Lacey was ready for a real bed, uninterrupted sleep, a shower, and a change of clothes. Another stretch spent sleeping in the stolen truck was not her idea of restful. Still, it’d made no sense to pass the airport to join the rest of the team, just to double back for their crack-of-dawn flight.

Besides, it was rather cozy cuddled up in the back seat of the truck with Shane. It wasn’t that hotel-comfy rain check, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of safety when she was pressed up against him. As though nothing in the world could come between her and Shane. She didn’t let herself think too hard about that. Who had feelings that deep over someone they just met? It was silly.

He seemed to have gotten over his aversion of her, skipped the middle ground and gone straight to sweet, hand-holding and kisses. Once again, she didn’t know what to make of the man.

They were having fun. That’s all it was. She was hardly his type, and it wasn’t like she’d ever had a relationship last more than a few months.

Hell, she was probably guilty of up and disappearing on a few guys and never giving closure.

But this, with Shane, was different. The more she thought about it, the more it made her squirm. And not in a fun way. Shane was the kind of guy who’d expect commitment and more from a girl he was with. The kind of stuff Lacey couldn’t do if she was still going to support herself. Usually, she didn’t bat an eyelash about smiling and bidding a guy goodbye, but something about Shane had her wishing she could be different.

His phone beeped, breaking the silence. He checked the screen, the green light casting odd shadows in the cab.

“It’s time,” he said.

“You don’t have to make it sound like we’re in a horror movie.” She shivered and wrapped her arms around us.

“Just be prepared.”

It was hard for Lacey to imagine Marcos wanting the newlywed couple so badly he’d come after them here, but Shane and the others seemed to think he would. Then there was the chase yesterday, and she wasn’t entirely tossing the idea out.

Shane started the truck and they rolled out of the alley.

The sun had barely begun to turn the horizon gray. Night still swaddled the city. Damage and debris from the storm were everywhere. Windows were boarded up, tree limbs hung low, and driftwood was piled along the streets.

The airport would be a circus today.

“You sure we can get out today?” she asked.

“Kyle arranged it. You remember the plan?”

“Plan? What plan?” She glanced at Shane. “We arrive at the airport, we go into the airport, we find our terminal, we go home. That’s not really a plan.”

“You weren’t listening.”

“Not true. But I might not have been totally awake.”

Shane sighed and turned the wheel. There were only a few other vehicles on the road at this hour.

“We will approach the airport from the cargo entry, leaving the truck at the employee parking lot. From there, we will enter the airport and locate the private cargo plane with—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You said nothing about us flying on a cargo plane.”

“You said you were listening.”

“I heard you say something, but not that.”

“Well, now I’m telling you the bigger picture.”

“Oh, boy.” Lacey sat back in the seat.

She’d flown on a few cargo jets, out of necessity. They weren’t exactly comfortable. Still, she wasn’t paying for this, and Shane’s team was getting her home. Beggars couldn’t be choosers.

Shane turned down a lane bordered by chain-link fence and rusty signs declaring the property on either side restricted for airport use only. He turned them into a small lot, the guard gate up and the lights out.

“How much do you know about security in Jamaica?” she asked.

“It exists.” Shane parked the truck between other vehicles and killed the engine.

“People who work for the security companies take their jobs very seriously.” She eyed the empty guard shack.

“As they should. Come on.” Shane got out of the truck and tugged his shirt down. The vest was clearly defined under his T-shirt. He screamed military.

“How exactly are we getting into the restricted area of an international airport?” Lacey didn’t think she was going to like this answer.

“We just do.”

“I think you should let me go first,” she said.

Shane turned his head, staring at her with that hard, unyielding look of his.

“You scream American, military, and problem. Jamaicans are laidback and friendly.” How did she politely say that she could likely sweet talk them through, faster than he could bully them into trouble? “Just—wait here, okay?”

She ducked in front of him and opened the door to the small building serving as the entrance to this part of the airport. The waiting room was lined with chairs, the lights were dim, and the young man behind the counter looked half asleep.

“Morning, ma’am.” The guard set the front legs of his chair back on the ground and straightened in his seat.

“Good morning.” She smiled back.

“You’re up mighty early.”

