10
C aleb offered up a silent prayer of thanks that Rose had listened to Tex. He ignored the twinge of jealousy that came with it. Jealousy had no place here right now. He’d spent enough time over the years working with traumatized victims of human trafficking and rescuing women out of some of the worst hellholes on earth to know if he allowed the rage he felt building inside him to show, Rose would run from him. That could not happen. He could not protect her if she ran from him. Protecting her had become his most important role ever. Even if he had to do it from the shadows, he’d make it happen. But it would be a hell of a lot easier if she would allow him to help. “Thank you, Rose.” He lowered his voice to keep it just between them.
“Huh?”
“Thank you for agreeing to let me help.” He ignored the guys. Every single one of those nosey men was gathering intel for their wives like it was going out of style. He knew it, and he didn’t care. “I won’t let you down. I swear.”
“I’m scared.”
He could tell how much it had cost her to admit it. “I know.” He tugged her into his chest, wishing with everything that he was that he knew what words to say. Being what the others called the silent type sucked right now.
“Can we wrap this shit up now?” Dalton grumbled. He probably wanted to get back to Lina and their son. “We still need to get you guys out of here and to Caleb’s. Preferably without picking up a tail.”
“I’ll take Caleb’s truck,” Kacey offered. “Who wants to disguise themselves as Rose?”
“We have multiple trucks,” Wolf said slowly. “If all of us duck down, and only the driver is visible as we leave, he won’t know which truck Rose is in and might follow Caleb’s.” He snapped his fingers. “Divide up. Caleb, you come in my truck. Rose, you go with Nem?—”
“No. She stays with me.” He stepped between Rose and the guys as if one of them would pull her away from him. “That’s the deal.”
Wolf and Dalton rolled their eyes in sync like a freaking slot machine but, thankfully, nodded in agreement.
Relieved they weren’t going to fight him on this, Caleb led Rose to Dalton’s truck. “We’re going to get cozy, Rosey-Posey.”
“Keep your hands to yourself, and I won’t have to break your fingers.”
Strong as hell.
“Someday—”
Don’t finish that.
“Someday what?”
Making himself small enough to fit into the back seat and keep his body from showing above the level of the seats wasn’t as easy as it sounded. He contorted himself like a pretzel to make room for her. He pressed his butt to the seat behind him as she wriggled against him. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel his dick harden against her butt. If she hadn’t run from him yet, she would if she realized how attracted he was to her. “Someday, you’ll beg for my touch,” he rasped softly in her ear.
She sucked in a breath, and he felt her swallow against his chest as she muttered, “You wish.”
Challenge accepted.
“Ready?”
He snapped his focus to Dalton. He made a mental note to make him pay for the amusement in his tone at some point. He lifted his head to check that the door was closed and nodded. “Ready.”
“Stay down.” Dalton fired up the engine. “Until I tell you it’s safe, assume the Fuckwad who’s chasing Rose is right on our six and can see through the blackouts.”
“Roger that.” He knew Jeep would travel with them. Even though Dalton had just told him to stay down, he lifted his head to peer around the seats. The boss rarely traveled without his second in command. This time was no exception, and Jeep climbed into the passenger seat, smacked his hand on the dash, and muttered the command that typically sent them into the line of fire.
“Go, go, go.”
“I thought that saying,” Rose nudged his stomach with her elbow, “was something they only said in the movies.”
Caleb wasn’t sure if she meant ‘roger that’ or ‘go, go, go,’ but he figured it didn’t matter. He clamped his arm around her, flattening his palm on her stomach under her breasts. “Nope, Rosey-Posey. Those are all real, and you’ll hear a lot more sh—stuff like it over the next few days.”
“Then I’m going to need a dictionary,” she quipped, “because I wasn’t born with a built-in translation service.”
“The only voice I want you to hear in your head is mine.” He buried his nose into her hair, taking shameless advantage to soak in the closeness between them. If that made him a jerk, then whoever objected could see him in court. Just because he tried to stay on the good side of the line didn’t mean he’d become a saint. He bit back a snort. Considering the direction of his thoughts, sainthood wasn’t in his near future either. “You see any sign of our tango, Jeep?”
“Nope. I’ll tell you if I do.”
He figured that Jeep knew he was asking the question for Rose’s benefit rather than for his own. “Thanks.”
“Go that way, Nem.” Jeep gave Dalton directions. “We’ll take the long way round. Head as if we’re going to the highway.”
“We should head straight for the airport,” Dalton grumbled as the truck made a hard right, “and get as far away from this fucker as possible.”
