Free Vinny: Alvarez Security Series by Maryann Jordan

events calmly did not help the pounding of her heart. After me? For the drugs I didn’t even know about? Were they planted there on purpose or was Easnadh just the random case they picked?
    The sound of him disconnecting the call jerked her out of her frantic musings. He turned to her, seeing the fear in her expression.
    “We’re going to start driving. I’m going to take care of you, but we’ve got to hit the road and get out of here. Tony is setting up a new location for us to get the harp case to DEA, but for now…you and I are going to hit the road.”
    Watching her lick her lips nervously, he wanted to lean over and lick them himself. Part them and take the kiss deeper then… nope. Not now. Sucking in a huge breath and letting it out slowly, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed on the highway towards HWY 70 E towards Missouri.
    “Where are we going to meet the person?” she asked, trying to still her nerves.
    “We’re going to get to the east side of Kansas City and Tony is arranging a meeting place not too far into Missouri.”
    Watching the skyline of Kansas City come into view, she stayed quiet as they moved through the city quickly. She had never been traveling through the country by a car before. If I wasn’t scared out of my mind, I might actually like this. But she was scared. Glancing over at Vinny, he seemed calm. In charge. In control. But there was a slight tick as he gritted his teeth and just looking at his face she could tell that his mind was racing. Planning. How can I know that about him in only two days?
    He was doing exactly what she thought he was. His mind raced through the possibilities. It could still be that her harp case was randomly chosen to transport drugs from someone at the airport and when the case did not arrive, the D.C. receiver got nervous. But that would have taken coordination. That person would have had to make quick contact with the person at Kansas City, found out who the harp case belonged to, found out their address, and made a visit to trash the place.
    Possible. But not very plausible. He had to accept the very real scenario that she was targeted before getting to the airport yesterday morning. Someone planting the drugs or planning on having the drugs planted…specifically in her harp case.
    As his mind continued to roll over the possibilities, he was aware of her glancing at him. He knew she was nervous. While wanting to assure her that everything was fine, he was glad she was concerned. Heightened awareness means more prepared. And right now, he wanted them prepared for anything.
    *
    Several miles down HWY 70 once in Missouri, Vinny drove the SUV into a strip-mall shopping center parking lot and pulled up to the third light post in front of a Chinese restaurant. Eyes alert, he checked his watch before looking over at Annalissa. Her pale face stood out in stark contrast to her dark hair. Her hands were clasped in her lap, the knuckles white with tightness.
    He reached over and placed his large hand over hers, saying, “We’re going to be fine. I promise.”
    She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “You’ll tell me, won’t you? I know you think I’m weak, but I’m really not. I just need to know.”
    Lifting his eyebrow in question, he asked, “What is it that you want to know?”
    “Everything. What you’re doing. What you’re thinking. I…I don’t want to be in the dark.” Her large green eyes implored him as her fingers unconsciously squeezed his.
    Nodding, he agreed. “Okay. I’ll keep you in the loop…and keep you safe.”
    “Well,” she said, licking her lips. “Isn’t this kind of public for a meeting?”
    “This shopping center is not very crowded as you see and they only have security cameras facing the front of the stores. We’re out of any camera range.”
    This time her tremulous smile was genuine. His gaze jumped from her face to outside the window behind her and she jerked her head around. A black SUV with dark-tinted