“You don’t think this is a bit much?” Aspen’s wide eyes stared up at him.

He smirked and adjusted the ballistics vest on her chest.

“These saves lives,” he muttered, securing it around her. He didn’t even want to think of her getting shot, much less taking a bullet.

Mac had brought an extra vest for her transport.

Tonight, SWAT would not hunt.

They’d protect.

His men would escort them to the airport to ensure they safely arrived. Declan wasn’t taking any chances if the thugs tried to show up again. There was no way he would let them take her.

Mac and Ashton were speaking quietly in the corner of the living room while the feds stood in the kitchen. Declan strained to hear their conversation but was unable to.

“Have you ever been shot before?” Aspen’s voice broke through his train of thought.

His gaze turned to her, finding her waiting patiently. Curiosity burned in her eyes, but there was a hesitation, as if she didn’t really want to know the answer to her question.

“Yeah.” He paused his hands and nodded, flashbacks of the last time a slug hit his vest springing to mind. The damn thing had him black and blue for a few weeks. He had felt fine at the hospital and complained the entire time that he was fine. The next day, he was barely able to get out of bed, for the pain had intensified by then. “It hurt like a son of a bitch.”

“Did the bullet go through the vest?” she asked, her eyes growing wider.

He tipped her chin up to him. Her lips parted slightly, and he wished he could claim them like he wanted to.

Not now.

“No bullet will touch you. This vest is a guarantee that we get you there safely. I protect what’s mine.” His voice ended on a growl. He didn’t care who heard him, he wanted it to be known that Aspen Hale—Irwin—was his woman.

Bad guys didn’t fight fair, and he’d be damned if they killed her in order to protect a known criminal.

Mac and Ashton’s conversation ceased. They’d heard him. No doubt about it. He glanced their way and found their eyes narrowed on him and Aspen.

“We’re ready to transport. Flight has been arranged.” Agent Ball stepped into the room. His gaze swept the area before settling on Aspen. “Young lady, in a few hours you’ll be meeting with the prosecutor. Hopefully this will all end soon.”

Declan moved to the table and finished aligning his body with his weapons. They’d spent the day holed up in the house waiting for night to fall. A calming sensation overcame him. He was used to this feeling. It was the same as if he was going out on a call.

He’d asked for a gun.

Mac outfitted him with enough weapons and ammunition to supply a small army.

“We leave now, we should be at the airport in less than forty-five minutes,” Mac murmured, stopping near Declan.

Ashton appeared on his other side. The three of them were dressed in black fatigues. Both Ashton and Mac were decked out in their array of weapons also.

Declan grabbed his favorite weapon, a Glock. The smooth, hard steel was comforting. Holding the weapon was soothing. Declan wasn’t sure why, but his gut was screaming something was off.

He glanced over to find Aspen engaged in a conversation with the feds.

“What’s wrong?” Ashton’s voice was low. He folded his arms across his chest.

“I don’t like this,” Declan replied, securing the Glock in his side holster. Taking his smaller pistol from the table, he braced his foot on the wooden surface to strap the smaller gun to his ankle. “Why the sudden time change?”

Mac’s gaze zipped over to the feds before coming back to him. “Yeah, I didn’t like it either.”

“To give the feds the benefit of the doubt, they have been working with her for longer. Maybe they are wanting to be unpredictable to throw off whoever is after her.” Ashton shrugged, clearly trying to appear casual, but his eyes gave away that he had his doubts, too.

“The plan still on?” Declan asked, glancing back over his shoulder.

“Sure is,” Mac confirmed.

“It’s time,” Agent Ball announced, walking their way.

Aspen came to him and reached for his hand.

His heart leaped.

She was putting on a brave front, but Declan saw the fear in her eyes.

“You’re staying by my side.” He pulled her close.

Without a word, she jerked her head up and down.

They left the house and filed into a dark SUV. Mac and Ashton would follow behind in their own truck. Declan knew they would trail the fed’s vehicle. Agent Williams closed the door behind Aspen before walking around the truck and hopping into the driver’s seat. Declan reached over and yanked her seat belt across her body and clicked it in place.

“I could have done that.” Her chuckle was strained, hinting at her stress.

“Humor me.” Not caring the agents were in the front seats, he gripped her neck and pressed a hard kiss to her lips. They pulled apart, and he knew he had succeeded in releasing some of her tension.

“All right, lover boy. Time to head to the airport,” Ball drawled, climbing in the passenger seat.

