Caught in the Crosshair

by Han, Barb

  A crush of emotions knotted in Lauren’s stomach, climbed, and lodged in her chest. Her throat tightened, making it impossible to swallow. Quietness blanketed the room as deafening as the roaring winds had been. She could hear Jaden’s heart beating steadily, securely inside his chest. The rhythm comforted her.

  The winds outside calmed as though Mother Nature had a remote control and had hit pause.

  “We’re probably in the eye.” Jaden’s low, gruff voice brushed over her as sure as his fingertips grazed her cheek. “We’ll need to make our move soon.”

  With her index finger, Lauren outlined the muscles in Jaden’s forearm, his thick, ripped arms.

  How sexy was he?

  Her head was spinning, her body tingling. He was perfection. And she had to fight every instinct she had to wrap her arms around his strong neck and beg him to kiss her again. The thought of their last kiss made her lips tingle, wanting more. “Do we have a few minutes to come up with our plan before making our next move?”

  Jaden’s finger traced her lips before moving to outline her jawbone, his every touch flaming her insides, sending volts of desire through her. She wanted to let go, to trust it would all work out, but her childhood hadn’t been spent dreaming of white towers, horses, and handsome dark knights. Hers had been spent protecting herself from nearly everyone.

  She refocused her attention on Jaden’s face. Taking in all the pain behind those dark eyes, she asked, “You said you had a brother. Is there any other family back home?”

  “No.”

  “Surely there’s someone you need to get back to.”

  “If you’re talking about women, there’ve been a few.”

  Next time she felt the urge to ask a question she didn’t want the answer to, she’d try to remember to keep her mouth shut. She had a past. He had a past. Did they really need know every detail?

  “This job doesn’t exactly lend itself to long-term relationships. Not when you’re gone on assignment eleven months out of the year. Not a lot of women put up with that,” he said with his dry crack of a smile.

  Damn, he was sexy. She couldn’t help but wonder how many women had trailed behind him trying to get him to leave his job and commit. A few? A couple dozen?

  One look at him said the number had to be high. She had eyes. The man was drop dead gorgeous, dark, and mysterious. A combination that would drive most women into frenzy.

  Out of the corner of his mouth he said, “There’ve been a lot of women. But no one special. None like you.”

  Not sure if she dreamed he’d said it or if she’d even heard him correctly. It didn’t matter. She wanted nothing more than to feel his warm skin against hers.

  The man in front of her was real. Made her body flame with passion. Desire made every nerve ending from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes tingle with anticipation, need. A distant little voice reminded her how truly dangerous a man like him was.

  When his erection pressed against her, all rational thought flew out the window. She’d wanted this man from the moment she saw him. He brought her entire body to life, and she didn’t know how much longer she could hold back.

  “We should probably talk about our plan to get out of here alive,” she said lamely, trying to regain her senses.

  ***

  “Who’s waiting for you to get home?” Jaden asked. Desire swelled in his chest. She was perfection. Dark, red shoulder-length locks cascaded around her shoulders.

  “No one.”

  There they were, face-to-face. Body to body. Skin to skin. She had nothing more than a towel wrapped around her.

  He wasn’t thinking clearly, couldn’t formulate a coherent argument as to why this shouldn’t happen. It had all the earmarks of disaster written all over it, but he was too involved to care. Being with her made him wish for things he shouldn’t.

  So he defied logic instead and pulled her closer, moving to the back bedroom to ensure a moment of privacy.

  “And Lauren. I’m not like those men from your past. You don’t have to be afraid of me.” He set his jaw, wanting her to hear those words and take them to her heart. “I’ll take care of you.”

  She looked up at him with wide golden eyes, glittery with desire, before squeezing them shut and burrowing into his chest. Before he could say or do anything he found himself holding onto the shaking beauty. Lauren. She was right there in his arms where he wanted her. And it felt so right.

  “I believe you,” she said.

