“All right. You stay behind me, and stay close. Got it?” Shane put his hand on his barely concealed gun.
Christ.
Lacey sucked in a deep breath and nodded.
Shane took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, understand?” he said.
“Yeah.”
He led her along the building, toward a long row of planes waiting at the ready. Despite the early hour, some of the hangars were open, lights on, people bustling around.
“Keep your head up,” Shane said.
“Act like I belong?” She chuckled and glanced up at him.
“Exactly. You’ve done this a few times?”
“You could say that.” She shrugged.
“Shit,” Shane muttered and lengthened his stride.
“What?”
“Don’t look.” He pitched his voice low.
They walked along the front of the hangars, weaving around crates and equipment left at the ready. She could hear the echo of footsteps behind them.
“We’re going past these crates, veer left, I’ll stop, you keep going,” Shane said.
“I’m bait?”
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
“You are not.” She huffed, but at least he was involving her.
The crates were four and five high, and at least three deep. They quickstepped through the narrow space between the building and then Lacey dropped Shane’s hand and continued on. She swallowed and kept going, the too-big boots rubbing her heels with each step, the sea breeze blowing her hair back.
A grunt broke the momentary calm.
She wheeled around just in time to see Shane punch the guy and then knock his feet out from under him. Lacey yelped as Shane went down on top of the would-be attacker.
She knew him.
Shane turned the guy over and used an oversized zip tie from his pocket to bind the guy’s hands and feet together.
Lacey remained frozen.
Shane jogged to her, wrapping his arm around her, and urged her on.
“I recognize him,” she whispered.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. Come on, sweetheart. If there was one, there’ll be more.” Shane pulled out his phone and in short, terse sentences rescinded his wait order.
Shane pushed her into a jog, leading her down the line of cargo planes to one painted all white, it’s N-number done in stark black. They stopped in the shadow of the plane’s wings and glanced around.
“They should be here,” Shane muttered.
“Who?”
He let go of her and turned in a circle.
She glanced over her shoulder. If the guy who’d followed them woke up and cried for help, it would all be over fast.
“The flight crew. They’re supposed to be ready and waiting.” Shane rapped his knuckles on the belly of the plane and walked forward toward the cockpit.
A trio of men exited the nearest hangar.
“Shane...” Lacey took a step back.
Oh, God. Not him...
“What—? Shit.”
The forward door of the plane creaked open overhead.
“There you are!” Alex’s gaze latched on her. He was the kind of guy nightmares were made of.
“Get her up, now.” Shane snatched her around the waist and lifted her toward the door.
The startled man grabbed her by the hands and helped haul her into the plane.
“Shane—Shane, no!” Lacey grabbed the open doorway and leaned out.
Shane had his back to her, his ground-eating strides shortening the distance between him and Alex’s group.
Alex wouldn’t hesitate to kill Shane. Of all Marcos’ people, Alex was the one Lacey had feared the most.
A van roared down the tarmac, its side door open. Two familiar faces sat perched on the seats, conspicuous blankets over their laps.
Lacey’s hands shook.
“Get back. I need to lower the stairs.” The man firmly pushed her away from the opening, but not before she saw the standoff come to a stop.
She scampered to the cockpit, peering out.
Kyle and Isaac stood facing the trio, those odd blankets draped over what had to be their weapons. Shane and the other two men assisted Aanya and Dev up the stairs.
“Welcome aboard, everyone. We’re down a pilot, but cleared for takeoff in—ten minutes. Get your friends inside,” the man hollered.
Aanya tripped over her own feet, nearly falling. Dev helped her back up, but it was clear the two were shaken. Shane and the other Aegis guys were too focused on the danger to be of much help to the couple.
But Lacey could. This much she could do.
She slid out of the cockpit and took Aanya in one hand, Dev in the other.
“We’re going to be seated over here. I know this is scary, and you’re tired, but it’s almost over.” She dished out the calming lies like they were truth dipped in honey and helped the two sit in chairs bolted to the wall.
Aanya glanced around at the crates and rough interior.
“I know, it’s not much to look at, but think of this as an adventure. Here, let me help.” She got Aanya buckled in. Dev could do that much for himself.
A hand squeezed her shoulder.
“Thanks,” Shane muttered.
Lacey nodded and took the seat on the other side of Aanya.
The plane’s engines roared to life, but the door was still open and they were down two people.
“Someone pull the stairs,” the pilot yelled back at them.
Shane approached the door and hollered out. A moment later, their two missing team members climbed in and they hauled the stairs up. Lacey didn’t breathe an easy breath until the door was secure and they began rolling forward.
They’d made it. For real this time.
Next stop, justice and a hot shower.
Marcos stalked across the tarmac, watching the cargo plane’s rear wheels hop, skip and lift off the ground.
“What the hell were you doing? You let them get away?” he roared.
The three who’d been on that part of the air field stared at the ground, their thumbs up their asses.
