“We don’t have time for this. Let’s go before they come back.”
Not sure what else to do but listen, she rolled out from under the car and stared up to find Braden standing over her.
Without a word, he reached down and pulled her up. She dusted herself off and stood behind him as he looked around. He pulled on her arm, and they started hurrying through the lot. They moved through the cars, and she sighed when he unlocked a car on that floor.
“Get in,” he demanded and started the black car.
Teagan hopped in the car and let out a sigh of relief when they safely made their way through the maze and pulled away from the garage.
She leaned her head back and felt all the tension and fear, along with all her energy, collapse and drain away from her body.
“So,” Braden said after a moment. “'Let’s get it on?”
Her eyes snapped open. It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about it before, but it didn’t seem like the best time. He’d never been so forward before. Why was he suddenly asking about that?
“What? Are you serious right now?”
He raised a brow and then turned back to the road. “Your phone,” he said. “Seems like a strange ringtone to have.”
Her face turned red from the tops of her ears to the tips of her toes. It wasn’t her ring tone; it was her ring tone for him.
“He’s sexy,” she said with a huff and turned away. The last thing she wanted to do was to have this conversation with Braden of all people.
His warm laughter only irked her more. She didn’t like the idea of him mocking her, especially in this situation.
Teagan closed her eyes and lay back against the seat. Exhaustion seeped through every part of her body. Maybe she would just rest a little before she went home. She wasn’t used to sprinting around parking garages and stairs while dodging gangsters.
The soft sway of the car lulled her quietly off to sleep.
Chapter Nine
Teagan woke, her mind still not conscious of anything going on around her. Feelings, rather than thought, seeped in. Slowly, she opened her eyes and blinked a few times at the blanket of trees that filled her vision.
Trees? That wasn’t right. She shouldn’t be seeing that many trees.
She frowned, not certain where she was and what was going on. The last thing she’d remembered was leaving the parking garage. After the fear faded, the adrenaline left her body as well, leaving her bone tired.
Stamina wasn’t her strong suit to begin with. She was only happy she hadn’t passed out while running away from the mobsters.
She bit her lip and glanced over at Braden. He kept his eyes on the road, his expression slightly tense. Again, he’d saved her from his allies.
The car bumped along for a moment before coming to a stop in front of a modest cabin. She sat up and looked around. Water sparkled off in the distance. She could see a dock not far away.
She glanced around for a few moments trying to figure out where they were, but couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t exactly like she was that well-traveled, anyway.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Port Fall.”
Braden opened the door and stepped outside.
“What? Why are we in Port Fall?”
Teagan opened her door and stepped out into the crisp evening air. She shivered and wrapped her red coat closely around her.
“We’re staying here until this blows over,” Braden said. “It’s the safest plan.”
He walked to the back of the car and popped the trunk. Then he unloaded a few suitcases and two plastic bags of groceries.
She shook her head, still thoroughly confused by everything. “I’m sorry, we’re what?”
Braden walked over to her with the bags of groceries and handed them to her. He stared at her as he did so. “We’re staying here until this blows over.”
He returned to the two suitcases and picked them up, then made his way to the front door of the cabin.
Dumbfounded, she watched as he opened the door and stepped inside. He couldn’t just do that could he?
She wasn’t some child. Yes, the situation was dangerous, but she should have a say in what happened to her.
Irritation set in the more she thought about it. Teagan stomped her way inside the cabin and sighed when the warm air hit her face. She placed the bags on the kitchen counter and searched the small building for him.
She found him just down a hallway off the living room. There were two bedrooms and a bathroom at the end of the hall. He had placed a suitcase on the bed.
“This is your room,” he said. “I’ll be right across the hall. I’ve taken the liberty of picking up a few clothes for you.” He furrowed his brow. “I also made sure we have a decent supply of your injections.”
Her mouth fell open. It was one thing if this was just a spur of the moment plan because he couldn’t think of anything, but he had planned for this. She wondered how the heck he’d managed to get his hands on some of the injections, but let it go for the moment.
“You picked up clothes for me?”
Braden ignored her as he stepped past into his own room and laid the other suitcase down.
“I’m sure they aren’t as nice as what you’re used to wearing, but it will do for now,” he said and made his way back down the hall to the kitchen.
Her cheeks heated at the unintended dig. She followed him back into the main area.
“I want to go home,” she said from the other side of the bar.
Braden paused his unpacking and turned to look at her. “No.”
Teagan tapped her foot against the floor. “What makes you think you get to decide what happens to me?” Teagan pulled out her phone from inside her purse. “I’m going to call Conor.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re not.”
She gasped as he took the phone from her hand and placed it on the counter.
“Listen, Princess, I know you’re used to getting your way, but involving your brother is about the worst possible idea you could have.” He made his way around to where she stood.
Teagan glared at him. “And why is that?”
“Because if those men can’t kill you, your brother will be the next target along with Claire. Getting you all together, just makes it easier for them.”
