Chapter 5

It wouldn’t do to get his throat slit, so Rip didn’t move a muscle. His attacker had approached from behind, so he didn’t have a visual. Then a female whispered in his ear, “Who are you? What do you want?”

“I want to help you.” Rip waited. “This would be easier if you’d take that knife away from my throat.”

“I don’t need help.” She spoke from her position behind him, and her breath grazed his ear. “And I don’t know you, anyway.”

Rip gave her a minute.

“You don’t look like a fed,” she said.

“No, I’m not a fed.”

“You look more like a gang member, minus the tattoos.”

“No again,” Rip said calmly. “Try Navy SEAL turned bodyguard.”

She hesitated, then removed the knife. “You’d better not be lying to me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Lela Cabelo stepped in front of him, keeping her distance. She looked into his eyes to judge his sincerity. The hand holding a piece of silverware dropped to her side, but she didn’t relax. “You better be telling the truth, because next time I’ll be armed with more than a butter knife.”

Lela was gorgeous when she was angry. Her brown eyes were ablaze. Her thick, dark hair flowed wildly around her lovely face. Her full lips and flushed skin added to her allure. Rip refocused. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Well, you should have announced yourself, then. Instead, you went into the church as if looking for someone. Then you stalked around the schoolhouse.”

She’d been watching him. Rip was impressed. “I wasn’t sure you were here. It was just a hunch.”

“So who the hell are you?”

Rip motioned toward the playground. “Can we move out there? I’ll tell you everything, but I dislike feeling like I’m being interrogated.”

Lela moved aside and let him walk into the yard. He leaned against the stairs to the slide and bent one knee to rest his foot on the bottom step.

He kept his eyes on Lela as she stepped off the patio, took a seat on the concrete bench, then placed the knife beside her. He wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t make another move against him. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle that, but he didn’t want to hurt her in the process.

Lela sat with her hands in her lap, but looked wary.

“I’m Ripley McConnell. Just call me Rip. I work for Stealth Security in Los Angeles as a bodyguard for VIPs,” Rip said. “I can show you my ID.”

“Anyone can dummy up an ID.” Lela glared at him. “I’m going to check out your story, you know.”

“I would hope so.”

“You didn’t answer my second question: what do you want?” Lela crossed her arms and held his gaze.

“I just want to keep you alive a little longer.”

“I’ve done pretty well on my own.”

“Yes, you have,” Rip said. It had been quite a feat to escape the cartel and still be alive the next day.

“I don’t need your help.”

Rip pondered that for a second. “Probably not. But even SEALs work in teams.”

Lela didn’t have a quick comeback.

“So,” Rip said, leaning back as a sign that he wasn’t here to force her, “how about if you let me assist you?”

*****

Lela was in a tight spot. If this guy had found her, then others would too. She’d liked it better when she’d been alone, convinced that she’d been safe.

Now she looked into the eyes of a stranger, and he expected her to put her life in his hands. She studied Ripley McConnell and couldn’t make up her mind.

The guy was a stud; she’d give him that. He was about six feet and solidly built. She suspected that, under the leather jacket, he sported quite a bit of muscle. But he was rough around the edges. His black hair was long, dusting his shoulders. And he had a tiny earring in one ear, a few silver rings on his fingers, and wore cowboy boots.

It annoyed Lela that she found him handsome. He’d intruded on her life, barged in without being asked, and he just might get her killed. “So…who sent you?”

Rip shook his head. “No one, and your enemies don’t know about me.” He proceeded to tell her a far-fetched story about how he’d learned of her situation, then gone into action. Most suspicious was that he claimed the only reason he’d sought her out was to protect her.

Lela bit at her lower lip. “Okay, say for now that I believe you. There’s something that worries me.”

Rip squatted and sat on one of the steps. “What’s that?”

“How did you find me?”

“Reconnaissance is my expertise. I figured some stuff out about you. I had an idea how you’d think.” Rip shrugged. “Turns out…I was right.”

Lela threw her arms up. “Well, if you figured it out, then others will too.”

“Yes, but I got here first. And they aren’t as smart as I am, and don’t know this area like I do.” When she raised her brows, Rip added, “I was born and raised in Houston; still have family here. My younger brother is Houston PD.”

“What’s his name?”

“Axel McConnell.”

Lela wrapped her arms around her waist. “But others will find me?”

“Yes…eventually.” Rip didn’t qualify that statement.

“All right, if I let you help me—not that I said I would—what would you do?”

Rip wrinkled his brow. “Do you have a plan?”

Lela’s cheeks warmed. She’d played it tough, but she was vulnerable as hell. “No, this is as far as I got.”

“We need a safe place for you to stay, then we can strategize.”

