Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart) (19 page)

“I guess it does.”

“Come on, let’s see if we can make a believer out of your brother.”

He pulled her to her feet. “I’ll follow your lead.”

****

Ethan followed Bethany into the living room and Nathan sat in his chair in front of his computer. He looked up at them. “You’re sure you’re okay, Bethany?”

“I’m fine,” she said and tossed his wallet on the table. “I might have deserved it.”

Ethan couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. He stood behind her and leaned indolently against the wall, watching Bethany work her magic.

Nathan scowled then his hand flew to his pants pocket. “What the hell?”

“Sorry. Old habits die hard.” She sat in the chair next to him and without asking grabbed the unused shot glass on the table and poured herself some tequila. She slammed it back without flinching, refilled the glass and sat back with a sigh of contentment. “Now I feel better. Thank you.”

“When did you…?” Nathan asked.

“When I stomped on your foot, you were quite distracted.”

Nathan arched an eyebrow, opened the wallet and double checked his cash. “I don’t use plastic so at least I don’t have to worry about that.” He put the wallet back in his pocket.

Bethany laughed. “I promise, I won’t do it again. But if you’re okay with helping us then we need to come up with a plan.”

Nathan nodded. “That’s the most important part.” He gestured to his computer screen. “I think I might be able to get in, but I have no idea how long it will take.”

Bethany scowled. “Wait a sec. Do you have any cell phones you’ve cracked?”

He blinked at her startled. “I’ve got a shit-ton. I can’t resist them.”

She laughed again. “I never met a hacker who could. I had a smart phone I used to disable computer chips in cars. It only took my hacker friend a couple of hours to get the phone programed. Do you think you could do that for me?”

“Why would you need that?”

“I need a vehicle, Nathan,” Ethan said. “I don’t want to leave Bethany without an escape and I know you won’t let me take your bike.”

“Damn straight. But stealing a car? You’ll get caught.”

“You’d better hope not, because you’re going with her.”

“Hell, no!”

“Don’t worry, Nathan,” Bethany said
, gripping his hand.

Ethan had to fight back an unexpected surge of jealousy.

“Do you have any local thugs that you need to bring down a notch?”

Nathan looked down at Bethany’s hand then looked at Ethan, his anguish obvious.

I know you’re hurting, Nathan, and I’m so very sorry.

Nathan turned back to Bethany, his shoulders slumped as if he knew he’d never be able to resist her request. “Three blocks over,” said tightly. “I almost had to put a bullet in one because he knocked over Mrs. Thomas while trying to steal her purse. She lives a couple of doors down, the woman is in her 70’s. He broke her hip. I was just coming back from the store, saw the whole thing. Managed to stop him and get her purse back.”

Bethany squeezed his hand again. Ethan watched his brother close his eyes and firmly, but gently, pull his hand from hers.

Damn it, Nathan, don’t shut down on us.

Nathan grabbed the bottle of tequila and took a long drink.

Bethany sighed softly. “I need someone who knows the local area because we’re probably going to have them chasing us.”

“At least I know they won’t call the cops.”

“Exactly. I just don’t want them targeting you afterward.”

He shook his head. “They already tried that when I first moved in. I showed them the error of their ways. They’ll leave me alone.” He rose and opened the door to a cabinet, pulling out a large box full of cell phones. He sat it on the table in front of Bethany. “Take your pick.”

“Nathan, you rock.”

His brother gave Bethany a sad smile and Ethan’s heart twisted.

“Hey, bro,” he said. “Why don’t we go over our end of it while Bethany picks out her new toy.”

“All right. What did you have in mind?”

He pulled Nathan over to the couch and spoke softly so Bethany couldn’t hear him. “Nathan, this going to take more than just you breaking into the system.”

“I was afraid of that.” He inclined his head toward Bethany. “Let me guess, she’ll hit the roof if you tell her everything.”

Ethan nodded. “Cordova’s files, I’m worried they’re buried in the system deeper than what even you can get at.”

“If he’s got half a brain in his head, they should be. He shouldn’t have them on a computer at all.”

“I need to get into the building. While you bring the attack from the outside, I’ll hit them from the inside.”

“Fuck,” Nathan said, running his hand through his hair in irritation. “They teach you about computers in the ATF?”

“Not as much as you, but I’m familiar with this system Nathan. I know how to get in and out. I wasn’t able to get the information before because I didn’t have anyone running interference.”

“So you need me as the distraction.”

“Yes. If the system admins are chasing you, they won’t see me.”

Nathan growled, rubbing his eyes.

Bethany crowed in delight,
startling Ethan. “This is it!” she cried, holding up a phone. “This is exactly the same model I had before.”

Nathan chuckled and rose. “At least your lady has good taste in electronics.”

****

Ethan paced the floor of the apartment, worry clawing at his reason. Bethany and Nathan had been gone for hours. He suddenly questioned their plan to steal the car. What if those damn drug dealers got lucky and shot one of them? Nathan had left armed to the teeth but his doubt over Bethany’s abilities was plainly evident.

Ethan grinned to himself. Nathan had no idea what awaited. They had made it this far because of her.

“No,” he said softly. “Because of us…because we’re a team.”

He sat on the couch and threw his head back, trying to relax a little. When this thing had started, he never expected to meet Bethany, he never expected to be so attracted to her, and he never expected to fall in love with her.

“Damn it,” he muttered. But it was time he admitted the truth. He clearly remembered the conversation Nathan had referred to earlier. They had been arguing about Nathan’s drinking. Nathan had said Ethan would never understand him until he fell in love. Ethan had to grudgingly admit Nathan was right on both counts. He had fallen in love with Bethany and now he understood what Nathan had suffered. Ethan knew if he lost Bethany he wouldn’t survive it. No wonder Nathan had crawled into the bottle so deeply. With all the firearms around the apartment, it was a miracle he hadn’t eaten a bullet.

