Page 66 of Heston
“Ah-huh, yeah,” she mumbled, water dribbling over her chin and running down her neck.
“You’re scaring her, Zack. Step back!” Heston growled.Before I have to beat your ass, too. Cuz I sure as fuck will.
But London surprised him. With a deep, shuddering breath, she faced Zack, handed the canteen back, and replied through swollen, torn lips, “Yeah, I think I’ve had enough f-f-fun for one d-d-day.”
Zack put a big, gloved hand on her shoulder. “I’ll bet you have, kiddo. You can be certain of one thing. These guys aren’t ever going to hurt you again. Our friendly FBI’s in these woods, too. Guess we interfered with their ongoing investigation into Obermeyer and his friends. No need to worry about anything, London. Heston’ll take good care of you.”
“Tucker Chase and his team? They’re here?” Heston hoped.
Zack nodded but added nothing more.
“Anyone know where Obermeyer’s boss went?” Heston asked.
Zack’s gaze dropped to London, before he shook his head and looked over Heston’s shoulder. “No, but I understand there’s an old cougar scavenging near the river today. Don’t worry about anyone but London, Hes. Get her inside my car. Eric’ll be there soon.”
Heston hoped that scavenging old cougar had ice-blue eyes and a razor-sharp hunting knife. If that cat was who he suspected, the Wirths wouldn’t last the day.
“Will do. Thanks for the intel.” It was time to relocate London. The farther from Obermeyer’s stink, the better.
Zack pushed to his feet. His dark eyes flickered into the trees beyond. “No problem, Hes. Stay frosty.”
“Wait! Don’t go! Zack!” London panicked. “You have to save them. He killed Tandy. Shot her in the back, but Maria and Felicia are still out there, hiding. P-please. You have to find—”
“Shush, darlin’,” Zack whispered, running the back of his gloved fingers down London’s cheek. “They’re already safe. Promise. A couple of Heston’s friends found Maria, an FBI agent located Felicia. Your friends are on their way to the nearest hospital. Tandy’s been recovered and cared for, too. You done real good.”
London went limp in Heston’s arms. “I didn’t. I should’ve saved Tandy, b-b-but—thank you. Thank you so much.”
Zack’s brown eyes glistened. “You can’t save everyone, Miss London. Sorry, but that’s just a fact of combat. You save who you can, then you live to fight another day. You’re an extraordinary woman. Bet you thought you had to rescue Maria, Tandy, and Felicia all by yourself, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “They needed someone on their side.”
Zack looked to Heston. “Take this warrior home, Hes. She’s done enough. We’ll take it from here.”
“Appreciate it,” Heston replied, his throat so full of respect for London’s bravery that he could hardly speak.
“It’s been really nice meeting you, Zack,” London murmured against Heston’s chest.
“London Wilde” —Zack touched two fingers to his forehead in a salute of respect— “the pleasure’s all mine. Now go. My car’ll take you anywhere you want.” With a curt nod, he disappeared into the dark.
“Wow, he’s a really, really big guy,” London whispered.
“And one of the best.” Heston cradled her tenderly, as he lifted to his feet and set a course for Zack’s Porsche. It wasn’t far, and Hes made good time. He’d barely settled London onto the passenger seat when he clocked Tucker Chase stalking around one of Obermeyer’s SUVs. Tate Higgins rounded the other SUV,the one with two pairs of muddy boots extending from the rear gate. Tucker said something to Tate. Tate stuck his chin in Heston’s direction.
Heston covered London with the blanket Zack kept behind the driver’s seat. She was quiet when Heston straightened and stared at Tucker and Tate across the roof of the Porsche. Both men were kitted-out in black FBI SWAT gear and carrying enough armament for a small army.
“Your boss with you?” Tucker asked without preamble.
Heston shrugged. “Far as I know, he’s back at TEAM HQ with his wife. Why?” He wasn’t about to admit anything, much less indict Alex or any member of his TEAM for what had happened or might happen today. Chase was still FBI and, technically, the Bureau was supposed to follow some ridiculously redundant ROEs to cover their federal asses.
Thank heavens, Tucker didn’t press for more information on Alex. Good thing. Because Heston wasn’t up for fighting two guys. Both Tucker and Tate were big as bears, and Heston had other places to be.
“Kelsey snapped out of it?”
“Not as far as I know. But Libby said Alex needed to be there when she did, so her waking up sounded imminent.” Heston nodded toward the boots. “You taking out the trash?”
Tucker scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yup. Been investigating Obermeyer and what he calls his hunting club for over a year now. Your woman okay?”
“She will be,” Eric Reynolds declared, as he stepped out from the bushes at the edge of the trees. “Where’s London?”
