Before she could reply, their log took off, floating through scenes of animals singing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” In the dim lighting, Hunter pressed hot kisses along her neck. She was going to need the cold shower by the end of the ride.
She retaliated by shifting her hips against him until he growled. “Careful or everyone will know how bad I want you when we get off this ride.”
When the sun hit their faces, the log was at the top of the summit. The adrenaline rush as they dropped had her laughing and screaming while Hunter held her tight.
Best ride ever.
They plowed into the water at the bottom, the wave shocking her with its sudden frigid dowsing. As they floated to the end of the ride, she shook out her hands, twisting to see Hunter. Unlike her, only his hair and arms were wet.
She glanced at her semi-see-through clothes and nudged him. “I’m the only one soaked.”
His eyes sparkled. “All part of my plan.”
She raised a brow. “Two can play this game.”
“Game on.”
CHAPTER 15
Hunter had been to “the Happiest Place on Earth” a few times as a kid and once in high school, but never in his life had he enjoyed himself like this. Callie was his perfect match for the wild rides, and her threat of revenge for the soaking on Splash Mountain was realized when she dragged him onto the Grizzly Rapids ride in California Adventure. Somehow that raft spun his way for every waterfall.
But seeing her laugh and scream was worth it.
Now his shoes sloshed with each step, and he couldn’t wipe the damned smile off his face. She was smart, sexy, stubborn, and every bit the adrenaline junkie that he was. He never dreamed a woman like her existed.
Even dinner with the muses, Nate, and Maggie ended up being fun. He didn’t know any of them very well yet, but he never felt left out. Some of them asked him about his missions, and he gave the standard line, “if I told you I’d have to kill you,” and then he was part of the group.
Now they were all clustered together for the holiday fireworks show on Main Street USA with thousands of strangers from all over the world. It wasn’t even Thanksgiving yet, but Disneyland was ready for Christmas.
He wrapped his arms around Callie’s waist from behind, enjoying the way she leaned into him. When one random thought echoed through his head and wiped the smile from his face.
Curtis was right. They’re here.
Hunter tensed, scanning the crowd. But for who exactly?
Shit. Unless the guy was wearing a gold mask of Kronos in the park, he’d never recognize him. He could be anyone.
Hunter’s heartbeat was deafening. The lights dimmed and the first firework exploded overhead. He flinched. They had to get the fuck out of there. Now. He kept Callie close, still glancing around the masses.
She looked up at him and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“My sister wanted to go to lunch today, and like an idiot, I told her we’d be at Disneyland. I forgot she’s dating the enemy.”
Callie turned around to face him. “They’re here?”
“At least one is…someplace. He spotted us.”
They both moved toward Nate. The detective had his daughter up on his shoulders, but all his attention was on Hunter.
When they started to pass by, Nate grabbed his arm. “Trouble?”
“Yeah. Somewhere. Hopefully he couldn’t smuggle any weapons into the park, but we’re getting out, just in case.”
Nate nodded. “We’ll go with you.”
Callie shook her head. “I’m their focus right now. We’ll lure them away from you. Keep Maggie and my sisters safe.”
Nate didn’t look happy about it, but he didn’t try to follow them. “Text me when you’re out.”
“Will do,” Hunter replied as he wove through the crowd.
Callie gripped his hand tightly, and he took the lead. He made eye contact with every person they passed, trying to focus on their thoughts. Most were annoyed that he and Callie were blocking their view of the fireworks, but he didn’t care.
Suddenly Callie’s hand was ripped free from his. He spun around in time to see her being carried away toward the shadows, a gloved hand over her mouth. Hunter shoved people out of his way, pursuing them while the fireworks boomed overhead, drowning out his screams to stop that man.
The only saving grace was that Callie was struggling like a wildcat. If that asshole had a Taser or another kind of weapon, she’d be out cold by now.
