Mint loaded Craig into the car, shut the door and drove away. He didn’t need the sheriff crawling all over this. The man would likely find Aaron’s car and the place he’d been staying eventually. Then he’d find out for himself that the man wasn’t hiding anything that could be used to explain any of this. Mint had what he and Craig had collected.
On the drive he called his other colleague, the one who’d been at the RV. When he picked up, Mint said, “Phone exploded. Craig hit his head. I’m bringing him in.”
“Copy that.”
“I’m two minutes out.”
When he pulled into the space behind Perkins’s car and Agent Walker’s rental, blocking them both in, the door flew open. Drew hopped out, heading straight for Craig, ready to put his field medic training into practice. Behind him, Emma jumped out of the RV.
“Mint!”
She ran to him. For a second he thought she might hug him, but instead she just clung to his arms while he told her what had happened.
“Oh no! I hope he’ll be okay.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “Get your backpack.”
She frowned. Her mouth opened, but he didn’t have time for questions. Even if they were valid. He said, “Now, please.”
Emma did as he asked. Drew took Craig into the RV and, when Emma emerged with her backpack, Walker came out right behind her.
“Want to tell me what’s going on, Mint?” The FBI agent looked less than impressed.
“Emma and I are getting out of here.”
**
“We are?” She glanced between Mint and Walker, feeling like she was missing something. Did she need to tell Mint everything Walker had recorded her saying? Maybe that wasn’t what this was about, but something else. “Did something happen to Craig that makes you think I’m in danger?”
“I don’t want you where this guy, whoever it is, can get to you.”
Okay, well, when he said it like that, it made her go all mushy. Perkins caught the look on her face and cracked a smile. Walker didn’t seem to even notice. He was too busy glaring at Mint. “Then I’ll get her in FBI protective custody.”
“Except,” Mint said, “the part about me getting her where he can’t get to her.”
“You think one of my people is going to give her up to this blackmailer?”
“I think he knows things, and he’s prepared to use anything to get what he wants. And I think everyone can be bought for the right price.”
She blurted out, “You do?” Before she could think to hold it back.
“I’m not even taking the chance.” Mint’s face was dark. Not scary, just very serious. “We’re going off the grid where we can’t be tracked. Or traced. And Double Down is going to get to the bottom of this.”
They were going alone?
Mint glanced at her, a frown on his face. Exactly what type of girl did he think she was? They needed to discuss this if he thought she would just…disappear with him and get up to who-knew-what.
She knew how these things ended up. And she’d know he was only there to protect her. Her heart would soften, faced with his strength in such close proximity. The last thing she needed was to let her feelings get all wrapped up in him. Maybe he would even make a move just because she was there, and they were alone, and things would get messed up.
And as…nice as it might be, it wasn’t like it was going to last. Mint was just doing his job. He wasn’t thinking about long term relationships. Though, after all this, she was going to have to reassess some of her five and ten-year goals—and admit to herself that she did want a relationship. Not just a cat.
“I’m going to make sure you’re safe,” he said to her, then glanced at Perkins. “And Double Down is going to go through everything we’ve got. You can call me when you’ve figured out who it is.”
Perkins’s eyebrows rose. “You’re abdicating?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m prioritizing. And we need to keep Emma safe while we get a lead that will get us a result. If I’m trying to figure out the connection between Emma, Aaron and the blackmailer, then I’ll be distracted when I should be focusing on her security.”
It was kind of flattering. She wanted to know what it would be like to have a man like him focused on her. She shivered a little bit.
Then her thoughts went back to those pictures she’d seen of her mom. The two of them weren’t the same kind of woman, but that didn’t mean Emma had no vices. She knew where her weaknesses were, and she honestly regretted the fact she and her mom hadn’t been able to talk the way she wanted. Emma should have been able to stand up for herself and tell her mom what she really wanted. Instead, her mom had dictated to her. She probably even thought Emma appreciated it.
Because Emma had never told her otherwise.
They should have been there for each other, the way a mom and daughter could be. Maybe she should have just talked to her mom, instead of jumping straight to the DNA test. Her mom had a reason for being the way she was. Maybe she just needed a friend who saw beneath the surface—the façade she wanted everyone to see—and appreciated her anyway.
Drew stuck his head out of the RV. “Craig is fine, in case anyone is wondering.”
“Concussion?” Mint called back.
“Mild at most.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
Perkins folded her arms. Walker didn’t look much happier. Emma didn’t know how to resolve the conflict happening between them. She’d been out of her depth since this whole thing started. But she was really glad Craig wasn’t hurt too badly.
Mint motioned her toward his car. “Let’s go.”
They walked over there, Perkins and Walker lagging behind.
“I don’t suppose I can convince you to at least let us tag along.”
Mint shot Walker a look for that.
“Or let us know where you might be headed?”
Mint looked at Perkins. “Tell Steve I’m going up north. He’ll know what that means.” Then he patted his pocket. “I have my cell,” he told Walker. “Perkins can get ahold of me.”
Walker blanched. “Then you’ll be traceable. That’s not under the radar. That’s exposing Emma to anyone who is looking for her.”
