Caught in the Crosshair

by Han, Barb

  How could anyone survive the torrent of raining bullets? She had no idea how Jaden would stay alive.

  This is his job; this is what he does, she told herself again, as hollow as the reminder felt. He’d told her to keep driving, and that’s what she intended to do.

  He would turn up again.

  He simply had to.

  Lauren struggled to maintain focus on the road ahead. It twisted and turned as her ears popped from the air pressure. One wrong move and she’d be swimming again. She clamped down the feeling that she was basically stressed to the gills on all this and wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball on the floorboard and hide, filthy as it was.

  A few minutes passed when she saw a dark figure in front of her waving his arms wildly.

  Could it be Jaden?

  God, she hoped.

  If not, she was as good as dead out there with nothing to protect her.

  She slammed the brake, fishtailing.

  The figure, head down, came to the passenger side.

  Lauren’s foot shook on the pedal.

  Relief fueled her when she got a good look at Jaden’s face. “Thank God you’re alive.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But how did you get ahead of me?”

  “Winding roads,” he said, repositioning to take aim out the back of the Jeep.

  “What about your forehead? You took a nasty crack before,” Lauren said, putting the Jeep in Drive and stomping the gas pedal.

  “That explains the headache.” His fingers searched his face as if making sure he still had two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. “Just gimme a minute. I can take over when I’m sure we’re safe.”

  “Are you kidding? Not with that gash.” Always the strong one who took care of himself. Lauren figured she and Jaden had more than a few things in common, not the least of which was that both lacked the ability to lean on someone else. Until I met you.

  Lauren scanned the window, for all the good that did.

  “You’re doing great driving in this,” Jaden said.

  Her heart squeezed at the compliment. “Haven’t been for too long.”

  He pulled off his shirt, balled it up, and used it to wipe clean the inside of the windshield.

  Did he catch her eyeing his bare chest?

  Damn. He must’ve because he cracked a devastating little grin as he shrugged into his shirt. “When we get to safety and find your brother, you might want to rethink your career choice. You would make a pretty good undercover agent. Oh, and I meant what I said back at the condo. I plan to finish what we started.”

  Heat crawled up her neck. A second ago she was freezing. When did it get so hot in here?

  “Are we lost?” she asked, needing to redirect her thoughts.

  “No. I think if we make a couple of good turns, we can find the old military barracks.”

  Lauren genuinely smiled at the thought of shelter. “That should keep us safe, right?”

  “If it’s still there.”

  Jaden unzipped the window and stuck his head out to get a better look. He navigated them through a few turns before a piece of flying debris came dangerously close to slamming him again.

  Lauren sucked in a breath. “Be careful.”

  “Stop!”

  The Jeep bounced, and then climbed a few feet in the air before landing hard on the ground again. Jaden braced himself for impact, which made Lauren’s stomach churn.

  When the engine stalled out, he asked, “You all right?”

  Her hand clutched her chest in the space right over her heart. “I think so.”

  Jaden thumped the gas gauge. “Damn old trucks. Stay here.”

  As he opened the door, a gust of wind grabbed hold, ripped it clean off the hinges, and sent it sailing through cloud cover. It disappeared almost immediately.

  Lauren’s hand closed on his left arm. She was certain all color had drained from her face. “I’m coming with you.”

  “You’re safer in the truck —”

  “Are you kidding?” She tugged at the corners of the balled blanket in the backseat and pulled out two garbage bags. “Here, put this on. It should help.”

  Jaden inspected the bag. She’d cut out armholes and a place in the middle for his head.

  “Rain coats. Nice job.” Looking adequately impressed, he slid on the plastic cover.

  His approval shouldn’t have mattered to Lauren, but it did. More than anything else at the moment, save for staying alive.

  Blustery wind pounded the Jeep from every angle; they had to move quickly.

  An oak door whisked through the air, spun around in front of the Jeep’s windshield, and then crashed down on top of the hood.

