Cole couldn’t help but embrace the low hum of excitement swelling inside the car. It was always like this when they were on the edge of completing a mission. The adrenaline rush was addictive to them all, he wasn’t humble enough to pretend as though he didn’t enjoy this part of his job. “Tomi, I want you to listen, and I want you to listengood.”
Tomi didn’t seem to be the least bit impressed by the visible excitement, her blue eyes were large and round and her face was pale. She had all the classic symptoms of a woman on the verge of panicking. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her, but he couldn’t afford the distraction. Not yet. “Are you listening?” He tried to use his commanding Dom voice to scare her out of her ownimmobility.
“What the hell else would I be doing right now?” She answered in a waspishtone.
He chuckled, “There’s my girl. When we park the car, I’m going to move you into the house as soon as possible. We can’t let Stahl know that we’re onto hisgame.”
“Got it,” she nodded, “Don’t tell Stahlanything.”
Cole pulled his pistol out of his holster and chambered a round, savoring the feel of the heavy metal in his hands. “No baby, not just that.” Cole re-holstered his pistol and gave her his full attention. “If he’s going to buy into the thought that we are still playing into his hands, you’ve got to play your part too. I’ve got to carry you into the house, keep you covered up like I’m trying to hide you, just like I would do if we really were trappingLuis.”
“O-okay.”
“Once we’re inside, I want you to get up next to something big and sturdy and hide. No matter what you hear, you don’t come out. You got that?” He reached across the distance and captured her cold hands inhis.
“What aboutyou?”
Even now, when she was in danger, she was thinking about him. His protective instincts surged. “I’m going to take care of Stahl. And then, I’m going to take care ofyou.”
A faint blush stained her cheeks at his erotic innuendo. Damn, she was so fucking beautiful it almost hurt to look ather.
“Turning in,” Clintsaid.
Carter had his rifle angled across his knees, loading a round and readying his gun. “Ready. Get her inside, we’ll cover yourback.”
“Cole, I’mscared.”
He hit the button on her seatbelt, and then pulled her across the bench seat and into his lap. “I’ve got you. Nothing’s going to happen to you. Not with me here.” He reached behind him and grabbed the heavy gray wool blanket from behind the seat. “Wrap your arms around my neck, keep your head down. I’ll cover you with this and get you into the house. After that, you hide just like I toldyou.”
“Yes, sir.” He could feel her smiling against hisneck.
Cole gave her ass a light slap. “Smartass.”
“Ready?” Clintsaid.
“Ready,” Cole answered. He yanked the blanket over Tomi, slipped his arm beneath her knees and waited for the SUV to slow. A large awning stretched out in front of the door, two flood lamps flanked each side, casting the stoned entryway in a soft glow, while the rest of the trees and yard faded into darkness around them. The FBI’s headlights flashed behind them, signaling they’d turned onto the drive. Clint pulled to a complete stop. Cole grabbed the handle and opened the door. He stepped out with Tomi in his arms and practically ran to the front door. He was inside before Stahl’s team could get out of theircars.
Once he entered the residence, he passed the polished hardwood floors and dark green walls of the hallway and kept on moving, past a large den. Right before the kitchen, he hooked a right down a darkened hall. He ripped open the second door on his right, dropped Tomi and shoved her behind him and cleared the room. A large bedroom with a massive four-poster at the center along the wall. Beside that stretched out a heavy dresser. Cole propelled Tomi forward and pushed her down at the end of it. “Stay here. Don’t come out. Don’t come to the door. I will come and get you, no oneelse.”
She had that terrified expression again, but she nodded, agreeing with every word he said. “Okay,Cole.”
Cole planted a hard kiss on her lips, burying his hand in her hair. “I loveyou.”
“I love you too.” She flung her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Please besafe.”
* * *
Cole kissed her again,returned to the door and switched off the lights. He slid his pistol from his holster and crept into the hall, silently closing the door behind him. There wasn’t a single other sound inside the house. The silence wasdeadly.
In a crouch, he made his way down the hall back towards the kitchen. The dim glow of light filtered from the entryway but that was it. His brothers hadn’t entered yet, but neither had any of the FBI agents. Careful, in case he was walking into a trap, Cole crept around the corner back towards the front door. A tall, heavy entryway table flanked the left wall and he ducked behind it, leaning out to peer through the window to the right of the door. He could just make out his brothers standing casually by the car, talking to two agents Cole didn’trecognize.
They didn’t appear to be the least bit tense, but his brothers were always ready. They could handle the agents just like Cole’s team could manage the rest of Stahl’s backup. The only thing missing from this picture was agent Stahlhimself.
He should be barging through that front door, or at least trying to getinside.
Carefully, Cole made his way around the corner of the table and to the living room, giving himself a better vantage point to look outside and take in the situation. He still couldn’t find Stahl in the picture, but he caught Carter’s worried glance past the agent’s shoulders, as if he were looking for someone or something to come stalking down the drive. Something wasn’t righthere.
“You’re smarter than I gave you creditfor.”
