ALTHOUGH SKILLED IN circumstances like this, Gray wasn’t prepared for the woman he loved to be in danger too. This changed everything, but he forced himself to remain calm. He managed his breathing and his expression. It wasn’t too late for this to end without her being harmed. He could get her out alive…he knew it.
As for Phantom, he wouldn’t be walking away today. Gray would probably lose his job, but at this point he didn’t give one flying fuck.
“You should put your weapon down and put your hands up. You’re under arrest,” Gray said coolly.
Phantom’s eyes widened and then he laughed. “And why would I do that?”
“If you don’t I’ll shoot your head off your shoulders,” Cade said from behind a stunned Phantom.
Several expressions fluttered over Phantom’s face. “You can’t shoot me. You have to take me in, remember?”
“Cade, tell asshole here what we do to a man who fucks with our loved ones.”
“Sure. We make him worm bait.”
Phantom blinked and pulled the trigger. The bullet whizzed by Gray’s head at the same time he reached for his own gun form the holster and pulled the trigger, shooting the man between the eyes.
“I told you I was a good shot,” Gray said.
“The mother fucker fell for it. Did he really think I wouldn’t watch your six? You two okay?” Cade asked, pushing his weapon back into the holster.
Panic washed over Gray. They weren’t out of the water yet. “Cade, you have to go.”
The man looked from Gray to Stormy, and then back to Gray. “I’ll see you on the flipside, brother.”
With Phantom gone and Cade out of the house, Gray turned all his concentration on the bomb attached to Stormy. His temples throbbed, but he sucked in a breath and exhaled through clenched teeth. He looked up and saw that she had tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I had no choice but to shoot him.”
“I-I’m not crying because of that. He killed Lola. This is all my fault,” she said through sobs.
He cupped her cheek. “Listen, that dead bastard is the one who is at fault. I don’t want to come off as insensitive, but we’ve got to get moving.”
“What do we do, Gray?” she asked.
“I’m going to dismantle this thing.” He reached into a pocket and withdrew a special pair of pliers. “This ain’t nothing. I’ve done this a thousand times.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be wearing one of those fancy outfits for protection?”
“Nah.”
“Wait. Stop.”
He held the pliers in his shaking hand and looked up at her. “Wait for what?”
“What if…well…”
“Do you trust me?”
Without hesitation she nodded. “I do.”
“I can do this.” He started to move in again…
“But hold on.”
“Yeah?” He needed to get her out fast. The longer she sat in the chair hooked to the explosives, the less likely they would walk away alive.
“Just in case, you know…I want you to know that I care for you. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I do. I’m not fishing for your feelings, or expecting anything, but I had to tell you.”
He bent in and carefully kissed her fully on the lips, then pulled back. Sweat beaded on his forehead and on his armpits. He was freaking out, but he couldn’t let her see. He steadied the pliers over the wires, remembering everything he’d learned in the military and the years he’d spent as a Ghost Hawk. He’d done this before.
“Where do you want to go on our honeymoon?” he asked.
“What? Our honeymoon? We’re not even married.”
“We will be. I want you to decide. Anywhere your heart desires.” He looked up at her, seeing the trembling of her bottom lip, but at least the tears had dried.
“Bora Bora. I’ve always dreamt of going.”
“Your wish is my command, sweetheart.” He swallowed and finally decided which wire he’d cut. The set up was professionally done and it came down to Gray thinking like Phantom. He’d learned the man over the last months.
“I love you, Gray. Is that possible?”
“Better be because I love you too.” He placed the nose of the pliers on the wire and said a little prayer then squeezed the handle together and…