  Lauren let out a scream before she could clamp it down.

  Grabbing the rest of the balled supplies, Jaden shouted, “Move out.”

  He moved behind the wheel, started the engine after a few tries, and placed a stump on the gas pedal as he rolled out of the seat.

  Lauren scrambled after him, watching the Jeep disappear over a ledge. The wind hit her full force in the face, the deafening noise screamed through her ears. Her head felt like it would explode from the pressure. She struggled a step forward, only to be blown two steps back. The garbage bag, plastered flat against her body, was useless against the onslaught.

  Soaking wet, water dripped from her eyelashes as she stumbled.

  Jaden turned and shouted, “Get down!”

  Lauren dropped to her knees, and then fell flat on her stomach. Hugging the ground, mud squishing through her fingers, she followed Jaden as tightly as she could manage.

  Wind pounded the ground, kicking up sludge and forcing the earthy taste of mud into her mouth as she battled for every inch of forward progress.

  Even if they could ignore the fast-approaching ten-foot water swell by seeking safety in higher ground, high winds posed another threat. And then another danger rattled around overhead: debris dropping from the sky with the force of a missile. Even through loud, oscillating winds, she heard an occasional crash.

  Shaking rubble out of her makeshift raincoat, she pressed on with one thought: If they didn’t find shelter soon, the cartel didn’t need to find them again, they’d already be dead.

  Clinging to barren clumps of shrubbery, she clawed her way uphill toward Jaden.

  Lightning cut across the sky before plunging down with an explosion of thunder.

  “There it is,” he shouted as he crested the next mound.

  Lauren scuttled to his side. A loud crack sounded.

  Spinning around, she glimpsed a palm tree as it split in half, unleashing a torrent of coconuts. Jaden dove on top of her, shielding her with his heft. A few slammed him instead. He unleashed a string of swear words.

  Before she could utter a thank you, he was back up encouraging her to keep moving.

  Not a minute later, a brick building came into full view. A concrete silo in front flagged a large metal door with an equally oversized lock.

  They scrambled to it while Lauren prayed for sanctuary.

  Jaden stood, angling his shoulder toward the door. Stepping back, he rammed forward with the fury of a steam engine. The door buckled, but stopped short of opening. He grunted and rubbed his shoulder.

  Lauren could only imagine the blinding pain that action must’ve sent down his arm.

  “We need something …,” he said before disappearing around the side of the building.

  A few moments later the front door opened and an arm, which felt more like a steel band, swept her inside. She stumbled forward, falling against Jaden to catch her balance.

  He planted his shoulder against the door, struggling to close it against the elements.

  Lauren spun around, grabbed the sliding metal latch, and bolted the lock as soon as it lined up.

  She turned, leaned against the door, and found herself once again inside Jaden’s arms. He was out of breath, she could tell, by the pulsing rhythm of his chest. She was soaked to the core, and the heat from his glorio
us body pressing against hers was a beacon of warmth. Lauren allowed the warmth to calm her as his arms encircled her waist and pulled her in tighter, until her breath slowed to a normal rhythm.

  “Do you think we’re alone?” she asked.

  “For now.”

  The heat between them swelled. Not wanting to give into raw desire and do something she might regret later, Lauren pulled back and took off her garbage bag raincoat.

  Little good it had done. Frozen and cold, she couldn’t stop her hands from shaking. She plucked at her shirt, balled up the bottom, and wrung out the tail. “Think this place’ll hold?”

  Jaden rolled his shoulders as he ripped off his own plastic bag in one motion. “Did okay for the British.” His hand closed on hers as he tugged her into his chest again. “We’re safe. For now. You can relax.”

  She shifted her gaze, locking onto his. “That’s what I thought when were at the beach side condo.” Did she see something flash behind his eyes? Uncertainty? “What happened back there?”

  “Safe houses can be compromised. I knew it was a risk going in. It was one we needed to take.”

