by Elle James
The first thing CJ did was move out of the site of the door frame and deeper into the house, turning off lights as she went.
Cole followed her, his gun still gripped in his hand. “What’s going on?”
“What? I thought you wanted to be a little closer so that you could protect me,” she said as she closed even the slightest gaps in the blinds. The only light illuminating the rooms came from the streetlamp in front of the town house shining around the edges of the curtains.
Cole’s hand on her arm brought her to a stop. “Seriously, what happened? Why did you ditch me on the train?”
She shrugged. “We had a tail, so I got off.” CJ glanced away, her lips thinning. “My tail got off at the same time.”
“Damn it, CJ.” Cole’s fingers gripped her shoulders, forcing her to face him. “How can I help you, if you don’t let me?”
Her chin rose and she stared straight into his eyes. “What could you do that I didn’t?”
“What did you do?”
“I hid, changed disguises and waited for the next train. When I got on, he didn’t.” She breathed in a deep breath and let it out. “But he found where I lived and broke in.”
Cole swore again. “That’s it. You’re staying with me.” He held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear any argument. You and I are going to be like Siamese twins, joined at the hips.”
Her lips twitched, a smile forming. His words struck her as funny. If she wasn’t in such a hurry to get away from whoever was following her, she might have laughed at the image his words invoked. “We can’t stay here. If he found me once, he’ll find me again.”
“Give me a second to put on shoes.” He moved her to the shadows of the hallway and pointed at her chest. “Stay.”
“I’m not a dog.”
His eyes narrowed. “On second thought...” Cole took her hand and led her into his bedroom. “I’m keeping an eye on you. You have a habit of slipping away.”
“I won’t this time,” she promised.
“Yeah. And I’m supposed to believe that?” He shook his head and stripped out of his sweatpants.
CJ’s eyes widened at the boxer briefs he wore beneath them. They fit his tight backside like a second skin. When Cole turned to face her as he shook out a pair of jeans, CJ’s breath caught in her throat.
The thick bulge in front was evidence the man was built and that he was a little turned on at the moment.
He jammed his legs into the jeans and pulled them up and over the hard ridge.
CJ was almost sad he’d zipped himself into the tight denims.
He didn’t bother to tuck in his T-shirt; instead, he pushed his arms into a leather jacket and shrugged it on over his shoulders. “Ready?”
She snorted. “Always. You’re the one that needed to get dressed.” CJ glanced around. “Got a ride?”
“In the garage.”
“If we go out, he’ll see us leaving.”
“Then we go out with you tucked down low.”
“If they know where to find me, they might also know you’re involved with me in some way. That makes you as much of a target as I am.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“Too late. You did. I’m stuck with you, and we’re getting out of here together.” He winked. “Trust me. I’m smarter than you think.”
CJ knew he’d been a competent marine, or he wouldn’t have made it into the elite Marine Force Reconnaissance. But how would they get the vehicle out of the garage without attracting the attention of the man who’d broken into her town house?
The answer was...they wouldn’t.
* * *
COLE INSTRUCTED CJ TO get down on the floorboard as he jumped into the driver’s seat. His Hummer was facing out. He almost always backed into his garage so he could be ready to roll whenever duty called. As he jabbed the automatic door opener button on his visor, he started the engine.
Like a thief who’d just robbed a bank, Cole stomped on the accelerator and roared out of the garage onto the street, turning away from the town house CJ said she had occupied.
Just when he thought he’d made it out without encountering resistance, the back window of his Hummer exploded, spitting glass through the interior. Since the bullet hadn’t gone all the way through the front windshield, Cole assumed it had lodged into the back of one of the seats.
He didn’t wait around for a repeat performance. His foot pressed all the way to the floor, he raced down the street, putting as much distance as he could between them and the active shooter. Three blocks farther, he turned onto another road. If the shooter had a vehicle or a driver waiting nearby, they could catch up to them. The Hummer wasn’t known for being a great getaway vehicle. Thus, distance before the shooter could mount up was key.
“CJ?”
“Yeah,” she replied.
“You all right?” he asked.
She unfolded, sliding up into the passenger seat. “I’m okay.” Looking over her shoulder at the shattered back window, she grimaced. “Which is more than I can say for your vehicle. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come to you.”
“Don’t say that. The window can be replaced. If you had been hit...” Cole shook his head. “Well...dead is dead. There’s no replacing someone.”
CJ snorted. “There would be no need to replace me. I don’t have a family who depends on me. Really, no one would care whether I lived or died.”
Cole reached out and took her hand in his. “I’d care.”
She gave him a weak smile. “Don’t feel like you have to humor me.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t feel obligated.” His lips twisted. “Now, quit feeling sorry for yourself and keep your eyes peeled for anyone following us.”
“Gotcha.” CJ turned in her seat and peered through the shattered glass.
