Without Fear

by Reese Knightley

  “What?” Macy turned at his slight chuckle.

  He pointed to the license plate. If I get a ticket, I hope it’s to Disney world.

  Macy grinned. “You should see my t-shirt collection.”

  “I’d love to.” He jumped on that chance.

  Macy rolled his eyes and slipped behind the wheel.

  Logan slid into the passenger seat and struggled one-handed with his seat belt, and once clipped, he realized the SUV hadn’t started. Glancing over, he found Macy staring at him.

  “What?”

  “What’s wrong?” Macy eyed him over.

  “Nothing, why?”

  Cornflower blue eyes narrowed. “You’re moving like my granny.”

  “You don’t have a granny,” he said, and then frowned. “Do you?”

  “No.” Macy turned the ignition. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

  He cleared his throat and motioned through the windshield. “Drive and I’ll tell you.”

  Rolling his eyes, Macy pulled onto the main street.

  “I got shot.”

  “What?” Blue eyes glanced quickly over. “Where?”

  “In Nebraska.”

  “Not where, you dork. Where on your body?”

  Logan grinned. He’d known what Macy had meant, he just wanted to get one up on the snarky brat.

  “My arm.”

  “How bad?” Macy chewed on his plump bottom lip.

  “Just a graze. I didn’t even need stitches.”

  “I hope whoever shot you is dead!”

  He gaped and turned in his seat to watch Macy’s expressive face.

  “Why? You gonna take them out if they’re not?” he half joked.

  “Maybe.”

  Macy

  “You don’t think I can?” He threw a scowl at Logan. He hated when people underestimated him because of his looks.

  The smoking hot hunk opened his mouth, then squinted at him before he said, “Well… I hadn’t thought about it.”

  Macy sniffed and squeezed the wheel. Damn it, keep it together. Remember, you’re waiting until this Siegel shit is over before you spill your guts, he silently reminded himself.

  “I’m not a marshmallow.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being a marshmallow.”

  “There’s not?” He eyed Logan.

  The man’s lips curved and Macy wanted to pull the car over and jump the man’s bones. When he’d opened the door to find Logan standing there with his Charlie Brown flowers, his heart had melted. Logan was a tall, lean, brown-haired hunk. The gray threading through the strands made the man even more mouthwatering.

  He glanced over and Logan flashed him a smile that knocked him dead. The dark slacks and white button-down dress shirt should have been illegal because while it would have been plain on anyone else, on Logan it looked powerful and so freaking sinful.

  Logan wore authority like a glove. That was why the awkwardness from earlier had been surprising and a bit endearing.

  “I actually love them.”

  He blinked, his brain trying to catch up. “Love what?”

  “Marshmallows?” Logan laughed.

  He snorted and glanced in the rear-view mirror. Was that washed-out red sedan following them?

  “Did you get my last letter?”

  “I did.” He threw Logan a smile as he switched lanes. “Your writing skills keep me on the edge of my seat.”

  Logan made a sound. “Oh, hell no. I’m no writer.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  “You’re the writer,” Logan argued.

  “Um… that would be a big fat no,” he chuckled. The letters, which he’d begun calling love letters, had come every month like clockwork and detailed how much he’d enjoyed himself. Not that they’d done much other than hang out and share stories in the park or the coffee shop if it was raining. But the thoughtfulness of them tugged at his heart. He’d replied to the letters, but kept his responses brief because he never knew what to say.

  Spotting the red car again, Macy took the next off-ramp and drove down the access road. Sure enough, the red car followed him, but so did a black SUV and a silver Suburban. Were they all on his tail?

  “What’s the matter?” Logan asked, glancing over his shoulder.

  Shit! He should have known to keep his actions more subtle. Logan was a security expert and had immediately noticed something was up. He might as well come clean, at least about this.

  “I think we’re being followed.”

  “Yeah?” Logan glanced in the side mirror.

  “Red car.”

  Logan’s head snapped around and he felt the man’s gaze lock on his face.

