Once Upon a Snowball Fight Book 2

JACKSON

Damn it! Had we arrived too late? We hustled as fast as we could.

Walker and I quickly scanned the room before we approached Colonel Banks, who was bound to a chair. His head was drooping. I pulled out my knife and cut the ropes around his legs first, then his arms.

As soon as he was free, Banks slumped forward and Walker caught him.

“Grab his other arm. We need to get out of here,” Walker commanded.

Walker and I hoisted Banks up between us. He groaned as we lifted him. He was alive, and that was all that mattered.

We exchanged a quick nod and made a beeline for the exit, running as fast as we could. The bunker’s narrow corridors made it difficult for us to stay side by side.

We emerged under a starlit night sky. The two soldiers who had stayed outside were flat on the ground.

“Someone’s coming,” one of them whispered.

“Head to the riverbank, now,” Walker ordered.

Each soldier grabbed one of Banks’s legs and we moved faster than before. All six of us crept along the riverbank. Banks was unconscious, so we had to carry him.

The sound of a vehicle alerted us that we weren’t alone anymore. We had about three minutes to escape.

“Into the river, now,” I commanded.

We all slipped into the river silently. Banks’s head had to be kept above water; it was clear he had been heavily drugged. His breathing was shallow, his heartbeat weak. I was worried about him.

The only thing going for us was the river’s current. The once quiet night was now filled with voices. I strained my ears and picked up a few words in Spanish.

They had discovered us, and we had to move faster. The river was an obvious escape route, so Walker and I ordered everyone to swim.

Several vehicles arrived, their lights illuminating the area as they searched for us.

“Keep moving,” Walker whispered over the sound of the water.

Swimming with all our gear and carrying a man who couldn’t move was challenging. We had to reach the river’s mouth where it met the sea. Our pickup would be waiting there.

Lights from the vehicles swept across the land and reflected off the riverbanks. We swam as fast as we could, all six of us pushing ourselves to the limit.

The threat of being discovered, or worse, losing my life, became all too real. In the past, during times like these, I would worry about my parents. But now, as we swam down the river, thoughts of Charlotte filled my mind.

After a while, Walker signaled for us to move closer to the riverbanks. He needed to check if our boat was there before we ventured out into the open.

He cupped his hands around his mouth, hooted, and waited for a response. When we heard a double hoot in return, we knew our rescue was nearby.

We continued swimming out into the sea. The only light came from the stars. We were lucky that it was a new moon, so there was less light.

Walker kept hooting, pinpointing the boat’s location. We reached the black dinghy and got Banks in first, then we all climbed in.

With the silent motor, we headed out to sea, where a larger ship was waiting for us.

I took several deep breaths. “Good job, team,” I whispered.

I felt the chain around my neck and absentmindedly traced its intricate links. Charlotte. My heart ached with a pain I didn’t want to feel. I loved my parents, but now that I had Charlotte, I didn’t want to die.

It took us about an hour to reach the ship. We rushed Banks to the medical bay while the others showered and changed into fresh, dry clothes.

After I joined them, I ran my fingers through my hair and said a silent prayer before we were called in for a meeting.

CHARLOTTE

I was back at work. It felt good to be back in the office. I greeted the receptionists as I passed them and headed for the elevator.

I had a daunting task ahead of me—finding an affordable place to live while catching up on a mountain of work. Claire had been wonderful, letting me stay with her until I found a place, but her couch wasn’t a long-term solution, and I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.

Several staff members were waiting for the elevator. I knew Mr. Simpson would already be in his office making calls. I smiled as I entered the elevator, holding my tongue as Tamzin was also inside.

Before she could say anything, I struck up a conversation with another staff member. I headed straight for my desk when I got to my floor.

There were several stacks of files waiting for me to organize for Mr. Simpson. I had a framed photo of Jackson and me on my desk so I could see him every day.

I smiled, put my bag in the bottom drawer of my desk, grabbed my notepad, and knocked on Mr. Simpson’s door.

