The front door of the plywood building slowly opened. Even though he anticipated the sight of Kiera, Jake’s gut clenched where he stood in the cool morning air with fucking bucolic forest and chirpy woodland creatures all around him. Normally, the mountains provided him peace.
Not today.
What in the hell had made him think for a second he could have even a tiny piece of what he had always wanted? A family, a partner, a child. A normal life.
The door shut behind her with a muffled click.
A damned invisible knife twisted in his chest.
Back straight, chin up, she had her best armor wrapped around her. Classic Kiera. When things got tough, she stiffened the proverbial upper lip. It was good one of them had their shit together after a moment of weakness. Because he had been a heartbeat away from laying her out on the bed, stripping her down, and licking every inch of her body until he’d had her fill of her.
He’d never have enough when it came to Kiera.
“Ready to work?” He needed to keep their relationship on a business level. Needed to keep Kiera and her baby alive. So he would continue telling himself that “the mission” was why he had to emotionally disconnect from her.
Blinking in the mesh-diluted sunlight filtering down, she tugged the jacket closed. Whether she protected herself against the cold or his presence, he had no idea. He tried not to care too much about the rips in the legging fabric visible from where she’d fallen on her escape from Lequire. A hot angry wave flashed over him. Stay in control. He opened and closed his hands, willing his shoulder and arm muscles to relax already.
Unable to check the movement, he glanced again at the holes in the tunic from … yeah. Shrapnel.
“Sure. Let’s go.” Her perky tone was way too forced, but at least she played along with the nothing-happened charade. “This compound is bigger than I had thought.”
As they walked down the two steps to the leaf-littered ground, he glommed onto the safe topic she had offered. “Six buildings. Gonzo was telling me last night they tried to make the buildings as comfortable as possible, since they knew they might have to spend extended time here one day.”
“Like now?”
“Yeah.”
“Where did the guys come from? Yesterday, when Hunt called the team together.”
“Everyone lives in the southeast region, within a few hours of this location. They all have assumed identities. Even Doc, who works a few shifts per month in one of the Chattanooga emergency departments.”
“Really?”
“Doc says civilian ER work keeps his skills sharp. Can’t imagine he needs much help in that department. But working in a hospital also provides him access to medication and supplies, which is a bonus for us here.”
“I thought the team wanted to stay hidden?”
“Yes and no. I’m the hermit of the bunch. Everyone else prefers hiding in plain sight.”
“Because of the virus?”
“We were trained to blend into any group as part of standard Special Forces training. Then, after we took the virus, it enhanced all of our abilities, including being able to read a crowd and integrate seamlessly into any group of people we’re with.”
“That’s wild.”
“Comes in handy at times to blend into the background.”
“I can’t imagine you blending.”
Huh. He took a few steps before answering and peered around the compound. “I’m impressed by the work the guys put into this place.”
“Mateo would have loved to see what they’ve done.”
He had little to add. Jake missed his friend.
“What’s that?” Kiera stopped and cocked her head to the side, sunlight dappling her face in amazing shades of gold.
A high-pitched buzz filtered down to them. Shit. All of his senses focused on the possible threat.
But he didn’t want to worry her. He had to focus, but do it casually. Great. Jake did nothing casually.
“Probably a drone.” Using his nonexistent acting skills, he went for nonchalant with a dash of we-got-this.
“I thought they were silent.”
“If they’re low enough, it’s not loud, but you hear them.”
Her eyes went wide. “They found us?”
The muscles in his arms quivered with the need to pull her into his chest. “Might be part of a standard grid pattern, searching overhead.”
“Shouldn’t we do … something? Hide? Get out of here?” The vein at the base of her neck pulsed quickly.
“We’re okay.” Yes, they should do something, but damned if he was going to scare her. He prayed that Stumpy had the distraction system engaged. “Besides, the drone’s camera is only seeing endless forest.”
“What about the mesh in the trees? Won’t they be able to tell that something different is here?”
“No. While the mesh muffles our on-ground heat and sound signatures, there is also a digital projection of bland woods over this location, providing even more proof there’s nothing of interest here.”
“Wow. What other secrets do you all have here?”
He motioned for her to precede him into the main building where she had met the team last night. Like last night, the moment she entered the front room, several heads swiveled around.
Four. Not the whole team of ten. Rivera, Pele, and Red were embedded by now. He scanned the room. That left Hunt and Doc out on compound patrol.
