Bud watched one woman push another into the bathroom in a wheelchair, and zeroed in to try to hear them over the din of the airport. He didn’t recognize the language so he focused on the people around him once again while making sure the door to the bathroom stayed in his peripheral vision.

The hair on the back of Bud’s neck bristled when the wheelchair came back into view. Something wasn’t right. They weren’t talking, and the woman in the wheelchair now wore sunglasses. She was in the same loose, gauzy dress. Same shoes. Same ponytail.

But she was sitting odd and it wasn’t right.

He quickly closed the distance between them and the world slowed around him when he smelled Nicole in the chair. His wolf surfaced enough to watch their back while Bud quickly ran through every possible scenario and came to the conclusion he’d get help the fastest by calling for security as he demanded to know what the woman had done to Nicole. All other strategies would have security thinking he was the perpetrator instead of the woman.

“Nicole! What has she done to you!? Security! Security! We need help!!” He could hear Nicole’s heart beating way too slowly, and he added, “Call 911!! She walked into the bathroom and now she’s in the wheelchair! Help! Security!”

The woman pushing the wheelchair turned to run and someone tackled her, for which Bud was grateful. “You’ll need to find the woman originally in the chair, too!” He gently removed the sunglasses and turned to the security guard running towards them. “Let’s get her spread out! They’ve tied her to the wheelchair to keep her sitting up. She’s unconscious. We need a paramedic or EMT! Is there oxygen close?”

Instead of arguing, the security guard motioned a woman approaching to help Bud while he went to help whoever had tackled the woman.

Without a knife, Bud couldn’t cut the luggage strap around her waist securing her to the chair’s back. He took a few seconds to unfasten it before he effortlessly lifted her from the wheelchair and barked at the female security guard to support Nicole’s head as he put her down. He remembered to say thank you once they had his Nickie stretched out, and was glad the woman knew to take the ponytail out so Nicole’s head could lie straight.

“Are there paramedics? I don’t know what to do for her! We need to find out what they gave her!”

“Tell me what happened, Sir.”

Her English seemed better than most, and Bud relaxed a little inside with the knowledge he wouldn’t have to try to explain in Spanish.

“She walked into the bathroom. Two women went in behind her, one in a wheelchair and the other pushing. She came out in the wheelchair like this.” He sighed. “She’s helping the FBI on a human trafficking case. Agent Peretti is her main contact. I don’t know a first name.” He remembered the offer of the consulate, and said, “We’re Americans. Someone should notify the consulate.”

She looked from the security guards questioning the woman behind him back to Bud. “She’s Italian. We’re bringing someone up from down below to translate, but she isn’t speaking at all so I’m not sure we’ll be able to find out what she did to your — girlfriend? Wife?”

“Friend. What about the other woman? The one originally in the chair?”

She shook her head. “She must’ve gotten away in the initial confusion. I’m sorry.”

Men with a stretcher showed up and started asking questions in Spanish. Bud kept up with most of the questions and answers, and since the security guard seemed to be telling them what happened accurately, he didn’t intercede. They gave her oxygen right away and told the security guard Nickie would have to go to the hospital.

Damn. They were right, but he’d have all kinds of problems protecting her there.

“I’m acting as her bodyguard until she can get back to the States to her regular security team,” he told the female security officer. “She was travelling under a pseudonym and thought she was safe, but the men after her showed up at the resort last night and we were trying to get her home. Her life’s in danger. You need to notify Agent Peretti of the FBI back in the States, and we need to get the consulate involved. I’ll need to stay with her every second, though I’d appreciate more security, of course.”

The oxygen had her heart beating a little steadier, and Bud felt her wrist before commenting on it in Spanish. The medic nodded his agreement, and Bud relaxed with the knowledge she’d likely be okay once the drugs wore off.

Bud ignored the activity around them as the international terminal was evacuated. He produced the Buxton Jones passport when asked for ID, and sighed when no ID was found on Nicole.

“It’s either in the trash in the bathroom, or the other kidnapper has it.”

Thankfully, they found her purse, and the clothes and shoes she’d been wearing, buried under paper towels in the bathroom’s trash.

* * *

Nickie awakened with a jolt, her world fuzzy and her consciousness tethered somewhere over her body. She sliced through the haze, and the blurred colors and shapes snapped into focus, so sharp she thought her eyes might bleed. She was flat on her back looking at the ceiling, and moving. She meant to punch the man to her left, but her arm barely moved. She opened her mouth to scream and nothing came out.

