Sounds Like Deception (Sounds Like Series Book 2) Read online

  “What’s going on?” AJ asked.

  “Bomb threat. We have to clear the floor immediately,” the agent fired back. “We’re taking you and Ms. Miller to a safe house. We need to get you out of the hotel.”

  My head spun. It happened so fast. Agents filled every corner of our room. I had no idea there were this many of them on-site.

  “Bomb?” I choked out the word.

  “Fuck,” AJ groaned. He didn’t seem as alarmed as I was.

  “I can’t leave all my stuff.” I ran back to the bedroom. My hands stretched out for my laptop and the recorder, when AJ stopped me.

  “I’ll get it. You go with the agents,” AJ replied.

  “No.” I refused to move another inch. “We’re not getting separated again. I don’t trust them. I’m not leaving here without you. I’ll just have to get blown up.”

  “Agent Hart, we’ve got to clear the floor now.”

  “Hold on,” he growled. He tossed our clothes in his bag and collected my electronics. I watched in horror as everything was shoved in. There wasn’t time to check the room for items that might be left behind.

  “Agent Hart! Now!”

  AJ threw the pack on his shoulder and pushed me ahead.

  “Come on, we’ve got to get out of here,” he urged. “Just do what they tell you to do. They’re following procedure now for this kind of thing.”

  “Who made the threat?” I asked as we jogged down the hallway. We headed for the stairs instead of the elevator.

  I saw guests roaming out of their rooms wearing robes and slippers. Everyone looked confused.

  “I have a guess,” he answered.

  We descended from the stairwell, passing one floor level after another. The agents flanked us from the front and rear. It seemed like at any second they could lunge into me and send me toppling over the side. The only thing keeping me steady was AJ’s strong grip against my palm. He had me.

  We reached the bottom landing.

  “We have an unmarked car at the back of the building. Let’s move.” One agent motioned to another.

  AJ kept me close to his side as we emerged from the hotel. It felt like we were dumped into the backseat of the SUV and the car sped away from the exit.

  I exhaled. “What in the hell is going on?”

  AJ pulled the aviators from his face. He ran his hands through his hair. “He knows you’re here. And he just pushed you out into the open. Damn it.” He slammed his fist into the seat.

  The chill spread through my body like creeks extending off a lake. I was consumed by it. It flooded my veins and seeped into my bones.

  “Shit, Syd. You’re shaking.”

  “I’m fine,” I lied.

  He called to the driver, “Where is the safe house? How far out are we?”

  “It’s inside the city, Agent Hart. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  I glanced at AJ. “That’s good, right?”

  “We’re going to get to the bottom of this. If we’re in a safe house, you’re still going to have round-the-clock surveillance. The FBI is doing what we need them to do. They are protecting you. I promised you that.”

  “But you think he did this? The stalker called in the bomb threat? But why? There’s a complete chaos back there. The hotel was going nuts.”

  “That’s my leading theory right now. He didn’t like that he didn’t have access to you. He couldn’t get on the penthouse level.”

  We turned down a side alley. Giant ferns draped over the iron balconies above our heads. The car stopped.

  “But does that mean I’m not as safe here?” I asked before the car door opened. “Should we check into another hotel?”

  “I think we’ve at least bought some time. A few days minimum. You’ll be undercover here. We’ll get ahead of him. I swear.”

  I gripped AJ’s arm. “Can’t we just leave? Let’s get on a flight. Or rent a car and drive. Maybe we’re better off in D.C. Nothing every happened to me there.” Part of me wanted to run home and crawl into my own bed. It was instinct to need to get home.

  He shook his head. “Canson is headed here. You still have to debrief. You’re needed here. You can’t leave New Orleans. And until I know it’s safe, I’m not taking you from here.”

  “Because of fucking Project Compass.”

  “It’s all a fucking spider web. I know that.”

  The agent opened the door.

  “Ms. Miller.”

  I stepped out of the car. AJ walked around the back of the SUV and met me on the sidewalk.