“You’re telling me.” She chuckled. “We were supposed to meet our delivery guy before the storm hit, but we didn’t make it. Our cargo has been sitting out there, and we were told that today was the earliest we could get to it.”

“Oh, man.” The guy shook his head.

“Pease don’t tell me that’s a no.”

“All I can say is, today will be a busy day, yeah, man.” He shook his head and smiled. “You know, someone was in here yesterday asking about a blonde American woman. Do you have friends here?”

“Oh... That must be Kyle.” Lacey amped up her smile.

“Your friend seemed very worried about you. Red hair?”

“That’s him.” Lacey was going to be sick.

“What’s our chance of seeing the cargo?” Lacey cradled her head in her hands. “Our car got washed down a hill and everything went with it. Please, please, tell me something is going right?”

“Do you have—?”

Lacey shook her head. She didn’t have an ID, passport or even a receipt with her name on it.

“Oh, wow.” He tapped his fingers on the counter.

“Please?” Lacey glanced over her shoulder at Shane. “My boss is really crabby, and—is there any way you can get us in to inspect the cargo?”

“You don’t know where it is or anything?”

“No, I do. It’s supposed to be with a plane, N-number is...are you ready?”

“My system is down. I can’t look up the plane.” He tapped the keyboard. “You know what, if you’re going to be in and out today...if you could just sign in here for me, and I’ll keep a look out for your friends.”

“That would be—amazing. Thank you. Really. You’re saving my neck.”

Lacey jotted down her kindergarten teacher’s name and Burt Reynolds.

If Marcos was here looking for them, then the last thing she was going to do was plant her signature on a page.

She stuck her head out the front door and waved Shane inside.

The security guy buzzed them through to a small warehouse. Lacey waved to the guy before they ducked outside into the gray morning.

“Holy shit. Holy shit.” Lacey paused and doubled over.

“What? What’s wrong?” Shane asked.

“Marcos was here yesterday, asking about me.”

Shane’s eyes went wide. He gestured at the building. “You didn’t—”

“No, I used the name of my first teacher and you’re Burt Reynolds. It was all I could think of in the moment. Holy shit. Why is Marcos looking for me?”

“You have video evidence he is every bit the monster we know him to be. Come on.” Shane wrapped his arm around her and glanced around the open tarmac. He pulled out his phone. “Marcos probably has people with eyes on the place. The others should know.”

Lacey shivered and buried her face against Shane’s shoulder while he made the phone call.

This was all so surreal.

She listened halfheartedly to Shane’s side of the conversation. He directed the others to hold their positions until he and Lacey made it to the plane.

What if Marcos’ men were here? What if she was about to walk into a trap? Would they leave her alone if she promised to never turn them in?

Yeah, she couldn’t do that. Marcos had to pay for what he’d done to her and many before her. She couldn’t pretend she wasn’t going to go for blood, given the opportunity.

“All right. You stay behind me, and stay close. Got it?” Shane put his hand on his barely concealed gun.

Christ.

Lacey sucked in a deep breath and nodded.

Shane took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, understand?” he said.

“Yeah.”

He led her along the building, toward a long row of planes waiting at the ready. Despite the early hour, some of the hangars were open, lights on, people bustling around.

“Keep your head up,” Shane said.

“Act like I belong?” She chuckled and glanced up at him.

“Exactly. You’ve done this a few times?”

“You could say that.” She shrugged.

“Shit,” Shane muttered and lengthened his stride.

“What?”

“Don’t look.” He pitched his voice low.

They walked along the front of the hangars, weaving around crates and equipment left at the ready. She could hear the echo of footsteps behind them.

“We’re going past these crates, veer left, I’ll stop, you keep going,” Shane said.

“I’m bait?”

“Sorry, sweetheart.”

“You are not.” She huffed, but at least he was involving her.

The crates were four and five high, and at least three deep. They quickstepped through the narrow space between the building and then Lacey dropped Shane’s hand and continued on. She swallowed and kept going, the too-big boots rubbing her heels with each step, the sea breeze blowing her hair back.

A grunt broke the momentary calm.

She wheeled around just in time to see Shane punch the guy and then knock his feet out from under him. Lacey yelped as Shane went down on top of the would-be attacker.

She knew him.