“She’s awake. Stop. She’s awake!”

Bud’s face came into view. “I’m here, Nickie. You’re safe. Does anything hurt?”

Drawing in enough air to speak took effort, but she managed to say, “Can’t move. Paralyzed.”

“You were drugged. You’ll be okay when it wears off. I’ve been in contact with the consulate, and someone from there will meet us at the hospital. Can you tell the officers I’m acting as your guard until we can get you home to your regular people, please?”

“No hospital. Get me on plane. Home. States. Not safe here.” Her eyes circled to look at one of the officers. “Bud is protecting me. Has to stay with me. I need on a plane. Away from here.”

More rapid-fire Spanish and someone ushered them into a room with no windows. Some kind of holding room off the security area.

“Mrs. Bell,” said a uniformed officer. “It isn’t possible for you to leave. You need the hospital.”

“Refuse. Can’t make me.” She looked at Bud. “Sit me up. Need to puke.”

Bud expertly sat her up on the gurney and leaned her over so she didn’t puke all over herself. She heard him telling someone to get her some water while she threw her guts up. So much damned coffee, and the cinnamon roll had been better the first time. Fuck.

When she’d finished upchucking and had sipped a little water, Bud told her, “You’re serious about flying out? I’m betting all international flights were cancelled since they evacuated the terminal. It’ll probably be a while.”

“Then we need to see about chartering a private plane. I have more money than I know what to do with and I want to go home.” She looked at the gurney, and then switched to Spanish to ask the medical guys, “Does the back of this come up?”

Bud watched them prop it up about eight inches — not enough for her to sit up, but at least she wasn’t flat on her back anymore.

“Okay. I’m going to step away and make a phone call to see how quickly I can make that happen. Do you have an upper limit on what you’re willing to spend?”

“A hundred grand, but it should cost between fifteen and twenty-five thousand. Jet with lots of fuel, and big enough the ride will be smooth.”

“We can’t let you leave right away, Señorita,” said one of the uniformed officers.

His English was decent, but she switched to Spanish again to be sure he understood every damned word she said.

“I know I’m not under arrest for being nearly kidnapped. I’ll give you my statement while we wait, and I’ll make myself available via phone or video chat once I’m home. If you try to detain me, you’ll have a huge mess on your hands when the media finds out you’ve detained bestselling author Nicole Blackthorn when she did nothing wrong. One tweet from me and you’ll have news organizations from everywhere ringing your bosses to find out what’s going on.”

Nickie knew they’d be more concerned with media than attorneys, so she didn’t bother with that threat.

* * *

Bud called Aaron and hoped he was in the loop on what was happening with Nicole.

“Aaron, it’s Bud. This is your phone call to notify you Nicole isn’t going to make her flight. We need to charter something out of here as quickly as possible, and she’s prepared to spend twenty grand or more to make it happen on a smooth ride. She was drugged in the bathroom — something in a rag over her face and an injectable. They tried to get her out in a wheelchair, but I recognized her despite the disguise they put her in. She’s conscious and quickly regaining control of her muscles, so the effects of both are wearing off.”

“Who knows? Which branches of law enforcement are involved, and where are you now?” asked Aaron.

“Airport security, the local police, and whatever they call their EMTs down here. The international terminal was evacuated. They have us in a room just off the security area. I hear enough noise outside I believe they’re checking people again before they let them back in, but flights are going to be delayed. Can you get us away sooner on a charter than our commercial flight?”

Aaron asked their flight number and Bud heard keys clacking in the background. “I caught you in your office?”

“It happens. Looks like the new departure time is barely two hours away. I’m not sure I can arrange a charter before then. Want me to try?”

“No. We’re in first class, she’ll be okay. We’ll likely have security with us until we fly out of here, and I’ll be able to walk her to the bathroom on the plane and wait outside knowing she’s in there alone.”

“Let me know if anything else comes up. I’m glad you were with her. Want to tell me how you got involved in this?”

“Just lucky, I guess.”

Aaron chuckled. “Did you get the people who nabbed her?”

“I was more worried about her at the time. Her heart was thready and… damn, it scared me. They got one, but she only spoke Italian so I couldn’t ask her anything. Police took her away pretty quickly once they arrived. As far as I know, the other one got away.”

“I’ll make inquiries. Text me updates as things change.”