  He stroked her hair as he leaned forward until his lips were within an inch of the nape of her neck. His heart thumped against his rib cage.

  The pain rifling his body a distant memory, replaced by an ache to feel her bare skin against his. To wrap her in his arms and feel her long legs alongside his.

  A thin piece of cotton couldn’t insulate the raw sexual heat between them.

  Her body quaked under his touch, while something deep within him needed to make her feel wanted and safe. His breath quickened. He couldn’t think straight. She felt so right in his arms, fit him perfectly.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked, and it was important for him to know the answer. She’d already told him she spent way too much of her childhood fearing men. He needed her to believe he wasn’t like them.

  “Yes,” she said.

  Sure, she was flawless. Big brown-gold eyes. Taut body. That wasn’t what made the image of her replay in his mind relentlessly like a hit song on the radio. It wasn’t the soft curve of her hip, her endless legs, the way her full, luscious lips fell into a pout. It was the strength and courage she displayed in the face of danger. And something more.

  Jaden trailed his finger along the tender part of her arm. Should he even be touching a woman who was tightly linked to his case? An asset?

  It was wrong. He knew that. It broke all his rules.

  Consequences be damned.

  He couldn’t stop if he tried.

  The way she reacted to his lightest touch, her body quaking underneath his fingertips, was so sexy he wanted more.

  Without another word, Jaden pressed a kiss to the small freckle above her lip before his lips found hers, pressing down hungry and needy. Her mouth moved against his, her tongue teasing his.

  The creak of the slider opening in the next room scarcely registered.

  Agency guys wouldn’t sneak in.

  This wasn’t good. Their position had been compromised. How in the hell had that happened?

  Either the cartel had gotten their hands on high tech devices, or someone in his agency couldn’t be trusted. Jaden quickly dismissed the latter. ManTech went to great lengths to ensure its agents were dedicated. A mole would never infiltrate. Would they?

  He eased back to look Lauren square in the eyes as he pressed his index finger to his lips.

  In barely a whisper, he said, “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the boat. So, believe me, we’re going to finish this later.”

  He re-adjusted his painfully stiff length.

  The reality only headquarters and Gregory knew his location weighed heavily on his chest. And Helena, he corrected. Her call might’ve put him in jeopardy. Her phone could be hacked. Damn. That was exactly why he didn’t want her on this case.

  Chapter Seven

  Lauren fumbled for her jeans and T-shirt, her heart racing. She located a bra, which was a little too small but would do, quickly dressed, and crouched low on the side of the bed. Tension braided her nerves. Jaden had already proven he was more than competent at his job, but if something happened to him she’d be alone with whomever or whatever lurked on the other side of that wall.

  If anything happened to her, where would that leave Max? The thought of being totally alone sent an icy chill up her back. Since being with Jaden, she hadn’t once felt all on her own.

  Had she really become dependent on him this quickly? Granted, he had saved her life more times than she could count in the short time she’d known him.

  Even so, it wouldn’t do any
good to get too comfortable in the feeling Jaden would always be there to save her. He was a professional. This was his job. As soon as this was over, he’d be gone. Where would that leave her?

  Heartbroken. The admission startled her. She was allowing herself to get carried away with a man she shouldn’t trust.

  The pure animal magnetism she felt when he was near couldn’t be denied. Hadn’t she read an article recently that said nothing got blood pumping and people wanting to mate like near-death experiences?

  The attraction she felt was probably nothing more than primal instinct. Circumstantial appeal.

  It would dissipate as fast as raindrops in sunshine once her life returned to normal, and her brother was home safe.

  It was fine to count on Jaden a little now, especially when bullets flew past her head or sharks brushed against her leg, but the degree of confidence she’d handed him was borderline absurd.

  Or was it?

  His job was to keep people alive. He was very good at his chosen profession. But to really trust him? Expect him to make everything okay? Especially when everything about him turned her thoughts upside down, making her want the impossible dream of finding another human being she could actually rely on?

