Tyra pointed at him. “Don’t ask; I can’t break the code of friendship. Are we eating on the way or should we cook now?”
“On the way. I’ll get the car.” He grabbed Tyra’s luggage, looked back toward the bedroom, shook his head and walked outside.
Ten minutes later Camilla and Tyra walked outside laughing, arm in arm. Given their current camaraderie, whatever happened before must’ve been minor. Tag didn’t bother trying to understand, instead he focused on everything they needed to do so he could return home and take his mate to bed.
“We’re hungry,” Camilla said. “Are we going to eat first?”
“Yes, we’ll hit the buffet on the way. In and out, won’t take long,” he said as she buckled her belt.
“Good, I want to finish what we started,” she said then winked at him.
Tag pressed the gas and shot out the driveway.
Chapter 27
Tag hadn’t wasted time heading home after dropping Tyra off at the airport. Visions of every position he would take his mate in filled his head. Cock stiff, he kept her hand on top of his hardness, occasionally growling and making sex-laden promises.
“What’s that?” Camilla asked pointing to the two cars blocking the road ahead. Tag bristled when he saw the two men from Loveland. Seeing them on the road leading to his home meant one thing - they wanted his mate.
Grizzle growled in displeasure, claws burst through Tag’s skin. Camilla patted his hand. “Calm down, Grizzle. Pull in your claws, we need to think.”
Grizzle whined but re-sheathed his claws and remained quiet.
Surprised and pleased, Tag released a sigh of relief at Grizzle’s meek response, definitely a first. He pressed the brakes. “Thank you,” he said looking at her and then back to the road. “Do either of those guys look familiar?” he asked, while engaged in a tug-a-war with Grizzle. His beast wanted to destroy the men who wanted their mate, as if Tag would ever allow it.
“No. Why?” Her hand gripped his tightly.
At this point, her curiosity hadn’t blown into fear and he aimed to keep things that way. “Just wondered.” There was another person in the first car and someone had left a trail as they either drove away or walked off up the mountain. Inhaling deeper, he realized Rex Green was in the car but that other scent… he stiffened and looked around as he stopped the car.
Amber.
What was she doing up here? Had she been involved with Camilla’s kidnapping? Did she work for Rex? That day at the restaurant, she’d warned him to back off but he didn’t scent any deceit until she mentioned her brother. Her concern had been genuine. So why now? What did she hope to accomplish by bringing these men here?
Tag pulled out his cell and called Lorenzo. “Amber brought Green to my ranch. Have you said goodbye to your sister?”
“What? No, she couldn’t have!” Lorenzo yelled. “Why would she do that? She doesn’t know you’re mated. Anyone knows not to come between mates.”
Tag ground out, “Contact Jackson, there’ll be a mess to clean up soon.” Then he disconnected.
“This is bad, right?” Camilla asked when Tag quickly backed the car up headed in the opposite direction. Bullets could rip through the car and possibly hit Camilla. He needed to find a secure location then deal with these men.
“Depends on what you consider bad.”
She slapped his arm. “Be serious. They have guns.” Her fear spiked. The odor curled around his head, like a halo.
Grizzle grunted, his anger palatable but he didn’t make loud noises or try to push through.
“So do I,” he gritted wanting to hold her close but settled for rubbing his thumb back and forth on her hand.
“You do? I don’t know how to shoot a gun… yet. But you’ll teach me when we have time. I don’t ever want to feel like this… like I’m weighing you down.”
He glanced at her and his heart dropped at the anxiety reflected in her eyes. “Camilla...”
“No.” She shook her head with sharp, short moves. “If they’re here for me, and I suspect they are, then they’ll try to use me against you. In the movies they always grab the girl to manipulate the guy.”
“Camilla…”
When his car swerved, he spun around and headed down an overgrown path to an abandoned shelter on his property. The previous owner never removed the dome-like building and Tag hadn’t bothered to either. Today, it’d come in handy. In the rearview mirror, he saw the men turn off the road, following slowly.