“The priest let me stay the night; he has a spare room. He knows me. I’ve come to church here since I was a kid. But it’s not like I can move in.” Lela didn’t trust this guy. It was dangerous to trust someone she’d just met, ex-SEAL or not. But she was open to suggestions, since she was out of ideas.

“We shouldn’t stay longer than one more night, until I figure out our next move.” Rip held up his hand. “And don’t worry—I won’t invade your privacy.”

This was a poor idea. No matter how bad it got, Lela could handle things on her own. She didn’t need to drag some hunky bodyguard along with her. He was too much of a looker not to attract attention. And she needed to keep a low profile.

“I have to ask,” Lela said. “Why do you care?”

After a beat, he said, “I have my reasons. Let’s just say I don’t like standing by while a woman gets hurt.” He picked up his duffel bag and motioned toward the back door. “After you.”

Lela guided him to the kitchen and returned the knife. The noise in the hall announced the arrival of the children. “I offered to help serve lunch. I don’t want to be a freeloader.”

Rip grabbed a soup ladle. “Sounds like a good idea to me. Just tell me what to do.”

A few other kitchen workers were busy with preparations. The children came in and formed a line so lunch could be dished up. The priest came in and smiled at Lela.

“Good day, father.” Lela looked over at Rip, who was handing out apples. “I found someone to help us. He dropped by…used to be in the congregation.”

The priest nodded to Rip, who said, “It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I should go to church more often.”

Rip didn’t introduce himself, which was smart. It wasn’t a social visit, and names only made things messier. The less the priest knew, the better.

She watched Rip interact with the children, noticing that he was gentle with them. He offered bread, apples, and small bowls of soup as if he was glad to be there. He was an interesting man.

With his jacket off, Rip’s developed chest muscles and bulging biceps were in view. Lela drooled; any woman would. The way his t-shirt clung to his abs revealed that they were hard and flat.

She glanced away before he caught her staring. His rugged look appealed to her. The long, silky hair and silver adornments only served to accentuate his masculinity. He was one tough dude, but from the way he handled the kids, he had a softer side too.

Rip had the physicality of a SEAL, and probably the skills to go with it. Such a man would be good to have around right now. But Lela wasn’t naïve. She might be better off alone. It was more difficult to hide two people than one, especially one the size of Rip.

After serving, Lela waved Rip outside. She needed some air. “That was kind of you to chip in.”

Rip cracked a smile. “I’m not completely useless.” He paused. “Are you hungry?”

“I had a light meal earlier, some crusty bread and fruit. The priest has been generous.”

“I’ll go get us some real food.”

Lela’s stomach rumbled. “I can’t impose.”

“I’m the one who barged in here. At least let me buy you lunch.”

“Is it safe?” Then Lela smiled at him. “I’m hiding out, you know.”

“That’s exactly what you should do. But I want to get out and look around a bit, see what’s out there, make sure you’re safe.” Rip put the strap of his duffel over his shoulder. “I won’t be long. There’s a fast food joint a couple blocks over. Are hamburgers okay?”

Lela’s mouth watered. “With fries?”

“You got it.”

While Rip went off to get lunch, Lela went back to the church and entered the nave. She bent down on one of the kneelers and clasped her hands together. With her eyes closed and head bowed, she said a prayer that the priest and his congregation would be safe.

Lela shouldn’t have sought sanctuary at the beloved church. Rip’s appearance was proof that her presence would be discovered. She couldn’t allow anything bad to happen here because of her. The most she could risk was one more night, then she must go.

She said a quick prayer for Rip. He seemed like a decent guy, and shouldn’t have gotten involved in her troubles. Before rising, she made the sign of the cross. Then she went to wait outside, and took a seat at a small table behind the church.

*****

Rip scouted the nearby areas on the way to the hamburger joint, and on his return. He took in the daytime activities of the residents and the cars that were parked along the street, and memorized the description of anyone he saw. But there was no sign of trouble.

Second Ward wasn’t a center for gangs as much as some of the other city wards. But that didn’t mean the members wouldn’t filter through, especially if instructed to. Rip doubted there had been any sightings of Lela yet. Gang mentality was to swoop down and attack, not to sit back or plan. The peacefulness of those few blocks was an indication that Lela’s enemies didn’t know where she was…yet.

He found Lela at the picnic table in the church courtyard. He handed over a sack, then put the drink holder down so she could take a Coke. The burgers smelled good. Rip unwrapped his and took a huge bite. “They know how to make ’em,” he said through a mouthful of food.

“Mmm, juicy…just how I like them.”

For a few minutes, Lela didn’t talk. She focused on her meal, and it was a pleasure to watch her eat. By the looks of it, food had been scarce recently. Rip had his lunch devoured while she was still munching.

