All the Way by Kimberley White Page B

going to cost him a pretty penny. He wants the exclusive story, photos, and—”
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    â€œLike Adriano, I want to break the story.”
    Adriano turned toward his partner but didn’t argue the point. Despite the kiss they’d shared, this was about business for him. She’d better never forget how danger, adrenalin, and being hurled into a life-threatening situation could throw two people together, heightening their emotions. Once it was over, he’d go back to his life. She’d go back to hers. Business for him, life or death for her.
    Jake was still explaining the paper’s position. “The paper will probably run a weekly series capitalizing on your story. Publishing companies will want a book. The compensation could help you start over.”
    â€œAnd you two get famous. You left out how you’ll benefit.”
    â€œIt is what it is, but we won’t take advantage of you,” he retorted.
    â€œJake, back off.” Adriano turned to her. “It’s not as callous as it sounds.”
    â€œI know.” She hesitated, softening her stance. “I want this nightmare over. Reliving it in a memoir doesn’t appeal to me. Interviews, photos, writing a book—I’ll never be able to put it behind me.”
    â€œIt’s a lot to digest, but we don’t have much choice. My help relies on the resources of Chicago City, so you’ll have to give us the story. Or we can take you to the authorities right now, and you won’t have to sell your story to anyone.”
    She watched him, trying to see past his dancing eyes to the truth. Did he want to be rid of her so easily?
    â€œI’ll keep you safe—I’ve already promised you that—but you’ll have to share the intimate details of your life with me.”
    She couldn’t explain the depth of her attachment to Adriano after only one day, but she didn’t want to do this without him.
    â€œYou need looking after, angel.”
    She studied him with a deep gaze that refused to let him look away.
    He placed a comforting hand on her knee. “Are we going to do this?”

    The plan was simple. Stay alive, retrieve Payton’s calendar, and get her to the FBI headquarters in Columbia. Along the way, Adriano would get his story and try to figure out what was so important about Payton’s planner. He’d been in worse predicaments with Jake, and he had no doubt he’d get out of this one in one piece. He looked forward to being instrumental in taking down Grazicky and his drug empire. What scared him was his rampantly growing attraction to Payton.
    No woman had ever instantly revved his motor and fired him up so quickly. Everything about her was appealing. Mentally battered and physically beaten, she held her head high, keeping up with him every step of the way. Not once had she complained about their walk through the cornfields and farms on her aching feet. Other than the episode with the fire ants, she hadn’t groused about anything. She trusted his decisions, depending on him to keep her safe.
    Jake drove, with Adriano following the directions provided by Mr. Conners to the house where they would shelter until they could enact the next phase of their plan. Instead of running, they would root themselves on an obscure farm deep in the backwoods of South Carolina—let their chasers come to them, giving them the advantage of being familiar with the territory. Adriano could put safeguards in place. He couldn’t do that if they kept running without a sense of direction. In the morning, Jake would return with the essentials they needed, and then they would map out their best route to Columbia. And there was still the matter of retrieving Payton’s planner.
    Jake drove quietly, not disturbing the contemplative mood inside the car, although Adriano caught him glancing in the rearview mirror at Payton every few miles. Payton’s attention