  “Take the next on-ramp. Get back on the freeway,” Logan ordered.

  Because Macy was in an amicable mood at the moment, he did as Logan suggested. Taking the access road, he eased the SUV back onto the freeway at the next on-ramp. Merging into traffic, he moved over until he was in the fast lane. The freeway was fairly empty at seven o’clock, but there was still enough traffic to make losing a tail dangerous.

  “Yep, he’s still there in the slow lane,” Logan murmured.

  “I can lose him in the city.” Macy gestured at the buildings of Aberdeen in the distance.

  “Let’s do it,” Logan said just as a call came in over the SUV’s Bluetooth.

  “Hi, Elijah,” Macy said and tossed Logan a worried glance.

  “You two okay?” Elijah sounded breathless.

  “We have a tail,” Logan barked. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, but we had two rough looking asshats stop by here looking for someone by the name of Mercedes Giles.”

  Macy squeezed the steering wheel and floored it. If Tony had discovered Crumpet, nobody there would be safe. The red car decided to make its move and swerved over into the fast lane, closing in on his tail.

  “Who the fuck is Mercedes Giles?” Logan barked.

  “I have no clue, but one suspect pulled a gun and I disarmed him. He’s in the Sheriff’s custody. The other got away.”

  “Think it’s my job related?” Logan frowned.

  “Not if they’re looking for this Giles person. I talked to Chance, he said the suspect isn’t talking,” Elijah muttered. Teddy Chance was the town’s sheriff. “To be on the safe side, I’m taking the jet and flying to the hotel.”

  “Good idea. I’ll call you as soon as we find a place to lay low.”

  “All right. Justin closed the café for a few days. We’re taking Ashley, Tinley, and the animals with us to the hotel. Teddy has the town on high alert.”

  “Have Jaxon take the chopper to the hotel after picking up Echo for me.”

  “Will do. See ya. Be safe.”

  “You too, bro. Call me when you get there.”

  Elijah ended the call.

  “Hotel?” He glanced over at Logan and found the man’s fiercely squinted eyes on him. Macy plastered on a smile and turned back to the road. They were coming up on the city limits.

  “Yeah. I own one.”

  “Won’t they be exposed?”

  “Not at my hotel. It’s… high-tech security.” Logan grunted and gripped the handle over the door when he took a sharp right at the last minute to take the off-ramp.

  He raced down the ramp and into the city.

  “Where is your hotel?” Perhaps they could lay low there.

  “San Francisco.”

  Okay, perhaps not. Macy yanked the wheel and powered down an alleyway. He blew through the street and his SUV was airborne for a moment. Hands steady on the wheel, he easily controlled the vehicle and ran a red light.

  “Where the hell did you learn to drive like that?” Logan gaped at him.

  “It’s a long story,” he muttered. The red car was cut off by two vehicles.

  Macy zoomed into an underground parking garage, tore up two levels, and parked between a large white truck and a Suburban, shutting off the lights.

  A few moments later, the red car raced pa
st them. When it disappeared around the corner and out of sight, Macy backed up and floored it back down the ramp.

  A horn blared when he almost sideswiped a car coming out of the parking structure. The SUV’s tires squealed as he tore down the street. He was almost positive he’d lost his tail, and a few miles later, he took a corner hard. Racing down another alley, he came to the gate of a junkyard.

  Slamming the SUV into park, he leaped out and punched in the code. Before the gate was all the way open, he was back behind the wheel and pulling inside. He jumped out and shut the gate before driving between two long rows of piled high cars. The heaped junk spanned all the way to a large warehouse at the back of the lot.

  Large doors stood open, as he knew they would be, and he eased the vehicle inside and shut it off.

  “Macy?” Logan’s voice growled into the deafening silence. The guy sounded like he’d chewed gravel.

  He drew in a deep breath and turned to meet Logan’s gaze… or what he could see of it in the dark.

  “We really need to talk,” Logan rasped.

  Macy made a sound in his throat. “Come on,” he said instead of answering.

