Caught in the Crosshair (15 page)

“It’s just a precaution. We don’t know who might be watching, and until he breaks consciousness we don’t have a clue as to what all this is really about. Everything we said before was just guessing. Max is the key.”

Lauren’s stomach dropped. “You don’t think there’s a chance he won’t —”

“He’ll be fine. He’ll get the new lease on life he needs when this is over. A new identity. A new location. A real job. This is his best chance to start over if he’s serious about wanting a new life.”

“Why not do that before? I mean, couldn’t he have turned himself in to the government?”

She felt his body tense.

It dawned on her. If he’d turned state’s evidence, he would’ve had to give up everyone he knew before. Which was basically her. She wondered if that could be the reason he’d called. Did he want her advice before making the commitment? Did he want to say good-bye? Guilt sat heavy on her chest.

Lauren hadn’t considered the possibility that once he testified she might never see him again. The sadness of the thought hit her hard.

One day at a time
. For now, she’d be grateful her brother received the second chance Jaden’s didn’t. “You told me about your brother. Do you have parents out there somewhere waiting to hear from you? Or other siblings?”
Will you open up to me a little more?

“This job works best when you have no family back home waiting for months on end,” Jaden said solemnly.

Did he mean what she thought he meant?

“No ties?” she asked again.

“None.”

“Can I ask a question then?”

“Go ahead.”

She didn’t expect him to answer, but it would nice if he’d give her something, another reason to trust him. So far, he’d been shutting her out of his personal life. “Is Jaden Dean your real name?”

“It is now.”

“You don’t remember your real name, or you don’t tell people?”

“There a difference?”

“Yeah. And a big one at that. You told me to trust you, and I did. I still do. But I don’t even know your real name. I know next to nothing about you. It makes me think you don’t trust me. Do you?”

“Look. My parents died in a car crash not long after my brother was killed. I had a grandmother who took me in. She lived long enough to see me graduate high school. From there I signed up in the military,” he said, looking pained from the admission.

And toughened up? Became so tough no one could ever get close to you?
Yet, she felt surprisingly close to him. How was it even possible? She knew so little about him. But she felt closer to him than she’d ever felt to anyone. Including Max.

“I’m sorry. You’ve lost so many people in your life. People you must’ve cared about.”

He shrugged. “Not much loss really. My old man used to rough us up when we were little. Said he was teaching us how to be men.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“A real man would never hurt a person he loves,” Jaden said in a hiss.

***

Whop. Whop. Whop.

The sweet sound of a UH60 Black Hawk came from the distance.

It was time to fly. Gunner stirred. Lauren checked on her brother.

“We’re cleared. We gotta move fast.” Gunner popped to his feet. “We didn’t get a chance to talk about this before. She’ll need protection from here on out until we unravel this. Should I assign an agent?”

“You aren’t saying you think they’ll go after me back home, are you?” Lauren asked, eyes wide.

“I’m staying with her,” Jaden said to Gunner before turning to Lauren. “It’s a precaution. As soon as we know you’re safe, you can have your life back. Until then, I’m not leaving your side, sweetheart.”

Jaden wanted to tell her he would stay by her side forever. It was a promise he knew he couldn’t keep. A man in his line of work couldn’t commit to forever. And especially one in so deep he’d lost all sense of normal life. One like him.

When he’d waxed nostalgic and reached out to Bryce, he’d been killed. Smith was gone, leaving behind a wife and kids. Helena would never be the same.

What kind of shit was that?

If he ever had rogue thoughts about wanting to settle down, Lauren was exactly his type. Smart. Beautiful. Brave. Incredibly sexy. And yet, it wouldn’t be fair to risk her safety. She was already ensnared in a trap because of her brother. Her anguish for him was palpable. If she ached this much for her brother, how would she feel about her husband? Jaden’s line of work would keep her in danger, too. Anyone tied to him would be threatened. A wife? Family?

Jaden had never expected those things.

His life was built for one.

He figured the best he could do was keep himself alive. He loved his work too much to consider changing professions. Besides, what else could he do? He was a soldier. And a damn good one. White pickets and two point five anything weren’t part of the plan. Lauren deserved both.

