by Katie Reus
Shit. Too late for that. Blue wouldn’t have opened the damn text in front of her if he’d suspected a message like that. Mina looked up at him, her green eyes wide and disbelieving. Blue shook his head, warning her not to say anything. Unwrapping his arm from around her, he slowly moved her behind him. “Carter, I need your keys.” True to form, Carter tossed them over without question. “Stay with him until the police arrive. I’ll put in a call and let them know you’re here keeping him detained.” Because he was getting Mina the hell out of there. If Ivan was involved with any of this, he didn’t want her anywhere near him. For all Blue knew, the bastard was lying about her dad to play on her sympathy.
Ivan cursed and started to move, but froze when Carter let out a vicious threat.
“I owe you, man.” Blue said, backing up to the door, but half-turning so he had a visual of the hallway as they exited.
“Just call me when you can,” Carter said. “Let me know you’re safe.”
“I will. I’m also going to need another transportation favor.” Blue didn’t voice the question but raised his eyebrows instead, knowing his friend would understand.
Carter nodded. “No problem. You better gas it up before you return it though.”
A smile tugged at his lips as he continued their exit. Blue planned to head right back to Carter’s place and use his boat as a means of escape from Key West. He wasn’t using the roads or trying the private airport because if Ivan was involved it stood to reason that maybe more of her father’s men were too. Maybe they were taking advantage of the man when he was sick. Or maybe he wasn’t sick at all but under duress somewhere. For all Blue knew they were staked out at the airport or had even staged that accident delaying the Red Stone team. The probability of that happening was exceedingly slim, but Blue didn’t give a shit.
He was getting Mina out of town as fast as possible.
Chapter 10
As soon as Blue hung up with Harrison, Mina said, “Ivan is not involved with this. I don’t care what proof your team has.”
Blue’s jaw tightened as he glanced in the rearview mirror. They’d left ten minutes ago and didn’t appear to have a tail, but he wasn’t taking that chance. He’d contacted the police—who’d been pissed they’d left Mina’s condo without staying to talk to them—and Harrison. His boss had filled him in on the phone records Lizzy had found connecting Ivan to Lewis Hudgins, including a call a couple hours ago. Probably right before Ivan had left for Key West from Miami. Maybe he had planned to lure Mina out but hadn’t counted on her having security of her own. While the evidence wouldn’t amount to much in a court, it was damning enough for Blue to take action.
“The evidence doesn’t lie, sweetheart.” The endearment just slipped out, but it felt natural. He kept his voice soft, knowing she was dealing with a lot considering the recent knowledge of her father’s condition.
Harrison had also confirmed that Warren Hollingsworth was in Miami and dying. It hadn’t hit the news yet, but Harrison’s father—who was former CIA and had more contacts than Blue could imagine—had reached out to some associates and discovered the news while Blue had been holding Ivan at gunpoint. Blue really wished it weren’t true. Even if Mina’s relationship with her father was strained, it was clear this was tearing her up.
“But I know him. He loves my father.” Mina’s voice cracked as she turned to look out the window.
Blue didn’t know what to say. Feeling out of his depth, he kept his gaze on the road and their surroundings. The silence between them stretched, growing almost painful. He wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her, but wasn’t sure how. When his phone buzzed again he answered it gratefully. “Yeah.”
“Hey, just got off the phone with Harrison. The team and I are on our way to that address you gave him. How do you want to play this?” It was Vincent, ex-SEAL, highly trained Red Stone security agent and one of Blue’s best friends.
He was grateful Harrison had assigned Vincent to this op. “We’ll take my friend’s boat straight to home base. Harrison’s making arrangements for us to dock somewhere private and close to the safe house.” Even though he doubted anyone could overhear their conversation he kept details to a minimum. It was second nature to him. “Harrison’s getting a team in place at her father’s house. Once he’s sure the place is secure we’ll move her from the safe house to his place.”
“Sounds good. See you in fifteen.”
The second he disconnected, Mina asked, “I’ll get to see my father tonight then?”
“Yes. We’re going to do everything to get you to him. We just need to check out his security team and the house first. And, our guys will be in place the entire time you’re there.” Because they weren’t depending on her father’s men. Not when it looked like Ivan Mitchell was involved with Mina’s attempted kidnapping.
Surprising him, she reached out and squeezed his arm. “Thank you for everything. I know you’re doing your job but…just, thank you.”
He stole a glance at her. “You don’t have to thank me. Ever. And you’re more than a job, Mina.” Admitting that took a hell of a lot. He’d never put himself out there for a woman. Had never wanted to. But Mina was different. Looking away, he focused on the road even though he wanted to pull over, find somewhere private and comfort her. Having lost his own brother, he knew how hard it was to lose a loved one.
Mina didn’t respond and for that he was grateful. He glanced in the rearview mirror again as he turned down the last street before they would reach Carter’s gated neighborhood. The street they were on now wasn’t gated, but the long row of similarly built two-story pastel homes was prime real estate. Considering how small Key West was, pretty much everything here was prime.
