Page 76 of Matteo

Chapter 22

Rain

Three days later…

I could still see Matteo catching the gun I’d thrown at him, the one I’d found tucked away and out of sight. And then I could see a bullet piercing the man who looked exactly like him, blooding spraying from his shoulder, every time I closed my eyes and thought too hard about it.

Now here I was, on the run with him but not exactly. The only thing people knew was that I was off on an extended vacation.

And Nora was covering for me with my family. We were just thirty minutes from the border, with our destination being North Vancouver.

I could run the Siren from anywhere concerning any building issues, but my own personal clients knew I was out of town at the moment.

Turning off the shower to the hotel room we were staying in, I sighed because it truly felt like I was on some sort of vacation. It’d been just that long since I’d last had one.

Wrapping the robe around me, I stepped out into the empty bedroom. I’d gotten my own room and had reserved one for Matteo across the hall. We’d had to keep a low profile so both rooms were in my name.

Getting dressed in the Walmart dress I’d bought the day after nearly being killed; I checked my reflection in the mirror.

I could make anything work with some accessories. I grinned at my reflection before slipping on a pair of ballet flats, I’d found at T.J. Maxx.

Opening the door, I snatched the key card to my room. I looked both ways down the hall and found nothing but an eerie quiet.

Knocking quietly on Matteo’s door, I heard the volume on the television turn down. “It’s me,” I whispered sure he could hear me.

They can hear you,I thought.

Matteo opened the door halfway, staring me down. “Everything okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah…mmm, I was thinking there’s a dive bar not too far from here…I wanted to go.”

Matteo’s hungry gaze raked over my body, and my nipples immediately turned to diamonds.

“I could go for a beer…” He nodded. “But you do remember I’m one of America’s most wanted right?”

“Boy, I bought you a damned ball cap…be right back,” I turned and spun away on my heels.

Sliding the key card over the lock pad, I re-entered my room and grabbed the dark Seattle Mariner’s cap I randomly found while in T.J. Maxx and dashed back out. He was still waiting, in a dark T-shirt and jeans. I plopped it on his head.

“Perfect, you’re in disguise,” I told him.

“Rain Ellis-Allan, don’t go falling in love with me,” he whispered and I got that feeling.

That one where that other part of him was watching, and ready to finish what we’d started three days ago.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.” I assured him flashing a smile over my shoulder as I’d already started for the side staircase. “Come on, we need the fresh air.”

Taking two flights of steps down the cool night air hit our skin. We were just days away from stepping into summer and the crickets were chirping. As we made our way down the sidewalk away from the small hotel, the air became filled with the melody of steel drums. The Bahama Mama was kicking on a Friday night, and even though it was a little ways down the sidewalk, the neon sign of a dancing pineapple was flickering. Beside me, Matteo eased the brim of his hat down, and it cast a shadow over his features. “You better not get me caught, Stizzy.”

“I’ve run with more criminals than I can count on one finger,” I nudged him playfully. “Don’t worry Boy Scout, I’ll protect you.”

“Starting to sound like you care what happens to me,” he murmured.

“Well, you’ve quasi kidnapped me, and explained I could be used in some weird ass breeding experiment,” I raised a brow just as we stepped onto the premises of the bar. “I need liquor and since doing blow is out of the entire fucking question lately…”

Matteo let out a heavy sigh as he opened the door for me, but I looked over my shoulder and caught him staring at my ass.

Typical man, I shook my head.

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