Sounds Like Deception (Sounds Like 2)

“I always intended to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” I leaned closer to the edge of the patio chair.

“It doesn’t change anything that has happened this week. Do you believe that? I need you to know that before I say anything else. Do you believe me?”

My brows knitted together. I couldn’t imagine what this was about. No one had experienced what we had. Nothing could change how I felt about him. We had forgiven each other for so much. There was nothing the FBI could reveal that would change my love for AJ. I had always loved AJ.

“Of course I do. Everything is different this time. I know it is. You know it is.”

He exhaled. “Please, Syd. Just don’t run.”

Chapter Twenty-One

I wanted to see his eyes. It always made me feel better when I could look into the sea of midnight I loved so much.

“Can you take off your sunglasses before you start? Please? Just look at me.”

AJ reached for the side of his face.

“Agent Hart! Agent Hart! We have to get you out of here now. Move, move, move!”

I screamed when I heard the agents barreling through our suite. I stared at AJ, panicked and frozen. He jumped from the seat.

Within seconds his arm was around my shoulder shuttling me through the bedroom. We ran through the suite, surrounded by FBI agents carrying guns.

“What’s going on?” AJ asked.

“Bomb threat. We have to clear the floor immediately,” the agent fired back. “We’re taking you and Ms. Miller to a safe house. We need to get you out of the hotel.”

My head spun. It happened so fast. Agents filled every corner of our room. I had no idea there were this many of them on-site.

“Bomb?” I choked out the word.

“Fuck,” AJ groaned. He didn’t seem as alarmed as I was.

“I can’t leave all my stuff.” I ran back to the bedroom. My hands stretched out for my laptop and the recorder, when AJ stopped me.

“I’ll get it. You go with the agents,” AJ replied.

“No.” I refused to move another inch. “We’re not getting separated again. I don’t trust them. I’m not leaving here without you. I’ll just have to get blown up.”

“Agent Hart, we’ve got to clear the floor now.”

“Hold on,” he growled. He tossed our clothes in his bag and collected my electronics. I watched in horror as everything was shoved in. There wasn’t time to check the room for items that might be left behind.

“Agent Hart! Now!”

AJ threw the pack on his shoulder and pushed me ahead.

“Come on, we’ve got to get out of here,” he urged. “Just do what they tell you to do. They’re following procedure now for this kind of thing.”

“Who made the threat?” I asked as we jogged down the hallway. We headed for the stairs instead of the elevator.

I saw guests roaming out of their rooms wearing robes and slippers. Everyone looked confused.

“I have a guess,” he answered.

We descended from the stairwell, passing one floor level after another. The agents flanked us from the front and rear. It seemed like at any second they could lunge into me and send me toppling over the side. The only thing keeping me steady was AJ’s strong grip against my palm. He had me.