Out Of The Night (5 page)

His hands squeezed the steering wheel.
“Do you know how to get us out of here?”

He looked across the street and smiled. “I think I can.”

“Really?”

“Get out of the car and follow me.”

She watched him swing his leg over a new Suzuki sports motorcycle then reached down and wired the ignition. “Get on.”

She hesitated.

He cocked a smile, flexed his wrists, and the engine roared. “Either get on or get lost. I’m leaving.”

At the last minute, she jumped on the rear seat of the bike and planted her forehead in the middle of his back. Her grip around his waist would probably leave a permanent indent on his skin.

Gunning the cycle’s motor, he pulled into the stalled traffic, and raced toward the checkpoint. He kept the front wheel on the white line that divided the two right lanes. Kicking the engine into second gear, he sped up and blew past the other cars.

Up ahead, three policemen stood checking IDs with their vehicles blocking the flow of cars. Tony lowered his head, shifted gears, and gunned forward.

He blew past the guards and between the two patrol cars before the sentries even saw him coming. No doubt, if authorities were blocking the street, they’d have the train stations shutdown.

They had no choice but to drive to St
. Petersburg—in the middle of the night, wearing only light jackets. Abby wasn’t going to embrace that situation either.

CHAPTER SEVEN

With her face buried in the back of Tony’s jacket, Abby squeezed her eyes shut
, expecting a bullet to slam into her from behind. Hundreds of sirens chased them through the streets of Moscow at an astonishing speed.

Tightening her arms around Tony’s midsection, she prayed they’d somehow make it out alive. If Tony drove the motorcycle anything like he drove a car, they were probably going to get away, but to where? After all, the man behind the wheel had no memory.

She risked her life by releasing one hand from around Tony and removed the cell phone from her jacket pocket. The harsh wind made it difficult for her to make out the numbers, so Abby pressed Send and hoped Mac had synched the phone.

“Hello,” she shouted against the roar of the engine and blaring sirens.

“It’s Mac. Where are you?”

“Oh, thank God. I don’t know. Tony stole a motorcycle
, and we’re heading out of the city. He wants to go to St. Petersburg.”

“Give me a landmark.”

Slowly, she lifted her head only to have a bullet zing past her ear. She screamed and ducked. “The whole Russian police force is shooting at us.”

“
I’ve located your GPS signal,” Mac said. “We’ll intercept.” He barked several things she couldn’t hear. “We’re on our way. Tell Tony to take EI05 and M10. We’ll meet up in Proletarsky near the Volga. I’ll contact you there.”

Tony maneuvered the bike like the leader in a NASCAR rally. Abby would wait until Falcon had safely taken care of the Russian police before she said anything. She didn’t want to distract him. Just then Tony took a left turn so sharp his shoe scraped the pavement.

The motorcycle wiggled several times as he fought for control. They were about to crash when miraculously Tony straightened up the wheels, and they sped faster than Abby had ever traveled on the ground.

The cold wind chilled her face and stung her bare hands. At least she had a warm body to snuggle against, where Tony had nothing between him and the bitter wind.

Two cars drew parallel to them then a large delivery truck pulled in front of the car on the right, causing it to swerve off the road.

Seconds later
, a car squeezed between them and the police car. Shots echoed, and Abby screamed when Tony slid off the road and onto the gravel shoulder.

As Tony managed to get the bike back on the pavement, the police car skidded up an embankment and exploded. The vehicle that had run interference dropped back, blocking the others chasing them.

Soon, they left the city behind, and Tony slowed the motorcycle to a normal speed. As he gradually pulled off the road, Abby glanced over her shoulder. Thankfully, no one followed.

She swung off the motorcycle with legs the consistency of Jell-O and a heart struggling to return to a normal rhythm. Not trusting her trembling body, she slumped to the ground and heaved a sigh.
God, what an ordeal
.

After releasing the kickstand, Tony got off the bike then sat down beside her.

Words refused to form in her mouth, which was dryer than a desert. Her hands trembled while she concentrated on breathing normally. She wrapped her arms around her waist and shook.