“So this is what we should do.” She swallowed hard. Her fingernails broke his skin and small tremors periodically ran through her. “I stay with you, behind you. Because if I’m anywhere else all they have to do is point a gun and threaten to kill me and you’ll let them take me.”
His gut clenched. “Camilla!”
A growl rumbled from his throat. Grizzle tried to remain calm but Camilla’s fear and agitation triggered both of their protective instincts.
She bit down on her bottom lip and stared out the window. “No. I’m right and you know it. If we’re separated, they’ll take me again. I… I can’t do that.” She turned and looked at him. “Please… I can’t do that again.”
Tag’s breath stalled in his chest at the sheer terror in her eyes. He’d kill Rex Green; the bastard would pay for this. Grizzle grunted, trusting Tag to reassure their mate of her safety.
“Do you trust me?”
She hesitated. “Yes.”
“With your life?”
A longer hesitation then, “Yes, we’re connected.”
“Right. So believe me when I say I will protect you with my life. Trust me. Let me do what I’m trained to do. Protect people.”
The structure came into view. Surrounded by vines and trees, it was just the place to keep her safe. Tag hoped she agreed. He slammed on the brakes. The door was hidden from view of the road.
“Come with me.” Grabbing his weapons bag from behind the seat, he ran to the entry of the building, pressed the combination on the lock and then opened the door.
Even though his Land Rover made better time than his enemies’ car on this rough terrain, they still didn’t have a lot to spare.
“Please don’t… I don’t want to go in there.” Visibly shaking, she looked inside the dark, musty building.
“You’re my heart.” With one finger he touched her nose. “Wide open, remember?”
Swallowing hard, she nodded and straightened.
“That’s my girl. Go inside, I’ll lock you in. They’ll be here soon.” With a gentle push, she moved inside and he locked the door. Running through the trees, he leapt 20 feet into the air and landed on a large branch with a clear view to the door of the building.
Three men exited the car and stalked toward the shelter. “All we want is the girl and we’re on our way. Let’s talk about it, I’ll pay you for your trouble,” one of the men said.
A low rumbling growl escaped Tag’s chest.
“I’ll pay you $50K.”
One man walked toward the door. Tag fired, hitting him in the head, tearing off a chunk on the spot. The other two scrambled back. Tag wished he had a clear shot at their car; he’d flatten their tires so they couldn’t escape.
“Name your price.”
Tag never hated anyone before. Disliked, yes. But the asshole offering money to purchase his mate so he could sell her like a damn side of beef… just made the top of that list.
The two men split up, one running back toward the vehicle and the other making his way through the trees.
Inhaling, Tag locked onto both scents. Green, that coward had run to the car. “No!” Grizzle said panting to go after Green. Tag waited. A few seconds later, Tag took the shot. The man released his weapon and rolled on the ground holding his arm.
Green started the car.
“Oh hell no,” Tag said as he dropped from the tree, shot the man moaning and holding his arm and took off after Green.
Camilla’s screams filtered through the concrete and he st
ared at the car backing up slowly. Looking around, he picked up a hefty rock and threw it, with considerable force, through the front windshield. The glass webbed around the hole reducing visibility.
The car stopped abruptly. He took a couple steps toward the car but his mate’s distress grabbed him and he couldn’t allow her to remain in that state another second.
Rex’s heart beat slower. Good. Tag hoped the man bled to death. He searched the area for Amber; in his mind she was the real threat. She’d spent enough time at his place in the past to know the best places to hide. Expanding his search beyond his property he hoped to pick up her heartbeat or her scent but smelled nothing fresh. She had left.
Moving quickly, he unlocked the door and opened it. Camilla, face contorted and full of tears, collapsed in his arms. Her entire body shook beneath the force of her fear. Holding her tight, they both dropped to the ground where he rocked her in his lap, making silly sounds and offering reassurances.
