Brady gave a thumbs up that the driver was okay. Dane asked, “Can you let up a little on hugging me? We need to go.”
Henry made hand signals for them to join him and Dane nodded, directing Emily to run.“ Henry’s procured motorcycles.”
“Let’s go.” She refused to release him, as if he might be crippled and unable to move on his own.
She helped him on the back of a motorcycle they were “borrowing” thanks to Henry. Emily tried to take the front, but Dane pushed forward, motioning with his jaw that she was to sit behind him. She hopped on the back and asked, “Do you know how to drive one of these?”
“Yes.” He started the engine to make the motorcycle purr. She pressed on his wound to monitor any blood loss and apply pressure. He hoped the wind would clear his mind.
Drivers, blocked by the accident, got out of their cars and surrounded Ted. Was he dead? Unconscious? Who had shot Ted?
As they took off she said, “We did it.”
Brady had the limo driver behind him on his motorcycle, which meant they needed to stop at the hospital—an unwanted delay but necessary.
If possible, they’d switch out the motorcycles there for a car. His mind raced. “Don’t say that until we’re on the plane.”
Emily held him tighter as they made their way toward the hospital, but then Henry slowed his motorcycle from the lead and shouted, “Our airplane is compromised.”
He’d thought it had gone too easy. First they needed a hospital, then they’d get out of here. He’d hoped to question Ted about who his buyer was, but that wasn’t happening. “We can take a ship back to London,” he answered Henry. Pain lanced through him and he gritted his teeth. “We’ll have to drive through Normandy.”
“Okay.” Henry’s stoic expression gave nothing away and he returned to point.
Emily yelled, “I want D… Uriel seen by a doctor. He was shot.”
Thankfully, Henry didn’t hear her.
“I’m fine, Em.” He revved the engine.
She hugged him and said, “Yeah, no. But you will be.”
“You’re always my angel.” He stayed on Henry’s tail.
She was right about the hospital. But he’d rather deal with the injury after he handed over the jewels.
But for now, they’d escaped. They’d won. It was enough.
Chapter 12
By the time they reached the closest hospital, the blood was dry on Dane’s arm—it had to hurt, though Emily was impressed at how he handled the injury so calmly. Emily had a low pain tolerance and had screamed bloody murder for a flu shot.
He waited patiently outside as Brady brought the limo driver into the emergency room. She brushed her hand over Dane’s good arm and then gently nudged him as she said, “Go in.”
“We’re just dropping off the driver.” He stayed still as Henry spoke to the police in the parking lot, giving a full report on Ted Vet San, from the bank incident to the shoot-out.
If Dane didn’t get help, who knew what type of infection he’d get? She more forcefully shoved him toward the entrance, though he was a wall of hard muscles. “No, you’re going to be seen. By a doctor.”
“Ted might find us.” He shook his head and just stared at the door as if willing Brady to hurry.
If something happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. She pointed to the police car, where Henry was still talking to a pair of officers. “The police don’t seem to be in a rush. A new car is on its way. Just go see how long of a wait it might be..”
He walked closer to the door but hedged, like he was unsure.
She was about to escort him in when Brady finally came out and said, “I’ve found a doctor who’s willing to take your case for cash.”
Dane glanced at both of them in defeat. “Fine, but he has to be fast. We can’t be seen as I don’t want to answer anymore questions.”
Brady nodded. “Done.”
Dane still didn’t move and she said, “Once someone looks at your arm, we can run as fast as you want.”
He squeezed her hand. “Emily?”
“Yeah?” She swallowed and hoped he wouldn’t continue to argue with her.
He released her. “Just wait outside with Henry.”
“You don’t want me to come?” She took a step to go with him.
“Henry will get you out of France if we are separated.” He strode forward, his mind made up. “I’ll see the doctor alone.”
“I… okay.” She stared at him as he walked inside. Her body felt cold as ice as his broad shoulders disappeared from view. He didn’t even look back. If she was alone, she might cry, and she never cried.
