Wounded Courage (Lucky Thirteen)

by S. M. Butler

  “Buckle up, sweetheart!” I whirled back as Murphy got in after me and shut the door. Because that hadn’t been his voice. Dylan Urban grinned at me through the rear view mirror, all cockiness and impudence.

  Chris sat in the seat next to him. My heart eased up, realizing that the two most important men in my life were sitting with me. But at the same time, it was still weighed down, because they were all giving up their lives and their careers for me.

  “Fucking go!” Murphy snapped.

  “I’m on it, Team Leader.” Urban laughed, easy and not worried about the dozen men pouring out the door as he slammed on the gas and we lurched back while the car surged forward. “I told you two to buckle up.”

  Murphy

  Addison’s warm body was curled tightly around mine. We’d lifted the armrest a while back so she could lay against me. I thought, since the night before, that she didn’t want to be with me anymore. And she had been leaving when I found her. When I saw that her bag was gone, I knew she’d be trying to run.

  Master Chief had arranged a flight for the four of us, a small commercial charter. It was better than flying commercial where we’d be recorded on video and could be tracked by passports. Even so, we’d been flying for nearly ten hours now. And I hated planes.

  “How’s she doing?” Chris asked as he sat down in the seat across the aisle from me. He shoved the clothes he’d just changed out of into his backpack and zipped it back up.

  “She’s been out almost from take off at that last stop.” We’d made two stops before taking the flight across the Atlantic. The first was to change planes and hopefully throw off the government, the second to refuel before the transatlantic trip.

  Urban sat down in his seat on my other side. He’d just changed too. “Pilot says it’ll be five hours before we land.”

  I brushed a loose strand of hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. “Good. She needs the rest. I think she really hurt her leg.”

  She didn’t let it show, but running like that, and the stress of being on the run from the government had exhausted her. I’d looked at her thigh, if just to reassure myself that it was healing. Her gunshot wound looked red and angry, but it was closed over and hadn’t started bleeding again, which was the important part.

  “We’re not out of the woods yet,” Urban said. “They could be waiting for us as soon as we land in Paris.”

  “I know,” I nodded. “I don’t think they will be.”

  Honestly, I was expecting Giroux men to be waiting for us. I had a feeling, and I wasn’t sure if she knew about it or not. The necklace she carried, the one with the key hidden in it… I got the feeling it was more of a leash. I’d have laid down good money that there was a GPS chip in it.

  “She’s not healed up enough for this kind of work.” Chris’s brows pinched together in worry.

  “We didn’t have a choice,” Urban said, sounding strangely serious. It was a rare moment when he was serious.

  “You contact Cadence?” I needed to change the subject. Talking about Addison was troublesome, and I was likely to snap on him if he said the wrong thing about her… and with Urban, that was highly likely to happen.

  Dylan’s face darkened. “Yeah.”

  “And?” I’d expected more elaboration, but getting information about Cadence out of Urban was hard to do.

  “She’s in Paris now. I have her contact information.” His voice was flat in response. So not like Dylan at all, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to him about it. Addison stirred in my arms, letting out a soft groan. Her eyes fluttered, and a frown creased her pretty face as she opened them to the bright light of the airplane’s cabin.

  She glanced up and smiled. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey yourself.” I leaned over and gave her a light kiss on the lips.

  “Oh, get a room,” Chris growled, and leaned back in his seat. He shut his eyes. “There are things a brother shouldn’t see.”

  I turned back to her, her sleepy eyes blinking back to consciousness. “How you feeling?”

  “I’m good,” she replied and yawned. “How long have I been asleep?”

  “A few hours.”

  “On you?” She blinked.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, Jesus. I’m sorry.”

  “For what? You were like a blanket… a warm, sexy, feminine blanket.” I grinned, and nipped at her ear for the fun of it. She giggled and pushed herself up to a sitting position.

  Dylan snorted. “Shit. Effing honeymooners.”

  I punched his shoulder. “Shut up.”

