by Cindy Skaggs
“And when the bouncer isn’t there?”
“With a smile on my lips and a big stick in my hands.”
“Or a shotgun.”
“That would be illegal.”
“Not in Texas.”
Debi choked out a laugh. It was still illegal to pull a loaded shotgun on a civilian, but she got his point. “So am I supposed to be the distracting smile or the shotgun?”
“This isn’t a metaphor.”
“But if it were?” She really needed to know where she fit into the plan, and better yet, where she fit into the outcome.
“You’re the customer at the far end of the bar. I’m the distraction and the rest of the team is the shotgun. If we do things right, Echo will never see it coming.”
“And what happens to the customer at the end of the bar?”
He turned to her, blessing her with a devastating smile that did funny things to the butterflies winging through her stomach. “The cute customer at the end of the bar will enjoy a second round on the house.”
“Make it a double. Top shelf tequila. Proximo 1800.”
“Sounds expensive,” he teased.
“The customer at the end of the bar is worth it.”
He winked. “Is she, now?”
“Definitely. Worth it.”
“You and Lauren have a thing for tequila.”
The first day Rose barreled into their lives, Lauren had been recovering from a few rounds with Jose Cuervo. “The tequila thing started as a dare years ago. Are you trying to distract me?”
“Does it matter?”
Not really. She needed a distraction. Rose was driving like a granny, making wrong turns and ending up caught in slow traffic that delayed progress, and all she could think about was the loser from Echo behind them. “What’s he driving?”
“An ice cream truck.”
She released tension with a smile. “Your humor always catches me by surprise.”
“I’m not sure why. I’m told I look funny.”
Not by any stretch of the imagination. “Do you have a girl back home? Because someone, somewhere has convinced you that you’re charming.”
“I am charming, and no, I don’t have a girl back home.” He took his eyes off the road long enough to smile, and he went from hard warrior to good-looking as sin. The smile could melt the ice cap. “What I have are sisters.”
“God help ‘em.” She couldn’t imagine overprotective Rose with sisters. He probably had them fitted for chastity belts when they hit puberty. “Did your poor sisters ever date?”
“Not when I was home.”
“So they had you kidnapped and sold to the Army.”
“No, but Iris—she’s the second to the youngest—tried to convince me to run away and join the circus.”
“She sounds fun.”
“She’s a pain in the ass. They all are, but...” He glanced back in the rearview mirror. “They’re mine.”
Antiquated and sweet at the same time. Debi turned her attention to their tail. “What’s he doing?”
“Getting antsy. He’s on the phone. We need to get back on the road. All this driving around has given our team time to get into position.”
Nervous energy swirled like a low-grade twister in the cab of the truck. Debi tugged at the hair band on her arm, snapping it against the tender skin on the underside of her wrist. As distractions went, the little snip of pain did nothing to take her mind off the danger. They passed the city limits sign and traffic thinned as the surrounding area turned rural. Now even she could see the sedan in the side mirror. “He’s getting closer.”
“He’s not trying to hide.”
“Is that a bad sign?” Probably a bad sign, but Rose simply shrugged. Was the soldier from Echo that confident in his abilities? Did he know something they didn’t? The truck’s clock counted two minutes of absolute silence. Debi cleared her throat. “How old are your sisters?”
“Twenty-seven, twenty-six, twenty-five. Two of them are twenty-five. Irish twins. The next oldest is twenty-three. That’s Iris. The youngest is twenty-two. Camy will graduate from nursing school in May.”
The information slid through her ears like a vapor. Her breathing went shallow and she couldn’t force enough oxygen through her lungs. A cigarette sounded fabulous right now. She snapped the band on her wrist. “Should I call Ryder? Let him know where we are?”
“They know where we are.”
“How?” Right now she was having a hard time taking things on faith.
“They still have a tracker app on your phone, sweetheart.”
“Oh.” She’d be mad at the intrusion—Ryder had done the same thing to Lauren—but right now, that tracker meant the good guys knew where they were and when they’d arrive at the ambush site. Debi swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Wait, am I counting right? How many sisters do you have?”