“He’ll just follow,” Rose whispered so softly to Caleb. He wasn’t sure she’d be heard in the front of the truck. “Please don’t let them put others in danger.”
“They won’t.” He kept his tone as soft as hers. “We promised you three days. We’ll stick to it. If at the end of that we want to adjust, then I promise I’ll make sure you have a say.” It didn’t mean he wouldn’t override her if needed. But he knew he’d said the right thing when she relaxed slightly against him. He smiled against the back of her head as one of her fingers moved under his, and he linked it with his baby finger. That small gesture told him that even if her head wasn’t quite on board yet, Rose trusted him on some level. He would work with it. Yes, he could definitely work with her trusting him a little.
“ETA five mikes.” Jeep gave him a heads-up.
It was disconcerting to know where they were going, but to not quite be able to make out where they were on the streets he should know like the back of his hand. “When we get back to my place, we’re going to cover you as much as possible to keep you out of camera view.” He figured it was better to give her time to get used to the idea now before they had to get even more up close and personal than they already were.
“O—okay.”
“How are we looking, Cookie?”
Without looking, Caleb knew they were closer to his place than the five minutes Jeep had warned them about a couple of seconds before.
“Watch for cops if you’re on Copper and Fifth. They hide with the speed gun behind to the north side of the garage.”
“Shit.” The truck slowed as Dalton slammed on the brakes. “You could have warned me, asshole.”
“I did.”
“Too fucking late,” Dalton grumbled as blue swirling lights filtered in through the rear windows. “Jeep, get Wolf on that shit, stat,” he ordered. “I’m diverting,” he tossed over his shoulder. “I don’t want to lead them right to your damn house.”
“I think he’s mad.”
He nodded. “Lina swears he’s really a softy.” He didn’t feel bad about giving her hints about the man who would take point position after Tex on her safety. “Personally, I think she’s delusional. But what can you do? She married the man; she’s supposed to think he’s nice.”
“I am fucking nice.” The truck stuttered, and the engine whined as Dalton dropped a gear before swinging a hard right. “When I’m not running from the cops like a damn criminal.”
“Take the next exit, hit the gas, and flip the lights off,” Jeep ordered. “There’s an industrial complex coming up. Spin in there and see if we lose the PoPo. Give Wolf time to call ‘em off. We have to lose them before they call in the street chopper.”
“Copy.”
“Well, this is exciting,” Rose muttered. “Do all your family weddings come with police chases?”
He chuckled softly, relieved she wasn’t freaking out. “Stick with us, baby. We’ll keep you on your toes.”
“I’d give anything for a boring life in the middle of nowhere right about now.”
She didn’t even know how perfect she was for him. That statement alone… damn. If she was willing to move to… “Would you like to do a turn in Montana?”
“I don’t understand.”
He ignored both Dalton and Jeep’s curses and focused on her. “I might be able to arrange a week or so in Montana. Can you extend your deadline so we can figure out what’s going on?”
“Hunt.” There was warning all over Dalton’s growl. “Watch your damn mouth?—”
“Maybe he has a point.” Jeep interrupted their boss before he could rant. “If a stranger comes to our town, everyone and their mother will know about it before they stop at the traffic light; never mind make it all the way past the store.”
“Shit.”
He knew Dalton thought it was a good idea, too. The only person who could make the decision, though, was Rose. From how she stiffened against his chest, he didn’t think she agreed. “Just think about it, okay?”
The blue lights faded. “Did the cops stop chasing us?”
“Yeah,” Jeep answered. “Wolf called in a favor.”
That made things a little easier. He’d take it. “Good.” He didn’t even care that it was probably not the most legal move they could have made, but for Rose’s safety, he’d do the same again. They all would.
It didn’t take long before Jeep was once again giving the five-minute ETA to his place. Caleb braced himself for the process of moving Rose out of the car and getting her inside without anyone catching a glimpse of her. “Get ready, Rosey-Posey, as we’re getting out in a second, and there isn’t going to be much room because I need to get out first. You’re gonna have to squish against the front seats, k?”
“Not sure how much squishing is gonna happen,” she muttered drily. “I’m not the skinniest on the planet.”
“Don’t,” he warned. “You are fucking beautiful. Do not put down your curves. A man could get lost for days worshiping them.”
“It would take him that long to reach every one of them.”
Oh, hell no. Rage at the asshole who’d made her feel less about herself slammed into him. He tipped up her chin and peered over her shoulder to make eye contact with her as much as he could in the dark. “Don’t piss me off.” She would figure out pretty quick that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone telling her she wasn’t perfect just as she was… even herself. “You are a goddess, woman, and don’t you forget it.”