He frowned, his adrenaline increasing when a van without its lights on pulled out from a side street behind them. There weren’t any cars on the road and the sun had just set so it was possible the driver hadn’t turned on the lights yet. Still, he wasn’t taking any chances. Since he couldn’t turn around now without a risk of boxing them in, he sped up a fraction, keeping his attention divided between the road in front of him and the van behind them.
“Don’t turn around and don’t panic but we might have a tail. There’s nowhere else we can go but to Carter’s.” He handed her his cell phone. “Call the last number I received a call from. His name is Vincent and he’s part of your new team. Tell him we might have a tail and to keep the line open.” Because Blue couldn’t talk to him when he might have to do some quick maneuvering. And he didn’t have his earpiece with him to give him hands-free capability.
She sucked in a breath, her expression startled, but to Mina’s credit she didn’t question him, just took the phone and dialed. The van behind him hadn’t sped up any but Blue wasn’t taking a chance. He reached for the small keyfob attached to Carter’s keychain and pressed the button to open the gate. They were still about thirty yards out but he could see it starting to open. The gate was new too so as he reached the ten yard mark, it was fully open.
The van behind them jerked ahead, as if the driver realized what Blue was doing.
Gunning it, Blue took a sharp turn into the quiet neighborhood. Since he’d opened the gate himself and he was driving Carter’s SUV he doubted the guard in the small gatehouse would attempt to stop him. Not that he cared.
Short of the guard shooting his tires out, Blue wasn’t slowing down. Next to him Mina was relaying everything to Vincent with a shaky voice, but at least she was remaining calm.
As he shot through the gate, he pressed the button to close it. After a few seconds’ delay it started to close. For a brief moment Blue wondered if he’d overreacted but when the van came into view, racing straight for the gate, a jolt of pure adrenaline surged through him.
“We’re going to park and make a run for the boat. Get ready,” he told Mina. There was no other exit and since he didn’t want to get into a gun battle with their pursuers, escaping was the only choice.
She nodded and murmured what
was going on to Vincent before un-strapping her seatbelt. Blue shot a glance in the rearview mirror again. The van slammed into the gate before it could fully close, sending it flying off its hinges.
They had a good lead, but Blue’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. By now the security guard would have already called the police but even if they dispatched this second they’d never arrive in time to help. Neither would the Red Stone team.
“Alex.” Mina sounded terrified as he neared Carter’s home.
“We’re going to make it.” He sounded more confident than he felt.
A look in the rearview mirror gave him a small burst of relief. It looked as if the van had totaled out after ramming the gate. Those fuckers would have to come after them on foot.
Mina turned around and he could practically feel the terror rolling off her. Which made him want to pummel the shit out of each and every one of the men involved in this.
“Don’t look back,” he ordered as he made the sharp turn into Carter’s driveway. “Get ready to go. Jump out and follow me as soon as I park.”
Seconds later, he slowed then stopped completely, the SUV shuddering under the abrupt stop. Mina’s door was open before Blue had his thrown open. As he flew from the vehicle, he withdrew his weapon. When there was time to slow down he’d give Mina his backup but now he couldn’t risk it. “This way,” he said quietly as she rounded the front of the vehicle to meet him.
They sprinted toward the side of the house, but he held back a foot so that she was in front of him. He only risked a quick glance over his shoulder as they rounded the side of it. No one was there. Yet. But he knew they were coming.
To try such a bold kidnapping meant they were desperate. That didn’t bode well for either of them. The more desperate they got, the higher the chance of someone getting hurt.
Thankfully there wasn’t a privacy fence. Not in a neighborhood like this. There were big hedges separating the homes, but a stone walkway led them straight back to the pool area. Breathing erratically, Mina kept pace as they raced past the pool and down the dock beyond it.
Blue couldn’t hear their pursuers but that was almost worse. “When we reach the boat, start the engine. I’ll untie the ropes.”
He thought she might argue, but instead she nodded as he handed the keys to her. Their shoes pounded loudly against the wooden dock, but Blue kept his focus. Mina jumped directly onto the back dive board area, her hands shaking as she opened the small back door leading to the stern of the vessel.
Though he hated to set his weapon down for any reason, he tucked it into his waistband as he hurriedly untied the first rope. Mina had already started the boat so all he had to was untie the second.
“Don’t let them leave!” a man shouted.
Blue didn’t look up as he worked fast, not wanting to get the rope tangled and slow them down. “Put it in drive. Move the lever forward,” he said, loud enough for Mina to hear.
When a shot rent the air and wood splintered near the front of the dock, his head snapped up and he pulled out his weapon. “Gun it!” he ordered, leaving the last of the rope attached.
The boat jerked forward as Blue lifted his weapon. He quickly assessed the situation. He could only see two men advancing, but he didn’t doubt there were more coming. Both were near the pool and getting closer. One raised his weapon. Blue fired at him, aiming for dead center. The man dropped where he stood as the Hatteras kicked up a huge wake, pulling away from the dock.
Another shot echoed in the night air as Blue turned and raced down the dock. The rope was quickly losing slack as the boat pulled farther away. His leg muscles strained as he dove for the back of it. He landed on his feet but tumbled back as Mina pressed the lever down even harder.
