Font Size:  

Rapp was still laughing. “Because you love me.”

“I swear sometimes I think I’m married to a child.” She sat back in her seat and folded her arms stubbornly across her chest.

He was still laughing, and reached over to place his right hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry, honey.” Even as he said this, though, he was planning to torment her further. He slid his hand down to her knee, where she was deathly ticklish, and clamped down hard enough to send her through the roof.

She slapped his hand twice and then began clawing at his fingers, while altern

ating between cries of laughter and pain. Her husband finally relented and she sat there in her seat giggling, her shoulder length, auburn hair covering her face. After a good ten seconds she sat up and flung her hair over her shoulder. “I’m going to get you. You know that…don’t you?”

Rapp nodded. “I’m sure you will.”

Just when he was congratulating himself for getting her off a subject that he didn’t want to talk about, she said, “And don’t think I don’t know what you were doing back there.”

“Back where?”

“When you decided you didn’t want to talk about your new boss, so you turned everything back onto me. Would you like to tell me why you don’t like him, or should I spend the day on the phone asking other people why they think you don’t like him?”

“See…there you go again.”

They were nearing the White House. “Slow down, and don’t change the subject. You know I’ll spend the whole day working the phones if you don’t answer me honestly.”

He knew she was dead serious. “Fine, you big bully. I’m not sure how I feel about the guy. I don’t know a lot about him, but I have some reservations.”

“Like what?”

“I think he’s screwing around with someone I know.” Rapp was thinking of Coleman’s IRS troubles.

“How so?”

He looked at her. “I’ll know more by the end of the day…I hope.”

They pulled up to the northwest vehicle checkpoint a block away from the White House. Rapp put the car in park.

She leaned over, her emerald eyes locking onto his dark brown ones. “You’ll fill me in tonight.”

Rapp pointed to himself. “Right after you summit me.”

She tried not to smile, but couldn’t help it. “Maybe.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “I love you, honey.”

“I love you too.” Anna got out of the car with her purse and shoulder bag. She walked around the front of the car and gave him a final wave and the million-dollar smile that made her so perfect for TV.

Rapp rolled down his window. “Be safe.”

“I will. You too.” She waved to the uniformed Secret Service officer behind the greenish bulletproof Plexiglas. She would have to show her credentials at the next checkpoint.

Rapp sat there, one hand on the gearshift, the other on the steering wheel, admiring the view of his wife’s slender yet curvaceous figure. She turned around and gave him one more smile. Rapp waved and yanked the gearshift into drive. He pulled away with a smile of absolute contentment on his face. Things just kept getting better between them. They were hitting their stride, and to be honest he’d never been happier.

19

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

A bel stepped from the terminal and paused to take in a full breath of the hot dry air. He had mixed feelings about coming back to the Kingdom so soon and hoped the prince would not require more than a few days of his time. He understood, however, that the delicate nature of this business meant talking on the phone, no matter how secure they might think the line, was not wise. As much as he didn’t want to leave the Alps, he knew he must.

The fall colors would be blazing near his mountain retreat, and the air would grow crisper with each day. This was the best time of the year to hike. The summer months were still a bit too humid for his asthma, and heavy exercise could be a problem. Now that everything had been set in motion he had a second reason to long for his tiny Alpine village. His survival instincts were kicking in. Sequestered in his mountain retreat he could think clearly and plan for the proper contingencies should things go wrong. So, he would as politely as possible tell Prince Muhammad that he had pressing business to attend to in Zurich, and with any luck, the sociopath would grant him leave.

Prince Muhammad bin Rashid had sent his minions to whisk the German through customs. A white limousine was waiting for him just outside the door with a security detail of two. Another man was placing his carry-on bag in the trunk as if it was a fine piece of art. The fourth and final man was holding the door open for him, gesturing with an upturned palm for him to enter the air-conditioned chamber. For a fleeting moment Abel had the ominous feeling he was being invited to his own funeral. He hesitated briefly and then got in the vehicle.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like