Speaker Finley clasped my shoulder. “Would you do that for me? I actually feel a lot better hearing that.”
“Certainly,” I said, my heart beginning to speed a little. I hated lying, but I needed to see Natalie again.
If I went back to the safehouse with her, for ‘visits’, I could always claim that I was sent there by the Speaker. Certainly, I couldn’t lose my job for following the Speaker’s orders…
I came back to my senses upon realizing that the Speaker was still talking to me, telling me what plans and meetings he had for the rest of the day. For the next several days. I realized with some dismay that I would be stuck with him due to his busy traveling schedule; there was simply no way I could leave his side anywhere during those times. With each passing day, his status grew, which meant more opponents were after him.
But I already made a vow that the first chance I got to return to Natalie, I would. That day just couldn’t come quickly enough.
I would just have to be patient though and bide my time, hoping that she would be understanding of the situation before us. I had already made a vow that I wouldn’t be kept away from her, and now I was determined to keep my word. I had to show her just how serious I was, and that I wouldn’t abandon her at any cost.
CHAPTER 14
Natalie
The past several days had been some of the hardest days I could remember having in a long time. Colt did not return, nor did I hear from him directly. I had heard from my father though, who finally informed me that Colt had been reassigned to him, for safety purposes. It went without question that Colt was who you wanted by your side if you required the best possible protection. And I wholeheartedly understood that my father, due to the position he was in, was in far more danger than I ever would be. So my feelings on the issue remained bittersweet. I was grateful toward Colt for overseeing my father’s protection, knowing that I would have nothing to worry about as long as he was at my father’s side. Yet, there was another part of me that yearned for Colt to be by my side. I missed him so bad it hurt.
Jones was all right, but he was very much like a fatherly figure and could never in a million years fill the void I felt in Colt’s absence. He was good at his job though, and kept a watchful eye on me.
Nightfall having set in, Jones was in the house, snoozing on the couch with the television on. After a long day of studying and an intense workout, I needed time to relax, so I went out into the backyard, and decided to lounge by the pool. I looked up into the stars shining overhead, wondering what Colt was doing and whether he had been thinking about me at all.
I wondered how long it would be before I saw him again. Before I touched him again…
Or if all of that was officially over.
The night breeze feeling comforting on my skin, and the sparkling water before me soothing my mind, I leaned back in the beach chair and closed my eyes. I willed my mind to go blank, not wanting to think about Colt. Whenever I dreamed about him, it just intensified the pain when I woke up only to remember he was no longer with me.
The relaxing night breeze proving helpful in clearing my mind, I halfway wanted to sleep under the stars. Yet, I knew Jones would never allow it. Even though my father was always more of a target than I was, Jones would not be willing to risk letting me sleep outdoors just in case prying eyes were nearby. The yard of the safehouse had high fences that no one could see through, but Jones simply wasn’t a man keen on taking risks.
“Don’t stay out there too long, now Natalie. Don’t want you catching cold. And I don’t want no creepers to sneak up on you either,” he had warned when I told him that I was going to sit out by the pool for a little while.
“All right, Jones,” I had promised.
With a sigh, I reopened my eyes, knowing that I had likely been out there long enough already. Besides, I knew Jones wouldn’t be going to bed until he knew I was tucked away safely inside the house, and I didn’t want to keep him waiting too long.
I sat up and stretched, prepared to go back into the house. Yet, I froze when heard a car door slam.
It was late, and I certainly wasn’t expecting any visitors. And while I halfway suspected the visitor may have been for a neighbor, it easily registered that it sounded too close by.
I stayed sitting there, listening. When I saw lights flooding out of the windows, I knew someone was inside the house with Jones. I strained my ears to hear voices, but could only make out distant drones that I couldn’t recognize.
Who in the world could that be at this hour?
After listening for a while, I heard another car door slam, followed by a car engine revving up.
Apparently, someone had come by for a short visit, and it didn’t involve me.
I relaxed for a moment, supposing it was just likely something security-related for Jones that wasn’t any of my concern. But just as I was starting to relax, my mind started wandering on me again…
What if it had something to do with Dad?
I shook the thought from my mind, figuring if that had been the case, I would have been alerted. But when I heard shuffling from within the house, I started to worry that Jones was on his way to deliver some kind of news—and it wasn’t likely to be good. Bad news tended to come late at night—just like the news of my mother’s passing had so many years ago.
With late-night phone calls being so anxiety-provoking, I could only presume a late-night visit was even worse.
My heart beginning to pound, I braced myself.
I heard the swing and clang of the backdoor, followed by more footsteps. Jones was on his way. A dark silhouette began to cross the yard, but instantly, I knew there was something off about it.