Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 Book 1)

by Anna Hackett

  “I’m driving,” Blair snapped.

  “Everything okay with MacKade?” Lachlan asked.

  “Peachy.” Blair slammed into the driver’s seat.

  Rowan found herself wedged between Lachlan and Seth in the backseat as Blair drove them back to Lachlan’s condo.

  Once they were back inside, Rowan collapsed on the couch.

  The others instantly got to work, with Brooks on the screen, and got in touch with Smith and Axel. It sounded like the men weren’t having much luck tracking down Airman Kowalski.

  When a glass appeared in front of her, Rowan looked up at Blair.

  “Drink it,” the woman said.

  Rowan took it and tossed back the whiskey. She tried to enjoy the burn, but wrinkled her nose.

  “You scared him,” Blair said.

  Rowan’s gaze slid to Lachlan across the room. His palms were pressed to his kitchen counter, his back tense. He was clearly still mad at her.

  “You scared us all,” Blair added.

  “Am I growing on you, Blair?”

  The woman’s lips twitched. “Yeah, like a fungus.”

  Rowan snorted out a laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I am fine.”

  Callie appeared with her backpack, eyeing Rowan’s head wound. “All right, time for me to work my magic.”

  “Okay, but then you fix up Lachlan.”

  Callie tilted her head. “He won’t let me near his arm until he’s sure you’re okay.”

  Rowan blew out a breath. “Fine.”

  Lachlan sat on one of his stools, his shirt off, while Callie patched up his arm.

  “You’ll have a scar,” Callie said.

  “I’ll add it to the collection.”

  His gaze fell on Rowan. She was on the couch, sipping a hot chocolate, her legs tucked under her. She’d have a scar too. Lachlan was still angry. He’d come within an inch of losing her.

  “You like her a lot,” Callie said.

  Lachlan looked at his friend. “Yeah.”

  “There’s a lot to like, Lachlan. Gorgeous, smart, nerves of steel. None of this has made her fall apart. Sounds like a woman who can handle our lifestyle.”

  Lachlan kept looking at Rowan. The sweet slope of her nose, the stubborn jut of her jaw. “I suck at relationships. Always have.”

  Callie made a sound in her throat and pressed a bandage over Lachlan’s bicep. “We all do until we find the right one.”

  Lachlan raised a brow. “You a romantic, Kimura?”

  “Nope. But if a gorgeous, smart, good man burst into my world and looked at me the way Rowan looks at you, I wouldn’t screw it up.” Callie pulled back and started packing up her kit. Her gray eyes turned sad. “It is so easy to lose people. You should hold on when you can.”

  “Smith lost Kowalski’s trail,” Blair called out, frustration in her voice.

  Fuck. Lachlan stood and shrugged his shirt on. “Okay. We keep monitoring for any sign of her. I need everyone on standby. If Brooks gets word on a sighting, we move out.”

  “It’s likely the tranquilizer slowed her down,” Callie said. “My guess is that she’s holed up somewhere, sleeping it off.”

  Damn, so it could be a while before she surfaced. He looked at Blair and Seth. They were hunched over a laptop at his coffee table.

  “Blair, you keep in touch with MacKade, and see if he gets anything out of the soldiers.”

  She pulled a face but nodded. “They weren’t the Red Wolves, Lachlan.”

  No, they were far better organized. He nodded. “Keep me posted. Rest up while you can.”

  His team finally shuffled out, leaving him and Rowan alone.

  “You still mad?”

  Rowan’s soft voice made him turn. She was standing right behind him.

  His gaze went to the white bandage on her temple and anger flared again. “Yeah. But I’m not mad at you, I’m just mad in general.”

  She leaned into him. “Any way I can distract you?” She slid a hand under his shirt.

  Desire kindled. It appeared all Rowan Schafer had to do was breathe, and it turned him on. “Maybe.”

  She went up on her toes and touched her mouth to his. He drank her in, kissing her deep. He cradled her face and moved his mouth to press a kiss to the bandage.

  She sucked in a breath. “No one’s ever kissed my boo-boos.”

