As soon as he ran through the camera on the toll road, the signal would get to Grant, and Noah would meet them at the airport with a chopper. From there, they’d fly to the compound where Jake could fill them in on what was happening.
“And you’re sure you’re okay?” Lexi asked as she eyed him.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
She crossed the room and stopped in front of him. “In that case,” she took his face in her hands, “I owe you this.” She lowered her lips to his as she circled her arms around his neck.
The kiss didn’t last long, but it knocked the wind out of him. “I thought you weren’t going to kiss me again.”
“Consider it a lie for a lie.”
He nodded in understanding. He lied when he said kissing her was a mistake, and she knew it.
She brushed her hand along his cheek. “And you still feel warm to me.”
“I appreciate the concern, and I’m not in tiptop form, but we need to go. It’s only a few hours, and then I’ll have you safely away from Faustus. Then I can rest as much as my doctor prescribes.” He smiled.
“Okay, but when we get there, you are resting until I say you’re done.”
Jake nodded. “All right.”
“And we’re having that shoulder x-rayed.”
“I’ve always known you’d be a great doctor.” He used his knee to push off the bed and stand. “And I was right.”
She cocked an eyebrow as she looked up at him. “I guess that makes one time?”
He tapped her on the nose. “I’m not keeping count.”
“I am.” She grinned. “And I’m right a lot.”
Man, he wanted to kiss her, but he wanted her safely in Houston even more. “Come on, we need to hustle.”
“At least it’ll be―”
He covered her mouth with his hand and pulled her to the floor. Shhh, he mouthed and crawled to the window. Sure enough, two cars were parked in the lot, and eight men were fanning out. Eight, and he was shot and feeling terrible. He hung his head and tried not to let the guilt drown him. His carelessness had slowed them down and allowed Faustus’s men to catch up. And with this many, it looked like he meant to do less than herding.
Lexi joined him at the window. “They found us, huh?”
“Yes.”
“It’s my fault.”
He took her hand in his. “No, I’m supposed to be protecting you. All of the blame lies squarely at my feet, but I’ll get you out of here. I promise.” He paused a second and took another glance out of the window. “If something happens to me, I want you to take the truck. Don’t stop until you get to Houston. There’s a toll road as you head into the city. It’s called I-10.” He pulled one of the two badges Noah gave him out of his back pocket. “Hold this up, and as soon as the little light turns green, head straight for Ellington Field. There’s a private hangar that looks like it could fall down any second. Park next to it. A helicopter should be there by the time you reach it.”
“What do you mean ‘if something happens’ to you?”
“My job is to get you to safety. You.”
Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “Jake Maverick, if you think for one second that I’m leaving you to die, you are out of your ever-loving mind.”
“Well, I’m not going to beg for death, but in the event of, you need to know what to do. Now, take the badge and stick it somewhere so you have it just in case.”
She snatched it out of his hand and grumbled, “I’ll show you where to stick it.”
“Get your medical bag. I can’t handle the luggage and hold a gun. We’ll need to leave the other stuff.’”
Lexi grabbed her medical bag and held it in front of her. “Okay.”
Jake peeked through the curtain again. “We’re going to have to move fast. You go straight to the truck and get in. Don’t look back, around, or otherwise. Just go. If I tell you to drive, do it.”
“As long as you’re in the truck too, no problem.”
He shook his head but didn’t argue. He slipped to the door and cracked it a hair, waving for Lexi to follow him. Now he was glad he’d chosen single-story motels the entire trip. Places where he could park directly in front of the room. As he studied the men’s positions, he wasn’t sure why none of them were surrounding the truck. Surely they had a description by now.
“Change of plans. We’re taking one of their cars. Something’s off, and I can’t put my finger on it.” He glanced back out the door. “Stay here. I’m going to find a key.” He handed her the gun from his ankle holster. “Anyone comes toward you, shoot.”
