Angel on Fire

by Jacquie Johnson

  Despite the darkness, Chase moved effortlessly down the steps and along the stone walkway. Angela squinted and hissed, “I can’t see, Chase. It’s too dark!” She crashed into his back and felt him chuckle. He slowed and pulled her to his side. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he murmured, “Just stay next to me and you’ll be fine. We’re almost there.”

  “Almost where?” she grumbled under her breath, not really expecting an answer.

  As Chase led her down the concrete walkway, Angela found the sound of their footsteps unnerving in the night’s silence. Shivering, she stopped as Chase tugged her toward a long wooden dock. “Where are we?” she demanded, staring at the large body of water in front of her. She might have enjoyed the serene beauty of the lake with the moonlight shimmering on the calm surface under other circumstances. At the moment though, she only wanted to know what in the world Chase planned to do at the edge of what she guessed was Lake Michigan.

  “Friend’s got a boat,” Chase finally muttered as he glanced around the marina and frowned. “Shit,” he muttered under his breath as he scanned the horizon.

  “Docked here?” she questioned. “Wherever here is,” she muttered under her breath, feeling tired and frustrated. As grateful as she was for Chase’s assistance and support, she hated not being in control of what was happening.

  “No,” Chase snapped, sounding as frustrated as she felt. When he took a deep breath and turned away from her, Angela suspected he was trying to control his temper. They remained silent for a few minutes until Chase confided in a low voice, “He has a slip in Chicago, but I asked him to meet us here. Let’s just wait here for a while and if he doesn’t show, we’ll grab another bus.”

  “And go where?” She tossed her hands in the air and tapped her foot.

  “The shuttles run into Chicago.” Chase rubbed his head before snaring her eyes with his own. “Look, babe. I’m trying very hard to keep your cute, little ass out of the fire.”

  Angela turned to face him, hands on her hips, death rays shooting from her eyes. “Well, pardon me for questioning you, but it is my life and I should have some say in it.”

  Chase threw his hands up and stalked a few feet further down the dock. As he stood there, staring at the water, Angela glanced around. This probably wasn’t the best time to fight with Chase. Getting mad at him didn’t exactly accomplish anything.

  He tensed as she approached him and her heart clenched. She hadn’t meant to upset him. She was just angry at the situation and had taken it out on him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned her cheek against his back. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know you’re trying to keep me safe, and I’m not making it easy. I just don’t like being kept in the dark.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. He squeezed her hands, and she closed her eyes, taking a second to enjoy the moment. The sound of an engine broke the silence, and Angela felt the tension ease from Chase’s body as a bright yellow and black powerboat sped toward them at breakneck speed. It raced toward the dock, slowing at the last possible moment and gliding seamlessly up to the edge where they waited.

  A man about 6’4” tall with thick, wind tossed wavy blond hair cut the motor and called, “You called for a ride, Romeo?”

  “Romeo?” Angela couldn’t help but giggle at the nickname. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” When Chase frowned, she covered her smile with a hand.

  “Yeah, Romeo,” the blond Adonis smirked, extending a hand to her and assisting her onto the boat. “What can I say? The ladies think he’s a lover, not a fighter.”

  Angela’s eyes sparkled with mirth as she glanced at a scowling Chase.

  “Your lovely companion is coming with us, right?” The man asked as Chase jumped in and reached for Angela, pulling her against his side. Chase nodded sharply and ordered, “Get moving, Dutch.”

  To Angela’s surprise, the man started the engine and headed out of the marina before yelling, “Where to?”

  Chase sighed and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before seating her on the white leather bench. “I’ll be back in a few.”

  Angela leaned back against the backrest and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of flying across the placid lake with the wind ruffling her hair. Just the thought of the tangles she’d suffer from after the ride sent her digging through her purse in search of ponytail holders. She squealed in surprise as a wet black nose nudged her. A mid-sized black dog with long, black fur stood in front of her eyeing her curiously. “Hey, girl,” she extended her hand, praying the dog was friendly. The fur felt amazingly soft.

  “That’s Taz,” the blond man called out over his shoulder. “I’d say she won’t hurt you, but she’s like most women I know. Stubborn, impulsive, and frequently up to no good.”

  Angela smiled and yelled, “I hope you’re not serious!” as she stroked the dog and cooed to her.

  Chapter 27

  Chase stood close to the man who had watched his back on numerous occasions and mulled over how much to share.

  “You know I’ve got your back, Chase. What do you need?” Sean van der Wijk, former Navy SEAL turned international businessman, offered.

  Chase stared out at the water while contemplating Zach’s orders. Although Sean wasn’t part of Zach’s unit, he was a good man whom Chase trusted implicitly. “Do you remember Nicholas McKenzie?”

  “Of course.” Sean’s eyes snapped to Chase’s. “I heard about his death.”

  Chase nodded toward the back of the boat. “Angela’s his daughter.”