Mint shook his head, but it was Perkins who said, “Special phones.”
Walker lifted his arms and let them fall back to his sides.
Mint said, “I’m counting on you.” He shifted his gaze from Perkins to the FBI agent. “Both of you. Find this guy.”
Perkins said, “We will.”
Mint’s whole body jerked. His head whipped around and up, and he focused on the sky for a second.
Emma heard a whistling sound in the air before she saw anything.
Mint rushed for the RV. “Drew, get out of there!”
Perkins rushed after him.
Emma went to go as well, but Walker stopped her.
Something gray dropped out of the sky and hit the RV. The whole thing tore apart. Metal ripped as flames engulfed the entire thing. The sound was deafening, like the roar of an oncoming train.
She landed on her back before she even realized the sound had hit her. Walker landed on top of her. He shifted, shielding her torso and head from the explosion with his own body. She tried to suck in a full breath. It got stuck.
As soon as she managed to get a lungful of air, Emma screamed it out. “Mint!”
Perkins.
Craig and Drew had been inside.
Walker caught her chin. He looked down at her face and winced, then mouthed, Stay here. No way. She got up when he did, stumbling as she made her way to the flaming wreckage. She couldn’t even hear anything. Just a loud buzzing and the feeling of way too much pressure pressing against her head. Like a nightmare sinus infection.
Walker caught up Perkins, lifting her into his arms. She was passed out, covered in cuts. Her clothes singed.
Emma raced to where she thought Mint might be and saw him a few feet away on his front. She didn’t want to roll him over but did
it anyway. A gash on his head. She patted his cheek, even though he might not appreciate her touching him. If his ears were anything like hers, he couldn’t hear her talk anyway. When his eyelids fluttered, she smiled down at him.
Mint lifted his hand. His fingers slid into her hair, and his palm slid along her jaw. He tugged on her head, putting enough pressure into it so she moved closer. Then he touched his lips to hers. He let her go and sat up, swayed and put a hand down to stop the momentum that threatened to lay him flat again.
Beyond him she saw a figure dressed in black, headed their way.
For a second she thought it was help and lifted her hand to wave them over.
Then she saw the automatic weapon. The helmet. The others. Dressed like SWAT, or something similar, none of them had an indication of that on their clothes. No designation whatsoever.
“Mint.”
He shoved at her even as he got to his feet. The balance wasn’t there, but he moved her toward the car anyway. “Go.” The word was muffled, but she understood enough when he said, “Run.”
Chapter 15
Emma stumbled. Mint pushed all the pain and fatigue in his body down to a small corner of his mind, caught her around the waist and got them both moving. Perkins lay on the ground, Walker right beside her. The fed looked up, fear flashing on his face in the split second before he got his gun up and started firing.
Craig and Drew had both been in the RV. Now it was nothing but a burning pile of fiberglass and plastic—the debris from the explosion. There wasn’t even time to search for their bodies.
Bullets exploded around them. Mint pulled Emma to a crouch behind the remnants of a picnic table. He winced when his knee hit the ground, but forced his thoughts away from the injuries he had sustained and pulled out his gun. He could feel the wet trailing down the side of his face. He lifted up to see over the edge and then ducked back down.
Three men, hired guns. Mercenaries probably. Or dirty cops. Feds. Their identities were a matter for later. The blackmailer had somehow managed to get a UAV retasked to American soil so that he could destroy the RV. Which meant both that he had the power to do that and that he knew where they were. Then he’d gotten these men to show up here immediately after.
To finish the job.
Whether that task meant killing Mint, or Emma, or the FBI agent with them, or all of them in one go—rendering Double Down practically destroyed and definitely scrambling to get a footing against this guy in the aftermath—Mint didn’t know. And there wasn’t time now to find out.
He lifted up again, fired one shot and downed the man to his left.
Two to go.
Walker kept firing. Drawing their attention his direction while he kept them from getting closer.
Mint fired off another shot, but missed. The man fired back. The bullet hit the wood right below his face. He ducked behind it, glanced long enough at Emma to see she was hunkered down and shifted to see Walker. He was totally exposed, covering Perkins with his body. Walker lifted up, firing. He took out the second man, leaving one for them to deal with.
Two friends down. Had the third man bailed, or was he hiding? Biding his time so he could personally take the rest of them out. After the job was done he would call the blackmailer and report in, saying that it was finished.
“Stay here.” He waited until Emma made eye contact with him. “Do not move.”
She nodded. No hesitation. She understood, and she wasn’t going to argue.
Mint checked the area around her. He needed to cover her even while he checked the immediate area and went to make sure Perkins and Walker were all right. That led to him planting his knees beside his teammate—ouch—and scanning the area while he said, “How is she?”
“I’m fine.” She didn’t sound fine, she sounded mad.
Mint said, “Okay. Walker?” He made eye contact with the federal agent, then Perkins, for a second each.
Walker said, “He’s still out there.”
“I’ll get him.”
