“I know where Jameson and Maddie are.”
“And you didn’t lead with that?”
“I wanted to discuss my offer first.”
“I have people missing, possibly injured or dead, and you want to talk business? Get the fuck out!”
Her back stiffened, well, so the hell did his. Good people didn’t hold back when their teammates’ lives were on the line. They threw in and they gave all.
“Where are they?” he growled.
“Face it, Alex,” she snapped. “You need a partner and that person is me. You’re not a businessman. You want to be out there looking for your people, not sitting behind a desk twiddling your fingers. And Mark—”
“Did you tell Mel Stewart where I was today? Did you break protocol and share my wife’s secure location with someone you didn’t know or investigate? Without checking with me first?”
“Of course! He said he was your father. For Christ’s sake, Alex. He looks just like you.”
And that was the last straw. There was a time Alex thought Mother worked miracles. Not anymore.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted the nasty retort on his lips. Mark popped his head in and advised, “Your helo’s on its way, Boss. ETA to Adam’s location in twenty minutes, once you’re in the air. Car’s running to get you to the helo pad.”
“Thanks, Mark. Don’t go anywhere. You were saying?” Alex asked Sasha Kennedy, the woman he’d thought he’d known and trusted since the day he’d hung his shingle on King Street.
But she’d changed since she’d lost Dempsey. Her usually soft blue eyes were hard as flint today. “I only want what’s best for this business.”
He didn’t have time to argue. “We’ll continue this conversation later.”
“I won’t be here.” She was on her feet, and her temper was up.
How Alex saw through her bravado just then, he didn’t understand. Yet he did. She was him all those hard days and months after he’d lost his family. After the accident, back when he’d struggled like hell to focus on making it through one damned day after another without them. Making everything worse for Mother, he and Kelsey had just welcomed a son, while Ember and Rory were pregnant and due soon. Had she kept that secret from Sasha? Was that what was really going on here? Unrelenting grief in the face of another’s joy? Jealousy because her baby was gone, and Ember was finally carrying hers to full term? That Kelsey and Alex had the exquisite happiness Mother wanted? Short answer—maybe.
Mark was waiting, but Sasha was ready to walk away from the best friends, quite possible the only friends, she’d ever had. Alex couldn’t let that happen. “Please stay,” he said more gently. “Take a time-out, Sasha. Wait until this catastrophe is over. I don’t want to lose you.”
That honest admission broke her steely-eyed stare. Her nostrils flared with a huff. “That’s decent of you. I’ll consider it. Th-thanks.”
He had to ask, “Where’s Justice? I haven’t seen him once since you’ve been—”
“He’s gone. Don’t ask.”
Another piece of the puzzle settled into place. Justice had stood by Mother throughout Dempsey’s illness and death. If she’d cut him off the same way she was alienating The TEAM, Alex knew damned well that the know-it-all, gossiping woman he’d nicknamed Mother was so riddled with grief that she was no longer herself. Bitterness had replaced her nosy, sunny disposition. She was drowning. She needed a lifeline. Something to hold onto.
Alex let that lifeline be him. Tipping his head to her, he said, “Life can be a real son of a bitch sometimes, Sasha. But look around. We’re all still here for you. We always were.” He bit back reminding her that they weren’t the ones who’d betrayed her.
Her eyes glistened. She swallowed hard. And aww, hell. Alex did what he should’ve done the first morning she’d come back to work. He rounded his desk and pulled her into one arm. “You’re not alone, damn it. Stay with me, Sasha. Let me take care of this problem, then we’ll talk. Over coffee. For as long as you need.”
“I’ll stay until you get back,” she whispered.
That would have to do. He squeezed her tight, then let her go.
“I tracked the GPS locator in Lucy Shade’s limo,” she admitted quietly. “I’ll send you the coordinates.”
“I knew you could do it,” he told her sincerely.
Mark held the door as Alex ran for The TEAM’s underground parking. He had a helo to catch, and a lying reporter to hunt down. But he wasn’t giving up on Mother. Hell, no.
