Heroes Duet

by Pinder, Victoria

  “I never want to disappoint.” He pulled her into his room, with him.

  “You better not.” Her eyes fluttered closed as the door slammed behind her.

  Dane took her lips in a bruising kiss that showed his passion. Emily refused to let her old doubts come between her and Dane.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dane stood in the lobby, dressed in his black t-shirt and dark jeans, and glanced out the glass door of the hotel, toward the limo that would take them to Paris.

  Henry was talking to Brady over his headset and Emily returned to the group with three cafe au laits from the lobby’s cafe and handed them out, first to Henry.

  His heart skipped a beat from her brief touch as she handed him his cup. He held it firmly. “Emily, this would be better if you just stayed at the hotel.”

  She shook her head, sipped her latte and said, “I’m coming. End of story.”

  “I want you safe.” He patted her arm.

  Here, no one know their names or their identities. She was safe from whatever might happen at the bank, but only if she didn’t join him.

  She shrugged him off and headed to the door. “I want you safe, too. Besides, I’m better at self-defense—you need me.”

  She marched out the door. He rushed after her and stopped her at the limo. “Emily, this isn’t a joke.”

  Henry passed them both and got inside the limo without interrupting them. She swallowed her coffee and didn’t back down. “I’m not joking and we’re wasting time here.”

  She bypassed him and scooted inside the car. He glanced around and saw no one following them. He got in, forced himself to relax, and drank his coffee.

  No one said much as they drove into Paris. By the time they’d finished their beverages, the Champs De Elysee came into view. Dane held Emily’s hand the whole way. Henry broke the silence when he said, “Brady is checking the bank. Nothing unusual has been detected around the perimeter.”

  Emily smiled at him and patted his arm. “Let’s hope the Paris authorities have already stopped Ted and tossed him in jail. Then getting out of here will be no problem.”

  Nothing about Ted struck him as easily caught. Perhaps he was being overcautious, but the silence just amped up his apprehension as they drove toward the bank. He simply said, “I don’t like it.”

  “Get over it.” They parked. Emily reached for the door like she didn’t care about danger. She looked over her shoulder and said, “We’re here. So let’s go.”

  He quickly jumped out as he remembered the last time he hadn’t kept her close and how he’d thought she’d died. He scanned the area—nothing but sunshine on a nice autumn day. His rigid spine warned caution. He held Emily closer to him and despite her display of confidence, she accepted his arm without complaint. Henry joined them and continued to talk into his headset to Brady.

  He led Emily to a shady spot under a tree. The first person he saw crossing the street was Brady, who had stayed in the hotel across from the bank.

  For now, all four of them were fine. Brady shook Henry’s hand, then Dane’s. Dane told Emily, “Have your jewels ready when I say to get them.”

  “Fair enough.” She smiled like they were going to a picnic rather than on a mission to recover stolen jewelry.

  “Let’s go.” They arrived at the bank within minutes and Dane held the door for her and his friends, checking the street one more time.

  The quietness scratched at his skin worse than a shirt with its tag still on.

  Inside the bank, customers milled around the lobby or waited in line. Dane headed toward the special counter. This bank could easily blend in with any bank in any country as nothing specific about it made it special, despite its long history. He took out his wallet and greeted the attendant. “Bon jour. We’re here to open my safe deposit box.”

  The clerk was dressed in a black suit, like the other employees, and sported a goatee. “Do you have the bank key?”

  “Brady, the key.” Dane opened his palm toward his friend, and Brady dropped it in. In turn, Dane gave it to the banker, who scanned the code and then handed the key back.

  “Thank you, sir.” The clerk typed something onto his computer and read the instructions. A split second later, the banker asked, “Do you have your identification and the mark needed to open the box?”

  The jewelry again. He hugged Emily closer, ensuring no one could see her, and whispered, “Emily?”

  She wiggled so no one saw her reach into her bra and then slipped the necklace and earrings into his hand. “Here you go.”

