"Ally?" Steve entered her room cautiously. "Are you awake?"
She sat up in bed and flipped on the light. "I'm up."
They'd been on the run for nearly four weeks. It had been eight weeks since she'd heard from Tanner, two months since Steve had followed her into the ladies' room at the Miami International Airport. He'd pushed her into the bathroom stall and she immediately saw another shadow behind him. She screamed when she saw a gun lowered to his temple. Everything happened so fast then. She witnessed the flash of horror in her brother's eyes when he stepped into the women's bathroom. He'd walked in on the danger, saw her in Steve's embrace, and then slipped out as if he'd never intended to take her with him in the first place.
"I'm sick and tired of the sleepless nights and it's been too damned long without any word. I miss my girls." She propped up in bed tossing a few extra pillows behind her as she moved.
"I know." He sat down on the edge of the mattress. "Ally, we're going to have to move again tomorrow. I've heard from my contact. It appears Marcel is taking a leave from the agency so he can devote all of his time to you."
"Well, if I'm not the lucky one. You take leave, he takes leave, who's next?"
Steve chuckled. "You know how to turn an agency inside out. I'll give you that much."
They were in Key West. Rumors and bought informants ascertained her brothers purchased a yacht in the Keys. They were trying to find out if anyone knew where this boat was docked and more importantly, they were in search of a better description of it. Supposedly, it was purchased and then never picked up, which didn't surprise Ally. They didn't care where or how they spent their money. To an outsider looking in, they had plenty of it to burn.
"You know, it occurred to me, Tanner or David could've bought the boat and never intended to pick it up," she said.
"I thought the same thing. I also thought of something else. They may have bought it for you as a means of escape."
"Me? I don't have a clue how to operate a vessel like the one they supposedly purchased."
"Would Tanner risk leaving you instructions or anything on the boat? I mean, is there a possibility that he only bought it to hide cash or documents there?"
She shook her head. "I doubt it. He might."
"Considering we've been looking for this damned boat for weeks, I'm willing to bet there's a reason for it." Steve stood up. "Ally, I think we're close but we've been here too long. Marcel will show. He has a full work day tomorrow. He's tying up loose ends, I imagine. Then, we can bet on him. He'll come to us. Either we run or we get ready to face off with him. Your choice."
"You know this for sure?"
"Call it a hunch."
"Then we can count on it." She laughed, reached over and turned off the lamp.
"I guess tomorrow we'll have to come up with something significant or else we'll leave the Keys empty-handed."
"We'll dig in early."
"Sleep well, Steve."
"Goodnight." He shut the door behind him and Ally stared at the ceiling, thinking of her daughters and Tanner. She was lonely, sad, and needed Tanner's arms around her more than ever before.
"Tanner, wherever you are, please let me know everything is okay. Let me know you're still around, waiting for me."
A lone tear fell and she swiped it away. She wasn't going to be that woman. Not tonight. No, weeping didn't serve a purpose and right now, in a moment of weakness, it only complicated things. She needed the strength of a man and she recognized who was ready to offer her unconditional comfort. The last thing she wanted to do was use Steve, even if he was willing.
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