  “Ow. Bastard,” he muttered, rubbing his arm, and then settled back against his seat.

  “When do we land?” Addison asked.

  “About five hours,” I said. “We’ll catch the train from there.”

  “Okay.” She bit her lower lip, her brow furrowing.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You guys shouldn’t be here. I mean, what about your jobs?”

  “Addison, maybe it’s time to tell you.”

  “What?” Her eyes went hard and her voice was flat.

  I sighed and glanced at her. “Let’s get some rest now, and we’ll talk later.”

  She didn’t look convinced. She glanced over at Dylan, who had returned to his faux sleeping state with his eyes closed and his hands crossed over his chest. Hardy also had his eyes closed and his arms crossed over his chest. His legs stretched out and were crossed at the ankles. She huffed. “Y’all are all jerks.”

  “I promise you, Addison.” She still looked unsure, but she curled up in my arms when I held out mine for her. I kissed the top of her head as she laid her cheek on my shoulder. I didn’t want to spring this on her here, when she did need some sleep. I glanced back at Urban, who didn’t look up from his reclined position. I had to be better about this. I had to get into the zone, be pro, and keep my promise to her brother at the same time. And I wasn’t sure all that would line up just right in the end.

  ~*~*~

  Addison

  We didn’t land at a major airport. It was a little dirt landing strip somewhere in the heart of France. Dylan left us at that point, and I wanted to ask him where he was going, but I didn’t think they’d tell me.

  The car ride to Paris wasn’t too long, maybe thirty minutes or so. I hadn’t been back to Paris since I met Alex, so it felt a little awkward being there with Murphy as well. I fingered the necklace with the key. There was a stash in Paris too, which we stopped by for spending money before heading out on the train.

  Murphy glanced around the room, a reinforced metal closet in an apartment. “Whose apartment is this?”

  “Mine,” I said. “It’s mine. The exchange program I was in provided an apartment instead of host family. When I left the program, I just took over the apartment’s papers.”

  “With Giroux money.”

  “Yes,” I grunted. Was he ever going to let me forget that? “The same money you’re holding.” He glanced down at the bundle of bills in his hand.

  He sighed. “Sorry. I’m just—”

  “It’s fine.” I waved him off. “Let’s go find Chris. The train leaves at noon.”

  We took the equivalent of several thousand dollars and sealed the room back up. There was a book case attached to the front of the door, so when it shut, it just looked normal.

  We took a taxi back to the train station where we’d meet back up with Chris. It was nice to be able to practice the language I’d learned last year. Alex and I spoke in French sometimes, but it was nothing like every day use.

  We met up with Chris an hour later, and within minutes, we were on the train. I stepped into the sleeper compartment we’d gotten and glanced around. It wasn’t really all that big, and Murphy and Chris were not small guys.

  “Maybe we should have gotten two compartments.”

  “We did,” Chris grinned as he walked past me and opened the door next to us. “I’m staying here.”

  I blinked and looked at Murphy. He shrugged.
“He cornered me, so I had to tell him about us.”

  I looked at Chris, who didn’t seem at all surprised or upset. He leaned his elbow against the door frame of his compartment. “You guys didn’t tell me you knew.”

  “Surprise,” Chris said. He tossed his bag in the compartment. “Let’s talk inside your compartment. Talking in the hallway here probably isn’t the best thing ever.”

  He all but shoved me in the small room. Murphy followed us in and shut the door behind him.

  “So…” I led.

  Chris spoke first. “Okay, so, we’re not exactly in trouble for taking you out of custody.”

  Murphy rested his hands on his hips, scrutinizing me. Then he said, “Master Chief sanctioned Hardy and me breaking you out.”

  “Say what?” I blinked. I didn’t know what I’d expected their little conspiracy to be, but this wasn’t it.

  “That’s why Dylan was in on it. He’s doing something else now, but his job was to get us out of Thirteen’s facility.”

  “And you two?”

  Chris smiled. “We’re here for you. You were right. You’ll be safer for now with Giroux, but I’ll be damned if I let you enter the wasp’s nest on your own.”