  He stepped back—Emily had been so smooth that he doubted even his friends had seen her slick move. Dane glanced around the bank one more time.

  Still nothing.

  Dane handed the jewels to the banker, who scanned the necklace into his computer like it had a secret bar code. He peered over the counter—the clerk had taken a digital picture. The banker returned the necklace and Dane handed it to Emily. “Can I have my box now?”

  Emily hardly moved a hair as she slipped the necklace back into her hidden pocket like she was getting her phone from her pocketbook.

  The banker walked around the desk and motioned for the group to follow him as he said, “This way.”

  Henry held his hand to his ear like he was listening for something but then said, “Let’s go.”

  Dane lifted his eyebrow as he guided Emily forward.

  Henry nodded like he understood the silent question. “The coast is clear so far.”

  Still, Dane’s muscles were tight and braced for defense.

  The banker went into a room full of silver metal boxes and took one off the shelf, handing it to Dane as he said, “This is your box, sir.”

  “Thanks.” He held the metal container close to his chest and didn’t put it on the table until after the banker left.

  Dane’s fingers trembled at what he might find as he unlocked the box. Trouble? A hoax?

  Emily peeked over his shoulder and asked, “Is it there D…Uriel?”

  “Yes.” Gorgeous. Nothing he’d ever dug from the dirt held this kind of luster at first sight. He lifted the diamond star and diamond badge, inspecting them closely. Just as the books described. ,Almost four hundred precious gems, three hundred and ninety-four, to be exact, were embedded in the design. He smoothed his thumb over the green shamrock made of emeralds, the red rubies along the border of the badge, and the motto written with pink diamonds.

  The star was composed of diamonds, enclosing a cross of rubies and a trefoil of emeralds surrounding a sky blue enamel circle with words, Quis Separabit MDCCLXXXIII in rose diamonds engraved on back. Everything was exactly as they were supposed to be.

  “These are the missing jewels.” He held them to his chest.

  Emily hugged him and squeezed tight. “So we did it!”

  Only after they returned these to England and went back to a routine life would the adrenaline stop rushing in his veins. “Now we need to get out of here and head to my plane.”

  Henry led them and Brady flagged behind. Emily bounced on her feet as they entered the lobby filled with bank customers and said, “This is very exciting. I never expected to be part of something so magnificent. Even more exciting? Once this is over, we can start that life we were talking about.”

  Goosebumps grew on his arms and body as they walked onto the street. He tugged Emily faster and said, “Hurry!”

  Not even the wind blew a single leaf in a nearby tree. All four of them jumped into the limo Henry had ordered. The passerby all seemed more interested in window shopping than them as the driver took off down the street.

  Uriel’s heart raced.

  Ted had to be close.

  This had been too easy.

  He didn’t trust it.

  Henry listened in to his headset and the devices he’d set up around the bank, as Brady scanned the police broadcasts. Dane asked, “What do you hear, Henry?”

  “Nothing from Ted,” Henry said. “Just normal chatter.”

&
nbsp; “The limo is taking us to the airport, as instructed.” Brady settled into his seat. “Relax everyone.”

  Emily let out a small snort. “I don’t know about relaxing, but we made it. I was half afraid I’d be kidnapped and driven around Paris again.”

  Which was why he’d refused to let her out of his sight.

  Brady then clapped his hands and asked, “Shall we break out the champagne for another job well done?”

  “No,” Uriel said as the zip in his pulse reminded him that danger was close. “Henry, are we being chased?”

  Henry shook his head. “Not that I can tell.”

  “The authorities must have caught Ted.” Emily squeezed his hand and smiled at him, as if to calm him down.

  Maybe they were right, though the rush of adrenaline continued in his veins. He opened his mouth to apologize and glanced over Emily’s shoulder.

  A silver bumper was inches from the glass window where Emily sat. He threw himself over her as the glass shattered and metal ripped around him. He screamed out, “Emily, duck!”

  “What’s happening?” She clutched his arm.