Not being invited meant he didn’t want her with him and the thought stung worse than a bee.
Ultimately men left, right?
The thought creeped in and she shook it off as she joined Henry, who was just wrapping things up with the French authorities. Brady signed for the rental car Henry had ordered, and scrolled through his phone as they waited. What felt like an eternity later, Dane walked out of the hospital and headed right toward her.
Brady got behind the wheel and Henry sat in the front passenger side. Dane took her hand, directing her in the back. His strength reverberated in his tight grip. “Let’s go.”
“What did he say?” She stepped into the car.
Dane flashed the bandage and said, “Flesh wound. A couple stitches, that’s all. You pulled me out at the perfect time.”
“Good.” She let the thought he’d be fine wash through her and released a slow breath.
Brady drove them back onto the main road. Dane reached into his back pockets where he’d shoved the Irish Crown Jewels, once meant to highlight British power in Ireland, and showed the two jeweled pieces Henry and Brady, then to her. “Let’s get this to England.”
She held the badge in her palm. Over a hundred years ago, a group of thieves had studied meticulously to get these jewels. She’d always assumed whoever had them had ripped the jewels apart for all the small diamonds and other precious stones.
Emily stared at the symbols of royalty that the Irish had viewed as symbols of oppression as they sparkled in the setting sun. These needed to be in a museum for the world to remember, just as Dane wanted.
She gave them back and saw they’d entered a port. Brady parked.
Dane opened the rear passenger door, got out, pocketed the jewels and offered his hand to help her out of the car. “Emily, let’s go.”
She saw the steam engine ferry and heard the whistle warning the ship was going to leave any moment.
Passengers were on their phones and minding their own business—they had no idea the trouble Ted had caused.
Dane held her hand as they made their way onto the ship. Henry directed them downstairs to a private stateroom, away from the passengers who milled around during the short trip across the channel.
The room was small but the bed in the middle had white sheets and fluffy pillows. She tossed her bag on the small dresser with an old fashioned bowl and pitcher as Dane sat down and untied his sneakers, kicking off his shoes.
Henry and Brady left to scout for danger, and Dane fell onto the bed. She sucked in her breath and asked, “Are you okay?”
“It’s been a long day.” He closed his eyes. “I’m tired, Em.”
The fight, the accident, driving the motorcycle, and being shot in a day would be exhausting. She fixed the sheets, tempted to rest next to him when she heard a vibration from her pocketbook. She picked up her phone and read the screen. “My sister’s calling.”
Dane snored as his reply. Right. She walked over to a small porthole as the engine chugged them out of port and quickly answered, “Sophie.”
Her sister made a loud sigh and launched her questions. “Emily, where are you? Are you okay? Why didn’t you call me or answer before?”
She turned behind her and heard Dane’s soft snore. She licked her lips and her stomach had nervous butterflies as she said, “I… I’m with Dane.”
“Michael’s Dane?” Sophie asked.
Emily braced for impact as she said, “Yeah.”
Her sister then hummed and asked, “He was at the nightclub?”
Emily’s face heated as she slumped on the other side of the bed, her legs facing the porthole in case she needed to jump up for cell service. “Umm, yeah I met him there.”
“But?” Sophie gave a long snort. “Emily, I can tell something’s wrong.”
Caught. She closed her eyes and tried to stop the impulse to tell her sister everything, but then Sophie would worry when she couldn’t help. It was best to wait. “Everything’s just been intense.”
“Intense?” Sophie repeated like she was their mom. Then she asked with her more normal, sister tone, “As in, you are fine and this is relationship stuff?”
“Kind of.” Emily opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder at sleeping Dane.
He honestly was a prince amongst men. He was sexier, stronger, buffer, sweeter, made her body sing with happiness, but the memory of waking up and him telling her goodbye, that he had to go, floated in and wouldn’t leave.
