by Dale Mayer
Harrison chuckled at that. “Few of us do. Logan and I work for the same reason.”
“And because we love the job,” Logan added.
“Have you ever been attacked or kidnapped yourselves?”
“Many times,” Logan said quietly. “We can’t talk about most of our military years. But now, working for Legendary Security, we continue to do similar kinds of work.”
She shook her head and whispered, “I can’t imagine.”
“It’s not something you ever get used to, but it’s what we’re trained for.”
“I’m trained to save lives, to help people. But when I saw Harrison going a few rounds with Colin, … all I could think about was how I wanted to get my hands on him too.”
Bloodthirsty. He really liked that. “It’s natural that you’d want some payback. But mostly it’s an outpouring of rage because of all the fear he put you through. Given a few days, you will probably be very grateful you didn’t follow through on that first urge.” He pulled into the hospital parking lot. “What vehicle are we looking for? Did you ever hear from the security guard?”
“Oh, my goodness. I didn’t even know we were here already,” she cried out.
He watched as she looked around the parking lot and frowned.
“I can’t remember where I parked,” she said in despair. “How the hell does that work?”
“Short-term memory loss is extremely common with any trauma. It’s the body’s way of healing without adding more stress to your system.”
“You have a designated parking spot here?” Harrison asked.
“That’d be too easy.” She ran her fingers over her face and rubbed her eyes. “I’m trying to remember what kind of vehicle it is.”
“You had to give something to the security guard to look for,” Harrison said.
She brightened. “The license plate,” and she quickly spouted it off.
Harrison punched it into the laptop they always carried with them. “Your vehicle is a Volkswagen Beetle. Black.”
“Yes, it is,” she said warmly. “I remember that now.”
Chapter 5
They drove around the parking lot but there was no sign of her vehicle. Harrison said, “Alina, the keys.”
She took them from her purse and handed them to him.
Harrison said to Logan, “Park and we’ll walk around to see what we can find with the alarm on her system.”
“Good idea.” He pulled into a visitor parking spot.
With the three of them looking, they strategically stopped at one corner and started walking with Harrison pressing the button off and on to see if any vehicle alarm shot off. There was nothing in the front of the parking lot, nor on the side. As they went around to the back they found a single black Volkswagen Beetle. Harrison clicked on the button and the lights flashed. As they got close to it, they confirmed the license plate.
Harrison handed the keys back to her and said, “This is yours.”
She clapped her hands in delight and raced forward. She quickly unlocked it and looked inside. “It doesn’t appear to be damaged in any way.”
“Were you expecting it to be?” Logan asked.
She noted the odd tone in his voice, but with her excitement at having found her wheels and part of her life restored, she didn’t think anything of it. She popped the trunk and ran around to the back. It was empty. She didn’t know if it was supposed to be or not. She turned to the guys. “Thank you so much. Just getting this back is huge for me.”
“How far away do you live?”
“Just a few miles. I’ll be fine from here.”
Logan stepped in front of the vehicle and said, “Have you forgotten something?”
She looked up at him. “What?”
“Remember what Colin said. They already know where you live, and you’re going to get picked up regardless.”
She grabbed a hold of the open car door and roof of the Volkswagen and stared at him. All the color drained from her face. “Still? I figured once the police arrived it was safe.” She looked over at Harrison. They were both shaking their heads.
“There is no way to know,” Logan said quietly. “I suggest we check your house and see if anybody’s been there.”
She stared at him nonplussed. But inside, she was starting to shake. In a bad way. She turned to look at the hospital. “They know where I work. If they know where I live, I’m not safe anywhere.”
Logan could see her start to buckle in a faint. He bolted to her side and grabbed her around the waist, tucking her close. When that didn’t work and she started to fall, he picked her up and carried her around to the other side of the vehicle.
Logan opened the passenger door and sat her down in the seat. “You’re not in any shape to drive,” he snapped. “Let me buckle you in. I’ll drive and Harrison will follow us. We’ll go to your place to make sure it’s okay.”
“Make sure of what?” she cried softly. “If they haven’t been there yet, that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to be coming in the next hour, or ten. Until this is over there’s no way I’m going to be safe. How the hell do I come to terms with that?” In fact, she had no idea if that was even possible.
Logan grabbed the keys from Harrison, got in the car and turned on the engine. “Give us your address.”
She rattled it off but stared at him, almost blind. “What’s the point of going there? We can lead them right to it.”
“And that means you think you’re actually being watched right now.” He gave her a hard stare. “Are you?”
She stared at him in shock. “Oh, my God! I have no idea.” She slid down in her seat until she was hidden beneath the window.
“If you are, it’s already too late. Sit back up again properly. We’ll drive to your house and check it out.” He closed the door, rolled the window down and said to Harrison, “You lead with the GPS.”
Harrison nodded, hopped into the car and pulled out of the lot.
She looked over at him. “I could drive.”
Logan snorted. “Sweetheart, you’re not driving anywhere.”
