Dangerously Entwined

by Sidney Bristol

  “Hey?” Grant bumped her.

  “Can we talk about that later, please?” she said in a rush.

  “Sure, but—we’re boarding.” He flashed her his screen. “Riley says we’re all being called onto the standby flight.”

  Melody’s cheeks heated. Here she was thinking with her heart and Grant was being practical. God, she wanted to get home.

  “You go first,” Grant said.

  She jerked her head in a nod and left the racks of clothes. It was a short walk to the terminal for the London bound flight. Sure enough, the rest of their people were standing off to the side while the plane finished loading. Despite the guys doing their best to look as though they weren’t traveling together, it wasn’t working. Men of that stature were clearly cut from a very specific cloth.

  The minutes ticked by.

  Melody began to glance around, wondering if they shouldn’t split and wait for their guaranteed flight later.

  A flight attendant appeared and called both Vaughn and Brenden’s names, escorting them onto the plane.

  Her breathing came a bit easier.

  Riley was called next.

  Then her and Nolan.

  She held back, not wanting to board before the others.

  “Go,” Grant said and gave her a little nudge.

  Melody glanced back at him and knew she couldn’t push the issue without creating a scene. One of the things that attracted her to Grant was how he cared about others. It might be gruff and downright rude at times, but he did what he did with the best intentions.

  She nodded and followed the uniformed man onto the plane.

  The others were crammed into middle seats that would no doubt make for an uncomfortable trip, but they were on.

  “Here you are, ma’am.” The man gestured at an aisle seat.

  Melody stared at it longingly before gesturing to Nolan. “You should take it.”

  “You sure?” he asked.

  “Yes. Sit.” She couldn’t enjoy the seat with its semblance of freedom knowing the others were uncomfortable.

  The flight attendant led her to the very last row where two seats were open next to a guy who looked to be in his teens already passed out with his face pressed to the window. Melody turned to ask about her other seatmate only to see Grant headed for her.

  The relief at seeing him had her knees going weak. Melody sank into the middle seat and watched Grant come to her.

  “Thanks,” he muttered to the attendant.

  She busied herself fastening her seatbelt and stowing the large purse under the seat in front of her while Grant got situated.

  They’d made it almost off the island.

  Grant reached over and wrapped his big hand around hers.

  She wanted to hold on to him, to give into that, but her feelings were too confusing.

  Melody pulled away, only for his grip to tighten. He leaned over.

  “Don’t. Please? Today was hard,” he said for her ears alone.

  She froze, his unexpected vulnerability taking her by surprise. Grant was nothing if not confident and in control. He’d been frustrated, but that was it. Or at least that’s how he appeared.

  She relaxed, fitting her hand in his more comfortably, and blew out a breath.

  Hello, complicated and messy.

  FRIDAY. SAFE HOUSE, London, UK.

  Someday Grant wanted to come back to London and get a chance to see the city. He’d been in it several times, but never for pleasure. During that short stint backpacking with his brother, they’d never made it to the UK. There were lots of things he hadn’t seen or done. Today was not that day.

  He stood at the windows, staring out on the city lit by millions of twinkling lights. The flat felt a world away from the chaos that had tried to kill them.

  His team was safe.

  A doctor had seen Vaughn, Brenden and Riley. Vaughn was pulling through and things were beginning to look up.

  Still, whatever had begun on Ibiza was far from over.

  Someone had watched them, planned for this. Which meant they’d been targeted, followed.

  Melody’s reflection in the glass made his body tighten. That man, the one on the radio, had known who she was. Grant was supposed to protect her, and he’d failed. The lump on her forehead was proof enough of that.

  “The doctor has no idea what these are.” She rattled the container of pills at him.

  He turned to face her.

  She’d changed into a pair of standard, black yoga pants and a plan black T-shirt, the kind they carried for the people they rescued. It wasn’t her typical business attire. For him it was jarring to see her like this. She wasn’t a victim, she wasn’t an asset. She was Melody, always in charge, cool, calm and collected.

  She grimaced, unaware of his ongoing thoughts. “Riley hasn’t said anything, but Brenden made a comment about how strong the men were. How fast they moved. He saw Ethan up close.”

  Grant rubbed a hand over his face. The last thing they needed was to face off against a small army of super soldiers. Ethan alone had nearly killed them all, a fact Grant didn’t want to think about. He’d had nightmares about all the blood Melody had lost. Sending her off, not being with her had nearly killed him.

  “Have you eaten?” Melody asked.

  “I did.” He glanced down the hall.

  Riley and Nolan were keeping Vaughn company while another bag of antibiotics and fluids got pumped into him.

  Brenden was likely calling home to talk to his girlfriend. Normally Grant would have been worried about the guy given his history, but the new woman in his life had brought a balance and healing. Brenden was going to be okay.

  That left Grant and Melody on their own.

  She turned, no doubt ready to go to sleep. They hadn’t really gotten a chance to rest since setting out to rescue the heiress from the pirates. “Okay, well—”

  “Can we talk?” Grant asked.

  She glanced over her shoulder. “We haven’t done enough of that?”