  Lauren knew herself better than that. Besides, she’d gotten by all right in life depending on herself so far, hadn’t she?

  Stick around long enough and he’d let her down eventually. His true colors would come shining through, and her heart wouldn’t be able to take the disappointment. Trusting people came with a price. She was always left holding the burning end of the candle in relationships. All men had secrets.

  Her ideals wouldn’t change no matter how perfect Jaden Dean was. She caught herself before she laughed out loud, biting back the irony that she was worried about falling for this mystery person, and she didn’t even know his real name.

  Jaden was a security expert. He was convinced her brother was still alive. And he was the one man who could help her find Max. And yes he was physically perfect in so many senses of the word with eyes she could look into for days. She would simply have to try harder not to lose her way in those perfect crystal blues.

  “We have to move. Now.” His tone was hushed but clear as he rounded the side of bed.

  A wave of relief washed over her at seeing him again.

  “I heard noises,” she said, swallowing hard. “Is it them?”

  His hand closed on hers protectively as he led her into the bathroom where they both slipped behind the door.

  She clamped down the urge to ask about Gregory. Was he out there too?

  The voices in the next room might be low, but they could have been standing over Lauren shouting, for the effect they had. Her stomach free-fell to her toes when she heard those terse South American accents. There were at least two.

  And one of them was getting closer.

  Jaden held up a steadying hand meant to calm her.

  In his other hand, metal glinted. She couldn’t make it out, but prayed it was something useful, like his gun.

  The sound of wet shoe clamping against the white tile floor echoed down the hall.

  Other than that, everything was quiet.

  Eerily quiet.

  Lauren feared her heart beat so loudly the bad guys would hear it and she and Jaden would be caught.

  Her heart stuttered when one of the intruders poked his head into the bathroom.

  In a sweeping fluid motion, Jaden pulled the guy inside and knocked him unconscious with a powerful jab. Whatever Jaden had in his hand was blunt enough to knock a grown man out cold.

  Lauren gasped despite herself.

  As Jaden dragged him into the tub, Lauren saw he wore jeans, tennis shoes, and a white T. Jaden pulled out his cell, snapped a pick of the guy, and hit Send. Before she could blink, his phone was back in his pocket, and his attention was on the door.

  Quick footsteps pressed the tile. The second prowler must’ve heard her.

  Shit.

  Jaden slid behind the shower curtain as assailant number two rounded the corner and faced Lauren.

  He was tall and muscular. She had to look up to see his face. Lightning flashed. Black, beady eyes stared at her. His wicked half grin said he didn’t mind them being alone. An icy chill ran down her spine.

  The floral shower curtain must’ve shielded his buddy and Jaden from view. Beady Eyes holstered his gun and made a move toward Lauren.

  The power surged, and lights blinked on.

  Beady Eyes’ expression tensed as Jaden appeared from behind the curtain, gun drawn and pointed directly at a spot on the Latino’s forehead.

  His facial expression immediately changed from triumph to panic. His pupils dilated from fear. His hands came up in surrender. “I’m not here to make trouble.”

  “Too late for that,” Jaden said to Beady Eyes.

  Lauren fought the urge to panic. “I recognize his voice. He’s one of the men who hurt my brother,” she said, still stunned, her own voice thin and scared. “It’s him.”

  “You better start talking faster than a preacher on collection plate Sunday,” Jaden said.

  Beady Eyes sneered. “I won’t tell you shit.”

  Jaden’s finger twitched on the trigger. “You want to do this the hard way? Fine. Hands against the wall, sonofabitch.”

  Beady Eyes hesitated.

  “If you think you can pull that gun from your holster before I can squeeze this trigger, go for it.”

  A look of resignation crossed his otherwise emotionless face. He placed his hands against the wall.

  Lauren took a step back into the tub and plastered her back against the wall, hoping it would hold her upright. The palpable smell of blood made her knees weak. Her stomach dry-heaved. “Where’s Gregory?”

  Jaden’s head shook.