She sagged back gratefully. It was one thing to make the offer, but she’d be much happier not driving. Now if only the men could solve the rest of her problems. She stared out the window, not really seeing the scenery as it passed. They made several turns and she recognized her neighborhood.
“Does this look right?” Logan pointed to the building in front of her.
She nodded. “Yes. That’s my place.”
He got out of the vehicle, went around to her side, and opened the door. As she stood, she murmured, “I really am feeling okay, you know.”
“Good. Glad to hear that. It doesn’t change the fact you were held captive for several days. And you’ve got to be feeling rough. So instead of having to stand on your own two feet, accept the help you have.”
He held out his hand. She slipped her much smaller one into it and smiled up at him. “Are you always this protective?”
He looked surprised and then contemplative. “Maybe?”
She chuckled. “Maybe that’s why you’re so good at it. You didn’t do it because you’re supposed to.” Her smile widened. “But because you’re a natural at it.”
Together they walked to the front door. Harrison met them at the sidewalk. His gaze drifted from their joined hands to Logan’s face. There was a twinkle in his eye when he said, “You’re looking much brighter.”
She shook her head. “No reason why I shouldn’t. I’m away from the hospital.”
She led them inside, pulling her apartment keys out. There was a code to get into the building, which she punched in, then headed straight for the elevator. “My place is on the third floor.”
They took the elevator up and then made a right turn. “The apartment building is bigger than I thought it would be,” Logan said.
Harrison nodded. “And obviously extends quite a bit down the back. We didn’t drive that direction.”
At her apartment, she hesit
antly stuck the key in the lock. Logan stepped forward and moved her back to Harrison. Relieved, she let him open the door.
As she went to follow him, Harrison grabbed her arm and whispered, “Wait.”
She saw the hard look on his face and felt her heart drop. Please let the apartment be empty.
Logan appeared again at the door. “It’s all clear.”
Her breath let out with a whoosh. “Thank heavens,” she murmured. “I don’t want to think about being attacked here. Is there no place safe?”
“I doubt it. They paid for you and have all your details. In their minds, it’s an easy snatch and grab. He does the work finding the women that fit what they’re looking for, grabs you, arranges a meet, does the delivery, and he’s free and clear. On their part, he hasn’t delivered, so they have the full prerogative to go and collect what is owed.”
She shook her head. “You guys live in a dark world.”
Logan spun on his heels, looking at her. “And now so do you.”
She stared at him, all the color draining from her face. And it hit her that was the reality she was facing. If these men were right, then she was likely to be hunted. She hadn’t seen it coming the first time, how the hell was she going to see it a second?
*
Logan didn’t want her terrified, but he did want her on guard. She couldn’t possibly be thinking straight yet. She’d been a captive, freed, checked over, and was now facing the enormity of knowing it wasn’t necessarily over.
He needed her to get that message. Loud and clear. And yet at the same time not be paralyzed by it because that was the worst thing any victim could be. He searched the apartment, not liking very much about it. There was just a standard lock on the door he could pop in seconds, and though it was on the third floor, there was a fire escape to the apartment next door, easy enough to climb up, go to the window, which also had no alarm, get in and come around.
The front door alarm was literally no issue. In fact, it could be disabled with a couple snips. This was a mid-level moderate income type of apartment. There were probably a hundred or so people in here, all of them busy, rushing out to their day jobs, not seeing what was really happening in the much wider world around them. He walked through and checked the bedroom window to see it had a screen and was half open. He looked out, thankful to see the three-story drop.
There was only one bedroom, no spare. The living room had a tiny balcony he’d seen earlier. And again, not much of an issue. He could easily put an eight foot plank between apartment balconies and make that crossing without any trouble. People never thought about that, but with time and effort it was damn easy to cross any of these. He turned around, studied the small apartment, glanced up at Harrison and raised an eyebrow.
Harrison shrugged. “Can’t say I like it, but what do you want to do about it?”
And there lay the problem. They were here on the job. Already their personal reasons for coming had been tossed out the window. There was nothing like finding a trafficking ring and freeing one woman to completely upturn your plans. And then there were three more addresses to check out. And now just as many women to rescue—and fast.
In a low voice he said, “I can’t in good conscience leave her here alone.”
Harrison winced. “I hear you, buddy. Well, I hope you have some kind of a good idea because we’ll need an explanation for Levi.”
Then he considered how Levi really was inside, and how he felt about Ice. “You know, I think he might actually understand. I’m just not sure how we’re supposed to move ahead. We can hardly take her home with us.” Even adding that last bit made him grin. “Although I think she’d blend in just fine.”
Harrison chuckled. “Then Levi really would have a fit. It’s not like we’re running a home for the hunted.”
“That’s not bad. That’s not bad at all.”
Harrison rolled his eyes and turned, wandering around the small apartment. Alina had gone into the washroom. She should be out any time. They didn’t have much chance to discuss this turn of events while she wasn’t in the room.
“We should call Levi.”
Harrison glanced back at him. “Good idea. You do it.”