  The crash ended and the limo spun crazily to a stop.

  He brushed the glass off his arms, careful of the metal bumper that had punched through the door. He pulled her to the other side of the limo and said, “Just stay down.”

  Henry’s door flew open and someone hit him.

  Brady was the first to defend his friend, but both men pulled the guy in that took a swing at Henry.

  Dane blocked Emily from the fight, but then Henry rolled out on the sidewalk and Brady went with him to stay in the fight.

  Emily held his shoulder but he pushed forward to help.

  A fist connected to Dane’s chin and forced him back.

  Dane jumped up, with a fast punch to the man’s nose. Ted. He hadn’t expected the man to have such a strong punch.

  “Did you actually think you’d gotten free?” Ted asked.

  This time Dane had a clearer shot to Ted’s chest and he punched harder to keep his nemesis back. “Ted, you lost. You’re now a wanted man on this continent. You’ve ruined your business reputation.”

  Another man threw Ted a blunt metal baton and Ted took a swing at Dane’s head.

  Dane went down to his knees as his head spun.

  “My client will need those jewels. Once I complete my task, my reputation will be golden. Goodbye Uriel.”

  A click of a gun echoed. Emily pulled on his back and said, “Dane!”

  A burning pinch heated his arm as Emily tried to drag him behind the crumpled limo.

  From the corner of his eye, Dane saw Ted above them. “Duck!” He pushed Emily out of the way and a second later, Ted knocked him down with the bat.

  The bat clinked as it fell beside his head. His ears rang.

  “I have it, Dane.” Emily held up the baseball bat.

  Dane got to his feet and blocked another jab at his face. Ted reached out and grabbed the bat—and Emily, who wouldn’t let go, holding her in a headlock. “Give me one reason not to kill this one?”

  Emily. Her frustrated expression just made her seem more angelic. She was his angel. Private collectors getting to keep the world’s riches hidden away didn’t matter nearly as much as her life. In an instant, Dane calmed and everything around him became slower as he said, “Because I have the jewels. She matters more to me.”

  Ted jerked her backward as he said, “So you’ll give them up?”

  “No. He won’t.” Emily struggled.

  Her face went white as Ted squeezed her.

  He held out the jewels for Ted to see as he said, “Em! Let her go, Ted.”

  Clicks of a gun reverberated in the air and Ted let go of Emily as Ted’s legs buckled.

  The man Henry and Brady fought with also stopped. Emily coughed but then pushed Ted’s arms off her like she was holding him up. “Run, Dane. Run.”

  “Get out of the way,” Dane said, reaching for her as Brady and Henry’s opponent almost knocked Emily down as he bolted down the road and out of sight.

  She hugged him and then stopped in horror, showing him the blood on her hand. “Dane, you’ve been shot too!”

  “You’re safe?” He honestly didn’t care that his arm stung.

  Emily held him as if he was about to fall down and said, “I won’t let you die on me.”

  His gaze narrowed. They needed to go before the police arrived. The limo was crushed. Henry ran toward a nearby truck parked on the side of the road while Brady checked their limo driver. “That isn’t going to happen.”

  Brady gave a thumbs up that the driver was okay. Dane asked, “Can you let up a little on hugging me? We need to go.”

  Henry made hand signals for them to join him and Dane nodded, directing Emily to run.“ Henry’s procured motorcycles.”

  “Let’s go.” She refused to release him, as if he might be crippled and unable to move on his own.

  She helped him on the back of a motorcycle they were “borrowing” thanks to Henry. Emily tried to take the front, but Dane pushed forward, motioning with his jaw that she was to sit behind him. She hopped on the back and asked, “Do you know how to drive one of these?”

  “Yes.” He started the engine to make the motorcycle purr. She pressed on his wound to monitor any blood loss and apply pressure. He hoped the wind would clear his mind.

  Drivers, blocked by the accident, got out of their cars and surrounded Ted. Was he dead? Unconscious? Who had shot Ted?