  Sliding out of the car, he headed around and waited. Logan’s movements were stiff and Macy was reminded of the bullet wound. He linked his fingers with Logan’s, ignoring the small start of surprise the man gave him.

  “Some first date, huh?” he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

  Logan’s expression told him he wasn’t impressed, but the guy grunted and latched onto his hand, almost as if he were afraid he was going to take off.

  Awareness shot down his spine and settled in the pit of his stomach. He tried to calm his racing heart and gently tug his hand away, but Logan tightened his grip.

  Entering a small office inside of the warehouse, a man turned from a desk.

  “Hey Macy.”

  Rows of high-tech monitors filled the wall behind the man’s head. Screens showed every section of the junk yard and even the entrance into it.

  “Hey Brad. Is Sam in?” he asked and tugged Logan across the room toward a door on the far right.

  “Yup,” Brad drawled. “I already called him. Is someone on your ass?”

  “Red car.” He absently rattled off the license plate number.

  “I’ll keep a watch.”

  “Who’s Sam?”

  “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  Samuel Jackson, no, not the movie star, was a friend of his mother’s. The man had been in love with her since Macy could remember. But instead, she had chosen Tony Siegel and for the life of him, Macy couldn’t figure out why. Sam was one of the nicest human beings Macy knew.

  “Macy!” Sam stood with a wide smile and came around the desk to pull him into a hug. Sam was a mountain of a man, standing at least six feet five inches, with gray hair and a trimmed beard.

  “Hey Sam.” His voice sounded muffled from Sam’s tight squeeze.

  Macy drew back. “This is Logan. He’s a friend. Logan, this is Sam Jackson, a family friend.”

  The pair took measure of each other and then shook hands as if satisfied with what they saw.

  “What’s going on, kid?”

  “I picked up a tail while out on a date,” he murmured.

  “Of course you did.” Sam gave him a resigned look. The man knew him well. He shrugged and headed toward the snack table that was loaded up with muffins, donuts, and most importantly, hot coffee.

  “Someone approached my brother’s home looking for a Mercedes Giles,” Logan said.

  Sam coughed and turned to the snack table. Macy felt Sam’s big body come to stand beside him.

  “How much does he know?”

  “Nothing,” Macy responded to Sam’s rumbling whisper that hadn’t been all that quiet.

  “You do know I can hear you, right?” Logan said impatiently.

  Macy turned around, clutching a creampuff in his hand.

  Should he tell all and hope it didn’t put Logan in danger?

  No, he couldn’t do that. Damn it. Getting involved with Logan was turning out to be a very, very bad idea.

  He opened his mouth.

  “And before you think of lying to me, think very carefully,” Logan growled.

  Macy narrowed his eyes at the bossy tone.

  Just who the hell does he think he is?

  Logan

  Crap. For a brief moment, he’d forgotten the delicate looking man was no pushover.

  “You want to rephrase that?” Macy glared.

  “Probably,” he admitted, and felt relieved to see some of the anger leave Macy’s eyes.

  “Sam?” Macy whirled to the other man.

  “Yeah?”

  “We need a place to lay low.”

  “You’re always welcome at the estate.”

  “Thanks.” Macy smiled and lifted up on his toes to kiss the man’s cheek.

  Logan clenched his hands. Who was this guy to Macy? He’d said an old family friend. Just how close a friend?

  “Let’s go.”

  “Where?” He didn’t move.

  “You want answers?” Macy scowled and tore off a bite of creampuff and licked the cream clinging to his lower lip. “Then, let’s go.”

  Logan gnashed his teeth. He wanted to shake the younger man and eat that fucking cream from his mouth.

  Macy snatched up another donut and wrapped it in a napkin and then grabbed the to-go cup of coffee and headed toward the door.

  Logan hurried over and made a quick cup of coffee and popped on a lid.

  “Thanks,” he told Sam.

  “Nice meeting you,” Sam rumbled with a grin.

