Christmas Protection Detail

by Terri Reed

  Kaitlyn studied his posture. “Don’t hold yourself so stiff. Let your body relax into the motion of the horse.”

  “That’s easy for you to say.”

  “Don’t worry, Nick. It’s not too much farther.” She urged Star Lord to pick up the pace.

  When they hit the edge of the forest, Kaitlyn reined Star Lord to a stop. Groot halted, as well.

  “We’ll ride along the edge of the tree line,” she told Nick as she scanned the cleared airstrip ahead of them. “Less visible that way, in case Reece has men stationed here.”

  Nick nodded in agreement, still looking very much out of his element of sports cars and black-tie parties. But he was trying, and Kaitlyn couldn’t deny the admiration swelling within her.

  When they made it behind the hangar, Kaitlyn hopped off her horse and dropped the reins. She called the resort and asked for someone to come take the horses to the hotel’s stables. Leslie would retrieve them later.

  “You make it look so easy. Kait, I’ll need assistance.”

  Smiling inwardly because she was sure it cost him to ask for help, Kaitlyn proceeded to talk him through the dismount. When his feet landed on the ground, he stumbled backward. She reflexively grabbed his shoulders in a steadying grip.

  He turned to face her. He was inches away. Their gazes locked.

  “You did well,” she said. Why was she so breathless?

  “Thanks to you,” he replied.

  His gaze dropped to her lips and then returned to her eyes. Attraction flared. He reached up to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering, his touch electrifying. Slowly, he traced the line of her jaw with a featherlight touch. “Kaitlyn.”

  A shiver of yearning coursed through her veins. But now was not the time. They had an important mission to accomplish. Giving in to this thing arcing between them wouldn’t be smart. She cleared her throat and stepped back. “We need to get going.”

  Dropping his hand to his side, he nodded. Resignation flashed in his eyes. She hesitated with regret for letting the moment pass by, but it couldn’t be helped. She needed to stay focused.

  Inside the steel-beamed, metal, sixty-foot-high hangar, Nick led the way to the office. The woman behind the counter smiled brightly. “Mr. Delaney. The plane’s ready to go.”

  He wrote out their destination and flight plan on the log sheet. Once the paperwork was completed, Nick and Kaitlyn hurried over to his plane, a beautiful, sleek aircraft with red stripes that made her think of a race car. A single jet engine rode on the top of the plane in front of the V-shaped tail. Figured Nick would have a top-of-the-line, sporty aircraft.

  The door was open, and the folding steps extended out.

  “This is sweet,” Kaitlyn said, impressed and a bit awed.

  Nick smoothed a hand over the polished white wing. “A Cirrus jet with a few custom modifications, including high-tech autopiloting and safety features. The best money can buy.”

  “Of course,” she said, unable to keep the dry tone out of her voice.

  With a shrug, he said, “What can I say? Wealth comes with privilege.”

  “And responsibility,” she added. “The amount of money you spent on this could help a lot of people.”

  One eyebrow arched. “You think we only spend our wealth on ourselves?” He shook his head, his expression darkening with clear disappointment. He held out his hand. “Ladies first.”

  Hesitating, she had to admit she had no idea if the Delaneys were charitable or not. A prick of guilt stung her, making her amend that thought. The Delaney family had rebuilt the sheriff’s department after a fire destroyed most of the building, and they gave to the church, if the church secretary was to be believed. And Kaitlyn couldn’t think of a reason Joann would make up a story. And Maya had said that the Delaneys had covered Brady’s summer camp expense last year.

  Kaitlyn had always assumed it was Ian behind the giving. But was Nick as generous?

  Something she definitely needed to discover before she made any more snap judgments about him.

  Aware that he waited to help her onto the plane, she grasped his hand, their palms fitting together nicely. Warmth shimmied through her and she was afraid her cheeks were turning pink. She stepped up the stairs and paused to glance back at him. He let go of her and tucked his hands into his jacket pockets.

  Missing his touch, she sighed at her own confusing emotions, boarded the plane and came to an abrupt halt as her gaze landed on a man in a wool coat with graying hair.