And yet, the thrill was gone. Someday, when there were no more bad guys to fight, or the fight drained from him, he’d retire and buy a fishing cabin. Then he’d fish until he couldn’t stand the smell of bait anymore.

Lauren showed up. Had him wanting things he knew better than to expect. He wouldn’t compromise her safety because he selfishly didn’t want to leave her.

When Max woke, they would have the evidence they needed to put the Ruiz and Menendez bastards away for a very long time, and he would disappear from her life forever.

His military training had taught him a thing or two about personal sacrifice.

This is a job. Lauren is an asset. My assignment is to protect her.

So why did an invisible band tighten around his chest?

Chapter Twelve

Lauren stood on the bluff, stunned to silence. Parts and pieces of houses stuck out of a once-idyllic white sand beach, making it look more like a pirates’ graveyard than a millionaire’s playground. The storm had scored a direct hit.

If this were any indication of how the rest of the place looked, the beautiful, magical, island was destroyed.

A little piece of her heart broke off at the devastation.

How many hours straight of howling winds and torrential rains had shattered windows, peeled away roofing, and sent the ocean crashing into homes and hotel lobbies? The relatively few hours it took for the storm to ravage the island would be nothing compared to the thousands of man-hours it would take to rebuild.

It would never be the same again.

How sad was that?

Lauren stood next to Jaden and Gunner as a chopper dotted the horizon, her feet planted on the rocky coastline overlooking the harbor where upside down houses stuck out of the sand.

There were no people or animals. No signs of life.

Lauren’s wide, tearful gaze stopped at Jaden’s. “The horses.”

He squeezed her hand.

“Animals have amazing survival skills. I’m sure they found shelter,” he whispered.

“I hope you’re right.” Because glancing around, there wasn’t a single indication they could’ve made it. There was no wildlife. Not one colorful, usually abundant frigate bird. Nothing. She could only pray they’d found a place to hide too.

Lauren looked straight at Jaden. “How did we survive?”

He shook his head. “We were lucky.”

Taking in a fortifying breath, she released it with a sigh. She needed all the strength she could gather. She was going home. Dallas. Back to her life. Her routine.
What was normal now? After this?

Home was as foreign a word to her as love. The strong person she’d been disappeared back in the same swells that had threatened to claim her life, stripping her defenses. It was the only logical explanation for her heart opening to Jaden. She couldn’t say she was sorry because she was vulnerable in a way that felt natural. It wouldn’t last.

The medic team went to work first. Before she could utter the words, “blue skies,” Max was being loaded, and she was whisked away on a Black Hawk helicopter bound for the States.

The noise from the rotors was deafening, and yet nothing could drown out the thoughts looping in her mind.

Her brother was safe.

She was heading home.

The experience seemed unreal to her now, like a dream, and she half expected to wake up any minute to realize none of it had actually happened.

But it had.

No one spoke on the long helicopter ride. Voices wouldn’t be heard over the sound of rotors cutting through the air anyway. Lauren watched as a medical team went to work on Max. Before long, he had an IV drip of antibiotics and enough pain meds to keep him comfortable.

Her hand rested in Jaden’s the entire trip. He squeezed hers reassuringly from time to time.

They landed at Addison Airport in Dallas by eight o’clock in the evening. Lauren wanted to kiss the ground beneath her feet after touchdown.

An ambulance waited. As soon as they landed, the team transferred Max and disappeared.

When words could finally be heard over the roar of chopper blades, Jaden thanked Gunner.

“Where are you headed?” Jaden asked.

“Back to D.C. to put some of these puzzle pieces together,” Gunner said.

“You have the SIM card?”

Gunner dipped his hand in his front pocket where he’d left it. “It’s gone.”

“Helena must’ve gotten to it. Damn. We need the evidence.”

“I know she’s angry, but I have to believe she’ll be smart about this. You going after her?”

“For now, she’s my priority,” Jaden said, his hand pressed to Lauren’s back. “Besides, Gage is with Helena. He’ll keep things under control.”

Lauren’s heart practically danced, but then all the words he’d said sunk in.
For now
. Her time with Jaden had an expiration date.

