Page 11 of Baking and Angels

Her eyebrows popped the tiniest bit, the crack in her poker face.

“Ton accent Américain est impeccable, je dois dire,” shecontinued.

Rafferty’s face ticked at the realization of what was happening. He hadn’t even realized what he had done. But yes, he could speak his native tongue clearly, and it sounded indeedlikehis native tongue.

He licked his teeth, unsure. “J’ai passé beaucoup de temps en Amérique. J’ai tendance à adopter l’accent dans lequel j’existe,” he answered. Again, it was the truth, and the truth had carried themthis far.

Satisfied, Agent Archon switched back to English. “Thank you for your cooperation,” she said, and finally left.

Agent Sophia stepped up. “If you come with me, we’ll get you outof here.”

Helena grasped Rafferty’s hand to pull him after her, and they exited into astairwell.

“Put your coat on,” Helena urged just before they went out a pair of glass doors to leave the building. She already wore hers, though it was unzipped in the front. “It started snowingagain.”

Rafferty did as he was bid, a smile starting to crack his face.Really? That is it? We are free to go? No need to prove our innocence?he thought.

He looked down at Helena’s angelic face. As long as she was safe, he was finewith that.

But it could still be a trap or trick. He couldn’t let his guarddown yet.

An unmarked, black car waited for them outside with a large, intimidating-looking driver in a formal, long black coat with a smart hat on his head. He opened the door of the car as Helena and Rafferty approached.

Agent Sophia went straight to the passenger side up front.“Next stop, the safest hotel in the city,” she chimed.

Chapter 5

At Least We HadEach Other

Rafferty slipped his long, warm fingers between Helena’s andsqueezed.

During the car ride, he felt like he lived in a bubble of tension just waiting to pop. Agent Sophia checked them in once they got to the hotel, a nice one with valets and everything. The agents produced their bags from the trunk, the ones Helena had packed when she had thought about running. The valets took them without another word. Agent Caruso, the driver, escorted them on the elevator and then off of it at the fifteenth floor. It wasn’t the top floor, but it was pretty high up. Their escort then deposited them into a suite with a couch, dining table, and a king-sized bed.

A few seconds later, Agent Sophia came in behind them and immediately jumped into explaining the amenities of the room as she flipped on the lights in a beautiful bathroom with two sinks and a decent-sized shower with two showerheads.Helena listened politely, but she moved to look at their view of the city, which was mostly dark buildings studded with lights and glowing streets where cars continued to move as if it were midday.

“Call me if there is anything else you need. I’m going to get out of your hair now so you both can get some sleep. Your dinner should be delivered shortly, and don’t worry, everything is taken care of, including the tip. Just get some rest, and I will come see you tomorrow morning. Don’t leave the room for any reason, please.” Agent Sophia moved toward the door. And as she opened it, a covered cart appeared with their dinners.

“I’ll take that,” Helena insisted, grabbing the two covered trays before Agent Sophia could. “Have a good night.”

It was a bit rude, but Agent Sophia only smiledand left.

At last, they were alone.

Helena deposited the trays on the dining table. It seemed too quiet, after all of the hectic franticness of the day.

And the day before, for that matter.

Just like that, Rafferty didn’t know what to say to the beautiful woman regarding him expectantly.

“Are you okay?” she asked first.

“I feel…” As if bidden, emotions flooded through him, zipping down his limbs and bubbling out his throat.

He laughed.

He had seen humans go mad before. This felt like how that looked as more laughter kept bubbling out of him. His eyes filled with tears as he looked up at Helena. Her surprised expression made it worse. It was just so damned funny!

“Why are you laughing?”she asked.

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