“Yes,” Perkins said. “Get him.” Still mad. Because she’d been caught in the blast, forcing Walker to cover her, and it dinged her pride?
Mint checked Emma again. So long as she was stuck there, and he could keep an eye on her—make sure the guy didn’t sneak up behind her—she would be good. Physically, at least. Emotionally was another story.
He scanned again for the guy, but couldn’t see him. Had he left? Not much of a help to someone who needed a job done if the hired help bailed when things got hairy. He’d never have been hired by Double Down. Which was likely why he was here, hired by the blackmailer.
“Emma?”
“Yeah?”
“Come over here and sit with Perkins.”
She moved immediately. Mint covered her, making sure the missing man wasn’t going to pop up and put a bullet in her. When she hit the ground beside him, he got up and began his perimeter search.
His phone rang in his pocket, but Mint ignored it. Even while his hands itched to pull it out. It was likely Steve, who had probably seen what happened. Or figured it out somehow.
With the immediate area cleared, he widened the search. They’d come from the northeast. Probably had a vehicle stashed there. Mint hadn’t heard the approach because of the explosion, and his ears weren’t all the way back to normal, but he also hadn’t heard anyone leaving.
Mint rounded one of the vehicles, his ears pricking. But over what? He slowed, keeping an eye on the three people he was covering. Took two steps.
Gravel crunched under his feet.
A shift behind him brought his whole body around.
“Whoa.” The sheriff lifted a hand. “Easy there. Wanna lower that?”
Mint blew out the breath he’d been holding. But he didn’t allow the tension in his body to dissipate. He lowered the gun slightly, but by no means all the way. “There’s a gunman possibly still hanging around.”
“Copy that.” The sheriff started to turn.
“And we need an ambulan—”
A shot rang out.
The sheriff’s body jerked, and he dropped to the ground. Dead.
Mint ducked. “Down. Everyone down!” They were probably already taking cover, but he needed to say it.
“Mint!” Emma’s cry rang in the air.
He crouch walked over to her. Walker had pulled Perkins behind his car so she was no longer exposed. He studied Emma’s gaze, assessing her state in a few seconds. She was holding on, but she wouldn’t be able to do that forever.
“Take Emma and go.”
He turned to Walker. “What?”
“I’m good.” The other man had his weapon out. He was trained.
“Me, too.” Perkins’s voice was far steadier now. “We’re good, Mint. Take Emma. Get her safe.”
Mint didn’t stay much longer after that. And he didn’t argue. He led her to the car.
A bullet pinged off the hood. Mint got the door open and slid across the seat to start the engine. Emma climbed in behind him.
He didn’t want to leave Perkins or Walker. Didn’t want to leave the RV wreckage when two of his coworkers were dead. Or the sheriff.
Tears blurred his vision. He coughed and willed the emotion away. Emma’s hand touched his arm. He wanted to push her away, pretend he wasn’t feeling anything. Ignore the softness of her touch. Stick with the tactic that he was strong enough, that nothing bothered him.
He shifted into the seat. “Stay down. We’re getting out of here.”
She got the door shut, and he pulled out.
Five minutes later, when he glanced in the rearview, his heart sank.
“What?” Emma looked back as well.
He gritted his teeth, then said, “We’re being followed.”
**
“Is there anything you want me to do?” She wanted to look back again, but how would that help? She was way out of her depth. Explosions and gunmen. Two guys that worked with Mint were dead, and they’d seemed like nice people. She’d wanted
to get to know them. To learn those things about Mint that only coworkers knew. And that didn’t even touch whatever family or friends they had, those who would be grieving the loss soon enough.
She sucked in a shuddering breath and tried to hold it together. Like Mint was doing.
“Mint.”
He glanced at her, like she’d snapped him out of his thoughts. “What was that?”
“I asked if there’s anything you want me to do.”
“Oh, sorry.” He thought for a second, then pulled out his cell phone and handed it to her. “Two-six, seven-five.”
She unlocked his phone.
“Okay, Google.” His voice was slightly louder now. “Call Steve.”
She didn’t even have to do anything, and the phone in her hand placed the call.
“Put it on speaker.”
She nodded and pressed the button. The voice on the other end said, “Preston.”
“It’s Mint.”
There was a quick pause, then the man said, “What happened?”
Emma shut her eyes while Mint relayed everything—and the fact that even now they had a tail on them. The last man. Biding his time, determined to finish the job he’d started.
She glanced out the back window again but couldn’t see anything sinister. She didn’t even know what she was looking for.
“He wants to cripple Double Down and stall out any hope we have of figuring out who he is,” Steve said over the phone.
Mint replied, “Protecting himself and whatever he wants to do.”
How on earth were they supposed to figure out what the blackmailer was up to? Emma figured he would probably expose the truth about her mother’s past choices soon enough, if he hadn’t already, and she just hadn’t seen it because she didn’t have a phone right now.
Small blessings in the middle of everything that was going on.
Kind of like being here with Mint. Even knowing their lives were on the line, she still felt a measure of safety just being around him. He’d given up working on their assignment to leave with her and keep her protected. But that had been before the RV exploded.
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