Page 16 of Stone (Claimed and Protected #3)

S tone

“What the fuck?” I growled. It was fucking early, at least by Paris standards, but I’d been awake almost all night.

In fact, I’d stood staring out the window of the safehouse for hours. Not only had I wanted to ensure our position remained secured, but I’d also needed time to figure out why I’d lost my goddamned mind.

Obviously, something had gone askew in my brain, maybe my synapses not firing off as usual since I’d fucked the woman I was hired to protect.

Not once, but three times.

And I was hungry to do it again. Hell, I wanted to lock her in a cage so she’d remain mine.

I might be in the security business, but I knew from years of training and rescuing innocent victims that you had to remain detached at all times. For their safety as well as your own.

Now I was pacing the floor while listening to Gray expound on the operation international law enforcement had bungled.

“I know that’s not what you expected to hear,” Gray returned. “Not for Interpol or the CIA either.”

“My team managed to take out something like, oh, I don’t know, twenty soldiers with big, bad weapons, yet two fucking highly trained international law enforcement groups couldn’t handle capturing one man?”

“I can tell you’re pissed.”

Was he kidding me right now? How much was his organization being paid?

“Pissed isn’t the word for it.” I was ready to toss the third cup of coffee across the room or at minimum smash it into the window. Every muscle was so damn tense, my chest was constricted, making it hard to breathe.

“It doesn’t change anything, Stone. You’ve been ordered to bring Ms. Vale to Washington DC where she’ll be kept safe until Matis is apprehended.”

I slammed the mug on the end table and planted my hand on the window.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon, the golden glow of the woods scintillating yet nothing like the view I usually woke up with every morning.

“And just how are you going to do that? From what I’ve read, Matis has eluded police for years, killing anyone who got in his way.

He’s managed against all odds to enter several countries to extract his victims without being seen.

What makes you think he’ll stop at the American border? ”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kage had stumbled into the room, yawning as he studied me. The two men had slept on twin beds in the adjoining bedroom. I could only imagine what they’d overheard through the walls.

I grimaced from the thought. Both their comments from the night before had plagued my mind. About a dozen red flags had gone off in the back of my brain. Now, with Matis escaping persecution, Dani could be targeted again.

“We have methods of protecting Miss Vale. She’ll be locked down in another safehouse.”

“Another safehouse. Uh-huh. You don’t know Dani at all, Commander. She won’t stand for being held prisoner. She’s already told me she has no intention of coming with me to the States. I’d need to hogtie her to the plane to make that happen.”

“Then that’s what you need to do. Bring her home, Stone. Then your job will be completed.”

“How much are you getting paid to be the vice president’s lackey?” Exhaling, I closed my eyes. I could feel the hum of discontent between us.

Gray took a deep breath. “I can understand why you think that. Yes, the firm I’m working for is a for profit organization, Stone. You already knew that. However, the ultimate goal is Miss Vale’s safety.”

“Then I think it’s best if I handle the remainder of the mission my way.” I rubbed my eyes while attempting to keep my anger in check. “As in doing my job. Then I guess you won’t mind me saying do yours and apprehend Matis before he strikes again.”

“Stone. Don’t do anything rash.”

“Oh, I don’t plan on it. You know me.”

When I ended the call, I reminded myself Gray Jenkins was no longer my commander. I was doing him a favor and in turn, he’d caused me to reopen Pandora’s Box.

“Fuck this shit,” I growled.

“Trouble in paradise?” Kage asked.

“Typical political bullshit. Nothing I’m not used to with the great vice president.” Only then, he’d been nothing more than a disgruntled asshole father. I rubbed my arms, every muscle aching.

“Long night?” I heard the amused tone in his voice and definitely wasn’t in the mood for a sparring match.

“Whatever.”

“What’s really going on here? I’ve never seen a conversation with the commander piss you off this much.”

I shoved my phone into my back pocket and turned around. “They didn’t catch Matis. For all we know, he’s hanging around in Paris waiting for another crack at taking Dani.”

“You really think he’ll be that stupid?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Kage sighed. “Then allow the folks in Washington to do their jobs. Drop her off and you can return to your life.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“If,” he said as he walked closer, “that’s what you want.”

“Don’t start, Kage.”

“What am I starting? You might not think two dumb SEALs can tell how much the two of you have been pining away for each other, but shit. The way you two look at each other is almost disgusting.”

