Gunning for Trouble

A sharp honk of a horn grabbed his attention, but when the car pulled out and left the garage he stared back down at her. “You think?”

“Believe it or not, I’m not a complete idiot.”

“Never said you were. Never thought it either.” His gaze flashed over her shoulder for the briefest of moments as he hurried their steps to a parking spot near the stairwell.

She would have missed his look if she hadn’t been concentrating on the unique mix of green and gray in his eyes in an effort not to double over. “What is it?”

“There’s a guy to our far right, standing just inside the garage door exit. Pretend to cough and give a quick peek over at him. Ready?”

“Yeah.” She concentrated, making sure to keep her head down as she did what he asked.

“Look familiar?”

“Not at all.”

“Did you see the guys who were following you?” Caleb aimed the key chain at the small black truck as he whispered his question. The click echoed through the floor as the automatic locks opened.

“I didn’t know anyone was behind me until your front door caved in.”

He opened the truck door for her. “Put the seat belt on and then lean down as if you’re checking in the glove compartment. I want your head out of shooting range.”

“Does this thing have air bags?”

“Adam took them out just for this type of situation.”

She thought it made more sense to load the truck with them. “Why?”

“You’d smother if we got hit.”

“You’re not making me feel very confident.”

“Right now my job is to keep you alive. We’ll worry about how happy you are later.” He walked around to his side and slid in. He jammed the key in the ignition as he strapped the belt across his lap and put the shoulder strap behind him.

“What about your head?”

“I’m going to need it to drive.”

“That’s comforting.”

“See, I’m getting better at the making-you-feel-confident thing already.”

She wanted to snort, but she followed his orders instead. Well, most of them. The not-moving part proved impossible as she glanced over the dashboard. The sight in front of her sent fear whirling through every cell and muscle. The man who stood around smoking a cigarette earlier now ran toward them, his face red and his arms pumping. “The guy is moving.”

“I see him.” Caleb pressed a hand against her shoulder and pushed her cheek closer to the leather seat. “No matter what you hear, stay down.”

“Why?” Footsteps thundered closer. A deep voice shouted for them to stop.

“He’s aiming his gun.” Caleb ducked even as he sent the truck flying out of its spot and screeching into the lane. “Down!”

Gunfire rang out all around them. Loud pings sounded as the bullets hit metal. She crouched into a tight ball and pressed as close to Caleb’s thigh as the seat belt digging into her thigh would allow. The smell of heated rubber stung her nose as the vehicle lurched for ward then picked up speed. Tires squealing, they headed in the general direction of the exit.

Before they had gone ten feet, an engine revved off to her right. At least she thought it was that side; at the awkward angle everything sounded muffled and distorted. This wasn’t just someone pulling out. This was someone looking to ram them. She knew that as sure as she knew she’d never make it out of this situation without Caleb’s help.

The whirl of tires grew louder, as if another vehicle were about to drive through her skull. She braced her elbow against the seat and touched the seat belt to make sure it was secure.

“Hold on.” The back end of the truck spun around and smashed into something solid as a rush of air passed by them on the right side.

The jolt slammed her forward. Her skin burned from the strangling belt. The contents of her stomach raced up her throat as her eyes began to water.

He shot her a worried frown. “Okay?”

“Fine.” She saw Caleb hit the gas, but the car didn’t move. When he switched gears, she closed her eyes and said a little prayer that they would survive this nightmare. “Were we hit?”

“No.”

“You’re a target.” With her hand tangled in his shirt, she tried to pull him out of the line of fire.

“Just stay down.”

Caleb never stopped moving. The wheel shook under his iron grip as he shifted his position and swore. When he hit the gas this time, the car raced through the small space.

She could hear him screaming Adam’s name, which didn’t make any sense since he wasn’t in the garage. With her eyes closed, she hunched there and waited for the truck’s walls to cave in around her. She wanted to crawl onto the floor and sit with her hands over her head, pretending none of this was happening.

But she needed to know he was okay. “Caleb!”

“What?”

His sharp response actually felt good. Hope sprang up out of nowhere, tamping down the fear bubbling up inside of her.

“No matter what, do not sit up!” His voice lost the stiff tone he’d been using with her. He now sounded wild, out of control and yelling.

She had no intention of ignoring him on this. She slid as close to him as possible. With her head tilted, she pulled her hair to the side so she could see what was happening above her.

“Hide your face.” With his body flat against the steering wheel, Caleb reached up and touched something against the windshield. It shattered into hundreds of tiny blocks.

Someone screamed, and she was pretty sure the high-pitched wail came from her. “What did you—”

“Safety glass.”

The glass tumbled over her. She put up her hands to block the shower of glass, but she could feel the pieces in her hair and lying all around her. She didn’t even notice the gun on his lap until he grabbed it and put the muzzle through what was once the windshield. He fired two shots as he accelerated and crossed through the garage entrance and out into the dark night.

She heard the police sirens wind up as soon as Caleb turned right onto the street and sped away from the building. He didn’t slow for the speed bump. The truck went airborne then landed with a clunk against the ground. Glass cubes crunched around her. She struggled up to one elbow and looked him over. No blood, just huge eyes and clenched hands.

Tension bounced off him in waves. Every muscle in his body seemed to be pulled tight and ready to snap. “Caleb?”

He kept checking the rearview mirror. “We have about one minute to pull this off.”

“What?”

“The switch.”

She had no idea what he was talking about. For a minute she worried he’d knocked his head in their big escape. “Maybe we should—”

“I’m going to turn into another garage. Adam will pull up and your job is to jump in his car.”

“How does he know where we are?”

Caleb shook his wrist. “I told him.”

“When?”

“He’s been listening.”