“Jeez, you are good for a girl’s ego.”
“I mean it, Rosey-Posey.” The growl rumbled out of his chest. “I always say what I mean.” The truck slowed to a stop, and he braced his hand off the back of Jeep’s seat to prevent them from rolling off. “Wait a second. They’ll open the door when we are ready to get out.”
She nodded but didn’t reply. If he’d upset or annoyed her by being mad that she was poking fun at herself, then too bad. On this issue, he wouldn’t give. She was stunning, and besides keeping her safe, his mission was to make her freaking believe it before their time was up.
The door opened at his feet. He raised his head and met Jeep’s gaze. His second in command nodded. “Move forward as much as you can, Rose. Because when I pull on Caleb’s legs, we don’t want you to come with him.”
She rolled out of his arms, one hand gripping the back of the seat in front of them, and she edged forward. “If I get stuck, it’s on you guys to get me out.”
“That better not be a wisecrack about your size?—”
“It’s not.” Her voice was muffled against the seats. “But move, please.”
Jeep took her words as permission. He gripped his legs, and Caleb felt himself sliding along the seat. He landed hard, with his ass hitting the metal edge of the door frame.
“Fucker.” He scrambled to his feet and twisted to help her out. Dalton and Jeep flanked him, covering any view of Rose as he took her out of the Jeep. “Keep your head down,” he told her. “Keep your gaze on your feet. I won’t let you walk into anything.”
Rose did as he asked, and the three men surrounded her, keeping her out of view as they entered the lobby and made their way to the elevator. Normally, he’d take the stairs, but he didn’t want to risk her falling and hurting herself.
“What floor?”
“Three.” He crowded Rose into the corner, knowing Jeep would hit the floor button and Dalton would make sure nobody approached until the doors were shut. When the elevator shuddered and began to move, he gave her a little breathing room while keeping his body between her and the security camera. “When we get out, Nem, take the left. There’s a camera pointed at the door.” He dug into his pocket and fished out his house key. Thankfully, he kept it separate from his car keys because he’d given them to Kacey, and who knew what time he’d be back with them?
“On it.”
Once they were inside his apartment, Jeep closed the door behind them, shutting out the rest of the world. “Wait here with me a sec, Rose. The guys will check and make sure we are safe.” Before he’d finished speaking, she gasped as both his boss and teammate pulled weapons and took off to sweep his place. “It will be fine.” He tried to reassure her, more than aware he’d been a little overbearing during the ride here.
A little?
He snorted in his head.
That was way more than a little, buddy.
Okay, a lot overbearing. But for her protection. Even if he didn’t understand the reasons behind it, he’d be overbearing as all get out for the next sixty or so years.
“Clear.”
“Clear.”
The guys’ voices sent a wave of relief through him. “We’re safe.” He stepped away from her. “There’s nobody here but us.”
“Thank God,” she whispered softly. “I don’t know how much more I can run tonight.”
Call him a caveman all you want, but he loved that she stepped back into his side again when Dalton and Jeep appeared out of his bedroom and strode down the hallway toward them. “No more running,” he reminded her.
“For three days,” she countered.
“You can deal with that,” Dalton grumbled. “I’m going back to my family.”
“Um, Nemesis, right?” Her voice was hesitant.
“Yeah. Or Dalton, if you prefer.” His boss stopped right in front of them. He’d have to remember to thank him for softening his typical resting bitch face when he looked at her.
“Thank you. I appreciate all you did for me tonight.”
Dalton tucked his hands into his pockets. His boss didn’t like to touch any woman but his wife. “You’re welcome.” He actually looked almost human when the corners of his lips curled upward. “I’ll call you when I get back to the hotel.” There was an unspoken order for Caleb to answer that call as his boss turned away.
“Yes, Sir.” Caleb understood the order even if Rose looked confused. “I appreciate the help.”
“Someday, you’ll figure out that we are stronger together.” Jeep tossed the words over his shoulder as he followed Dalton out the door. “At least this time you pulled your head outta your ass and asked for us to come back you up.”
He shrugged. There wasn’t much he could say to that. Jeep was correct. He preferred to work alone. But with Rose’s safety on the line, that wasn’t so important. He made sure the door was closed and locked behind them. “Are you hungry?” He didn’t remember her stopping to eat at the wedding.
“I’ll be okay.”
“Not what I asked,” he chided. “Are you hungry?”