Carter: The Sinner Saints #1 (13 page)

“I mean, did you have another plan?” she asked, turning toward him on her heel. “Because as far as I could see it was either kiss you or be caught.”

The corners of Carter’s eyes lifted with his lips. “I’m glad you went with the more pleasant option.”

Ally turned her back on him. She tapped her fingers against the wall. Ten minutes
had
to have passed.

“When do you think Charlie is going to—” Her words were cut off by the sight of a bright pair of headlights turning the corner of the garage. The black SUV stopped right in front of them.

Ally’s heart clenched in her chest as she raised her hand to shield her eyes. She couldn’t see who was inside, and for a second she feared the worst. But Carter kicked off the wall and took a step toward the car.

A moment later the lights switched off and the doors opened. The
Wall of Meat
from the Macmillan office stepped out of the driver’s side and gave Ally a hard look. Actually, she wasn’t sure if the glower was directed at her or if the man just looked like that all the time. For all Ally knew, terrifying could just be his default setting.

“Bowie,” Carter said in greeting.

Bowie nodded as Charlie got out of the passenger side and walked around the front of the SUV.

“Miss Weaver,” she said, her jaw dropping open when she saw Ally. “You look…wow. I take it
dinner
was a raging success.”

Ally shrugged. “The reviews were mixed.”

“Captain Nemo would have enjoyed it,” Carter said, coming up behind Ally.

Ally bit into her lip to keep from laughing, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

“Was that a…joke?” Charlie’s nose crinkled as her eyes narrowed. “I mean, I didn’t get it. But it certainly sounded like a joke.”

“Carter likes to think so,” Ally said. “He says stuff like that all the time.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Charlie looked up at her boss like his body might have been taken over by an alien being. “Back me up on this, Bowie.”

Ally glanced over at the big man. He grunted and nodded.

Carter put his hand on Ally’s shoulder.

“So, what did you find, Charlie?” he said, all business again.

Charlie’s eyes flicked back and forth between Ally and Carter. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about this sudden sense of humor of yours, because that topic is a thousand times more fascinating than what I found on the drive.”

Ally stiffened as a cold sense of unease began to tremble in her chest. “What do you mean?”

Charlie looked at her with an apologetic frown. “There’s nothing on there.”

“Nothing?” Ally asked, a little too loud, her voice echoing off the pillars and cars around them. Carter’s hand squeezed her shoulder.

Charlie put her hands up. “Not
nothing
nothing. Just nothing important. Nothing that makes sense.”

“What
is
on the drive?” Carter asked. His voice was far calmer than Ally’s.

“A bunch of random things. Allied Dynamics quarterly earnings reports. The minutes from Fuller’s appropriation committee meetings. A few classified documents from the DOD. Nothing bloody. Nothing terrible.” She reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out another flash drive. “Here, I made you a copy of everything.”

“Thanks,” Carter said, slipping it into his pocket.

“Maybe you can have better luck than I did,” Charlie said. “But I couldn’t find a smoking gun.”

Ally shook her head. She raised her hands to her temples. That couldn’t be true. There had to be something that Charlie was missing. Something hidden deeper on the file that she had overlooked.

“Maybe you missed something,” Ally said. “Maybe you need to look again.”

“I’m sorry,” Charlie said, and, what was worse, she looked like she meant it. “I scoured that thing, and that’s all there is.”

Ally turned toward Carter. “Maybe someone else could take a look.”

He shook his head. “There’s nobody better than Charlie. If she says this is it, then this is it.”

“But—”

“Maybe your informant wasn’t the man you thought he was,” Bowie said, coming to Charlie’s defense. “Maybe Fuller played you.”

Ally’s shoulders stiffened into a straight line. She spun around. After all she’d been through—that they’d all been through—she wasn’t about to be spoken to like that.