Her stomach did a flip as she thought about it. He would be in danger. It only made sense.
“But… I have to tell him,” she said. She waved her hands. “If I’m here, they can’t kill me, so that means they’ll go after him, right?”
Braden sidestepped past her and placed himself in front of the phone once again.
“He’s aware of the situation,” he said. “Right now you need to worry about yourself. You use that cell phone, and they’ll be able to find us. Boris has lots of resources at his disposal, and he’s the one who wants you dead.”
Teagan thought about what he’d said. She didn’t have any reason not to believe him. After all, he had gone out of his way to save her three times now. This wasn’t some sort of game. Instead, he was risking his life to safe hers from some very dangerous people.
She stared up at his soft hazel eyes. Everything she saw in them reflected the truth of her reality. To keep herself safe and her brother and Claire out of more danger, staying there would be the best choice.
She let out a long sigh. “Don’t call me Princess.” With that she turned, made her way back to the bedroom, and slammed the door.
* * *
Braden quickly unpacked the rest of the groceries and performed his normal check around the perimeter. Out here he didn’t have as many worries as he would in the city. A few sensors in the driveway, windows, and doors were all he needed.
Once back inside, he paused just outside of her closed door. He was half tempted to knock and apologize. He knew how angry she must be at him, and he had to make sure she understood what the stakes were.
Teagan had led a very sheltered life, and everyone in the family seemed a
ware of it but Conor. She was capable of more than Conor gave her credit for. Any woman who could have the medical history she did and come out on top was stronger than anyone else he knew.
After all, she’d been born with what they told her was all but an early death sentence, and she’d fought and kept going, never willing to give in.
Braden shook his head and stepped into his own bedroom. He closed the door quietly behind him and stepped over to the bag on the bed.
He unloaded all the weapons he’d brought piece by piece. The cabin might be a safe place, but when it came to Boris, he wasn’t taking any chances. If that son of a bitch came looking for fight, then Braden would give it to him.
The phone in his pocket chimed. Braden pulled it out.
Ennis.
“Yeah,” he said into the phone.
“Did you get to her?”
Braden sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Barely. Had to take out one of the guys. He could have IDed me.”
He could hear Ennis sigh on the other end. “They’re really going to be looking, then.”
Braden knew the risk. There hadn’t been an option though. The closer they got to her, the more at risk she was.
“I’m going to come up tomorrow,” Ennis said.
Braden scrunched up his face. “That’s not safe,” he said. “Boris is going to be watching us even more than usual. We need to play it off like it’s any other day.”
Ennis grunted. Although he was much better at business than Finn, the man was like a big child at times when he didn’t get his way.
Braden knew this wouldn’t be the last he heard of this. No one told Ennis no.
“Fine,” Ennis said finally. “I want updates, and as soon as the guns are in, we send the Russians elsewhere.”
Braden doubted that idea from day one. There was no way the Russians were going to just bail when they’d taken the time to establish connections.
No, Ennis wasn’t seeing the writing on the wall. Stefano and his men were creating their own powerbase, and Ennis had given them the perfect reason to.
He’d all but delivered the city to the Russians, and right now the city’s only real hope was Finn Kelly and his men.
“Right, boss,” Braden said and glanced outside. Gray clouds loomed overhead. “I better get some firewood in. Looks like snow.”
“Tomorrow then,” Ennis said and clicked off the line.
Braden sighed and tossed the phone on the bed. This was all going to turn into a giant clusterfuck, and he wasn’t even sure there was a way to stop it all. He was half tempted to toss Teagan back in the car and just keep driving until they were so far away that nothing would ever touch her. Fuck the city, Finn, Ennis, and the Russians.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. But they couldn’t. She had her brother, and Finn was counting on him. His last act in the family couldn’t be fucking over everyone he cared about.
There was also the cold reality of her medical problems. The kind of treatments she was receiving weren’t cheap or easy to come by.
It’d do no good to pull her away from Russian killers, just so she could get sick and die. She’d eventually have to go back to her doctor, which meant exposing her to the Russians.
Braden stood and grabbed his coat from the bed.
For now, all he could do is deal with what was in front of him: gathering wood and getting a meal ready.
Chapter Ten
Nothing fit. Not a single damn thing he’d brought for her fit. Well, Teagan supposed that wasn’t totally true. The panties and bras fit.
Her face heated as she held up the very lacy sets. They were a lot lacier and frillier than anything she would have ever picked out for herself. She wondered if that was on purpose.
She snickered. He’d not been able to buy anything that fit, but he managed to get her underwear right? She half-wondered if it was a scheme, but then given how serious he was taking the situation, she decided against that being the truth.
She sucked in a breath. The idea of wearing something he’d picked out somehow turned her on like she didn’t expect.
This was not the time to be worrying about that sort of thing. She was being hunted, and Braden helped her because he didn’t want her to die. It was simple as that.