Before she could ask any questions, he slipped out of the door and found a maid’s cart sitting next to their room. A woman walked out of the room next door, and her eyes widened.
Jake put his finger to his lips and whispered, “Go in the room, get down, and stay down, okay? Call the police.”
He snatched the cart and angled himself behind it. Two men were left standing guard in front of the motel, one on the far-right corner near the lobby and one to Jake’s left. Unfortunately, the biggest one was closest to him. The other six were most likely combing the rest of the motel, so if he was going to get her out of there, it needed to be now.
Jake whispered a small prayer and mentally set aside how he was feeling. Before the end of the day, he’d have Lexi in Houston if it killed him.
When the guy on the right stepped out of sight, Jake took one last deep breath and took off to the left, plowing into the guy and slugging him across the jaw before he got a shot off. Jake dug in his pockets and pulled out a set of keys, grabbed his weapon, and folded him behind the cart.
He stayed down, making his way back to Lexi, and stopped just outside the door. “Ms. Maheras?”
“Lexi,” she said as she opened the door a fraction.
“Just hurry to the car but stay down. The guy on the right’s going to notice Hulk’s down any second.” Just then, two men rounded the building. “Now.”
Jake took her hand and pulled her out of the room toward the car. They opened the door and dove in at the same time. He locked the doors as he started the engine.
The driver’s side window shattered, and a fist flew through the window. Jake reeled for a second and then grabbed the man’s hand, yanking him hard against the car.
A second later, a shot rang out, and the man clutched his side and fell back. Jake looked at Lexi, stunned.
“You told me to shoot,” she said.
“Thanks.” A bullet pierced the back window, slicing through his right bicep and hitting the dash. “Get down, Lexi,” he said as he threw the car in reverse and punched the gas.
Another shot rang out, and he ducked as he jerked into drive and pulled onto the road. In the side mirror, he saw the other car filling with men, and then dust kicked up as they gave chase. Jake didn’t have time for backroads, but he couldn’t afford for them to be run off the road.
“Are they following us?” Lexi asked.
“Yeah.”
“Backroads again?”
He shook his head. “No, not this time.”
“I’ve been thinking. I’m not so sure they’re shooting at me. I know that bounty hunter pointed the gun in my direction, but I think he knew you’d step in front of me. If he’d been aiming for me, he wouldn’t have shot you in the shoulder. He’d have hit lower.”
Jake glanced at her. “I’ve come to that conclusion too. Which is good. He wants you alive.”
Suddenly, the car lurched forward hard as the car following them rammed them, throwing Jake into the steering wheel. “Hold on.”
He slammed on the brake, sidling next to the car on the driver’s side, and jerked the wheel to the right. The driver corrected and rammed him, and then Jake spied a telephone pole ahead. The other driver knocked Jake once more before Jake pushed the car into the oncoming pole.
“There’ll be more, but it’ll take them a minute.”
Lexi popped her head up and looked out the passenger window. “You got them?”
> “For now.”
She crawled into the seat and fastened her seat belt. “Are you okay?”
No. He was far from okay. His shoulder was throbbing, his bicep stung, and on top of that, he still felt sick. Again, he pushed down all of it and took a deep breath. When he’d been in boot camp, he’d made it through by only looking at the next ten steps. Ten steps were nothing. He could do that. When he’d get to the end, he’d push through the next ten. There were ten steps until the next town, and he could do that.
“I’m good.”
“You do realize you can’t lie to me, right?”
He looked at her. “I know, and I’ll deal with it when you’re safe.”
“Can I bandage where that bullet grazed you?” she asked.
“I’d appreciate that, but then we concentrate on getting you to Houston, deal?”
She stared at him a second and then nodded. “Deal, but after? I’m in charge. Got it?”
He smiled. “Got it.”
She unclipped her belt, dug in her bag, and pulled out his contact solution and a bandage. “This is going to sting.”
Bracing himself, he focused on the road and pressed down on the gas a little harder. Once she’d cleaned and bandaged it, she hesitated a second, and he felt her gaze on him. Then she slid back across the seat and buckled herself in again.
