me right now. This was the side of Connor I loved, the one I wanted to believe still existed behind his newly formed hard exterior. “I need you to not lose sight of reality and all the things Vince is capable of. Plus, I really don’t want to see you wind up in jail, and I see that decision measured by how far you push his patience.”

“Okay,” I shakily replied.
 

“Please tell me you understand what it is I’ve risked for you, and what has to be done here?” His voice pleaded for me to recognize what he had risked in order to save me. “But that’s only if you want out.”

My breath hitched, and I inhaled his familiar scent then clutched his neck tighter, afraid to let him go. The thought of leaving everyone and everything behind was distressing, but it looked as if it were the only viable option. Reluctantly, I nodded my head against his shoulder. I had to get away from this insanity.

“Yeah?” he breathed out with a sigh of relief.

“Yeah,” I croaked.

“I’ve thought of every possible escape strategy for you, and this is the absolute best way to do it. It’s the only shot you have at avoiding jail, and escaping him, because he is out of control, Lexi.”

“I know,” I sadly whispered.

He moved his upper body back from mine, forcing me away from the crook of his neck so he could look at me. His thumb carefully wiped away my tears as he gently told me, “I’ve got you disappearing into the Appalachian Mountains. There’s a map in the envelope. It will tell you where to start, and the best place for you to resurface. I have further instructions in your backpack of what you need to do and where you’re to go once you’ve resurfaced on the other side of the trails.”

I can’t help but look at Connor as if he had gone mad, and then I questioned his plan. “Backpack? I don’t have a backpack. Wouldn’t it be easier for me to just get in my car and drive somewhere far away, or better yet, flee the country by plane?”

“No, Lexi.” He sadly grinned at me as if I were a naive child. “You’re traceable in every way imaginable. Your car even has a tracker on it,” he confessed. I choked on a breath, looking at him in astonishment.

“Are you serious?” I asked, dumfounded. “How long have you known this and didn’t tell me, Connor?”

“I’m sorry. There were some things you were better off not knowing at the time. I had to get things set up for you first. If you found out about it, Vince would’ve known I had tipped you off.”

“How were you so sure I’d have chosen this path?”
 

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure what you’d do. I just wanted you to have options.” I dropped my head into his chest with a sigh of defeat. “I’ll make sure everything is taken care of on this end. I will meet up with you eventually, but not too soon, because it’ll look too suspicious if I wind up leaving right after you.”
 

“Connor,” my chest constricted as I looked up, “this…this is sounding all too permanent and scary.”

His brows cast downward, his eyes looking sad and full of empathy. “I know, baby. I’m here for you. I need you to believe that. I don't know what the future holds, but we have to prepare for the worst, just in case. There's enough money in the backpack to last you for at least six months. Granted, you really won't need any money on the trails, but when you resurface, you're going to need to find transportation and get to the safe house I had arranged for you. I need you to hold out until I get there.”

“How?” I shake my head in amazement. How was he able to do all this?
 

“Did you forget who our families are?” He smirked. “I’ve learned from one of the best about how to obtain new identities and then relocate.”

“I’m not sure I've got it in me to do this. I mean my whole life is here. I was born here. My parents, my job, my family, and Griffen are here.”

“Look, we'll figure something out together, okay? We just need to get you some distance and time away from Vince. At least long enough to figure out how we're going to handle the next step.”

I nodded, agreeing with him. He’s right; I have to do this, otherwise I would wind up in jail.

“You’ll also need to ditch your cell phone. I packed a pre-paid burner for you, although I don’t think it is a good idea to call anyone for a while, including me. Wait it out for a couple weeks or so.”

“What?” I whispered in disbelief. “I can’t have contact with anyone?”
 

“You heard me. If you want a successful breakaway, this is the only way. You also need to dispose of the car the second you get to the starting point; give it away for all I care, but the car has to keep moving. Doing that will send Vince's men on a wild goose chase, giving you a nice head start.”
 

“I don’t know the first thing about hiking, Connor.” My chest became tight, and I found myself sucking in a shaky breath. “There’s got to be another way. My dad will protect me, and my bro—”

“No,” he interrupted, his eyes flaring with heat. “Vince probably has the same number of policemen on his payroll as your father does. There is no escape by doing it your way. The second you hit those trails, Vince and his men will hit a brick wall.”
 

We both fell silent for a moment, and I took the time to truly study Connor in a new light. Conflict swirled behind those bright hazel eyes of his.

“I am so sorry, Lexi. I hate having to let you go unprotected. It’s going to take a huge chunk out of my heart to do so.” He slowly leaned in, and I knew what he was going to do. He softly kissed my lips, something he had never done before. I don’t know why, but I let him. Maybe because this was goodbye.
 

Connor had always been the most thoughtful and kindest of the two men; he always showed me careful consideration and made me smile. Even through my tough teenage years, he had taken those extra steps, ensuring I felt special and cared for. That’s why I was shocked he had been working under Vince and going along with his plans, but I now realize he had an ulterior end game in mind in order to protect me.

Connor’s lips were soft and gentle as he brushed them against mine. I was relieved when he didn’t try for anything more. His kiss was sweet, sincere, and I could tell it was full of love. When he pulled away, he breathed softly over my lips, a slight strain to his voice, “Oh, Lexi.”