Rip sipped on his Coke, content to watch her. Lela was easy on the eyes. And her beauty went beyond the exterior. Watching her interact with the priest and the kids had confirmed what he already knew—she was a good woman with a good heart.

Heaven help him; he shouldn’t be thinking about that. He was here for one reason, and indulging his lustful nature wasn’t it.

Lela finished her food and wiped her hands on a paper napkin. “That was delicious.” She picked up her drink then frowned. “I appreciate the food…but you can’t hang around.”

Rip suspected what she was about to say. Her serious expression gave it away.

“You can stay the night. But then you have to go.” Lela looked into his eyes. “I don’t want you on my conscience. Sticking with me isn’t safe, so I can’t allow it.”

She wasn’t asking; she was telling. And Rip understood—he just disagreed. “I thought you were going to think about letting me help you?”

Lela shook her head. “I considered it, but it’s not a good idea. I’ll be okay. I’ll work this out.” She took a breath. “It hasn’t gone well so far, but there has to be a way to stay low until the trial. Anyway, it’s not your problem.”

Rip didn’t tell her how it really was. She was probably more worried than she let on, so there was no reason to go out of his way to scare her. “I have some business to attend to. I’ll be close if you change your mind.” Then he got up and left, dumping his garbage in the can on the way by.

He returned to the schoolyard and leaned against the wall beneath the awning. It was time to check in. Rip got Travis on the second ring. “Talk to me, buddy.”

The phones had security installed, so the call was private. Rip proceeded to bring his boss up to date.

“Good that you found her so fast,” Travis said, “but she’s far from safe.”

“I’m aware of that. And her family must be worried, but it won’t do to let them know we’ve found her.”

“It’s to our advantage that the feds and the cartel don’t know about you. There’s no previous connection between you two. That will buy you some time.”

“Correct, but it’s not enough. Lela has to disappear, but there’s a bit of a snag.”

“What’s that?” Travis said.

“She doesn’t want me around, says she doesn’t want to drag me into her mess.”

“You dragged yourself.”

“And I’m not leaving her,” Rip said. “She may think she can deal with this alone, but you and I know that’s not going to happen.”

“With the kind of enemies she has, there’s no chance she’ll make it on her own. Lela has a bodyguard, whether she likes it or not,” Travis said.

“Damn straight.”

“So what do you need?”

“Lela needs ID,” Rip said. She can’t get by without it. And it’s best if you make us look like a couple. The hunt is on for a woman alone, not for a married couple. That will help throw them off the trail.”

“I’m on it,” Travis said. “I have a few contacts in Houston. I’ll let you know when and where to pick up the new cards. Meanwhile, I’ll keep an eye on the situation from here. I’ll put Coop to work on background, see what else we can dig up.”

After hanging up, Rip strode around the building and spotted a patrol car going by. It didn’t slow as it rolled by the church, so the cops weren’t alerted to anything unusual there. But it reminded him that Lela was going to need a disguise. With photos of her published now, it would be harder to hide. He needed to have a talk with her.

For the rest of the day, Lela assisted in the school’s activities. It was probably good that she had a distraction, though danger couldn’t have been far from her mind. While she stayed busy, Rip played his role as bodyguard. He was discreet, but kept an eye on things without straying far from Lela.

The lack of visible threat was more unnerving than an attack. Too many times on deployment, Rip had endured the anxiety of waiting. The fight had been a relief, as then the enemy had been in sight. Wondering about a potential attack was worse than the battle.

Rip wasn’t about to look away from Lela while he was aware of what lurked in the shadows. Gangs weren’t in the habit of announcing their arrival in advance.

Dinner was a humble meal with the priest and his family. Rip was invited, and it was an acceptable reason to be close to Lela. But after the evening prayer service, Lela announced that she’d retire to the spare room. She told her host that she’d be gone early the next morning, and thanked him for his hospitality.

When she walked down the hallway, Rip followed. “I thought you’d sleep in the public area,” she said. “There are cots out there.”

Rip didn’t object to spending the night next to some guys who were down on their luck. But he had no intention of being separated from Lela. “Look, I heard you when you said that you want to do this alone. But you’re staying the night, and so am I. All I ask is that you cut me a little slack. I won’t be able to sleep unless you are nearby. That’s the only way I know you’ll be safe…for tonight.”

Lela balked, but the plea seemed to get to her. “All right, I’ll allow that. But only so you can get some sleep. I can’t send you off into the night tired. Anything could happen.”

Rip followed her into the spare room, then pulled a worn recliner next to the door. “I’ll use the chair.” He checked the windows to make sure they were locked before shutting the curtains. One look into the small bathroom told him that there was no window.