Bud disconnected and looked around the room as he stepped back to Nickie. He’d called her Nickie when she was unconscious, and somehow she’d transformed into his Nickie while he watched over her. It wasn’t possible for this to be long term, but he’d figure out the details later. For now, his wolf didn’t like being a dozen steps away and really didn’t like watching the medic keep her from falling when she tried to reach for the bottled water beside her knee.

“Careful, Nickie. Here.” He unscrewed the lid of her water and handed it to her as he helped her sit so she could get a drink. “Do you want some Coke? Your body’s fighting to get the drugs out of your system and fluids will help.” Fuck, but humans are so damned fragile.

She took a tiny sip of water and asked, “Plane?”

“Our flight’s scheduled for two hours away. Aaron isn’t sure he can arrange a charter in less time. We have plenty of security around us, and it’s gonna be a little while before you’re up to walking onto the plane anyway.”

“Fuck. Okay. Put me in one of those chairs. I don’t like this stretcher thing.”

He lifted her in the sitting position — one arm under the backs of her thighs and the other around her upper torso. She relaxed into him, totally trusting him, and he had to fight his wolf to put her in a chair. The animal inside him wanted her in his lap. However, Bud hadn’t known Nickie long, but he already knew her well enough to understand she’d need to sit on her own around all these people.

The medics weren’t happy with her in the chair, but she needed to sit up and fight the drugs if she was to be ready to board a plane in two hours. At last, someone came in to clean the floor, and Nickie gagged a little as the smell permeated the room again.

“Can you ask them for a ginger drink, to settle your stomach? I don’t think they’ll understand the English for it, and I have no idea how to say it in Spanish.”

She rattled off the question and someone left the room, and Bud recalled her mentioning the conversation the two women were having in Italian, and how it sounded like they were lovers.

“How many languages do you know?”

“I’m fluent in Spanish, Italian, French, Hindi, and Mandarin. I can manage basic conversation in Cantonese, Japanese, Turkish, and Arabic.” She looked away and then back. “I can handle checking into a hotel, ordering food, dealing with a taxi driver, and basic airport navigation in another dozen languages if I brush up a little before I leave.”

“Wow. Do you translate your books?”

“We hire translators and I edit their work. It’s faster. I often travel with a translator and pretend I don’t understand the locals. I learn so much that way.”

Damn, but it wasn’t just Bud’s wolf who liked this woman.

When they were finally able to board, Nickie was in good enough shape to walk onto the plane without assistance, and they had a thankfully uneventful flight. Bud smiled when he saw Ranger and Mac waiting for them near the luggage carousel, and he let Nicole lead him to them.

“Ranger and Mac, this is Bud. Bud, Ranger’s on the left and Mac’s on the right.”

“We’ve met,” said Bud.

“How do you know them?”

“It’s a long story, but they’ll be able to come farther on to RTMC property than an unknown, and they’ll know how to work with me should something happen.”

Nickie looked at him a good ten seconds before she gave him a small head-shake. “We’ll sort that through later.” She looked to Ranger. “We didn’t check any bags, so we’re good to go. I trust you know where you’re taking me?”

“You have a condo in mid-town, a few miles from Bud’s house. Tyler had someone retrieve your bags from the resort and arrange for shipping, so no one at the resort will know where you are. Tyler said you’d likely want to pay to get your bags here quickly, so they should arrive in a few days.” Ranger looked to Bud. “You’re welcome to ride with us to get her settled in, assuming she wants you to come.”

Bud looked at her with his brows raised in question, and she smiled. “I won’t turn you away, but I’ll understand if you need to get home.”

“I’ll get you settled in, and then leave long enough to check on my house and a few business interests.”

Mac and Ranger were professionals, working in tandem to watch their surroundings while they made Nickie feel safe and not ill-at-ease. Bud slid into the back seat of the SUV, and pulled his phone from his pocket when it rang.

He didn’t recognize the number, but Nickie said, “That’s my assistant. This should be the last time I’ll need to borrow your phone.”

Everyone in the vehicle could hear both sides of the conversation, and Bud looked out the window as he heard the assistant assure her boss groceries were being purchased and should arrive and be put away shortly. She was also having clothes shopped for and delivered, and a doctor would be at her condo that afternoon around five or six, as he’d be coming when he finished at his office. A new phone was being messengered over by someone who could help her get it set up, and full-sized bottles of all her toiletries would be delivered later in the evening. Her assistant had searched online for a condo she knew Nickie would like, and sent the information to Aaron Drake, who’d rented it for three months so the bad guys wouldn’t be able to find her through the transaction. The condo came with an option to buy, and Nickie had forty-eight hours from taking possession to back out and only lose the deposit.

