Page 21 of The Hero's Bride
“Explosives were detonated toward the back of the building,” he said in a low voice. “We got out and we’re three blocks from the site.”
“Move faster. Once they realize Thalia’s not in the crowd, they’ll spread out. I’ve ordered the FBI to send in a helo. Sending the coordinates now. There’s a field where they can land safely two miles from where your cell phones last pinged.”
His watch now vibrated with the incoming location. Sully glanced down at his own wrist and promptly whispered something to Thalia, beginning to move again. He followed, covering them from behind while wrapping up with Jude.
“I’ll meet you when you arrive in Texas,” Jude said before the line went silent. He shoved the phone back into his pocket. His friend and former teammate was a hard man who had dark secrets. All he knew was that Jude had lost his entire family in adolescence, and he often wondered if it had something to do with his decision to leave the teams and work for the Department of Homeland Security.
It took them twenty minutes to reach the extraction site. Using the tall grass for cover, they crouched down to wait. It wasn’t long before the whir of blades ripped through the air as the silver bird lowered to the ground. He squeezed Thalia’s hand. “Run,” he whispered.
Chapter Eleven
One moment Thaliawas crouched in the grass and the next she was bolting across a long field hand in hand with Mason. Once they reached the helicopter, he’d boosted her up as arms reached down to lift her into the aircraft. Now with headphones over her ears to block some of the noise, and so they could communicate, the helicopter was lifting off the ground. She sat between the two men she’d come to know and felt safer than she had in her entire life. She had been terrified when the fire alarm went off at the hotel but as soon as she jumped out of bed Mason was there at her side and she knew everything was going to be okay. She’d placed her trust in him more than once and hadn’t been disappointed.
Whenever she got overwhelmed or frightened all she had to do was look to his beautiful eyes and she was grounded. Her stomach pitched as the helicopter swayed and dipped. She had never flown in an airplane before, never mind a helicopter. Mason seemed to sense her unease and gave her his hand to squeeze, something he had been doing for the past two days that offered comfort. She had started giving his hand a double squeeze to acknowledge that she was all right. The simple contact felt as natural as breathing but she supposed that everything with Mason seemed seamless. Easy.
With the adrenaline from the past hour waning, her body slumped. She was shocked that even amid her first helicopter ride, her eyes were heavy. It wasn’t long before the pilot spoke, the sound reverberating through the headphones: “We just crossed the border into Texas. We’ll land near Southlake where Jude will meet you.” The aircraft dipped again as they began their descent. She drew in a quick breath and stiffened as she noticed the tall buildings and bright lights below.
“We’re landing on a rooftop,” Mason leaned in to say, even though they were wearing headphones. He straightened again, stealing some of the warmth she felt when they were close. She took in the sights as they continued to dip lower, her body jerking as the aircraft landed. A man in dark clothing walked briskly toward the helicopter. When they received the all clear from the pilot, Sully took off his headphones and exited first, followed by Mason who immediately turned with his arms outstretched. He gripped her waist, and a flash of his arms banded around her in the hotel room filled her mind, sending a hard jolt of electricity through her body. Her chest brushed against his as he lowered her to the ground. The sensation had her nipples tightening beneath her shirt. She looked forward to a time when she and Mason could be alone again. Able to explore the depth of the connection they were developing while not surrounded by the threat of the cartel, statements to the FBI, and helicopter rescues.
Once her feet hit the ground, she turned, peering up at the man she’d spotted when they landed. He was tall and muscular like Sully and Mason but lacked any of the warmth that emanated from her rescuers. The intense whir of the helicopter blades slowed, giving her ears a welcome reprieve from the sound.
“Everyone unharmed?” The man’s voice was deep and held no inflection. His pale blue eyes reminded her of a ghost. He was more than a little intimidating but with his gaze trained on her, she nodded.
“Yes. Thank you,” she said stepping closer to Mason and felt his fingers lace with hers.
