She put her expensive outfit in its place at the bottom as she changed behind stacked luggage, then switched out her jewels—trading the real necklace and earrings for the fakes in her custom-made bra with special pockets.
Men laughed outside the luggage compartment. She held her breath but then the voices went away. Good. No one had come in. She had just put the bags back when her phone beeped and she read, Emily can you get to the last car of the train?
She smiled, glad her phone was on silent, and glanced around the luggage car.
The room was still quiet as she texted back. Why? Are you here?
The dots on her screen made her feel wanted though that was silly. Dane wasn’t interested in romance and neither was she. They were there because Ted wanted to kill her for jewelry… better not think about that. She held her breath and ignored how she wished Dane might walk into the luggage compartment—as if she needed saving. He finally typed back. Henry and I are at the next station where you’re about to make a sudden stop.
The door to the luggage compartment opened. She ducked underneath some bags and hid out of sight. She didn’t move a muscle and lowered her screen on her phone to a dim setting. Footsteps echoed on the floor in front of her as she quickly typed out, How long do I have?
Sixty seconds.
She clutched her phone and heard the door to the compartment open again.
The last car on the train was too far, but she could get off and blend while she ran.
Michael always said that chaos worked as a distraction so she might need to cause a scene in order to escape, unless Dane had a plan already.
No one had ever rescued her before now, except her brother-in-law.
No footsteps echoed in the luggage compartment as she typed fast, I can’t but I’ll get off. Just wait for me.
You’re why we’re here. She moved the luggage and wiggled out of her cubbyhole.
No one was around. The train crawled to a stop as she typed, Now that reads sweet.
Hurry.
If only their relationship was normal—she remembered when Sophie had tried to tell her to think of Dane like a brother.
That hadn’t worked.
Luckily he’d left their house two months after he’d temporarily moved in, preferring boarding school to her family.
After his assumed father shot his mother and tried to have Dane murder his actual father, Dane had nowhere else to go. So for the summer, he’d moved into their new home where her sister Sophie acted like a second mother to her younger sisters. After he left, he’d only ever come back on holidays when he had no excuse or vacation planned. But in her senior year, she worked up the courage to ask him to take her to prom as she wanted no one else at her side.
The memories of how he’d given her his mother’s necklace, and for that night made her feel like the most wanted woman on the planet, she’d never been happier.
All of that had been a foolish girl’s dream.
Dane was still off limits, even if now he was coming for her. Her sister wouldn’t understand her and Dane. No one ever did, including her—she wasn’t supposed to want him.
The doors opened at the station, and Emily dashed into a crowd of folks that intended to get off and find out why the train had stopped.
She kept her head down, blonde hair tucked under her hat.
No one would recognize her.
As she stepped onto the platform, goosebumps grew everywhere but started on her neck, as she heard from behind her, “There you are, Miss Mira.”
Cold washed through her as she turned but backed up with the crowd. “Ted, Alexandre is probably still out like a light.”
Ted’s wrinkled face became more pronounced with every step he took—his long strides made her heart sink. “I underestimated you. You’re clearly formidable.”
“Compliments don’t work.” She forced her shoulders to straighten.
Bullies don’t need to see you’re frightened. Michael’s words resonated and she prayed he was right as adrenaline rushed through her. She turned to run, but Ted grabbed her wrist. She shook him off and said, “Ted, you won’t win against Uriel.”
Ted gripped hard. “Are you sure about that Emily?” Sweat went down her neck, but she sensed Dane was close. She couldn’t see him, but her heart had a familiar ping of awareness. Ted said, “I’ve been researching you and Dane Pearce—and your entire family.”
She tugged her hand free, her skin burning. He said, “The men who sent me for these jewels won’t take your family’s interference well.”
Her mind flashed to Michael and how he’d practiced defensive maneuvers before his breakfast. When she’d first met him, he’d sought revenge for his false imprisonment, not caring what happened to himself.
“You haven’t met my family then.” She turned on her feet and ran right into Dane’s embrace.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Em!”
“Dane, let’s go.” She didn’t want to look back at Ted, who might start shooting. She peeked at the figure on the other side and saw his ally Henry.
Dane hugged her so close she could hear his heartbeat before he released her. “This way.”
For some reason Ted didn’t follow. Crowds of people hadn’t stopped him before—why now?
They kept their pace fast as she held his side. “I’m happy to see you again.”
With Henry flanking her other side, Dane led her down the station and his arms sent a tremor that might be hope through her. He asked, “What were you trying to tell me in the limo?”
She almost tripped over her own shoe but he held her firm and neither one of them stopped. She blinked and just asked, “What?”
“When I wanted you to jump. What did you say?” He held the door for the terminal for her, looking behind them to see if they were being followed.
Inside there were people going in all directions—perfect for them to blend in. “I was getting my courage up to jump.”
She stared at his profile with his strong jaw line and dark hair that would be wavy if he let it. “Which means? What did you say?”
Her entire body froze. She hadn’t been ready to jump. She squeezed his side and said, “Don’t miss me.”