 
“Connor…” I tried to interrupt.

“Shh.” He placed two of his fingers over my lips to hush me. I saw in his eyes, his contemplating the need to kiss me again. “I had to kiss you at least once. I had to know what you felt like, because for years, you’re all I’ve ever dreamed about. You didn’t know what it was like to watch you from the sidelines as other men got to touch you…kiss you…have you.”
 

“Connor…”

“I know.” What did he know? That I didn’t feel the same way for him? He gently skimmed his lips over mine one last time before he pulled me into his strong embrace. Holding me tight, he said with conviction, “My love for you is absolute. It will never fade or falter. I vow to keep you safe and from going to jail.”

 
I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. I believed him; his words were palpable, and he couldn’t be more heart-felt and genuine if he tried. “I love you too, Connor.” I did love him, but not in an intimate way.

He kissed the top of my head, breathing over me. “I knew the ultimatum Vince was going to present you with today, so I came prepared. I have all the gear you will need in the back of my truck.”

“How much time do I have?”

“You’ll have to leave by daybreak tomorrow.”

I have methodically gone through the list of items I've packed in my head at least a thousand times, making sure I haven’t left anything out. Before I left the house, I had damn near forgotten the most important article of all, my good luck charm. Only when I was heading out the door and getting ready to lock up the house did it dawn on me. I have never gone on a mission without it, not since my mother passed away.

I call it my good luck charm, but it’s really my mother's angel pendant - a small angel necklace with a white diamond in the middle. My dad had given it to her in the hospital after giving birth to me. Growing up, my mother never took the thing off. She even wore it into my adulthood¸ saying it had always reminded her to pray for me every day, especially when I was away on overseas military missions. Before she passed away, she wanted me to have it. I wanted to bury her with it, because it only seemed right, but she insisted I take it. She was always sentimental that way. I shake my head at the fond memory, recalling the day she placed the pendant in my hand. She told me to keep it as a reminder that she would always be watching over me, and that one day it would be replaced by a true living angel.
 

My mind veers back toward my supply list, as I take inventory in my head. This
will be my last chance to stop and pick up
any supplies I might have overlooked. I truly was in a quandary as to how I should pack. On the one hand, I consider this job a search and rescue, but then on the other hand, I felt the need to be tactical despite Moretti’s assurances. I never rely on, or hold much stock in, what I’m told. I never have. I believe in being prepared for any situation, but since there is only so much crap I can carry, I had to make compromises with myself.
 

I packed heavy with the MRE’s, and decided on my KRISS Vector pistol. At least with this particular semi-automatic, I can use it to take down any game if I need to and at the same time, be able to use it in self-defense with a suppressor. The gun is light and compact enough, and if I conceal it accordingly, other hikers shouldn’t notice it. Not that it’s illegal to carry this particular firearm on the trail—I just don’t want the added attention.

I’m not intimidated by the journey itself. My concern is the subject of the journey - the pregnant mafia princess, who has recently committed murder - that has me on edge. A woman being either one of those two things is already questionably insane, but combine those ingredients, and she can be nothing short of an unstable, catastrophic disaster.
 

I look over at Kimber, her tongue half hanging out of her mouth as she pants in the passenger seat. She catches me looking at her, and that's all it takes for her to wag her tail and nuzzle up to me. She’s going to be in seventh heaven on these trails.

“You ready for an adventure, Kimber?” I ask with a grin. Her ears perk up as if I'd said
biscuit
, which is our word for a dog treat.
 

Moretti has me meeting one of his men at the base of the mountain before I set out on foot. I called Tony back as I was packing, and requested a piece of his daughters clothing. He thought it odd until I explained to him my four-legged friend was coming along.

I pull up beside a black SUV, and Kimber gives off a low, menacing growl.
 

    
“Easy, girl. I feel the same way about the mafia as you.” I put my truck in park, and turn off one of my favorite songs, “
Arms of Sorrow” by Killswitch Engage
. I give Kimber a hand signal to stay put and then slip out of the car. I glance at my watch, taking note it only took six hours to get here. All in all, it hadn’t been a bad drive.

A man about my age with mirrored sunglasses on steps out of the car, wearing a serious face. I squint my eyes against the bright sunlight, trying to place him because he looks familiar. I notice his build mirrors mine as he silently hands me the requested t-shirt.

I take it from his hand, and when I hold it up to see what it says, I stifle a laugh. A cartoon of a female horse is standing on her hind legs, and the quote below it reads,
Seriously? Don’t flatter yourself, Cowboy. I was checking out your horse.
I look at the driver, and he shrugs his shoulders and grins. “It’s one of her favorite t-shirts. It’s so worn her dad forbids her to wear it, even in the barn.”
 

“So, she’s a horse lover? Good to know.” I hold out my hand and thank him. “I appreciate you driving this out here. Hopefully, I can find her a little faster with it.”
 

When he shakes my hand, he holds onto me a little longer than necessary, not letting go. I tilt my head in question. “This is where her car was last parked,” he informs me. “Please find her and bring her back safely.”