“Mate…” Grizzle whined as if in pain. Tag understood, seeing Camilla like this broke him.
“You’re safe. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you. Shhh…. It’s okay. Be easy…” He continued until her heartbeat slowed and her breathing normalized. When her tears turned to sniffles, she pushed away.
“Can we go now?” Camilla pleaded in a ragged whisper. He looked toward Rex’s car, the man wasn’t dead yet.
“In a few minutes, there’s still one more person… in that car. He’s hurt but–”
“Then can we just go? Please?” Her gaze skimmed over the man crumpled on the ground missing a part of his skull. Her eyes widened, she covered her mouth but couldn’t hold it and spewed her breakfast in the dirt next to them.
Standing, he pulled her close against his chest, amazed at how fast her heart beat. In all his life, he never dreamed he’d be mated to a human and one who never used a gun… he thought of his adored weapon collection and sighed.
“Let’s go home,” he said softly and kissed the top of her head. Eventually they needed to talk, she needed to know the type man she mated. If they hadn’t rushed, they’d’ve gotten to know each other better but then perhaps she wouldn’t have chosen a life with him.
Leaving a wounded man who tried to kill him went against everything he believed in. Rex Green needed a bullet between his eyes for what he did to women in general, let alone Camilla. But his mate couldn’t take it, not with her body shaking against his. His heart demanded he take care of his BAE first.
He relocked the building, walked her back to the Rover and gently eased her into the car, buckling her in before closing her door. As he walked to the driver’s side, he tried to look into the car for Rex but the webbed windshield didn’t allow him to see much.
At least Green’s heartbeat hadn’t picked up speed. The man had been hit. How bad, Tag didn’t know. As he repacked his weapons, his finger itched on his trigger and he debated whether to shoot the tires and return after tending his mate or allow Green the ability to drive away.
In the end, he left the car alone. Even though he planned to spend the night in the bunker, Camilla had made a valid point. Any time they were separated, she could be used for leverage and he refused to give his enemies that.
Chapter 28
“When shall I expect the girl?” Sanchez asked.
Rex shook his head and released a long stream of air. He’d only been home for an hour after waking in his car. With gentle strokes, he touched the large knot on the top of his head and came away with red streaks on his fingertips. Miracle of miracles, he was alive.
“I’m working on it. Ran into some complications.” He hated working with Sanchez, the man was worse than his father, always demanding the impossible.
“Work faster, I want her here with me by the end of the week.”
Rex withheld a sigh then he groaned as sharp needle-like sensations ran through his head and his vision dimmed. He needed to see a doctor, pronto.
“Did you say something?”
“No. Not really. Do you know Tag Brewer?” After today, if Sanchez wanted Camilla, he’d have to assist in taking her.
“Yes, I know him, why?” Sanchez’s tone had changed, hardened.
His answer surprised Rex although he should’ve expected Sanchez would know the mercenary. Easing onto his bed, he stretched out, wondering who to call to drive him to his private physician. “He’s protecting the girl. That’s the complication I’m running into.”
“Ah… I see.”
Rex hoped, although he knew it was foolish to do so, that Sanchez would accept one of the other ladies he’d already offered. “Received a tip of the girl’s location and met him on the road today.” If Brody hadn’t disappeared, he’d call him. His brother was good with that type thing.
“Body count?”
Rex grimaced at the loss of his men, they had been with him for six years. He needed them right now; they could get him in and out to the doc without the press getting wind of it. “Two. My men.”
“He allowed you to live, to leave? That does not sound like him. He’s very thorough.”
Rex repeated the events of the botched capture hoping it would buy him more time, possibly Sanchez would cut him out of this fiasco of a mission altogether.
“I see.” He paused. “Yet you are alive, I cannot help but wonder, why?”
Since Sanchez seemed stuck on that point, Rex deemed it important to his continued health. “The girl was with him. Maybe he wanted to get her out of there, I don’t know.”
“Perhaps, it is strange. How do you plan to continue?”
