Page 80 of Close Pursuit

“Good question. I doubt Uncle Charlie sent his goons after us. He thinks he’s got me in the bag for now.”

“What about the FSB?” she ventured to ask.

He replied thoughtfully, “I don’t think so. They just did me a big favor and likely expect to collect on it, soon. Why would they kill me when they can use me, instead?”

She said soberly, “I happen to think getting us that flight was worth it. Who knows what rebels or bandits we would’ve run into and how much longer we would’ve survived.”

Alex just shrugged.

Sister Mary Harris piped up, “I will add you to my special prayer list, Alex.”

“The one you keep for really bad sinners?” he asked wryly.

“No, young man. The one I keep for heroes in danger,” she replied tartly.

Katie picked up the thread of the conversation once more. “So, if it wasn’t the CIA and it wasn’t the FSB, whowasthat?”

“Good question,” Alex ground out. He threw her a warning look indicating he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Probably didn’t want to air his dirty laundry in front of the nun and end up on her really bad sinner’s list.

She subsided, worried. How much danger were she and Dawn in as long as they stayed with him? No way was she dumping the infant on the foster care system. Although, she didn’t understand Dawn’s legal status at all. She was afraid to ask questions about it for fear of the answers she’d get. But sooner or later, she would have to face all of that.

If Alex’s enemies were this aggressive, she probably ought to get Dawn away from him. Problem was, he seemed so capable of protecting her and the baby. Was it better—safer—for them to stay or go? Her head said to go, but her heart shouted at her to stay.

The BMW pulled up in front of a pretty stone church with a big, walled compound beside it.

They escorted the nun inside, Alex carrying her overnight bag and Katie cradling Dawn, who’d blissfully slept through the car chase. They reached the cloistered portion of the convent and Sister Mary Harris took her bag from Alex.

“Sister, could you wait for a moment while Katie and I have a private word?”

“Of course, Alex.”

He took Dawn out of her arms and passed her to the nun, then took Katie’s arm and led her off a little ways down the stone hallway.

“Is this the part where you make me mad?” she murmured.

“In light of that SUV, this will be a different conversation than I was planning.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Katie, what do you think of leaving Dawn with Sister Mary Harris, just for a day or two, while we figure out who was chasing us?”

“We need to hide Dawn?” she squeaked.Crap! Just how dangerous were his enemies, anyway?“Why don’t I just take her home to Pennsylvania right now?”

He exhaled hard. “You and Dawn have been seen with me. You’ll be perceived as soft spots in my armor and exploited as such. I don’t think either of you will be safe if you go home.”

“I don’t think I’ve mentioned my dad became a cop after he retired from the Green Berets. I’ll stay with him and my mom.”

“Even he won’t cut it against these guys. They’ll come at you with a team of thugs or military operatives.”

“Whowill?”

“Not here. Not now. Besides, we’re talking about Dawn.”

“After you send her away, will you do the same to me?”

Chagrin passed across his face. Hewasplanning to get rid of her!

“I wish I could. But the truth is you’re probably safer with me than anywhere else. I know my enemy’s tactics and have been thwarting them for a long time.”

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