“How dare you, you
wall of meat,
” she snarled at him. “A man died for that drive. I had to listen while it happened. I’ve risked my life for that information. Fuller is still trying to kill Carter and I over it. And you have the damned gall to stand there and sneer at me?”

Carter tightened his grip on her. She pulled at his hold.

“It’s all right,” Carter said. “Bowie’s one of the good guys.”

“Is he?” Ally asked, meeting Bowie’s glower. If he thought she was going to wither this time, he was sadly mistaken. She was at the end of her rope, and as far as she could tell, she had nothing left to lose. “Are you sure? Cause he sure as hell hasn’t been acting like one.”

She’d bet everything—everything—on this drive, and it hadn’t come through. There was nothing. She’d made a mistake. A huge one. And what was even worse, it didn’t just impact her. She’d dragged Carter into it too.

That was the hurt that she couldn’t get over.

The truth was, it was easier to focus on the anger Bowie was sparking inside her than deal for even a second with the disappointment and pain.

“It’s okay, Ally.” Carter’s voice was calm and steady next to her ear. He wrapped his arm around her middle, holding her tight against his chest. “No one here is out to get you.”

She struggled for half a second longer before relaxing in his embrace. She took in a deep breath. Then another.

She was still angry—furious, even—but she didn’t think she was going to fly off the handle again.

“I’m good,” she said, lifting a hand to smooth back her hair. “I’m good.”

Carter didn’t let go.

“Like hell you are,” Charlie said, her eyes wide with something that looked suspiciously like admiration. “You, Miss Weaver, are
fucking
awesome. Nobody ever talks to these guys like that. You’ve given me some ideas.”

Bowie turned his head Charlie’s way. His brow furrowed, and Ally thought she spied some of the hardness draining from his face, only to be replaced with confusion.

For a second, Ally got the feeling there was something more going on between the two…at least on Bowie’s side. She wasn’t so sure about Charlie.

And just like that, the beast seemed a little more human. He had a crush on the girl across the hall. Ally couldn’t blame the man. Charlie was pretty freaking adorable. They just seemed so…different.

“You know what,” Charlie said, cocking out her hip. “I’ll give the files to Mason in the morning. He’s got an eye for patterns and people. He might be able to pick out something I missed. I’m better with code. Nice easy, predictable code.”

“Good idea,” Carter said. “I’ll call with our next location.”

Bowie’s eyes narrowed just a fraction of an inch. “Next location?”

“There’s a chance we might have been made. I’m no longer certain that the hotel is secure.”

Just then a soft ding sounded to their right. Ally broke away from Carter’s hold and poked her head around the corner.

Twenty feet away the elevator doors opened. Standing in the center was Lucas Addams. Two men dressed in top to bottom black flanked him on either side. They glanced around the garage.

Ally pulled back as quick as she could.

“Yeah,” she said in a whisper. “We can stop wondering now. Lucas recognized us.”

Carter’s face went hard. “Is that him?”

Ally nodded. “And he’s not alone.”

Carter pulled a valet tag out of his pocket and handed it to Bowie. “The Lotus is out front. Take Charlie upstairs and get her out of here.”

Bowie nodded. He didn’t waste a moment before grasping Charlie’s arm and swooping her through the stairwell door.

Carter pushed Ally toward the still running SUV. She climbed through the driver’s side and slid over to the passenger’s seat. Carter didn’t wait until she was all the way over before he slammed his door and hit the gas. The engine revved and the SUV sped forward.

Lucas lifted his head and looked straight through the front window. Ally watched as the two men at his side stepped out of the elevator and started to pull the guns at their sides.

Carter put a hand on the back of her head and forced her down. He turned the car hard around the corner that led to the outside world. Ally tried to brace herself but crashed against the side of the door. She waited for the gunshots, but they didn’t come.

Once they were out on the street, Carter’s hand fell away. Ally righted herself and struggled to catch her breath.

“Well, Lucas definitely saw us that time,” she said. “You didn’t
have
to drive right past him, you know.”