  Thunder cracked simultaneously with flashes of lightning.

  Her breath caught as she glanced around wildly, and her hand covered her racing heart. “You’d think I’d be used to it by now.”

  Jaden held on tighter, comforting her. “This basin’s landlocked … easy for the British to defend … should provide some insulation for us.”

  His warm breath was so close she could smell peppermint from his toothpaste.

  “Is it very old?”

  “Yes.”

  Could it stand against this modern-day monster?

  Can it keep me safe from you?

  Chapter Nine

  “It’ll do the trick.” Jaden took off his shirt, revealing his perfectly toned abs. He squeezed the water out and used it to gently wipe mud from her face.

  His thumb traced her cheekbone, sending warmth down her thighs.

  She didn’t move, couldn’t move. She could only stand there spellbound, waiting for the magic to break.

  “We just have to wait until the storm blows over. There are basic supplies here and secure communication equipment. This should be safe.”

  A crack of thunder broke into the moment, returning Lauren’s full focus. He might’ve saved them from the storm, but that wasn’t the only thing they were running from. Besides, if she stood there with him any longer, close enough to see his breath ruffle her hair, she wouldn’t be able to resist him. “We’ll see about that.”

  His hand found hers, and next thing she knew she was being led into a large room. Teal blue paint chipped off plaster walls. The furniture, old and sparse, looked to be original and about as soft as a tree trunk, but it was something. She tested a chair and found it to be as hard as it looked.

  Maybe she was being silly, but she expected high-tech equipment, a few couches, and a desk. “This isn’t it, is it? I mean, we’re kind of out in the open, aren’t we?”

  Jaden quirked a smile as he guided her toward a floor-to-ceiling cabinet.

  Concrete floors were cold but dry. Her gaze landed on a fireplace. And, glory of glories, there was wood cut and neatly stacked beside it just waiting for them. It was probably a prop for a tour guide, but she didn’t care. It looked real enough. “Can we light a fire?”

  “This isn’t it. And don’t worry about this location. No matter what, I’ll keep you safe. Your brother needs you.”

  What about you, Jaden? Do you need me?

  He opened the cabinet and removed shelving.

  If she looked really closely, she could see a small button in the back, which looked like nothing more than a paint splatter.

  Jaden pushed the spot, and the back wall of the cabinet opened like a scene out of an Indiana Jones film.

  Lauren stepped inside and felt as though she’d been transported to another world. A couple of desks, butted against each other, centered the room. A wall in back was filled with high-tech-looking equipment, none of which Lauren recognized. It looked like the ultimate man cave, complete with a wood-burning fireplace and worn couch.

  “This fireplace works.” He brought a thin wire and a hand towel. “No one will see the smoke coming from the chimney in this downpour.”

  Crossing to the supplies, he pulled batteries from the radio. Organizing wood into a small teepee, he said, “Grab me that broomstick over there.” He pointed to the corner.

  Lauren brought over the small whiskbroom, unsure of what he planned to do with this odd collection of supplies. “No matches?”

  “Don’t need any.”

  He pulled out a handful of stiff fibers and laced them through the wood. Attaching wire to each battery terminal, he touched the ends of the bare wires together next to the tinder. Sparks ignited the broom fibers on the first try. He blew out breaths in short bursts while fanning the flame.

  When the old wood started to crackle and hiss, he leaned back on his heels. His slow smile stretched full lips over beautiful, white teeth. She could stare at him forever when he smiled.

  She moved beside him and held her palms out toward the small flame. “I’m impressed. But wouldn’t it be easier just to keep a lighter around?”

  “In the field, we don’t generally carry comforts from home. It’s good to stay sharp. Learn to use anything you can from your surroundings. I can teach you to do it, if you want.”

  “I’d like to learn. Is that part of your training?”

  ***

  Jaden hoped it hadn’t been someone from the agency who’d tipped the bad guys off to his location at the condo. The laughable idea that there could be a mole in the agency wasn’t funny anymore. Then again, Helena craved revenge so badly she could be making mistakes, leaving a trail. Exactly the reason he wanted her far away.

