Hold On Tight

by Cynthia Eden

  His right hand slid between them. His left kept her pinned carefully to the wall. He stroked her clit again because he was hungry for her pleasure. Addicted to it.

  She moved faster against him. Harder.

  “Savannah—”

  He felt the contractions of her release around his cock, and they drove him straight over the edge. His orgasm hit, pounding through Jett’s body, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, shuddering as he came, as he poured into her.

  The pleasure seemed to last forever. So much better than the dreams he’d had of her. Reality was always better than the dreams.

  Without a word, he carried Savannah to the bed.

  He lowered down, on top of the covers, keeping her on top of him. She’d seemed to go boneless, and he wanted her to rest. If she didn’t want to touch the bed, she could just sleep on him. Problem solved.

  Besides, he liked having her that way. Soft and sexy and sprawled on top of him.

  He wrapped his arms around her. Thought that she was drifting to sleep…

  “Promise me one thing,” her sleepy voice asked.

  Anything.

  “Don’t ever leave me without a word. Don’t do that to me again.” A pause. “Promise?”

  “I fucking swear.” He wouldn’t be leaving her at all. He’d have to be a dead man first.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Someone was knocking at her door. Correction, not knocking, pounding. Jennifer cracked open one eye and glared at her alarm clock.

  The pounding came again.

  Growling, she threw off her covers and jumped out of bed. She wore jogging shorts and a PD t-shirt as she headed for the door. Jennifer put her eye to the peephole. But when she saw her guest…

  Jennifer yanked open the door. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

  Sam stood in her doorway, wearing one of his fancy suits. Looking way too fresh and alert for four a.m. “I need your help.”

  She motioned for him to come inside. As soon as he cleared the threshold, she shut and locked the door behind him. “You’ve heard from Savannah?”

  “Not exactly,” he hedged. Sam swiped his hand over the back of his neck. “Have you been in on the investigation? Did you hear what happened during the night?”

  No, she hadn’t been in on the investigation. She’d been benched, courtesy of McNeely. But… “I wasn’t there, but I heard what went down.” She’d actually spent the night following her own leads and then checking in with her people to see just what the hell McNeely had been up to. And the news she’d gotten had confused her even more. “How the hell did Savannah get access to a helicopter in order to make her escape?”

  He just stared back at her.

  “Uh, yeah, you need to speak up at this point, Sam. Because the money goes back to Savannah and you. So if someone got a chopper—”

  “Savannah never cared about the money. It was a bother to her more than anything else.”

  Someone could bother her with money any day of the week. “The owner of the helicopter will be tracked down. I mean, that’s just basic shit. You don’t have a bird in the air that doesn’t belong to someone. I actually suspect that McNeely already knows who owns it or he will know, probably within the next hour.”

  “Not if he’s dealing with Black Ops. He won’t learn anything. Government clearance or not.”

  Black Ops? “I need coffee.” She turned on her heel and headed for the kitchen. “A lot of it.”

  He was silent while she put the coffee on. She glared at the machine. It was ancient and did a slow drip-drip-drip, but damn, it made some good coffee.

  “Jett Bianchi isn’t an imposter.”

  She glanced over at him. “Come again?”

  “No one is buried in the grave that Savannah visited. The guy is Black Ops.”

  Drip-drip-drip. Her temples were throbbing.

  “Jett was brought in to save Savannah when she was kidnapped. I think the guy fell for her. He didn’t want to let her go.”

  She grabbed a mug. “But he did let her go. Then the sonofabitch killed her father.”

  Sam glanced away.

  That wasn’t good. Sam was hiding secrets from her.

  “Life is about secrets. Everyone has them.” He exhaled. “I don’t think Jett killed Phillip.”

  “You don’t think—”

  “Fine. I know he didn’t. Because…there was more to the security footage.” His jaw clenched. “The original footage showed Jett leaving while Phillip was still alive.”

  “You sonofabitch. You framed a man?” Did he get that he was confessing to a serious crime? Admitting his guilt to a police detective?