His lips thinned. He opened the door and she stepped outside beneath a bright blue sky with white fluffy clouds.
She inhaled deeply of clean air to rid herself of the dank tracks around the station.
Dane followed her, and then let the door close before he took her hand. “No, you said I something you.”
Emily blinked. What had she said? Her mind was a blank and then she snapped her fingers. “Oh. I trust you.” She knew he’d catch the box when she tossed it, and he would have caught her if she’d jumped, but then Ted had kidnapped her from the other side of the limo before blowing it to smithereens.
“Ah.” His face darkened.
They headed toward a car but she patted his stomach and tried to get his attention. The moment he turned toward her, she sucked in her bottom lip, unsure what he was thinking. “What did you think I said, Dane?”
He guided her down a cement step. “Never mind.”
They walked onto a main street that was cleaner and more well-kept than any other city she’d ever been in. She chuckled. “Seriously, does no one in your world challenge you?”
Henry watched the crowd and took out his phone like he’d use it as a weapon.
“Not like you.” Dane pressed his hand on her back, getting her attention toward a car at the intersection.
She turned toward him and looked into his eyes. Memories of his lips on hers raced through her. Her pulse grew faster as she stood on her tiptoes to be taller as she said, “I see that.”
Her eyelids fluttered closed and his arms held her tight.
A moment later he kissed her and the world faded.
So much so that everything went dark.
A second later, or so it seemed, her eyes fluttered open. She had a pounding headache on the back of her skull.
&n
bsp; The air smelled like dust and putrid water and made her nose twitch. This wasn’t the street. It was too dark and as her gaze focused in on black walls, until her flesh crawled and cigarette breath wafted into her nose. She turned to face up and realized she was lying on the ground with Ted leaning over her, tugging at her necklace. Her skin burned from his not so gentle grab, and instinct took over. She still had her pocketbook with her. She jolted upwards and sat fast though he pressed against her neck.
Emily reached for his wrist. Ted almost broke the clasp of her necklace, but she knocked him off of her, and he bolted.
Her reactions were dulled from the splitting pain in her head. Dane sat beside her and jumped to his feet, offering his hand to her as she asked, “Where are we?”
“I don’t know.”
She brushed dirt off her exposed legs..
Ted was on the other end of the area, near the beam of light above his head, which illuminated the gun he had pointed at them.
She whispered but her voice echoed as she said, “Where’s Henry?”
“Good question.” Dane stepped forward to protect her.
In this small dark space—a chamber of some kind, and Ted having a gun, the move was sweet but wouldn’t save her.
If Ted fired once, he might get them both, and they’d be dead.
Ted motioned with the gun toward Dane as he asked, “Did you think I was going to let you and Emily Mira go so easily, Uriel? Or should I call you Dane Pearce?”
Dane stood in front of her. “Let her go.”
“Until this latest adventure of ours, I never threatened you before, Dane.” Ted’s aim was steady. “Tell you what, I’ll let you both go if I get the necklace and earrings.”
Emily instantly reached for her necklace and said, “Done.”
“Don’t.” Dane answered back.
She held her breath as her bluff might not work, but she tossed the chain of gold blossoms at Ted, wishing she could share the truth with Dane as she reached for her earrings. “Look, this jewelry isn’t worth your life, or mine.”
She lobbed one earring and unfastened the last.
Ted pocketed the jewels. “Finally Miss Mira, you make sense.”
Dane shook his head. “Emily, don’t.”
“Here.” She tossed the last earring.
The real jewels were in her bra, and the fake Ted had was a perfect replica. Would it get him inside the bank? She hoped to bargain for their lives now for a chance to stop him later.
Ted flashed a light in the darkness toward a ladder as he held the gun at them. “Both of you. Good luck.”
“Where are we?” she asked. Dane raced toward the ladder as soon as the gun was off him.
Ted had a head start up the steps, and outside, then he slammed the metal hatch down over them, leaving them in the dark.
She took out her phone and shined her flashlight as Dane climbed the ladder and banged against the sealed metal door.
More metal scraped, as if something was being dragged over it.
Her heart pounded in tune with Dane’s fists on that metal door. Her mind raced but she circled with the bright light.
They were underground. Her nose smelled stale water so this might be near a sewer.
Dane stopped banging but goosebumps grew on her arms as he said, “Ah!”
She turned her phone flashlight toward another wall and jumped as she screamed, “Skulls.”
He leapt down and suddenly Dane’s warmth around her waist helped her normalize her breathing—these skulls were old.
“Emily, why did you give him that necklace?”
The necklace didn’t matter. She swallowed and shined her phone in more directions to get a lay of the room. In the outskirts of Paris, depending on the composition, this was either World War Two remnants or The French Revolution. Clothes on bodies would be a tell, but if they were only skulls, this was probably a tomb from the revolution.
“He was going to kill you. I think these people have been here for hundreds of years.” She studied a shred of fabric and found her answer. The royal blue was well liked at the court of Louis XVI. She met Dane’s gaze again and said, “It was probably the French revolution.”