Chapter Fourteen
Jameson couldn’t get over how much Maddie accomplished during the short time between when she’d left him in the basement and when she’d returned. She wasn’t the shrinking violet she thought she was. It was high time she realized that, and kicked her old man’s negativity to the curb. She’d proven him wrong tonight. Yet somehow, she still allowed his shadow to hover over her and slap her down.
Even now after they’d driven through more weeds and bushes than a limo should be able to traverse. He’d gone back into the house and retrieved that high-capacity, double-barreled, bullpup pump action, twelve-gauge shotgun, as well as the two extra pistols he’d confiscated from his first attackers. No sense leaving good weaponry behind. They went in the limo’s trunk. His Magnum went back under his arm.
But damn. Maddie was a beast behind the wheel, cussing every bump they lurched over and every sapling she mashed under the limo’s grill. “Damn you, trees, get out of my way. Shit, I didn’t see that rut! Sorry! This is all my fault. I thought I knew the way back to the road, but I got us lost and—hang on!”
“Relax,” he murmured even as he held onto the suicide handle over the window while she performed a sharp left turn.
“Whew. That was a big tree stump. H-how’s Mr. Vlad?”
Jameson had no way to know. He couldn’t see Mr. Vlad to begin with, nor could he reach all the way to the rear seat where the man whose first name was probably Vladimir lay. The guy hadn’t said a word since Jameson and Maddie had climbed into the limo and taken off into the dark. A paved road would sure be a nice change.
“Good grief! Did you see that deer? It nearly hit us!”
“Sure didn’t.” Jameson couldn’t help the smile that cracked his face. His blindness seemed to be as much of an adjustment for Maddie as it had been for him. Well, almost…
Right on cue, “I’m so, so sorry! You can’t see and I can but—”
“It’s okay. Pull over, and I’ll be glad to check on him.”
“Pull over, oh, that’s real funny. Like there are shoulders and curbs out here in the sticks. How about I just stop?” She stepped on the brakes and they came to a full stop.
“That’ll work. Don’t go anywhere,” he teased as he climbed to his feet and kicked his way through the thick grasses to the rear door. Jameson enjoyed the easy banter with Maddie.
“How are you doing?” he asked the quiet man after he opened the door and leaned inside. “I know you probably aren’t strong enough to speak, Vlad, but reach for my hand if you’re feeling good enough to keep going.”
He squeezed good and hard, as if telling Jameson he was hanging in there.
“Sorry about the rough ride. As soon as we hit asphalt, we’ll get you to a hospital.”
An older style flip cell phone slid into his palm.
“Wow, thanks. Maddie, I’ve got a phone!” Jameson called out while he thumbed his new boss’s number.
A woman answered, “TEAM headquarters, how may I help you?”
Thank God! “Alex Stewart. I know it’s late, but I need to talk to—”
“Jameson? Is Maddie with you?”
“Yeah,” he replied as he sank to the seat opposite Vlad. “Is this Mom? Great! Maddie! I’ve got Mom—”
“Mother,” the woman snapped.
“I’ve got Mom on the phone,” he insisted.
“Not Mom. Mother!” Ewww, the snark. Mother, who would from this day forward
be known as Mom, was testy tonight.
“What phone?” Maddie asked.
“Vlad had a cell. I’m online with the office, and someone is actually there. Can you believe that?”
“I wish I’d known he had a phone!” Maddie yelled over her shoulder.
“Alex is already in transit, Jameson,” Mother interrupted primly. “We know right where you are. Stay put.”
“Yes, Mom!” he replied with exuberant relish.
“I said don’t call me that.”
He pretended he didn’t hear her. “We’ve got a man who needs rapid evac. He’s been shot, but he’s stable at the moment. What’s Alex’s ETA?”
“He’s coming to you by chopper,” she replied tersely. “Is there somewhere close he can land?”
“I have no idea. We’re in some pretty dense brush, I think. But I can’t see, remember? Mom? Are you still there?”
“Damn you,” she hissed. “Never mind. I’m switching to satellite topography. Okay, no. The closest LZ is a couple miles due west of your location, and you’re right. Your vehicle is in dense trees and undergrowth. Why aren’t you guys on a road?”
“Because we’re taking the scenic route.” He wasn’t about to cast any blame on Maddie. Wing men didn’t do that.