Tony cupped his cold hand over her trembling fingers. “I think we’re safe. At least for a while.”

She continued to shiver. Slowly, he pulled her against him and stroked and kissed her hair. His touch brought comfort and assurance. She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him as her only hope.

His chin on the top of her head, he rubbed her back, taking her places she hadn’t been
for so long. She leaned close and captured his natural scent of wilderness, untamed longing, and masculinity. She dared not open that door.

With one last sigh, she released him and looked at his handsome, battered face. The startling gray eyes appeared darker.
With a face like a Greek God, and a body to die for, he created a need in her she couldn’t explain.

“While we were flying through the streets, I called for backup
. Mac answered the phone. I think that was them back there. They managed to get the police off our tail.”

“Well, someone sure the hell did.”

“Anyway, Mac said for us to meet them in a place called Proletarsky, near the Volga River.”

He gazed out into the distance. “I know where it’s at.”

“Is it far?”

“Not really, but the ride is going to be cold.”

“I can take that.”

He stood and held out his hand. “Okay, let’s go.”

Refusing his help, she came to her feet using her own strength. After brushing the dirt from her clothes, she studied his strong features. “When we get there, I’m going with Mac. It’s time I jump ship.”

***

Tony’s pulse rate climbed and disappointment churned in his stomach. And here he’d thought she’d see this through. He didn’t blame her. He’d leave too if he didn’t have this driving need to continue to St. Petersburg.

Why stay with some jerk with no memory or idea of his true identity
? He didn’t even know where they were going or why. Worse, he had no idea what to expect once they reached the destination.

He looked at her long blond
e hair with its mixture of layered colors, her pale complexion, her full lips, and he thought of sex. Wild, crazy, monkey sex. The kind two people have when they’re really familiar with and trust each other. He and she had that once.

What happened?

With no answers, he swung back on the bike. “There’s a small place up ahead where we can stop and eat something. That’ll also give us a chance to get warm.”

She climbed on behind him. “Okay.” Once again
, she pressed her sweet body against his. “I can’t remember the last time I ate.”

“Me either.”

When they came to the small diner, he killed the engine and set the kickstand. He turned and handed her one of the guns he’d stashed. She stuffed it in the back waistband of her jeans and pulled her jacket in place to keep the weapon concealed.

He wondered if she’d ever held a gun, much less fired one. Instantly
, the word “no” rose into his memory, and an image of her crying as she backed away from him flashed through his mind. Had he at one time held her at gunpoint?

In the gravel parking lot, several vehicles took up the spaces in front of the restaurant. Darkness slowly intruded, depriving them of warmth from the weak sun. Blowing into his palms, Tony realized the temperature
was dropping by the minute.

Opening the door
to the diner, he allowed Abby to enter then he took a small table at the far end of the cafe. Most people minded their own business and went about eating their evening meal.

When asked what she wanted to eat
, Abby ordered Borscht soup, bread, and tea. He ordered fish, pelmeni, and roasted vegetables with coffee to drink.

The food arrived quickly and they ate in silence, not wanting to draw
attention He’d eaten half his meal when two policemen came into the diner and sat at the counter. They eyed everyone in the room, Watching Abby closely. Tony stiffened. They could simply be admiring a beautiful woman, but he had his doubts.

When Abby looked at him, he rolled his eyes to the policemen and motioned for her to hurry. She quickly consumed her soup, gulped her tea then excused herself to go to the bathroom.

The officer’s eyes stayed glued to Abby’s sweet ass. Scraping his chair back loudly as he stood, Tony went to the register to pay. As he put the change in his pocket, Abby joined him near the exit.

When he opened the door
of the diner, one of the policemen stood. “Where are you two going?”

“St. Petersburg.” Tony faced them boldly. “To visit my family.” He’d learned long ago
to never show weakness to a Russian. They were like animals; they could smell fear.

“Are you driving the motorcycle?”

“Yes,” he said, carefully putting Abby behind him.

The officer laughed then sat back down. “You
’re in for a cold ride. Good thing you have a warm body to keep you from freezing.”