“To you as well.” The man quickly looked at their connected hands before continuing. “You had my brother’s back long ago. Because of that, you are one of us. Even if the FBI didn’t want your testimony, we would have found a way to get you out of Mexico.”
She tried to mask the shock of his statement but felt heat creeping up her cheeks. Thankfully it was dark, so she didn’t have to hide her discomfort at the kind sentiment. She wasn’t used to praise, especially coming from a stranger. During her first week at the Day estate, Mr. Day, the family patriarch, had offered her a candy wrapped in blue foil. He told her he wanted to reward her with a treat for her hard work cleaning and serving. He’d thrust the candy toward her but when she went to take it, he retracted it, slapping her hard across the face with his other hand.Never take anything belonging to this family. Even if it’s offered.She could still hear his cold voice booming through the halls. He’d laughed heartily as she backed away from him and raced back to the staff quarters.
“Thalia, are you okay?” Mason’s sweet voice dissolved the flashback.
She glanced around to find three pairs of eyes trained on her. More heat crept to her cheeks, and she was thankful for the darkness of night.
“This is our friend, Jude.” Mason gave her hand a squeeze. “He leads the human trafficking task force for the Department of Homeland Security.”
She forced herself to smile and dipped her head. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Let’s get inside.” Jude gestured toward the glass doors embossed with a lion across from where the helicopter had landed. “Then we can talk after you’ve all rested.” They crossed the rooftop as the helicopter blades began to spin, readying for takeoff. When they approached the doors, they automatically slid open and revealed a grand foyer.
“Is this a hotel?” she murmured.
“The Ritz,” Red answered. “It’s the same hotel our friends stayed in when they were making plans to help Vivienne escape from her ordeal. It makes sense because of the helicopter pad at the top of the building. Lots of business VPs and celebrities stay here, so they have the option to fly in.”
She could certainly see why the space would appeal to those with wealth or stardom. The room they entered was opulent with coffered ceilings and crystal dripping from the light fixtures. Thick, marble pillars matched the glossy floors, and giant displays of fresh flowers nested on every surface. A shiver moved over her skin, and she wasn’t sure if it was the conditioned air pouring from the vents or the memory of the Days’ lavish estate. She much preferred the slightly worn carpets and the comfortable, yet well-used furniture of the hotel in Mexico.
“You have a suite for the next two nights,” Jude stated as they walked. “That should give the FBI enough time to take Thalia’s statement. I told them they cannot begin interviewing until midday. If they try, send them packing. I don’t expect any trouble, but having a suite will keep the three of you close.”
A middle-aged woman standing behind a desk gave them a silent nod and a warm smile as they passed. The men talked quietly as they walked down the hall, but she didn’t have the energy to focus on their conversation. Her feet were heavy and her body weak after their frantic escape. She hadn’t realized they’d reached an elevator until Mason ushered her in, placing his arm protectively around her shoulders. Warmth moved through her at the claiming gesture he’d made in front of the other two men. Neither made a comment as the elevator slid down a few floors then chimed right before the doors opened.
Mason kept his arms firmly around her as they moved through the elegant hallway lit by gilded sconces. Jude stopped at one of the doors and slid a key card into the opening. A green light flashed, and a lock clicked. When they stepped inside, she scanned the room—if it could even be called that. It was more like a large house. The heady scent of flowers lingered in the air, and she located the source sitting on the table in the formal living room. White roses and lilies speared up from an abundant display. Attached to the living room was a large kitchen and a dining room with more floral centerpieces set down the length of the table.
“The main bedroom and en suite are down that hallway.” Jude pointed toward twin hallways at the end of the room. “And the other two are on the right.”
“Are you headed back to California?” Sully asked, turning to Jude.
“No. I have a room for the night adjacent to your suite. I want to ensure everything goes smoothly with the interview tomorrow and there are no problems getting Thalia the documentation she needs to be sponsored in the country.”
The men gave each other back slaps before Jude left the room, promising to see them tomorrow.