“Six.”
“That’s... Six. Sisters? You’re making that up to distract me.”
“Nope. Six sisters. Lily, Daisy, Ivy, Marigold, Iris, and Camellia. Camy’s the baby.”
“Where do you fit in birth order?”
“Oldest.”
Figured, given how he liked to control, plus the man had the first-born determination sitting in his square jaw. “The poor things with you for a brother.” Debi rubbed an ache in the back of her skull. They were on the highway now, speeding to an uncertain destiny.
“Save a little sympathy for me. Six girls are hard to raise.”
“And you did that?”
“Yeah. My old man left when Camy started kindergarten.”
“How old were you?”
“Thirteen.”
“Tough age to lose a father.”
“Wasn’t much of a loss. I was doing most of the work around the farm by then anyway. I helped Mom as much as I could. Joined the Army to make sure those that wanted went to college.”
Where did that sweet edge come from? He was supposed to be a hard-ass. “Wait a minute. Ivy Rose, Lily Rose. Those are all flower names. What is your first name? Rosebud?”
“It’s not a freaking flower name. My father named me.” He sped around a slower farm truck, his eyes constantly flipping from the front to the mirrors, keeping his focus on the tail. “Mom named the girls.”
“This is too good.” She rubbed her hands together. “You shouldn’t have given me this much ammunition.”
He stomped on the accelerator as they climbed a hill. “If we survive the next fifteen minutes, you can harass me all you like.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Wasn’t aiming for funny.”
The sudden rise as they crested the hill sent her stomach flying. Normally the tummy tickler at the top of the hill made her smile, but right now, she wanted to throw up. “Do you think he’s going to make a move before we get to the ranch?”
“I would.”
“You know you’re supposed to lie to me to make me feel better?”
“Wrong. My job is to protect. Being unprepared will get you killed. You need to accept the reality of the situation.”
The sedan hugged their bumper as they sped down the hill faster than the speed limit. “Reality sucks.”
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“What are you, a freaking billboard?” The lake on her right barreled past, giving her a sense of vertigo. The curve at the bottom of the hill wavered in her vision. She dug her fingers into the armrest. “We won’t make it at this speed.”
“Won’t need to.”
She yanked on the seatbelt, locking it tight around her midsection. “I really don’t want to end up in the same ditch as Lauren’s truck.” Lauren had crashed into that spot a week ago when men intent on kidnapping her cut her brakes. “There’s not much left of her truck.”
“Not planning on wrecking my truck.” Rose released the accelerator as they approached the sharp turn. One wrong move would have them blasting into the side of the bluff. Or the lake.
&n
bsp; Debi’s heart pumped like a windmill drawing blood painfully through her veins. The sun dimmed and her vision blurred. The lake was murky this time of year. Cold. Her breath sputtered. She’d gone swimming in the lake since she was a kid, but she’d rather not dive in car first.
Echo slammed into the truck from behind, and the truck fishtailed. Rose straightened it out. “Damnit. I’m still paying on this truck,” he muttered. “Come on, Fowler.” The sedan hit from the side, pulling more low curses from Rose. “Fucker.”
“Is this part of the plan?” She really didn’t remember this part of the plan.
“Wait for it.” He slowed the truck at the curve.
The sharp report of gunshots echoed. Debi ducked. She tried to drop to the floor, but the seatbelt locked her in place. Rose braked and shifted the steering wheel. The move slammed her into the door. They wheeled around the curve before Rose yanked the emergency brake, forcing a skid that spun them in a half circle. They slammed to a stop in the center of the highway, facing the opposite direction. Dizziness spun her head in a loop. Her vision fogged and she welcomed the blackout that threatened.
“Deep breath, sweetheart. We’re not finished.”