When Hunter plowed over a Disney security officer, he finally had some backup. “That guy is trying to kidnap my girlfriend.”
The officer followed him, mumbling orders into his radio. Hunter lost sight of Callie. Fuck. He searched the crowd. She had to be there. They couldn’t just vanish.
“Hunter!”
His head snapped in the direction of her voice. He bolted toward her. They were headed for the exit, but Hunter’s backup had the gates swarming with security. The guy dropped Callie on her ass and ran for the empty entrance turnstiles instead.
Hunter raced after him as the asshole vaulted over the turnstile. Hunter followed, but the courtyard between the parks was full of tourists ogling the explosions of light overhead. The guy vanished into the crowd.
“Goddammit!”
A mother covered her child’s ears, glaring at him.
“Sorry, ma’am,” he said. He turned back as Callie rushed through the exit. He pulled her into his arms, breathing her in. “Did he hurt you?”
She stepped back, shaking her head. “No, but I kneed him in the nose when he had me over his shoulder. Whoever he was, he’ll have two black eyes by morning.”
“So he was alone?”
She nodded. “At least in the park he was.”
He took out his cell phone and sent Nate a text that Callie was safe and the guy was out of the park. Then he stuffed it back in his pocket and reached for her hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
“The limo isn’t going to be here for another couple hours.”
He shook his head, fingers trembling. He’d almost lost her. “We’re not waiting for the limo. We can take the train back.”
Bryce followed Curtis from a distance. He couldn’t get too close. A sedan was tailing Curtis, too, and Bryce would bet money it was the police. He’d gotten a text earlier that Curtis’s lead on the muse being at Disneyland tonight had panned out. If they caught her, maybe their leader would change his decision and let Curtis live.
It wasn’t Bryce’s call. But the fact the police were watching the history professor didn’t do him any favors.
Bryce turned down an alley. He had the advantage of maneuverability on his side. Being on a motorcycle meant he could follow more discreetly than the tail in the sedan. Curtis pulled into his garage and closed the door behind him. The sedan parked across the street from his house.
In the shadows, Bryce sent a text to Ted.
I’m in position. Police are watching his house. Next move?
Exhaustion weighed down Hunter’s limbs, but he stayed alert on the train while Callie dozed against his shoulder. He’d been enjoying his day with her so much that he’d let his guard down. That slip could have cost him everything. He glanced over at her sleeping face, and his pulse thrummed.
The announcement for Crystal City came over the loudspeaker, rousing her. She straightened up with a yawn. “Our stop?”
He nodded and helped her up. Together, they stepped onto the platform.
Callie took out her phone. “I’ll get an Uber.”
“All right.”
When she finished, they walked over to the pick-up area and waited. She looked up at him. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “I’m sorry about tonight. I should’ve been paying more attention.”
“None of that was your fault.” She ran her hand up his chest, the simple touch easing his anxiety. “Until that jerk grabbed me, I was having the best time with you. Don’t let him steal that.”
�
��Me, too.” He slid his arm around her waist. “But if you hadn’t screamed when you did…” He shook his head. “I was losing my mind.”
“We’re going to stop these guys,” she said, voice full of conviction.
He huffed out a long breath. “I know you kind of explained it already, but tell me again why these assholes are willing to kill in order to stop your theater from opening? Why are they so determined?”
“It’s going to be more than a theater. People will come from all over the world, the greatest minds in art and science will join together. We’ll inspire them to find new ways to help mankind move forward.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “You’d think people would be excited, but if this Order is full of fanatics who truly believe they can bring back the Golden Age of Man, then they’d have to free the Titans. As long as we need their oil, they have the money to dig even deeper into the Earth.”
“You sure there’s not more to it? Something more personal?”
“Not that I know of.” She shrugged. “They killed Nia. She was the Muse of Astronomy and one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. She was all light.”
“Who was the dead guy in the Kronos mask that Nate was showing Curtis?”
