“Holy fuck! How’d you know that was coming?”
“The red laser beam on your chest was my first clue.” Adam rubbed his knee.
“Are you okay, Mags?” Mitch turned her to face him and ran his hands up her arms, searching for injuries.
“Did someone just shoot at you?” Maggie was shaking, and her eyes were the size of saucers.
“Yes. And I’d be dead right now if it wasn’t for Adam. Damn, man, that’s the second time this week you’ve saved my ass. Now I really owe you.”
“I’ll put it on your tab.” Adam slapped him on the back.
“Damn it. This shoots to hell the theory that Manuel doesn’t have good help. It took some brains to figure out we were here and some cash to send a helicopter,” said Mitch. “He must have called for backup, but from who?”
“We’ve got to get you two somewhere safe, and then we’ll worry about the rest. I’m sure they didn’t count on missing, but if somebody with brains is calling the shots now, there’s probably a Plan B.”
“You’re right. And that could mean anything from them storming the place to lying in wait on the main road to ambush us. We need to get out of here quick.”
“And I’m sure they’d recognize our rigs by now. Maggie, do your grandparents have a car we could borrow?” asked Adam.
“I’ll check the garage. Assuming they hitched a ride to the airport, it should be there.”
Mitch reached up to turn the kitchen lights off, plunging them all into darkness. “I’ll come with you to check. Lead the way, but don’t turn any lights on.”
“Adam, will you call Jenny and have her start the family phone tree to tell them the beach house is off-limits until further notice? I don’t want any of my family getting hurt.”
“Of course. I’ll do it now while you guys check for the car.” He patted her shoulder. “What do you think, Mitch? Leave the local police out of this for now?”
“Yeah, someone might call in the helicopter noise, but since we didn’t hear the rifle shots, I’m sure no one else did, either. Dealing with the police will take forever and we should go as soon as possible.”
Mitch grabbed Maggie’s hand, and they set off slowly down the long hallway. Her hand felt cold and tiny in his.
When they made it to the garage, Mitch turned on the flashlight app of his phone and was relieved to see a dark blue, four-door Toyota Camry. The most common car in the world. Perfect.
“Thank God. Let’s go find the keys.” He turned to go but stopped.
Maggie hadn’t moved and was strangely quiet. He put the phone, flashlight still on, in his breast pocket. It gave just enough light to see her face.
“Look at me.” He turned to her and put both hands on either side of her face. She was trying hard not to cry. He kissed her hard on the mouth.
“Mags, I’m not gonna lie to you. This did just get more serious. Manuel has obviously called in some reinforcements, but I swear to you, I will not let him get you.” He kissed her again, softly this time.
She melted into him and began to relax. He took the kiss deeper and pulled her in tight. Guiding her toward the car without breaking the kiss, he backed her up to it and sat her on the hood. She spread her legs, and he moved in between them, one hand on each side of her hips.
“You’re going to be the death of me, woman.” He put his forehead to hers. Neither said anything for a long minute.
Then, reluctantly, he helped her off the hood. “Come on. Let’s go. Better not start something we can’t finish.”
Staying clear of the windows, they quickly packed their things, found Oliver, and headed back to the city. Adamdrove while Mitch and Maggie stayed curled up on the backseat floorboard. Once they confirmed no one was following, Mitch climbed into the front seat.
***
The men spoke in deep, hushed voices, and Maggie, after losing track of the conversation several times, laid her head back and closed her eyes. A lot had happened in the last couple of days —the threats, the running, the hiding. The sex. Her relationship with Mitch had progressed to reluctant friends. With benefits. It should be the least of her worries, but she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
What she wanted to say in the garage, but couldn’t, was that she was more worried for him than for herself. She couldn’t tell him that she might be, just a tiny bit, in love with him. That despite her better judgment and all the pep talks she’d given herself about how sex with him was just about the sex, it was possible, that maybe, she truly cared for him. No, he would not want to hear that. She promised him no commitment, and she’d stick to her word.
She knew from the beginning that casual sex would be hard for her, but was also smart enough to realize it had moved past that for her. Watching him barely miss taking a bullet forced her to admit she had feelings for him. Strong, deep feelings that he would never return. She might as well face that now. Did she still want to sleep with him knowing he would probably break her heart? Maybe. Surely a few more times wouldn’t hurt.
She finally dozed off. Mitch woke her once they arrived at his apartment building.