Chapter Five
Shots fired at the perfect moment. The gold sedan swerved, missed the curve, and crashed into the cliff. All according to plan, but Rose wanted to catch the bastard. It was time to figure out what the fuck Echo wanted and why the hell they didn’t back down, but a panic attack had Debi in a tight grip. A thin glaze veiled her eyes. If he left her like this, she’d be an easy target for anyone on Team Echo. Keeping an eye on the car embedded in the hillside, Rose slid across the seat. He released the buckle on her seatbelt and lifted her to his lap. “Deep breath.” He demonstrated and watched her chest rise and fall as she complied. “Listen to my voice. You’re safe.” He rubbed a hand up and down her back with each inhale and exhale. “The danger’s past.”
“Liar.” Her tone held the bite of humor despite bending over like an old woman. “Reality, remember.”
“Ok, it’s not past. I need to go make sure we have this guy on lockdown.”
“Where’s the rest of the team?” She barely got the words out past the panting breaths. Sweat coated her skin.
“Fowler and Craft were at the top of the cliff.”
“Snipers?” she guessed.
“That’s right.” Rose didn’t see Ryder, but he had preposition in the ditch on the approach to the lake. “I need to make sure you’re not a sitting duck before I leave you alone.”
“Not helping. Thinking about some loser.” Shuttering breath. “Attacking while I can’t see. Definitely not helping.”
“Embrace reality.”
“Ass.” She lifted slightly. “Did your sisters try to kill you in your sleep?”
He chuckled, working to distract her, to get her attack under control so he could get Echo under control. “No, but Mari painted my fingernails while I slept. Once.”
“What did you do?”
“Went to her parent-teacher conference with hooker-red fingernails.”
“Hard to live. That kind of thing. Down.” Her words came out breathy. Short.
“Wasn’t a thing for me.”
“Sure. Big guy. Like you. Who would tease you?”
“Mari on the other hand.” He scrubbed a hand across her quivering shoulders. The sedan hadn’t moved, and he hadn’t seen the driver exit, but that didn’t mean the guy wasn’t loose. If Echo bolted, Ryder might be in a position to intercept. “Mari never did anything like it again.”
“Did I hear gunshots?”
“The shots were our guys. All part of the plan. When Lauren wrecked here, Ryder recognized the location as the perfect spot for a sniper.”
“Which one? Fowler or Craft?”
“All of us have sniper skills, although Fowler has the best accuracy at greater distances.” A shiver passed from her body and into his and the vulnerability kept him rooted. Despite training. Despite mission. Gradually the tremors passed and the tension in his gut eased. “You good enough for me to leave?”
“Peachy.” She straightened, the movement sliding her butt across his thighs.
Beside them, someone pounded the door panel.
Debi’s scream nearly shattered his eardrum.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.” Fowler jumped up and slid across the hood.
“Watch the truck,” Rose muttered. “Asshole.”
Debi collapsed against his chest. “Jesus, that scared me.”
“Don’t think about it. Listen to the sound of my voice. Just be in the moment.”
“The moment sucks.”
He smiled against her hair. “The moment’s not so bad.” Nestled like a gift in his arms, she smelled of strawberry shampoo. “Reinforcements have arrived. You’re safe.”
“We’re safe.”
Rose was never truly safe. Those he loved were in danger, so he stayed away for months on end, but he couldn’t get away from the woman whose smell filled his head. “You know, this wasn’t really a panic attack.”
“Nice try, Rosie. Definitely panic.”
Ah, there was the bite of sarcasm he enjoyed. “A panic attack is the fight or flight response at inappropriate times due to a perceived danger. This was the real deal.”
“Marginal difference.” She continued to lean into him, her breathing evening out. She snuggled into one side and breathed deep. “Besides, I’d like to think when the time came, I could defend myself rather than cowering.”
“You can. You have. The night the two soldiers from Echo tried to infiltrate your house. You walked out gun in hand to take any comers.”
“Pure adrenaline.”
Man, Rose missed that. The way adrenaline hyped you up for battle. Fear had been a motivator. “Adrenaline works. Trust it to do its job the next time.”
She shifted against his shoulder to peer up at him. “Were you a psychiatrist in another life?”
“No.” But he understood fear. He had watched a soldier try to climb under a dead body to get away from the gunfire in his own head. That was the type of panic that made the fearless experiment seem like a reasonable alternative. “You good to go?”