  “Wait!” Keeping his hand on the wheel, Sean glanced over his shoulder and inspected the woman playing with his pet. “The one the FBI is looking for?”

  Chase nodded. “Yep, and if I’d been doing my job, she’d never have been in that situation in the first place.”

  Chase cleared his throat. “Making a long story short, Mac tried to contact Zach but didn’t get him. Then Mac died. Zach sent me to watch out for Angela. All sides now think Angela possesses some piece of software Mac was protecting before he died. So far, she’s had a terrorist, a middleman and multiple federal agencies after her.”

  Sean smiled as he piloted the boat toward Chicago. “That sounds like a hell of a story, and I hope you share the long version with me someday. But for now, where are we going?”

  “Any chance you can take us to Thompson, a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan?”

  Sean shook his head, and Chase’s hopes for making it to Maddie’s cottage without being traced faded. Sean and his boat were the perfect candidates for keeping Angela out of the public eye.

  “Shit.” Chase ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to come up with an alternate plan.

  Sean shot him a puzzled look. “I didn’t mean I wouldn’t help you, man. We just can’t do it in this boat. That kind of trip requires a bigger boat, and a larger fuel tank than my baby here has. I’ve got a cabin cruiser docked at the marina on Lake Shore Drive that can make the trip though.”

  A look of relief flashed across Chase’s face. “Thanks, Dutch.”

  “Anytime, Romeo,” his friend teased. “So what’s the scoop with Angela? She available?”

  Chase shot him a dark look. “No.” When Sean opened his mouth, Chase fired back, “How’s Emily?”

  “She’s fine,” Sean retorted.

  “You ever gonna do anything about your feelings for her?” Chase pried while scanning the lake for signs of unusual activity.

  “Shit, Romeo, coming from you, that’s a hell of a question.” Sean glanced back at his other passenger. “What about your feelings for her?”

  Chase shrugged. “Haven’t known her long enough to have feelings for her.”

  “Your nose is growing, Pinocchio,” Sean snapped back. “You can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me. I’ve been your best friend for too long.”

  “And you would know.” Chase couldn’t believe Sean was still in denial regarding Emily. The man kept the woman in his pocket but still refused to admit that
he and Emily could build a real life together. “You’ve been lying to yourself about Emily since we rescued her from Kabul ten years ago.”

  The dark look Sean directed at Chase would have made most people pee their pants but Chase was used to Sean’s attitude, especially where Emily was concerned. “Come on, Dutch. You know I’m right. You carried her through the streets, babied her during the two days we hid and waited for transport, and then wasted favors finding out how she was once she was back in the States.”

  “That’s how I know that love at first sight happens.” Sean sighed and frowned. “It still doesn’t mean a damn thing.”

  “You don’t know that. You’re too much of a coward to tell Emily how you feel.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Sean protested. “She deserves a nice, simple life. The kind a stable, professional man without all my baggage can give her.”

  “Easy there, Pinocchio. Your nose is now longer than Taz’s. You may think you have no strings, but you’re thoroughly tied to Emily. Even now, you’re living a lie in order to be near her. Be honest with yourself. If her dad hadn’t asked you to set up a company and hire Emily in order to protect her, you’d be working for Zach. Instead, you’re playing the role of an international businessman just to be with her and keep her safe.”

  Sean jerked the wheel at Chase’s words. “My life’s not all that bad. I bought the majority of the company from Patrick two years ago. Security’s quite a profitable business if done right. Turns out I’m quite the financial whiz. I made a few wise investments and vóila, I’m sitting pretty. I get to see Emily every day. And, as a bonus, I know she works in a secure building protected by well-trained men and women.”

  “And how are you going to feel when she gets married?” Chase pushed, wanting his friend to see the flaws in his reasoning.

  “Happy for her, of course. Her happiness is my priority.” He turned the wheel sharply, hitting a sizeable wave.

  The resulting spray drenched Chase who wiped his face with the back of his hand and wondered if the conversation was worth being tossed overboard. “And she can’t be happy with you?”

  “She’s in too much danger if she’s associated with me.”

  “How? I can’t see you making too many enemies as a financial guru and security expert.”

  “And what about the ones I made years ago as a SEAL?” Sean asked, his tone so acidic it could corrode steel.

  “Maybe it’s a chance you should take,” Chase recommended.

  “And what kind of man would I be if I risked her safety for my own personal gain?” Sean accelerated as if he could avoid the conversation by increasing the speed.

  “One who loves her,” Chase tried to explain, hoping this time his words wouldn’t fall on deaf ears.

  “I do love her,” Sean confessed as the boat flew over the waves, “but I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to her. At least this way I get to be involved in her life in some capacity.”

  Chapter 28

  Chase gave up the argument as Angela lurched toward him. He chuckled under his breath as he caught her. “No sea legs?” he teased, tucking her under his arm.