Emily could imagine her sister with her eyebrows up, giving her the We wear pink on Wednesdays stare—Sophie saw the world in her own way. Sophie asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means I like Dane,” Emily admitted to her wide-eyed, optimistic, should-have-been-a-fairy-tale-princess, older sister.
Sophie didn’t yell but laughed. “Yeah, I remember you making googly eyes at him.”
“Sophie, I don’t make googly eyes.” Emily shook her head as her mind searched for some witty comeback.
“At Dane, you did,” Sophie said like it was a guaranteed win on a lottery ticket. “Where is he? I know Michael said he was doing fine on his own, and wanted to respect the distance, but it always bothered him that Dane never came back.”
Right. His father. Emily’s brother-in-law. This should be all sorts of wrong, but she looked at Dane, resting soundly, and the bandage on his arm from being shot while trying to return stolen jewels. He was nothing like she’d thought. He matched her and in more than just a physical way. He’d even worn the suit she’d bought him without complaint to please her. “Dane’s a professor at Harvard now.”
“A professor? Dane always struck me as an intellectual underneath that pain of his.” Sophie’s voice flittered off. Emily imagined her sister was probably swept away by some romantic gesture like Michael had given her flowers while she was on the phone. Her sister was a sucker for roses that die in vases because they’d been cut. Sophie returned her attention to the phone and said, “Well that’s good to hear, but you’re in France?”
Okay. They’d talk when she got back. Dane said he’d come home with her to see his father. “We flew out to Paris.”
“For a romance?” Sophie asked.
Her sister was always the romantic one. Emily never really sought out men or attention. She never trusted anyone, though Dane had snuck inside her heart and she cared for him. She stood and glanced out the porthole as they chugged along the choppy waters. “I don’t know.”
Sophie quickly stated her opinion. “Why? What don’t you know? You either like him or you don’t.”
Emily turned around again. The room was tiny, but she pressed her hand against her bra and knew the necklace he’d given her years ago was still there. She’d kept it and wore it because it was the only way to really feel like she belonged to him.
And then he’d just appeared like a vision back in her life, saving her, like he’d never left.
But he had.
The hole in her heart was still there.
She shook her head and tried to ignore her feelings. “It’s probably fine, but you know going fast doesn’t work out.”
Sophie countered, like she’d read her mind, “Going slow doesn’t either, so what speed are we talking here?”
“I’m just scared, Sophie,” Emily admitted. Maybe her sisters might get it. None of their fathers had shown up to their mom’s funeral, or for them.
Sophie asked, “Of?”
Then again, Sophie was the bright-eyed optimist who only ever saw the good in everyone.
Maybe she didn’t understand. Emily’s stomach was full of butterflies as she held her waist. “What if he leaves again?”
“What if he doesn’t?” Sophie asked so fast the words felt like she’d just spit them out on auto reply.
Trust was a good thing. Sophie had landed a man seriously in love with her because she’d trusted. Maybe Emily could channel a little of her sister’s optimistic princess behavior where cute woodland animals did her bidding.
Actually no, Emily wasn’t that sweet. She laughed at the imagery. “So you’re saying everything might work out?”
Sophie asked, “Do you want to bring home another loser that you know you don’t really want?”
Loser? Emily sat straighter and set herself up to argue, “Greg wasn’t-”
“Yeah, even you didn’t like him,” Sophie interrupted.
Dane snored as he turned.
Unlike Greg, Dane was everything she’d ever wanted. She brushed her fingers over his hand. “You’re right. I didn’t.”
“So give Dane a chance,” Sophie said while Dane took her hand and held it in his sleep.
Lying next to him, just for a little bit, might be good. She didn’t want anyone else. She swallowed and slipped her feet out of her shoes. “Will that be okay with Michael?”
Sophie said, “He’ll probably approve, but does that matter?”
Her brother-in-law wasn’t exactly her go-to for most valued opinion on the planet though he’d ensured they were all taken care of financially.
