Page 46 of Shadow Blind

“For Christ’s sake, Demi.” Frustration flashed across Aiden’s face. “That damn cat isn’t worth your life.”

Before Demi could respond to that nonsensical argument, a minivan came flying through the gate. Aiden pivoted. In one smooth movement, he pulled his gun and stepped in front of her.

Tram pivoted as well, assessing the oncoming vehicle. “They’re friendly.” He glanced at Aiden. “Hotch’s team. They’re bringing the bastards who were after your girl. You wanted to…” he glanced at Demi “…chat with them.” He paused, arching an eyebrow. “Remember?”

With a tight grunt, Aiden reholstered his gun.

The van stopped next to the SUV. She recognized the three men who climbed out as the same men who’d stormed her condo and taken charge of her would be assailants. There hadn’t been time for introductions, since Tag had hustled her out the door and down to the street as soon as his backup had arrived.

“Hotch.” Aiden offered a single nod of acknowledgement as a blond guy, with thinning hair and no neck, swaggered toward them.

“Winchester.” Hotch nodded back. Halting, he planted his feet and braced his palms on his hips. “Nice.” He stared at the jet. “You’ve traded up.” After a moment of silent contemplation, he jerked a thumb toward the van. “Hope you get what you need from those bozos. They wouldn’t confide in us.” Grimness tightened his voice. “Do us a solid and make the bastards pay for what they did to your crew. They were our brothers too.”

A muscle twitched in Aiden’s cheek, but he simply nodded and turned toward the men watching from beside the plane. Cosky and the others must have hung back to give her and Aiden some privacy.

“Cos, Zane, Rawls, you want to give these boys a hand with our guests?” As the men he summoned headed toward them, Aiden turned back to her. “Our conversation isn’t finished,” he grated out before striding over to the van.

“Demi,” Cosky held her gaze. “Kait’s gathering everything you’ll need for the next few weeks.” He paused, his gaze dropping to the duct taped kennel. “Including cat supplies.”

“Don’t mind Aiden,” Rawls added as he followed Cosky to the van. “Dude’s had a tryin’ week.”

She recognized all three of the men who passed her. They’d been caught in the craziness three years ago when that strange, homeless lady had tried to kill Cosky…repeatedly…in front of Demi’s coffee cart.

“Our conversation isn’t over, my ass,” Demi muttered beneath her breath as she grabbed the handle of the cat carrier.

“Let me get that for you.” The voice behind her was deep, with a rough edge, as though it wasn’t used often.

She turned and found herself staring into metallic green eyes. The guy was huge and ripped, with a couple days of golden scruff softening his hard jaw. Her gaze dropped to the mountain lion tattoo snarling from his muscled bicep. She’d seen him waiting alongside the plane when the SUV had arrived, although he hadn’t been in that loose huddle surrounding Aiden.

“And you are?” Demi asked warily, raising her voice to be heard above the growling at her feet.

“Name’s O’Neill.” He reached for the handle of the crate. Demi pushed his hand away. He straightened and studied her eyes, then ran a palm down his stubbled face. “I won’t hurt him.”

“No? Then what are you planning to do with him?”

A slow smirk spread across his face. “Sneak him on the jet while they’re distracted.”

“Why would you do that?”

He shrugged, casually scratching the corner of his jaw. “To screw with them? Because I like cats?” He shrugged again. “Take your pick. If you want him on board, we need to move. Time’s running out.”

Demi turned to check on Aiden. The van doors were still open, and he was leaning across the back seat, fighting to drag Stick Man out. O’Neill was right. Her soon-to-be-ex was completely focused on his captive.

“Okay. Let’s go.” She bent to grab the handle on the top of the crate, but O’Neill reached it first.

“I’ve got him.” He bent toward the kennel and said something she couldn’t hear.

The cat’s growling stopped mid-snarl.

While Demi was processing the timing of Trident’s sudden blessed silence, O’Neill hefted the crate and headed for the plane’s ramp in a ground-covering lope.

Chapter twenty

Day 7

San Bernardino, California

Demi took a step toward the plane, only to remember Trident’s medication. She’d stuffed the two plastic bottles into her purse just before Tag rushed her out of her condo. Tram’s SUV was parked next to her, its passenger door still open, her purse in plain sight. Three long steps later, she reached into the back seat and grabbed her bag.

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