Page 31 of Trusting Laurence
Finn:Had a very interesting visit with my cousin. The leak is quite substantial, and I’m not sure how we’re going to fix it. I don’t think plumber’s tape is going to tape this one up, boss man. The situation is quite urgent now. Please advise.
“For fuck sake.” Laurence hauled back and was about to set his phone flying when he caught sight of Tahlia staring at him, her eyes huge. “Shit, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I ...” His words stumbled to a halt. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He was hugely relieved that his man was safe, but if Finn was worried, it meant nothing good.
Very little phased the man. True to his southern nature, his agent was probably one of the most laidback men he knew. It was probably what made him the exceptional agent he was. He was calm, patient, and quick-thinking. And his solve rate on cases reflected it.
Larry really didn’t want to leave. However, he couldn’t very well invite Finn over for a debrief in her home. The information was sensitive, classified. Besides, he didn’t want to drag her any further into this mess than she already was. As a thought struck him, he moved the curtain and searched the street below.
His heart sank when he noticed the battered sedan parked a little way down. They were persistent, he’d give them that. It seemed he was going to have to make his presence known again. Hopefully, this time, he’d be able to convey a message too. He needed them to understand he wouldn’t tolerate them intimidating Tahlia.
He knew what he had to do; he just didn’t want to. She’d had so much fear and anxiety in her life already. She was finally coming out on the other side of it, and he didn’t want to be the one to send her into a downward spiral back to that dark place, but he needed to drive home his argument for her going into witness protection.
“Sweetheart, can you come here a minute?”
Slowly, Tahlia rose from the sofa, reluctance stamped all over her. Her body language screamed anxiety and discomfort. “What is it, Laurence? Is it bad news?”
He waited for her get to him, slipping an arm around her shoulders before he answered her. “Unfortunately, that would be an affirmative on multiple fronts.”
A frown marred her smooth forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Firstly, the message I received is not good news, and it means I’m going to have to leave, even though I don’t want to. Secondly, we have a situation outside.” He shifted Tahlia to stand in front of him at the window and pointed down into the street. “Do you see that rather beat-up dark green sedan parked by the curb?”
She was silent a moment and then replied, “Yes, I see it.”
Putting a gentle hand on her arm, Larry gave it a squeeze. “It’s not the first time it’s been parked out there. They’ve been watching the house, monitoring your movements, and probably reporting to whomever is paying them.”
Her small frame jerked under his hand. She swung around to face him, and he had to step back to avoid an elbow to the chest. “What do you mean, they’re watching me? Who are they? Why are they watching me?”
“The message that came in a few minutes ago will hopefully shed some light on all of this. They” — he indicated the car — “are smalltime hoodlums always on the lookout to earn easy money. What worries me is, who are they working for?”
Larry gathered Tahlia’s stiff frame close as he tangled a hand in her loose tresses. He tugged gently so she tipped her head back to look up at him. She stood quietly in his arms and stared into his eyes, as if searching for the answers he didn’t yet have.
He laid his lips on hers with a kiss that had her pressing closer. She moaned into his mouth, her fingers curling into his shirt tightly. Despite how she responded though, he could almost taste her fear as he kissed her. And the thought clawed at his heart. The last thing he wanted was to be the source of her distress, but he desperately needed her to understand the gravity of the situation at hand.
If this was what it took to get her under protection, then he’d deal with his conscience later.
With great reluctance, he broke off the kiss. “Lia, I need to go meet with my agent, but I hate leaving you here on your own. I’ll order a vehicle on the house. You need to stay inside. Don’t go out, especially on your own. If you want, I can come back later when I’m done?”
“I’d like that very much,” she replied.
Larry walked to the door, stopping short of opening it. “Promise me you’ll stay here. I need to know you’re safe while I’m gone.”
Tahlia nodded.
“The words, sweetheart. I need to hear the words.”
An obstinate look crossed her expressive face before going blank again. She sighed, then said, “I promise.”
He leaned forward, and just before his lips touched hers, he replied, “Thank you, baby. I appreciate it.” He closed the tiny distance and kissed her, long and deep. Reluctantly, Larry drew back. “I have to go. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Be careful, stay safe.”
With one last smile, Larry waited for her to close the door and lock it. Then he walked away. It felt like he was leaving his heart behind in the suite. He needed to shake the feeling off and get his head in the game. There was too much riding on this for him to be distracted.
On the ground floor, he went looking for Mrs. Wilson. He found her in the kitchen with a cup of tea and a book.
“Good evening, ma’am.”
“Oh, hello dear. Can I get you a cup of tea?”
