Page 100 of Shadow

The last thirty-six hours had been a bit of a whirlwind, starting with Ripley finding her in her tent after the frantic call from Fiona.

“I need to talk to you, baby girl.”

“That doesn’t sound good. What’s up?”

“Peter and Lance think I should get out of town, and Samuel could use my help in London.”

Her throat grew tight at the thought of him leaving town again.

“What are you saying?”

He dragged a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Leaving you doesn’t feel like an option anymore. But they have a point. If I’m not here, Brian backs off of Fiona—if he’s using her—and comes after me directly.”

“Will you be safe?”

He blew out a long breath. “I’m skilled. Samuel is skilled. I have no reason to think I won’t be.”

“But?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, there’s a but. I’m skilled, but I don’t have the resources I used to have access to, so I’m relying completely on skills and no backup. Unless I can reach out to a couple of old colleagues in London for help.”

“Samuel sounds like backup.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to talk me into going.”

Olivia stood even though the top of the tent brushed her head. “I’m trying to talk you into doing whatever we have to in order to put this behind us. What if I come with you?”

“Out of the question.”

She huffed. “Why?”

“I’m not putting you in any more danger than I already have.”

Olivia sighed. “Can’t you… make it look like I’m going to a convention or something and just secretly take me with you?”

Ripley laughed. “You’ve been watching too many spy movies.”

“I’m serious, Ripley. I don’t like the idea of being here on my own. What if Brian’s protection team is dirty, too, and they do something to me?”

“I would put Peter’s team on you instead.” He pulled her close. “Baby, I don’t want to leave. And if you tell me not to, I won’t. We can solve this from here. But if I go, Peter and Michael have some ideas for laying a trap for Fiona.”

“If Peter and his team are focused on setting a trap, I’ll be a distraction. Let me come with you.”

He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tighter.

“Let me see what I can arrange.”

And the next thing she knew, they were on their way to London.

Now, they piled into a limo that took them to a hotel where they checked into a suite on the top floor under fake names. In the living area, Samuel stood tall with his hands behind his back.

“I should go take a shower and wash away the travel grime,” Olivia said when she sensed he wanted to talk to Ripley alone.

Ripley squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek. “OK, baby girl. Get dressed in something nice. I’m going to take you out for a nice dinner before Samuel and I get into his business here.”

Olivia loved the idea of going out with Ripley. It wasn’t something they had done a lot of. In Vegas, they got to go to the pool and out for a couple of meals, but then everything had been upended with the revelation that someone wanted to hurt Ripley.

Her heart constricted as she got into the shower. The thought of someone wanting him hurt or dead was unbearable, and tears formed in her eyes as water pelted her skin. Ripley had gone on hundreds of missions. What were the odds that this wouldn’t be the only time someone came after him? He had to have made a lot of enemies in his time.

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