  Fuck her parents. He took his time, pressing more kisses to her skin. Then he gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it gently over her head. He backed her up until she hit the wall.

  He lowered his hands, opening her trousers and yanking them down, taking her panties with them.

  “Lachlan—” Her voice was husky.

  “Shh. I’m going to make love to you and make us both feel better.” He yanked his own shirt off.

  “God,” she breathed.

  Her hands clenched on his shoulders as he lifted her up. He cupped her sweet ass, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “You on the Pill?” he asked.

  “I get a contraceptive shot.”

  “We have regular physicals at base. I haven’t been with anyone since my last clean bill of health.”

  She licked her lips, her gaze glittering “I had a checkup before the Ellesmere trip. I’m healthy.”

  He reached between them and flicked open his trousers. His cock was throbbing at the thought of sliding inside her with no barrier between them.

  “You okay with this?” he asked. “Me ungloved?”

  “Yes. Hurry.” She undulated against him.

  Lachlan thrust inside her. It was like coming home.

  “Yes.” She threw her head back.

  He slid one palm behind her head before it could hit the wall, and cupped her ass with the other. Then he started pounding inside her.

  “So wet, so tight,” he said between gritted teeth.

  “Faster, Lachlan.”

  He changed the angle of his thrusts so he was rubbing against her clit. He held on tight, feeling the sensations slamming into him. She felt so damn good, and he’d never get enough of her.

  She was alive. She was everything he’d ever dreamed about and more.

  A few more thrusts and she came with a cry, her body convulsing. He kept working her up and down on his cock.

  Her body was clamping down on him, and a moment later, Lachlan came with a shout, spilling inside her hot body.

  Shit. He was wrecked. She undid him.

  He gripped her more securely, his cock sliding out of her. He carried her to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed. As they lay there, he stroked her hair.

  “I was afraid today,” he murmured. “Been a long time since I felt like that.”

  She burrowed into him. “I’m sorry.”

  He pulled her closer. “I couldn’t help my dad. He came home a changed man, an angry man. I couldn’t help him, or my mom, when he’d get in a rage and hit her. I hate being helpless.”

  Rowan’s arms tightened around him. “You can’t save everyone, Lachlan.”

  He stayed silent. He’d joined the Marines believing he could make a difference, maybe believing he could save everyone who needed help.

  “But you try anyway,” she said quietly. “That’s what a hero does.”

  Hero? Hardly. “I just do my job.”

  “I’m afraid every time I look at you,” she murmured.

  “What?” He looked down. His heart clenched at the idea that she was afraid of him.

  “You know my parents…” She pulled in a shuddering breath. “No one’s ever cared for me enough to stay around very long. No one’s ever risked their life for me.”

  Lachlan rolled her over. Damn, her parents. “That’s their failing, not yours, Rowan. You’re gorgeous, smart, and you care.” He leaned down and kissed her, nipping at her bottom lip. “I’m going to find your parents and—”

  “Hey.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. But Lachlan could see her blue eyes were still sad.

  He leaned down
and kissed her nose. Then her jaw. Then he moved his lips lower and kissed along her collarbone.

  “What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

  “I’m going to worship every part of you, Rowan. I’m going to kiss and caress every inch of you until you understand how amazing you are.”

  Her chest hitched and he saw something in her eyes. “Lachlan.”

  He lowered his head and set to work.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rowan woke to a featherlight touch on her bare shoulder. She was lying facedown, buried in the covers on Lachlan’s bed.

  She opened one eye and saw Lachlan sitting beside her. She noted he was dressed.

  “Hey,” he murmured.

  “Hi.” She pushed at her tangled hair. “What’s up?”

  He was staring at the pillow.

  “Lachlan?”

  “Sorry.” His gaze met hers. “Got sidetracked by all that hair of yours spread out on my pillow.” His lips quirked. “I like seeing it there.”

  Her heart went pitty-pat.

  Then his face turned serious. “I don’t like the bruises and bandage on your face though.”

  She moved up on one elbow and purposely let the sheet fall, baring her breasts. “I think we discovered last night that I am perfectly fine. The bruises will fade.”