  “Shit, it seemed easier at the time.”

  Easier than what?

  “I mean, Jett was gone. The guy was in the wind, and I knew he’d never be back. I knew that, for all intents and purposes, he was a dead man. So why not let him take the fall?”

  “You framed a man for murder?” Just so they were clear.

  Sam shook his head. “You don’t understand. I was trying to protect Savannah—”

  “Sounds like you were covering your own ass.” And she was suddenly far too aware of the fact that she didn’t have her gun. It was in her nightstand drawer. How many times had she told Savannah that a gun was of no value if you didn’t use it? And she’d freaking left it behind.

  He flushed but said, “This isn’t about me. It’s about Savannah. I know she’s still close by. We need to get to her.”

  “We?”

  “You’re coming with me. You’re her friend. She’ll trust you.”

  “And she won’t trust her own family?” Her hand reached for the handle of the coffee pot.

  His sigh easily reached her. “Don’t think about it.”

  Think about using the coffee pot as a weapon? Jennifer absolutely was thinking about it.

  She gave him the side eye and saw that he’d just pulled a gun from beneath his suit coat. Rat bastard. “You just got a whole lot less sexy to me.”

  The gun didn’t waver. “I need your help. I want you to contact McNeely. Tell him that Savannah reached out to you. That she said she was hiding at the family’s cabin just outside of town, on Wichitaw Lake. Get him to go there for her.”

  He wanted her to give McNeely a false trail?

  “After that, you’re going to come with me to meet Savannah. She won’t panic when she sees you.”

  “Put down the gun.”

  He didn’t.

  “I need you,” he said again. “And I’m afraid I can’t let you go.”

  ***

  Jett’s hands stroked over Savannah’s back. She was on top of him, her body so soft and warm. Her hair trailed over his shoulder. He wanted to stay like that with her, to just hold her for hours.

  And if they didn’t have a whole team of special agents on their trail, that was exactly what he’d do. Just stay there. Hold her. Try to imagine what a life with her could be like. Her and the baby.

  “I’m not asleep,” she whispered.

  His lips twitched. “You mean you’re not asleep…anymore.”

  Her fingers slid down his arm. “Maybe.”

  Warmth filled him. She did that. Made the cold places inside of him seem to vanish. “Do you…um, have you felt the baby move?”

  “I think it’s too early. The doctor said that would come later.” Her head angled up so she was staring at him. “But I heard the heartbeat.”

  His own heart raced faster.

  “And I saw an ultrasound.” She gave a little laugh. “The baby is tiny. The ultrasound pic was basically swirls of black and gray. I won’t find out if we’re having a boy or a girl until I’m around twenty weeks.”

  He concentrated on breathing.

  “Jett?” Savannah frowned at him. “Are you okay?”

  “I wish I’d been there. I wish I’d been with you every moment.”

  She gave him a slow smile. “You’re here now.”

  His burner phone rang, vib
rating from the nearby table.

  “Better get that,” Savannah whispered.

  Yeah, he had.

  She climbed off him. Stood there, naked and gorgeous, perfect enough to make a man go insane.

  “Jett? The phone?” She scooped it up and tossed it to him.

  He caught it and slid his fingers over the screen. Jett turned on the speaker when he answered because he wanted Savannah to hear everything that was said. No more secrets.

  “Are you secure?” Sawyer’s voice.

  “We didn’t get out in the SUV, so I’m hoping there’s no way to trace the ride back to Jay, but yeah, we’re good. For the moment.”

  There was a rumble of voices in the background. “Jay said not to worry. The SUV will never be tied to him.” A rough laugh. “But then, the guy fixed it so the chopper couldn’t be tied back to him, either. The man is a serious menace when you get a computer near him.”

  Yes, Jett was getting that.

  “We need to rendezvous. Need to get you and your lady out of this town. It’s too hot here.”

  Savannah cleared her throat. “Tell us where and we’ll be there.”

