“Let me rephrase it. Get in, or I’ll see that Ellis spends a very long time tied to a bed.”
“I’ll bet on my team that she doesn’t.”
“Your team? Would that be the one that just scrambled through the fence?” He held up his phone, a red dot centered on the screen. “Two can play the tracker game, Sievers. Though, I didn’t realize she had a second one until shit went sideways. Thought I was being proactive tagging her—just in case. Like I said. She’s one hell of an operative. Get. In.”
Shit. Even if his buddies scanned her, she still had the one she’d swallowed. They wouldn’t know there was a second unit until it was too late. But getting in wasn’t an option. Not when they’d use him to hurt her.
McCormick’s grin faded. “I’ll give you one more chance. Get in, and I might just keep you both alive. Exploit her skills for a while longer. Or, I can just drop a missile on whatever safehouse they’re hiding out in. You’re not the only one with a drone, either.”
One shot. That’s all Colt had. Peg McCormick between his beady little eyes. End it.
Damn, he hated when shit went sideways.
He eased up a bit. A few seconds and they’d relax, too. Not a lot. Just enough to get off that one shot. Everyone stayed primed. Alert. Then, there…a slight dip in the muzzles. Just a few more inches…
Lights. Blinking all around them. Reflecting of the smoke—giving it an almost hallowed glow. Footsteps. Everywhere. Racing toward them, then Marshals swarming the vehicle—armed to the teeth. Cars rolling in on all sides. Art talking through a loud speaker.
A helicopter rose up from the pier. Just appeared above the water out of the smoke. Huge spotlight shining down. Like a giant bullseye around the Suburban. Colt raised his hands—didn’t resist when a couple of marshals shoved him to the ground, holding him in place with their knees. The pavement bit into his palms, chilling his already icy skin. The position more than a bit uncomfortable.
Took a minute for Art to finally make his way over— clear him. The man nodded, then struck off, barking out orders. Colt scrambled to his feet, then took off running, Heading for the fence. Fuck, if McCormick had sent a team to intercept Six and the others…
He ran flat out, vaulting over whatever got in his way. He hit the fence still sprinting—dove through the opening then straight to his feet. Gravel crunched beneath his boots, more smoke and dust clogging the air. Two rights and a left. Down a small alley. The Jeep should be off to his left.
He stopped at the corner, pressing into the wall. Already working through what he’d do if his team was surrounded. A deep breath, then he was stepping out. Muzzle sweeping the lot, finger ready to pull…
Cannon arched a brow as he leaned against Jericho’s Jeep. Arms crossed. “Was it something I said?”
“Christ.” Colt blew out a rough breath, lowering the weapon. “I thought McCormick sent a damn wet squad to take everyone out. He put a tracker on Ellis.”
Cannon grinned. “The bastard tried. It didn’t work out too well for them.” He straightened. “You done trying to sacrifice yourself, now? Someone’s asking for you.”
Colt flipped off his buddy, darting over to the Jeep. Ice had Ellis sitting sideways on the seat, blanket wrapped around her, flashing a light in her eyes. Colt stopped behind the other man and just stared at her. Drank in every detail. The tangled mass of brown hair. Her half-lidded eyes. The hint of blue around her lips. She looked lucky to be alive. And he’d never seen a more beautiful sight in his life.
Ice glanced at him over his shoulder, then stood. “I used to wonder what she saw in you. But it’s obvious. You’re both just nuts.” He let Colt move in front, kneel down to Ellis’ level. “I want her back at the loft and on twenty-four-hour watch until I’m confident that drug isn’t causing any residual effects. I’ll have Brady on stand-by, too. Between Ellis and Six, I’m going to owe the man a couple of bottles of Glenfiddich.”
“Bill me.” He cupped Ellis’ jaw, running his thumb along her cheek. “Hey, beautiful.”
She smiled and everything fell into place. “Hey.” She blinked a few times. Groaned. “Do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Once I can move without tripping over my own feet, remind me to kick your ass.” Tears welled behind her eyes. Leaked over her lashes. “When you didn’t follow, Six went back. If he hadn’t run into the marshal’s SOG team, saw they had those bastards in their sights the whole time…” Took her a few tries, but she managed to palm his jaw. “You were going to kill him, even though you knew you wouldn’t walk away.”
“I promised you he’d never hurt you, again. I don’t go back on my promises. Couldn’t.”
Her gaze softened, a few more tears spilling out. “I stand corrected, again. I don’t just like this new version of you—I love it.”
“Hell, yeah, you do. Though, I have to be honest. I’m still on the fence about this new Ellis.” He winked at her, knowing it would get a rise out of her. “She’s scary.”
“She’sgoing to pop you in the face, right now, if you don’t tell her, you love her, too.”
He smiled, leaning in close. “I guess that depends?”
An arch of her brow. “Really? On what?”
“On whether it’ll get you to say, I do.”
She smiled, and it was like a freaking arrow straight to his heart. “That’s a deal I can make. But I’ll only give you the next…sixty years to get it right.”
