by Lori Foster
He’d never really thought of these rooms as his apartment, but then, he knew he had a small home to call his own. Star didn’t. “I bought it after I was medically discharged from the army while serving as a Ranger.”
Pausing with her panties halfway up her legs, Star’s gaze clashed with his. After a second, she pulled them up and came to sit by him. Breasts bared, eyes watchful.
Cade said nothing, leaving it to her to ask any questions she had.
“You were a Ranger?”
“Once a Ranger, always a Ranger, so I’m a Ranger still, medically retired.”
Uncertainty trembled in her fingers as she tucked back her hair. “Medically retired, why?”
It felt good to share with her, to finally, completely open up. He laced his fingers with hers, moving her hand to his thigh. When with her, he couldn’t touch her enough. “After a lot of deployments and hard landings when jumping from planes, I had multiple leg issues.”
“You jumped from planes?” Surprise was immediately followed by concern. “You’re hurt?”
“I’m in prime physical shape for the average man.”
The concern shifted to amused interest. “Heck yeah, you are.”
“But for a Ranger?” Keeping his attention off her breasts wasn’t easy. “Not so much.”
That statement left her disgruntled. “Who says so?”
His mouth twitched. “Don’t act like you’re sorry I’m here.”
“What? No, course not.” She stood again and reached for her bra. “So tell me about your house—and how come we’re not there instead of here?”
He’d known that would be her response. “Like I said, it’s small. Two bedrooms, one I use for storage. Family room, eat-in kitchen, bathroom. A single-car garage. There’s a nice big basement, though, so I have my workout gear down there. Nothing like Dad’s downstairs setup, just bare concrete walls and floor, exposed pipes and all that.”
She pulled up straight-leg jeans, tugging a little to get them over her perfect ass, and then pulled on a loose shirt. “And we’re here because?”
“It’s the safest place to be right now.”
Brows pinching in thought, she sat beside him again to get on her socks and those shit-kicker boots of hers. “If I wasn’t with you, would you feel the same?”
“You are with me.” He trailed his fingers through her hair. “And you matter to me, Star. A lot.”
Some turbulent emotion brought her gaze snapping to his. He saw her slender throat work, watched her lick her lips. Shooting for cockiness, she said, “Ditto.”
He wasn’t buying it. Her attitude was mostly uncertainty, not disinterest. What would she do if he said that he loved her? With everyone waiting, he decided not to put it to the test.
Bent at the waist to tie her boots, she said with nonchalance, “You’re the only one who calls me that now.”
“Star? It suits you.”
“I thought Star had disappeared years ago.”
Very softly, he said, “I found her again.”
Denials hung in the air, but she didn’t give them voice. Instead she stood and held out a hand. “Come on. I’m starved.”
Knowing this was difficult for her, Cade let her lead him out. “Before I got to know you, I called you something else.”
“Yeah? You called me Sterling?”
“No.” They started up the steps.
“Then what?”
“Trouble.” Catching her at the top of the stairwell, he pinned her to the wall. “Massive trouble—especially to my libido.”
Her laugh sounded almost like a giggle, and damn, that pleased him. “Your libido is fine.”
“It’s in hyperdrive around you.”
Dodging his mouth, she said, “Lunch is waiting.”
“Then give me a kiss to carry me through the next hour or two.”
Challenge sparked in her dark eyes and she focused on his mouth. Small but capable hands slid around his neck. “All right.”
Damn. She leaned forward—and singed him.
He shouldn’t have started this when he knew the others were waiting, but he wasn’t about to end it, either. She nibbled on his bottom lip, licked the upper, sealed her lips to his and dueled with his tongue.
He had his hips pinned to hers, grinding against her, when he heard the door open.
Star freed her mouth and immediately used his shoulder as a shield. Cade concentrated on breathing.
Behind them, stunned silence reigned, and then Bernard stated, “Lunch will not keep, so I hope this will.” He slammed the door again.
Shoulders shaking, Star held on to him.
“I have a boner.”
The snickers turned into full-blown howls.
It was nice, hearing her laugh so freely. He wanted to hear it more often. “It’s not that funny.”
She tried to catch her breath, took one look at him and fell into another fit.
To get even, Cade moved his open palm over her breast, whispering against her ear, “Your nipples are also telling a tale.”
That earned him a groan and a tight squeeze. “If I wasn’t so hungry, I’d say to hell with lunch, but after all that exercise this morning, I think I need to eat.”
“We have the rest of our lives,” he said and tugged her through the doorway before she could stop sputtering.
Getting past her reserve was a challenge, but also strangely satisfying. And fun.
Especially since she liked the physical side of their relationship as much as he did. The rest? He didn’t know yet, but he refused to believe he was the only one falling hard.
* * *
“BERNARD, YOU OUTDID YOURSELF.” Sitting back, one hand to her full stomach, Sterling sighed. Much as she wanted to see Cade’s home, she would definitely miss Bernard’s cooking.
For the moment, she refused to dwell on why Cade hadn’t yet shown her his place. There’d been opportunity, before the danger ramped up, so why hadn’t he? Did he want to keep his personal life separate?
