Four
Deacon didn’t know what the hell had just happened. How had those men breached security? The alarm hadn’t gone off when the intruders had entered, and it had been activated. He’d had to turn it off to exit the house.
He tried to appear calm, in control, but inside he was shaking. He’d always gone into life and death situations knowing he could die. He accepted his mortality and knew he’d eventually kick off at the wrong end of a knife or bullet. After the things he’d seen and done, he expected nothing less. Fear didn’t do more than up his adrenaline, and he used it to live on that sharp edge, his focus solid.
But tonight he’d been afraid for Solene. He’d foughtangry. And angry men died faster and easier than those dispassionate about dispensing justice. Though the attackers had been amateur at best, they’d been armed. A simple thing to shoot someone by accident.
Solene could have been hurt. And that still freaked him the hell out.
Himself in danger? No biggie. Solene at risk? He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go.
Jesus, he was screwy. He’d fought drug lords, infiltrated guerilla camps, and been tortured more than once for information he’d never given up. Yet a few ill-trained thugs near Solene and he had the shakes.
Glaring at her, then the road, he started up the new car they “borrowed” and drove to the safe house Noel had procured a long time ago. Even before Addy had been involved in this mess, Noel had taken precautions. Always a bolt-hole to hide out in, extra cash and identities on hand, a means of escape.
Noel hadn’t used the place when Addy had been kidnapped and nearly killed. Now with Brent Morgan out of the way, they had one less threat targeting Noel. Except the bastard behind all this now wanted Solene. Alive.
That worried Deacon more than the idea that the bastard might want her dead. It was time to hide her pretty ass and figure shit out.
“Do you think you might let me know where we’re going?” Solene asked, sounding sleepy, to his surprise.
He was way too keyed up to fall asleep. “You’ll see when we get there.”
She sighed. “Wake me up, then.”
He drove in silence, theories and strategies keeping him well occupied. He checked constantly for a tail, stopped, resumed his course, and looped around several times, making the half-hour drive much longer.
When he finally pulled into the remote cabin miles from Solene’s house, they were halfway between Port Townsend and Bainbridge. Not too far away, but far enough to easily get lost off a dirt road leading to another dirt road and now surrounded by trees.
The cabin had limited internet access that was routed and secured through Noel’s personal servers. It had basic amenities, one bedroom, a small living area, and a fully stocked kitchen with foods meant to last. Nothing perishable, but they didn’t need fresh. They needed safety.
He stopped the car and locked up after himself. Solene remained quiet but not asleep. Despite acting tired, she’d been awake the entire trip.
After checking the hidden security panel in the detached garage, he drove the car inside and locked it after him. “Leave the bags,” he told her, grabbing the gun he’d kept next to him during the ride. “I’ll come back for them.”
She nodded. They exited the garage through the side door and entered the house through the heavy oak door in the back. Away from the roads and anyone else living out in the area, they should have been safe. But he wasn’t taking any chances. He didn’t turn on the lights, using the moonlight coming through several windows to illuminate his way.
“Stay here.” He handed her the pistol. A small .22. Not powerful, but it would do the job. “Anyone comes by that isn’t me, shoot.”
Her eyes were wide. “Um…”
“You have shot a gun before, haven’t you?” He knew she had. Noel had been thorough in his report.
“Yeah.” She swallowed audibly. “I’ll be fine.”
He saw the fear she tried to hide and felt his heart wrench. “Yeah, fine as shit.” He teased and stroked a finger down her cheek. “If the gun bothers you, you can always use it to club anyone who gets in your way.” Another fact he loved about the woman. She knew self-defense and could function in a crisis.
She gave him a wan smile.
“I’ll be right back.”
It took him no time to ascertain their solitude in the small cabin. He returned to see her where he’d left her, in the corner of the entryway, her back to the walls, away from the door and windows.
“All clear.”
She let out a breath. “Then can we please turn on the lights?”
He chuckled. “Go ahead.”
