Page 70 of Shadow Redemption
“Our first real date out of public scrutiny will include pizza and a movie complete with popcorn and a soft drink. No diet stuff.”
She beamed at him. “You remembered.”
“Of course. I’m trying to win your heart.”
Ruth’s stunned gaze locked with his. His statement was a hard push. Ben needed to nudge her further along the path as soon as possible. He wouldn’t be able to hide how he felt much longer.
Joe laughed and glanced at Ben in the rearview mirror. “Pizza and popcorn? What happened to a steak dinner with all the trimmings as a way to woo the lady?”
“This lady has been living on rabbit food for ten years. It’s time for her to enjoy life.”
Sam’s eyebrows rose. “She can’t eat that way often because of her job.”
“Once in a while won’t hurt me.” Ruth squeezed Ben’s hand.
Guess she didn’t want to tell Sam and Joe about her retirement yet. “Anything new from Fortress?”
Joe and Sam exchanged glances.
Eyes narrowed, Ben said, “Spill it.”
“Maddox contacted Nico two hours ago,” Joe said. “Zane is close to locating Davidson’s latest compound.”
The Fortress tech wizard should have contacted him with the news. That he hadn’t wasn’t a good sign. “Tell me.”
Joe flicked a glance at Ruth.
“She can handle it,” Ben insisted. She’d have to if they were going to make this relationship work, something he wanted more than he’d wanted anything in his life.
“Zane tapped favors from people who owe Fortress. The intel indicates that Davidson and his commune have relocated to Mexico.”
He froze. As far as he knew, the prophet had never moved his commune out of the US. “Is Zane sure? Davidson has always stayed inside US borders.”
“I contacted Z while I was in the cafeteria. A DEA agent contacted Veronica Walker about a group of Americans who set up a compound two hours from here. The agent didn’t know specifics about the location, but even that much information will help Zane narrow his search.”
Two hours away. Ben gritted his teeth. Too close for his peace of mind. Ruth had to stay at Casa del Mar for another two or three days, depending on how fast the photographer got the shots necessary for the fashion designer’s needs. As much as he longed to rush Ruth to safety, she had obligations.
News of Roxanne being at Casa del Mar would hit the news media soon. When a picture of her on the beach with Ben at her side leaked, a media firestorm would ignite and make the woman he loved a target of Jeremiah Davidson.
Resolve hardened in Ben. Let the prophet come. If he made a move against Ruth, Davidson regret the decision for what remained of his short life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ruth walked toward the job site chosen for the day’s photoshoot, her hand wrapped around Ben’s. The operative at her side remained watchful, his gaze scanning the beach for trouble. “Everything will be fine,” she murmured.
But the odds weren’t good. Nothing new to Ben and his teammates. When they’d rescued her before, the odds for success had been against them yet they still freed her, captured her kidnapper, and dismantled most of the Torino organization. Shadow would get the job done. And Ben? He was flat out amazing.
Ben shook his head. “Davidson is too close. Two hours away is nothing. Once the news media gets wind of Roxanne being at Casa del Mar with her new boyfriend, pictures of us will flood the airwaves and Internet.”
“Rumors are flying already because of the fundraiser pictures. You haven’t been part of the commune since you were twelve. You’ve changed since then.”
“Not enough. I look like my father’s twin. If no one else recognizes me, my mother will.”
Ruth longed to say that his mother wouldn’t turn on him. She couldn’t. Mrs. Barrett had already proved disloyal to her son, a concept Ruth was at a loss to accept or explain. If she was blessed with children, they wouldn’t wonder if she loved them. “What do you want to do?”
“Whisk you away from here now and hide you where Davidson and his fanatic cronies can’t find you. Once you were secure, I’d go hunting.”
“You’re going to kill him?”