  As planned, he was looking at her breasts. “I have to head out.” He dragged his gaze up. “Even though I’d sell my soul to climb back in bed with you. We have a few possible leads on the bad guys and Airman Kowalski.”

  “Okay.”

  “Axel’s here, so go back to sleep.” Lachlan pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Stay out of trouble.”

  She closed her eyes. “Not like I asked to be attacked or kidnapped, Lachlan.”

  Another kiss, this one to her shoulder, and then he was gone.

  Rowan dozed but didn’t drop back into a deep sleep. Finally, she decided it was time to get up and see if she could help in any way.

  Once she was showered and dressed, she found Axel sitting on the couch, tapping on a laptop.

  “Morning,” she said.

  He looked up and smiled that slow smile of his.

  She shook her head. The man was way too attractive. It oozed out of his pores. “Don’t smile like that until I’ve had some coffee,” she grumbled.

  His sexy smile widened.

  Rowan made a beeline for the coffee machine. Once she’d taken a few sips of her mocha—sweet, sweet caffeine hitting her system—she headed in Axel’s direction.

  “Any news?”

  He shook his head, frustration creasing his brow. “Bunch of random sightings. Lachlan and the team are checking them out.”

  “Sorry you got stuck babysitting.” She dropped down beside him. He had a map of Las Vegas on the television screen. It was covered with a smattering of glowing dots.

  He grunted.

  “These the sightings?” she asked.

  He nodded. “One at the MGM Grand, one at the T-Mobile Arena, and the fountain at the Bellagio. Frozen solid, by the way.”

  She sipped her coffee. The sightings all seemed pretty random. She stilled. “Wait. Nat lives at the MGM. She told me about a show that’s on there. A magic show on ice.”

  Axel frowned. “So?”

  “So, the Bellagio’s fountain froze, and there was a sighting near a show on ice. What’s on at the T-Mobile Arena right now?”

  Axel quickly tapped in a search. “Shit. The Vegas Golden Knights are playing. The ice-hockey team.” He tapped again. “You might be onto something, Dr. Schafer. Brooks?”

  Brooks’ face appeared on the screen. He looked tired and rumpled, and clearly hadn’t slept. “At your service.”

  “Rowan noticed something,” Axel said.

  “All the sightings have been near water or ice,” Rowan said. “Are there any other places with ice around the area?”

  “God, you’re right.” Brooks tapped his tablet. “With the artifact on, Airman Kowalski must be attracted to cold and ice.”

  “Brooks, where else has a large body of ice in the area?” Axel asked.

  “Hang on.” A blue dot appeared on the screen. Right in the center of the others.

  Rowan sucked in a breath. “What is that?”

  “The rooftop ice rink at the Cosmopolitan,” Brooks said.

  Axel jumped up. “You’re with me, Rowan. Brooks, contact Lachlan and the team.”

  Axel grabbed a duffel bag and shoved a Kevlar vest at Rowan. “Put that on.” He pulled his own on, and she caught a glimpse of his high-tech rifle in the bag.

  As they left the condo, Rowan trotted beside him to keep up with his long strides. As the elevator doors closed, Axel pulled a handgun out of his bag. “You know how to use this?”

  She took the Glock and nodded. “Since I’m often on research trips in foreign countries, I took some lessons at a local range.” She checked the Glock over and then tucked it into the waistband of her jeans.

  “The others all prefer the SIG Sauer, but I’m a Glock man.” He winked.

  In the parking garage, they jumped into one of the team SUVs and took off. Rowan gripped the door. Axel drove like he had a trophy to win.

  They zoomed through the traffic at what she guessed was twenty over the speed limit. It wasn’t long before they roared down the Strip, and pulled up in front of the Cosmopolitan.

  Rowan stared at the casino. There were no screams or fleeing people. Everything looked normal.

  As they exited the SUV, she looked up. The giant hotel towers of the Cosmopolitan speared into the sky, but much lower down at the front of the casino complex, she saw the ice rink and bar area, several stories above South Las Vegas Boulevard.

  “You should have stayed at the condo.”

  Lachlan’s voice made her drop her gaze. He and the rest of the team were striding toward them.

