by Cat Johnson
“My teammates. Every one of them would kill or die for me.”
That was certainly a dramatic statement. “You say that but you don’t know that for sure.”
He leveled a stare at her. “Yes, I do.”
The low, ominous tone in his voice and the flat stare of his eyes had her feeling uncomfortable. Who the hell were these guys?
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t. It’s just the way things are. I know they have my six no matter what. Even guys you don’t like very much you’d do anything to protect and you trust them to do the same for you.” He shrugged. “And then there’s my sister. I trust her.”
Sierra let out a burst of air. “Now I know you’re lying. You wouldn’t even tell her where we were going.”
He shot her a sideways glance. “I’d trust her with my life, not with yours. There’s a difference. And besides, it’s safer if she doesn’t know where we are. Someone is after you, and I’m not sure they’d stop at hurting others to get to you. Yes, Darci drives me nuts most days, but we’re family. I know when push came to shove she’d be there for me. You can always trust blood.”
No, you can’t. She knew that very well. She’d paid the price, in money and a piece of her soul.
“I don’t have anyone like that.”
“What? No family?” He glanced at her.
She snorted. “Family, yes. Family I trust. No.”
Not as far as she could throw them.
“Well, I’m sorry for that. That’s a sad way to live.”
She bristled at his pity and settled into an unhappy silence, until Rick reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone.
After he had yelled at her about her cell, he had one of his own?
Rick answered the call. “Hey, what’s the sit rep?”
Sierra watched open mouthed. “You have a phone?”
When Rick shushed her and continued with his phone conversation, she nearly crawled out of her skin. Waiting for him to hang up only served to ramp up her already high blood pressure.
Of all the gall. To lecture her about her cell. Make her power it off. Tell her he was going to dismantle her six hundred dollar phone. And he was talking on his?
“Yes, princess? You were saying.”
She grit her teeth. He was provoking her. He didn’t need to. She was already ready to boil over. “You have a cell phone?”
“Burner phones. Brand new. Untraceable. Jon bought one for him, Chris and me on his way to the police station.”
She eyed the phone in his hand critically. He could tell her anything. How would she know if it was true or not?
“I want one too.”
He lifted a brow. “Why? Who are you gonna call?”
“I don’t know.”
“The only way it stays untraceable is if you don’t call anyone’s phone that could be monitored. If we weren’t together, then yes, I’d get you one that you could use just to call me. But I have no intention of leaving your side for the near future. And if I have to leave to go back to my job, Chris is taking over.”
She rolled her eyes. “And after Chris, is it Jon’s turn? Or Zane’s? And wait, what job? Isn’t this your job?”
What else could he be full-time if this was only part-time?
“This isn’t my only job. No. Just one of them. We aren’t all earning six million a year, you know.” He shot her a cocky look that told her he’d seen in the media how much she’d signed for on her next movie and he thought it was ridiculous, before he continued, “And Jon and Zane will be leaving for Africa shortly, so Chris and I will be covering the schedule until whenever the bosses are back in country.”
Africa? What the hell would they be doing there? Protecting the rhinos?
Confused as each tidbit of information he provided only raised more questions, Sierra shook her head and stared at his profile. This man had more secrets hidden inside his goofy but hot exterior than she’d ever imagined. “Who the hell are you GAPS people?”
He spared her one glance before looking back at the highway that stretched in front of them. “We’re the guys who are gonna keep you alive.”
CHAPTER 14
“We need to stop.”
Sierra’s request had Rick glancing at the time displayed on the car’s radio.
If he’d figured the trip correctly, they were almost to the ferry that would take them to Ocracoke and the rental house.
His calculations should be pretty accurate. He’d kept the cruise control set for most of the trip so he wouldn’t be tempted to drive too much over the speed limit and get pulled over. He couldn’t risk having a cop stop them for speeding and recognizing Sierra.
News of her whereabouts would spread like wildfire. Thanks to social media, the gossip mongers didn’t need to wait for the next supermarket tabloid to go to print to spread their so-called news. All it took was a cell phone camera and a social media account.
The trip had gone smoothly so far. Only now as they neared the ferry launch had they begun to hit traffic.
The congestion on the road in Hatteras had slowed them down a bit, but they still were close enough to their destination, he didn’t want to stop.
He glanced at her. “Can you wait?”
She lifted a brow. “I’m thirsty and I’d like to use the restroom, if you don’t mind. There are places all along here for us to stop. Why should I wait?”
Because he’d asked her nicely to didn’t seem like a good enough answer. “First off, I don’t want you being recognized. If you’re thirsty, there’s bottled water in the bag on the back seat. If you can wait for a bathroom, we’ll be getting out of the car shortly.”
She frowned at him. “How shortly?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Fine.” Sierra swiveled her head to stare out the side window.
Figuring her silence was better than her bitching he counted himself lucky and focused on watching for the turn off. He spotted it and flipped on the blinker.