  Logan hurried back through the warehouse and stopped when Macy snatched a few things from the SUV and approached a different car. Opening the front passenger door to a black, four-door Audi, Macy bent over to shove something into the glove compartment. Logan found himself staring at the man’s ass. Sweet holy hell.

  “After you.” Macy backed out and dramatically swept his hand toward the seat. Logan snorted and carefully slid inside and shut the door.

  Macy slipped behind the wheel.

  Logan was hit by the new car smell as he placed his coffee in the holder and buckled his seat belt.

  “Ready?” Fingers tapped on the steering wheel.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He scowled and then clutched at the armrest on the car door when Macy laughed and raced out of the warehouse. Someone from inside was ready because the gate opened when they approached.

  The way Macy handled the expensive car was like a wet fucking dream and made him all kinds of curious. What the hell was going on? The confident, sexy man behind the wheel was almost a stranger. Who was Macy? Because he sure the hell wasn’t only a waiter.

  “How far is this estate?”

  “Not far.”

  “Are we going to talk now?”

  “Later.”

  Macy slowed the car when they came to a stoplight and then took the corner, avoiding the freeway. They raced through the silent wet streets until they reached the outskirts of Aberdeen.

  “Whoop, whoop!”

  Logan jerked a glance over his shoulder at the siren. A cop car pulled right up to their ass with lights flashing.

  “Shoot.” Macy sighed and pulled to the side of the road. The cop car pulled up and parked behind them.

  An officer got out and approached the driver’s door.

  Macy rolled down the glass and smiled up through the window at the tall, ruggedly handsome, dark-haired cop, causing a slight irritation that sent Logan’s teeth clenching.

  Macy would need his registration. Logan flipped opened the glove compartment and every bit of spit dried up in his mouth when he spotted the nose of a nine millimeter Glock nested on top of the papers.

  He slammed the glove compartment just as the conversation filtered through his shock.

  “Macy,” the cop all but purred.

  “Bill.”

&nb
sp; “Sam said you were in Aberdeen.”

  “Not for long.”

  The cop slowly leaned in closer to Macy and glanced through the open window, catching his gaze. The way the cop’s body was leaning in close to Macy further irritated the fuck out of him.

  Logan narrowed his eyes and gave a two fingered salute to the guy.

  “I wasn’t going too fast, was I?” Macy blinked his lashes at Bill.

  “Sixty in a thirty-five, Macy,” Bill drawled and gripped the edge of the open window.

  “I’ll slow down, I promise.”

  “I’ll tell you what. Let’s get a coffee the next time you’re in town and we’ll call it even.”

  Logan snapped his teeth. The fucker was flirting? How the hell did he know he wasn’t Macy’s date or boyfriend for that matter? He made a sound in his throat and Macy threw him an amused glance.

  “That sounds nice, Bill.”

  After another moment, Bill tipped his hat and returned to his car.

  Macy rolled up his window and peeled out from the curb.

  Logan grabbed the “oh shit” handle. “Is that gun in the glovebox Sam’s?”

  “Nope.” Macy’s lips pursed and popped on the letter P.

  Logan made another annoyed sound. “So, it’s yours. Who keeps a gun in the glove compartment?” He figured Macy had gotten it from the SUV. “And more importantly, why’d you bring it on our date?”

  Macy rolled his eyes and tossed him a smirk. “Don’t tell me you don’t carry a gun in your glove compartment.”

  “Not on dates.”

  “Well, good thing I do.” Macy laughed and took a sharp corner. “You know, since we were being followed and all.”

  The snarky sprite had made a good point, but he hadn’t answered a damned thing. Macy was being deliberately vague as all hell.

  Ten minutes later by way of backroads, Macy pulled up to a large wrought iron gate and pushed the opener on the visor.

  The driveway must have been a quarter of a mile long. Massive trees of the Washington forest grew high on each side until eventually, the road spilled open.

  “Holy shit,” Logan gaped at the sight of the huge estate-like home. Not that he wasn’t used to expensive homes since he was part of the one percent, but this wasn’t just an estate. This was so much more.