Page 23 of Beachcomber Enemy

They were both on borrowed time.

Dane, Joe, and Ronnie slipped out the basement door to the back alley behind the Lucky Parrot. The night was silent and chilly. Dane’s watch read 4:50, but he wasn’t as much of a hardass as he’d led Vendi to believe. He’d give them five more minutes and then they were riding out, not on motorcycles, but in an unmarked black van that Tom had lined up at Cap’s request. No questions asked. He owed Tom. Dane had a suspicion Tom knew Dane and Shana were still alive but he trusted the man to keep his suspicions to himself.

“We ready to go?” Ronnie asked as he stopped his pacing in a small circle.

Before Dane had to answer, they heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle rounding the corner and pulling up behind the Lucky Parrot where they stood.

It was Vendi with Shana on the back. Vendi dismounted and removed his helmet.

“When in Rome,” he said. “I heard motorcycle gang gear was the outfit of choice for the night.”

“You’re such a geek,” Dane said to Vendi. “You’re bringing us down.” The man wore brand-new leather and his USCG crew cut remained untouched. No facial hair, no tattoos, and no facial jewelry.

Shana dismounted and walked over to Dane. Though her helmet remained in place, he couldn’t miss the smug look on her face. Nor the cold anger. He thought for a second she might hit him.

At least Dane could take a crumb of solace from the fact that he’d known it was her before she took the helmet off, unleashing her wild mane of hair. Except now he was surprised.

“You’re a redhead.” His blood pumped because she looked like a she-devil in her motorcycle gang costume complete with fake tattoos, diamond lip stud and a small gold hoop in her eyebrow.

“This was the costume Madeline arranged for me. We decided the little old lady disguise wouldn’t work.”

* * *

It gave Shana shivers to look at Dane. Shivers because he looked so different, but also because in spite of his new persona, she wanted to jump his bones, God help her. Dane was dressed like a motorcycle gang member with tattoos on his neck, a shaved head, and moustache.

Animal magnetism couldn’t be disguised. His essence, the part she loved, that she craved with every cell in her body, was still there, still him. The him that she’d always be drawn to, the him she couldn’t live without.

The same Dane Blaise she wanted to punch in the eye, to strangle, to beat senseless for leaving her behind. The lying, insufferably superior, and overprotective Dane Blaise who ought to have confidence and trust in her ability to take care of herself by now. The man who ought to be treating her as an equal partner, in fun and business, and in danger. In sickness and in health, in fun times and dangerous times. That ought to be their wedding vows.

If she was still going to marry the bastard.

The well of emotions, good and bad, positive and terrible, threatened to strangle her. But now wasn’t the time to ponder the fate of her future with Dane. Now they needed to find Sassy.

“What’s the mission?” she asked. “What is it that you were adamant that we get here by 4:45 a.m. for?”

Chapter 8

“We’re going to the pie shop. On foot. Wear these.” Dane motioned for Joe to issue night-vision goggles to Ronnie, Vendi, and Shana.

“We’re one short,” he said.

Dane didn’t take his eyes off Shana. He was the odd man out, the one without the night vision.

“I’ll go without,” he said.

“Are you sure—?” Ronnie began.

“Positive, kid.” Dane allowed a small smile for Shana. “I have excellent night vision without the goggles.”

She raised her chin, but didn’t say a word. No wisecrack, no derisive snort, not even concern. And most definitely no offer to stay behind and let him use her goggles. But it was blatant wishful thinking on his part that she might.

“We approach quiet. Two in the front on each side of the entrance and two in the back, one on each side.” Dane pointed as he spoke, well aware that there were five of them. He would decide where he was going on the spur of the moment. Joe distributed other assorted tools of the trade including earbuds for relatively quiet communication. Everyone had brought their own guns.

“Cap, you get back to the station and keep the police at bay. If anyone sees us or calls in a disturbance at the shop, give me a warning call. Or better yet, don’t show up at all.”

“Yes, sir. Anything else?”

Dane didn’t miss the sarcasm in his friend’s voice. One side of his mouth twitched, but he couldn’t smile. His heart pounded hard with his adrenaline rising. He kept his breathing even and channeled the excess energy into being aware of every little thing around him. Every noise, every movement, everything in his vision. Most of his vision was taken up by Shana the she-devil at the moment. They were all still and waiting for him. He slipped his Glock into his shoulder holster and turned.