Even to her skeptical mind, that didn’t make much sense, not with the careless way he threw around the L word. And what was that comment in the stairwell? The rest of our lives.
Like maybe he expected them to spend that life together?
Hoping for too much could lead to the biggest disappointment she’d ever known—and God knew, she’d known plenty. But she couldn’t help herself. Her heart had already launched on a gleeful path of “what if?”
Was it possible?
If he had something to say, why didn’t he just come out and say it already? All those verbal clues that she didn’t know how to decipher were making her a little nuts.
“Oh, hey,” Madison said, sitting forward to stare at her laptop. “We have movement.”
Cade’s sister had alternated between eating, joining in the casual conversation and scanning her screen. No one had commented on the laptop set on the table before her.
“What is it?” Out of his seat, Cade went behind Madison’s chair, one hand braced on the back of it, to see for himself.
The expression on his face warned Sterling, apprehension instantly filling her.
Why? She wanted to get Mattox, so she needed to know the truth about Adela. It’s what they’d been working for, what she wanted.
But she’d just been contemplating her future and now reality came crashing down around her.
“It’s go time.” Already with his cell out, Cade keyed in a message.
“Getting hold of Reyes?” Parrish asked.
“He’d messaged me earlier about some guys hanging out, talking about a job tonight. No idea if they’re connected, but it’s possible.”
“My instincts are telling me this is it.” Madison glanced up. “Tell Reyes to make arrangements to leave the gym.”
Getting her g
umption back—sort of—Sterling asked, “He has someone to cover for him?”
“Every eventuality has been prearranged,” Parrish explained.
Of course it had. Clearing the sudden lump of nervousness from her throat, Sterling asked, “Do you see Mattox? Is Adela with him?”
Already shaking her head, Madison used her mouse to take a few screenshots. “It’s a ten-foot box truck and I’m willing to bet there are women inside. Here comes a car.”
“Reyes said he’ll be ready in five, just waiting for directions.” Returning his phone to his pocket, Cade went back to looking at the screen with his sister. “That’s Mattox getting out of the back seat. I can’t see if Adela is in there.”
Sterling sat still, listening as they coordinated around her. She felt like a useless lump, but she was out of her element and didn’t want to slow anyone down.
“He’s opening the back of the truck—I wish one of the cameras showed that view!”
Cade rested a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “The three cameras are helping, hon. Will you be able to follow them?”
“Probably, or at least enough to get a fix on where they’re going. Tell Reyes to get over to I-25 near there. He needs to be closer to pick up the tail once we know.”
Almost at the same time, Sterling’s phone rang. Startled, she gave an inelegant jump.
All eyes turned to her.
The lump in her throat expanded, but she managed a cavalier smile that carried over to a neutral tone. “Hello?”
“Francis?”
That panicked voice had her sitting forward. Was Adela not with Mattox?
Quickly, she put the phone on speaker and said, “Adela. I haven’t heard from you in a—”
“You have to help. Please. He has new women, Francis. They’ll be in the same shape as me, but if you can figure out a way to stop him... I didn’t know who else to call!”
Knowing how the others would react, but wanting to gauge Adela’s reaction, Sterling suggested, “The police?”
Parrish shook his head at her. Alarm raised Madison’s brows.
Cade just held up a placating hand, indicating they should wait and let her do her thing.
So what was her thing? Somehow, while falling in love with Cade, she’d forgotten.
“Not a good idea. I told you, he’s bought off some of the cops.”
So Sterling hadn’t tripped her up on that. Did Mattox have a few cops in his pocket? It’d be worth finding out. “How do you know?” It wasn’t unheard of for a cop to be complicit, but it was rare, and she figured Cade and his family would have forewarned her if the problem was around here.
“I don’t have much time! He could be back to the cabin any minute.”
“What cabin?” Sterling asked, playing along—just in case. “Where?”
“It’s a shack in the mountain, near Coalville.”
Brows shot up everywhere. Adela admitted it? She was either truly desperate or riding out with Mattox right now.
“But that doesn’t matter,” Adela rushed on. “He has eight new girls. I overheard him talking about north on I-25, something about meeting at an abandoned farm near Aspen Creek.”
Cade’s entire demeanor changed. It was amazing to witness as he started texting Reyes again.
Gently, with understanding and sympathy, Sterling asked, “If you don’t want cops, how do you expect me to handle it?”
All she heard was heavy breathing. “I thought... I thought you had that big guy with you. Mattox has been furious that he was able to fight off all the men he sent after him. He even said some of his guys are still missing.”
Huh. Adela had managed to hear a lot. “He’s one man, Adela. And I assume Mattox won’t be alone.”
“No. He doesn’t go anywhere without personal protection, plus I think he hired on a few more.”
Sterling waited.
“I’m sorry. You seemed so resourceful...” Adela caught her breath. “Guess I was wrong, so maybe you could go ahead and try the police? Just, please, don’t tell anyone I tipped you off. He’d kill me if he ever found out.”
