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I instantly slipped into work-slash-survival mode and flashed him a massive smile. “Smile, Agent Cooper Colin.” He froze. “You’re on live camera.” I pointed to the GoPro on my shoulder and circled my finger around the little red light to show it was recording. “You don’t really think I’d stop filming until I got this little one to safety, do you?”
I grinned when I saw him shake his head at his men.
“There is no way this baby is going with you, especially without me. I made a promise to my boss and to him.” I patted Chase’s back. “He needs to know not everyone in this world is bad. So, you can decide if you want all of America to see you rip an innocent baby from a woman’s arms. I’m going to finish my job of returning this baby to the safety of the US military.” I figured I’d toss in a little American pride since the FBI, CIA, DEA, and military were all supposed to be one working wheel with the same goal in mind. Protect the people and our land.
Chili held up his phone as he stood next to me. “Eighty-six thousand people are currently watching your every move, Agent Colin.” I could have hugged him for playing along, even if I still wasn’t sure what his own motives were. At least Chili wasn’t trying to separate Chase and me.
Agent Colin rubbed his lips as he thought. “Christ.” He huffed. “I wasn’t looking for a war here, Ms. Winter, I just want to make sure the boy gets into the right hands.”
“And that’s all I’m doing as well, sir.” I kept my on-air voice.
“At least let me drive you somewhere safe.”
“She’s good,” Chili said before I could. “I’ve got my orders, too.”
So many orders and so many lies.
Colin slid his card across the table. “In case you change your mind.”
“I won’t, but I’ll still take it.”
He got up and began to walk back toward their vehicles. I saw him say something to one of the men before he slammed the door and disappeared behind a blacked-out window. I tucked the card away. I planned on discussing that little encounter with Paul and Cole. FBI Agent Colin gave off the same kind of darkness Bruno did.
“We should go.” Chili grabbed my bag, but I held up a hand to stop him.
“I’m putting my trust in you. I’m not sure why, but I am. Please, don’t make me regret it.”
“He said you were a good judge of character.” He gave a quick smile then turned and began to walk toward his rig, and I rushed to follow.
“Who?”
“The guy who hired me to get you to safety.” I rolled my eyes, and his brows raised at my reaction. “You don’t believe me?” He put a hand on his hip.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” I walked past him. “Also, I’ll take the front seat now.” It wasn’t easy, but I finally managed to get up into the cab while I held on to Chase for dear life.
Chili rounded the front and hopped inside the truck like it was a tiny Ford Focus. He eyed Chase and seemed to think for a moment. “I can rig something for the boy to sit in.”
“He’s fine on my lap,” I assured him as I looked down at the little guy. His eyes were closed again, and I prayed the Tylenol was working. “Let’s get moving before the FBI realizes I just lied to them, and they come after me again.”
He started the beast of an engine and checked his mirrors. “They won’t leave. They’ll be following us until our next stop.”
“Next stop?”
“Mmhm.” He changed gears, and we were off.
I swallowed hard and hoped the next stop would be somewhere safe.
Another night came around, and I started to imagine he was just taking me on some crazy road trip. At least being in the front, I had a sense of where we were in New Mexico, but over time, we entered Texas. I desperately wanted to ask why we jumped states, but I didn’t want him to realize how much I was watching. So, I steered our little conversations away from anything location-wise.
Chili opened up a little, and he made a bit of small talk, but for the most part, I was left alone with my thoughts. Occasionally, I comforted Chase and even sang to him when he got restless as the miles went by.
“You a Tyler Childers fan?” He glanced over at me when I ended the song Nose on the Grindstone.
“I wasn’t until…” I felt emotion get stuck in my throat when I thought of my old team and knew at some point I’d need to deal with their deaths, “until some friends of mine introduced me.” Friends. I smiled at that word. I didn’t have many, and they’d all been so kind.
“Country, huh?”
“It’s a great genre.”
