plan on a daily basis, and I'll always be a step ahead of you. It's my business."
"You have someone in my organization!" Darles blurted furiously before quickly regaining his composure. "It would seem we have a standoff for now, James, but it won't be like this long, and then I'll hand you your balls on a silver platter and make you eat them!"
"Fuck you, Darles. Now get the hell out of here and let me get back to work." The door slammed and Jake knew he didn't have a moment to spare. If he wanted to protect Kari, he had to get her out of here, and fast! Darles would be calling his henchmen as soon as he was out of hearing.
Jake rushed into the bedroom to find that Kari was dressed in jeans and a sweater and was throwing things into a small bag. He was impressed. "We have to leave right now, sweetheart. No time to explain. Come on!" He grabbed the bag and her hand, and only paused long enough for her to grab her handbag and cell phone, and for him to get his laptop, which he shoved into his own bag before leading her out the back door to her small patio, which was hidden from Darles by a solid wall of fencing. "Don't talk now," he whispered, "and if I give an order, obey it as if your life depends on it, because it does."
Kari nodded. This was the Jacob she was in love with and trusted. That other man in her living room was undercover, and once she was over her initial anger at the crude way he sent her to her bedroom, she realized it was his way of protecting them both. She'd hurried to get dress and pack a few necessary items, positive they would be leaving as soon as he got rid of the slick and smooth talking Quincy Darles. Explanations could wait until they were safe and away from danger. She made herself keep pace with Jake, although her legs were feeling weaker by the second, and soon she was breathing hard and couldn't help slowing down.
Jacob realized that the little redhead was struggling to keep up and he cursed himself for leaving his car so far away, but he'd had no choice. He didn't dare draw attention to the fact that he was in Kari's apartment. Once he was positive they were out of Darles' sight, he stopped and said, "I'm going to carry you, sweetheart. It might not be too comfortable, but it is necessary. I'll buy you McDonald's later..." he promised, then, to her mortification, he bent low and scooped her over his shoulder and held her firmly in place with one arm around her legs while he fairly sprinted the two miles to the parking lot where his car was 'hidden'.
Kari couldn't believe it when he gently put her on her feet and reached into the pocket of his jeans for his car keys and didn't even appear to be breathing hard! How was that possible! She was breathless and didn't run the distance! He had the door of his sedan open within seconds and then tossed their bags and his laptop into the backseat before carefully picking her up and gently placing her on the car seat. As he placed the seatbelt around her he asked, "Are you holding up, sweetheart?"
"I'm fine, Jacob," she reassured him. "How could I be less than fine when I'm with you?" she asked lovingly, shocked by the strength of her feelings for the man.
"Don't you worry. You're safe; I won't let anyone or anything hurt you as long as I have one single breath left in my body." The words were a sacred vow, and he sealed his promise with a kiss before running around the car and hurrying them away from the neighborhood. "I have to make calls, sweetheart," he explained, taking out his cell phone. He hit one number and said impatiently, "Linda, it's Jake. I need to speak to Ma, no matter how busy she is." A few seconds later he said, "Ma, just listen. Don't go to Kari's apartment for any reason at all." He shook his head and rolled his eyes, "No, we did not break up. It's too dangerous there. Kari is with me and that's all I can tell you over the phone. Just stay at work and when you're done, go on home. Kari and I aren't at her place." He listened
"You have someone in my organization!" Darles blurted furiously before quickly regaining his composure. "It would seem we have a standoff for now, James, but it won't be like this long, and then I'll hand you your balls on a silver platter and make you eat them!"
"Fuck you, Darles. Now get the hell out of here and let me get back to work." The door slammed and Jake knew he didn't have a moment to spare. If he wanted to protect Kari, he had to get her out of here, and fast! Darles would be calling his henchmen as soon as he was out of hearing.
Jake rushed into the bedroom to find that Kari was dressed in jeans and a sweater and was throwing things into a small bag. He was impressed. "We have to leave right now, sweetheart. No time to explain. Come on!" He grabbed the bag and her hand, and only paused long enough for her to grab her handbag and cell phone, and for him to get his laptop, which he shoved into his own bag before leading her out the back door to her small patio, which was hidden from Darles by a solid wall of fencing. "Don't talk now," he whispered, "and if I give an order, obey it as if your life depends on it, because it does."
Kari nodded. This was the Jacob she was in love with and trusted. That other man in her living room was undercover, and once she was over her initial anger at the crude way he sent her to her bedroom, she realized it was his way of protecting them both. She'd hurried to get dress and pack a few necessary items, positive they would be leaving as soon as he got rid of the slick and smooth talking Quincy Darles. Explanations could wait until they were safe and away from danger. She made herself keep pace with Jake, although her legs were feeling weaker by the second, and soon she was breathing hard and couldn't help slowing down.
Jacob realized that the little redhead was struggling to keep up and he cursed himself for leaving his car so far away, but he'd had no choice. He didn't dare draw attention to the fact that he was in Kari's apartment. Once he was positive they were out of Darles' sight, he stopped and said, "I'm going to carry you, sweetheart. It might not be too comfortable, but it is necessary. I'll buy you McDonald's later..." he promised, then, to her mortification, he bent low and scooped her over his shoulder and held her firmly in place with one arm around her legs while he fairly sprinted the two miles to the parking lot where his car was 'hidden'.
Kari couldn't believe it when he gently put her on her feet and reached into the pocket of his jeans for his car keys and didn't even appear to be breathing hard! How was that possible! She was breathless and didn't run the distance! He had the door of his sedan open within seconds and then tossed their bags and his laptop into the backseat before carefully picking her up and gently placing her on the car seat. As he placed the seatbelt around her he asked, "Are you holding up, sweetheart?"
"I'm fine, Jacob," she reassured him. "How could I be less than fine when I'm with you?" she asked lovingly, shocked by the strength of her feelings for the man.
"Don't you worry. You're safe; I won't let anyone or anything hurt you as long as I have one single breath left in my body." The words were a sacred vow, and he sealed his promise with a kiss before running around the car and hurrying them away from the neighborhood. "I have to make calls, sweetheart," he explained, taking out his cell phone. He hit one number and said impatiently, "Linda, it's Jake. I need to speak to Ma, no matter how busy she is." A few seconds later he said, "Ma, just listen. Don't go to Kari's apartment for any reason at all." He shook his head and rolled his eyes, "No, we did not break up. It's too dangerous there. Kari is with me and that's all I can tell you over the phone. Just stay at work and when you're done, go on home. Kari and I aren't at her place." He listened
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