“Never mind. One way or the other, Alex is still coming. He’ll touchdown in five, then make his way to you. I’ll contact first responders. Anyone else hurt?”
“No, we’re good,” Jameson breathed as he sank his weary, worn-out ass into the plush leather seat of Lucy Shade’s stolen limo. “Damned good now that I’m talking with you. It’s sure nice to hear your friendly voice, Mom. Us kids really needed that. It’s been a helluva long day and night.”
The connection went dead. Jameson stuffed the phone into his front jeans pocket, semi-pleased that he’d made an impression on Alex’s grouchy secretary, if only because he’d called her Mom.
In seconds, Maddie was climbing in the other side door, then into his arms. “We made it,” she cried. “I can’t believe we’re still alive.”
Vlad grunted when Jameson closed an arm around her, then settled her onto his lap, where, oddly, it seemed like she’d always belonged. But that was just adrenaline talking. She was scared and reaching out for the only safe port in a storm, and he was lucky to be that port. At least that was what Jameson told himself. He couldn’t be that kind of lucky, could he?
Yet even as he gave her a way out of the feelings he admittedly had for her, she snuggled under his chin and whispered, “You saved me.”
His head dipped automatically into the top of her head and he buried his nose in her hair. “No, babe. You saved me.”
When Mr. Vlad grunted again, Jameson had a feeling he could see too much.
But when Maddie lifted her chin, Jameson knew right where her mouth was and that her lips were so, so close… Too close. He couldn’t resist, just shut his unseeing eyes and kissed her with all his heart. Adrenaline, maybe, but she needed this connection and, by hell, he did, too. He dipped her back into the crook of his arm and cupped her fragile jaw while he deepened the kiss.
Maddie opened wide, angling her head as she braced his jaw between both hands and licked her way inside his mouth. He should’ve held back, maybe held her back. But Jameson wanted this. He really liked this woman, and he wanted her to know it. Besides, the tiny moaning sounds coming from the back of her throat were turning him on. Right here. In front of Vlad.
That reality snapped Jameson back to his senses. A quick kiss was one thing. Going all out and all over Maddie, in front of an audience, was another. He growled as he ended the heated kiss, his heart pounding like a beast. Her kisses were powerful enough to make him think of things like a future and forever. Two things he’d shelved once his life had turned into counting steps and anticipating running into strangers, table edges, or curbs. His life was orderly because it had to be.
But Maddie… He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling like a hypocrite. Here he’d been telling her to believe in herself. Maybe he should take his own advice.
Her silky palm on his cheek brought Jameson out of his reverie. “Where’d you go?” she whispered.
“I’m still right here. Can’t you feel me?”
“Yes, but…” Her fingertips smoothed up his jawline and into his hair, melting the last of his defenses. “For a minute there, it seemed like you were somewhere else.”
Ahh, she was picking up on his cues awfully quick. See? Smart.
“I’m just tired,” he lied. There’d be time for truth later when they were alone.
Her hand didn’t move away as he expected. Instead, she cupped the back of his head and settled her cheek on his shoulder. “We’re safe, Jameson. We’re really safe.”
Man, how he wanted to agree, but he whispered, “Shush,” instead. The inner spidey senses that ran like tiny livewires through his nervous system were tingling. Telling him they weren’t alone, and they weren’t safe. Not yet. Someone was outside the perimeter of this monster vehicle. Too damned close.
“Babe, sit tight,” he said as he leaned forward and grabbed one of the pistols he’d midnight requisitioned back at the farmhouse. “I’m just going to—”
Too late. Some asshat flung the rear limo door open.
Jameson aimed his weapon for a headshot. “Back off or you’ll die,” he ordered.
“Shit, man, is that any way to treat a buddy?”
“Adam? Thank God!” Jameson pointed his weapon at the ceiling and thumbed the safety.
“Yeah. Me, Hunter, and Eric been looking for you. Hunter’s the one who finally spotted this limo.”
The door on Jameson’s left jerked open to a surly, “Jesus Christ, you two are a freakin’ lot of trouble. You left one helluva mess back at the farm, Tenney.”
