by Lori Foster
Star stepped out farther, moving to the front of the van so the lights hit her. “Quickly. Let’s go.”
Taking one step toward her, Adela asked, “Are you alone?”
“Yes,” Star lied. “C’mon.”
And suddenly Adela had company.
* * *
STERLING WASN’T ALL that surprised when two men, dressed all in black, came out of the church around Adela, each of them armed, each of them aiming at her. Worse, she spotted movement in the scrub bushes to the right, and more to the left.
Surrounded? No, she wouldn’t accept that.
They were all in the darkened shadows, but she stood in the light—an easy target. That got her feet moving.
Knowing she’d never get back in the van before they were on her, she ducked behind the open driver’s door and glanced back for Cade.
The van was empty. How had he moved without her hearing it? He was like a damn wraith! A sound snapped her back around. In the three seconds she’d used to look for Cade, the dude had gotten far too close.
She smiled as she pointed her Glock. “Move and I’ll put one in your forehead.”
Laughing, he continued edging casually toward her. “You’re lucky he wants you alive.”
Screw that. She shot at his leg, but the bullet hit the dirt near his feet. Damn lousy left-handed aim—not that she’d wanted to kill him. Yet. And at least it made him dive off to the side for cover.
Since that had worked, she fired left and right, too. No one cried out, but she definitely heard some fast rustling.
Take cover, you goons. I won’t go easy. She wouldn’t go at all...not until she got what she’d come for. “Adela!”
“I’m so sorry,” Adela wailed.
Sterling searched the darkness. Voices seemed to echo here, with the mountains around them, the night so still. Narrowing her eyes, she detected movement far ahead on the road.
It appeared someone—maybe Mattox?—was dragging Adela away.
How many men were there? So far she’d noticed four—if the men trying to close in around her were alone. There could be more. If they worked in pairs...insurmountable odds.
Mattox wasn’t taking any chances, but then, he never did.
Was Adela in on it?
When a bullet zinged over her head, Sterling ducked—then looked back at the loud groan. A man was on the ground, clutching his leg and cursing a blue streak. Clearly he’d tried to sneak up behind her, but Cade’s brother, wherever he was, must have spotted him.
Night-vision goggles? Seemed probable.
Just then, she saw Cade disable a different man with one vicious punch to the face. The man stiffened, then fell hard. Another launched at him, but in a very smooth move, he pivoted and elbowed the guy in the throat, sending him gagging and gasping to join his buddy on the dirt road. While he was down, Cade planted a boot in his face and the gagging stopped.
Huh.
She searched the immediate area but didn’t see anyone else. “Is that it?”
His incredulous glare burned her. “There are now four bodies down around us, but a few of them might not stay that way, and I counted at least two more, so get in the van.” With practiced ease, he disarmed the downed men. One of them groaned, but Cade ruthlessly punched him silent again.
“Wow.” He had incredibly effective fists.
As he gathered up the weapons to dump in the cargo area, he repeated, “Get. In the. Van.”
“Then what?” Before she took orders, she needed to know the plan. “More of them might be waiting on the road ahead.” She should have already figured out a way to retreat, but instead she’d been focused on all the wrong things.
Like an unlikely alliance between Adela and Mattox.
And what Cade had said to her.
Could he really care that much? Given the way he’d protected her, he might.
She heard Adela scream again, but she couldn’t see anything.
“Don’t even think it,” Cade ordered as he put nylon cuffs on the men. “You’re staying here with me.”
She knew that taking charge probably came naturally to him, and now wasn’t the time to argue, especially since it was a good thing he’d come along.
If he hadn’t, Mattox would already have her again, and her odds of getting away from him a second time wouldn’t be favorable.
No, she wouldn’t argue, but she did grumble, “I’m not an idiot.” She wouldn’t chase after Adela into unknown circumstances, but what to do about her?
It was only a small sound that alerted her, a soft-soled shoe crunching on the loose dirt and gravel road.
Swinging around, she managed to get off one shot before a big bruiser knotted a hand in her hair and jerked her around the door toward him.
“I’m done fucking around with you,” he growled.
She nutted him as hard as she could. Using her injured leg for balance, she lacked some of her usual power, but she still connected solidly.
Groaning, he loosened his hold, just not enough, and with the way he pinned down her arms, she was as likely to shoot her own foot as his if she dared to fire.
So instead she headbutted him. Her aim was off because she nailed him right in the nose. Blood sprayed.
“You little bitch—” he spit...just before a fist flew over her shoulder and knocked him out cold.
With his arms around her, she suddenly found herself crashing toward the ground.
Cade caught her, drawing her upright and pressing her back against the van. Face twisted with fury, he stomped the downed man, once, twice.
“He’s out,” Sterling whispered, awed by his violence. “Cade, he’s out.” She caught his arm. “Let’s go while we can.”
His jaw locked, but he did stop pulverizing the guy. Muscles pumped and expression deadly, he turned to her. “You’re all right?”
She had that dude’s blood on her face, but she nodded. “Fine.”