“Do you realize what you just let happen?” He gestured at the plane. “That’s your one-way ticket to prison flying out, right now. God damn it. Someone find out where that plane is headed.”
Marcos yanked his phone out of his pocket. He hoped the brothers were awake, because they were about to need a lot of help. First, he’d see about getting his team state side as quick as possible. Worst case, he could giftwrap the team and bolt on his guys, while the cops were busy sorting them all out.
“I was just about to call you,” Juan said.
“Tell me you’ve got something?”
“There was a problem,” he said.
“What kind of problem?”
“A dead one. The video is gone, but...”
“That’s a problem I can deal with. Sit on the scene. There’s a woman who will be headed your way in the next week. I need her.”
Marcos hung up the phone. The airport security had caught sight of them and two men were staring at their group, probably waiting for backup.
“Let’s get out of here,” Marcos said.
“Sir?” the kid jogged up.
“What? Talk and move, man.” Marcos strode toward the break in the fence.
“The plane, it’s got an Atlanta destination logged.”
Finally, something was going right. He’d catch Lacey Miles between the Torres brothers and his team, and squeeze the life out of her until he had every last second of that video footage.
Shane leaned against the crate, watching Lacey. She had Aanya and Dev laughing, relaxed and not the least bit concerned that they were hurtling through the air in a bucket of bolts. This plane didn’t even have chewing gum holding it together. Duct tape would be an improvement, and their clients didn’t seem to mind one bit.
“You should take a picture. Probably last longer.” Isaac cr
ossed his arms over his chest and followed Shane’s gaze.
“Go fuck yourself.”
“I thought that was her job?” Isaac jerked his head toward Lacey.
Shane clenched his jaw and his vision narrowed. He tilted his head, staring at Isaac.
“I’m messing with you, fuck face.” Isaac shoved Shane’s shoulder.
“It’s not funny.”
“It kind of is. I’ve never seen you like this before.” Isaac grinned.
What Shane wouldn’t give to punch that bastard’s face right now. He had to think about the clients. They’d been through enough. Lacey had been through enough. Shane could mop the floor with Isaac’s ass later.
“You know there’s nothing wrong with liking a pretty girl, right? You are allowed to be attracted to someone. Hell, even to have a life.”
“No one asked you, Isaac.”
“No, but this is a free world. It’s what we fought for. I figure I can express my opinion when and where I want to, so long as it doesn’t hurt business.” Isaac lifted his shoulders.
Shane had to stop engaging with Isaac.
“Look, we all know you’re beating yourself up over what happened with Cisco. I get it. We’ve all been there. You don’t survive a few firefights without wishing something had gone differently. Doesn’t mean your whole life is a mistake. Besides, she might be good for you.” Isaac slapped Shane’s shoulder and moved to sit next to Felix.
It didn’t matter if Isaac was right or wrong, there was no future for him and Lacey. Shane lived his life taking orders. He wasn’t about to change that. It was so ingrained in who he was there was no point in fighting it. His life would kill Lacey. She’d waste away, having to stay put if she even chose to, and he didn’t think she would.
Lacey pushed up from her seat, glancing across to where Isaac and the others sat, then to Shane.
He glanced away, finally caught staring.
Isaac’s snort was barely disguised by the roar of the engines.
Lacey picked her way across to him with purpose in her stride. Shane braced himself and tilted his head toward her.
“There aren’t drinks or food or anything on here, are there?” Her words were muffled by the plane, but he understood enough.
Shane shook his head.
Lacey rocked back on her heels and cast a concerned glance at Aanya.
He was more worried about Lacey. Food hadn’t been on the forefront of his mind that morning. They’d stopped for something to eat late last night, but had otherwise eaten snacks.
“When we land, what do you want to eat?” he asked.
“I’ll probably pick up something on the way to my videographer’s apartment. Last we emailed, he said I could crash on his sofa for a day or two, while we worked out how to piece together the footage.”
Shane frowned.
This was the first he’d heard of her leaving them this early.
He’d just assumed...
The first thing they’d do after landing would be to secure the clients at a facility, likely a hotel for now, and bring in the police to take statements.
“Are you sure? We’ve got our team coordinating with the police to get the investigation going as soon as we land. Your statement will go a long way.” Shane was suddenly desperate to get Lacey to stick around even for one more night. Why? He had no fucking clue, but it was his single-minded focus.
“I’ve got to get something going. The rest of you have jobs to go back to. I’ve got to work twice as hard to earn my traffic back.” Lacey’s lips turned down and her brow creased. “I’ll go by the police station or something tomorrow, but I’ve got to get to work on these videos now.”
“I’ll take you, then.” Shane wasn’t ready to take no for an answer, not yet.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because...” She stared at him.
“Because?”
“It’s easier to cut it off and never see each other again than do...this.”
Her words punched him in the gut, but Shane wasn’t going to give in.
“Lacey, this is about your safety. That’s it.”
He could lie with the best of them if he had to.
9.
Lacey wanted to crawl under a rock and die.
