Page 39 of Deadly Alliance

Chapter Fifteen

Shane was juggling somany emotional balls as they drove back to Fortis. The two main priorities were taking care of Lucy and securing the target. Lance drove the first van with Zack, Jace, and Lucy in the back, followed closely by Shane in the second van with Zin and Owen flanking Bolton in the backseat. As soon as they reached Fortis, a man with a medic’s bag rushed towards them. Shane thought it was the man they’d introduced as Daniel.

Shane opened the door for Jace who carried a still unconscious Lucy. Zack disappeared inside as Lance remained outside, keeping an eye out, his weapon ready at his side. The man in the backseat had remained immobile during the entire trip; his mouth taped shut. Shane couldn’t wait to get him in for interrogation.

After a quick nod from Lance, Shane brought the car closer to the door and Owen grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him inside. Owen wasn’t a big man, but with his strength, Bolton barely touched the ground. Zin was one pace in front, leading them to the cell area where they would search him and lock him up until they were ready for the next step.

As he went towards the infirmary, Shane looked around searching for Emme, but she was nowhere to be seen. His heart hammered in his chest. She had promised to stay safe inside Fortis.

He passed the conference room before heading for Will’s computer den. She had most probably followed the mission from there.

Four people were focused on various computers in the room, but he only saw Emme hard at work. Immediately his heart rate returned to normal. It was foolish he knew, but knowing she was safe haunted his mind.

“Welcome back, Shane. I just wrapped things up with the local authorities. One of the neighbours was up late it seems and reported us.” Beatrice turned to look at him. Her expression was one of satisfaction. “Nice catch. Almost a perfect mission. Any news of Lucy?”

“She’s being checked by Daniel. If there’s anything amiss, they’ll rush her to the hospital.”

Dee frowned. “Your plan was fool-proof, what happened?”

Shane frowned. “Booby trap. Lucy saw one trigger but not the other. When the second one exploded, she was partially shielded by the wall, but she fell backwards, hitting her head. The arm injury seems to be from wood shrapnel and is superficial. Owen is going back with Zack to check on the place and do a full sweep. Dee, if you could go too? Maybe your cop’s eye will see something.

“Grab all the electronics you can find and be extra careful. There may be other traps around the house.”

Dee nodded and grabbed her jacket. “Will is rechecking the feeds and the heat signatures. The second one was smaller and could have been a dog, but we need to make sure.”

As she left, Beatrice got to her feet with Will right behind. “I want to go check on Lucy, if you don’t mind, Shane? And right after, we can discuss what we will do with our prisoner.”

Shane stayed behind to check in with Emme. He would check on Lucy soon, but he desperately needed something first. Or more precisely someone.

Emme came into his arms even before he moved and as he buried his nose in her sweet-smelling hair, Shane felt steadier. It was an unusual anchor he would soon lose as the mission looked to be coming to an end, making this moment even more precious.

Even as his body hummed to take her, he reined himself in and gently kissed her instead. It was tame, and not nearly enough as he felt her body shiver against his.

“I’m glad you’re unharmed. I don’t like being left behind knowing people I care about are in the line of fire.”

Shane smiled at her, and immediately Lucy’s image shimmered in his mind. It was part of the deal as an operative. The unknown, the risks, and the dangers. He had seen it all, had experienced it first-hand.

He saw in her eyes that she wanted to be out there and making a difference and didn’t know if he had the strength to see her take chances. But it was a moot point—their arrangement was soon coming to an end.

He tasted her lips and she willingly opened her mouth to him, then someone yelled from outside, causing them to break apart. It sounded like Lucy was awake and undeniably against going to the hospital. Shane winked at Emme and took her hand, leading her out. Everyone was squeezed into the small infirmary, but they didn’t have to be close to understand every syllable.

“I’m fine. Give me something for my headache and I’ll go into that cell and kick this moron’s ass.”

Shane couldn’t see, but he heard Jace sigh, and he felt for the man. Another man’s voice rose over her, but it was calm and controlled. “It’s just to make sure there are no hidden head injuries. You were unconscious a long time, Luce.”

“Lucy, listen to Daniel.” Zack’s voice bordered on exasperated.

Shane heard the low feminine growl and he knew it all too well. It was like Misty’s when she was about to lash out at her brother or him. Shane recognised it as a lost cause. If they continued to bump heads with the woman, she would be even more stubborn.

As the Fortis men rallied to appease her, which in Shane’s opinion was counterproductive and a loss of precious time. He spoke over the noisy group. “Do you have vertigo, nausea, or a crippling headache?”

At the newfound silence, Shane could hear a pin drop. “No, just a nagging one.”

“If you promise to go slow, follow Daniel’s instructions and tell Jace if you feel any of the symptoms worsen, you can stay. And if you stop yelling, I’ll even allow you to assist with the interrogation.”

More silence and a grumble, before the team trickled out of the infirmary. Zack was shaking his head, Beatrice was smiling, and Jace looked like he wanted to kill him. Only Daniel gave him a satisfied glance, probably thinking it was a win considering the woman in question.

The rest of the team passed him, and he gestured for Zin to follow him out of earshot. “You are the interrogation expert here, so I guess you want to get acquainted with our guest first hand?”