A Destiny Found

Chapter 4 Mark

Chapter 4 Mark

I took one last look around my apartment as I slung my bag over my shoulder, then turned the lights off and locked the door. Since another agent would be watching Robin until we met up at the airport, I headed over earlier than the recommended three hours.

I wanted to make sure I was through security long before she arrived.

So, when I spotted her at the gate, I was already seated, reading a French newspaper with the vague hope it would help with my conversational French. She appeared casual, but beautiful, as she glanced around. If I didn’t know better, I would have said she was looking for someone and I felt an unexpected tingle in my chest.

Ruthlessly, I shoved it aside. No matter what my boss said about making contact, I knew he wouldn’t be happy if I became emotionally involved. If Robin was being tailed by someone dangerous, I needed to keep my eyes off her and on her surroundings.

If I couldn’t stay objective, our life expectancies would potentially be at risk.

I was relieved when the plane boarded on time. It had been a challenge to keep myself occupied and look like I wasn’t watching her, especially when I’d felt her eyes land on me. They had lingered on me for an uncomfortably long period of time, and I thought she’d caught me until she finally settled a few rows over.

That scare caused me to wait longer than normal to get in line, counting to ten after she stood to board, then casually stretching and meandering into a spot several people behind her. By the time I reached the aisle near her seat, she was already settled with her bag stowed. Taking a deep breath, I silently begged forgiveness for what I was about to do. Then I swung my bag toward her and deliberately hit her left shin.

I bent as if grabbing my bag, simultaneously obscuring my actions with my head. That allowed me to place a tiny tracker the size of a button battery into the tongue of her left ankle-boot. It slid into position between the leather.

I stood up and pretended to fumble with my bag. “Oh my God! I'm so sorry!”

Even though I was satisfied I’d achieved my goal of placing the tracker on her boot, I was sorry that I’d caused her pain. At least her on-stage performances involved singing and not dancing. I still needed to get a tracker on her phone, as it was improbable she’d always be wearing the boots, but overall, I was happy my first attempt at placing a tracker had gone well.

She rubbed her leg vigorously where I’d slammed my bag into her shin bone, breathing deeply as she worked to compose herself. When she finally looked up with a polite smile and flushed cheeks, I knew she was a better person than I was.

If someone had hit me like that, I’d have given them a piece of my mind, along with words that might make an old lady blush. I brushed my hair off my face and stood up, not even having to pretend I was remorseful.

“It's fine. No harm done.”

She kept rubbing her shin though, and I felt worse than I’d expected. Hopefully I hadn’t given her a bruise.

“Can I make it up to you? Buy you a drink?”

She laughed and sat up, shaking her head with an enigmatic look in her eyes. She was beautiful up close, and I found myself staring, hardly even registering her reply at first.

“Thanks, but alcohol is free on transatlantic flights. Really. No permanent damage done. I should have moved my leg out of the way. Have a good flight.”

I recognized my cue to leave, but in case I hadn’t, it was reinforced by an older man waiting in the aisle behind me clearing his throat in an exaggerated fashion. I smiled at her once more and loved the way her face lit up with a reciprocal smile. I mumbled something, gave what I hoped was a casual wave, and headed to my seat. Overall, I was pleased how my first contact had gone. Her reaction to my offer of a drink had gone over decently, even if she had been distracted by pain. I couldn't blame her for that, seeing as I was the one who’d caused it.

From that point on the flight was easy. Not only were we confined to a limited space, but it was a day flight, which meant I didn't have to force myself to stay awake. I got up a few times to use the washroom, making it look accidental when I caught her eye. I even surprised a smile once, enjoying how it made her cheeks bloom a rosy shade of pink. The word adorable sprang to mind, but I returned to my chair instead of talking to her the way I wanted.

I needed to keep my focus and was already worried I would screw up. I certainly would if I kept staring at her face instead of the people around her.

After attempting to reprimand myself and not sure how well I’d done, I succeeded in turning my attention to the others on the plane. I’d been trained to know what to watch out for, and once I was back in my chair, I went into the passenger manifest I’d been given. My contacts had already cross-matched the names on the flight, and now I looked at seat numbers. Only one name had lit up, but it was remote connection— a second cousin, thrice removed, of Lavallee’s, but the man in question looked more like an accountant than a threat. With zero visible tattoos, there was no indication he was in a biker gang or watching Robin, but I settled in to monitor the situation anyway.

It felt like being on deck to bat in the finals for the World Series as I listened to my audiobook in French, and I was itching to get in the game.

I couldn’t wait to land.