All I've Ever Wanted - Adrianne Byrd [65]
She then addressed the box to the one man she knew at the FBI to be trustworthy: Jonathan Mason.
Though she had never been a great fan of the Mason family, she did respect their reputation. There was a part of her that wanted to laugh at the irony of the situation, but she couldn’t.
“I’m doing the right thing,” she reaffirmed repeatedly. Who was she kidding? If she was honest with herself, she’d know that the right thing to do was to turn herself in. However, the thought of enduring the humiliation of a media frenzy, and doing jail time, scared her. Instead, she elected to take a different approach.
Sandra removed the .45 automatic that she’d kept on the top shelf of her walk-in closet. She loaded the gun and then secured it in the holster that fit snugly against the small of her back.
She checked her appearance in the mirror and hardly recognized the woman dressed head to toe in black, with her long hair brushed back into a pony-tail. “It’s time to fix this mess we got ourselves into,” she said to her reflection. She turned and slid on her leather jacket, picked up the box and left to execute her plans.
“I’m not going to be able to go with you after all,” Max informed Kennedy when he returned. “I’m sorry.”
“But, I need you there,” she sputtered, struggling to explain again. “I don’t know how much more of this I can handle alone.”
“I know, but something has come up.” Guilt rattled his voice as he thought back on Aaliyah’s phone call. She’d called him in her time of need, and he’d practically hung up on her.
“I’ve been assigned another case.”
Hurt shadowed her features, but she managed to nod in understanding. “I guess this is it then.”
A long silence hung between them as their gazes probed one another.
“It doesn’t have to be,” he said.
She gave him a weak smile. “Twice you’ve saved my life. Thank you.”
“Ah, gratitude. I was just beginning to think that the emotion was foreign to you.”
Kennedy’s smile slid wider as she playfully slapped at his arm. “You’re not funny.”
Mason suddenly appeared beside them. “We’re ready to leave, Ms. St. James.”
She nodded and the agent gave the couple some privacy.
“In case I didn’t tell you earlier, I really do appreciate all that you’ve done.”
“I was just doing my job…and it was my pleasure.”
Another lapse of silence hovered over them.
“Thanks again.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Max cradled her face and prevented her from delivering just a quick peck. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and had to stop himself from moaning aloud. The world spun into a blur as the sweet intoxicating taste of her mouth urged him to hold her close.
Kennedy sank into the feel of his embrace. Her mind drifted lazily on a cloud, as the smell, the feel, the taste of him threatened to undo her.
When the kiss ended, they both still savored the residue of their passion.
“This is definitely not goodbye,” he whispered.
She smiled tenderly at him. “I hope not.”
“We’re waiting on you, Ms. St. James.”
“Of course.” She returned her attention to Max. “I have to go.”
“I’ll be thinking of you,” he said, and kissed her once again.
It was excruciating when they finally parted and he watched her walk out with the FBI agents. But he held no illusions that, somehow during this crazy case, he’d found the one thing he hadn’t known he was searching for: love.
Chapter 30
Kennedy stared blankly out the small window while the past week replayed in her head. Eight days. Had it really been such a short time? It seemed more like eight years. Eight years of being on the run and looking over her shoulders; eight years of being scared and tired.
Agent Mason leaned over in his seat and interrupted her thoughts. “Don’t worry. It will all be over soon.”
She nodded, not in the mood for small talk, and wished like hell that she could turn off her frazzled emotions. “I should have called the police.”
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Kennedy took a deep breath