After slowing and making the turn, he pulled up to the line of cars waiting to get on the free ferry onto Ocracoke Island.
He threw the car into park but left the engine idling. For some reason, that move had Sierra scowling at him again.
“Now what are we doing? You said we were almost there.”
“I said we could get out of the car shortly. Not that we’d be at the rental.”
She eyed the line of mostly empty cars in front of them and the shops nearby. “Why are we stopped here? What are we waiting for?”
“The ferry. Ocracoke is an island. There are two ways on and off and that’s by air or by boat.” It was one of the reasons this spot had appealed to Rick. She still didn’t look happy so he elaborated. “They run every half hour. We’ll be loading in probably twenty minutes or so.
She drew in a big breath and then let it out. “Fine. But I’m getting out of this damn car while we wait.”
“Sierra—“
“I’m. Getting. Out.” She glared at him, reinforcing the intent behind her staccato words, as if he could have had any doubt.
There was no way he was letting her wander around alone.
“We’re both getting out. Just please put the baseball hat on again first.”
They had time before they had to be back to the car ten minutes before departure to load the cars onto the ferry. Drivers were allowed to get their spot in line and then leave their vehicles, as long as they were back when they started loading.
Rick knew both the ferry schedule and rules. Just like he would have done before any op while he was in the teams, he had done his research before they’d left. He’d learned as much as he could about the destination and how to get there.
The only difference was that he’d been researching the best access to a beach getaway, rather than to a terrorist stronghold. The location and nature of his assignments had changed but not his dedication to completin
g them to the best of his ability.
People were already out of their cars and wandering around on the sidewalk, popping into the nearby shops and the food stands by the ferry terminal.
Just ahead was a breathtaking view of the water that Sierra didn’t seem to notice. Obviously she wasn’t going to admit that if they did have to hide until the threat was resolved this was a pretty damn nice place to do it.
Rick, however, drew in the beauty with an appreciation he knew someone like Sierra could never understand. He’d been forced to bide his time in a lot of places, and this was definitely one of the better ones.
Hell, if Ocracoke had been good enough for Blackbeard to hide out, then it was good enough for them.
Sierra blowing out a breath caught his attention. He looked over to see her pull on the baseball hat Darci had loaned her.
She tugged it low over her brow until it touched her oversized sunglasses in front and reached her low ponytail in back. She flipped down the car’s visor and evaluated her reflection in the small mirror there.
“Oh, yeah, no one will recognize me now. Not with this clever disguise.” Her sarcasm was clear.
“Which is exactly why I’d rather have you stay inside the car but I know you want out, so we’ll get out.” Rick was smart enough to choose his battles.
He was willing to let her out of the car for a few minutes, but he also intended to lead her directly to the bathroom and then back.
“I think you just like telling me what to do.” Sierra had mumbled the complaint, but he heard it.
Unlike some of the old timers he knew who’d lost the acuteness of their hearing from years in the military around noisy machines and gunfire, Rick’s hearing was perfect.
“Eh, ordering you around is just a bonus.” He grinned as she huffed before turning to yank open the passenger door.
He was ready for her quick exit this time. He’d already cut the engine and had the keys out of the ignition. He was out of his door and around to the other side before she had a chance to slam her door.
Rick clicked the locks shut and offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
She looked down at the elbow he’d extended to her. “What are you doing?”
“We’re undercover, remember? Now take my arm and pretend we’re a happy couple.”
“Pfft. Good thing pretending is my job.”
“Yup. Think of it as just another role.” Only this one wasn’t for an Academy Award. The stakes were much higher. He figured he’d better warn her of that. “Don’t talk to anyone. Not in the ladies room. Not in passing.”
“Why not?”
“Your voice is recognizable.” And he didn’t trust her to be able to lie on the fly. Acting was one thing. Lying was another. She might be skilled at the former, but he’d been trained by the best in the fine art of the latter.
Rick chose to take Sierra’s quick expulsion of breath as her agreement to his request. “Also—”
“Oh, for God’s sake, what now?”
“If you want something to eat or drink, let me know and I’ll order it and pay. Just like we can’t use your cell, we can’t use any credit cards. Cash only for everything. Got it?”
“So you’re going to be my sugar daddy and pay for me?”
If that was how she wanted to play this role that was fine with him. “Yup.”
“Until I get the bill when this is over.” The corner of her mouth quirked up in what was almost a smile.
“Exactly.” He grinned.
She was loosening up a little if she was joking around with him. That was both good and bad. He didn’t need her letting her guard down and getting too complacent, but damn it would be nice if she wasn’t going to act like a witch the whole time they’d be cloistered away with only each other for company.
“Fine. But can I go to the bathroom before we start our charade?”
“Sure.” As he watched her push through the restroom door, he couldn’t help but notice how she filled out his sister’s white pants damn nicely.
That was a disturbing thought on so many levels.