Shane turned the guy over and used an oversized zip tie from his pocket to bind the guy’s hands and feet together.

Lacey remained frozen.

Shane jogged to her, wrapping his arm around her, and urged her on.

“I recognize him,” she whispered.

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Come on, sweetheart. If there was one, there’ll be more.” Shane pulled out his phone and in short, terse sentences rescinded his wait order.

Shane pushed her into a jog, leading her down the line of cargo planes to one painted all white, it’s N-number done in stark black. They stopped in the shadow of the plane’s wings and glanced around.

“They should be here,” Shane muttered.

“Who?”

He let go of her and turned in a circle.

She glanced over her shoulder. If the guy who’d followed them woke up and cried for help, it would all be over fast.

“The flight crew. They’re supposed to be ready and waiting.” Shane rapped his knuckles on the belly of the plane and walked forward toward the cockpit.

A trio of men exited the nearest hangar.

“Shane...” Lacey took a step back.

Oh, God. Not him...

“What—? Shit.”

The forward door of the plane creaked open overhead.

“There you are!” Alex’s gaze latched on her. He was the kind of guy nightmares were made of.

“Get her up, now.” Shane snatched her around the waist and lifted her toward the door.

The startled man grabbed her by the hands and helped haul her into the plane.

“Shane—Shane, no!” Lacey grabbed the open doorway and leaned out.

Shane had his back to her, his ground-eating strides shortening the distance between him and Alex’s group.

Alex wouldn’t hesitate to kill Shane. Of all Marcos’ people, Alex was the one Lacey had feared the most.

A van roared down the tarmac, its side door open. Two familiar faces sat perched on the seats, conspicuous blankets over their laps.

Lacey’s hands shook.

“Get back. I need to lower the stairs.” The man firmly pushed her away from the opening, but not before she saw the standoff come to a stop.

She scampered to the cockpit, peering out.

Kyle and Isaac stood facing the trio, those odd blankets draped over what had to be their weapons. Shane and the other two men assisted Aanya and Dev up the stairs.

“Welcome aboard, everyone. We’re down a pilot, but cleared for takeoff in—ten minutes. Get your friends inside,” the man hollered.

Aanya tripped over her own feet, nearly falling. Dev helped her back up, but it was clear the two were shaken. Shane and the other Aegis guys were too focused on the danger to be of much help to the couple.

But Lacey could. This much she could do.

She slid out of the cockpit and took Aanya in one hand, Dev in the other.

“We’re going to be seated over here. I know this is scary, and you’re tired, but it’s almost over.” She dished out the calming lies like they were truth dipped in honey and helped the two sit in chairs bolted to the wall.

Aanya glanced around at the crates and rough interior.

“I know, it’s not much to look at, but think of this as an adventure. Here, let me help.” She got Aanya buckled in. Dev could do that much for himself.

A hand squeezed her shoulder.

“Thanks,” Shane muttered.

Lacey nodded and took the seat on the other side of Aanya.

The plane’s engines roared to life, but the door was still open and they were down two people.

“Someone pull the stairs,” the pilot yelled back at them.

Shane approached the door and hollered out. A moment later, their two missing team members climbed in and they hauled the stairs up. Lacey didn’t breathe an easy breath until the door was secure and they began rolling forward.

They’d made it. For real this time.

Next stop, justice and a hot shower.

Marcos stalked across the tarmac, watching the cargo plane’s rear wheels hop, skip and lift off the ground.

“What the hell were you doing? You let them get away?” he roared.

The three who’d been on that part of the air field stared at the ground, their thumbs up their asses.

“Do you realize what you just let happen?” He gestured at the plane. “That’s your one-way ticket to prison flying out, right now. God damn it. Someone find out where that plane is headed.”

Marcos yanked his phone out of his pocket. He hoped the brothers were awake, because they were about to need a lot of help. First, he’d see about getting his team state side as quick as possible. Worst case, he could giftwrap the team and bolt on his guys, while the cops were busy sorting them all out.

“I was just about to call you,” Juan said.

“Tell me you’ve got something?”

“There was a problem,” he said.

“What kind of problem?”

“A dead one. The video is gone, but...”

“That’s a problem I can deal with. Sit on the scene. There’s a woman who will be headed your way in the next week. I need her.”