Jameson was grinning by then. He didn’t know who that guy was, but he sounded as good as Adam.
“One casualty,” Jameson changed the subject. “Vlad Somebody. Haven’t had a chance to get more information. He can’t talk because of his—”
“Get that spotlight out of my eyes, Reynolds,” Maddie ordered. “I’m not hurt and I’m not Vlad.”
“Got him, Maddie,” yet another deep, confident male voice replied. “Give me some room, Adam. Let me look at… Damn, who bandaged this guy?”
“She did,” Jameson said at the same time Maddie said, “I had to. He was dying.”
“Good job, Mad Dog,” that same male operator, Reynolds, replied enthusiastically. “What’d you use for plugs in that bullet hole?”
“My bra,” she answered, her tone gone timid again. Any other operator would’ve made those two words sound like a brag, but she made it sound like an apology. That had to change.
“Mad Dog, huh?” Jameson asked. “I like it. That’s who you’ll be from now on, Mad Dog Bannister.”
“No!” she squealed, pushing farther away from him. But he could tell she was smiling, and that Reynolds guy knew how to talk to her. His praise made Maddie feel like one of the guys.
Jameson pulled her back into his side. “Come here, you. I hear Alex is on his way. First responders, too.”
“No worries,” Adam replied. “Eric Reynolds is former USMC medic. He’ll take care of Vlad until they show.”
“Here’s something to snack on and four bottled waters.” The man named Hunter passed the goods to Jameson and made sure he had a hold on them. “You need help with an IV drip, Eric?”
“That’d be good. Vlad’s got a strong pulse, but he’s dehydrated. Let’s get one started. No telling how long the EMTs will take. This place isn’t easy to get to.”
While the three operators worked on Vlad, Jameson eased back into the seat, with Mad Dog settled against him, her back to his side. She leaned her head onto the arm he’d circled around her neck and shoulder. Her entire body expanded with a beautifully feminine sigh. And Jameson knew what he wanted, make that who he wanted, in the rest of his life. In his bed. Who car
ed that they’d only just met? He wanted the brave, timid kitten in his arms, the one whose purring echoed in his heart. She might be tiny, but her old man was dead damned wrong. She was fierce.
And Jameson was damned proud of her.
Chapter Fifteen
Alex landed precisely when and where he expected to. There was no humping through weeds and shrubbery for him. He fast-roped into the scene, then secured his gloves and gear while the rope disappeared into the dark overhead. He’d brought a collapsible stretcher with him, but didn’t intend to use it unless the EMTs failed to show. Then he’d hike out with his men.
“Hey, Boss,” Adam called out from the open limo door. “Eric has our man ready to travel. Jameson and Maddie are good to go, as well.”
“Where are they?”
Adam nodded toward the dimly lit rear seat. “Inside rehydrating. Eating. Resting. Stuff like that. It’s been a helluva first day at work for Jameson.”
At the opposite limo door, Alex leaned in to look over the pair of grimy, weary employees, one sitting on his newly hired agent’s lap. Maddie didn’t seem inclined to move, and Jameson Tenney didn’t seem inclined to let her go. And Alex was pretty sure Maddie was wearing Jameson’s suit jacket.
Damn they looked cozy. He had one arm around her shoulder, his other hand rested on her knee. They were exhausted, their faces smudged with soot and sweat, and a hundred-mile stare in Jameson’s eyes. His head was cocked as if he were listening. At least Maddie had the grace to smile sheepishly when she saw her boss.
“Junior Agent Tenney,” Alex said as he offered his hand, which Jameson seemed to know right where to reach out and grab hold. The young man had a solid grip. He didn’t look directly at Alex; just in the right direction. “I know who abducted you two. Already have Reagan’s security footage. Lucy Shade’s behind this, and she was working with Pops Delaney, whom you terminated back at the farmhouse. Fill me in. What don’t I know?”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Stewart,” Jameson said as he straightened on the seat. “This was a publicity stunt. Shade wanted it to look as if she’d escaped two kidnappers—us—who were supposed to burn to death when her jet exploded. She needed her escape caught on film, but something went wrong.”
Jameson (In the Company of Snipers Book 22) Page 14