  “Get a gun,” he said to Lauren, cocking his head toward the crumpled guy at her feet.

  Her heartbeat kicked up another notch, pounding painfully in her chest. She had no idea what to do with a weapon. Her gaze shifted from Beady Eyes to the man at her feet. Jaden needed her help. Never mind that she was fighting the urge to faint. These men hurt Max, and would kill her if they had the chance. She held her breath, bent over, and fumbled around for a weapon.

  “Good job,” Jaden said to Lauren as she palmed a gun with a shaky hand and pointed it at Beady Eyes.

  “If he so much as flinches, shoot.”

  Could she kill a man? Even this man? A man who’d beaten her brother? Possibly killed him? Anger rose in her throat burning a hot trail. She said a little prayer it wouldn’t come to that.

  Jaden disarmed Beady Eyes, and then thrust his arms behind his back. “Who was responsible for what happened on the beach? Where’s Max?”

  The anger in his voice startled Lauren. Then she remembered his friend was dead. Given Jaden’s background, he was most likely showing remarkable restraint.

  Beady Eye’s head turned, and he winced as his face was shoved against the door.

  Lauren kept her gun trained on him.

  His gaze narrowed as he focused on her. “Chuparla, bitch.”

  Beady Eyes whirled around, and Jaden slammed his knee into the guy’s gut. Before Beady Eyes could react, the Latino ended up flat on his back on the ground in the hallway with Jaden straddling his torso. Arms tight to his side, trapped by Jaden’s unyielding thighs.

  Jaden’s gaze swept the hallway, reminding Lauren other bad guys could be lurking nearby.

  She stepped over the unconscious guy in the tub and stood over Beady Eyes. “Where’s my brother? What have you done to him?”

  He grinned. Teeth too straight and white contrasted against his dark brown skin.

  “You heard the lady. Where’s her brother?” Jaden demanded, shoving the barrel of his gun into the guy’s forehead hard enough to leave a mark.

  Beady Eyes glared at them. “Do you see him here?” He paused a beat. “Me, either.”

  “Right. You’re nothing. Your bosses would never tru
st you with important information,” Jaden taunted.

  “Do you think he knows where Max is?”

  “You sure this is the guy?”

  “Yes. I think. I mean I was so freaked out on the phone I can’t be sure, but it sounds like him.” Hearing his voice again had her shaking with a mix of fear, anger, and resentment.

  With one hand, Jaden pulled his cell from his back pocket, snapped a pic, and hit Send. His other held the insurance Beady Eyes wouldn’t move to his forehead. “Gotcha.”

  He returned his cell, and then jerked Beady Eyes to his feet, forcing him to walk in front of them. “Move.”

  Lauren followed closely behind as Jaden led them into the living room. She gasped when she saw Gregory slumped over in the corner. His lifeless eyes were open and a wire wrapped around his neck.

  Jaden made quick work of tying Beady Eyes to a chair before moving to Lauren.

  His presence brought a sense of calm it shouldn’t have as his hand closed around her arm reassuringly, moving her out of earshot.

  “If he doesn’t know where my brother is, does that mean he’s …?” she couldn’t bring herself to finish the question.

  “They most likely transferred Max to another location. The guys heading operations like these don’t take chances. They move victims around, using different people each time. I doubt this scumbag would know where the new location is. But he’d know if he handed Max off alive.”

  Alive? Oh, God. Lauren thought she might be sick.

  His attention turned to the screen on his phone. “The first scumbag has been identified. He works for the Menendez cartel out of Venezuela. We know a few of their hiding spots. One of our female agents, Helena, has been working with them for months. She’ll know where to look.”

  “Won’t matter if they think they don’t need Max, right?”

  “I’m sure he’s okay,” Jaden said as though he read her thoughts. “We haven’t figured out the real reason they took him. It wasn’t money. We already know he’s on the move.”

  “Sounds like an operation they have down pat,” Lauren said, hating the panic in her voice.