John heard the sound of two shots behind him and knew that the LC had taken care of the two other guys. “The big one,” John said, turning over his shoulder. “He has a knife.”
The LC fumbled around while John kept his foot on Mick’s neck. He was unconscious, but the LC wanted him alive. A few seconds later, the LC had the knife and John’s hands were free.
“He’s mine after you are done with him,” John said to the LC. He was already heading toward Brittany when the LC nodded.
The next few moments were a blur. John cut the zip ties that had been used to bind her feet and arms, and then she was in his arms. He didn’t know what he was saying; all he knew was that she was safe.
“God, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I love you so much. I never should have left.”
The bruised and bloody face that looked up at him was filled not with wonder and happiness at his words but with outrage. “You have got to be kidding me. I’ve been waiting for five years to hear those words out of Mr.Good Times’ mouth andnowyou say them? In a room full of dead guys and me looking likethis?”
John tried not to smile, but it was damned hard. “I think you look beautiful.” He stroked her bruised face gently with the pad of his thumb. “These will heal, but you are alive.”
She was trying not to smile, too, but her eyes were glistening with tears. “If you think you are getting away with telling me you love me like that, you are more crazy than he is.” She waved at Mick, who was being interrogated by the LC.
From the look of anger on the LC’s face, he didn’t seem to like what the bastard was saying.
“Should I hire a marching band?”
“That would be a good start.” Her expression softened, the teasing slipping away. “I was thinking more along the lines of you cooking dinner, a glass or two of wine, and...” She leaned up to whisper something in his ear that sounded really good.
He couldn’t wait to get her in bed again and show her how good.
“You’re on.” But he wasn’t going to let himself off the hook as quickly as she had. When he thought... He shuddered. “God, when I think of what you’ve gone through. I’m so damned sorry.”
“I heard what he said to you,” Brittany said. “He didn’t rape me.”
John was relieved she’d escaped that. But her poor face. His chest squeezed as he wiped some of the blood from her cheek. “He’s still going to pay for this.” He gave her a long look. “I really do love you, Brit.”
“I know.” She gave him a wistful smile. “I just wasn’t sure you ever would.” Suddenly her expression changed. “Oh no!”
“What?” he asked.
But she was already pulling her phone out of herpocket as she said, “Mac, are you still there?” Pause. “Oh my God, I don’t know how I’m ever going to thank you.” She listened for a while before turning back to him. “She thinks I let you off too easily.”
He lifted a brow.
Brittany grinned. “She said you should be crawling naked with the marching band and twirling a baton.”
He was about to reply with a joke that any guy would make when hearing the word “baton” in the same sentence as “naked,” but that’s when the room exploded for the second time.
They’d made a mistake. There were six guys, not five. The LC had cleared the ship, but there must have been another guy keeping watch from the warehouse. Maybe one of the guys had warned him on the radio before being killed. John didn’t know. All he heard was the shot from the door, and the LC’s grunt of surprise as he went full plank to the floor.
Before John could grab the LC’s gun and take down the shooter, there was another shot from outside. The shooter fell.
John had the gun in his hand and aimed at the door when a woman ran through it. Fortunately, he recognized Kate and the man who came in after her—his former chief, Colt Wesson—before he pulled the trigger.
She screamed when she saw Taylor lying on the ground and ran toward him. “Oh God, Scott, no!”
Colt came to a sudden stop as if he’d just run full speed into the proverbial brick wall.
Which was why it was John who reacted when Mick raised a gun and pointed it toward Kate.
John fired. He heard Brittany cry out as the bullet hit Mick right between the eyes, taking a good portion of the top of his head along with it.
She buried her head against him and sobbed. John comforted her even as his gaze met the LC’s.
“I’m okay,” Taylor said.