“I did it so Charlie and Bowie, could have time to escape safely. If Lucas is busy chasing us he’s not going to concern himself with who we were talking to.”

Ally nodded. It made sense. She didn’t want anything to happen to Charlie either.

“Are they following us?” she asked, twisting around in her seat to peer out the large back window.

“Not yet. But they will be soon,” he said. She heard the frustration in his voice. “We can’t go to another hotel. That’s where he’ll check first.”

“So where are we going to go?”

Carter paused for a second.

“I’m not sure,” he said. Ally could tell it was a difficult admission for him to make. “We can’t go to anyone they can trace us to. No family. No friends.”

She sat up straight. “Someone Lucas can’t trace our connection to?”

“Right.”

Ally’s shoulders started to relax as she sat back in her seat.

“Get on the Highway 80 headed west.” A smile spread across Ally’s face. “I know where we’re going.”

Chapter Eleven

Carter followed close behind Ally as she walked up the worn wooden steps of the old farmhouse. He glanced behind him one last time, just to be certain that no one had followed them, but there was nothing but darkness surrounding the long straight rural road that they had travelled down. Not a single pair of headlights. Not even the faint lights from a distant neighbor’s house.

Wherever Ally had brought him, it was about as close to the middle of nowhere as he could imagine. If Carter had shaken off Lucas’ tail—and he was pretty sure—it was very unlikely that the man would think to look for them all the way out here.

The railing beneath his hand was weathered smooth with age but rock solid. The same could be said of the house. It had to be at least a century old, but it had obviously been in caring hands all that time.

The green and yellow paint was fresh and vibrant. The columns and trim adorning the porch were all in good repair. Not a single board so much as squeaked as he stepped up to the door.

Behind the curtain-covered windows, Carter could make out the lights from the television flickering and flashing. His stomach tightened as Ally lifted her hand and knocked.

How many times had he knocked on doors in hostile territory, not knowing what he would find when they were opened? His hand twitched, ready to go for the weapon at his hip if need be.

But this was a different situation, Carter reminded himself. Ally had assured him they’d be welcome here, no questions asked, and, most importantly with no trail leading to their door.

A moment later, the light behind the eyehole faded, and a second after, the door swung open.

A large, middle-aged woman stood behind the screen. Her eyes widened in surprise to see Ally standing in formal attire on her porch, but a welcoming smile spread underneath them.

Carter’s hand instantly relaxed.

“Ally?” The woman turned around, and shouted inside the house. “Ramon, Ally Weaver is here.”

“Hello, Sofia,” Ally said. “I’m really sorry to show up this late.”

The woman shook her head. “No apologies needed. You know you are welcome here anytime. Please, come in.” She opened the screen for them.

“Thank you,” Ally said as they stepped through the door.

Carter stepped into the hallway and felt every eye turn his way. A man had come down the stairs and stopped at the bottom stop. A teenage boy was a room over, doing homework in front of a pile of books. Another boy, who looked to be a few years younger, was stretched out on the floor of the living room playing video games.

Carter lifted his hand. “Hello.”

“Sofia. Ramon. This is a good friend of mine, Carter Macmillan,” Ally said. “Carter, meet Sofia and Ramon Garcia.”

Sofia put out her hand, and gave him an assessing look. She must have liked what she saw, because she didn’t make any effort to hide her approval. “Any friend of Ally’s is welcome in our house. Especially, such a handsome one.”

Carter shook the woman’s hand, smiling even as his confusion grew. Who were these people to Ally? She obviously knew them well, but she swore no one would be able to track them here.

Sofia’s husband came up behind her and greeted him next. “And these are our sons, Juan and Guillermo.”

“A pleasure,” Carter said.

Ally leaned in toward Sofia. “Is that Juan? He must have grown a foot since I’ve seen him last.”

“I know,” Sofia said. “You should see how he eats to get that way. But please, come into the living room. I doubt you came all the way out here just to check in on the boys.”