  In his hand he held a Glock, aimed at her chest.

  TWELVE

  “Come in, Mr. Delaney,” a man called out from within the plane. “Join us, please.”

  Adrenaline spiking at the unfamiliar voice, Nick halted on the stairs to the plane’s small cabin. Kaitlyn blocked his path. She’d stopped in the doorway and had drawn her weapon. His heart stalled.

  Kaitlyn glanced over her shoulder at Nick. He sucked in a sharp breath at the distress on her lovely face. She ducked her head and moved farther into the plane, allowing Nick to enter. The interior of the custom-built personal jet consisted of two pairs of single bucket seats facing each other, with a small table between them, on either side of a short aisle. Headroom was limited, but there was ample space to maneuver within.

  Nick’s gaze locked onto an older man who sat in one of the forward-facing plush leather seats. He had salt-and-pepper hair and wore a cashmere coat over a very expensive-looking Italian suit. And held a gun in his hand aimed at Kaitlyn’s heart.

  Another man sat in the copilot’s seat. He was one of the thugs who’d attacked them in the hospital and who’d tried to breach the estate. He also held a weapon trained on Kaitlyn.

  “Put the gun on the floor, Deputy,” the well-dressed man instructed.

  “No.” Kaitlyn held steady. “You put down yours.”

  The man shook his head with a twist of his lips. “Really, Deputy, you should do as I ask.”

  In a swift move, the thug seated in the copilot’s seat vaulted to his feet and rammed his shoulder into Nick’s gut. Momentarily stunned, Nick doubled over, his eyes watering.

  Kaitlyn swiveled toward Nick. The thug then rushed her, his big, beefy hands wrenching the gun from her grip.

  The weapon skittered across the floor beneath the seats.

  “Both of you take a seat,” the well-dressed man demanded.

  The thug pushed Kaitlyn into the seat across from the man in charge. Her expression was filled with anger.

  Nick figured she was mad at herself for letting the big guy get the better of her. Nick understood her frustration. The guy had moved so quickly, Nick hadn’t been prepared. He would be if there was a next time. He took the unoccupied forward-facing seat across from their captor. His mind whirled. Could he reach underneath the seat for Kaitlyn’s weapon? Was there something else he could use as a defense against these men?

  “I take it you’re Harrison Reece,” Kaitlyn said, her voice rife with disdain.

  The man’s mouth curved in a semblance of a smile, but his cold blue eyes were empty of emotion. “What gave me away?”

  “Your arrogance,” Kaitlyn shot back.

  “Nice comeback, Deputy. Hand over your cell phones.”

  The thug moved from the cockpit to take their reluctantly produced phones. He dropped them into a black bag he stashed under the copilot’s seat before sitting back down.

  Harrison turned his gaze to Nick. “I knew it would be only a matter of time before you showed up here.” He flicked a glance at Kaitlyn. “Nice strategy, trying to confuse my men by having the other deputies going in different directions, hoping my men wouldn’t know whom to follow.”

  Nick met Kaitlyn’s gaze and saw his own frustration reflected in her eyes.

  “What did you do with the pilot?” Kaitlyn asked.

  Harrison kept
his gaze on Nick. “Mr. Delaney is the pilot.”

  Nick held the man’s gaze, but he could feel Kaitlyn staring at him. He may have forgotten to mention that he was planning on flying the jet. “And what if I refuse?”

  Harrison’s malicious expression sent a chill down Nick’s spine. “I’m sure we can think of all kinds of things to do with Deputy Lanz that would give you incentive to cooperate.”

  Nick growled. “You touch a hair on her head and you’re a dead man.”

  The thought of anything happening to Kaitlyn hurt Nick in deep places he’d never experienced before and filled him with a violent urge to smash his fist into the man’s nose. Did that mean Nick loved Kaitlyn? He shut the thought down. Now was not the time to be thinking of his emotions. He needed to keep a clear head.

  “Tsk, tsk.” The smug expression on Harrison’s face soured Nick’s stomach. “We all know she’s the protector. Not you.”

