Page 19 of Winter's Heart
“We’ll be taking care of you now,” Sabitino said, but his gaze never met Nikki’s, his eyes roving across the deserted tarmac instead.
“Come with us, Dr.Winter.We’ll take you home.I’m sure you’ll be wanting a hot shower and the comfort of your own bed,” Agent Miller added, but there was no softness, her face never showing the hint of a smile.“And you, Mr.Utsi, of course.”The woman gestured for both of them to precede her.
“Oh, good, you’re taking me to my house.I was worried I’d have to go into another safe house or something,” Nikki chatted happily with the female agent.
Jacob heard her reply that it wasn’t warranted in these circumstances, and that at least four FBI agents would stand guard outside day and night until either the trial had run its course, or they caught the hitmen.But he was only half-listening.Something wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.He should be pleased that the American government was addressing Nikki and her predicament seriously.They clearly had a vested interest in protecting her.Making sure she stayed alive to testify at this corporate court case.Why weren’t they taking her to a safe house, though?If they were having to invest the manpower to watch over her house, it would make more sense to do it where they could control everything.Jacob was sure they had their reasons, but he still worried at the thought like it was a sore tooth, all the while watching the male agent warily out of the corner of his eye, trying to decide if he could take him down if it came to a hand-to-hand fight.Probably.The guy was about Jacob’s height and weight, but Jacob would have surprise on his side.No one knew he was a trained police officer with many tools in his street fighting combat arsenal.
The agents led them to a large, black limousine and ushered them into the back seat, where yet another man sat waiting for them.Nikki slid in beside him, still chatting easily to Miller, who took a seat across from her.Jacob hurried into the car, sitting next to Miller.
Miller identified the other man in the back of the limousine as Agent Linstead, while Sabitino got into the front passenger seat.Linstead greeted Nikki with a smile, more animated than his two associates, nodding in greeting to Jacob, and shaking his hand earnestly.They were never introduced to the driver, even when Jacob cast him a curious glance.The guy was obviously another agent, with that dead-eyed stare and quiet, menacing aura surrounding him.
The half-hour trip to Nikki’s house was uneventful, and Nikki gave a small clap of glee as they drove into her driveway, happy to be home.Jacob glimpsed a cute cottage, painted dove-gray, with white trim, and a white picket fence enclosing the front garden.It was what he would’ve imagined Nikki living in.Cozy and inviting with a boho vibe.
Agent Sabitino came around from the front seat and opened the door, signaling for Jacob to exit first.Which he did, but then suddenly he found Sabitino crowding him, not allowing him to step away from the vehicle, not letting Jacob continue up the driveway.Which was understandable, maybe they needed to search the house once more to make sure it was safe before they let them in.So Jacob stood with his back to the car, watching Sabitino with one eye while he extended a hand to help Nikki alight.
It wasn’t until she tried to exit the vehicle and Agent Sabitino stepped in front of her, also blocking her path, that those small niggling doubts Jacob had been trying to ignore jangled loudly.He gripped her hand tighter and clenched his other hand into a fist, readying himself.Ready for what, he wasn’t sure.Unexpectedly, Agent Miller materialized beside Sabitino; she must’ve quietly exited the other side and moved around the rear of the vehicle more swiftly than Jacob could’ve imagined.
“Oh, just one more thing.Before you go in, we’d like you to hand over your computer and your phone, if you don’t mind, Dr.Winter,” Agent Linstead said from behind Nikki.“You too, Mr.Utsi,” he added smoothly.
Faan.He should’ve expected something like this.Although what he could’ve done about it was anybody’s guess.There were four of them, and only one of him.
“What do you mean?”Nikki stopped, one foot on the driveway and one foot still in the car, her backpack slung over one shoulder, a confused look clouding her face.“I need my computer so I can work on the case.It’s—”
Jacob pulled her all the way out of the car and then pushed her behind him, so she was jammed up against the vehicle and partly shielded by his body, interrupting whatever else she’d been about to say.These guys weren’t about to bargain with her.They were dead serious.Jacob just wished he could figure out what was going on.Were they real FBI agents?They looked the part.He berated himself for not having checked their ID badges more thoroughly.Or were they more hitmen hired by the Chinese fish company to do their dirty work on American soil?It seemed unlikely; these individuals all appeared highly trained and professional, but it couldn’t be discounted.
“What the fuck is going on?”he growled, locking his gaze on Sabitino.The agent stared back, not flinching, and Jacob saw something dark flash through the other man’s eyes.He was dangerous.The sort of man who didn’t shy away from using force when necessary—even when it wasn’t necessary.Jacob knew men like Sabitino, who liked the job because it allowed them to unleash the veiled violence they kept hidden just below the surface.Miller stood beside Sabitino, her face just as hard as her colleague’s, but there was no sign of the suppressed brutality in her.A more level-headed agent, she wouldn’t harm them, but she also wasn’t going to let them get away.
