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Claire couldn’t help thinking if she and Fletch were perfect for each other, Carter and Mia were just as well-matched.
Ignoring him, Fletch continued. “We also have four-wheel drive vehicles and several power boats. And that’s if we have to bug out. If we choose to stay, we’ve got enough firepower to hold off a small army, and we have options if someone mounts an attack force big enough to overrun us.”
“We need to get a move on,” Carter reminded Fletch.
“I know. Ladies, get your things together.” There was a knock on the door, and both men drew their guns before answering and allowing in two more members of the team. “We need to get this cleaned up. Get dressed and packed. I want to be out of here in less than ten minutes.”
Claire pulled on leggings, a tee shirt, and a pair of boots. No telling what kind of terrain they might be facing. As she re-entered the common area of the penthouse, Mia was doing so, as well. Claire took Fletch’s outstretched hand as Mia fell in between her and Carter. They took the elevator down to the secured lobby and then were loaded into a waiting SUV—she and Fletch up front with Mia and Carter in the back. Fletch drove and Carter sat in the backseat behind Claire.
As they wound their way towards Monaco and the Italian border, Claire leaned back into the seat and closed her eyes.
“You all right, baby?”
A smile flickered across her face. “Hunted by assassins and on the run, and I’m trying to remember a time I’ve ever been so happy.”
Fletch chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
CHAPTER4
CLAIRE
Claire had anticipated a long drive from Naples to the Italian border with Monaco and did wonder about just the four of them in one SUV. Well outside of Naples, Fletch pulled into a train station, handing off the SUV to a member of his team and hustling her and Mia, with Carter’s help, onto a train headed for Ventimiglia, Italy.
Once inside their private compartment on the train, Claire could see both Carter and Fletch relax just a bit. The trip was long but pleasant as the four talked, played cards, and napped. Well, she and Mia napped. Carter and Fletch were ever vigilant.
“If you have a plane, why didn’t we just take that?” asked Mia.
“The plane is for emergencies. A plane coming and going at the safehouse would attract attention. I’d rather take the train which is in a much more controlled environment than the open road.” His head swiveled so he could look at Claire. “Nothing from you?”
Claire stretched her arms over her head and smiled. “Nope, I’m good. You asked me to choose you, to trust in you. So, I’m just going to sit back and let you do your job.”
She wrapped her arms around his closest arm and rested her head against it. It was nice to be able to let go and let someone else take care of things. Mia kept giving her looks and Claire knew she should find a way to talk to her about whatever had Mia on edge, but right now, she just wanted to drift and let someone else do the worrying, if only for a while.
A few hours later, Carter and Fletch wanted to lock Mia and Claire inside their little seating area, make a sweep of the train, and get some food to bring back to the compartment to eat. Fletch tucked a gun in beside Claire, hidden under a blanket, ‘just in case.’
As soon as he and Carter had departed, Mia turned to her. “I found it…”
“What’s it? And is Fletch going to be mad that we were still looking for it?”
“The Clarion Necklace. As to Fletch, probably.”
“Not unless I want to go after it.”
Mia sat back, shaking her head. “You can’t possibly mean that. This one is kind of like the Holy Grail. You’ve had me trying to find it for years. I finally do, and there’s a question as to whether or not you’re going after it?”
“I suppose it’s worth a listen.”
Mia was right; the Clarion Necklace was a kind of Holy Grail to a lot of people. It had belonged to a member of the White Rose resistance movement and was said to have been seized by Joseph Goebbels himself and given to Hitler for his mistress, who had rejected it because she didn’t like blue. Sir Godfrey’s father had obtained the necklace and sold it to the Hardison Family, who had legally defended their possession to three different parties, all connected to it.
“They say it was touched by pure evil and that it is cursed. I sometimes wonder if owners make up those curses to try and convince people not to steal them. What’s got you so excited about it?”
“There’s been a new claimant and one that seems to have a really strong case. They’re being backed by several high-ranking commissions and individuals and there’s a very strong chance the Hardisons may lose it.” Mia locked eyes with Claire and arched her eyebrow.
“Okay, why am I getting the look?”
Mia grinned. “Ask me who the new claimant is?”
“Who’s the new claimant?”