  Nick wanted to show Harrison just how wrong he was, but decided giving in to his anger wouldn’t be a smart move. Better to get as much information out of Harrison as possible, then figure out an escape plan for him and Kaitlyn.

  “I’ll pilot the plane if you tell me what I want to know,” Nick said.

  Kaitlyn stared at him. “No.”

  Giving Kaitlyn a pointed look, Nick said, “Yes.”

  “I hate to interrupt this little lovers’ spat, but we need to go. If you get the plane in the air, I’ll gladly answer all your questions, not that it’s going to matter.”

  Nick didn’t miss the implication. They wouldn’t be alive to do anything with any information he might share. But they were alive now and he would figure out a way for them to survive.

  “And make no mistake, Mr. Delaney—you alert the authorities in any way, your girlfriend here will die a slow and painful death,” Harrison added.

  Stomach curdling from the threat, Nick forced himself to stand, though not fully, to avoid scraping his head on the ceiling.

  He stepped into the short aisle and put a hand on Kaitlyn’s shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Trust me. I’ve got this.” For Kaitlyn and for Rosie.

  A myriad of emotions bounced across her face. Worry, regret, anger and something that sent his heart rate soaring. He was afraid to label her look. Better to hold it close until he could ask her exactly what she was feeling toward him. If they managed to live long enough.

  He walked into the cockpit and prayed as he’d never prayed before. Lord, we need You here, right now!

  * * *

  Trust Nick? Kaitlyn didn’t even have to think twice about it. She did trust him. She wasn’t sure when she’d begun to think of him as a capable protector. When she’d seen the fierce look of protectiveness on his face when he looked at Rosie? When he’d vowed to keep her safe? Regardless, her opinion of him had definitely changed over the past few days. She no longer considered him irresponsible or superficial. He’d proved time and time again he was the opposite. Her heart fluttered with emotions she didn’t have time to examine.

  Nick was a pilot, too, like his brother, Ian.

  Wow. Never would she have guessed. She’d assumed there would be a hired pilot to fly them to DC.

  She watched as Nick took a seat in the pilot’s chair. The man was full of surprises. Why was it she discovered astonishing information about Nick at the most inopportune times?

  Reece’s henchman closed the plane’s cabin door and Nick fired up the engine. Kaitlyn put on her seat belt, making sure it was tight and fastened well.

  The thug sat in the seat Nick had vacated. He had a clear line of sight to Nick within the cockpit and to Kaitlyn. He held his weapon on his lap, the barrel aimed at her.

  She narrowed her gaze at him. “Why are you doing this? You know he’ll dispose of you the minute you are no longer useful.”

  “Frank, don’t listen to her,” Harrison said. “Deputy, I suggest you be quiet or I’ll have Frank tape your mouth closed.”

  Frank smiled with relish, as if the idea of manhandling her appealed to him. “You grazed my arm. I told you in the hospital you’d pay.”

  Yes, he had, but she hadn’t given it much thought. All law enforcement officers were trained to expect such threats from those on the wrong side of the law. And though Bristle Township was small, she’d encountered a few unruly tourists over the years who’d vowed to get even when she’d hauled them in for some offense or other. Though the first time she’d been verbally threatened had been by Jason, her former college boyfriend, when she’d refused his advances. And he’d gotten even, as he’d said he would.

  She sent a prayer that this thug wouldn’t be allowed to exact his revenge. And that God would give her the strength to overcome the sense of powerlessness poking at her, trying to shake her confidence.

  The plane eased out of the hangar. She twisted around so she could watch Nick. He put on a headset and was doing things with the gauges and the instruments. His voice was loud and clear as he gave the call sign for the plane, telling the control tower they were taking off.

  Nick glanced back and met her gaze. He gave her a short nod and turned forward, his focus on getting them off the ground.

  Kaitlyn’s hands gripped the armrests of her seat. She didn’t like flying. She’d only flown once in her life. That was when her family had gone to Oregon and then driven out to the coast. The commercial jet ride had been bumpy, and she’d suffered motion sickness. She prayed she didn’t get sick today. That would just make things worse.

