Chapter Two
The bar let out a loud clang as Zane set the weight back on the rack. He could feel the sweat on his chest as it soaked the sleeveless tank he was wearing.
Tonight’s workout had been hard. He was sure he would feel it in the morning.
Sometimes it helped him to get in late at night when not many of the men were around. The building of Reed Allen’s security firm was always open to every employee, regardless of whether or not they were in the family, especially seeing as many worked all hours of the night to provide their services. It wasn’t like security threats kept a nine-to-five schedule.
All the guys Zane worked with seemed nice enough. Many were related in some way or another, which always made him feel like more an outsider than normal, but it was still a nice enough place to work. Thus far, it was turning into probably the best job he’d ever had.
They payed well, and no one asked him to do anything underhanded or shady like he’d seen at some of his previous jobs.
Sure, the Allens bent the law a little, but no more than necessary, and only as a last resort. The truth was, working for them made him feel like one of the good guys.
Zane grabbed the bottle of water from the floor next to him and gulped it down. His arms still burned from the number of reps he’d done. He’d been so zoned out that he hadn’t even realized that he’d gone well over his normal count.
It had been a long couple of weeks. Zane hadn’t been with the Allens long, and the most recent assignment had been mostly night stakeouts. Not that he minded, but it wore a bit. Sometimes that was just part of the job.
He’d be glad to go home and get a good rest in his own bed. Just for good measure he yawned loudly.
“I second that,” Cage said from the stairs.
Zane nodded to the youngest Allen brother and watched as he made his way down the metal stairs. He’d been wounded sometime last year on the job, and the leg still wasn’t totally healed.
Not that it seemed to slow him down at all. Cage was one of the harder working in the bunch. It was like he had something to prove. Zane could understand that.
“Heard you finished the case,” Cage said with a grin.
Zane nodded and wiped the sweat off his face. “Bryce was going to send the report over to the restaurant owner,” he said. “Looks like one of the employees and his girlfriend were the ones helping themselves to a midnight feast.”
Cage nodded. “Good work,” he said. “You’re really fitting in nicely here.”
Zane opened his mouth to reply but stopped when his phone buzzed from the locker. He walked over to his bag and pulled out the phone.
He furrowed his brow. The number seemed familiar, a local one, but he couldn’t place it. It obviously wasn’t one of his contacts.
He grunted as he remembered who the number belonged to. It’d been one he used to call all the time, just one he hadn’t for a good five years.
Ellen.
Just thinking about her made his chest tight.
Zane glanced at the time and frowned. He turned to Cage. “Sorry. I’ve got to take this.”
Cage only nodded, but it was hard to miss the concerned look he was giving Zane.
Zane hit the green talk button. “Ellen, what is going—”
“They’re after me,” she said quickly into the phone.
He could hear the quaking in her voice as she spoke. His adrenaline kicked in, and his heart picked up. “Who’s after you?”
She took in a deep breath. “I saw them shoot him. I saw him die,” she said. “There’s no way they aren’t after me. They saw me.”
He wasn’t exactly sure what the hell was going on, but first of all he needed to get her someplace safe. “Where are you right now?”
“I’m on the highway at exit 26,” she said. “They shot out my back window, but I don’t think they followed me.”
Zane stifled the curse that threatened to erupt. They’d already shot her car. That meant they’d seen her car. If they’d seen her car, then they might have seen her license plate.
“I need you, Zane,” Ellen said.
Whatever was going on, they would figure it out. He would sort this shit out and keep her safe.
She wasn’t far from him. Another exit, and she’d be nearly to the firm. Zane turned to Cage, who was still standing there, concern etched on his face.
“Mind if I use the office for a bit?” Zane said.
Cage shook his head. “Whatever you need.”
Zane nodded his thanks. “Okay, you’re gonna get off at exit 27 and head east. I’m at work right now, and it’s the closest safe place.”
“I know where you’re working,” she said softly.
Zane was surprised that she knew. They hadn’t talked in years. He always just assumed that once he left town she’d forgotten all about him.
“You do?” Zane said.
“Dean told me last time we talked.”
He nodded. It made sense that her brother would mention it. With him being overseas, and there not being any responsible family nearby, he likely wanted to make sure she had someone to call.
“I’m going to stay on the phone with you until you’re here.”
Zane could hear a sigh of relief. He couldn’t blame her. Ellen wasn’t used to dealing with people shooting at her, even if she was normally a rock. Hell, it had been no surprise to him when he heard she decided to go to school to be an ER nurse.
“Do you think they will come after me?” she asked.
He switched ears and moved toward the door. Zane stared out into the darkness.
“Right now just focus on your driving,” he said. “How far out are you?”
She grew quiet, and for a moment he thought that maybe they had lost connection. Or worse.
“El?”
Lights flashed down the road as a car turned the corner.
“I’m almost outside,” she said finally.
Zane stepped out into the cool night air. “Just pull up front.” He hit the red button on the phone.
He looked all around. There was a chance that whoever had shot at her car had been able to follow her. The night was still around them, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Zane walked over to the driver’s side door and opened it for her once the car had stopped. Ellen stepped out and instantly wrapped her arms around him. Her whole body shook.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, ready to defend Ellen.
“Take her in,” Cage said quietly. “I’ll pull the car around back inside the garage.” He nodded toward the street. “In case,” he motioned to the back window, “whoever did that comes looking.”
Zane hated to involve anyone else in this, but she was a mess, and as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he needed the help.
“Let’s get you in,” he said in as calm a voice as he could manage.
She nodded against his chest, her soft dark blond hair concealing her face.
Zane led her inside slowly and up the stairs to his boss’s office. It was the most comfortable of them and would allow for a bit of privacy. He helped her to sit on the couch while he brewed a pot of coffee.
He watched her as she settled on the couch. She looked older than the last time he’d seen her. It had been over five years.
Ellen looked so pale and fragile sitting there. her ugly blue scrubs doing nothing to help her pallor.
Zane brought a cup over to her and watched as a small smile filtered onto her face. “You remembered.”
He quickly turned away to deal with his own coffee. “Cream and sugar,” he said. “Some things don’t change.”
He paused for a moment wondering if she’d picked up on the sadness in his voice. There were too many things that he hadn’t dealt with, and now they were all right there, smack dab in his face.
Zane locked up his rampaging emotions. They had other things to talk about. Pressing things like people shooting at her. He turned and took a seat in a chair near her.
“Now why don’t you tell me what happened.”