Before he’d pushed up he heard the cracking of the dock ripping under the pressure. Weapon in hand, he grabbed the side of the boat and stood, ready to return fire but didn’t have to. A man stood at the front of the dock, but the rest of it had caved under the pressure of the Hatteras.
Even though he and Mina were far enough away to be out of firing distance, Blue kept his weapon raised as he walked backward to her. “How’re you doing?”
“Fantastic. I do this kind of shit every day.” There was a frantic quality to her voice as she let out a shaky laugh.
Despite what had just happened, Blue chuckled, still not taking his gaze off the kidnappers. “Yeah well, you handled yourself impressively.”
She snorted. “That’s because I’m in shock.”
Now that they’d pulled far enough away, he risked a glance at her. Even with just the moonlight illuminating them, he could see how pale she was. “I need to pull the rest of the rope in and dislodge whatever is left of the dock, but then I’ll take over. Do you know how to use the electrical panel? We need lights now that we’re in open water.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide, but her expression was determined as she nodded. “I’ve got this.”
Though he wanted to pull her into his arms, kiss her until she was breathless, and reassure her that everything would be okay, he moved into action, securing the last of the rope. Carter wouldn’t care about the damages, but Blue would pay for them. He’d dragged his friend into this and he wasn’t letting Red Stone cover it.
As soon as he’d finished, he joined Mina. While she drove he typed their destination into the GPS system. Unless these kidnappers had a speed boat or helicopter waiting, then he and Mina were in the clear until they reached Miami. Of course then they’d have a shitload of stuff to deal with because Blue was almost positive the man he’d shot was dead. Which meant he’d have to head back to Key West to make a statement to the police. But he wasn’t leaving Mina anytime soon.
* * *
Mina splashed water on her face before turning off the bathroom faucet. She knew they’d be reaching Miami soon and couldn’t stop the nerves from jangling around in her stomach. Everything that had happened in the last couple days had her head spinning. Thank God for Alex’s presence. It still stunned her how this stranger had come out of nowhere and now meant so incredibly much to her. After patting her face dry, she stepped out of the small, luxury bathroom to find Alex sitting on the edge of the king-size bed in the stateroom.
“What are you doing?” she asked, worry lancing through her since they shouldn’t have docked yet.
“Harrison and a small team just boarded. They wanted to ride in with us the rest of the way to the marina. We’ll be there in about five minutes. You’ve been down here a while so I wanted to check on you.” He watched her carefully, as if he was afraid she was going to have a breakdown.
She figured if she was going to have one she’d have full-on melted down by now. “I’m good. Just stressed about seeing my dad and worrying about what I’m going to say to him about Ivan. I…I don’t think I’m going to say anything just yet. Not until the police have figured out more.” Her father was already dying. Telling him now would kill him faster.
“According to Harrison he’s still being detained and questioned. Still denying everything too.” There was a barely concealed note of disgust in Alex’s voice.
Mina pulled her lips into a thin line as she sat next to him. She knew she was likely being an idiot by believing in Ivan but her gut told her that he wasn’t involved. It just didn’t fit with what she knew of his character. “Have they found a reason he could be involved? And don’t say money because I don’t buy that. I mean, maybe gambling debts or something?” Not that she’d excuse him if he did have debts. Hell no. Not after someone had tried to kidnap her and taken shots at both her and Alex. But she wanted to understand how someone she’d known for years, someone she trusted, could do something like this.
Alex shook his head. “No, but they’re pulling apart his financials. They haven’t got the kidnappers to talk yet, but they will.”
He sounded so confident she had to believe the police would eventually get to the bottom of everything. Even though the men from the dock had tried to escape, the
Red Stone team had arrived not long after and detained the men until the police arrived. “What’s going to happen to you because of the shooting?” Mina knew the man he’d shot had died. It might have been in self-defense and justifiable but she also knew Alex would have to talk to the police about it.
“Don’t worry about that.”
He wasn’t being condescending but the statement still annoyed her. She placed a hand on his knee and squeezed. “Seriously? Don’t worry?”
His lips tugged up into a half-smile. “I just mean, it will work itself out. Right now you need to focus on seeing your father. The team is going to take you to him immediately. The house and security team has been vetted well enough. Not enough to make Harrison or me a hundred percent happy, but…we’ll be with you the whole time and you should be with your father.”
The urgent note in his voice told her everything she needed to know. “It’s bad?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah…I’m so sorry sweetheart.”
This was the second time Alex had used that endearment and it completely disarmed her. Especially now when she was feeling raw and vulnerable. If they were taking her directly to her father she knew what that meant. Her throat tightened and she closed her eyes, fighting the onslaught of tears. When she’d called her dad earlier, his doctor had answered. The man had been kind, but had said her father couldn’t talk because of the pain meds he was on. As she started to dash away escaping tears, Alex pulled her into a tight embrace. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his neck while he rubbed a gentle hand down her spine. He murmured soothing sounds that did little to dull her pain, but she was so grateful for his presence.
“Whatever happens, I’m here for you,” he said against her hair.
Mina nodded and held on tight. Having Alex with her made all the difference in the world. So much so that she couldn’t even imagine her life without him in it now.
Chapter 11