  They were all silent as the plane taxied out onto the runway. The engines roared with the uptick in speed. She tightened her hold on the armrests. The plane shot forward, the nose of the aircraft lifting toward the sky. Kaitlyn braced herself, pushing backward in her seat to counter the force of the plane climbing in altitude. The sensation of lifting off was bad enough facing forward. Facing the back of the plane was horrible. It took all her strength to keep herself from doing a face-plant into the little table separating her from Reece. The seat belt strap dug in, driving the radio hooked to her belt loop beneath her jacket into her hip. Thankfully, the thug hadn’t searched her when she’d entered the plane. Kaitlyn’s fingers tingled with the urge to grab the radio and alert Alex to what was going on, but Harrison’s hard gaze was steady on her. She’d have to figure out a way to activate the device without the egocentric maniac noticing.

  Once they were in the sky, the plane leveled off.

  “Give him the coordinates,” Harrison said to Frank.

  Frank nodded, unbuckled and headed to the cockpit. He handed Nick a piece of paper, then settled into the copilot’s seat.

  “Where are we going?” Kaitlyn asked as she peeled her hands from the armrests. She shoved them into her pockets and tried surreptitiously to maneuver the radio dial. She didn’t know if the frequency would interfere with the plane’s technology, but at this point, what choice did she have? She couldn’t quite manage to grip the small dial. Noticing Harrison’s sharp gaze, she stilled and clenched her teeth in frustration.

  “Does it matter?” Harrison replied.

  She supposed it didn’t. One way or another, she had to figure out a way for the two of them to survive this ordeal. They had so much waiting for them. Little Rosie. Kaitlyn’s parents, her fellow deputies, who were like family, and her friends. And whatever it was that was developing between her and Nick. Did she want a chance to explore these uncomfortable yet thrilling emotions gathering inside of her? Maybe. Please, God, let us get out of this.

  After a few minutes of flying, there was a subtle shift in the trajectory of the plane. Then they were banking. Kaitlyn could only guess they were heading north to Canada.

  Harrison held out his hand. “The flash drive.”

  She tightened her fist around the device in her jacket pocket.

  Harrison raised his gun. “Hand it over.”

  Her heart jump
ed in her throat. The 9 mm round in his Glock could potentially pass through her body and out the side of the plane. She wasn’t exactly sure what would happen, but she imagined it would be bad. “Are you really willing to risk a stray bullet in an aircraft?” she asked. “We could go down.”

  “I’m an expert marksman,” he said. “I don’t miss.”

  Kaitlyn wasn’t sure she believed him. If he shot her, even if she managed to survive the wound, firing a round inside the small aircraft would definitely cause damage and put Nick’s life at risk. She couldn’t do that to him. Rosie needed Nick alive. And Kaitlyn needed to stay focused on an escape plan. She wouldn’t take any chances that might prevent Nick and herself from making it out of this ordeal alive. The sheriff’s department had a copy of the evidence that would incriminate Reece and Holtsen Pharmaceuticals in the selling of tainted drugs. She would have to be content with that. She slid the flash drive across the table to him.

  He pocketed the device. “I assume your sheriff’s department made a copy. But you’ll never crack this code. It’s something of my own design.”

  Anger and frustration rippled through Kaitlyn. She didn’t know how they were going to get out of this situation. She shifted in the seat. The two-way handheld radio poked her in the side again. The radio was their only hope. She crossed her arms over her chest, shoving one hand inside her jacket, trying not to look too obvious as she reached for the radio.

  Needing to distract Harrison, she said, “Tell me about Lexi. Why did you have her killed?”

  “I didn’t want her dead,” Harrison said. “My men—” he flicked a disparaging glance at his bodyguard seated next to Nick “—were overzealous in their pursuit. I just wanted her and the flash drive back. I actually loved her.”

  Her fingers grasped the dial, but she hesitated. What if the radio crackled as it did sometimes?

  She needed a cover noise. The only idea she had was to cough. Taking in air, she forced out a coughing fit as she twisted the dial.