“Keep her safe. This’ll all be sorted out soon,” Gunner said.

A uniformed soldier interrupted them.

“These are yours,” Gunner said, tossing a set of keys to Jaden, and motioning toward a parked sedan.

Lauren followed Jaden to the car. “Are we going to the hospital?”

“No. I’m taking you home first. They won’t allow you to see him, and you’ve been through too much,” he insisted. His tone left no room for argument.

***

Lauren sighed as they reached her two-story brick townhouse at Preston and Royal inside half an hour.

“That’s my place there,” she said as they pulled in front of number 622, “we can pull in the attached garage.”

Jaden didn’t so much as blink.

You already know that, don’t you?
She wondered what else he knew about her.

He shook his head as he drove past. “It’ll be best if we park close. There’s a garage nearby that’ll offer better coverage.”

Guess you would know.
Of course, he knew where she lived. He’d been watching her.
For how long?

She hadn’t even considered the possibility that the men she ran from might also have been watching. There it was just the same. It seemed everyone in the world knew more about Lauren than she was comfortable with. A chill crept up her arms. This felt a lot like showing up for a fight blindfolded. At least she had Jaden to count on.

“You don’t think they’d come here, do you?”

“Anything’s possible. We have to keep our guard up at all times.”

Lauren’s heart pulsed in her throat.

Jaden was probably being overly cautious, but she couldn’t argue his logic. It was a smart play.

“We can park near the businesses over there. Their garages will be open and empty this time of night. Then we’ll slip in and take a look.” He drove up the garage to the fifth floor, parked strategically, and stared out the windshield.

Damn. It was easy to watch her front door. Anyone could sit here and see her coming and going. Her routine could be memorized. A serial killer, stalker, or bum could keep track of all her movements from this spot. A chill ran through her. Lauren had never felt so vulnerable.

She looked at Jaden. He wore a contemplative look, as if he were running through and checking off all the possible dangers. After a beat, his gaze shifted and met hers. “Okay,” he said. “We can go now. Stick close by me.”

He braided their fingers together as they walked, and Lauren momentarily imagined they were strolling home after dinner at a nearby restaurant, not secretly eyeing every person who passed by in case they tried to kill them.

The picture erased completely when Jaden stopped at the front door. Blocking the way with his big frame, his gaze intently focused on her. “I’d better go in first.”

A gasp escaped before Lauren could clamp it down. “You think someone might be in there?”

“I don’t want to risk your safety to find out. It’s better if you wait out here. You’ll have a head start. You hear anything strange going on, and I want you to make a run for it. Don’t stop.”

“What about you?”

He took a step forward, pinning her to the wall of her landing, pressing his midsection against her belly. “I’ll let you take care of me when the coast is clear.”

His mouth covered hers. His tongue, hot and needy, sent volts of want through her. All sense of time, place, and danger pooled around her feet. Sensual pleasure heated her veins. A fierce need swirled warmth between her thighs.

Jaden pulled back, quirked a smile. “That should do the trick for now.”

There were those two words again,
for now
, reminding her of the temporary nature of their relationship and the absurdity of it ever having a real chance. Too bad she was starting to believe she could spend forever with him.
Get a grip, Lauren. You don’t even know his real name. He doesn’t trust you enough to tell you.

Jaden pulled the gun from his waistband. Lauren recognized it as the one from the boat. Slowly, quietly, he opened the door, and Lauren’s heart immediately dropped to the floor. She didn’t need to step inside to see the place had been ransacked. Her couch had been overturned. The cushions slashed. Broken and scattered picture frames littered the floor.

“Ohmygod. They’ve been here,” she said in barely a whisper.

His gaze scanned every door, every surface, every possible hiding place. “Shhh. Stay here.”

“Don’t go in,” she pleaded, tugging at his arm. She couldn’t even think of him getting hurt, or worse. Sure, he was a professional, this was his job, but the same could be said for the other guys.

Jaden didn’t immediately break away from her, although his tense body language said he would. Instead, he turned to her and held her gaze. “I’ll check it out. Make sure it’s secure so you can get your things. Then, you’re coming to my place where I can protect you.”

She swallowed, raw emotion threatening to drop her. “I’m going inside with you.”