“Doesn’t matter about the skulls. The jewelry you gave Ted gives him power.” He knelt down like he was making a similar assessment, taking out his own cell phone to study the remains. Without talking in a decade, they somehow had more in common than they’d discussed.
One day having a conversation over coffee with no pressure to discuss likes and dislikes might be fun and normal. She couldn’t let him go again.
To get his attention, she coughed on dust he stirred up as he moved one of the skulls. She covered her mouth until the dust settled. “How are we getting out of here?”
He stood and wiped his hands on his pants. “You’re avoiding my question.”
She showed him her phone. “Look. Cell service doesn’t work down here.”
He checked his as well and turned his flashlight off. “Answer the question, Em.”
“Focus on getting out of here.” She crossed her arms, but he didn’t move. Throwing her hands to her side in exasperation, she then reached into her bra. “I gave him a fake.”
“What?” He scooted closer.
She unzipped the pockets that were specially designed for her when she wore expensive things and showed him her necklace. “I still have the real necklace you gave me.”
“Seriously?” He cupped it in his palm, laughing with triumph.
She took it from him. “I’m fearless, remember?”
Emily dropped her phone and the room became completely dark. The dust itched her nose. She put the necklace back in her bra. “So, how are we getting out of here?”
“We’re going to have to wait it out.” Dane used his flashlight to help her see, and her body heated. He probably saw the outline of her breasts. He bent down and picked up her phone, handing it to her.
Awareness wasn’t good here. They needed to escape, not have sex like animals. At least not here, not now. He walked her toward the ladder but she shook her head. “That’s your answer? People died down here.”
“Yep.” He pulled her toward the ladder where her bare legs brushed against the metal.
With his arms on either side of her she began to tremble and ache for his kiss as she asked, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. It seems we have similar interests we’ve never discussed.” His warm breath mixed with hers and her eyelids fluttered.
“Yes, that's true.” Attraction wasn’t good and that’s all this was. She rested her hands on his chest and shook her head. Something didn’t click. They should be looking for an exit. “But you’re way too cocky right now.”
“I’m not.” He leaned closer.
If he came closer, she’d wrap her arms around his neck and run her fingers through his hair, kissing him again. She shook off the image. “Uh huh. Tell me what you’re thinking, Dane.”
His lips were a fraction from hers now and he closed his eyes. He was so close her body came alive, waiting for his touch. “You’re going to have to kiss me for that one.”
His lips brushed against hers.
It took everything she had not to just let this happen. She pushed him back. “Here?”
He gave her a smirk as he asked, “Why not?”
Her mind twirled. He wasn’t upset. Something was going on with Dane and he hadn’t told her why he was so calm. She pressed her lips together and met his hypnotizing brown eyes that shined liked beacons of salvation. “Because there are insects and if you remember, I prefer soft and pretty.”
“I thought you’d died today.” His hands brushed against her sides.
A hum grew in her veins. Her head no longer throbbed from being hit. Her lips parted slightly. “So you missed me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all you had to say.” She met his kiss.
This time she held him and didn’t let him go.
Her body heated
despite where they were.
Light shining down through the cracks around the metal hatch reminded her that they were in danger.
She dragged her body off his and let the damp air and stale smell cool her ardor. She heard someone at the hatch. The light that filtered down shone like a rainbow around the underground chamber. “How are we getting out?”
“Hold on.” He brought his phone from his back pocket.
Her gaze narrowed. “Phones don’t work down here.”
He showed her a small attachment. “Henry has a tracker. It doesn’t need Wi-Fi even if we’re stuck in a tomb the local villages must have built during the revolution.”
“That was my guess about this place too, but either way, I seriously like your Henry.” The hatch above them creaked opened.
“Brady designed it.” Dane hugged her and whispered in her ear, “But you like me more.”
“You’re the only one here I’ve kissed.” She patted him on the cheek. “But it’s nice to see you have friends.”
“Who are off limits to you—we will keep our kisses between us once we get out.” Henry gestured for them to climb up.
His friends were cute, but not for her. Brady might be a good match for her sister Isabella, not that she’d mention that. Dane’s jealousy was adorable. She turned and settled her foot on a metal rung and had the sense Dane stared at her legs in her borrowed black shorts on the climb up.
She took Henry’s hand at the top and breathed in fresh air.
Dane came out a moment later. Henry said, “You’re all right..”
The two men whispered about something but she was overwhelmed by the dust and grime on her clothes and coughed. They both looked at her and she said, “I need a shower and clean clothes.”
Dane nodded, which shook some cobwebs out of his dark hair. “Let’s go.” He turned to Henry and brushed the dust off his jeans, then looked down the street. She followed his gaze and saw Brady in the distance as lookout, near a car. Dane asked Henry, “How did we get in the tomb?”
Henry explained as they walked toward Brady. “Ted was after Emily and you. We tried to fight them but four men grabbed you two and ran faster than us.” Henry showed him the phone. “Brady’s inventions work.”
Heroes Duet Page 19