“Nate said they identified him as Ben Rodgers. His last job was apparently six months ago. He was a real estate agent. Beyond that, he’s an enigma. Nate can’t tie him to anyone.”
Bryce scanned the interior of the sedan across the street with his night vision binoculars. Definitely a cop. His phone buzzed, and he checked the text.
Grab Curtis’s girlfriend. She’s our leverage. Bring her to the plant, basement. Alive. I’ll meet you there.
He raised a brow, staring at the house when his phone buzzed once more.
Don’t get caught.
Bryce pocketed his phone and pulled on a black ski mask. The mask of Kronos would be a giveaway if Curtis saw him. He was careful coming through the back gate, staying out of the yellow light of the streetlamps. He had no idea why Ted wanted the girl, but it wasn’t his job to think.
He tried the back door by the garage. Locked. He moved on to the sliding glass door. It rolled open. He smiled behind the ski mask. Easy.
He slipped inside and withdrew his Taser. Voices were coming from above. He had just started going upstairs when heavy footfalls moved down the staircase. Bryce scrambled down as silently as he could, hovering around the corner of the stairs.
Curtis got to the bottom and headed for the kitchen. Bryce stared up the staircase. This was his chance. Quietly, he hurried up. When he found their bedroom, his target was on the bed, the TV blaring. The other lights were off. He peeked once more, checking for an escape route. There was a window and a door. There had to be a balcony out back.
He hadn’t brought rope, though. How would he get them down?
Shit. One problem at a time.
Taking a slow breath, he emptied his mind, focusing only on the task at hand: get the girl and bring her back alive.
Bryce spun around, rushing into the room. He tackled her on the bed and covered her mouth as he stuck the Taser in her side. It took three shocks before she was lying still. He got up and rifled through the closet. He grabbed three of Curtis’s ties to bind her wrists and gag her.
He listened at the bedroom door. Curtis was humming downstairs.
Good.
Bryce went back into the closet, searching for anything that might get them off the balcony. Coming up empty-handed, he went into the bathroom. An extension cord was wrapped up under the sink. It would have to do.
The girl started to struggle until he held up the Taser and whispered, “Be good or I’ll use it again.”
The fight drained out of her. He pulled her to her feet, and she crumpled to the ground. He frowned. Had he shocked her too much? She whimpered on the floor, and he dragged her up.
“Walk or I’ll carry you,” he growled.
Her eyes flicked to the bedside table. A crutch leaned against it.
He groaned. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” He shook his head. “No time.”
Bryce bent down, lodging his shoulder into her waist. When he straightened, he had her torso over his back like a sack of potatoes. He carried her out the sliding glass door onto the balcony. She shivered as he set her down.
“Hold the rail or fall down, I don’t give a shit.” At least now he knew she couldn’t run away.
He tied the extension cord to one of the posts of the railing around the edge of the balcony and tugged. Hopefully it would bear their weight. He marched back to her, trying to figure out how he could hold her and the cord at the same time. He had to bring her back alive.
His gaze fell to her bound wrists and the spark of an idea formed.
“Put your arms up.” She started to refuse until he removed the Taser from his belt again. She lifted her hands over her head. He slid his head and one arm through so she hung across his chest like a messenger bag. She wouldn’t be able to strangle him, and with any luck, he’d be able to get them down without killing her.
He rose to his full height, taking her weight with him. She squealed into the gag, but the binding at her wrists held. He grunted with the extra weight as he climbed over the railing. He wrapped the extension cord around his gloved hands and slid down. The post groaned but it didn’t break. He inched them down until they reached the end of the cord, dropping the final three feet to the ground.
Pain lit through his ankle, but he could still walk. He couldn’t say the same for his hostage. He shifted her weight a little and slipped out the back gate to his motorcycle. In the distance, Curtis was screaming for Alicia.
He put her on the bike and got in front. Turning back, he grinned. “Alicia is a pretty name.”
All she did was cry.