After dropping his duffel next to the chair, Rip settled in and reclined. “I’ll shut my eyes, so you can pretend I’m not here.”

While Lela got ready for bed, Rip couldn’t help imagine what she looked like. He was hot for her, and his body responded. He pulled up the thin blanket she’d tossed to him to hide any evidence of his condition.

Her life hung by a thread, and her brave attitude only made him want her more. But it wouldn’t be right to take her at such a vulnerable moment, even if she did want him, which she didn’t.

Rip couldn’t force her to accept him as her bodyguard. Yet there was no way he could walk away. An ache in his heart brought back memories he’d tried to bury. Some things couldn’t be forgotten. He had his personal demons to live with.

But Lela was another matter. He’d prefer her cooperation, but he intended to get her to safety either way. She was threatened by dangers he knew too well. This time he’d do it right.

The next morning, Rip woke up first. It was pitch dark, but a glance at the clock told him that Lela would want to be on the move soon. She stirred and opened her eyes. “I need to get going. I’ll get ready.”

The night before, Lela had accepted his suggestion and put together a disguise. When she came out of the bathroom, Rip approved. The blond wig was a leftover from a costume party. The priest had let her rummage around in the storage room. She’d also found an outfit that made her look much older.

It wasn’t perfect, but should do the job. Lela had confided that she’d dumped the federally issued fake ID into the sewer near a downtown park. And the clothes that she’d borrowed from the kitchen worker were at the hotel dry cleaners. It would stay there for thirty days or so, before the staff would put it in the unclaimed stack—and by then, it shouldn’t matter.

Rip figured her pursuers were going crazy. The cartel didn’t like victims getting away. And it certainly wasn’t good for the feds to lose an important witness. It was best for Lela to be on the move again.

*****

Lela was glad for the disguise. Anything that helped her disappear was a good thing. “Thank you, Rip. You’ve been helpful.” She squeezed his arm. “Take care.”

She left the room and quietly went down the hall. It was barely light outside and the streets were still. She wished that Rip was coming with her, but that had been her own doing. She needed to get a grip. Having him tag along wasn’t a good idea.

If only she could lie low until the trial, all of this would pass. Until then, she had to stay on the run. Begrudgingly, she accepted her fate. It wasn’t fair. All she’d wanted was to do the right thing.

Instead, her life had been turned upside down. She was homesick, and had no idea when she’d next see her family or friends. Destiny had led her on an unexpected path.

Her mother must be worried sick after hearing that her daughter was missing. Her friend Ash would be just as frantic. If only Lela could get a message to her, but she didn’t know how to do that.

Lela would think about that later. For now, she had to find another safe place to stay. Wandering the streets was not a solution.

It was good to know that Rip could get on with his life. He didn’t need this. It was her fight, not his. Plus, anyone connected to her was in peril, which was all the more reason that she should get far away from the church.

The cool morning breeze ruffled the hair of the blond wig, and Lela breathed in the fresh air. Behind her dark glasses, she took in the welcoming sights of the neighborhood. She had friends here, and memories. But she couldn’t go to anyone she knew.

Lela continued to walk down the boulevard toward the McKee Street Bridge. Midway over the bridge, she stopped to lean against the rail, and looked down at the muddy green water of the Buffalo Bayou.

She looked at the thick, lush trees lining the waterway, and at the tall downtown buildings just beyond. It was peaceful. And for a moment, it seemed like things were okay. There were no killers after her. The scene was of a neighborhood she was fond of, where the residents were friendly—a place where she belonged.

But it wasn’t the truth. Lela had nowhere to go. But she’d better come up with something fast, because her enemies would be looking for her.

Lela adjusted her bag on her shoulder, then continued on her way. She was drawn to downtown, with its tall buildings and crowded streets. It offered a chance to disappear, so she headed that way. Walking was invigorating; it gave her a sense of escape.

When Lela reached the city, she strolled down the sidewalk, dodging pedestrians on their way to somewhere important. Yet she still didn’t feel safe. Instead, she had a feeling of being watched, that someone was looking at her.

Lela glanced around for a safe haven, a place where she could duck inside. She had no reason to be afraid. No one knew where she was.

She fingered her fake blond hair, assured that the wig was in place. Her pulse quickened as her survival instincts kicked in. A tall figure approached from behind, casting a shadow over her. “Lela Cabelo?”

She glanced up and saw fierce, colorful tattoos over a menacing face. Panicked, she bolted, and prayed that she could run fast enough. But it was too late. Strong hands grabbed her and lifted her off her feet. The finality of it all hit her, and doom engulfed her like a heavy black curtain.