Page 41 of Call Sign: Thunder
“Can’t you guys at least sit in the front with the driver so Zach and I can have some privacy?” she asked.
The guards remained silent. It was Zach who answered her.
“I asked them to sit back here with us. They have some information that we both need to know.”
“Unless it’s saying their goodbyes, I don’t want to hear it. I promised you I wouldn’t repeat any of the dangerous things I’d been doing before, like drinking, and I haven’t. I go to two therapy sessions a week and have really been working hard. I resent being watched like I’m a child.”
Instead of immediately taking her side as she’d expected, Zach instead reached out and pulled her into his lap, which at least helped alleviate some of her annoyance.
As the limo pulled out into the regional airport’s busy holiday traffic, a sense of calm washed over her as his arm’s enveloped her in his strength and sexy scent. It was like coming home. Unfortunately, the feeling only lasted a few seconds.
“These guards aren’t here as babysitters, Allie. Your father and I didn’t want to scare you until we had more information.” He paused, yet his words and concerned look shattered her calm before he continued. “Two nights ago the Colombian police confirmed that a band of thugs broke into the Bogota jail where the one remaining Blanco brother was being imprisoned awaiting his trial. There was a gun fight but… Miguel Blanco escaped. There is no reason…”
Allison watched as Zach’s mouth kept moving. Her brain knew he was still talking, but her ears couldn’t hear him over the ringing from the rising panic the terrifying news caused.
One of the crime brothers responsible for her nightmare in Colombia was now free. He was rich. Powerful. Dangerous. And no doubt furious with the people responsible for the death of his brothers and utter destruction of his entire family’s crime syndicate.
Her heart thumped hard against her rib cage at the realization her kidnapping nightmare wasn’t over yet after all.
Zach’s arms hugged her tighter, pulling her against his chest as he stroked her hair softly. Allison’s mind raced, envisioning all of the horrible things that Miguel Blanco could do to her if he got his hands on her until she was gasping for air through a panic attack.
“Hey… I promise you, nothing is going to happen to you, Allie. Not on my watch. And your father is bringing in additional fire power. Even though we doubt that it’s you he holds responsible for the death of his brothers, I promise you, we won’t stop tracking that asshole down until he’s either dead or back in custody.”
Zach’s reassurance should have helped, but memories of being snatched off the streets of Bogota made it impossible to truly calm down. As she replayed Zach’s words in her head, she latched on to his use of the wordwe. He’d been colluding with her father behind her back, the two men making decisions on how to control her life together.
She honestly didn’t know how she felt about that.
Allie finally found her voice. “Why did you wait so long to tell me?”
“We didn’t want to worry you until we knew more about what was happening. And then I decided it would be best to wait until I got here to fill you in… when you’d know I was here for you.” He patted his coat near his shoulder before adding. “Like your bodyguards, I’m armed and ready to protect you. And look at the bright side. At least now we have a good reason to stay in and not go skiing every day,” Zach teased with a wink.
His smile broke through her panic helping her catch her breath again. For the rest of the drive home she silently listened to Zach and the guards, Brian and Charlie, talking through the safety measures they’d already started implementing since getting the news from the Colombian government. Zach seemed to take charge of the additional plans for how they were going to make sure Allie was kept safe.
Allison realized how lucky she was to have Zach in her life… protecting her all over again, arriving exactly when she needed him the most.
As terrifying as the news of Blanco’s escape is, I know Zach will keep me safe.
Chapter Seventeen
ZACH
Senator Benson was waiting on the front porch as the limousine pulled up in front of yet another mansion. This one was a chalet that looked like it belonged in the mountains of Switzerland. Multiple cars and SUV’s lined the carport while twinkling Christmas lights could be seen in each of the dozen tall windows facing the front yard.
Zach pushed down the wave of inadequacy he felt each time he was faced with evidence of just how different he and Allie’s lives had been prior to their miraculous meeting in Colombia. He felt lucky to have grown up in a loving, middle class family and wouldn’t change his roots for the world, yet he was a realist. He knew there were material things a man like him would never be able to give to Allison. Right now she may say that isn’t important to her, but he knew better. One day, when the newness of their relationship wore off, he suspected she would start to resent his inability to provide for her like her father had before him.
But he’d made up his mind to set those feelings of deficiency aside, at least for the next ten days. Not only did he not want to ruin the only holiday season he and Allie may have together, but now that Miguel Blanco was a renewed threat, Zach knew he was the absolute best person to keep Allison not only safe, but calm and happy. Knowing she was in danger made him want to pound on his chest, letting his inner caveman off his leash in order to make sure nothing bad happened to her.
“Welcome to Eagle’s Nest,” Senator Benson said, shoving his hand out for a shake as soon as Zach arrived on the front porch of the mammoth home.
“Thank you, sir, and thanks for inviting me to spend the holidays with you and Allie.”
“I’m glad you made it here safely.”
If he didn’t know better, he’d swear the senator was sincere. He couldn’t help but wonder if her father would be as happy to see him if not for one of the Blanco brothers being on the loose.
The small group made their way into the opulent home, handing their coats over to a woman dressed in a housekeeper’s uniform. After leaving his suitcase in the grand foyer, Zach let Allie lead him deeper into the house where the already tall ceiling vaulted to what looked like three stories high. In the middle of the far wall was a mammoth fireplace with a roaring fire blazing inside. A column of windows on each side of the stone displayed breathtaking views of the sun setting over the Rocky Mountains.
“This looks like a scene out of a Christmas movie,” Zach observed honestly after glancing around, taking in the tastefully decorated trees, wreathes, and other holiday baubles.
