Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“I typically wore a full face of makeup in the city, so maybe a natural look will be the best disguise,” I tell Atlas. “I’ll darken my eyebrows, though, to match the wig.”
He gives me a nod, looking pleased.
“Do I get an alias?”
“You do. I told Dr. Navarro we don’t want any insurance claims or a digital trail. She’s a former military medic and a friend, so she didn’t ask any questions. She has you down in her book as Jennifer Smith.”
“Jennifer Smith.” I try out the name. The two Jennifers I’ve known were quite a bit older than me, and it occurs to me that maybe that’s why the name came to Atlas’s mind.
“One more thing.” He pulls a cell phone from his pocket. “This is yours now, though it’s not traceable to you in any way. You won’t be alone, so you shouldn’t need it, but you should have it anyway.” As I take it from him, he adds, “All our numbers are programmed in.”
In my former life, my phone had been like one of my appendages, vital and always attached. It’s funny to think how much I’ve gotten used to not carrying one.
When I come downstairs the next day in my Jennifer disguise, I receive mixed reviews from the men. I’m wearing the brown wig and darkened eyebrows as planned. I also got creative with the brown eyeshadow and blended it into my skin to narrow my nose and sculpt my cheekbones.
Atlas’s eyes do a quick scan before he gives a satisfied nod. “Good. That’ll work.”
Grizz crosses his arms and squints at me. “Yeah, it’ll work, but for the record, I like your real hair better. And your real face.”
A flush creeps up my neck. “Well, thank you. This is just for today.”
“Good,” he mutters.
Meanwhile, Viper doesn’t say a thing, but his eyes inventory every strand of the dark wig and every color shaded on my face. His gaze moves with precision, and by the time he’s done, I feel like I’m standing there naked.
“Ready to go?” Atlas asks.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I say before following him to the mudroom. When he gives me a curious look, I ignore my nerves and say, “It feels strange, wearing the wig.”
“We shouldn’t be gone long. It’s a twenty-minute drive into town, and Viper and I will do our shopping while you’re in with the doctor,” Atlas says.
“I’ll be with you at the clinic,” Grizz says, before hastily adding, “In the waiting room.”
When we’re all in our winter gear, we step outside, the three men flanking me. Grizz helps me up into the backseat of the big truck I usually see parked out front. Atlas drives, and Viper sits in the passenger seat.
It’s a clear day, and thankfully sunny, so I won’t look out of place wearing the sunglasses, though maybe the weather forecast factored into the plan for today’s outing. I don’t know if I’ll feel one hundred percent safe out in public ever again, but being escorted by these three men puts me as much at ease as I can possibly be.
Regardless, my nerves are humming when, exactly twenty minutes later, Atlas rolls into a quaint town, pretty as a picture, except for the graying piles of snow at the street corners and smaller piles along the curbs.
The various buildings that line both sides of the street look like they were transported here from a different time. A bank, a bakery, an office with real estate listings posted in the windows. All of it quaint and picturesque.
Atlas eases down the main street and pulls into the lot for a small brick building with a discreet sign announcing the Moon Ridge Medical Center. There’s an American flag out front, a couple of other cars and trucks in the lot, and a small ramp leading up to the front door.
After putting the truck in park, Atlas turns in his seat. “Grizz goes in with you. The truck will be parked right up the street where we’re picking up supplies.”
Grizz nods in a way that gives me the impression every detail of this mission has been carefully planned.
“Things should be fine at the clinic,” Atlas says, “but any problems, you walk out. You call me. Understood?”
My fingers tighten around the strap of the small purse Atlas bought for me. “Understood.”
Grizz gets out, then comes around to my side and opens the door before I can get to it. He offers his hand as if I’m something breakable and gives me a wink. “Ready, Jennifer?”
I suck in a breath, put on my big sunglasses, and step out into the wintry air. “Ready.”
CHAPTER 14
KIRA
The clinic looks clean, but lived-in. I’m shown into an exam room right away, where I tuck my sunglasses into my purse and change into the ubiquitous paper gown.
After only a few minutes, there’s a knock on the door, and a lean woman wearing dark scrubs comes into the room. She’s carrying a laptop, but she offers me her free hand. “Maria Navarro.”