Ronan was running out of options. Going toground, while quietly asking questions, had gotten him absolutelynowhere. Other than alone. Every time he closed his eyes to getsome elusive sleep, images of Payson filled his mind.
He hated himself for what he did to her.Leaving her without warning. Had she come down with his hot coffee,waiting for him to hold their drinks while he grumbled about herperky morning attitude as she unlocked the door to let them in,only to realize he wasn’t coming?
Did she hate him as much as he hated himselfright now? Could she ever forgive him? What if he couldn’t solvethis fucked up situation and couldn’t return?
Giving up for the night, he headed to thenext cockroach-infested motel he’d selected for the night. Needingto rest but knowing there was no hope of that happening anytimesoon. He’d run into dead end after dead end.
Seeing no other choice, he would have toleave a trail. Let them find him. Whoever was looking for him. Hehad some pretty strong suspicions, but not enough to take action.He needed solid evidence to prove his innocence and nail thebastards responsible.
Connor Young was likely involved, if notleading the charge. If he and his brother backed out of the deal,they may have hidden the weapons, or at least know where they went.Certainly, the mole would be out there looking for him; the molewas likely the one that placed the bug. Were they working together,Connor and the mole? CIA would be looking for him as well, thinkinghe had hidden the weapons, but Sara was hopefully covering histrail on that end. Not that even she knew where he was rightnow.
Crashing onto the rock-hard mattress, hetried to close his eyes. Letting images of Payson wash over him.The feel of her skin, soft and warm from sleep. Her long limbswrapping around him. His guided imagery shattered with the chirpfrom his drop phone. Sara. “What’s up?”
Sara’s voice was panicked, “Your girl. She’son the move; traveling to France.”
He smiled, thinking of Payson taking the tripalone. She must be holding up better than he was. “I know, she’sbeen planning the trip for a while.”
Sara’s frantic voice shattered his hope thatPayson was making the best of this nasty situation, living herlife. “She’s not safe. I’ve been keeping an eye on your family,like you asked me to do. When she disappeared suddenly, I worried.I swept her apartment and her shop right after she left.Personally. I’m not risking her safety by letting anyone else in onthis. I found three of the bugs like the one you found in yourhouse.”
Awash with panic, drenched in sweat, Ronanwas off the bed and gathering his gear in a flash. Stupid. Hehadn’t left a trail, but she had. They would think she planned tomeet him, or at least make contact; that was the best-casescenario. At worst, they were planning to nab her and use her asbait to get to him.
Sara continued, “I checked her flightinformation, and there was one ticket sold after hers. AngusMcEwan, Scottish passport. Fake; either that or this McEwan fellowdoesn’t ever travel or have any bank accounts. I’ll send an imageof his passport; I think he looks an awful lot like Peter Young.Must be Connor.”
“I’m on my way. I know where she’s going.” Hewas already out the door. “What time does her flight land atCharles de Gaul?”
“Eight minutes ago.”
Swearing, seething, he sprinted in thedirection of the nearest train station. “I’ll find her. Let me knowif you hear anything else.”
“Will do. Be careful.”
25
Payson left directly from Charles de Gaul Airportfor Provence. She’d planned to spend a few days in Paris, hopefullywith Ronan, but now she wanted to go straight to Alain’s. Parissounded a lot less fun pregnant and alone.
Jet-lagged, she tried to close her eyes tocatch a quick catnap on the train. Each time she tried, she wasfilled with dreams of Ronan. Of that wicked half smile he flashedher, knowing it would make her roll her eyes with amusement. Thatswagger when he’d walked down the dock that day, followed by theway he had been so gentle when he realized she was afraid. She’dtrusted him so completely in that moment.
Against her will, she trusted him still.Trusted him to come back to her, to not make her a single parent.It was just hard to convince her insecure side that he hadn’tditched her to return to his dream job.
Drowning in confusing thoughts, she stood upto explore the train a bit, stretch her legs. She’d have toschedule a prenatal visit as soon as she got home. What the hell.She was planning to call for birth control, now she had theopposite problem. Stupid, stupid mistake. She’d been so caught upin him that she hadn’t protected herself.
On her stroll, she passed a burly dark-hairedman. She’d seen him on the flight over. If she were feeling moreoutgoing, she would consider stopping to visit, compare notes ontheir similar routes. Although, there was a dangerous vibe to him.Something deep within her was screamingnot safe. Pretendingnot to notice him, she continued on her walk before returning toher seat.
Arriving at the station, she walked straightto the car rental desk. Surveying her surroundings, she wasrelieved to see the burly man meeting a gorgeous blond woman thatwas near her in age. The woman dove into his arms and kissed him ina rather dramatic PDA. Blushing, she looked away.
She hopped in her little Nissan rental carand plugged in the directions to Alain’s. After a long, scenicdrive, she found the well-marked drive. Covering the expansivehills, grapevines in perfect rows extended in all directions. Eachrow had neatly wintered vines covering acres of hills with just thetiniest green buds revealing the first signs of spring. Drivingdown the long gravel road, winding in and around the hills androcky outcrops, with occasional olive groves and fields of lavenderscattered across the terrain, she admired the breathtakinglandscape.
A grand, yet somehow humble estate came intoview as she approached. The cobbled driveway led to a large homeconstructed from ancient gray stone. Homey and welcoming, she feltimmediately at ease. At the hum of her engine approaching, thefront door swung open and Alain stepped out.
She’d only seen him in person once a fewyears back when they’d met at a trade fair shortly before sheopened Flotsam. They’d hit it off immediately, both drawn toclassic, meaningful antiques. He’d invited her to dinner wherethey’d talked shop for hours, and he had encouraged her to followher dream to open her shop.
He must have seen her approach and met herout front. Although spring had only just begun, there was asmattering of colors around the large wooden front door. Alain wasa handsome man in his late forties, his hair a distinguished saltand pepper, with hardly a wrinkle on his chiseled face. He was justa bit shorter than Ronan, leaner in build, but solid muscle.Despite his warm smile, there was an underlying edge to him; notfrightening, but more that he was inherently capable, fearless.
“Mon amie, it has been far too long. Iam so glad you are here.” As she exited the car, he welcomed herwhole-heartedly with a kiss on each cheek. His chocolate brown eyestwinkled as he smiled kindly. “You must be exhausted after yourlong journey. Please, let me help you with your bag and let’s getyou settled.”
She nearly broke down in tears on hearing afriendly, familiar voice. “Thank you. It has been quite a trek, butwell worth it. Your home is a work of art, so beautifully situatedin this incredible vineyard. Truly magnificent.”
“Thank you. It has been in my family forgenerations.” He swung her backpack over his shoulder and led theway into the house. “Nicolas is finishing up some business for thevineyard but will join us shortly. I did not inherit the familydesire to make wine, so I am fortunate in my husband.”