The next few hours, they rode in silence with Jake continually scanning the road. When they reached the toll road, he nearly shouted hallelujah. He pulled the badge out, held it up, and drove until it flashed green. Now, he just needed to make it to Ellington Field—thirty-six miles. It was ten more steps, and his feet were tired.
“Just a bit more, okay?”
“Can’t say I’m not glad. I’m done with driving for a while.” She smiled.
He returned her smile. “Me too.”
Just as he turned off I-69 onto I-45, an SUV tapped the front of the car, forcing him into the next lane and continuing to force him over until Jake had no choice but the take an exit off the highway.
“What are they doing?” asked Lexi as she gripped the armrest on the door.
“I don’t know yet, but I’m not playing ball. We need to get back on the highway. With this traffic, it could double our time getting to Ellington Field.”
Jake turned off Griggs, going east to Galveston Road. Maybe he could shake them by making them think he was going to take that road into Ellington. Up the road, four cars blocked the route.
“Detour,” he said as he pulled into the subdivision.
He wound his way through the streets until he stopped at a church and pulled in behind it, nestling the car in between a hedge and the back fence. As an SUV drove by, he smiled. “I had a feeling we were being followed.”
Lexi twisted in the seat. “I didn’t see anyone.”
“Whoever it is, is good. I’m better.” He winked.
“I have to admit, I’m getting a little scared. It seems like he waited until we got into Houston. I don’t understand.”
Jake scrubbed his face with his hands to wake himself up. “Faustus is not what I expected. There are people who would pay good money to know where Noah conducts his business. I suspect he’s made a deal with someone. If he can find out where we’re going, he’ll make all this chasing worth it.”
“Oh. I’d ask what Noah does, but I don’t think I want to know.”
He shook his head. “You don’t, but it’s nothing bad.”
“I have a feeling you wouldn’t be associated with people who did bad things.” She smiled.
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
They needed to move. If he sat still much longer, he wouldn’t be going anywhere. He checked the street, and when he was sure it was clear, he started the car and pulled onto the street. Ten more steps. That’s all he needed.
They hit a street called Galveston, traveled south a bit, and then headed east in an attempt to make it back to the interstate. Not a mile down, the road was blocked, and he had to wind his way back to Galveston.
By the time they reached the small airport, at least six cars were on his tail. Jake had never been happier to see a helicopter in his life. His hope was that Noah knew to bring firepower, as this wasn’t going to be a simple hop from the car.
As he hit the brakes, the car slid to a stop, and four men filed out of the helicopter holding weapons. Noah’s team. He’d breathe a sigh of relief once they made it inside and off the ground.
Ten more steps.
He glanced behind him as the cars following them squealed to a stop. Then he turned his gaze to Lexi. “Follow me out and stay behind me.”
She nodded.
The second the door opened, a bullet flew past Jake’s head, and he ducked behind the door. Then shots sounded off, and he knew Noah was trying to give him enough cover to get Lexi to the helicopter.
As he checked behind him, he realized more cars had arrived, and they were swarming around them. The men who’d been giving him cover were now being engaged by shooters trying to take over the helicopter.
It was now or never. He grabbed Lexi’s hand and curled around her as he picked her up around the waist. Noah met him halfway as Jake ran from the car toward the helicopter, and Jake passed Lexi to him. “They want her. Get her out of here.”
Lexi screamed his name, and he turned just as two men approached him, fists swinging. They struggled a moment before one of them knocked the gun from his hand, making it skitter a few feet away. The first guy grunted as Jake slammed his fist into his gut, dropping him to the ground.
Jake turned, and the only thing in his vision was a fist. Momentarily dazed, he threw a wild punch, catching the second guy across the jaw and sending him to the ground.
