Page 39 of Marked

“It pays to have someone with access to a private jet in our ranks.”

Keaton. I should’ve known. The only member of our team not present also happened to be the silent owner of a multimillion-dollar security company. He didn’t handle the day-to-day operations, but his bank account benefited from its success.

“Where is he anyway?”

“Someone had to stay with Henley and Jade,” Waverly began, “and since Henley’s pregnant, Keaton was the obvious choice. Enough stalling, tell us what the hell happened.”

I kept Lanie in my line of sight while giving my team a rundown of yesterday's events, minus the sex, of course.

“How the hell did they find you so fast?”

Koen’s question was one I’d asked myself repeatedly. Either the Russians hired an incompetent hit man, or there was someone else with nefarious intent. I wanted to be wrong, for Lanie’s sake, but there was only one way to know for sure.

“I don’t think they did.”

Duncan pursed his lips, then gave a slight nod. “Explain.”

While her family packed up our belongings and fussed over Lanie, I did just that. Even though it wasn’t my story to tell, under the circumstances, I didn’t think she would mind.

Koen whistled. “That’s fucked up, man.”

“You’re not wrong.”

Lanie was murdering me with her eyes from the back of the ambulance where the EMT had just finished properly cleaning and bandaging her side. The bullet wound was deep enough to need stitches and she was going to the hospital, despite fighting us tooth and nail. In the end, all it took was a pleading look from her mother before Lanie agreed. That didn’t mean she wasn’t giving me hell, hence the evil glare she was trying to perfect. Little did she know, her attitude just made me want to spank her ass and fuck her senseless.

Christ.I had to get myself under control. The woman took a bullet for me. Figuring out who took potshots at us out in the woods should be my only priority, not daydreaming about different, more enjoyable ways to use my cuffs. Yet, that’s exactly what I was doing.

“Glad to see you took my advice and screwed your head on straight. You’re riding with her, I assume?”

“I’m not leaving her side, Duncan.”

I hadn’t heard him approach, but then again, no one ever did. The man was like a ghost; here one minute, gone the next. He could also kill you nine different ways with his pinky finger. I wanted to be him when I grew up.

“Figured as much.” He rubbed his scruff-covered chin. “Koen and I will stay here. The Denver office is sending their crime scene unit. They should be here within the hour. We’ll take them out to comb the woods for evidence.”

Waverly had flipped into RAC Mitchell mode as soon as we’d returned to the farm. She planted herself in front ofLanie, like a mama bear protecting her cub, then went head-to-head with the local sheriff. The guy had been waiting along with six of his officers, demanding answers he wasn’t going to get. His show of force was overkill and an obvious intimidation tactic. Unfortunately for him, my boss didn’t cower to bullies, she came out with both fists swinging. In one phone call, Waverly took jurisdiction over the case, sending Sheriff Dickwad and his cronies packing with their tails between their legs. It was a sight I wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

“Thank you. And, Duncan.” He’d started to walk away, but pivoted. “We’re coming home as soon as this is wrapped up.”

“Good.”

He wasn’t a man of many words; however, he was the one you wanted in your corner when shit went south. We only knew the pieces of his past which weren’t heavily redacted by whatever agency he worked for before joining the FBI. There was a deeper story there than someone whose cover was blown on an op. Maybe one day he’d deem us worthy enough to share it.

The EMT jumped down from the back of the vehicle, motioning to his partner that they were ready to head out. Ignoring the small crowd milling about, which included her not-so-pleased family, I double-timed it to my girl. It had taken a group effort to convince the three Biggs to remain at the farm instead of coming to the hospital, but in the end, they listened to reason.

A knot lodged in my throat at the sight of Lanie lying on the gurney with her eyes closed.Inches. Less than six inches and I could’ve lost her. The thought was both nauseating and infuriating.

“You gonna stand there all night, Cowboy?”

Glassy, hazel eyes gazed at me. Her words were slurred and she seemed much less irritated than when I’d left her ten minutes earlier. It all made sense when I noticed the IV taped to her right hand. Bending down, I brushed a kiss across her lips then took a seat on the side bench.

“They gave you the good drugs, huh?”

“Yeah. Morphine is the shit.”

Picking up her hand, I held it between both of mine.

“That’s good, Darlin’.”

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