Logan frowned. “You call him.”
Harrison grinned. “No way, man. This is your deal.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?” Logan stared at his friend.
Harrison just rolled his eyes again. “Surely you can see.”
Logan shook his head. “I don’t see dick shit.”
“Obviously,” Harrison retorted.
The bathroom door opened just then and Alina walked out. She smiled brightly at the two men. “Can I offer you coffee or a bite to eat before you leave?”
Logan studied her, smiled and a gentle voice settled deep inside. A certain truth. “We’re not leaving.”
Harrison chuckled.
Alina stared at both in shock. “What are you talking about? You have a job to do and I’m certainly not it.” She ran her hand up the side of her temple and added, “I can’t say I am feeling up to entertaining. I’d like to go to bed,” she confessed, her gaze turning toward her bedroom. And that was exactly what she should do. Logan motioned at her to head into her room. “Go to bed. We’ll stand guard.”
She swayed on her feet, but still, even though her body was demanding down time, her mind was grappling with the idea of sleeping with strangers in the house.
Logan gently took her in his arms, giving her a quick hug. Against her ear, he whispered, “Take the offer, go and sleep. We promise when you wake you’ll still be here.” She glanced at him gratefully and he realized he’d guessed correctly. He lowered his head, dropped a kiss on her temple and said, “Go.”
She shot him a disgruntled look and said, “Who said you could kiss and order me around at the same time.”
He knew she didn’t mean it quite the way it came out. It was a sign of the fatigue eating at her. He pushed her gently in the direction of the bedroom. “And if you need help getting into bed, let me know.”
She shot him a look, walked into her bedroom and slammed the door.
Logan chuckled. “I guess that was a no?” He turned to Harrison and saw a wicked grin on his face.
“And another one has fallen.”
Understanding wiped the smile right off Logan’s face. “Hell no. I’m being a nice guy.”
Harrison arched an eyebrow, but his grin widened. “Nice guy? Hugging and kissing her? Teasing her, flirting with her? Yeah, it’s a whole lot more than that.”
“Of course I treat her nicely. You forget about any of that fallen shit. Damn you for even being at the bloody compound. That attitude has already gotten ingrained in you. Not everybody’s going to hook up, you know.”
Harrison nodded his head slowly, sagely. “Of course not. Just the fact that we have already, what? Five couples now?” He shook his head. “Damn good thing I’m doing mostly away jobs. Otherwise the bug might get me too.”
“If you think it’s biting me, I’ll make damn sure it gets you.” Logan shook his head. “Stupid conversation. What the hell are we going to do about this place, and do our job from here?”
“I’ll get our bags and laptop. The hotel is prepaid, so nothing we can do about that.”
“Levi won’t give a damn about that minor cost. He’ll be more upset if we don’t get these addresses checked out.” Logan turned to face the bedroom and then Harrison. “How do you feel about checking out some of those addresses alone? I don’t think we should leave her. Not only was she hurt, but she could be on somebody’s list.”
“It’s also very late. Chances are we’d be better off starting fresh in the morning anyway.” Harrison contemplated the living room. “Well, I’ll take the floor. That leaves you with the couch.”
Logan studied the minuscule living room. For Harrison to sleep on the floor, they’d have to move the coffee table into the kitchen. And the couch was a love seat, too small to sleep on.
He groaned,
glanced around at the rest of the kitchen and hallway. “Guess I’ll sleep on the kitchen floor.”
Harrison chuckled. “What about food?” He checked his watch. “It’s past eleven.” He shook his head. “We didn’t get dinner, and I doubt she’s eaten anything in a long time.”
“Pizzas are about the only thing at this hour.” Logan walked to the fridge and opened it to find a lot of green vegetables but not much of anything else. “I wonder if she’s a vegetarian.”
“She probably eats healthy. She’s a nurse, remember?”
“Still we have to eat. Let’s find anything close by.”
Harrison held up his phone. “I’ve checked. Two pizza joints within a couple miles. I’ll call and place an order and then go pick it up. We don’t want to have any delivery coming here, bringing attention to the fact she’s home.”
Logan nodded. “I’ll stay and keep watch.”
Harrison ordered two full-size pizzas, one with everything and the other just vegetables. Once he left, Logan locked the door behind him. He walked over to the kitchen window and stared down, waiting until Harrison got into the car and drove away.
And that’s where he kept watch until he returned twenty minutes later. Logan hadn’t seen or heard anything in the meantime.
He let Harrison inside. Placing the pizzas on the table, Logan realized Harrison had brought the laptop up too. Good thing because, right now, they had a lot of research to do.
The two of them sat at the kitchen table and ate.
After a couple pieces, Logan’s mind working away on the issues they’d found, he said, “I was going to call Levi but decided it was too late.”
“He already knows where we are, so unless we have something new to share, we’re better off leaving it until morning.”
“Plan of attack for then?”
“We have three addresses left to check out. Three women to find. So not much hope of seeing your friends.”