  “Clearly we haven’t.” He pushed his hand through his hair to keep from touching her. He didn’t think she’d be receptive right now. “Look, obviously there was a lot of miscommunication between us. I never meant to hurt you or make you think I didn’t care. I thought I was being respectful, going at your pace. You thought I didn’t care. Doesn’t that warrant a conversation?”

  Melody blinked a few times then glanced down the hall.

  “Come here.” He took her hand, grateful when she didn’t pull away from him, and led her into the master suite off the living room.

  Her things were organized, set on the dresser. A few discarded clothes lay rumpled on the floor.

  Grant shut the door and turned to face her, fighting his urge to pull her in for a hug.

  She stood looking at their clasped hands.

  “I care about you. I know I screwed up. I made you feel like I didn’t care, but I promise you that’s not the case.” He edged closer, ready to argue all night if she’d let him.

  Melody lifted her chin and looked up at him. Her eyes were troubled. “I don’t know right now, Grant. A few days ago, it was clear. You were who you were, and I didn’t think you’d change for me.”

  “I thought I was changing for you, Button.”

  “I know that’s what you think now. But what does it say about us that we watched a show we both hated because we never once said something to the other person? We aren’t honest with each other. There’s clearly a break-down of trust between us. What kind of a future does that give us?”

  He nodded. She made sense, and yet he wasn’t ready to give up. “I can see your point, but I don’t... I think we can do better. I want to do better. I care too much about you to say I screwed up and stop trying.”

  “It’s not up to just you.” She tugged her hand from his.

  He tightened his grip. “I know that. What if we gave it one more shot? You could set a timeframe. A month or two? If we aren’t on the same page by then, we call it quits
.”

  She finally pulled away from him, sighing heavily. “I don’t know, Grant. I don’t know.”

  Her brow wrinkled like it did whenever she had a bad headache.

  He wished he had some of that peppermint oil she liked, the stuff she’d rub on her temples. He’d do that for her if she’d let him.

  “I’m not ready to call it quits, Button.”

  “I think... I want to get some sleep and I think we should get some distance from this week before we decide what to do next.” She dropped her hands to her side.

  She wanted him to leave. Grant didn’t like that, but he also had no fucking clue what else to say to her. The one thing he could take away from this was that she wasn’t giving him that we’re over and done with line anymore. Her ideas about time and distance were proof of that. They still had a chance.

  Today had been rough for them as a couple. He’d learned things about Melody that he should have known. It was obvious now that he’d hurt her, he just wasn’t sure how to fix it or if he could.

  Melody tipped her chin up and looked at him, her eyes shining in the bright lights. “I just want to sleep, Grant. It’s not me saying we’re over, it’s me saying I’m tired and I’d like some space. Okay?”

  He nodded, and though he believed her, his instincts said to stick close.

  Melody took a step, went up on tip-toe with her hands braced on his shoulders and gently kissed his lips. Before he could reach for her, she backed away.

  He grit his teeth, both frustrated and hopeful all at once.

  “Good night,” she said.

  “Night, Button. Sleep tight.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  Yeah, so maybe he was using the name more often. So what? He was going to remind her at every turn what they were to each other, how much she mattered. At least she was telling him what she wanted. That was some kind of start.

  Grant let himself out of Melody’s room and shut the door behind him. The main space of the flat was empty and there wasn’t much sound coming from the other rooms. They were all ready to drop from exhaustion, Grant included. And yet he wasn’t ready to let this rest. Couldn’t, really.

  He pulled out the burner phone he’d picked up at the airport and hit dial on one of the three numbers in his address book.

  “Merida speaking. Who is this?”

  Grant glanced at Melody’s door then strode across the room. “It’s Grant.”

  “Hey, something wrong?” Merida’s voice tensed.

  “No, nothing’s wrong.” He paused, then continued slower. “This isn’t a work call. You are Melody’s best friend.”

  There was a beat of silence before Merida responded. “Is that a question?”

  Grant hadn’t told a soul about them, mostly because of Melody’s insistence that they keep it quiet. But had she told her best friend? Surely she had?

  “I need help,” he said.

  For once, Merida didn’t have an immediate statement or answer. She was the woman with all the solutions, but suddenly even she was silent.

  He cleared his throat. “As Melody’s best friend I’m making the assumption that you know...about us?”

  “Yes, I know. I’m also at the office right now,” Merida said in an even tone.

  “Can you listen then?”

  “This I have to hear.”

  Grant paced into the kitchen. With the ground work laid, he jumped right in. “We’ve hit a road bump and I don’t know how to get over or around it. Melody thinks I don’t care about her because I haven’t pried into her life. I’ve been waiting for her to open up to me. We’ve both been doing the wrong thing. Now I need to do the right thing and I’m not sure I know what that is.”

  “Jesus. Grant... Hold on. Let me go somewhere private.”

  He leaned against the counter where he could stare across at Melody’s door.

  Grant loved her. He knew that with a certainty. Now he had to figure out how to prove to Melody he deserved another shot. He knew he could make her happy if she’d let him in, past her defenses.