  “This old stuff was ready to burn,” Jaden said. Being so close made him want to take Lauren in his arms, kiss her, never let her go.

  If he were being honest, he’d admit how badly he wanted to lay her down right then and there, feel her silken legs wrap around his waist, and bury himself inside her.

  He had to keep a safe distance. Keep his edge. This place was safe for now. He would signal Gunner again soon, and they needed to be ready for anything. Emphasis on the word anything. Jaden needed to remember that. Anything could happen. He could not afford to let hormones or infatuation, or whatever the hell this was, to rule.

  He’d never felt so boxed in.

  This signal was the most secure. It would be scrambled from the safe house, making it impossible for the cartel to locate him. If someone from the agency was the problem, Jaden would find out soon enough.

  Lauren looked over at him. She was dripping wet, her teeth chattering behind a slight smile on her purple lips. “Maybe these wet clothes will dry out soon.”

  Crossing to the couch, he grabbed a dry blanket. “Take ’em off.”

  Her cheeks turned four shades of red. “Haven’t we already been down this road?”

  Jaden felt as though an emotional wall had come up between them. Back at the condo, she’d allowed him to touch her. What had happened to change her mind? His fingers still tingled from the feel of her silken skin. He’d been with women before. Not one in a long time, but that was because of work. Wasn’t it? Or did he need more than a warm body underneath him?

  Had one-night stands and brief affairs lost their intrigue? He’d been restless lately. Could a woman fill the void in his chest?

  Someone like Lauren?

  His brother’s birthday was coming next week. Jaden always felt off this time of year. And one minute, Lauren was pulling him onto the bed, the next she couldn’t take off her clothes with him anywhere near.

  As fast as a thunderclap, it dawned on him why.

  He’d been physical with the thugs back at the condo. It felt like a knife to his chest to think she didn’t trust him. Did she think he would hurt her? Oh. Hell. No.

  He held up the blanket a
s a screen and closed his eyes. “I won’t look. And you don’t have to be afraid of me. I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want.”

  It would be next to impossible to distance himself, beautiful as she was, but he was almost sure he could hold back. That he could feel the mutual electricity sizzling between them wasn’t making it easy.

  No matter what his body craved, leaving her alone was the right thing to do. Until she was ready. Making a move now would be like showing aggression toward a battered cat. The cat would run.

  She snatched the blanket from his hands. “Okay, you can look now.”

  “Lay down on the couch,” he instructed. He settled next to her with a bottled water and a handful of paper towels. He poured water over the cut on her forehead, carefully dabbing it a moment later with the clean towel.

  He opened the emergency medical kit they kept stocked at the safe house and located a small packet of Bacitracin. “This antibiotic gel will keep your cut from getting infected.” He placed a thin trail of the gel on her forehead before bandaging her with fresh gauze and medical tape. “Better,” he said, satisfied with himself, battling the urge to lean over and kiss her sweet skin.

  “Thanks.”

  “Now to see what’s going on.”

  Jaden returned to the fire a moment later with a small laptop he’d retrieved from one of the desks.

  “You’re contacting your headquarters?”

  “I need to figure out a way to get you off this island.”

  She shook her head furiously. “Not without Max.”

  “He’s been moved. He’s not still here. If he ever was.”

  Despite her fears, she looked peaceful and safe, cocooned in the blanket.

  Mine. Another peak of light elbowed into his dark soul.

  “There’s a good chance they didn’t bring him here to begin with.” He didn’t like the look of panic on her face. The beach might have been a decoy. They could have him tucked away in the States. Wherever she first heard the train.

  He gave it a second thought.

  No. They were here on the island. There were a couple of places they liked to hang out.

  “Why would they do that?” she asked. “If I gave them the money, they said they’d return him. Surely he’s here somewhere.”