Sofia Garcia shut off the television and shooed Guillermo out of the room. “Please sit down,” she said.

Carter sat down on the couch next to Ally. The Garcias sat down in the chairs next to them.

“So what brings you out here?” Ramon asked. “And dressed so nice?”

“I wish I didn’t have to do this to you, but I wasn’t sure where else to go,” Ally started.

Carter listened as she gave a brief explanation of what had happened with Congressman Fuller. He thought for a second about stopping her. He didn’t know these people. He had no idea if they could be trusted.

But Ally trusted them.

And he trusted her. That would have to be enough.

The Garcias looked at each other for a long second after Ally had told her story. Then they both nodded.

“Of course, you can stay here,” Sofia said. “As long as you need.”

“We converted the old barn into a separate unit for when Sofia’s family comes to visit,” Ramon said, turning to Carter. “I can’t stand having all of them in the house. But you’re welcome to it.”

Carter’s brows pulled together as he leaned forward. “That’s very kind of you, but I can’t help but wondering why you would be willing to put yourself in danger for us.”

Sofia smiled. “We would do anything for Ally. We owe her more than we can ever repay.”

Carter looked over at Ally. She shook her head.

“That might be overstating a little.”

“Not at all,” Ramon Garcia said. “Two years ago, when I was working for the power company, I discovered they were dumping dangerous chemicals into the waterways. I contacted Ally to blow the whistle, and she kept my identity secret. Even when it ended up in court and the judge ordered Ally to give up her sources, she still kept my identity secret. For that we are forever grateful. Had the company found out I was the one who talked, we would have lost everything—my job, my home, everything.”

“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she said.

“Don’t listen to her,” Sofia said. “The judge sent her to jail for contempt for sixty days. I can only hope that giving you a place to stay can go a little way toward paying the debt of gratitude we owe her.”

Carter looked over at Ally. He had no idea. It seemed his little Ally was full of surprises.

“Thank you,” she said, standing up from the couch. “You’ll hardly even know we’re here.”

“Yes, thank you,” Carter said.

“Our pleasure,” Sofia said, and she sent Ramon to get the keys to the barn.

***

“I didn’t know about the contempt charges,” Carter said as soon as they were alone in the barn.

Calling it a barn seemed wrong. The outside of the place might have been red and rustic, but the inside was as modern as any house. There was a fully stocked kitchen, a living space with an entertainment center and a hayloft that had been converted into a bedroom. The place was so beautiful that Ally almost didn’t want to go outside again.

That was probably what Ramon had been hoping that Sofia’s parents would think when they saw the place too.

“That surprises me,” she said. She kicked off her high heels before turning around to face him. “It had to be there in all the dirt Charlie pulled up on me.”

“Oh I’m sure it was,” he said, taking a step toward her. There was a gleam in his eye that Ally couldn’t quite read and that she definitely didn’t quite trust. “But it looks like she kept it to herself. I’m starting to think you’re something of a hero to her. She was probably afraid I’d treat you differently if I knew you had a criminal record.”

“Would you have?” Ally asked, lifting her chin.

“Not now that I know the story,” he said. “Did you really spend sixty days in jail?”

She waved her hand. “It was only two months,” she said.

“That’s a long time,” he said.

“Longest two months of my life,” Ally said with a joking smile.

Carter didn’t laugh.

“Not everyone would have served the full time, you know,” he said. “Most people would have caved.”

Ally shook her head. “No, they wouldn’t have. There have been dozens of journalists that have spent more time in jail for less.”

“Why do you feel the need to minimize everything you do?” he asked, tilting his head.

“I don’t,” she said. “I just don’t do anything particularly extraordinary. Not like you, Mr. Special Forces. I’m just a journalist.”

“No, you’re a hell of a lot more than that,” he said. “And I’m sure the Garcias would agree with me.”