The memory of the kiss from six months ago came back. As much as she wanted to push it aside, Braden had kindled something in her with that kiss.
It didn’t matter. For now, she needed to concentrate on the situation and not let her mind and heart run to places they didn’t need to go.
Teagan slipped on the new set of red panties and bra. Over them, she put back on the black short-sleeve blouse and black pinstriped pants she’d been wearing when she arrived.
The knees were slightly torn from her quickly slipping under the car, but that was the least of her worries. It was the giant oil stain on her red petticoat that she was upset with. Even if she’d survived the encounter, her nice clothes hadn’t.
She held up the damaged coat and frowned at the stain as if she could will it away. Stupid mobsters. Not having much choice, she slipped the coat back on.
Thankfully the slippers he’d provided did fit. She slipped them on her bare feet and sighed at the warmth inside. At least she had some small comforts in the terrible situation.
The air in the house had grown chilly in the past few hours. She wondered if there was a thermostat somewhere she’d missed.
She opened the door to the hall carefully, half-worried about running into Braden and half-worried about running into a Russian mobster.
Warm air greeted her, and she couldn’t help but smile at the smell of something delicious in the air. Her stomach rumbled in reply.
Teagan stepped into the hall but left her door wide open. It might be that the room was an addition and didn’t get any heat. Given the situation, she wasn’t about to complain to Braden. If it weren’t for him, she’d probably already be dead.
Pulled in by the warmth, she followed her nose into the living room. A warm fire blazed in the fireplace, and she spotted Braden busy in the kitchen.
As if he sensed her, he suddenly turned around, wooden spoon in hand. He frowned at her.
“Why didn’t you change?”
Teagan ignored the question. “I think I’ll just sit by the fire.”
Not wanting to get into it with him when she’d finally started to relax, she placed a pillow on the floor next to a chair by the fire. She sat down on the pillow and leaned back against the chair.
Warmth spread over her. She could feel the tension from the day start to fade away as her tired muscles warmed.
She ignored his imposing form as he came to stand over her. Despite the fact that he was there to save her, she still couldn’t help but feel a twinge of irritation at the way this had happened.
“You can’t continue to wear what you have on. It’s going to get cold tonight, and as much as you hate me, freezing to death isn’t going to help,” he said.
She looked up at him and was surprised to find he held two bowls in his hand and a couple bottles of beer under his arm. Braden handed one bowl to her and sat beside her on the floor.
Teagan stared down at the bowl, unsure of what it was. She bit her lip. “Um, what is it?”
“Barley soup,” he said and opened the bottles of beer, then handed her one. “Only real thing I learned to make as a kid.”
She placed the beer on the table and took a taste of the soup. She was surprised by the complex flavors. Teagan took another bite before glancing over at the man beside her.
“I don’t hate you,” she said softly. “I’m just… This is all a bit much.”
Braden returned her glance and then went back to his soup.
“Then why won’t you wear the clothes? I know they aren’t as nice as the ones you make b—”
“They don’t fit,” she said quietly. She could feel the pink on her cheeks as it spread.
Braden set his bowl on the table. “They don�
�t fit? I went off the sizes you had before.”
She wanted to crawl in a hole. Maybe the Earth would just open up and swallow her whole. It would be better than having to say what she was going to. Teagan took a long drink off her beer before continuing, needing a little liquid courage.
“I gained weight,” she mumbled.
Because when the universe decided to screw you, it did it in the most irritating way ever. Such as by making you admit something embarrassing to the man you liked.
She jumped when a heavy black sweater landed on her lap. The sweater was still warm from Braden’s body. Teagan looked over to Braden, who now sat in his black t-shirt and jeans eating his soup.
“It will work for now,” he said between bites. “Better than that oil-stained jacket.”
She placed the bowl on the table and slipped off her red coat. As she slipped on the sweater, she became instantly aware of just how much it smelled like him. It was infused with the smoky smell of the fire and spicy hints from the soap he used.
Teagan popped her head through and looked over at him. She was surprised to find his eyes fixed on her chest.
He cleared his throat and glanced away having been caught.
“You look good with a little weight,” he said. “You were so sick before it must have been hard to keep it on. You look healthy.”
She continued to stare at him in surprise. Not once had she thought that gaining weight might be a good thing, but judging by the way he had been looking at her, it made her think differently. When she thought about it, her doctor had never suggested her weight gain was a bad thing.
Braden placed his bowl on the table, and she noticed, for the first time, a bandage covered the left side of his arm.
“What happened?” she asked and ran her fingers gently over the wound.
He cleared his throat and stared into the fire. “It’s nothing,” he said. “Bullet grazed me.”
Her heart hammered in her chest. All this time she’d been thinking about herself, and here he’d been wounded trying to save her. He could have easily been killed.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “I… Thank you for everything.”
Braden: #5 (Kelly Clan) Page 5