  I faced the faded pale blue door in front of me. The house was attached to a row of other houses. I knew once I walked through there, the FBI was going to get exactly what they wanted from me. And I didn’t have a choice.

  I exhaled. I made a decision.

  As of today, I was going to sign on for Project Compass. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s victim any longer. No more threats. I was going to be the one on the inside. I was going to take back the power I knew I deserved.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  It was impossible for us to have a private conversation once we were inside the safe house. Between the phone calls and the agents assigned to monitor the situation, AJ and I weren’t left alone in the same room. He was pulled into the logistical discussions, while I tried to make sense of what happened at the Ritz.

  It was impossible to let myself relax. It seemed as soon as I felt safe, the thin net was yanked out from underneath me. Maybe that was the plan. Keep me running. Keep me terrified.

  I wanted to tell him about Project Compass. I wanted him to know before the debrief began with Agent Canson. I was in. I would join the special elite team. I’d help the FBI track down Jack and the other monsters on the black web, but I had a list of demands.

  I wanted to control the search for my stalker. I was going to run the operation from this side of my computer screen. I realized last night how much confidence it gave me when I traced the serial number for the burner phone. I was no longer the target. I could reclaim a part of myself that the bastard had tried to steal.

  I knew AJ would support my negotiation, but I only wanted five minutes to tell him before we were locked in interviews all day.

  I tried to lie down and close my eyes. I had a massive headache. I could hear AJ talking to another agent in the kitchen. I pushed off the bed and wandered into the bathroom to look for ibuprofen or something else to take.

  The house was surprisingly stocked with every necessity. It was in much better shape than the farmhouse. I found an unopened bottle in the medicine cabinet and filled a glass full of water. I dropped the two tablets on my tongue.

  “Syd?”

  I spun around. AJ was in the doorway. I wanted to fall into his lips and kiss him. For a moment I wanted it to be just us. I wanted to pretend we were on a romantic getaway in a romantic city. The safe house was a surprise AirBNB AJ had secretly planned. That scenario was far more appealing than the reality.

  “Hi.” I smiled. “I can’t get rid of this headache.”

  “Well, this isn’t going to help. Agent Canson is here.”

  “Already? But I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “He got in a little early.”

  “Do I have to talk to him now?” I pleaded. I replaced the cap on the ibuprofen bottle.

  “I’m afraid so. He’s acting under the director’s orders.”

  My eyes dropped to the marble floor. “All right. Can you give me a minute?”

  “Sure. I’ll let him know you’re almost ready.”

  “AJ, wait.”

  His hand rested on the doorknob. “What is it?” I heard the fatigue in his voice.

  “We were in the middle of something before we were evacuated.”

  He shook his head. “Not now. We’ll have to have that conversation later.”

  “But what was it?” Maybe there was time to listen to him. I was worried about the amount of stress and pressure he was unde
r.

  “We can’t start this conversation now. You said you have something you want to tell me too.”

  “Yes. I want you to hear it first.”

  He crossed the floor, wrapping his arms to the small of my back. “How about this? We get all your debriefs taken care of today. Everything. Answer all Canson’s questions so we can kick the man out on the street. Tonight, we’ll order something from one of these French restaurants. Your choice. New Orleans has the best food. We’ll turn this place into a French bistro. I’ll light some candles. We’ll open a bottle of wine.” I was practically purring in his arms. “Then we’ll talk, Syd. We’ll tell each other everything. Absolutely every last detail. We’ll talk until the vampires in this city have to go to bed. How does that sound?”

  I smiled. “It sounds kind of amazing right now. Just the two of us? You promise?” I had the same kind of butterflies I did when he asked me out for the first time.

  “Just the two of us.”

  I slid my hands along his neck. I knew if I had that to look forward to, I could tackle anything in front of me today.