Ever since the horrible chat on the plane with Shane, he’d been a dark cloud, full of frowns, no words, and her constant shadow.
She sucked at relationships. Which was why she always went for the casual guys, like Isaac. Shane had commitment written all over him. She didn’t know how to be that person, and her attempt to talk about it head-on had blown up in her face.
Shane wasn’t a puppy. There was nothing cute and cuddly about him. He was good guy, and he deserved someone who would be gentle, loving, and stable. She was none of those things. Trying to be would hurt him and make her miserable. So why did she feel like the world’s biggest bitch for being honest?
She slid farther down in her seat, weariness wearing at her. Josh hadn’t answered the phone the last three times she’d called him, but Josh was prone to burying himself in work, a game, or whatever guy had caught his fancy. He knew she was coming. She just hoped he was home. She wouldn’t put it past Shane to haul her back to the swanky place they’d paused at to get the Jeep to drive here.
Shane took a right and Josh’s apartment building came into view. It was older, and most of Josh’s neighbors had lived there for decades. Whenever she’d asked Josh about why he stayed, he’d just point out he didn’t need to invest in sound-dampening panels. His neighbors were quiet, deaf and made him cookies on a regular basis.
“That’s the place.” She made herself smile, the false cheer ringing flat. “You can just drop me at the—wow. What do you think happened?”
A coroner van sat in the small cut in, blocking the entrance.
“I’ll walk you up,” Shane said.
They were the most words he’d said to her since the plane.
“You don’t have to.” Lacey wanted this torment to stop. The sooner they could say their stilted goodbyes, the sooner they could both move on.
Shane didn’t bother replying. He slid into a newly-vacated spot at the curb and killed the engine.
“Stay there.”
Lacey blinked at his backside.
Two whole sentences?
Maybe things weren’t as bad as she’d thought?
Shane circled the Jeep, glancing up and down the street, before he opened her door.
“Hey—can we talk real quick?” She turned toward him, hands clenched in her lap.
He stared at her through the reflective sunglasses, no acknowledgement of her question visible. Since he didn’t speak or move, she figured this was her moment.
“I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to you—and your team. But mostly you. I’m not the easiest person to deal with, and I can be...well, you’ve seen me. I’d really like for us to be okay, and I don’t know what to say or do to make that happen.”
“You’ve made yourself perfectly clear. There’s nothing else to talk about.” He gripped the door so tight his knuckles turned white.
“And I hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“We’re both adults.” He lifted his shoulders.
“Shane—stop acting like you don’t care that we fucked.”
He glanced away, his frown lines deepening.
“Maybe I gave you the wrong idea. I don’t sleep around a lot, but I also don’t stay in one place very long. Relationships take a lot of effort, and...with the way I live, they don’t last long. I disappoint people. All I’m trying to say is that...this was special. But I can’t be anything else.”
“I got the message loud and clear.” The tight set of his jaw was indication enough that he wasn’t really hearing her. Maybe he never would.
“Okay.” Lacey slid out of the Jeep, defeat hanging on her shoulders.
This wasn’t the first time her impulsiveness had got
ten her in trouble, but this time it mattered more. Shane wasn’t just anyone. He was special. Deserved better.
She led the way into the building through a side door, bypassing the coroner’s van. She’d seen enough horrors lately.
They rode up the elevator in silence.
Lacey knew that eventually she’d have to put down roots, but she hoped to squeeze in another five to ten years of nomadic living. It would take her that long to figure out where she wanted to be and what to do with herself. Living out of a backpack was easier and had fewer responsibilities. It wouldn’t last, though.
The elevator dinged and she stepped out onto the sixth floor, nearly walking into the yellow police tape.
Shane’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back.
Lacey stared in horror at the stretcher wheeling a black body bag out of the apartment.
She sucked down a deep breath and then another.
No...
“Is that his apartment?” Shane’s voice was a deep rumble against her back.
“Oh, my God.” She gulped down air, her eyes stinging.
A man wearing a blue windbreaker turned toward them, his gaze sympathetic.
“Did you know him?” the man asked her.
“Is that Josh?” She pressed her hand over her mouth.
“I believe so,” the man said.
“Are you with the coroner’s office?” Shane asked.
“When was the last time you spoke with him, ma’am?” The man turned toward them, ignoring Shane entirely.
“Uh, yesterday. Is he really dead? What happened?” She peered down the hall at the stretcher rolling away.
“We need to go,” Shane said. He pulled her back into the elevator.
“No—wait. Shane.”
He picked her up around the waist and carried her into the elevator, jabbing at the buttons. The moment her feet touched the ground, she stumbled back into the corner, hiccupping for breath. Shane held the Close Door button, staring out into the hall.
“Josh is... Is he really dead? Oh, my God.” Her knees went to jelly.
“Lacey?” Shane turned toward her, grasping her by the shoulders. “Hey, you have to stay with me.”
Dangerous in Love (Aegis Group Alpha Team, #1) Page 10