Racing through the residential streets of Arlington, he avoided the main arteries and aimed for one of the side roads that led to the Halverson estate. Whoever had guessed he and CJ had a connection would also know the connection Cole had to Charlie Halverson. After the kidnapping and subsequent rescue of the vice president of the United States, more people would know of the existence of Declan’s Defenders. If not by the team’s moniker, then by their personal names. If anyone was following Cole and CJ, they’d soon discover the meeting location at the Halverson estate.
In which case, he should get there as quickly as possible to avoid any Trinity agents who might try to beat him by using a more direct route.
He thought of calling ahead to let the team know he’d be coming in, possibly with a tail, but he put all his focus on the drive instead, mapping out the best route in his head. He’d phone when they were closer and knew more.
Finally on the country road leading to Charlie’s estate, Cole increased his speed, determined to get inside the safety of the Halverson gates and wall.
At every curve, he slowed, expecting to find a vehicle blocking the road on the other side of the bend. Coming out of the last turn, he could almost taste the home stretch to the gate. That’s when he saw something lying across the road. It appeared flat, like maybe a strip of construction material that had fallen off the back of a truck. It was hard to make it out in the dark. He didn’t have enough time to slow down before he reached it.
He was going fifty miles per hour when, at the last minute, he saw what it was and slammed on the brakes. Too late. His tires hit the spike strip and exploded.
“Get down!” Cole cried out.
The steering wheel jerked in his hands. He held on as best he could but had little effect as each tire hit the spikes. His Hummer careened out of control and skidded on flat tires and bare metal rims on the pavement. When they ran out of pavement, the metal wheels dug into the shoulder and the vehicle flipped, rolling down into the ditch, landing, by some miracle, upright, airbags deploying and pushing them both back i
n their seats.
“Get out!” CJ yelled. “Get out and run!” She struggled with the airbag and her door. When she couldn’t get it open, she used the gun in her hand and hit it with the grip, breaking through the window. With the barrel, she cleaned away the jagged pieces, grabbed her backpack, pulled herself through and dropped to the ground.
It took Cole several attempts before he finally managed to shove open his door. He reached into the glove box, grabbed his handgun and dropped out.
“Run!” CJ shouted, already halfway up the other side of the ditch, heading into the darker shadows of the woods.
Cole stumbled, then found his footing and raced after her.
He’d barely reached the tree line when he heard a blast. Less than a second later, he was thrown to the ground by the force of an explosion. Metal, glass and fragments of what had once been his Hummer filled the air around him.
His ears rang as he pushed to his knees and searched the gloom for CJ.
Over his shoulder, flames rose from the burning fuel that had spilled onto the road.
Movement captured his attention out of the corner of his vision.
Slinging her backpack over her shoulders, CJ staggered to her feet, her body visible in the light from the fire and silhouetted against the darkness of the trees.
Though his head spun, and his ears rang, he realized that if he could see CJ, others could, too. Could see both of them. Hunkering low, he ran toward CJ.
“Get down,” he said as he got close. “Get down!” When she didn’t drop fast enough, he hit her from behind, tackling her like a linebacker.
She crashed to the ground as the sound of gunfire echoed through the trees and splinters of bark rained down on them.
The rapid report of multiple rounds being popped off indicated the shooter had a semiautomatic rifle.
“Move, but stay low,” Cole urged. On his hands and knees, he clung to the shadows, following CJ as she crawled through the underbrush, moving deeper into the woods.
Crouched as they were, they wouldn’t stay ahead of their attackers for long. Though his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, it was difficult to know which way they were going. As long as they kept moving away from the light of the fire, they were headed in the right direction.
The gunfire ceased and silence stretched like a bad dream. Any movement made noise when they crossed over dried leaves and twigs. But it couldn’t be helped. They didn’t have armored vests and helmets to protect them from gunfire. And Cole didn’t have his M4A1 rifle to fire back. He’d have to get close enough to use a pistol to kill his opponents. That was too risky.
When he thought they were out of range of the rifle, Cole pushed to his feet.
CJ rose, as well.
Grabbing her hand, he took off running, zigzagging through the trees.
Not ten seconds later, gunfire announced that their pursuers weren’t far behind.
Finding a wall of brush, Cole pulled CJ in behind it. Together, they lay low to the ground and waited. Perhaps someone would notify the police of the fire by the road. Hopefully, they could hold out long enough for help to arrive.
If not, Cole would wait until their opponents passed in front of them. At that point, he’d have a chance of hitting his targets with the handgun he’d jammed into his waistband.
Footsteps crashed through the underbrush, heading toward them.
With the barrel of his Glock, Cole pushed aside the brush and peered through the opening.
Two men ran through the woods, carrying what appeared to be AR-15 rifles. The lead man aimed ahead and fired several rounds.
Cole and CJ ducked as low to the ground as they could get.
A siren wailed in the distance.
At first, the men running toward them didn’t hear the emergency vehicle’s alarm. They were almost to where Cole and CJ lay hidden when they stopped running and listened.
One swore. “Gotta get back to the vehicle.”