“I can come get you from the cabin—”
“No, he’s leaving people here to watch me. It’d be too dangerous. Besides, I don’t matter right now. I just don’t want those other women...” She drew a shaky breath. “I want them to have a chance, okay? But I have to go now. If I don’t hide this phone, he’ll know.” The call died.
Just like her nerve. Just like her backbone.
Sterling looked up at Cade. Dear God, she wasn’t sure what to do.
“I’ve got this,” Cade said, his voice firm. “Did I tell you that Rangers are critical thinkers? We are, so let me handle things.”
Relieved that this time she didn’t have to sort it out alone, Sterling swallowed back her misgivings and came to her feet. “Okay. Right.” She’d made her voice firm. She wasn’t a wimp and she wouldn’t start acting like one. “So what do we do first?”
Parrish’s discerning gaze missed nothing. He turned to Cade. “You’re good to go?”
“Glad things are finally in motion,” he said. “The men Reyes overheard at the gym also mentioned Aspen Creek.”
Madison frowned. “What else?”
“Four men, and Mattox is ensuring they’re all strapped.”
“You’ve devastated his organization,” Parrish mused as he pushed back his chair and began to pace. “First getting Misfits shut down, then going through his men. He’s afraid to operate until you’re out of the picture. This is his Hail Mary, a last desperate attempt to try to regain his footing.”
Desperate? Sterling wondered if Parrish was delusional. “Four men,” she emphasized. “All armed.”
Cade shook his head. “Bozos, Reyes said. Nothing to worry about.”
Incredulity tensed her body. “You can’t know that.”
Perturbed by her tone, Parrish zeroed in on Cade. “Do we need to wait, to investigate more?”
“Forget the number of men. There may be eight women. Eight innocents.”
“If she wasn’t lying,” Madison pointed out.
Resolute, Cade said, “I’m not willing to chance it.”
Parrish’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded.
Not good enough, not for Sterling. “If they’re armed...”
“I’ll disarm them.”
Of all the idiotic—She couldn’t believe he was that arrogant.
Cade held out a hand to her. “Come on. We’ll need to leave quickly so we can rendezvous with Reyes on the way.”
Knowing she had to find her own arrogance and fast, Sterling nodded.
“Bernard, would you please keep an eye on things here while I help them get ready?”
“I’ll be diligent,” Bernard announced while taking her seat. “If anyone moves, I’ll alert you.”
“Thank you.” Madison jogged around and ahead of Cade.
Getting ready, Sterling found, meant donning body armor, strapping on guns, and stowing a sniper rifle and plenty of ammo. Much better stuff than the knife necklace she’d worn to Misfits. God, that felt like a lifetime ago.
When she’d been all alone in the world.
Shaking off those maudlin thoughts, Sterling put her knife in her boot, the brass knuckles in her rear pocket. With Madison’s assistance, it was such seamless prep that within minutes she was seated in the passenger side of Cade’s SUV while he had a few quiet words with his father. Madison had returned to the kitchen as command central.
Through the window, Sterling watched as Parrish put a fatherly hand on Cade’s shoulder. Seeing that touched her heart. Cade’s father was nearly as tall as him, still very fit, and for once she detected concern in his gaze. This, she realized, was how Cade would look as he aged. Distinguished, impressive and in control.
Maybe Cade had inherited
his attitude from Parrish, too. With their cool command, the two of them were very different from Madison’s joyful persona and Reyes’s maddening personality.
The more she looked at Cade, the harder her heart pounded.
This could be it. She could die—worse, Cade could get hurt—and all her newfound happiness would mean absolutely nothing.
This caring stuff was awful. How simple her life used to be when she had no one, when even she didn’t matter that much. Now she was crazy in love and worried sick because of it.
It changed everything.
Cade slid into the driver’s seat and started the SUV.
Looking back at Parrish, she found him still standing there, his hands clasped behind his back, watching as they drove away.
Sterling lifted her hand in a wave. He returned the gesture. Parrish might be a dictator, but he obviously loved his kids.
How stressful must it be for him, having his sons in the field?
Facing forward again, she glanced at Cade. His hands rested on the steering wheel, his posture relaxed. It all felt surreal.
“Everything okay, honey?”
“Yes.” No. She wasn’t sure anything would ever again be okay.
“You’re staring.”
“Because you are devastating to my senses.” And I need to absorb more of you while I can.
Smiling, Cade handed her his phone. “Here, Madison will send updates, in case they get too far ahead of us.”
Her palms felt sweaty when she accepted the cell. Why? She’d done stuff like this before... Okay, that was a big lie. She’d never done anything this complex.
But she’d wanted to, right?
Apparently sensing her turmoil, Cade put a hand on her knee. “We’ll pick up Reyes shortly.”
Knowing Cade’s brother was also effective in this crazy stuff, that he’d be good backup for Cade, made her feel a tiny bit better.
Again, anticipating her reaction, Cade drew a bottle of water from the door and handed it to her. “Hydrate.”
Hydrate, she mocked silently, even as she took a quick drink. His “business as usual” attitude was really starting to irk. “What about you? Don’t you need to drink some?”