Ransom by Terri Reed Page B

appreciating his manners and his compliment though she knew he was only being polite.
    He sat across from her, leaving the chair next to her open for Blake who carried over a platter stacked with pancakes.
    â€œHere ya’ll go. Dig in,” Blake said, setting the platter of steaming warm cakes on the table next to the carafe of coffee and a pitcher of orange juice.
    Drew brought over a plate piled with link sausages, offering them to his wife first. Sami’s adoring smile brought a lump to Liz’s throat.
    Blake sat down beside her, bumping her knee as he did. “Sorry.”
    â€œNo problem.” She adjusted her legs away from him and rubbed at the spot on her knee that felt branded by the accidental touch.
    As they ate they discussed the details of the plan. By the time their appetites were sated, Liz had the particulars of her part of the plan memorized though she’d had to argue a few points. She’d enter the fort alone—Blake had wanted to accompany her but she’d argued Santini probably knew who Blake was and would recognize him. Blake conceded the point.
    Then she would head for the middle of the fort yard and wait for Santini’s next contact. Blake and his team would be on scene hidden from sight but covering the entrance and exit, all the while keeping a close eye on her.
    On the ride to the fort, she was struck by Blake’s easy command of his vehicle as he diced his way through the morning traffic. He was probably in easy command of most things in his life. She wondered what had compelled him to become an ICE agent, and then doggedly chased the wondering away.
    She didn’t need to know about Blake Fallon. Didn’t want to know. She needed to keep her concentration on the task at hand. Saving her sister.
    She didn’t want to become some starry-eyed ninny following after her “man.”
    Yet the image of happily married Sami and Drew floated through her mind. There was no way anyone could accuse Sami of being starry-eyed or a ninny. The woman was an FBI agent and had successfully stopped a serial killer. She was strong and competent, a woman Liz could admire. Yet, Liz worried what would happen to Sami if something horrible happened to Drew. Or vice versa. The risk of heartache was enough to make Liz’s throat ache.
    She was grateful for some distance when Blake dropped her off at a bus stop a mile from the entrance to the fort. She noted the worry in his eyes, and for some reason his concern made her feel cared for. Dumb for her to think that. He was only worried she’d blow the sting operation somehow, and that Santini would slip through his hands again. Right?
    She boarded the next bus per their plan and got off in front of the long path leading to Fort George. She quickly made the trek and entered the fort, which was walled by a wooden fence. Inside the enclosure, large expanses of lawn dusted white with snow spread out between buildings that retained their 1800s charm. She paid to enter and roamed the center of the fort, wondering when and where Santini would show up.
    She glanced at her watch. It was close to noon. Close to the time she was to ransom her sister’s life for the diamond necklace tucked in her mother’s beautiful box and then inside a shopping bag clutched in her hand.
    The wire taped to her chest itched. Liz poked at the device in irritation.
    â€œStop fidgeting,” Blake admonished in her ear through the communication link.
    It was weird having him in her head and his gaze on her as well, though she had no idea where he’d positioned himself. She smoothed back her hair, wondering what he saw when he looked at her. Did he see how scared she was? How uncertain? Could he see the blush creeping up her neck at knowing he was watching her every move? This off-kilter feeling made her edgy. She shouldn’t care what he thought of her. This was about Jillian.
    She dropped her hand to her side and scanned the crowd