A sound at the door stopped his thoughts and he leapt to his feet. The locks on the doors turned. Nathan and Bethany were back. But as Nathan had said earlier, paranoia had kept him alive. Ethan stepped into the hallway, using the corner as cover and pointed his gun at the door.

“It’s just me, sweetheart,” Bethany said as they entered.

Ethan noted she used to pass-phrase he had told her. He smiled and stepped from the corner, putting away his gun.

Bethany grinned from ear to ear and held up a bag. “We even stopped and got some burgers.”

“Thanks,” he replied, only now realizing he was starving.

Bethany slid into his arms.

“How’d it go,” he whispered.

“You’ll have to ask your brother.”

Nathan closed the door and locked it, then turned to face him. His face held very little color and his hands shook. He walked to the table and took a long pull from the bottle. “Holy shit,” he muttered.

“Well?” Ethan asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“Ethan,” he said, his voice hoarse, but his blue eyes sparked vibrantly. He opened his mouth then snapped it shut. “Holy fuck,” he muttered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have believed me?”

“No,” he said and shook his head. “But damn, bro. I would have never thought a good hiding place was a fast food drive-through.”

Ethan laughed, pulling Bethany to his side. “Now that’s a new one.”

“Hide in plain sight. They’re not cops, Ethan, and it showed. I’m just lucky Nathan had enough cash to buy food for all of us.” She pulled away from him and headed to the kitchen, pulling several hamburgers out of the bag. “Nathan, do you have sodas?”

“In the fridge.”

“What do I owe you?” Ethan said reaching for his wallet.

Nathan held up his hand. “My treat. It’s the least I can do after your lady not only managed to get us talking to each other for the first time in years
, but now has us working together. Plus…she got me home in one piece.”

Ethan chuckled
, but quickly sobered. “Nathan, about that conversation, you were right that I didn’t understand. I do now. I’m sorry, bro. I’m sorry I was so hard on you.” He held out his hand.

Nathan blinked and gazed at Ethan’s hand. Then his face creased into a broad grin and he accepted it, pulling Ethan into a rough embrace. “Thanks, Ethan.”

“Hell has frozen over,” Bethany said from the kitchen doorway. She held two plates each loaded with hamburgers and fries. She smiled and nodded to the couch. “I know we have a lot to do, but while we eat, why don’t we sit down and just talk – you know, like normal people do.”

“You mean normal people don’t boost cars and hunt wanted fugitives?” Ethan asked, grinning.

Nathan laughed.

They ate their meal and Ethan told Nathan of his experience
s with Bethany’s talents.

Nathan finished his burger, wiped his mouth and shook his head. “Amazing,” he said. “Bethany where in the world did you learn to drive like that?”

Bethany’s smile vanished and her face paled a little. She looked to Ethan for help, his heart twisted seeing the sadness in her eyes.

“Nathan,” Ethan said softly. “It’s not a nice story.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject.”

“It’s okay, Nathan,” Bethany said softly. “Let’s just say, I didn’t have the greatest childhood.”

“I tell you what,” Nathan said as he finished his fries. “Why don’t we all get a good night’s rest and then tomorrow we put the hammer down on Cordova? The bathroom is at the end of the hall if anyone wants to take a shower. There are fresh towels in the cabinet.” He took his plate to the kitchen and returned, pouring another shot of tequila.

Ethan sighed heavily, watching him. He had hoped Nathan might back off the alcohol just a little with the repairing of their relationship.

“Hey,” Bethany said, taking his hand in hers. “Patience, Ethan. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it will happen.”

He shook his head. That she could read him so well amazed him. He rose from the couch pulling her with him. “Thanks, Nathan,” he said.

Nathan downed the shot and poured a second. “No problem, bro. Move that weight bench in there if it gets in your way.”

“Thanks, see you in the morning.” He walked to the guest room with Bethany following. He had brought their bags in earlier. He dug through his and flinched.

“What’s wrong, Ethan?”

“My arm is killing me for some reason.”

“You’ve probably been using it too much.”

He hung his head
, suddenly feeling exhausted.

“I know, Ethan,” she said and moved into his embrace. “Why don’t you go take a hot shower, that
will make you feel better. At least tonight we should actually be able to get some sleep.”

“God, I hope so.”

****

Bethany stripped off her clothes and lay naked on the bed. Her gaze fell on the door, waiting for Ethan to return. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow. Instead
, she concentrated on Ethan, remembering the pleasure he ignited within her when he touched her, when he kissed her, when he made love to her. Without truly realizing, she opened her legs and touched herself. Just thinking of him made her hot and slick. God, she wanted him. She caressed her wet folds feeling her own pleasure grow. When Ethan toyed with her he made her crazy with want. God, she needed to feel him inside of her, buried so deeply she didn’t know where she ended and he began.

Her fingers intensified their movement and she moaned his name.

The door opened and Ethan stepped through. He stared at her in shock for an instant and quickly closed the door behind him. She didn’t stop, she couldn’t.

His lashes lowered as he gazed at her, wearing only a towel around his waist. “Oh God, Bethany, whatever you do, don’t stop.” He removed his towel and her gaze locked on his huge erection, firm and swollen. He stepped forward and stroked himself
, but stopped a pace away.

She didn’t want him to stop. She wanted him inside her. Her fingers moved faster, harder, she opened her legs more.

“God, that’s it, Bethany,” he whispered. “I want to see you.”

She parted her legs for him, inviting him to bury himself. His gaze raked over her, lingering between her legs. A knot of pleasure formed within her, she gasped and moaned his name.