  My fingers interlaced against his skin. I looked in his black gaze. His lips brushed against mine. I knew we were about to unleash everything consuming us. The kiss was sinful. It was desperate. I clung to him as if it was the last breaths we’d take. Our tongues lashed wickedly. I couldn’t stop the moan that came out as strangled cry. I didn’t want it to end. I tried to grab a fistful of his hair as he lifted me to the bathroom counter.

  My ass wiggled backward, as I dug my heels against his waist.

  “I want you,” I whispered.

  “Not like this,” he groaned. “Too many ears out there. Too many agents.” He struggled for air the way I did. “I’m not going to put you in that position.”

  His hands roamed my body. Squeezing my breasts. Combing through my hair. Sliding under my bra and pinching my nipples. We were failing miserably at backing down.

  “I like this position,” I teased. My teeth clamped the bottom part of his earlobe.

  I felt the cold rush between us when AJ jogged to the door and locked it. He put a clothes hamper in front and turned on the shower.

  “Oh shit. You do want to fuck me.” I bit my lip.

  He unzipped his pants and they fell to his ankles.

  “I always want to fuck you, babe. Always.” He tugged my pants off my ankles.

  I hissed when he slid a finger along my slit as he dragged the silk panties to the floor. Had we been this reckless before? This wild? I didn’t know. I didn’t care. I craved him when there was danger. I thirsted for him when there was calm.

  He fisted his wide cock, and then buried it inside me.

  “Oh, AJ,” I cried. My hips tried to match his thrusts, but he was ruthless. Untamed. He pumped harder and faster.

  My ass rocked on the counter as he lifted me higher to meet his thrusts. It was pure bliss. It was the quickest way to make us both come. We were on a roller coaster headed for the fall. I clenched against him. He hilted himself as far as he could and we trembled, holding and clawing at each other with one orgasm and another.

  “Oh fuck,” he whispered in a gravelly voice in my ear. It sent shivers to my core. “I can’t believe we did that. I’m on duty, babe.”

  I giggled. “I’m not sorry.”

  He playfully smacked me on the ass. “I guess there’s nothing wrong with helping you ease your nerves before the debrief.”

  “Is that what they call that in the agency?”

  He winked. AJ stooped to collect our pants from the bathroom floor. He walked over to the shower and turned it off.

  “I’ll tell Canson you just got out of the shower.”

  “All these agents make me nervous. I need a few more minutes.” I considered the idea of hopping in the shower even though the water was already off.

  “I’ll go talk to Canson and let him know you’re getting ready. He’s not the most patient man.”

  “Thank you.”

  He dropped a rough kiss on my lips. I looked in the blackness of his eyes.

  “Tonight, we’ll talk.”

  I nodded. “Ok.”

  He closed the door and I turned toward the mirror.

  I didn’t know what to expect in the interview. I imagined it was going to be something long and grueling. Not that Agent Canson would shine a flashlight in my eyes, but the questions would be just as pointed. Trying to go back to the hijacking seemed like an impossible task right now. My mind was focused on the stalker. The man who had lured me to Louisiana. The fact that I had more adversaries in the world who were still out there was inconceivable. How had this shit happened to me?

  I brushed my teeth and reapplied a light concealer. I looked somewhat alive as I left the bathroom. My cheeks were flushed and my hair wasn’t as neat as it had been. I hoped the pounding in my head would stop. I walked into the kitchen.

  This was it. Time to get the big interview out of the way.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As I walked into the kitchen, I expected to see all the agents who had been milling about the safe house, but they only ways in the room were AJ and Canson. I was reminded most of the topics we were going to cover today were above certain security clearances.

  Agent Canson greeted me. “Ms. Miller, good to see you again.”

  “Is it?” I questioned.

  He cleared his throat. “Not under these circumstances. I was briefed about the bomb threat. I’m sorry to hear about that this morning. I’m glad everyone is safe. The team did an excellent job with the evacuation. I’m glad there were no injuries reported.”

  “Are there any updates?” I looked between him and AJ.

