Page 23 of Come For Me
Chapter Nine
“Nat Kelly.”
King grumbled his opinion of the well-known enforcer under his breath. Elliot agreed with every word, but she kept her gaze blank. No sense clueing in the Bobbsey twins watching them like a hawk. The gunmen had taken Dain’s earpiece, but each member of their team had a listening device sewn into the collar of their uniform shirt. One of Saint’s little tricks. If the techno-geek had been standing in front of her right this moment, she’d probably do something totally inappropriate. Like hug him.
Good thing he was still back in the van. Her tough-as-nails rep could remain intact.
She gave the younger cop a slight smile as she turned to King. “What now?”
Her lips barely moved, but she knew King was wondering the same thing. And she knew exactly what she wanted to do. Every nerve in her body jittered with the urge to get inside that damn building, to give Dain the backup he desperately needed to rescue Olivia, but she had to think with her skills, not her emotions. Not normally a problem for her. This was Dain, though. The only man she’d ever let close enough to know her secrets, her past. Even if he’d had to get her fall-down fucking drunk for her to spill the truth.
She’d hated him for knowing—for all of two minutes. After that, the relief of not carrying the burden alone took over. Dependence was a weakness; she knew it, and yet Dain had never made her feel weak. Somehow he’d doubled her strength instead.
She’d do anything for Dain and Olivia. And their baby… God, a baby.
What the fuck had Dain been thinking?
A chuckle escaped. She didn’t have to wonder; she knew exactly what the fuck he’d been thinking. Dain left no doubt whatsoever about his feelings for his wife, emotional or physical. It had been an eye-opening experience to get to know a male that open and honorable. And then he’d had to go and make her part of a team of males who kicked ass and treated her like family, and she’d been stuck. She, who’d never allowed herself to put down roots,ever, had planted herself in their midst and, wonder of wonders, actually morphed into someone almost…normal.
Yes, she’d do anything for Dain, including take a bullet. She wouldn’t even hesitate—not that she ever hesitated when the danger was directed her way. She had very little to lose, after all.
King watched her, his electric-blue eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. Elliot turned the slightest bit more, putting her back to their uniformed friends.
“King—”
“Don’t say it.” But he knew without the words; his sigh was filled with resignation. “What do you plan to do, storm the fortress?”
“If I have to.”
“Hell no,” Saint snapped, the curse crackling through both their earpieces. “We’re a team, Otter, not a one-man show.”
Saint’s use of the wordmaninstead ofwomanshouldn’t have caused a warm glow in her chest. She ran a hand over her forehead, knocking her baseball cap back before adjusting it lower over her eyes.I am too fucking close to these people.
It wasn’t a surprise. Nothing crept up on her, including emotions. But the knowledge solidified her determination to get to Dain, no matter what it took.
She spoke softly, sure her teammates could hear her. “Kelly isn’t known for overblown violence. He might have ties to Miami and Atlantic City, but not to mass murder.” A client here or there, yes, but an entire office building? He had the balls for it, no doubt about that, but something didn’t click. “He didn’t go into that building looking for a standoff, which means he didn’t go in with a shitload of guns and ammo.”
“His posse isn’t exactly known for their intelligence either,” Jack chimed in.
Saint cursed again, this time under his breath. “Don’t encourage her, Boss.”
“He’s not encouraging, just acknowledging what’s going to happen,” King said.
More than even Dain, King seemed to understand her need to rush in where demons feared to tread, maybe because he shared the trait with her. These were the moments when she looked into his eyes and realized that, like her, all he had left to lose was this team.
Her nod of thanks was shrugged off. Yes, she and King had a lot more in common than he let on.
“They won’t be expecting any more company,” she pointed out. “And you know I can hide better than either of you.” She hated being small, but it did have its advantages. “You just have to manage to get me inside.”
“Me?” King rolled his eyes. “Why do I let you drag me into these situations?”
She let her smile answer him. “I owe you.”
His gaze lit up with a mercenary gleam. “You’re damn right, you do. A couple bottles of Lagavulin 21 ought to do it.”
“Ouch.” She owed him big, apparently. But when he outlined his plan, she figured he would earn every penny. Maybe even a third bottle depending on how bad they roughed him up.
“What about me?” Jack asked in her ear.