Rex bit back a frustrated groan. His head pounded as if a kettle drum played numerous tunes to the point he could barely think. Tremors ran through him periodically and all he wanted was rest.
“Not sure yet. I’ll work out something when I get back from the doctor.”
“You were injured?”
“Yes, he threw a large stone through the car windshield; it grazed my head as it went through the seat and into the trunk. It came through the windshield like a bullet.”
“I see. So you did not see him after that?”
“No. Like I said when I woke, it was dark and I was alone.”
“Your men? Had their bodies been moved?”
Rex frowned then grunted through the pain. “I don’t know. I’ll send someone to collect them soon.” At this point he’d wait until the police found the bodies. In his present condition, he wouldn’t be able to string a reason for his car’s sad state or his own. Best wait until he had his wits before he spoke to the cops.
“Tag Brewer is a person of interest to me. He stole someone from me, it’s time to return the favor. Will two days be enough time for you to heal?”
Rex had no idea. “Should be.”
“In two days you will receive help. Be prepared, no more failure.”
“Two days… got it.” Rex couldn’t continue talking. His throat throbbed in beat with his head. “Prepared. Failure.” He clicked off and fell into the dark waves in his mind.
<<<<>>>>
“Come on, wake up. You can’t sleep. Doc says you have a concussion… time to wake up.”
Rex heard the angel’s voice through the clouds surrounding his brain. The sultry sound lifted and eased the constant pain stabbing the crown of his head. Arms slid beneath his underarm, lifting him.
“I haven’t done all this to lose now. Wake the hell up!”
The tone, more than her words, slammed into him. “Mom?” With major effort, he opened his eyes and stared into liquid pools of lavender. The unique color surprised him to the point he didn’t speak. At least he thought that was the reason.
“Good you’re awake. Doc said to keep you awake.” She moved and his legs buckled but she kept him upright. He had no idea how she managed since he was twice her size.
“Pretty,” he murmured looking at her clear, soft skin, dimples and dark wavy hair.
“So are you. I need you to get better before your guests arrive,
” she said.
Frowning, he looked at her. “Guests? Who?”
“Never mind that, just focus on getting better. Or at least well enough to function in a couple of days, okay?” She stared at him and smiled.
He couldn’t tear away his gaze from her beauty. “My God, you’re gorgeous,” he gasped as he got a really good look at her face and body. “Are you a nurse? Doctor?” She wore street clothes, maybe she was off the clock.
“No and no, just a friend helping a friend, whether appreciated or not,” she murmured.
“I know you, right? We’ve met?”
“Maybe,” she said moving him along the dimly lit corridor of the facility.
“Maybe?” He looked around. “Where are we?”
“At the hospital.”
He stopped and held his forehead. His fingertips brushed against the gauze. “I can’t be in a hospital, I have a private doctor. I should go see him.” He turned, stumbled then leaned against her as she guided him back the way they came.
“We don’t have time for that. Things are moving faster than planned but it’s all good. Sit here and take this, it’ll help with the pain.”
Rex sat in the chair and took the pills without question from his personal angel. “Thank you.” He closed his eyes as the water eased his parched throat. “That feels good.” He opened his eyes to ask what she meant by refusing to take him to his doctor. But the room was empty.
Chapter 29
In the shelter below ground, Camilla lay next to Tag, shaking. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the man on the ground and the blood. Good Lord, blood! In the back of her mind, she knew Tag and Ryan fought in wars, used weapons but never… never thought of what happened to the people they fought.
“Easy,” Tag whispered against her forehead. Warm heat emanated from his body defrosting the icy tendrils that imprisoned her from the moment she heard the gunfire. “Drink this, it’ll help.”
“I can’t, not right now. In a little bit.” The nausea hadn’t completely disappeared. He stroked her hair then rubbed her back in a circular motion. Tension loosened its grip on her neck allowing her to breathe easier.
Bear with Me (Bear Mountain Patrol Series Book 1) Page 18