Hidden (Nicole Jones #1)(71)

‘Not for nothing, Tina, but I tried to warn you when I first got here. I told you I wasn’t the only one. I didn’t want you to get hurt.’

‘This from the man who’s holding a gun on me. A man who wanted me to steal for him before I took off again.’

‘You know I wouldn’t use the gun on you.’

I stare at him, incredulous. ‘How do I know that? It’s not as though you haven’t used it before. What about Zeke? What about Carmine?’

‘Carmine was going to kill me. I had no choice.’ He reaches over and touches my cheek.

I flinch and take a step back. He pulls his hand away and looks over at the laptop. I have not transferred the money yet.

‘Do it,’ he says softly. ‘And then I’ll leave you alone.’

‘How are you going to get away?’

‘I can stay underground, just like you.’ He pauses. ‘Just do it, Tina.’

‘What about Amelie?’

Ian grabs the laptop and thrusts it at me. ‘Make the f*cking transfer, Tina,’ he growls.

I tell myself that it’s just Tony DeMarco’s money, that it’s just a number, it’s just an account I’ve hacked into, like I used to hack into my father’s business. I took money from him, too, moved it around so he’d have to look for it. I left traces of myself because I’d wanted to get caught. Zeke found me in those traces – that’s how he knew what I could do, that’s what led him to me by the pool that day. It was another mistake. Trying to show up my father.

I take the laptop and put it on the desk. I pull up the chair and sit down in front of it. My hands are steady, as though I am not being forced to do this. Maybe I’m not. Not really. But I do know that this is the only way I’m going to get rid of him.

I am already in the account, but to transfer I need to go elsewhere.

‘You have to tell me where I’m transferring the money.’ My voice is calm; I can hardly recognize it as my own.

Ian seems to realize that I am doing what he wants, so he tells me.

‘Go sit on the bed. It might take a few more minutes,’ I say.

He goes, obedient, happy that I am finally doing what he wants. I can’t just transfer the money seamlessly from one account to the other. I have to look for where I make a wire transfer. This is what I did before, and it is not so different. I find the portal I need. I can feel Ian’s eyes on my back, but he doesn’t know the language, so while I am searching for codes, he gets distracted, picks up one of the magazines by the bed and leafs through it.

I do what I need to do, and it is only a few keystrokes from there, and then I am out, signing out of the VPN, wiping the laptop clean before I close it. Ian swings his legs over the side of the bed.

‘Done already?’

I nod and get up. ‘I think it’s time to leave.’

Ian stands and puts his arms around me, his mouth on mine, and for a brief second I feel it, what we’d had before and what we’d rediscovered. But then it’s gone. I step back, away from him, even though his hands are still at my waist and his eyes are smoky with passion.

I shake my head. ‘I can’t, Ian. It’s over. Really over.’

‘Tina—’

‘Go back to Amelie. Go back to your wife.’ I turn my back, wondering if it is the right thing to do with a man I have just spurned and who has a gun.

‘Tina.’ His tone is soft, and I feel his hand on my shoulder.

I turn, curiosity getting the better of me. I cannot read his expression, but something is going on; he wants to tell me something. I wait.

‘We have to leave as soon as we can.’

I can’t believe what he’s saying. ‘What do you mean, we?’

‘Come with me. We can get away tonight. No one will know.’

I struggle with what he’s saying. ‘What about your wife?’

‘New start.’ He stares at me, and the rage mixes with a heaviness, a sadness.

‘We had that before. Look how it turned out. And how do I know that the FBI isn’t waiting outside the door for me? That your plan to get away means they’ll take me out of here in handcuffs and you get your freedom?’

‘Tina.’ He reaches for me, and I let him put his arms around me. I slide my hands around his waist as I lift my face to his and kiss him. He responds, and I feel him grow hard as he rubs against me. For a moment I let him think that maybe I will take him to bed, but then I slip out of his embrace and back up, my arms behind me so he knows it’s over.

‘I can’t. We can’t.’

‘I’m giving you a way out.’

There is no way out, at least not with him. I shake my head. He sees it now, that I’m telling him the truth. That even if he finds me again, it will never be the same.

He hangs his head, then straightens up, picks up the duffel bag. ‘OK, Tina. Good luck.’ He starts for the door, his gait slow, as though I am going to stop him.

I don’t. He opens the door and I hold my breath, waiting for Frank Cooper or the FBI to come barging in, but no one is there. He turns and smiles at me. ‘You’ve got a head start. They’re looking for me, too. For such a small island, there are a lot of places to hide here. I don’t blame you for staying here so long. But if you want to save your ass, Tina, you have to leave. Now.’