  “Okay.” Merida blew out a breath. “Look, this is my best friend. I don’t think I can get involved. I really want to have this conversation, but I’m not sure I can. It’s killing me inside right now.”

  “That’s what I was afraid you’d say.” Grant’s shoulders slumped.

  “What have you done so far?”

  “Told her I screwed up. That we both should have talked. Been honest with each other. I’m willing to change, to have a trial period, whatever she wants to do.” Grant straightened, still staring at the thin strip of light under her door, as if he could discern her movements.

  “Wow,” Merida said. “You really like her?”

  “I do.” More than he could admit to anyone right now.

  “Listening to her... I shouldn’t say anything. Never mind.”

  He’d played his cards too close to the vest. Melody didn’t know how he felt about her, that he was madly in love with her, and he might lose her because of it. That was on him. It was time to put it all out there, maybe be a bit reckless.

  The only thing he had to lose was Melody, and she already had one foot out of their relationship.

  “Here’s what I’ll say based on what you just told me,” Merida said slowly. “It sounds like you’re on the right path. All women want to know their guy cares about them, that they matter. Don’t expect things to change overnight. I love Melody, but she’s a slow mover. Just, show her what you’re willing to do, how you really feel about her. Okay? Think you can do that?”

  “Yeah,” he muttered.

  “I really hope you two work out. I’ll admit, I didn’t see it in the beginning, but you two actually make sense.”

  “Thanks, Merida.”

  “No problem. Now, I’ve got to stop hiding in the supply closet. Get some rest and take care of our girl, okay?”

  “Will do.”

  Grant hung up the phone.

  He should sleep. At this point he was running on fumes, and yet the fight was just beginning. His team wasn’t safe. Someone was likely out there tailing them, watching to see where they’d go. But he also needed to figure out how he was going to win Melody’s heart.

  She didn’t think he cared, that he knew her. He was ready to admit that some things he hadn’t known, but he did pay attention. It was time to show her.

  SATURDAY. PRIVATE YACHT, Ibiza City, Ibiza.

  Liman had half as many men as he had when he arrived. Some of the bodies couldn’t be recovered from the blast, but he’d made sure those men were dead before heading to the yacht. This situation had seemed manageable yesterday. After all, it was only a matter of time until he cornered his prey.

  He’d underestimated their bite.

  These Aegis Group people were resourceful and stupid.

  They also highlighted the fact that the stim pills could only do so much. What good did it do to make an idiot faster and stronger if they weren’t worth the oxygen they were breathing before they took the stims?

  “Sir? A call for you.” Khaled held out the bulky satellite phone.

  Liman took it. “Yes?”

  “The Americans. I know where they are. My man saw them in London.”

  “In London? What part? Where were they going? How long ago? This information isn’t useful without context.” Besides, Liman had a pretty good idea about where the American team was going.

  “I have two guys sitting on them now. They’re in a fancy hotel. Forget the name of it.”

  “Have your men follow them. Let me know when they leave the country and where they’re going.”

  Liman was already working on a new plan. His previous intent to capture and trade for his man had fallen through, but that didn’t mean that the Americans wouldn’t still be useful.

  He was willing to bet that if he followed them and their associates long enough, they’d lead him to Elio, eventually.

  11.

  Saturday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illino
is.

  Melody didn’t think she’d ever been happy to see the original Aegis Group campus. It reminded her of summer camp what with all the painted cinderblock dorm style rooms. After fifteen hours spent at airports and in the air, she’d be happy for a stationary cardboard box.

  She nudged the door to her private quarters for now and shut behind her and blew out her first easy breath since...she couldn’t remember when.

  For weeks she’d been in a state of anticipation, waffling on what to do between her and Grant, which had made both her personal and professional time tense.

  After breaking up with Grant at the beach house on Ibiza, she hadn’t experienced the kind of relief she’d hoped for. She’d been sad, morose and regretful that things hadn’t turned out differently. And then there was everything that had happened between then and now.

  It was over.

  At least her role in getting everyone home safe.

  The responsibility for their safety and health was officially on the Aegis Group leadership now.

  They were here.

  The Lebanese were now a problem for the owner of Aegis Group, Admiral Crawford, and the State Department. Vaughn was getting top notch care.

  Everything was fine.

  She set what passed for her purse on the desk and glanced over the room. Used to, all of the Aegis Group teams operated out of this facility, but that was ages ago, before the Seattle office. Melody had only been by twice to meet the owner and handle a few sensitive assignments. Now that she was here, she had to wonder if the bones of the facility weren’t some kind of defunct summer camp.

  Melody closed her eyes and pushed that line of thought out of her mind. It didn’t matter and honestly she wanted her brain to check out for a while.

  All she wanted was a shower and sleep.

  Her burner phone rang from the depths of her purse.

  She cringed and fished the device out.

  Merida.

  Okay, so not entirely bad.

  Melody swiped her thumb across the screen and held the phone to her ear.

  “Hey, we’ve made it to headquarters,” she said.

  “I know,” Merida replied.

  “Okay,” Melody said slowly. It made sense Merida would be tracking their location, keeping an eye on things especially given the sketchy nature of their passports. “Is there something—”