He let out a sigh. If circumstances were different, if this wasn’t a job and there wasn’t a maniac wielding a sniper rifle after her, he might really enjoy being trapped alone on an island with Sierra Cox.
Running in the waves. Watching the saltwater bead off her skin. Peeling off her wet bikini.
Damn. That would be one hell of a good time—
The door swung wide again and she pranced out, making a beeline for the nearest food stand. She stopped and turned, planting one hand on her hip. “Why are you just standing there? Come on. I’m thirsty. I should probably eat too because God only knows what you’ll feed me when we get to this shack you rented.”
Or maybe not.
CHAPTER 15
Shack was an apt description for the A-line building Sierra currently stood in front of. The one Rick had generously referred to as a beach cottage.
Behind her, Rick sighed deeply. “What? Not good enough for you, princess?”
“I asked you to stop calling me that.”
“And I told you I would, as soon as you stopped acting like one. What’s wrong with the house?”
“It’s . . .” So many adjectives careened through her head it was hard to choose just one.
“Not a mansion? Doesn’t have gold plated doorknobs? What?”
She cocked up one brow. “Don’t you take an attitude with me.”
“No attitude here. I’m just the one trying to keep you alive . . .” He carried in a big canvas duffle bag that looked packed full and heavy.
A bag that big should have wheels. Anyone who traveled as much as she did knew that. Rick’s bag didn’t have wheels, proving he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed even if he did like to pretend he read Sun Tzu.
He dropped the bag on the doorstep and stooped to lift the mat. Emerging with a key, he proceeded to unlock the front door.
“You’re kidding me, right? This is your secure hide out? With the front door key under the mat?”
“It will be secure enough once I’m in there.” He tipped his head toward the building. “Come on. I can’t sweep the house and keep an eye on you out in the front yard at the same time.”
Scowling, she begrudgingly followed him through the doorway.
He dumped the bag on the floor and closed the door behind her. “Stay right here. Don’t move until I say.”
Sierra rolled her eyes. “You should have just brought a guard dog with you.”
“If one had been available on short notice, I would have. A bomb sniffing dog would have been even better.”
Bomb? He was worried about someone trying to blow her up?
She was still having trouble believing the threat was really as bad as he said.
Having an obsessed fan who pushed the line of what was appropriate with a video camera she could believe. But having one who wanted her dead? That she couldn’t wrap her head around.
Rick kneeled on the floor and opened the duffle. Finally, Sierra got a look at what was making it so heavy. It looked as if he’d raided a gun store. Who knows? Maybe he had. She wouldn’t be surprised by anything this man did anymore.
He slipped a holster over his arms and shoved a pistol into it. He’d apparently upgraded from just the leg holster.
Next he pulled out the device his friends had brought to her hotel room that morning.
God, had it really been only that morning they’d discovered the camera in the bathroom? So much had happened since then it felt like a lifetime ago.
“I’m going to check the first floor. Stay here.” He pinned her with his tough guy glare.
Sierra delivered a salute in response to Rick’s order. “Yes, sir.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up before he reached out and adjusted the angle of the hand she held over her right brow. “It’s more like this. I’ll be right back.”
She watched as he made his way to the back of the house and into a kitchen area d
ivided from the living room by an island. Glancing down, she evaluated his duffle bag and its contents one more time and drew in a breath.
What was she supposed to do for clothes or other basic necessities like a toothbrush? It was pretty obvious Rick’s packing had consisted of raiding some armory somewhere.
Roger might have been right when he said it was likely GAPS was staffed by former military. These guys probably had all served in some branch of service, at least for a couple of years. Long enough to get the scary gun-toting dude look down pat.
Rick reappeared in the room, interrupting her ponderings. “First floor is clear.”
“Oh, well, thank God for that.” She rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of his search for bugs or bombs or whatever else.
She doubted her stalker’s reach extended to a shack they’d rented only hours prior, located on an island accessible only by boat.
He ignored her sarcasm and headed toward the staircase. “I’m going upstairs. “Don’t—”
“Don’t move. I know. I got it.” She made sure the fact she was humoring him while mocking him was apparent in her tone.
She did, however, resist the urge to remind him that any bad guy could easily bust through the front door and grab her from the very spot he’d ordered her to remain.
He was already up the staircase so he wouldn’t have heard anyway. The man’s legs were so damn long, he took the stairs two at a time.
Rick was back again in a moment. “Clear.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Of course, it was. Hey, do you think there’s a nail place on the island? I need a mani/pedi.”
He lifted his brows high. “You’re not going out for a mani/pedi.”
“But—“
“No. I’ll paint your damn nails if you need but no going out.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“I’ve done it before.”
“Why? You a cross-dresser?” Given the size of him, that was a ridiculous image.
“No. I used to build models when I was younger. Painting is painting. Doesn’t matter if it’s the fine detail work on the 1965 Cobra, or your little piggies. I used to polish my high school girlfriend’s toes all the time.”