Callie flopped onto the bed in Hunter’s room. He wished he could collapse beside her, but there was no way. His mind was racing. Usually he had intel and his team worked together to plan attacks. Flying blind like this was making him nuts.
“You’re not still beating yourself up over this, right?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I’m trying to figure out how we stop them.”
“We have to find them first.” She got up behind him, running her hand over his back. Her touch helped ground him.
“I’ll talk to Nate tomorrow.” He stared at the door. “Maybe we can squeeze Curtis for more information.”
Before she could answer, his cell phone rang.
Hunter frowned. “It’s almost midnight…” His words drifted off. “Huh. It’s my sister.” He answered the call. “Alicia?”
“No. It’s Curtis.” He was out of breath, panting. “They took her.”
CHAPTER 16
Hunter shot to his feet. “Who took her?”
“Just come over here,” Curtis said. “I’ll explain. Hurry.”
Hunter wrote down the address and got up. “Those assholes have my sister.”
“I’m going with you.” Callie started putting her shoes on.
He rubbed a hand down his face, calling on the well of SEAL training to combat the exhaustion fogging his head. “You’re who they want. That’s probably why they took Alicia.”
“We have two choices.” She rested a hand on her hip. “We can call the police, or I can come with you.”
He sighed. “Curtis won’t talk to the police.”
“You’re not going over there alone.” She took his hand. “Not happening.”
“I don’t have time to argue.” He went into the closet and came out with a small black duffel bag.
Callie frowned. “What’s that?”
“Weapons.” He unzipped it and checked the boxes of ammo. Satisfied, he lifted his head. “Let’s go.”
He drove to the address Curtis gave him but parked a few houses down the street.
Callie looked over at him. “Isn’t it up there?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but if this is a trap, I’m not walking you to the door. I n
eed to know what we’re getting into first.”
Outside the SUV, he opened the duffel and put on his utility belt. Hooked to sides were two knives, extra ammo, and a sewing kit in case of injuries. Next, he attached his shoulder and ankle holsters. He dug a little deeper into the bag and handed Callie a ZAP STICK. It had more juice than a stun gun, and she could wield it like her croquet mallet.
“If anyone gets close to you,” he handed her the stick. “You hit them with this and then you run your ass off back to this SUV. This is our rendezvous point. Got it?”
She nodded, taking the weapon. He stared at her, caught off guard for a second. She was five feet of ferocity. His chest burned with a sudden realization. He could love her. Not like the “loves” he’d had before. This was a primal, visceral, hungry love. This wasn’t “you’re fun to be with” love; this was “you change my world; you make my heart beat” kind of love.
He swallowed, shaking his head. “Stay behind me.”
Turning to go down the street, his pulse surged. Fucking epically bad timing to realize he loved Callie O’Connor. He needed to focus. His sister was in danger, and he could be walking them right into a trap.
He boxed up the turbulent emotions and struggled to make a plan. As they neared the address Curtis had given him, Hunter put his hand behind him, signaling for Callie to stop and stay low.
Then he remembered she wasn’t part of his SEAL team. His hand signals weren’t going to mean shit to her. Hunter whispered over his shoulder. “Wait here and take cover. I’ll wave you over once I’m sure we’re clear.”
“You have ten minutes, and then I’m coming after you,” she replied.
He moved toward the house, an inappropriate smile curving his lips. He’d half-expected her to argue with his order, but he did not expect her to already have a countermeasure ready.
That primal emotion clawed at his chest again.
Setting his Special Forces watch for ten minutes, he ducked low and ran. Against the front wall of the house, he slid up, peering into the window. Curtis was on the couch, head in his hands. Hunter scrambled for the next window. All clear. He hunched over and hustled around the back. He rounded the corner and peered through the window at an empty kitchen. He couldn’t see the upstairs rooms, but the extension cord hanging off the deck and the still-open sliding glass door made him believe Curtis’s story.
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