“Not this time. You stay put. I need you here to watch out for them. You make sure not a soul comes through this door. If anyone out there looks suspicious, scream as loud as you can.” He pulled a small gun from his boot, took off the safety, and placed the weapon in her shaky palm. “Look first, then shoot.”

The spark of determination in his eyes confirmed he meant what he said.

“But what if something happens to …”

His eyes glinted. “You’re sexy when you’re worried.”

Sensual heat crawled up her neck, mixed with fear, but this was not the time for either. She needed her senses to be fully alert to the task at hand. If anything went down, she had to be prepared. “Be careful.”

“Take care of yourself until I come back for you,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Lauren sighed. She wasn’t worried about holding down the fort. What was waiting out there, somewhere, was another story altogether, and she was beginning to wonder if she’d ever truly be out of harm’s way again.

She forced her attention to the walkway outside. She couldn’t think why anyone would come to her place. Except maybe for money. Did they think she’d hide it here instead of taking it with her?

Or were they after something else?

But what?

Gun drawn, Jaden eased inside. One more time, he quietly instructed Lauren to stay back.

What felt like an eternity later, but in reality was only a few minutes, he returned and motioned her to join him.

She bolted the door behind her out of habit more than anything else. “Still think it’s money they’re after?”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t look like they wanted anything, except maybe to scare you.”

She walked around. The devastation reminded her of the post-hurricane island. In the kitchen, her table and chairs had been turned over. Cabinets had been emptied onto the floor where shards of glass mixed with broken bits of bone China.

“Everything’s here. It doesn’t look like anything’s missing, just destroyed. Why would they do that?”

Jaden kept guard near the door. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Of course, mindless violence can’t be crossed off the list. But what I really think is they’re sending a message.”

“To me? What did I do to them?”

“Nothing personal. This is meant for Max.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, stepping over debris, determined to check out what was left of her upstairs.

“It’s a threat.”

If Max testified against these guys, Lauren realized she might never be safe again. Max wouldn’t be the only one who needed a new identity.
Is that what you were trying to tell me, Max? I’m so sorry I didn’t take your calls.

Lauren sucked in a breath and kept moving. A similar scene was found on the second story, and it angered her to the core that everything she’d worked so hard for could be destroyed in one evening. Then again, she’d only worked for
things
so far. It wasn’t like she’d spent the past few years investing in anything real. Like a family. Kids.

Lauren shook it off. She never thought of wanting those things before she met Jaden.

“We have to leave. Grab a change of clothes and anything you want from the bathroom. My place isn’t far.”

Of course not.

Lauren followed his instructions without argument, still numb, feeling even more violated at the realization of why his place was close to hers. He’d been sent to watch her. It suddenly dawned on her that he probably knew a lot more about her than she would ever know about him.
The real him. Has anyone ever gotten inside the real you, Jaden?

“I can’t help but think this whole situation is unfair. You know so much about me, and I can’t return the favor.”

“Your intel folder was a little thin to be honest,” he said before his gaze rose. His entire posture tensed at the realization she was hurt. Like he’d blurted out an insult and wished he could take it back. “I’m sorry. I’ve been on this side too long. It must feel like an invasion to have all your personal data out there for others to read.”

She broke eye contact, focusing intently on folding and placing clothes in her overnight bag. “What did you learn about me in my folder?” Did it tell him how much of her life had been spent alone?

“That you’re a runner. You like to jog in the morning.”

Her gaze trailed up to meet his. He alternated between watching the door and the window, and she was reminded of how dangerous it was to be alone with a virtual stranger in her bedroom. Although he didn’t feel like a stranger. Not after what they’d survived together. “What else?”

“You’ve been an entrepreneur since a very young age. Your business is doing well.”

“It won’t be for long. Not after I raided all the cash.” She suddenly realized she didn’t leave enough to pay vendors next month. She’d taken it all. Left her entire life savings along with all the money she could secure on a boat in the middle of the sea. She heaved a deep sigh. “I
was
a successful business owner. Did that file tell you anything else about my private life?” Anger flooded her, had her asking questions before she could stop and think. “Does it say who I’ve dated? Who I’ve —”