Page 40 of Midnight Escape

Without pause, Danny moved them away from the entrance toward the rear door of the pub. Before they made it, Cowboy said, “Tallyho,” noting he’d caught sight of the potential threat. The men had entered. “Showbiz,” Cowboy suggested.

Danny agreed to the protective tactic Cowboy had designed and recommended. They were inside, had no weapons and, whenever possible, they would peacefully neutralize a threat when they had an innocent with them. And they had no idea if the men who’d entered had weapons. So, he played along with Cowboy’s suggestion. One, because it was a smart idea, and two, because he wanted the excuse to kiss her. And that’s what he’d be doing. He turned her with her back facing the wall and whispered, “Play along.”

Wide-eyed, she nodded.

He pulled her close and kissed her. Not with all the pent-up desire for her since he had to retain some focus and perspective about what was happening around him. They only had to pull off lovers who’d had a bit too much to drink and were making out. Yet he wanted so much more.

Her mouth opened under his and either she was a great actress, or she wanted the kiss as much as he did. Their tongues mated in the age-old song of passion. Her arms entwined around his neck, pulling them so close even a breath wouldn’t have been able to slip through between them.

As expected, his cock thickened, wanting to take this make-out session to the next level.

Vaguely, he heard the men tell someone to step away, acting like bodyguards protecting one or both of their privacies. They assured the men they hadn’t seen a woman run though, especially since their job was to see that their boss was not disturbed, not to watch for stray women. Cowboy laughed and told them unless she was hot, then their boss might want to meet her tomorrow night. He was set for tonight.

After a few more minutes, someone tapped his shoulder. “Okay, Ball Park, we’re set.”

Reluctantly, he pulled back from Moira’s soft lips and stared down at her with his ragged breathing. Her eyes were pools of desire. He had to speak with his brother ASAP.

“Bathroom,” Moira said breathlessly, then slipped from between him and the wall and went into the ladies’ restroom. He watched the door for a moment, then turned to his teammates. “So?”

“I recognized one of them. Underground. Either she was a chance grab, or someone contracted for her,” Doc said.

“Fuck,” Danny said. “Why can’t this be easy? I have to work. I can’t be there to watch out for her, and I haven’t sought out anyone else to keep an eye on her.”

When they spoke of the Underground, it was not Baltimore’s Underground Science Space. No, it was where the worst of the worst operated and the law was useless. If someone contracted for her, then Boyle knew she was alive.

“I have to speak with Justin, no matter if it’s out of our planned cycle. This is too important.”

“Yeah,” Cowboy said. “Maybe you’ll ask him about the girl since you just made out with her.” He snickered.

Maybe. Probably. They’d had no way to hide her otherwise. He looked around to see if she’d heard Cowboy’s words but didn’t see her near them. Realizing she’d taken so long in the ladies’ room tightened his gut that she might be avoiding him now.

“Excuse me,” Danny said to a woman walking their way. “Would you check on our friend for us, please? She’s been in there a long time. She’s about five foot six, auburn hair with lots of red in it, and is wearing jeans and a green shirt.”

The woman walked back their way, shaking her head. “There’s no one in there. Sorry.”

Moira must’ve slipped by them when they were talking and left through the back door. Dammit. “Doesn’t she realize it’s not safe? Hell, she came in here running for her life.”

“Maybe the kiss wasn’t the best idea,” Doc said, as the voice of reason. “How are you gonna find her now?”

It took a moment, then Danny remembered. “Oh, I have a way.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all the Holy Martyrs!Not thinking clearly, Moira raced from the bar, wondering if she’d have a heart attack with hers beating so fast and—could it burst out her chest? She couldn’t focus on that. She had to keep an eye out for anyone or anything she’d deem a threat. In the midst of her running for her life—that’s how she felt—she brought a hand to her lips. They still tingled from the man who wasn’t the gangly lad of her youth. Nay, he stood taller than her by about six inches, maybe more, maybe less. She wasn’t a short woman. He hadn’t needed to lean down too far, and she hadn’t needed to step on her tiptoes. She’d call that perfect in her mind.

When she’d arrived—just like her brother had said—Danny had waited for her at the airport. Shock had been the word of the day. He’d turned into a man. A fine-looking man. A man who set her body into a jumble of erotic feelings until she wanted to walk up to him and say, “I’m yours for the taking.”

Only, she didn’t want her brother to learn she wanted to share one of his friends’ bed. She didn’t know if it’d be worse for her or for Danny. Better to suffer the desire silently, which sucked.

What she hadn’t planned for had been that over the past few months, her attraction would have grown. After tonight, she had no idea how things would stand between them. But it was something she’d think about tomorrow.

After four blocks of foolishly running, constantly glancing back to ensure she hadn’t been followed, Moira stopped. “Nay. Nay. Not now,” she muttered, barely about to say the words. Frozen to the spot with legs slowly turning rubbery, she opened her purse. She fumbled around in her bag for her inhaler, only to panic when she couldn’t find it. A full-blown “I’m going to die,” paralyzing panic.

The last time she remembered using it was in the bathroom at the bar. She’d needed it then, because Danny had literally taken her breath away. The run had done it this time. While she’d ran, she admitted that she’d been frightened. It’d been stupid to leave Danny and his friends since they protected people, but they had chased off the men. At the time, getting away from Danny seemed more important. As her mind swirled, she knew how foolish she’d been to leave by herself.

Fear brushed through her and made a second stroke. She couldn’t breathe. She was suffocating. This couldn’t be happening. A door opened on the townhouse she’d fallen to her knees in front of. She’d made it to her friends’ home.

A women’s shrill voice had someone else running back inside. Were they calling the cops on her? Nay, they needed to call 911. “Get the inhaler Moira left here!”

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