When the doors started to close, Chase pushed the button to keep them open long enough for Trevor to slide through.Then he turned and held the doors for Carson.
Trevor let go of the door and grinned.“We thought you might need backup getting to the airport.”
Carson grimaced as he punched the button for the ground level.“I feel kind of sorry for the ladies we left with Alana’s father.”
“Me, too,” Alana said.“He’ll be grilling Gina about now.”Her lips curled upward at the corners.“She’ll give him hell.She loves pushing all of his buttons.”
“I love when she pushes all of mine,” Carson said.“That’s one sassy female.”He clapped his hands together.“Just the way I like them.”
Alana frowned.“Don’t you hurt my friend.”
Carson held up his hands.“I wouldn’t dare.Besides, she scares me.”He chuckled.“I haven’t felt this alive since I came down to Cabo San Lucas.I didn’t realize how much I missed all the action and danger associated with being a Navy SEAL.”He turned to Chase.“I don’t suppose your boss in Montana could use another SEAL on his team, could he?”
“It doesn’t hurt to ask.All he can say is no.”Chase slipped an arm around Alana’s waist and pulled her close.“Remind me to give you his phone number.”
Carson nodded.“Will do.”
When they reached the ground floor, the doors slid open, and the three men escorted Alana to the concierge’s desk, where she requested a taxicab to take them to the airport.
As they waited inside the lobby for the taxi to arrive, Chase kept a vigilant eye on the people coming and going.If anyone looked the least bit suspicious, he’d be ready to throw himself in front of Alana to protect her from harm.
Nothing happened, and soon one of the hotel valets came through the door and motioned for them to come.“Your taxi has arrived.”
Chase slipped his arm around Alana again and pressed his body close to hers, providing a shield of flesh and bone to protect her against bullets, knives or other forms of attack.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention as he walked out of the lobby.Carson and Trevor were his wingmen, also providing a human shield to protect Alana.
A taxicab idled at the curb.The hotel valet hurried forward to open the door for her.
Glancing first left and then right, Chase motioned for Alana to slide in first.
Trevor rounded the back of the vehicle to the other side.
Carson stood at the trunk, ready to toss the luggage inside as soon as the driver popped the latch.
Chase lifted his foot to slide into the vehicle beside Alana.
A pop erupted behind Chase, followed by a stinging sensation in his back and a crackling sound.Electricity ripped through him.
His muscles locked, frozen in mid-step.He couldn’t grip the door, his hands useless.His jaw clamped so hard it hurt.
Move, he urged himself.
Nothing.
Not even a finger responded.He couldn’t control his breathing.
A crackling sound filled his ears like the snapping of his bones from the inside out.
Chase’s vision jolted, the world tilted and gravity took him down.He crashed into the pavement.With no way to catch himself, his shoulder hit first, pain shooting through him.His cheek slammed against the asphalt.
An engine revved, and tires squealed.As the taxi leaped forward, the door slammed shut.
Chase lay twitching, helpless and trapped in a body that wouldn’t work as he watched the taxi streak away.
“Fuck!”Carson yelled.
“Chase,” Trevor dropped down beside him.“What happened?Are you okay?”