A shaky breath rocked her body. “I’m fine.”
They sat close, her pressed tight against his chest, and her lips were... Right. There. Shit, he needed to get his head on straight. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, the desire too strong to deny. She needed comfort. The situation they were facing was a million miles out of her league. And the smooth, soft skin combined with her scent made him want to stick right there and let the team handle the shooting and the accident. That insidious desire wrapped around a man’s soul and helped him straight into the grave. A woman complicated things. He eased her off his lap and resumed his position behind the wheel of the truck. He drove closer to the wreck and moved to the side of the road.
Ryder marched up from the ditch that went under the highway to the lake. Craft and Fowler swept the area around the sedan, guns at the ready.
Rose stepped out of the truck. “Stay here,” he ordered Debi. He joined the team between the wreck and his truck. “Echo got away?”
“No thanks to you, dipshit,” Fowler taunted.
“I’m not the one who missed the shot,” Rose answered.
“My orders were to take him alive. If the rules of engagement have changed, you be sure to let me know.”
“Knock it off.” Ryder’s voice rose above the bickering. “We need information. Craft and Fowler, go retrieve the asset. The blood trail leads up the crevice.” A thick bandage covered his hand as he pointed to the washed-out gully between two bulging bluffs. “Rose, you’re on babysitting detail.”
Staying near Debi, discovering her vulnerabilities and fears, put him at risk of attachment. They both needed some distance. He wanted an active assignment. “What’s your plan, boss?”
“Calling my wife. Make sure everything is all clear.” In the past week, Lauren had be
en kidnapped, beaten, and drugged. Team Echo had used Lauren as bait to lure Ryder to his death. Echo wanted to end Team Fear and remove all evidence of the experimental program they’d volunteered for. Team Fear lost two good men before they figured out Echo’s deadly plans. Not a one of them was going down easy.
Calling Lauren wasn’t something Rose could do in Ryder’s place, so he was stuck with the temptation for the time being.
“Wait.” Debi hopped from the truck, her heels sliding in the gravel. “Are you going after the guy in the car?”
Craft and Fowler nodded.
Rose nailed her with a glare. “I thought I told you to stay in the truck.”
“The truck was starting to close in.” She moved her hands close to her head like it was being smashed between the walls. “Staying active helps.”
She was right, but that put her close enough to get hurt.
She turned her gaze to the rest of the team. “If the, uh, guy doesn’t make it—”
“He’ll make it,” Ryder assured her.
“But if he doesn’t.” Debi ducked her head, her face pale at the thoughts she kept inside. “A blood sample would help.”
“I like the way you think.” Fowler reached over to give her a fist bump. “Rose, you have any syringes?”
“Shit. Yeah. I should have thought of it.” He opened his medic kit and pulled out syringes. “Along the same lines, I’ll search the car. See if he left any clues behind, maybe some meds. I can swab the blood spatter.”
“That’ll help, but I really need more material to work with.” A skeptical quirk caused a lift in her eyebrow. “You know how to draw blood?”
“Oh, yeah.” Fowler gave her his best shit-eating grin. “I believe I drew first blood this time around.”
“I mean with a syringe, Dr. Kevorkian?”
“I can get the job done.”
She looked uncertain. “Maybe I should go—”
“You’re not going,” Rose insisted. Where the hell had that come from?
“Taking blood is delicate work, and I—”
“I got it.” Fowler tucked the syringe in a pocket of his cargo pants. “But I didn’t say it wouldn’t hurt.”
He and Craft laughed as they double-timed it up the side of the bluff. A hiccup shook Debi’s shoulders as she drew in a shallow breath and watched them climb. A shimmer of uncertainty in her wary gaze drew him. Her eyes squinted against the sun, but the shuttered lids couldn’t hide her fear. She still wasn’t over the panic. A long-buried instinct wanted to give aid and comfort. Contrary bastard that he was, the desire to soothe sent him in the opposite direction, toward the car Echo had used to follow them.