“I’m sure I’ll love it,” Nickie told her assistant, “you haven’t failed me yet. If the groceries aren’t bought yet, please add a dozen top quality grass fed steaks to the list. Also, I’d kill for southern barbecue — can you have some delivered, and maybe some baby back ribs, too? Enough of both to feed a dozen people, and don’t forget the beans, slaw, potato salad, and slabs of toast.”

When Nickie got off the phone, Mac said, “I see you’ve eaten a few meals with Bud.”

“Yes.” She looked at Bud. “I plan to set up a video conference with the key players on my various teams, develop a plan of action and get everyone on the same page. When that’s done, I’ll eat, shower, and sleep for at least twelve hours. You’re invited to help Ranger, Mac, and me eat the barbecue, ribs, and side items, and help us brainstorm.”

“Gladly, but you need to get to bed soon.”

“Speak for yourself. You didn’t sleep last night, either.”

“No, but I wasn’t drugged this morning. Your body’s still recovering.”

She sighed. “Yeah. The doctor’s probably not necessary, but it’ll be easier to see him than argue with my assistant about it.”

Bud chuckled. “I like her already and haven’t even met her.”

Mac and Ranger had already been to the condo and scouted entrance and exit protocols as well as security once inside. Ranger dropped everyone off at the lobby and went to park, and Mac ushered them all to the elevator. A key card opened the elevator and took them to the right floor, and it took both the card and a code to get in the door.

The view was spectacular, but Bud hadn’t expected anything else. He stood with Nickie in the foyer while Mac cleared the rooms, and when he gave the all-clear they moved from the foyer area to the living room.

“This floor has living room, dining room, media/game room, a bathroom, and the kitchen. Three bedrooms and an office upstairs, along with a huge master bath and another fairly large one. There’s a note on the kitchen island that someone will come swap out the media room and office if you want them on different floors, but we’d prefer you work upstairs if you don’t have a preference.”

“I won’t know until I see the space, but I’m curious as to your reasoning.”

“Most people who work from home spend around sixteen hours between their bedroom and office. If those rooms are secure then we can give you a little more distance and still keep you safe. However, we can make the downstairs room work, if you prefer your office be down here.”

She shook her head. “I try to make it as easy as possible to protect me. I appreciate the input.”

Mac walked to the door, opened it, and Ranger stepped in. “Aaron wants you under twenty-four-hour guard at least ten days, assuming the situation doesn’t resolve before then. Two more people are coming in, so we can work twelve on and twelve off to give you two people on you at all times. We know the area and the people.” He looked at Bud. “Also, we’ll have access to you if you go places with the MC, and Tyler might not.”

Nickie looked at Bud, and he shrugged. “Mac and Ranger are a friend of the Chattanooga RTMC chapter. They live with my counterpart’s wife’s best friend, and I’m up there a lot visiting my daughter. Yes, they’ll be allowed places your regular security won’t, but you’ll be safer around the MC than anyplace else on the planet.” He hesitated a second before adding, “Though, until you assure me you won’t write about anything you learn when with me, you won’t be around my men.”

“I never make that assurance to anyone.”

“Then we’re at an impasse. You’re welcome in my home and in the front of the bar, but not in the back and not the clubhouse.”

“What do you have to hide?”

“It’s about protecting my family, not about hiding.”

“Your daughter’s in Chattanooga. What other family do you have here?”

Bud shook his head. “The MC is my family. The men are my brothers — it isn’t just lip service. Their kids are my family. Their wives and mothers. If you become important to me then you’ll be important to them, and they’ll risk their life to save yours, if it comes to it. For that kind of loyalty, you have to give it back, and I won’t bring someone into our family who might make anything we say public knowledge.”

When she didn’t say anything, he added, “Would you go to a friend’s house and make it clear up front that you might write a story on how she parents her kids? The things she talks to her spouse about? How often their house is cleaned and where you found dust?”

“Okay, I get what you’re saying. Let’s agree to have this conversation tomorrow when we’ve both rested.” Before he could agree or disagree, she looked to Mac and Ranger and asked, “You both live with one woman? Lucky girl. The two of you are welcome to the guest bedroom when you aren’t on the clock. Let’s head to the media room and figure out at least a short-term game plan.”