Ally was damned sure that the Garcias had never looked at her the way Carter was looking at her now. It felt like the temperature in the room had jumped a good twenty degrees.

“I was just doing my job,” she said. Hadn’t he said the same to her once?

“Ramon and Sofia are lucky to have you,” he said.

Now she knew he had to be joking. “Yeah. They’re crazy lucky to have two fugitives hiding out in their backyard. You’ve got a strange idea of lucky.”

“
Persons of Interest
,” he corrected her.

Ally laughed in earnest. She leaned against the arm of the couch. He still hadn’t moved more than a few steps from the door. It was like he was content just to watch her.

No, it was more than that, Ally realized. He was studying her.

Well, as long as he was trying to figure her out, she figured it wouldn’t hurt if she tried to do the same to him.

“So, tell me,” she said, propping her arms straight by her side and leaning back. “Why did Charlie say you weren’t funny?”

“Because I’m not,” he said, his voice deadpan. “At least not around anyone else. You seem to bring out a lot in me that no one else does.”

Ally tilted her head. “Is that a compliment?”

“It’s a confession.” His eyes turned darker, and Ally felt her cheeks start to warm.

She stood up from the couch.

Carter moved across the room toward her. Something had changed. The mood was different in the room.

It was the kiss. It had to be. This was the first time they’d been alone since it happened.

The drive out here in the car didn’t count. They’d been too concerned with getting away from Lucas and staying alive to indulge in longing-filled gazes.

And Carter had been concerned, but still he’d trusted her. He’d come out to the Garcias’ house on nothing more than her word. He didn’t make any phone calls, didn’t double check with his team. He’d just believed in her.

He wouldn’t have done that yesterday. Hell, she wasn’t even sure if he would have believed her three hours ago.

But he’d done it tonight. Something had changed.

And Ally wasn’t sure it was because of the rousing speech she’d given him at dinner.

Not with the hungry gleam that was currently shining in his eyes.

Carter moved at a slow steady pace across the room, taking his time. The picture of a giant cat stalking through the tall grasses of the Savanna flashed in Ally’s mind.

So if Carter was a lion, what did that make her?

Someone that needed to back the hell up, that’s what.

Ally moved into the kitchen, and started opening cupboard doors. Taking inventory was as good a distraction as any.

“Looks like this place has all the essential hardware,” she said, closing the pantry door. “We’ll have to make a quick run into town for groceries tomorrow, but other than that, we can hole up here as long as we need to.”

“Sounds good.” Carter was close behind her, his voice practically brushing past her ear. Ally knew that if she spun around he would be right there, maybe just a couple of feet away. And if she took a step toward him she could wrap her arms around him again and…

Instead, Ally took a step to the side, and headed into the living room.

There was even a little computer desk pushed into the space between the back of the couch and the beginning of the kitchen.

She should check out what Charlie had found on the drive. That’s what she should do. And she should start right away.

It would only be fair after all the hard work that Charlie had done for her. And that it would eat up at least a couple of hours alone with Carter…well, that was just an added benefit.

She turned around to ask Carter for the flash drive.

But he was right behind her again. Just inches away this time. So close that she could reach out and touch his chest if she wanted to. Push her hand under the material of his jacket and feel the steady pounding of his heart.

Funny how much she wanted to feel that again. How bright that simple desire burned inside her.

Yeah, she needed a distraction, and she needed it now.

She opened her mouth to ask for the drive, but he spoke first.

“Why are you running from me?”

“I’m not—”

He slid his hand around hers, interlacing their fingers, but made no other move. He didn’t pull her close, or wrap his hand around her nape again. None of the things that her body was screaming for.

“Yes, you are,” he said. “Why?”

Ally glanced down at the floor, but when she looked up again his gaze hadn’t shifted. He was still there, nothing but patience and desire in his eyes. Damn but that was a potent combo.

“I never thanked you for saving my life,” she said finally.