Marcos hung up the phone. The airport security had caught sight of them and two men were staring at their group, probably waiting for backup.

“Let’s get out of here,” Marcos said.

“Sir?” the kid jogged up.

“What? Talk and move, man.” Marcos strode toward the break in the fence.

“The plane, it’s got an Atlanta destination logged.”

Finally, something was going right. He’d catch Lacey Miles between the Torres brothers and his team, and squeeze the life out of her until he had every last second of that video footage.

Shane leaned against the crate, watching Lacey. She had Aanya and Dev laughing, relaxed and not the least bit concerned that they were hurtling through the air in a bucket of bolts. This plane didn’t even have chewing gum holding it together. Duct tape would be an improvement, and their clients didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“You should take a picture. Probably last longer.” Isaac crossed his arms over his chest and followed Shane’s gaze.

“Go fuck yourself.”

“I thought that was her job?” Isaac jerked his head toward Lacey.

Shane clenched his jaw and his vision narrowed. He tilted his head, staring at Isaac.

“I’m messing with you, fuck face.” Isaac shoved Shane’s shoulder.

“It’s not funny.”

“It kind of is. I’ve never seen you like this before.” Isaac grinned.

What Shane wouldn’t give to punch that bastard’s face right now. He had to think about the clients. They’d been through enough. Lacey had been through enough. Shane could mop the floor with Isaac’s ass later.

“You know there’s nothing wrong with liking a pretty girl, right? You are allowed to be attracted to someone. Hell, even to have a life.”

“No one asked you, Isaac.”

“No, but this is a free world. It’s what we fought for. I figure I can express my opinion when and where I want to, so long as it doesn’t hurt business.” Isaac lifted his shoulders.

Shane had to stop engaging with Isaac.

“Look, we all know you’re beating yourself up over what happened with Cisco. I get it. We’ve all been there. You don’t survive a few firefights without wishing something had gone differently. Doesn’t mean your whole life is a mistake. Besides, she might be good for you.” Isaac slapped Shane’s shoulder and moved to sit next to Felix.

It didn’t matter if Isaac was right or wrong, there was no future for him and Lacey. Shane lived his life taking orders. He wasn’t about to change that. It was so ingrained in who he was there was no point in fighting it. His life would kill Lacey. She’d waste away, having to stay put if she even chose to, and he didn’t think she would.

Lacey pushed up from her seat, glancing across to where Isaac and the others sat, then to Shane.

He glanced away, finally caught staring.

Isaac’s snort was barely disguised by the roar of the engines.

Lacey picked her way across to him with purpose in her stride. Shane braced himself and tilted his head toward her.

“There aren’t drinks or food or anything on here, are there?” Her words were muffled by the plane, but he understood enough.

Shane shook his head.

Lacey rocked back on her heels and cast a concerned glance at Aanya.

He was more worried about Lacey. Food hadn’t been on the forefront of his mind that morning. They’d stopped for something to eat late last night, but had otherwise eaten snacks.

“When we land, what do you want to eat?” he asked.

“I’ll probably pick up something on the way to my videographer’s apartment. Last we emailed, he said I could crash on his sofa for a day or two, while we worked out how to piece together the footage.”

Shane frowned.

This was the first he’d heard of her leaving them this early.

He’d just assumed...

The first thing they’d do after landing would be to secure the clients at a facility, likely a hotel for now, and bring in the police to take statements.

“Are you sure? We’ve got our team coordinating with the police to get the investigation going as soon as we land. Your statement will go a long way.” Shane was suddenly desperate to get Lacey to stick around even for one more night. Why? He had no fucking clue, but it was his single-minded focus.

“I’ve got to get something going. The rest of you have jobs to go back to. I’ve got to work twice as hard to earn my traffic back.” Lacey’s lips turned down and her brow creased. “I’ll go by the police station or something tomorrow, but I’ve got to get to work on these videos now.”

“I’ll take you, then.” Shane wasn’t ready to take no for an answer, not yet.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Because...” She stared at him.

“Because?”

“It’s easier to cut it off and never see each other again than do...this.”

Her words punched him in the gut, but Shane wasn’t going to give in.

“Lacey, this is about your safety. That’s it.”

He could lie with the best of them if he had to.