“Come in,” he called.

He looked up, saw me, and gestured for me to sit as he finished his call. “Good to see you back, Charlotte. How was your vacation?” he asked warmly.

“It was wonderful, Mr. Simpson,” I replied.

“I managed to get through most of the projects I had planned over the holidays. My wife was about to burn them because I brought my work home,” he chuckled.

“You really should take a break too, you know.”

“You know me, always trying to close a deal. Anyway, I have a folder I want you to go through and organize. It’s all ideas at the moment, but I want you to set up a meeting with the Jamersons so we can outline the deal.” He handed me a folder.

“Okay, I’ll get on that as soon as I’ve gone through the other documents on my desk.”

“Oh, and I want to host a dinner party for the Kaine deal. We’re set to close it next week.”

“That’s great. Do you want to have it at the usual place?”

“Yes, set a date for next Friday, if you can.”

“Consider it done. Anything else while I’m here?”

“How’s your family? I know you went home to get away,” he interlaced his fingers in front of him. He knew I had avoided going home in the past.

“It was a great trip. I fell in love,” I confessed, blushing slightly.

“Isn’t that the guy from the design department you were living with?” His face contorted into a scowl, brimming with fury.

I responded, “Yes and no,” my voice laced with uncertainty. “I went home to get away from him. And ended up falling for my childhood neighbor. I never knew how much I cared for him. Our families were always at odds, but when I left to return here, there was a surprising sense of peace between them.”

I laughed, recalling Frankie and his unique way with words.

“So, where’s this man who’s stolen your heart?”

“He’s serving in the marines. He’s on some recovery mission, and I’m praying he’s safe.”

My stomach churned with anxiety. Yet, my voice was filled with excitement as I animatedly shared my experiences at home and with Jackson, my words echoing with joy and pleasure.

“Love can do strange things to a man, Charlotte. He’ll be back in your arms before you know it.”

He winked at me.

“Well, I need to find a home first.”

I felt tears welling up but quickly regained my composure.

“Where are you staying now?”

“At Claire’s house. But it’s just a temporary arrangement.”

Mr. Simpson drummed his fingers on his desk. He rummaged through a drawer and produced a keycard.

“Here, take this. It’s for the penthouse in the Hartley building, close by. It comes with secure underground parking. We’re not using it at the moment, it was meant for Edward, but he’s hardly ever around, so you’re more than welcome to it. Consider it a job perk. Just keep it under wraps.”

He winked again.

I was speechless, my mouth opening and closing without uttering a word.

“We have a lot to cover today. If you want to leave early to move, I suggest you get cracking.”

He ran a finger over a document while dialing a number.

That was my signal to exit and keep quiet. I rose from my seat and headed out to tackle the pile of work awaiting me. Mr. Simpson’s generosity had left me stunned.

Now I had a place of my own, and when Jackson visited, I wouldn’t have to worry about others overhearing us. I smiled, thinking of him and longing to be in his arms again.

I picked up the file Mr. Simpson had handed me, skimmed through it, and jotted down notes before starting to plan the party for the Kaine deal.

I wrapped up with an hour to spare. After getting the key to her place from Claire, I went back and packed my belongings, which consisted of an old suitcase and a few bags.

I left a bottle of champagne for Claire and handed her key to her neighbor as she had asked. I drove to the apartments, parked my car in the designated spot, and unloaded my stuff.

The elevator took me to the penthouse, which was one of two occupying the entire rooftop.

I swiped the card, opened the door, and switched on the lights. I dropped my suitcase and bags on the floor, standing there in disbelief.

“Wow…”

The place was massive. I closed the door and explored the rooms. Two bedrooms, each with an ensuite, an additional bathroom, and the largest open-plan living kitchen area I had ever seen, complete with a wraparound balcony.

There was no food, so after unpacking in one of the bedrooms, I grabbed my bag and headed out to the grocery store. My life had just taken a significant turn for the better, and all I needed now was for Jackson to return to me.