  “As a matter of fact, we can report there were no explosives found in the hotel,” Canson announced. “There was a thorough sweep of all the floors. The explosives team has cleared the building for re-entry. My understanding is that all of the guests have returned to their rooms.”

  “Except us,” I grumbled.

  “There was a bomb threat, Ms. Miller.”

  “It was just like our cars at the farmhouse,” I whispered. “No bomb.”

  I shook my head. AJ had been right. The bomb scare was merely a smoke screen to force me out. It had worked.

  “Any idea who made the threat?” I pressed.

  “Our agents are working on that. I can’t say much more. It’s an active investigation.”

  “But you of course want to talk to me about the on-going investigation for Flight 552.”

  “That’s a difference circumstance. You are a key witness. The key witness.”

  “And I’m not for the bomb threat?” I argued.

  I saw AJ’s eyes. He wanted me to be compliant. I wasn’t sure how to do that. I was angry. Frustrated. Maybe he should take me back to the bedroom.

  Canson glanced at AJ. “I realize Ms. Miller is upset about these situations, but I’m hoping we can have a reasonable interview.”

  “It’s not going to be a problem,” AJ replied.

  The guilt crept in. Canson was one of his co-workers. I didn’t need to make things harder for him.

  “Should we sit for a minute together before I continue the interview alone with Ms. Miller?”

  “Sydney. Please call me Sydney. Otherwise, it sounds like you’re talking about my mom.”

  Agent Canson nodded. “Fair enough.”

  We gathered at the kitchen table. I smelled coffee brewing in the coffee pot on the counter. I was too jittery to drink a cup.

  Agent Canson reached into his bag and dumped a pile of envelopes and magazines on the table.

  “Is that my mail?” I saw my name on credit card offers and donation requests. I picked through the stack of envelopes. “Why do you have my mail?” I glared at the agent. I was ready to pull back my one olive branch. He could go back to calling me Ms. Miller.

  “After the hijacking, one of our teams entered your apartment to collect evidence.”

  “And you took my mail?�
�

  He continued, “We obtained any and all communication going in and out of your residence. That includes mail routed through the United States Postal Service.” He tilted his head to the side. “I thought I’d have you look through it here and see if anything seems odd or unusual. We didn’t find anything ourselves, but you would know your mail better than anyone.”

  I pinched my lips together. “No one uses snail mail. This seems invasive. And unnecessary,” I added.

  AJ reached under the table and squeezed my thigh. I needed to back off Agent Canson. I knew I wasn’t living up to my part of the agreement. I closed my eyes and tried to picture the night we were going to have tonight. I tried to picture his expression when I told him I was going to join Project Compass. I had to get through the next few hours.

  I exhaled and thumbed through the leaflets and junk mail. There was a large square envelope buried in the mix. I plucked it from the stack.

  “Oh my God. I forgot.” I stared at the calligraphy on the front. My name was written beautifully.

  “What is it?” AJ stared at it.

  “The invitation for Becca and Travis’s wedding.” I held it up to show him.

  It was bizarre that in the middle of everything we were going through a thousand miles away Becca was finalizing flower arrangements. She was being fitted for her gown. She and Travis were arguing over the colors for the groomsmen’s shoes. She was living in the glow that surrounded brides.

  “Oh that. I think I heard something about them getting married in a few months,” he answered.

  “Wait, are you and Travis not close anymore? I guess that means you’re not a groomsmen.”

  He shook his head. “No. We kind of lost touch. What about you and Becca? I thought you two were best friends. Not a bridesmaid?”

  I didn’t want to admit how far apart we had grown. It wasn’t her fault. It had been too painful to stay connected after AJ. Everything was a reminder.

  “Texts here and there. She invited me to the bachelorette party, but I didn’t make it. I’ve seen a few pictures of the ring,” I admitted. “I know I should have been more involved.” I rose from the table and walked to the coffee pot. Maybe a cup would help with my headache. I pured a small cup and added creamer from the refrigerator.