  As they took off she said, “We did it.”

  Brady had the limo driver behind him on his motorcycle, which meant they needed to stop at the hospital—an unwanted delay but necessary.

  If possible, they’d switch out the motorcycles there for a car. His mind raced. “Don’t say that until we’re on the plane.”

  Emily held him tighter as they made their way toward the hospital, but then Henry slowed his motorcycle from the lead and shouted, “Our airplane is compromised.”

  He’d thought it had gone too easy. First they needed a hospital, then they’d get out of here. He’d hoped to question Ted about who his buyer was, but that wasn’t happening. “We can take a ship back to London,” he answered Henry. Pain lanced through him and he gritted his teeth. “We’ll have to drive through Normandy.”

  “Okay.” Henry’s stoic expression gave nothing away and he returned to point.

  Emily yelled, “I want D… Uriel seen by a doctor. He was shot.”

  Thankfully, Henry didn’t hear her.

  “I’m fine, Em.” He revved the engine.

  She hugged him and said, “Yeah, no. But you will be.”

  “You’re always my angel.” He stayed on Henry’s tail.

  She was right about the hospital. But he’d rather deal with the injury after he handed over the jewels.

  But for now, they’d escaped. They’d won. It was enough.

  Chapter Twelve

  By the time they reached the closest hospital, the blood was dry on Dane’s arm—it had to hurt, though Emily was impressed at how he handled the injury so calmly. Emily had a low pain tolerance and had screamed bloody murder for a flu shot.

  He waited patiently outside as Brady brought the limo driver into the emergency room. She brushed her hand over Dane’s good arm and then gently nudged him as she said, “Go in.”

  “We’re just dropping off the driver.” He stayed still as Henry spoke to the police in the parking lot, giving a full report on Ted Vet San, from the bank incident to the shoot-out.

  If Dane didn’t get help, who knew what type of infection he’d get? She more forcefully shoved him toward the entrance, though he was a wall of hard muscles. “No, you’re going to be seen. By a doctor.”

  “Ted might find us.” He shook his head and just stared at the door as if willing Brady to hurry.

  If something happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. She pointed to the police car, where Henry was still talking to a pair of officers. “The police don
’t seem to be in a rush. A new car is on its way. Just go see how long of a wait it might be..”

  He walked closer to the door but hedged, like he was unsure.

  She was about to escort him in when Brady finally came out and said, “I’ve found a doctor who’s willing to take your case for cash.”

  Dane glanced at both of them in defeat. “Fine, but he has to be fast. We can’t be seen as I don’t want to answer anymore questions.”

  Brady nodded. “Done.”

  Dane still didn’t move and she said, “Once someone looks at your arm, we can run as fast as you want.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Emily?”

  “Yeah?” She swallowed and hoped he wouldn’t continue to argue with her.

  He released her. “Just wait outside with Henry.”

  “You don’t want me to come?” She took a step to go with him.

  “Henry will get you out of France if we are separated.” He strode forward, his mind made up. “I’ll see the doctor alone.”

  “I… okay.” She stared at him as he walked inside. Her body felt cold as ice as his broad shoulders disappeared from view. He didn’t even look back. If she was alone, she might cry, and she never cried.

  Not being invited meant he didn’t want her with him and the thought stung worse than a bee.

  Ultimately men left, right?

  The thought creeped in and she shook it off as she joined Henry, who was just wrapping things up with the French authorities. Brady signed for the rental car Henry had ordered, and scrolled through his phone as they waited. What felt like an eternity later, Dane walked out of the hospital and headed right toward her.

  Brady got behind the wheel and Henry sat in the front passenger side. Dane took her hand, directing her in the back. His strength reverberated in his tight grip. “Let’s go.”

  “What did he say?” She stepped into the car.

  Dane flashed the bandage and said, “Flesh wound. A couple stitches, that’s all. You pulled me out at the perfect time.”

  “Good.” She let the thought he’d be fine wash through her and released a slow breath.