  Because she was ready to leave everything behind.

  He would never deserve her.

  “We’re monitoring the local PD’s communications right now. Seems that a detective named Jennifer Adams just called in a tip, saying you’d told her that you were at some lake. Wichitaw Lake?”

  Tension swept into Savannah’s body. “My family has an old cabin up there.”

  “Yes, well, the cops are about to mobilize with the special agents and head up there. That should cool things down here in town a bit.” He gave a rough laugh. “Or maybe not. Either way, we’ll be going the opposite way. There’s a small airport about twenty miles east of Biloxi. Mostly used for crop dusters and private planes. You two meet us there while the cops are distracted.”

  “I know the place.” Savannah was putting on her clothes. A real shame, that. “We’ll be there.”

  “Keep a low profile, Jett,” Sawyer warned.

  “It’s what I do best.”

  “Got a call from two of your old team members. Luna and Maddox are on the way. They wanted you to know they’d have your back.”

  Yeah, they always did. He could count on those two. As for Andreas, the Greek wasn’t someone he hoped to encounter anytime soon. Another betrayal. A story for another day. “Tell them to stay away. I don’t like that so many Lazarus subjects are getting pulled in. It feels like…” His words trailed away as he looked at Savannah. He hated to say it, but everything inside of him was screaming—

  It feels like a trap.

  Her head whipped up. She stared at him with wide, worried eyes.

  But it was the truth. What the hell else would bring so many Lazarus subjects out into the open? What would make them vulnerable?

  They would all come to protect one of their own. They would all come to protect their future—a Lazarus child.

  “They’re not going to stay away.” Sawyer’s voice was low. “You know that. And we all know the risks. But you don’t leave anyone behind. That’s the code we’ve always followed.”

  Yes, it was.

  “See you at that airport, Jett,” Sawyer said quietly. “I’ll be the one covering your six.”

  “Wait—there’s something you need to know.” He stared down at the phone. “Savannah thinks her cousin Sam is the one who sent that psychic message to her.”

  Again, he heard the rumble of voices in the background. Then… “Elizabeth said that makes sense. Whatever power Savannah has could run in her family.”

  “He was trying to protect me,” Savannah added. “He warned us.”

  Sam had warned them, but Jett wasn’t so sure they could fully trust the guy. Mostly because…shit, the cousin was my chief suspect in Phillip’s murder.

  He heard the growl of an engine. “We’ll be at the airport. And thanks for the help, man. Thanks to all of you.” He ended the call. Jumped up and dressed in a flash. Then he went to stand near the small window beside the room’s entrance. He peeked through the curtain and saw a guy climbing out of an older pick-up. The guy made his way to the check-in office with a smiling blonde.

  “You can’t super speed us through the city in the day time, uh, can you?”

  “No need. We’re going to be driving through the city in a truck.”

  The floor creaked as she stepped closer. “We’re stealing a truck?”

  He glanced at her. “I’m good at hot wiring. Have I ever mentioned that skill?”

  She just gave a shrug. “I’m pretty good at it, too.”

  He almost smiled. “Something else we have in common?”

  But she didn’t tease him back. Instead, she nibbled her lower lip and asked, “Why would Jennifer lie to the cops?”

  He’d turned back to the window. The owner of the truck had stopped for a serious make-out session with the blonde. Go on, buddy. Take it inside.

  “She’s my friend, Jett. She’s a cop who has helped to keep me sane over the last few months, and she’s also probably the one person in this town I trust the most.” She bit her lower lip. “So why is she lying? Why is she telling the cops that I’m at the cabin?”

  He didn’t know. He didn’t like it, either. “We’re getting you out of town.” That was the priority. Get to the airport. Put this place in the rear-view mirror.

  The guy and his lady finally made it into room six. The blonde’s shirt was off before she went inside. “Time to go.” Jett took Savannah’s hand. Opened the door. And headed straight for the truck. An older model like that wouldn’t have GPS tracking, and it would be child’s play to crank that baby up.