  “Why all the subterfuge?”

  “Because LT doesn’t know about this. He wouldn’t sign off on something like this, and because you can get us close to Simon.”

  I shook my head. “It doesn’t work like that. Simon doesn’t open up like that. I’ve only seen him once. He’s a paranoid man, really paranoid, and secretive. Based on what I’ve seen, he knows you guys. You won’t get close.”

  “He’ll make a mistake.”

  “Not one that you can see,” I replied. Seeing Murphy’s temper flare, I sighed. “I’m not trying to say I want him to win. I’m being practical.”

  “Practical? Sometimes I wonder if that is actually part of your skill set.”

  “You’d be surprised. Though, really, practical would have been me lying to you, and then leaving as soon as I could.”

  “Is that what you’re planning on doing?”

  “Also practical would be not telling your boyfriend that you’re going to leave him, so maybe you’re right, and I’m not practical… or… maybe… just maybe, I’m telling you the truth, and I’m also being practical.”

  His shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry. I’m just…”

  “I know.” And I did. I understood that for once, Murphy was not in charge. Maybe he was in charge of me as an asset, but I was the one on familiar ground now. I knew the Giroux family, I knew what made them tick. And that knowledge had me thinking about things that Alex had told me once upon a time.

  “You know, maybe I’ll change my mind about this whole you and him thing,” Chris said, the corner of his mouth flirting with the idea of a smile. “This is almost nauseating.”

  I snorted and Murphy rolled his eyes. I took a breath. “Chris, did you make that copy I asked you to make?”

  “Yeah. I dropped the notebook in the safe and brought the copy. Why?”

  “No reason. I was just thinking…” I trailed off, because if I were a Giroux and I were waiting for someone to come to me, I would wait until they were in a compromising position they couldn’t easily escape… like on a train. But we were still in station. It was too early for them, because then we could still get away.

  “It’s safe. It’ll be fine.”

  “I know.” I told him, trying to sound upbeat, but I was having a hard time with it. Murphy noticed, because he noticed everything.

  He stepped close to me, and pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me. “I don’t want you to be scared. I’m not leaving your side.”

  I rested my cheek against his perfectly sculpted chest, wishing he wasn’t wearing a shirt so I could feel him against my skin. He kissed my forehead and pulled away to put our bags away.

  His movements were graceful, like a dancer, except with a deadly killer instinct. I pitied anyone who tried to get in here without his permission. They’d never survive. It made me feel safe. This was Murphy, protecting the one he loved.

  “They’re going to waiting for us as soon as the train pulls out of the station.”

  “Why do you think that?” Chris asked, sitting down in the seat across from where Murphy was stowing away the bags.

  “Because I know the family,” I said.

  Murphy stepped behind me, his hands rubbing up and down on my arms. “It’s been a long day. That plane ride was never ending. We should get some rest.” He didn’t seem as worried about Giroux goons coming here, which only made me more anxious.

  “Yeah, I second the sleep thing,” Chris said. “I’ll see you two in a few hours.” He left the compartment, sliding the door closed behind him.

  I turned in Murphy’s arms, and rested my arms on his shoulders. I pressed my body against his, wanting to feel his warmth against me. He responded almost immediately, his embrace tightening around me. His head dipped, his lips deftly tasting mine for a short kiss.

  “I checked all the doors and windows. We’re pretty shut in here,” Murphy said.

  “Of course we are. It’s a train compartment.” I laughed.

  “Smart ass.” He kissed my forehead. “You’re taking this well.”

  “Taking what well?”

  “This. Running. Facing Simon.”

  “I spent over a year with these people. The danger doesn’t faze me anymore. I’m more worried about what will happen to my brother and you. You said your CO doesn’t know. And you can’t go back…”

  “We can handle ourselves. And Master Chief will help us, too.”

  “That’s what that thing by the exit was. With Jesse.” I remembered them saying “Clear” in the corridor. Knowing this, that it wasn’t just them acting alone was comforting in a weird way, though the guilt at pulling them into this was nauseating.