Before he could make a run for the chopper, the first guy recovered and pounded Jake in the kidney. At the same time, the second thug grabbed his arm with one hand while landing a hit directly on Jake’s ribcage with his other. Jake’s breath caught, and he jerked his arm free from the second guy, throwing two punches across the first guy’s jaw. He went sprawling.
Jake turned his attention to the second man and then noticed the gun. He lunged for the it, but the second guy grabbed him around the leg, and he hit the ground hard on his shoulder. The searing pain nearly blinded him. Ten more steps, he repeated in his head.
Pulling himself up, he pounded the guy in the head until he loosened his grip, and then Jake kicked, causing the guy to land sprawling on his back.
Jake pushed off the ground, and the first guy stood between him and the helicopter. He could see Lexi and hear her screaming for him. He waved for the helicopter to take off, but Noah shook his head vehemently and motioned for him to hurry up.
Just as the guy blocking his way charged, Jake sidestepped and made a run for the helicopter. As he reached it, a shot rang out, and Jake grabbed the helicopter to keep himself upright.
The man who’d charged him dove his fist into Jake’s kidney again and then wrapped his arms around Jake’s shoulders, lifting him off the ground. Jake threw his head back, and the guy dropped him. Jake spun around, braced his hand against the lip of the opening, and kicked hard with his feet.
Noah pulled him in and slammed the door as they took off. Jake collapsed back on the floor and gulped air.
“Jake,” Lexi said as she hovered over him.
He covered her hand with his. “You did great. You’re going to be a great doctor.”
“Ten more steps,” Lexi said. “Ten more, right?”
No more steps, and even if there were ten more, he couldn’t do it. He could feel his body shutting down. There was no more fight in him. He ached all over, and he was so tired. His eyes slid shut, and darkness enveloped him.
Chapter 19
Showered, dressed, and finally at a safehouse somewhere near the coast, Lexi stood by the window, watching the sunrise. Jake had passed out in the helicopter, and when they arrived at the house, he’d been taken away by stretcher.
Sh
e’d tried everything in her arsenal from bad-tempered prima donna to wife to begging, and they’d confined her to this room and left her alone for hours. If it wasn’t for the fact that she didn’t know Jake’s status, she’d be tying bedsheets and shimmying down them.
They’d arrived late in the evening, and she’d spent the night tossing and turning, worrying about him. Having the last image of him being carted off, unconscious and bleeding, didn’t make for a great night cap. The only thing she knew was that he was shot again, and they were worried he’d lost too much blood.
A knock came from the door, and she furiously wiped the tears off her face before answering, “Come in.”
A woman, roughly in her mid-fifties, walked in and smiled. “Hi, I’m Pamela Williams.” She crossed the room and shook Lexi’s hand. “You’ve had a rough couple of days. I thought you could use some company.”
Pam motioned to one of the upholstered leather chairs, and Lexi took a seat. “Did you sleep okay?”
“No, I’m worried about Jake, and no one will tell me anything. I’m his doctor.”
The woman lifted an eyebrow. “You’ve been on the run, and you’re exhausted. You’re in no shape to be anyone’s doctor.”
Before Lexi could answer, a second knock came from the door, and a younger woman walked in with a tray filled with a tea pot and two cups. She smiled as she set it on the ottoman between the two chairs and then left.
Lexi scooted to the edge of the chair. “Please tell me something. Anything you can about how Jake is doing.”
“He’s…in rough shape, but I think he’ll be okay,” Pamela said as she poured them both some tea. “You’ll be able to see him soon.”
“I’ve been worried sick. He didn’t feel good, and…”
Pamela raised her hand. “I’ve known Jacobi a long time. He’s been in worse shape, believe it or not.”
“He’s a good man. A quiet, sweet man.”
“Yes, he is,” the woman said as she stared at Lexi over her cup. “Could you tell me about what’s going on?”
Lexi nodded and picked up the tea cup meant for her. In between sips, she told Pamela everything that happened, starting from the very beginning when her papa called, telling her she was marrying Faustus.
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