  “Guess not.” She smiled, a little embarrassed because Chase had to hold her to keep her upright and stable. “So what’s the plan, gentlemen?”

  Sean tossed a devilish smile in her direction, and she couldn’t help but match his grin. “Any sea sickness?” he shouted over the roaring engine.

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’m just a little off balance. So?”

  “What’s in Thompson?” Sean asked, avoiding her question.

  Angela shot Chase a quick glance, unsure of how much she should reveal. When he nodded, she stepped closer to Sean. “A good friend of mine has a cottage there.”

  “And you think the authorities won’t connect you with your friend?” Sean cast Chase a sharp glance, clearly asking if he had lost his mind. “Um, Angela, rule number one when you’re on the run is that you don’t contact any of your friends. The police always check with them first.”

  “But people don’t know about my friendship with Maddie,” Angela assured him.

  “Uh huh,” Sean’s tone conveyed his disbelief. “I’m sure you believe that, Angela, but, if you’ve visited or called your friends within the past year, the authorities will talk to them.”

  Taz bounded over to the group, distracting Angela. When she leaned down and began petting the affectionate black fuzz ball, Sean hissed under his breath, “Are your hormones affecting your ability to think?”

  “Maybe,” Chase admitted, “but she claims the title to the cottage has been buried well.” At Sean’s puzzled look, he continued, “Her friend, Maddie, is an abused wife who’s filed for divorce. Apparently, her soon-to-be ex doesn’t want to let go so she’s hiding out in this cottage in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Have you checked into this at all, or are you just relying on what she tells you?” Sean demanded.

  “I’m telling the truth,” Angela interrupted, her blue eyes flashing with anger. “Maddie has an excellent lawyer, and he guaranteed her that no one could trace the cottage to her. The title is buried under multiple layers of holding companies and such. Even though it may be unusual, Maddie, Cat and I don’t see each other often so few people are aware of how close we are. Yes, we occasionally call or email each other but not often enough to raise red flags about our relationship. For all anyone could tell, we only have a business relationship. That puts our connection at the bottom of the FBI’s list.” Her voice remained calm and firm. She knew she was right. When Sean remained silent, she pushed once more. “Look, I am, or rather I was, an analyst for the FBI. I know all the protocols, and no one at the agency will look twice at my contact with either Maddie or Cat. Cat’s a domestic relations counselor, so they’ll assume she’s related to a case. As for Maddie, she’s an heiress for heaven’s sake. A lowly public servant without any breeding couldn’t possibly be friends with a wealthy socialite. The FBI won’t even consider contacting her, even if they could find her, which they won’t.”

  “I still think going to the cottage is risky,” Sean stated, “but it’s not my call. Chase?”

  Chase’s eyes met Angela’s and he gave her an affectionate smile. “Right now, it’s as good an idea as any,” he acknowledged. “I understand your concerns, Sean, but, assuming no one has connected Maddie and Angela, the cottage is out of the way which is what we need right now. Besides, we think Maddie and Cat may be hiding a clue about what happened to Mac. We need to see them in order to find out.”

  “When you put it that way,” Sean replied, “I guess we’re going to Thompson, Michigan. You might as well settle in, Angela. It’s a long trip.”

  “Umm,” Angela cleared her throat. “Isn’t this boat a little small?”

  Chase opened his mouth, but Sean cut him off, his eyes twinkling. “You don’t like my boat? You don’t want to spend the next week lying on that bench there?”

  “A week?” The thought made her feel sick. “Umm, but where’s the bathroom?”

  Sean reached behind him and pulled out a plastic bottle. Without another word, he handed it to her, and Angela paled. “No.” She turned her horrified gaze toward Chase. “He’s kidding, right? Please tell me he’s kidding.”

  Sean threw his head back and roared with laughter.

  Chase chuckled along with him, and Angela turned away, hating the idea of the two men laughing at her. Chase quickly trapped her in his embrace, pulling her back against his front to prevent her from walking away. She struggled against his hold, wishing for a moment that she had the strength to push both of them overboard. Chase nuzzled her neck before whispering in her ear. “I’m sorry, babe. Your reaction was just so…priceless.” When she turned her head to glare at him, he tried again. “We’re going to change boats. I promise you’ll have a bathroom and a bedroom,” he assured her after exchanging a brief look with Sean.

  Angela’s head swiveled between the two men, her eyes fierce
. She couldn’t believe they had teased her like that under the circumstances. Didn’t they understand that women didn’t joke about things like bathrooms? She turned in Chase’s arms and lowered her voice to ask, “My own bedroom? Where I’m going to sleep alone?”

  Chase’s eyes widened in surprise. He placed a finger under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze before whispering, “Do you want to sleep alone?”

  The corners of her mouth tilted up as she shook her head. “No.” She burrowed deeper into his arms, burying her face in his muscular chest. “I like sleeping and waking in your arms.”