The ship’s engines suddenly shut off and they stopped moving. Emily’s heart raced as she told her sister, “No. Soph, I have to go.”
“Okay.” Sophie hung up.
Emily brushed her hand up and down Dane’s arm. Goosebumps raised as she heard the ship power down. She whispered, “Dane, wake up.”
“What’s going on?” He sat up immediately.
How did he not know? Adrenaline rushed through her as she said, “Listen.”
Emily slipped her shoes back on and stood to get her pocketbook as Dane asked, “To what?”
“Listen closer.” She looped her bag around her shoulder and pushed his shoes toward the bed.
He put his sneakers back on as he shook his head. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly.” She pointed him toward the small sink.
Dane splashed water on his face, used the leather of his wallet to buffer the small jewels in his pocket, and then met her gaze with a dawning light in his expression. “Oh, that’s not good.”
“Yeah.” She mentally prepared for whatever happened next.
“Who was Greg?” Dane asked as he opened the door.
Neither Henry nor Brady waited for them outside the door. Not good either… She followed Dane out as she said, “A guy I brought home three years ago for Thanksgiving, but honestly, no one important.”
“Too bad I missed dinner.” They walked slowly to the stairs. “Emily, this time don’t do anything—I mean it.”
“I was good last time.” They stopped at the bottom step and Dane listened to sounds above them. She’d saved him from a worse injury, if not his life.
“You don’t…” A gunshot sounded above deck. Dane pushed her behind him like he’d protect her from any stray bullet and whispered, “Stand back.”
Not again. Not this soon. She couldn’t lose Dane. “You might be hurt worse if I hadn’t acted.”
“Still, this could be dangerous. I want you to be safe.” He walked her back to their room.
No. This wasn’t the best hiding spot. If there were thieves on the ship, then the first class rooms would be targeted. “I’ll be careful.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.” Once inside, he closed the door behind him, locked it, then turned and said, “Look, Emily, you’re the closest thing I’ll ever have to
a girlfriend, and it’s my job to protect you.”
Doubting him was her mistake. Tears formed in her eyes, though she wouldn’t cry. She wasn’t the emotional type. “I’m your girlfriend?”
One eyebrow rose. “Is that a problem?”
“No!” He stepped toward the door and she grabbed his good arm, her hand on her hip. “No, but if you’re my boyfriend, you need to promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?” He unlocked the door. Had he realized they needed a better hiding spot?
She swallowed. Dane was important. He had to know that, but all she said was, “Don’t get killed over jewelry.”
He stepped into the hallway. “Says the woman who refused to give up that necklace.”
That was different. The necklace was all she’d had of Dane. “You gave it to me. I’m sentimental.”
His lips met hers and for one second the world faded away. As the kiss ended, Dane directed her backwards a little. “Good, now, I’m sorry for this.”
“For what?” She tilted her head. The kiss had been magical.
He stiffened his shoulders as he said, “For this.”
With a quick movement he closed the door in her face and locked it from the outside. She tried to turn the handle but it didn’t move. “Let me out!”
He dragged what was probably a chair and shoved it under the knob of the door. “You’re safer here. I’ll be right back.”
“Dane, don’t do this!” She tried the handle again, but it didn’t budge.
Her heart raced. If anything happened to Dane, she’d never forgive herself. He was hers and she wanted to see how far things developed, together. If he died, over jewels, then she’d never, ever be able to look herself in the mirror because she hadn’t been able to save him.
Chapter 13
Dane made it to the top deck of the steamboat that transported people across the English Channel who didn’t want to go through the tunnel. Many were tourists, but a few were locals who shuttled between Normandy and England, and many, many British accents whispered about commotion and Americans with their guns. Dane poked his head into the crowd of passengers huddled together and searched everywhere on deck for Ted.
Hidden Dane (Hidden Alphas Book 4) Page 10