The truck started with a gentle purr before it rocked slightly and drove around the semicircle driveway.

Declan turned and watched the headlights from Mac and Ashton’s truck flash behind them. He settled back, and Aspen’s small hand slid onto his. He turned and entwined their fingers. She squeezed his tight. Their eyes met in the dark, and he returned the gesture.

Aspen’s nerves were settled by the feel of Declan’s large, powerful hand holding hers. Her heart raced with the thought of the dangers that awaited her. Going back to California was dangerous, but it was something she’d have to do. There was no way she’d allow Ray to walk. There were too many people depending on her, and she refused to let them down.

The ride was tense, but Aspen would expect everyone to be on high alert after the attack at the zoo. Ray’s men knew where she was, and the feds and Declan were taking extra precautions to ensure she remained safe.

She stared out the window watching the wooded scenery fly by. It was late, and there wasn’t any traffic on the road. The dark highway road eventually morphed into a quiet suburban area of town. She had driven through the area a few times and recognized landmarks.

Visions of that night came to mind.

“California is beautiful this time of year,” she whispered, closing her eyes briefly. If she focused hard enough, she could imagine the sunny weather and the winding roads near the ocean. She wasn’t sure if Declan heard her, but she had to talk about something to clear her head. She’d replayed that night in her mind a million times, and for once, she had to push it away from her.

“I’m sure it is,” Declan rumbled.

“I miss it,” she admitted. She turned toward Declan. The darkness surrounded them. Only passing streetlights provided glimpses of his silhouette. The intensity of his gaze slid across her skin. She swallowed hard, not sure if she’d be able to go through with her plan.

Aspen had been planning her own disappearance. After she testified, she’d decided to run. Even if she gave evidence and Ray was put away for life, there were others associated with him who would come after her. She’d learned much about her uncle after being thrust into protective custody.

Her world had been rocked when she was informed Ray was deeply involved in mob life. The money he’d laundered was to pay off debts he owed, and he’d grown greedy and bold. Her findings ruined everything for him.

As a forensic accountant, it was her job to find money hidden. She had been the best. There wasn’t a place someone could try to hide money that she couldn’t find.

That also meant she was the best at hiding her own money.

There was no way she’d let the feds take her and thrust her into a Godforsaken area of the country to live out her life in fear and poverty.

Once she got the chance, Aspen would disappear. She planned to leave the country. She’d never be safe here.

Never did she think she’d meet Declan.

Never would she have imagined she’d fall head over heels in love so quickly.

Never would she have imagined she’d have to leave the love of her life.

Again, Ray was taking everything from her. Aspen’s heart was tearing in two. She didn’t know how Declan would take it, but yet, she wouldn’t be around to see the destruction her leaving would cause.

Without saying it, she knew he was in love with her.

No matter how much he had insisted he wasn’t the committing kind, his presence beside her in the federal vehicle proved otherwise.

And she was going to shatter the heart he’d given to her.

“Aspen.”

She blinked and found Declan looking at her with concern on his face.

“Are you all right? I seemed to have lost you for a second.” His large hand brushed her hair from her face. It rested on her cheek.

She leaned into it, basking in the feel of him.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking of something.” She sniffed, trying to make up an excuse. It wasn’t lying, but she dare not tell him the truth of where her thoughts were going.

A vibrating noise caught her attention. Declan reached into his cargo pants and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. He swiped the screen and read the text message. His cursed filled the air. In the shadows, she watched his eyes narrow on the device before staring up at her.

“What is it?” she asked, an overwhelming feeling of dread filling her.

“We’ve got a problem.” Then he announced, “Ray Acosta escaped from prison.”

“What?” she cried out. Her hands trembled with the news. Her mind raced with possibilities. She couldn’t go back to California. What if he—

“Williams, you took a wrong turn,” Ball snapped, his voice breaking through her rapid thoughts.

Gazing out the window, she saw they were now in an industrial part of town, and from the look of the building, her dread morphed into stark fear. The streets were lined with garbage, and there were plenty of shadows from busted streetlights.

“What the fuck is going on?” Declan growled. His body grew tense, flying forward.

“There’s been a slight change in plans,” Williams snarled, whipping the truck around a corner, tossing her against the door.

Aspen gasped seeing the glint of a gun in Williams’ hand.

“You are no longer needed.”

The truck slammed to a halt, and the sound of a gunshot filled the air.