I flexed and fisted my hand. “That can’t matter. We’re two different people.”

“At the risk of sounding like my wife. Fate brought you back together. Did you ever think it might be for a reason?”

Now I laughed. “You need to avoid reading the tea leaves.”

“I’m serious, dude. You’ve never been happy. You fake it pretty damn well, but all the ah-shucks crap you spewed off over the years didn’t hide shit from me. Or from Maddox.”

“The last thing I need is a dime store psychologist or matchmaker for that matter. You’ve been smoking that country air for far too long.”

He shook his head, but I could tell he was serious. So was I.

We had no business being together. One night of hot sex… very hot sex couldn’t change who we were as people or the time that had separated us.

“What are you going to do? If she doesn’t want to head to DC, even if you get her there, she could find a way of escaping and that will place her life in danger all over again.”

Kage was right about that. Dani wasn’t the kind of woman who would accept having her life placed on hold for very long.

“I’ll figure it out. Right now, I just need to get her on the plane. I could use your help before you and Maddox leave.”

“You’re thinking Matis will really make another run for her?”

“It’s possible and I don’t like playing the odds.”

He grinned. “I’ll go wake Maddox. We’ll have our guns locked and loaded.”

While the anxiety remained, sensations furrowing deep within, my need to protect her remained as strong as it had been all those years ago. “Sometimes I worry about you, buddy. I really do.”

As he left the room, I took another deep breath. It was time to wake Dani.

Only I had no idea what to say or even how to face her.

“Sorry about the clothes,” I told her as I headed to the small airport where the plane had been parked.

I’d called in a few favors, an old buddy of mine and a fellow Jimmy Buffett lover keeping an eye on my plane.

He was trustworthy, which was exactly what I needed.

There could be no hiccups at this point.

She stood studying me, no doubt trying to figure out what we’d done and what future she faced.

Unfortunately, she had no idea I wasn’t taking her back to her apartment. I’d yet to find a way of doing so.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Dani said from beside me. She laughed softly and the four words were the most she’d said after I’d awakened her. We’d both had difficulty even looking each other in the eyes.

We were grown adults, for God’s sake. It wasn’t as if we didn’t know each other to some degree or that we didn’t have history. Maybe that was the entire issue. We did have history. Second chances were rare and usually tumultuous.

Right now, I’d call our second meeting as close to chaotic as it could be.

She eyed the scenery around us, including tipping her head over her shoulder. I caught the frown on her face. Her entire body was riddled with nerves. “Maddox and Kage are following us?”

“Yep. Just for extra security.”

“And you’re taking me back home. Yes?”

“Nope.” I twisted my hand on the steering wheel. Explosions were about ready to start. My gut was working overtime.

“Oh, yes, you are. We talked about this, Stone. I have a life and I refuse to allow my father to interfere any more than he already has.”

“You’re not safe, Dani. That’s the bottom line. You won’t allow a security detail and I can’t be there to make certain you’re protected twenty-four hours a day…”

“Why not?” She immediately sucked in her breath through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry. I know you have your life as I have mine. That was selfish of me.”

“It wasn’t selfish. I know you don’t get along with your dad.”

“That’s an understatement, which is why I’m not going to DC, Stone. You can’t force me to return home against my will.”

As the sign for the airport could easily be seen, I turned my head in her direction. “Actually, yes, I can and I will if necessary. I’d prefer not to tie you to the seat, but I’ll do that if necessary.”

“You’re kidding me? You’d treat me that way?” I knew what else she wanted to say.

After everything we’d been through together.

“To keep you safe? Hell, yes, lady. You’re not going to become a danger to yourself.”

“But the bastards responsible were captured or killed.”

I half shook my head and lifted my eyebrows as I drove in through the gates. “Not all of them.”

“What does that mean? What aren’t you telling me?”

“That means the leader wasn’t captured yesterday as anticipated.

Matis Garnier is on the run and dangerous, Dani.

So, we’re not going to talk about this any longer.

” I pulled the vehicle to the arranged parking space at the airport, barely throwing the gear into park and unsnapping my seatbelt before twisting in her direction.

She was shocked when I gripped her chin, her nose wrinkling in continued defiance.

“Hear me, Dani. I am taking you somewhere safe.”