Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(17)

Worse and worse, Cat thought. “Tagged, as in...”

“Put something on it to make it easier to track us,” Justice explained. Then to Leese, he asked, “You really think so? That’s a lot of expense and trouble, right?”

“I’m not sure cost is factoring in.” Leese’s gaze skipped to Cat. “But we can get filled in more on that in a minute.”

Cat could do no more than stare in wonder. “You know they’ll keep coming after me.”

He thumbed in a speed dial number, then put the phone to his ear. “That’s the one thing I do know.”

“You also know my stepfather hired you.”

“Stepfather? No, that’s news to me.” He lifted a finger when she started to speak again, then said into the phone, “I need to see Sahara. Yeah, today.” He glanced at a thick watch on his wrist. “Two hours, give or take. Tell her I’m bringing a guest. Yeah.”

Several times Justice sent her looks of sympathy in the rearview mirror.

Because of this Sahara person? Who was she and what did it mean to visit her?

While Leese finished his call, she curled into the seat, her arms around herself as a pervasive cold stiffened her bones and made her stomach cramp.

“Sounds good, we’ll be there.” Leese disconnected the call. “Head to Cincinnati. We’ll switch up there.”

“Switch up cars?” Justice asked.

“Yeah.”

Clearly impressed by that, Justice clarified, “I’m sticking with you?”

“For now.”

That obviously pleased him. “Got it.”

“Turn up the heat a little too, will you? Cat’s chilled.”

A near-hysterical laugh bubbled up. Chilled? She was far, far beyond chilled.

If Tesh had his way, she could end up... No. She wouldn’t think about that yet. She had to believe she still had a chance.

Worried, scared and, yes, still annoyed, she looked at Leese. “You led them to me.”

“Seems so.” Leese stripped off his coat and tucked it around her. “But now I’m going to ensure they don’t get you.” He lifted her chin. “You need to believe that.”

Oh, how she wanted to, but drumming up enthusiasm for the possibility wasn’t easy.

Leese stared into her eyes, brushed his thumb over her cheek, then shocked her silly by leaning down and putting his mouth to hers.

A rush of scalding heat chased off every shiver.

From the front seat, Justice let out a long, low whistle.

As he often did, Leese ignored his friend and current cobodyguard. Ending the kiss, he took in Cat’s expression and smiled. “Better.”

“Better?” she squeaked.

“You look a little less fatalistic.” His gaze moved over her face, her lips, her throat, before returning to her eyes. “While I have your attention, how about you explain what’s going on?”

Not like she had much choice now. Had he only kissed her to shock her out of her fear?

Apparently so, damn him. And it had worked—a little. But she couldn’t explain anything while looking at him; he affected her too much.

Slumping into the seat, her cheek resting against the cool glass of the window as she gazed out at the street, she lifted one shoulder and hit him with the truth. “I’m sorry, Leese, but you’re a dupe.”

*

HAVING ALREADY SURMISED THAT, Leese didn’t overly react. He needed answers, and staying calm was always the easiest way to get them. “I figured as much. But how about you explain the details?”

“Webb Nicholson—”

“Your dad.”

“My stepfather,” she corrected sharply. “I was five when he married my mom.”

Interesting reaction. “Go on.”

She hesitated, emotionally withdrawing. “I don’t know.”

“Cat,” he said gently. “You know plenty.”

In quick protest, she said, “Honestly, I don’t. I mean, I have my suspicions.”

“Fine. Let’s start with those.”

She shook her head. “I also have my doubts.”

“About me?”

She slanted a suspicious look his way. “Anyone can be bought.”

Not true, but convincing her of it wouldn’t be easy. “You still think I’m working against you?”

“I think it’s very easy for someone to confuse what is right and what is wrong, depending on what they’ve heard, who they heard it from, what they’re getting paid and who’s paying them. Few things are ever black-and-white.”

“Okay, let’s start with that. I haven’t heard jack shit. Your father contacted our agency and apparently said he wanted you protected. The agency assigned me. Period. The initial specifics I got from the owner and operator of the agency are that you come from wealth and you’re out on your own. That concerned your father.”

She snorted, then repeated stubbornly, “Stepfather.”

“Stepfather,” he conceded. “Through some research, I learned more about you. Recent stuff only, like your current job, hobbies, friends...that sort of thing.” Clearly he hadn’t dug that deep or he’d have known Webb Nicholson wasn’t her biological father. But given it wasn’t widely shared knowledge, he would have guessed they were close, that she considered Webb her father and he thought of her as a daughter.