  “Yes.”

  I cleared my throat and stepped out of his embrace. The train car was too cold without him to heat me. “So. You seem pretty confident that I can get you close to Simon. What’s the plan?”

  Murphy’s face didn’t change, nor did he reach for me again. He sat down on the bench across from me. “There will be a strike team ready. They’ll be waiting for my signal.”

  “It won’t work.” I hated to be the naysayer. But I knew the Giroux family. I knew them almost as well as I knew my own. And that wasn’t by chance. I’d studied them all. The various mannerisms of the family, the way the siblings had interacted, the way they’d sucked Alex back into their world so easily. I’d worked so hard to get him out, and he’d backslid so fast. “Simon never leaves his damn house and it’s got a fucking army guarding it.”

  “You’ve been there.”

  “Yes, the one time I met him. Because like I said, he doesn’t leave.” I didn’t think Murphy was getting the extent of the crazy that was Simon Giroux, and he’d passed on the crazy gene to his children. And while three of them were dead, the craziest one, the one that scared me more than Rene did, he was still out there somewhere.

  Besides Alex, they had all been monsters. Killers. Thieves. Rapists. Terrorists. They brought so much fear and misery to the world. How had I managed to keep sane through this last year?

  I breathed out and sunk to the bench seat across from Murphy. I rested my palms on the seat on either side of myself, in an effort to steady myself. “Simon’s going to want to kill me. He can’t, but he could make me want to die.”

  “Won’t happen,” Murphy swore, his tone so low and dangerous it sent shivers down my spine. “Listen, it’s late, we’ve had a long day, and you need to get some rest, relax some, and not stress out about this. I’m here.”

  He stood so he leaned over me and rested his hands on my upper arms. I couldn’t see how that could have been a comfortable position, but I was just grateful for how close he was. “I’ll make the bed up for you so you can sleep.”

  I nodded, but said nothing.

  He straightened, and I sta
red out the window while he moved around. The train had started to move a moment or two earlier, so it was interesting to watch the platform turn into city before countryside took over.

  A few minutes later, he took my hand and pull me to a standing position. He cupped my face, and kissed me in such a gentle way, I almost thought he was afraid I would break.

  He undressed me slowly, like he was my nursemaid or something. But I didn’t fight him over it. He left me in a camisole and panties and then lifted me into the small single capacity bed on top. I was dismayed over it, because I wanted him with me.

  “I’ll be right here, watching over you,” he whispered, as if he’d read my mind. He brushed my hair out of my face, and gently kissed me. “I’m taking the bottom, for precautions.”

  “I love you,” I said.

  He grinned at me, a full blown Murphy grin, and kissed my forehead. “Stop that. You’ll erode my willpower. We’ll have to come up with ways to do it in a train compartment the size of a closet.”

  “Sounds fun.”

  “Hush, you. Get some sleep.”

  “You’re not going to sleep?”

  “I will. I’ll be down here.” He turned out the light, brushed his lips over my bare shoulder and then he was gone. I could hear his breathing below, which was comforting, but I wished he could sleep with me. I closed my eyes, exhaustion washing over me as I listened to his even breathing, letting it lull me into a deep sleep.

  Addison

  I didn’t know how long I’d slept. When I woke up, it was light again, and Murphy was already moving around. He’d put his bed away, and was packing up toiletries. I could smell his aftershave and the clean scent of his soap. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, so I stayed in bed and watched his muscles stretch with his movements.

  He reached over the sink and grabbed his watch from where it rested, wrapping it back around his wrist and fastening it easily. I even liked the way he did that.

  Man. I was a goner.

  I stretched out, which caught his attention. He turned to face me. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey,” I said, sliding from the top bunk to the deck as carefully as I could so I wouldn’t fall flat on my face. I maneuvered around him, on autopilot to the sink basin where I splashed water on my face. He handed me a towel, which I took gratefully, and dried my face.