“Stay put,” he said, already moving away. “I’ll be right back.”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
She got her answer a second later as the battle erupted behind her. Two men against Cade? Clearly not a problem for him.
How many more? A freaking army? She stayed alert, constantly looking around in case anyone else joined in, but she didn’t see any others.
The man nearest her, the one Cade had stomped, stirred. Following Cade’s cue, she kicked him in the face and put him out again.
She knew the dirt road continued on and then curved back to meet the paved street that would lead to an interstate on-ramp. Far ahead she saw the sudden glow of red taillights.
Whoever had Adela was getting away.
What to do? She couldn’t give chase, not now.
Cade rejoined her, and together they watched the taillights fade away.
The eerie silence left behind seemed almost threatening. Neither of them spoke until his phone beeped.
“Your brother?” she whispered.
He ignored the question, saying, “In the van and lock the door,” while half lifting her to do just that.
She quickly secured the lock but then stepped into the back to help him inside. He was already there, slamming the door and locking it.
“Stay down.” He read the text. “My brother is giving chase on the car that took off.”
They heard the roar of a motorcycle and briefly saw the lights flash over the road, and then he was gone. “That was him?”
“Yeah.” He sent off a message, then shoved the phone in his pocket. “Are you hurt?”
A few hairs missing, but... “Not a scratch, thanks to you.”
“Your leg? Your finger—”
“I’m fine, Cade.” Just trembling from an adrenaline dump. “I heard Adela scream. Do you think your brother will be able to catch up?”
>
“He’ll be in touch soon. Get behind the wheel, okay? Let’s get out of here.”
Through the windshield, she saw the long expanse of darkness. “It’s safe?”
“Yes, as long as we don’t linger.” Gingerly he removed his vest.
That’s when she realized...he’d been shot! Her legs seemed to give out and she dropped into a seat. “Oh my God.”
“I’m fine,” he said absently, lightly touching a wound near his collarbone. “Just a ricochet.”
“But...you’re bleeding!” Regaining her feet, she started toward him.
He caught her hand and kept her from touching his chest. “I need you to drive, babe. Can you do that?”
Filled with new purpose, she nodded fast and rushed to the driver’s seat, putting the van in gear. “Hospital?”
For three seconds, he considered it, then growled out a breath. “No. I need to go to my dad’s place.”
“But...” She glanced back at him. “You could be seriously hurt.”
“Dad is a surgeon. Or was, anyway. He’s still the best option.” Cade joined her in the passenger seat, not really moving like a mortally wounded man. With the first aid kit in his hand, he gave her directions.
Panicked fear tried to take over. “That’s at least forty minutes from here.”
“I know.” Using a cotton pad, he covered the injury. “It’ll be okay.” His mouth tightened. “The bullet didn’t go deep.”
She started forward in the darkness, her gun in her lap. Actually, he had his with him, too. He was far too alert, one hand holding that makeshift bandage in place, the other holding his weapon as he constantly scanned the area.
They got to the highway without any trouble. Still...
Longest. Drive. Of her life.
She kept glancing at Cade. “How you holding up?”
His mouth quirked. “Worried about me?”
“Well...yeah.” Her tone plainly conveyed what she thought of that stupid question. “I didn’t know... When did it happen?”
His expression went dark and deadly again. “Right before that bastard grabbed you.”
Reaching over, she patted his tensed thigh. “Down, boy. I told you, he didn’t hurt me.”
“It’d be a different story if I hadn’t been there with you.”
Yeah, he couldn’t resist making that point. “Maybe.” Most definitely. She’d been far outnumbered, and outmaneuvered, too. “I’m not one hundred percent yet. Usually when I nut a guy, he’s out. That dude had brass balls or something.” She smirked. “I did smash his nose, though—I mean, before you completely rearranged his face. Pretty sure he’s never going to look the same again.”
Cade continually checked the mirrors. “It’s not a joking matter.” His glare burned over her. “I want another promise from you.”
She almost groaned. She did give a quick roll of her eyes. “What now?”
“Whether Mattox recognized you or not, he’s out to get you. That much is clear, yes?”
“He sent a small army, so yeah, not like I can deny it.”
“Swear to me, until we have him locked away, or preferably dead, you won’t try to deal with him or Adela on your own.”
Her heart tripped, then settled into a fast, steady drumming. “You signing on for an extended period? Because there’s no way to know how soon something like this could be wrapped up.”
With no hesitation at all, he stated, “That’s exactly what I’m doing. I don’t care if it’s a month, six months or a year.” Tension poured off his big body, and he added in a hard, don’t-argue voice, “We work together.”
The warm glow started down deep in Sterling’s jaded soul and fanned out until she couldn’t keep the smile at bay. They were pretty crazy circumstances, and she was incredibly worried for Cade—despite his macho posturing—and still she couldn’t repress a smile. “All right, you have my word.” Urgency rushed back in on her. “Now no more talking. And don’t you dare bleed to death!”
