“That day, our birthday, I tore open the watch, and it all came crashing back to me. Alex was standing in the doorway of my office, and I said she’s Emily Webster. There may have been some choice profanity peppered in.” He chuckled. “I ignored every security protocol and tore out of the office. Left the door open, my computer unlocked....”
“She seemed very territorial about you.”
“I took advantage of her attraction. I never encouraged her, but I used her as my safety date in a lot of situations.” He tilted his head toward her, reminding Emily of their first meeting in his office when he had 911-ed Alex. “I knew she had ideas. I shouldn’t have encouraged her.”
“You can’t possibly blame yourself for her pettiness and manipulations.”
“I don’t, but I blame myself for my carelessness with your security. All the more reason to meet with your father. I will have a fucking army guarding you if that’s what it takes.”
“Oh, good. That’s my dream,” she deadpanned.
Nathan chuckled. “Just until we’re sure you’re safe, Emily. Then it’s just you and me.”
“Much better.”
The week flew by. After breakfast at Nathan’s favorite greasy spoon on Sixth Avenue on Friday, they planned to walk the few remaining blocks to Knightsgrove-Bishop for a meeting with his team. Then, JT would drive Emily to The Sentry office and she, Nathan, and her father would convene at her apartment in SoHo for lunch.
“I just need to....” Emily poked her thumb over her shoulder to indicate JT. Nathan nodded in JT’s direction.
“I made him, you know. That day at the street fair.”
“I know. I expected nothing less. Be right back.”
Nathan held open the door of the diner for her, and they stepped out into the July Manhattan heat. He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her until her knees went weak. Then she wobbled over to JT and explained that she was in good hands, and he could pick her up at K-B in an hour. The Suburban pulled away and she stood on the sidewalk and just stared back at Nathan. They looked like two love-struck idiots. Nathan rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and grinned at her like a teenager about to get laid—well, like a twenty-eight, no, twenty-nine-year-old as of last week about to get laid. She lifted her hand and smiled a smile of complete happiness as she took a step toward him. Then she heard the screech of tires and the nauseatingly familiar slide of a heavy metal door as she was pulled backward. The last thing she saw before she felt the fabric slide over her face and the needle pierce her skin was Nathan running toward her, his beautiful eyes filled with determination and terror.