“What about our target?” the other asked.
“Can’t stay, or they’ll find our van. Empty your clip. Maybe we’ll get lucky.” The lead guy turned and fired into the trees. His partner did the same.
Cole moved, covering CJ’s body with his as the barrage continued for the next thirty seconds.
He lay still and waited, even after the gunfire ceased. Afraid to make a sound, he didn’t dare move.
The shuffle of feet indicated the men were moving again, heading back the way they’d come.
As their footsteps faded, Cole moved off CJ’s back and looked through the bushes.
Their pursuers were gone.
Cole remained hidden behind the greenery for another full minute before he spoke. “Clear.”
CJ rose up to a kneeling position. “The fire’s dying down.”
The siren grew louder. Through the trees, they could see the flashing lights of a fire engine and the blue lights of a law-enforcement vehicle.
Cole stood and held out his hand.
CJ took it and let him draw her to her feet.
They walked back through the woods, hand in hand.
As they neared the scene of the explosion, CJ stopped in the shadows. “I’d rather not make my presence known.”
Cole nodded. “Follow this road for a quarter of a mile to get past this circus. I’ll call to have one of the guys come get us. But right now, I need to let the fire department and law-enforcement personnel know the driver of that burning vehicle is not dead.” When CJ turned, Cole held on to her hand, forcing her to stop. “Promise me you’ll be there when I shake loose of this mess.”
She hesitated for a moment.
Cole squeezed her hand gently. “You’ve trusted me so far, why stop now?”
Her fingers tightened around his. “I’ll be there.”
Not sure he trusted her to keep her word, Cole pulled his gun out of his waistband and laid it in her hand that he’d been holding. “Take this. I don’t want to have to declare it to the law.”
She slipped it into one of her jacket pockets.
“CJ?” He cupped her cheek in his palm. “We’re going to figure this out. I promise.”
She looked up, the lights from the fire engine flashing in her eyes. “That’s the plan.”
He bent and brushed his lips across hers. “Not just a plan.” He kissed her again. “A promise.” He pulled her close, crushing her in his arms, his mouth coming down over hers.
Her body stiffened in his arms. But as he continued to kiss her, she relaxed, melting against him, her lips opening to him. Her hands crept up around his neck and she leaned into him.
For a long moment, the world faded away around them and Cole caressed the back of CJ’s neck and slid his tongue along hers in a kiss he didn’t want to end.
When he raised his head, he let go and stood back.
CJ touched a hand to her lips. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t know.” He reached out and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “But if you don’t go now, I’ll do it again.”
She caught his hand in hers and pressed her lips into his palm. Then she turned and ran. CJ moved like a cat, slipping through the darkness, her supple body all grace in motion.
Once he was certain she was far enough out of range, Cole pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Declan.
“Cole. Tell me you aren’t on the highway headed to Charlie’s?”
“Sorry, but I was.”
“We heard an explosion and came out to see what was going on. Was that you?” Declan asked.
“Afraid so. I was on my way to Charlie’s when all hell broke loose.” Cole explained what happened from CJ showing up at his door to the men blowing up his Hummer. “We’re going to need a ride to Charlie’s after I check in with the first responders. I’m supposed to meet CJ a quarter mile from the scene. She m
ight have passed you in the darkness. She probably won’t come out until I show up.”
“Got it. We’ll turn around and wait for you to come out. I’ll let Charlie know. She might have some connections to get you out of there sooner rather than later.”
“Thanks.” Cole ended the call and emerged onto the highway amid the emergency vehicles.
At the center of the crew working the fire, Cole found the sheriff and firefighter in charge. While he gave them a rundown on what had happened, he was careful not to mention anything that had occurred prior to his being on the road where the incident had occurred. He pretended he didn’t have any idea why someone would want to attack him.
Once the sheriff and the fire chief finished with him, he gave them his phone number and promised to be available to answer any further questions that arose.
“Need a ride?” the sheriff’s deputy asked.
“No, thank you,” Cole responded. “Already called a friend.” He left the emergency crews doing what they did best and jogged down the road. He found Declan’s truck less than a tenth of a mile away. Mack had moved to the backseat of the king cab. Cole jumped in and leaned forward as they drove slowly along the road to the approximate location where he’d asked CJ to wait.
All the while, he prayed that his kiss hadn’t scared her off, that she would be there. Based on her reaction to his kiss, she hadn’t seemed angry. Just the opposite. She’d kissed him back. What worried him was why. Had she responded the way she had because she’d liked it? Or had she given him what he wanted with the intention of ditching him and moving on by herself without raising his suspicion right away?
His breath lodged in his throat, Cole scanned the roadside, searching for the woman who’d captured his attention, his admiration and might just conquer his heart.
Chapter Five
CJ hunkered low in the shadows, watching the road, waiting for Cole, as she’d promised.
The CJ who’d been living on her own for the past year, remaining aloof and independent of anyone, itched to run and keep running. And she might have.
If not for that kiss.