  “You need all the help you can get if we’re going to subdue Airman Kowalski,” Axel said. “And Rowan’s safer with us.”

  “She almost got shot in the head last time,” Lachlan bit out.

  “Boys,” Blair murmured. “Rowan can actually look after herself pretty well. Why don’t we head up and take a look around?”

  Lachlan gripped Rowan’s arm and they headed for the entrance to the casino. The lobby was all glitz and glamor, with a polished tile floor and several large columns with screens on them. Right now, the columns were lit up with images of a snow-covered forest. She wrinkled her nose. How appropriate.

  They casually made their way to the bank of elevators and entered one.

  “Hold the door.” A man in a Hawaiian shirt appeared, about to squeeze in with them.

  Lachlan gave him a hard stare. The man froze and slowly backed away.

  “Uh, I’ll get the next one.”

  Blair pressed the button for the Boulevard Pool Area, where the ice rink was located, and they moved upward.

  When they stepped out onto the rooftop, Rowan’s heart was beating hard. It was fairly quiet at this time of the day. There were only a few people on the ice, and some in the adjacent heated pool.

  The place had a killer view of the Planet Hollywood Casino and the Paris Casino’s replica Eiffel Tower across the road.

  Rowan scanned the ice rink and her shoulders sagged. There was no sign of Airman Kowalski. “Guess I was wrong.”

  A piercing scream filled the air.

  They all spun. At the end of the ice rink, one of the skaters was frozen mid-movement, like a statue made of ice. His mouth was open and one hand outstretched.

  “Or not,” Lachlan said.

  People were falling and stumbling to get off the ice.

  Rowan’s heart pounded. She didn’t see Airman Kowalski anywhere.

  “Let’s move,” Lachlan said. “Rowan, stay here and do not move.”

  Lachlan skirted the ice, his team behind him.

  There was no sign of Airman Kowalski on the ice. But she was here, he could sense it.

  “We need to lock Ko
walski down.” He made eye contact with his team. The last thing he wanted was for Kowalski to tear through Vegas and hurt more people. Or get caught by the wrong people.

  They moved past the small groups of tables arranged for patrons to sit by the ice and have drinks. Suddenly, he spotted water and melting ice on the ground. Lachlan pointed.

  With their hands resting on their holstered weapons, they followed the trail toward the bar area. Lachlan saw one male bartender cowering. Lachlan jerked his head and the man took off.

  The bar felt like a ghost town.

  There was a door leading into a storage area and it was ajar. Smoothly, he pulled his SIG and kicked the door open. He looked inside, Seth right behind him.

  Stacks of chairs, shelves of glasses, no woman under the influence of an ancient device.

  Then he heard Blair curse. “Lachlan.”

  He stormed out of the storage room, and his heart stopped.

  Out on the center of the ice rink stood Kowalski…facing off with Rowan.

  Rowan held one hand outstretched, and looked tiny compared to Kowalski’s altered form. His heart started beating again. A heavy pound that hurt. Dammit, he was going to lock Rowan in his bedroom and never let her out.

  “Move in slowly,” he said. “Callie, you have the tranqs ready?”

  “Ready. I’ve increased the dosage.”

  “Seth?”

  “Got the net.”

  “Don’t spook her.” Lachlan couldn’t risk Rowan getting hurt.

  Moving quietly and quickly, his team stepped out onto the ice. They hadn’t gone far, when Kowalski’s head snapped up.

  The woman’s enhanced body tensed.

  “No,” Rowan cried. “Stay back.”

  Suddenly, the roar of a helicopter rushed overhead. Lachlan looked up at an unmarked chopper hovering above them in the sky.

  A second later, several soldiers leaped out of the aircraft, rappelling down. They were all armed. Bullets slammed into the ice.

  Fuck. “Team 52, engage.”

  He lifted his SIG, shooting at the newcomers.

  Then Rowan screamed.

  Lachlan swiveled. Airman Kowalski had panicked in the chaos. She grabbed Rowan and ran across the ice with her.

  Fucking hell. Lachlan was well aware that with one wrong move, Kowalski could seriously hurt Rowan.