Page 29 of Unrivaled Love (D.C. Renegades #2)
Felix Fornier
Caught by some gunslinging cowgirl.
"Is this it?" Crosby asks as we turn into a driveway.
"This is the address so it must be it." Emmett says. Ever the practical one.
"Oh shit," Duncan curses as I pull up and see a car crushed under an electric pole.
This is bad.
I put the car in park and barrel out the door.
"Crosby, look for an unlocked door or window. Duncan, call the police. Emmett, go around back and see if you can find a way into the house."
"Way to be specific with your emergency commands Cap," Crosby says.
"Thank you, now get going."
I watch my men organize and get to work. But after a few minutes it’s clear we don’t have an easy way in and I let worry take over.
"The police said they'd send an officer." Duncan says as he joins us at the back of the house.
"Okay, that's good, that's something." I mutter as I wring my hands.
"Did you guys try getting up there?" Duncan points up. On the second story there is a window cracked open and swinging out.
"Dunc you're amazing!" I cheer. "Boys! Come here!"
Everyone gathers around and we stare up at the only opportunity we have.
"I'm the tallest," Emmett says, "but I don't think I can make it up there myself. "
"I'm the strongest," Duncan adds. "I could maybe lift Crosby up but he's been getting a little chunky in the off season."
"Have not!" Crosby disputes even as he spins around trying to size up his own ass.
"Enough. Boys, we have to save Bryson and Jo. They could be trapped inside by wifi enabled locks or worse."
"Worse?" Crosby asks.
"Yes, they could have wandered off into the woods and gotten lost. We might never find them."
"I don't think it's that bad." Emmett says.
"I'm glad you think so." I say as I step back and size up our situation here. "Is there a ladder?"
"Why would there be a ladder just lying around?" Duncan asks and I don't appreciate his sass.
"I don't know, Duncan, but before we try to scale the building I say we look for one."
The boys disperse again with grumbles. They can complain all they want but I will never leave a man behind.
I hear tires on the driveway. Thank goodness the authorities are here. I walk out to meet them. This isn't exactly the same but over the seasons as Captain I have honed the skills necessary to communicate with referees in tense situations. I roll my shoulders back and head that direction.
Except it's Aiden and Harper getting out of the car instead.
"This is a beautiful property." Harper says as she rounds the front of the car.
"I'm a little concerned about the transmitter on the vehicle," Aiden says as he points.
"True, that is an eyesore." They chuckle together and while I’m proud of them for their lighthearted take on the situation I have no time for it.
"I’m glad to see you both but this is serious. Bryson and Jo are missing and we're trying to get into the house."
"How can we help?" Aiden says as he loops a hand around Harper's waist, pulling her close.
"Cap!" Crosby yells and I turn and jog to the back of the house with Aiden and Harper following behind.
In an absolute miracle Crosby and Duncan are carrying a gigantic ladder around the deck.
"Atta boys!" I clap and join them.
It doesn't take long for us to get the ladder up against the house and we stop to admire our handy work.
"Who's going up?" Crosby asks tentatively.
"Shoot for it?"
Instinctively we all turn to the person closest to us and begin playing Rock, Paper, Scissors.
It is how we settle things.
It's single elimination for quick scenarios like this but Crosby and Duncan seem to be stuck in a tie, each throwing paper multiple times in a row.
Finally Duncan prevails with a gusty scissors and Crosby turns to face off against Aiden who lost to Emmett.
Aiden throws rock and Crosby goes against his instincts and throws scissors.
"Shit." Crosby grumbles as he turns to the ladder. "Shouldn't Young Gun do it since he's the tallest?"
"I won the round fair and square." Aiden replies.
Crosby exhales through his mouth and starts to climb. "At least hold it so I don't drop to my death!" He yells from the second rung.
"We’ve got you, Crocs." I assure him as we take our places on either side of the ladder.
Crosby ascends another rung, exhales, and then another.
"Stop shaking it!" He yells at us but he's barely four feet off the ground.
"We're not!" Duncan snaps back indignant.
"Boys?" Harper asks as she turns the corner. "Wouldn’t it be easier to use this?"
I turn and see her holding up a house key between her fingers. "A key?!" I practically screech.
"Yeah it was in a hide-a-key rock on the front porch."
We all start walking towards her.
"Don't abandon me!" Crosby yells from the ladder. I reach for the keys from Harper as Duncan and Emmett head back to help Crosby make his way down.
"What the fuck?" A new voice calls out and we all freeze. My eyes connect with Aiden’s before I glance over at the others. They are just as startled and give me tiny shrugs or shakes of their head.
We could be caught by some gunslinging cowgirl neighbor and be toast.
Slowly I turn and raise my hands above my head. I'm a quarter the way around when the most beautiful words I've ever heard caress my ears.
"Cap? What the fuck are you doing here?"
I spin the rest of the way and start running full out to wrap Bryson in my arms. He's looking a little worse for wear and has only his boxers on. With him in my arms I pivot to take in the woman, who must be Jo Hamilton, wearing a Renegades shirt and gym shorts, probably Brsyon's.
Huh, maybe they weren't in peril after all.