Everyone was protecting Kiera and her family from Lequire’s revenge.
A wave of viral strength rushed through Jake’s muscles, begging to be let out. Begging to rip, rend, and destroy anyone who would dare threaten Kiera or her child.
His child. Their child.
Shit.
The guys stared at her until Jake started to get twitchy again.
After a full minute where no one moved, Rodeo elbowed Gonzo, who glared at the cowboy and snapped back something in Spanish. Shoulders slumped, Gonzo shoved away from the table and picked up a large cardboard box. Jake tensed. As Gonzo stormed over, Kiera backpedaled into Jake’s chest, and he instinctively cupped her shoulders.
Gonzo’s expression twisted, like he had to deliver horrible news. Jake stopped breathing. Had something happened to one of her family members? Or worse?
What was in the box?
Gonzo held the box out to her. “Here.”
“What’s this?” she whispered.
His stocky teammate half-turned and snarled shut up when Rodeo snickered.
Jake spoke up from over her shoulder. “Man, what’s going on?”
He offered the box to Kiera. “It’s nothing.”
With a shaking hand, she opened a cardboard flap and peered into the box. Jake looked over her shoulder as she gingerly touched the fabric.
Clothing? Why the drama?
He steadied the box while she held up items. The box was filled with colorful maternity tops, pregnancy jeans, stretchy sports bras, socks, and pregnancy panties. Even a new pair of sneakers and socks. His friends were amazing.
A sour taste in his mouth reminded him that deep down inside he should be the one to provide for her.
The men had expressions ranging from bland curiosity to anger to happiness. But Stumpy’s hungry stare as various items of clothing were inspected struck Jake as especially out of place. Odd.
“How did…?” she stammered.
Another muffled cough and chuckle from the guys had Gonzo spinning around again and ripping off a line of Spanish so hard that Rodeo and Curly backed up. He might have been an inch or so shorter than his teammates, but Gonzo could tear the head off a mountain lion with his bare hands, and they all knew it.
Hunt entered through the front door, with his Sigs and knives strapped all over him. Probably plenty hidden, too. A twist of Jake’s gut reminded him that he should be out there pulling his own weight. Now with more guys on missions to help Kiera’s family, everyone here had extra shifts. With effort, he focused on what Kiera was saying.
She smiled. “Wow. Thank you. I’m not sure how you got all of these things, but that’s the nicest thing someone has done for me.”
Jake swallowed bitterness. What about putting his life in danger to help her escape Lequire’s men? Hell, he’d ditched his custom Jeep in favor of a shitty Taurus and even blown up a Waffle Palace for her. Didn’t those actions beat Gonzo’s discount clothes? Quit it. Give her a moment of happiness within the hell she’s been going through.
She gave Gonzo an awkward hug around his thick neck, and Jake crammed his hands into his pockets to stop himself from yanking her away from his friend.
Gonzo’s tanned cheeks flushed and he pointed his thumb back over his shoulder. “Uh, sure. I only did it because I drew the short straw. And so we’re clear, I lost my man card last night, going shopping for women’s clothing at the twenty-four-hour discount store. Looked like a freakin’ moron, standing there in the middle of the store, holding up big-assed pink chonies.” His neck even turned dark crimson as the men behind him snorted. He glared at them. “Hostia. Can we forget this all happened?”
Laughter burst from Kiera’s lips. “That’s hilarious. I can picture you picking through underwear.” At the return of his black scowl, she quickly added, “I’m so glad you were willing to sacrifice your reputation for my comfort. You’re obviously way braver than those other guys.”
Jake, feeling like chopped liver, bit his tongue. Hard.
“Got that right.” Gonzo puffed out his chest and strutted back to where the other men stood. “See? You all don’t have stones like I do.”
Jake set the box down near the door and followed her to what served as the dinner/strategy table. He said nothing as he pulled a chair out for her. Too many conflicts of personal and professional interest had come to light since Kiera’s wake-up scream. Too much baggage and shit he had thought long packed away. New baggage he didn’t even realize he was lugging around. He shook his head. Deal with it all later.
Hunt spoke up from where he stood, hip propped in a deceptively casual stance against the front doorjamb. “All right. Enough of this tearjerker, kumbaya shit with the fashion show. You all have work to do.”
Jake growled deep in his throat. Next time, he would be the one to buy her a dozen pairs of pink panties, damn it.