  The door was locked, but he just used a little extra strength to break the lock. Jett lifted Savannah up and she scooted across the seat, moving to buckle her seat belt. He slid in after her and immediately got the motor to growling…

  “Hey!” An angry shout. “Get the fuck away from my truck!”

  Well, shit, that had been fast. He’d sure expected the blonde to keep the fellow busier for longer than that.

  Jett looked up, saw the naked guy stumbling toward him. “Sorry!” Jett shouted as he slammed the driver’s side door shut. “I’ll try not to damage her.”

  “You’ll try—” The guy ran at Jett.

  Too late. Jett already had that truck moving. He shot them out of the parking lot.

  “You bastard!”

  Savannah glanced back. Cleared her throat. “There’s a naked man chasing us.”

  “Don’t worry, he won’t catch up.”

  ***

  “Sir, sir!”

  McNeely spun around as the uniformed cop raced toward him. They should have already been on the road, heading for the lake.

  “Just got a call,” the out-of-breath cop huffed. “A man says his truck was stolen at the Sunlight Motel here in Biloxi.”

  “Why the hell are you telling me this?”

  The fellow’s face flushed an even darker red. “The guy said an Asian male took the truck—and that a woman was with him. He couldn’t see much about her, just her long, dark hair. His description sounded like it could be the people you’re looking for.”

  It sure as shit did.

  Jennifer is trying to throw us off. She was protecting her friend. He should have expected this. “Find that truck. Now. I want teams on the roads near the motel. Get me access to traffic cams. Get me every damn thing that you can!”

  ***

  The truck braked at a red light. Savannah twisted her hands in front of her even as she leaned forward. Was that a camera near the traffic light? It sure looked like—

  Savannah. Get to your shop. We have to talk.

  Her breath rushed out as she grabbed for Jett’s hand.

  You can’t disappear. Not yet.

  Sam. His voice. She recognized it so clearly this time.

  There are things happening that you don’t understand, he continued. Get to the shop.r />
  The light turned green. The truck eased forward, nice and slow. She knew Jett was trying not to look suspicious.

  I can’t go to the shop. She didn’t even know if Sam could hear her. She just tried to think of him in her mind and send out the thoughts to his image. Cops could be watching it. I can’t take that risk.

  I have Jennifer with me. I don’t want to hurt her, but I will, if you aren’t at the shop in thirty minutes.

  What? Shock rolled through her. Don’t! Let Jennifer go!

  I will do what’s necessary. Come meet me. The cops won’t be here. I sent them to the lake. Park in the alley. Slip in the back. I’m waiting.

  The connection ended. Like a phone, hanging up in her head.

  For a moment, she couldn’t even think.

  “Savannah?” Worry was clear in Jett’s voice.

  “Turn right—up ahead.”

  “What’s happening? You seem—”

  “Sam just sent me another message. We have to go to my shop. And we have to get there as fast as possible.”

  Jett braked at the next light, and he turned his head to stare at her. “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Sam has Jennifer! He said he’d hurt her.” Since when had her cousin become a monster? “He said I had to come. Jennifer is my best friend! I can’t let him hurt her.”

  No, no, no. None of this made sense.

  “It’s a trap,” Jett said flatly.

  Did he think she didn’t know that? “Give me the phone. Please.”

  He tossed the phone to her. The light changed.

  She dialed Jennifer’s number, praying frantically all the while. Maybe Sam had been bluffing. The phone rang once, twice—

  “Hi, Savannah.” Jennifer’s voice was devoid of all emotion. “Sam said you’d probably call. Don’t get how he knew…”

  “Jennifer! Where are you?”

  “In your shop.”

  “Where’s Sam? What’s happening?”

  “Sam is standing in front of me. He’s holding my phone in one hand and a gun in the other.” Again, her voice was completely flat. “I’m tied to a chair, and I’ve decided that I hate your cousin.”

  “Jennifer…”