Tony nodded
, and they left the restaurant, got on the cycle then drove away. They hadn’t gone five miles when Tony heard sirens. Trying to remain calm, he continued at a consistent speed, hoping he and Abby weren’t the reason for the fast approaching vehicle.

The police car came into view in the mirror on his right side. Not wanting to be chased the next eighty miles, Tony pulled over and killed the motor.

Abby’s grip tightened. “What do they want? Do you think the authorities in Moscow radioed them about us?”

“Let’s just wait and see what they say. Stay behind me.”

They got off the bike in unison.

The taller, lean policeman stepped out on the driver’s side, while his partner opened the passenger’s door.

The arrogant smirks on their faces suggested they were mean, bored, and definitely looking for trouble. Nothing about their casual stance implied they were after a man and the woman who had aided his escape from Lubyanka. Their laughter let Tony know these thugs had something else on their minds… Unfortunately, she stood behind him.

“What is it,
Officer? Have we broken the law?” He braced his feet and flexed his fists.

“No, you broke no laws. But we have a few questions for the woman.” The policeman leaned to the right, trying to get a look at Abby.

Tony moved to block his view. “Go ahead and ask.”

Abby stepped beside him. “What do you want?”

“Come to the car. We’ll talk to you there.” He waved his hand with a greedy smile. “Out of the cold.”

“If I have
n’t broken the law, then ask me here, in front of my husband.”

The shorter officer rested his hand on his holstered gun. “Do as he says. I
’ll keep your husband company.”

The taller man with the beard bowed and motioned for her to
come closer.

His head lowered, Tony looked at Abby and smiled. “She’s not getting in that fucking car with you.”
He reached out and grabbed the smaller man by his gun, turned it and shot the tall officer in the leg then forced the barrel of the gun down and shot the other man in the foot. Both policemen screamed in agony and rage.

“You think you can do as you please with another man’s wife?”

With his hands in the air, the officer stumbled backward as his eyes widened with fear. The policeman obviously realized how foolish he’d been to mistake them for an easy mark. “I only had a few questions.” He paused and looked to his partner for support. “There was a robbery nearby, and she fits the description.”

“That’s a fucking lie, dickhead. I knew what you had on your mind the minute you stepped out of the car. You want to shove your weight around a little. Rattle the citizens, have your way with a man’s wife.”

“No, no that was not my plan at all.”

“It isn’t now,” Tony said. He looked at the two injured men then at Abby. “Get in.”

Abby swiftly obeyed his orders. After removing the men’s weapons, Tony kicked the bike down a ravine then got in the car. He hated men who used their authority to get what they wanted, and he especially hated any man who touched a woman without her consent.

Leaving them behind, he drove away, while Abby adjusted the heater in the small car. “Better transportation.”

“It’s warmer at least.”

She looked back. “I hope they freeze.”

“I hope no one picks them up before we meet up with Mac.”

The purr of the car compared to the roar of the motorcycle proved to be quite an improvement.
Tony made a mental note to never steal a bike, except in nice weather like that time in Spain.

Applying the brakes slowly, Tony pulled to the side of the road and put the car in park. He leaned back and closed his eyes. In an instant
, he was on the streets of Spain, no Morocco, with a dozen vehicles in pursuit. The screeching wheels, the crowded bazaar, the smell of roasting lamb, and a briefcase on the back of the bike.

A hand touched his shoulder and
he jumped. “What?”

“Are you okay?”
Abby asked. Her blue eyes were soft and caring. “You seemed so far away. Did you remember something else?”

“Yes, a chase in the streets of Morocco. I had some valuable information for the Israelis. A matter of national security. I delivered it to a man named Saul Bin Meir. He was Mossad.”

“Maybe that’s the way your memory is going to return. A little at a time.”

“I don’t remember how I got there, exactly what was in the briefcase, or what happened after I left Bin Meir.”
He cupped his palms over his nose and mouth, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. What if he never remembered everything? What if he had a family, a wife? Was he an accountant or a spy?

He dropped his hands and leaned back against the headrest. Accountants didn’t end up in Russia’s most notorious jail. And when he looked at Abby
, something told him there was no other woman in his life. He wanted her too badly.