Page 70 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

“She’s a mouthy brat. You going to do something about that?” John laughed.

“Nah, I kind of like her that way.” Mac leaned over and kissed her. “John realized you didn’t have anything with you, so he brought some of your clothes.”

“Mandy actually picked them out,” the other man put in, the corners of his lips twitching. “She was very careful to make sure they were nice and soft.”

“You laugh at me, John Hampton, and I’ll take his gun and shoot you with it.”

Mac grinned. “You’re on your own, buddy.” He sobered. “We need to go through some procedures in case something happens, and it isn’t a friendly.”

“What procedures? If some bad guy shows up, we shoot our way out of here,” she said.

“We,” he said, stressing the pronoun, “don’t shoot our way out of here. You get to safety, and I handle the situation. It shouldn’t be an issue, but we’ll have two signals. One is an all-clear that means it’s safe for you to come out. The other will mean you need to run, don’t look back, and keep going until you reach a designated person or place, in this instance, John.”

“And what will you be doing while I tuck tail and run?”

“On that note,” John said, grinning at his friend, “I’m going to head out. I don’t think I want to stick around for the fireworks. You two kids have fun and don’t do anything Mandy and I wouldn’t do.” He made a hasty retreat as Willa looked at Mac.

“Answer me,” she demanded.

“Watch your tone, Cowgirl. This isn’t any different from anything else. When I give you an order, you follow it. Period. No questions asked, just do what I say. If you don’t, you’ll earn yourself another discipline spanking. I meant what I said, Willa.The one I gave you last night is probably the easiest one you’ll ever get.”

“I won’t leave you.”

“You will if I tell you to.”

“I won’t.”

“You will… or wish you had when the danger has passed, and I’ve dealt with you.”

Once again, they were at an impasse.

“You can’t ask me to leave you to die.”

“I can and will. This is why it’s against every rule in the book for us to be together. I need to know if I give you the signal to run, you won’t stop until you reach John.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Yes.” He pulled her close. “If I know you’re safe, I have a much better chance of survival than if I’m worried about you.” Taking her by the hand, he walked her into the secure bedroom, where he lifted the tribal rug to reveal a trap door. “If I tell you to run or I don’t give you the all-clear within five minutes, you get in here, bolt that door, go down this hatch, and run like hell to the end. It’ll bring you out about a mile from here where we keep a vehicle. There are keys at the end of the tunnel on the right that open the door out and lead you to the vehicle. You take that vehicle, drive like a bat out of hell until you get to John. Promise me, Willa.”

She shook her head. “You can’t ask me to do that.”

“I’m not asking, Cowgirl, I’m telling you. If you don’t and we both survive, I’ll welt your backside so you can’t sit or fuck comfortably for a month. Promise me.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” she whispered.

“I do, and I know it’s contrary to your every instinct, but I need you to trust me.”

“It isn’t about trusting you…”

“It is. It has nothing to do with your competency. It has to do with trusting what I have trained for my whole adult life. It isn’t I don’t think you can’t handle a situation, I just need to know you’re safe, so I can focus on getting the job done. It’s about you trusting me to know what’s needed, and that I’m damn good at my job. I need to do some paperwork. Why don’t you get dressed and come sit with me? I’ll show you what we’ve been doing to catch these guys, and we’ll go over the signals for an emergency.”

He couldn’t really expect her to leave him. She was willing to bet, she was as good a shot as most of his men. She was strong, fit, and could handle herself in a fight. They’d been apart for five years, and during that time, she’d studied martial arts and had fought her way out of some scary scenarios. He could expect whatever made him happy, but it wasn’t happening. If there was a fight, she’d be in it right beside him.

They spent the rest of the day, Willa reading on a Kindle she found in the nightstand and Mac working on paperwork. He’d showed her the search grids and let her read communications she was quite certain weren’t normally shared with material witnesses.

Willa made lunch, and they snuggled on the couch while they ate.

“I have a favor,” Mac said.

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