Page 27 of His Sweet Torment
“He’s a great guy.” Padme felt a shared kinship with this woman because of her link to Enver.
Lisa nodded. “He is. Forgive me, Padme, but I don’t even think you know just how great a guy he is.”
Padme wasn’t stung by the comment. “I know. Believe it or not, the thing I’m most looking forward to is to get to know him without any of this crap hanging over us.”
Lisa nodded, her eyes sympathetic. “That’s the hope once we get you to the location. Padme, I’ve reached out to Arlo Forrester on Enver’s behalf, and so he knows what the situation is. We agreed that between Enver’s men and Arlo’s security team, we can protect your mother, Harpa and Cosima, and your partner, Dale, if necessary. I will be your protection until we can get you out of the country.”
“You don’t mind the babysitting job?”
Lisa grinned. “Did you?”
Padme laughed. “No, but seeing you here today…I just realize that all those years training to be an Agent were, if not wasted, but I failed to see that it wasn’tme. Which is scary because I don’t know what else is.”
“You’ll find your path and listen…you took three bullets for Enver – was that all because you love him, or because your training kicked in?”
Padme considered and had to concede. “Both.”
“See? So, don’t be down on yourself. You’re what, twenty-eight? All due respect, but you’re a baby. Plenty of time to find your calling.”
Padme smiled at her, gratefully. “I kind of have a girl crush on you right now.”
Lisa laughed. “Well, I’m flattered. Look, let’s get back to the apartment. I’ll do a sweep of anything that might have been tampered with.”
Padme blinked. “Were you the one who drugged my orange juice?”
Lisa smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. I needed to get you to a neutral place where Ingles couldn’t get in so we could deliver the last message. Until you knew where Enver was, he didn’t think you’d trust me to help you.”
“I wouldn’t have. I’m vaguely embarrassed you know about the lemon tattoo.”
Lisa hitched up her top and showed Padme a tattoo of Dumbo. “Courtesy of a bottle of tequila and a bad idea. So, we’re even.”
Padme laughed. God, she missed laughing; the last few months had been so stressful, painful with everyone walking on egg shells around her.
“You mentioned Dale…does he know about you?”
Lisa shook her head. “And that’s important – no-one can know, Pad. I know it will be painful, but I chose Arlo because he has the resources and money to fend off any attack. Dale Fortuna is a good guy but no-one, not even your mother, can know that you’re leaving the country.”
“Okay.” Padme let out a long breath and Lisa studied her.
“If you’re wondering if Enver is worth it, I can tell you – he is. He adores you, he loves you totally. When you were shot, and we had to get him away, it took me and some huge guys to wrestle him onto a private jet. All he wanted was to be with you. We had to sedate him in the end.”
“Really?”
Lisa nodded. “His language when he woke up was…colorful. We finally got through to him when we got the news you were out of danger. It would have been dangerous for both of you if he’d come back to Seattle.”
Padme nodded. “I see that, and I’m glad he stayed away. It’s easy to say now but the last few months…I’ve never known such pain, physically and emotionally.”
Lisa put a hand on her arm. “You’ll be together soon. Come on, let’s go back to your apartment.”
It was two days later when Lisa came to find Padme at the bookstore. “Cn you get off now? I need to talk to you.”
Padme nodded. “I’ll just see if Beth can spare me.”
In five minutes, they were walking down the block to a coffeehouse, not the same one she had met Ingles, but a more private, secluded one down an alleyway. They were the only customers, and so Lisa kept her voice low and careful.
“Pad, it’s a go. We’re going to be extracting you on Friday.” She flicked her eyes around the room. “This place is a cover. You’ll come down here after your shift at the bookstore, grab a coffee and then use the bathroom. We’ll get you out from there. A decoy will be sent from here to trace your usual path back to your Mom’s place.”
Padme, eyes wide, nodded. “Good…god, this is so quick.”