“Nothing is going on.”Linstead’s voice drifted out of the car door.Funny, Jacob hadn’t picked him as the leader of the pack, but he was making his status crystal clear now.He wished he could see Linstead’s face, try to work out what was going on in his head.“All you need to do is comply with our request, and then you can proceed safely into your house.”His tone was mild, but Jacob could hear the veiled malice in it.The driver had turned in his seat, watching the proceedings with interest, and Jacob knew he was primed to leap out of the vehicle and help Sabitino and Miller if required.
“But why do you want my computer and my phone?”Nikki asked again, struggling to keep up.Jacob pressed her harder against the car, wishing that she’d stay quiet.If things got violent, he wanted all their attention on him.And away from her.And that would not happen if she kept challenging them.Especially Sabitino, who was looking for an excuse to get rough.Jacob had been in plenty of hairy situations before.There were times for action, and then there were times for diplomacy.And possibly even capitulation, especially if it meant you lived to fight another day.This was definitely one of those times.There was no way he’d be able to defeat or outrun four trained operatives.Not with Nikki to look after as well.She needed to comply, then they’d be allowed into the house unmolested as Linstead had promised, where they could regroup and figure out what was going on.
“To keep them safe.Just like we’re going to protect you,” Linstead replied.
“Why are you doing this?Are you even real FBI agents?”Nikki spat, pushing against Jacob, trying to get to Sabitino.He could feel her practically vibrating with anger behind him.Even though he was heavier than she was, he had to use all his strength to hold her back.He could just imagine her marching right up to the glowering agent, hands on hips and flinging daggers from her eyes straight to Sabitino’s heart as she confronted him.Fann, why did she have to be so stubborn?Part of him admired her guts, standing up to four specially trained agents.But she didn’t know what she was getting herself into, and he needed to stop this before someone got hurt.
“Yes, we are, ma’am,” Sabitino replied tersely.“And we’re following orders.So hand over your hardware.Please,” he added, as an afterthought.
Why were they confiscating the computer and phones?It made no sense.Did they want to inspect them for malware?Or hidden bugs?But if that were the case, couldn’t they just send a tech guy to the house?And by taking their cells, the FBI were stopping them from communicating with the outside world.That warning voice got louder, and he broke out in a cold sweat as understanding flooded through him.That was exactly what the FBI wanted.To cut them off.But why?Sabitino took a menacing step toward Jacob, and he knew he was running out of time.He could figure out their motives later; right now, he needed to get Nikki to safety.
“Nikki, stop,” Jacob growled out of the corner of his mouth.Simultaneously, he dug in his front pocket and handed over his phone, which Miller took from his outstretched hand with a grim smile.“Give them your bag,” Jacob added, when he could feel her still hesitating.
“Your friend has the right idea,” Linstead said from inside the car, and Jacob noticed a small smirk alighting on Sabitino’s lips.The guy was anticipating having to seize the bag from Nikki using force, and he liked the idea.
“Now, Nikki.Please do as they ask,” Jacob implored.He dared not take his eyes off Sabitino to turn his head to look at her, but he hoped she heard the truth in his voice.She needed to do this.She sagged against his back, some of the tension draining out of her body, and he let out a small huff of relief.
“Fine.But I’m going to be talking to your superiors about this,” she snapped.She wriggled behind him, and he took a step forward to allow her to remove the backpack from her shoulder.She handed it over with a sullen pout, her pretty face a mask of fury.“If your boss wants me to testify at this court case, then I need my computer back as soon as possible.”
“Thank you, Dr.Winter.”It was Miller who spoke, shooting Sabitino an undecipherable look when he snatched the bag from Nikki’s hand.“And your cell as well, please.”She held out a hand and waited while Nikki grimaced, then finally dug in her jacket pocket and handed over her phone.
“Don’t‘thank you, Dr.Winter’me,” she snapped.“I don’t know what the FBI is playing at, but this is not helping.Are you even going to let me testify?”No one moved, but the stupid smirk on Sabitino’s face got a little wider, giving Nikki her answer.She turned on her heel and pushed between the two agents, marching up her driveway toward her house.Jacob hurried after her, leaving the operatives to bring up the rear, but only after they handed Nikki’s backpack and both phones in to Linstead.Without even glancing back, Nikki bent down and retrieved a spare key from underneath a pot plant and had the front door open just as the two agents made it up the small set of stairs and onto the front porch.Jacob followed her inside and was right behind her shoulder as she turned to face the FBI agents.
“Like we said,” Sabitino started.“We’ll have four agents guarding your house.Two out front, and two out back to make sure you are safeguarded.So if you need anything—”
She slammed the door in Sabitino’s face.“Yeah, right,” she shouted.“You’re not safeguarding us.You’re keeping us prisoner.”Then she kicked the wooden paneling and pivoted sharply, running straight into his chest.His arms came up around her instinctively.He wasn’t sure if it was more for protection or for comfort.She was small and slight in his arms, but as tightly tensed as a bowstring.She drew back a little so she could look up into his face.“Am I wrong?”she asked.
For a millisecond, he thought about denying it.Telling her she wasn’t now a prisoner in her own home.But she deserved the truth.
“No.”He brushed a lock of blonde hair away from her face.“I’m not sure what’s going on, but they don’t want us leaving here.And they don’t want us to contact anyone outside, either.”