CHAPTER TEN
GETTING SHOT WAS never a good thing. Cade didn’t say it to Star, but it was his distraction with her that caused the mishap. The bastard had just grabbed her, and the man he’d been binding had managed to pull away. He didn’t get in a clean shot, not with the way Cade broke his arm for the attempt, but the gun had discharged, the bullet ricocheted off the ground...and he got nicked.
Luckily below his face, but unluckily right above his vest. It hadn’t slowed him down, not with Star being manhandled, but it sure as hell hadn’t felt good, either.
His dad and Reyes would be worried. Then once they knew he’d be okay, Reyes would find it hilarious, and his dad...would have a fit. Not that Parrish McKenzie had ordinary fits. No, he’d condemn and harass and overall be a pain in Cade’s ass.
He should have killed that prick who’d dared to lay hands on Star. Knowing what they had intended, he’d wanted to kill them all. If Star hadn’t been involved, he probably would have, but that type of cleanup, with a witness around, would have really sent his father through the roof.
He’d have enough explaining to do already.
Chewing her bottom lip, Star’s gaze repeatedly darted to him. It was almost endearing, seeing her fret, because he hadn’t figured her for the type. If anything, he’d thought she’d take the same tack as his dad and bitch him out for it.
She needed a distraction, so he said, “I didn’t see Mattox.”
“Neither did I, unless he’s the one who dragged Adela away.”
Every bump in the road sent an echo of pain through him. “Might have been.” A text dinged on his phone. Getting the damn thing out of his pocket wasn’t easy this time. Knowing it would be Reyes, he locked his teeth, twisted, and finally pulled it free of his back pocket. He glanced at the screen.
“What?” she asked. “Is that your brother?”
“Yeah. He’s caught up with them. It was definitely Mattox who took Adela.”
Hands tightening on the wheel, Star asked, “Is she okay?”
“He says she is and that he’ll explain soon.” Reyes wanted to know where they could meet up. Given his injury, Cade had no choice but to text back: Home base.
The return text came fast. You shitting me?
Of course, his brother wouldn’t just accept that when he knew home was the last place Cade wanted to be. He had to explain, but he kept it simple. I’m fine, but caught a ricochet.
On my way.
Damn. A full house. He glanced at Star. “Would it be pushing my luck to make one more request?”
“What’s wrong?” Her gaze swept over him before returning to the road. “You won’t pass out, will you?”
Cade snorted. “No, I won’t fucking pass out. I told you, it’s not that bad.”
“You’re still bleeding,” she accused, her voice going a little high with stress. “And here we are, taking the long way to help.”
He wished he could take her hand, but his were now smeared with blood. “Stay with me.”
“I’m not budging.”
That quick answer didn’t reassure him one bit. “I mean it. No matter what.”
Her brows climbed high. “Just what the hell does that mean? What are you expecting to happen?”
No help for it. He had to be up-front, if for no other reason than to prepare her. “I’m expecting you’ll want to run once you meet my family. But don’t.”
“Bunch of scary ogres, huh?”
He wasn’t about to go into detail. “Let’s just say they can be overwhelming.”
Softer now, more sincere, she vowed, “A pack of wild dogs couldn’t chase me off, okay? We’re sort of like partners now. And partners stick together.”
They were a hell of a sight more than that, whether she wanted to admit it or not. But for now, partners would do. “I’m going to hold you to that.” He indi
cated the next exit. “Get off here.”
When the road quickly narrowed and climbed the mountainside, she asked, “Where are you leading me?”
“I told you, my father’s place. It’s home base for what I—we—do. And FYI, he’s not going to be pleased.”
She frowned. “With me or you?”
“Both—but mostly me.”
Her neck stiffened. “Then why are we going there?”
For an answer, Cade lifted the pad and saw that the bleeding had almost stopped. “He can handle this—quietly.” Taking in her profile with her brows now set in an obstinate line, he said, “Hospitals report gunshots, and that would bring up too many questions that we don’t want to answer.” She started to speak, probably to say something grouchy, judging by her frown, but he said, “Veer to the right.”
“This isn’t much of a road.”
“That’s the point.”
Craning her neck, she looked up through the windshield. “Are those security cameras?”
“Two of the twenty scattered around the property.”
Star fell silent. Awe? Intimidation? Or wariness?
They ascended a few more miles, and there in the distance, lights glowed. Day or night, the mountain retreat made quite an impressive sight. Stone columns climbed high to support a curved roof over a sprawling deck, backlit by floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the mountains.
Eyes rounded, Star pulled up to the gated entry.
“You need to enter the code to get through the gate.” He shared the series of numbers and letters with her, and the wide iron gates opened.
Star paused. She looked as though she wanted to turn around and leave.
“It’ll be fine,” Cade told her. “If anyone can handle my family, it’s you.” At least, he hoped that was true. Before her, he’d never considered putting it to the test.
Incredulous, she blinked at him, then frowned at whatever she saw on his face. “You’re ready to keel over, when you promised you wouldn’t!” Misgivings gone, or buried under her worry for him, she stepped on the gas.
There’d be no keeling. It’d take more than the paltry injury he had to make him do that. But if it propelled her past her nervousness, he didn’t mind the misconception.