Page 34 of The Mouse and the Maestro

Jane sat on the couch looking like she’d just stepped out of the shower, her temporary roommate, Nick, beside her. They both turned to survey Blue with shock. He said the first thing he could think of.

“Get your things, you’re coming with me.”

“No, I’m not. Go away,” Jane said, frowning.

“I’m sorry, did that sound like a request? Get your things or don’t, but either way you’re coming with me.”

She shook her head. He took a step inside and closed the door, securing it behind him. He grasped her hand, hauled her off the couch, marched her into her bedroom, and closed the door, leaning on it to prevent escape.

“Someone ordered a hit on you,” he whispered. “You are in extreme danger. You need to leave now.”

She paled slightly. “Someone wants me dead?”

“No, they want you alive, but that could be worse because I can’t figure out why unless they plan to get information from you first. But the people who will respond to the ad will most likely end up killing you in the process of trying to take you in. We got lucky last night. We might not again. So gather enough stuff for a few days because we’re leaving.”

“Where are we going?”

Blue blinked at her. He hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. “For now I’m going to get you out of here and then we’ll see what Ridge wants to do with you.”

“I don’t like this,” she said.

“Neither do I, but I’m not joking around. We need to be gone from here in two minutes, so pack your things.”

Reluctantly she turned away from him, opened a few drawers and her closet, set some clothes on the bed, and began arranging them in a case. Blue saw the silk nightie she’d worn the night before in a sad little pile at the end of her bed and swallowed hard, remembering the feel and smell of her in it. She was mad, he could tell. He’d try to deal with that later. For now he needed to focus on her safety.

He followed her into the bathroom while she gathered her toiletries, or what was left of them since most of her things were still at the hotel in New York. Blue had tried to get them for her, but the hotel assured them they would ship them home to her. She took a new toothbrush from beneath the sink, and then she was ready. “What am I going to say to Nick?” she whispered, more to herself than him.

“Tell him we’re going away together,” Blue suggested.

She shook her head. “Wouldn’t work. He was privy to my emotional state when I arrived home.” She sighed and rubbed the area between her eyes. “I’m going to have to tell him a little bit of what’s going on.”

“You can’t.”

“I can, and I will. If I’m in danger, then he’s in danger. He needs to know to be careful, to keep an eye out for himself and for Emily.”

“Are you purposely contradicting everything I say?” he asked.

“Not everything is about you,” she said, bypassing him as she stalked toward the living room.

“I bet it’s about me a little,” he murmured to himself as he trotted to keep up.

“What’s going on?” Nick asked, looking duly alarmed.

“There’s been an incident. I’m in danger, and I need to go,” Jane said. “You might be in danger also, so keep an eye on Emily for me, please.”

Blue expected some sort of reaction. Instead Nick blinked at her, his face going the same shade of pale as hers. “Your dad?”

She shook her head. “Long story, I’ll tell you when it’s over.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he replied, picking her up and holding her at eye level.

“We’ll talk more later,” Jane said.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” Nick said. He squeezed her and let her go, giving Blue a look he couldn’t discern. “Anything happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

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