The answer popped into her head. The watch. That thing performed miracles, as far as she could tell. It linked them. Provided information. It could actually save them.

She sat up and glanced behind them. The sirens screamed through the quiet streets, but she didn’t see the cars yet. She figured they must have had a small lead, one Caleb tried to use in some way.

“Are you hurt?” she asked.

“I’ll be fine.”

The stiff arms made her think he was prepared for another option. Not that she would let it happen. She refused to be the reason he got injured. Jumping back into his life had not been her idea, but she had to take responsibility for dropping this mess on his lap. “I’m not leaving you in this car.”

His gaze shot to her then back to the road. “Yes, you are.”

“I can’t.”

“You will and I’ll be right behind you.”

“Caleb.” She laid her hand on his thigh and felt the tight muscles jump underneath. “Keep driving.”

“Not an option. Get ready.” When she continued to sit there, he reached over and unsnapped her seat belt. “On my word you go.”

She burned with the need to refuse. She wanted to stay with him, make sure he was safe and not in police hands—or worse. But the flat line of his mouth and flashing fire in his eyes told her to listen. Smart women didn’t question a rescue when the plan for one landed in front of them.

“Avery?”

“Okay, okay.” Not sure if he even intended to stop to let her out, she shifted. Crowding her body against the door, she was ready to move on his order.

“Remember your bag.”

She’d forgotten all about it. When she arrived at his condo, it was the most important package in the world. The groundwork for Rod’s concerns, everything she needed to make Caleb believe her, sat in there. Now surviving and making sure Caleb did also trumped all else.

The street sped by her as Caleb maneuvered through alleys and off main streets. Red lights switched to green as soon as he got near them. When he didn’t bother to even tap the brakes to slow down, she figured Adam was providing access with another one of his computer programs. Assisted or not, Caleb managed to make a four-thousand-pound truck seem invisible on the abandoned streets.

He no longer hunched over the wheel. Shoulders back and eyes always moving, he drove fast and sure, like a man born to outrun the police.

He made a sharp turn that sent her flying into the door. “Sorry. We’re almost there.”

She could tell that by the noise. Sirens rang out in every direction. She half wondered if the entire police department had taken to their cars in pursuit.

“I’m ready,” she said, even though she didn’t feel it. Only now had her stomach stopped jumping around.

“Good.”

She didn’t even question his choice when he drove into a parking structure. She just slipped her fingers under the handle and waited to open the door. A glance over her shoulder at Caleb’s firm jaw and steady determination made her heartbeat bounce in double time. She wanted to make him promise he’d be fine, but she knew that didn’t matter to him. He was a warrior, strong and in charge, protective and dependable. Just as she always suspected.

Without warning he hit the brakes. “Go now.”

Knowing seconds could mean the difference between him being safe and the absolute worst scenario, she didn’t hesitate. She threw the door open just as her neighbor’s car pulled up beside her, facing the opposite direction.

Adam held his arm out to her. “Get in.”

They were men accustomed to having their commands followed. Not that she had any choice. The second she stepped out of the truck, Caleb had sped away. She could see the red brake lights and hear the tires squeal as he drove up the ramp to a higher floor of the garage.

“Avery, now.”

“Right.” She fell into the seat and dumped her bag on the floor.

By the time Adam pulled back out to the entrance of the garage, police cars had descended on the block. Two blew by them. Another pulled over and idled across the street.

“What’s he doing?” She really wanted to know what they were doing just sitting there and why they hadn’t left the area.

“Checking our plates.”

“What?”

When the street cleared, Adam pulled out nice and slow. “That’s what I would do if I were him.”

“What if he stops us?”

“We’re just a nice couple going home from a party. Lucky for us, our sobriety shouldn’t be a problem.”

“We’re in the middle of a police chase.”

“Innocent people get stuck in those all the time.”

“Where exactly do you live that this sort of thing keeps happening near you and you have so much information on it?”

“Arlington, but you knew that, so I’ll assume you’re just engaging in a bit of nervous chatter.” He checked the mirrors and then smiled over at her. “Your neighbor must have a clean driving record, because the officer isn’t following us. Also, looks like your friend hasn’t gotten up yet and realized the car’s been stolen.”

Her stomach turned again but for a very different reason this time. “I feel bad about that.”

“Don’t.” Adam stole a quick look at her. “You did what you had to do and I’ll return it.”

Part of her knew that she hadn’t had a choice, but she was too worried and panicked to think it through. “Where’s Caleb?”

“You’ll see in about two minutes.” Amusement moved through Adam’s voice.

“I thought I was the one with the nonsense-chatter problem.”

“Nervous.”

“What?”

“I said you had a problem with nerves.” Adam pointed off to her right. “And there’s Caleb. Standing on the corner right on time, as usual. Was he always this punctual?”

She glanced at the parking structure and the block between where they left Caleb and where they were now. “How did he—”

“Dumped the truck, ran down the stairs, circled around the building.” Adam flashed her a smile. “You know, the usual.”

“Impressive.”

“Not really. That’s the easy stuff.”

“What’s the hard stuff?”

“You don’t want to know.” Adam pulled over and unlocked the door. “Good to see you made it.”

“Everything run according to plan?” Caleb asked as he climbed in the backseat.

“No issues.”

“That’s a first.” He slumped back in his seat. “Head for the warehouse. Luke checked in. He’s on his way there, so we’ll have a welcoming party.”

“Is it safe?” she asked as she turned around to face Caleb.

He sat with his gun resting on his knee and his attention focused on the scenery passing by outside the window. “It’s totally secure. No one can get you there.”

She wanted to knock the smugness right out of him. “I meant is it safe for us to drag a problem right to your friends’ doorsteps.”

“Of course.”

A nasty reply died on her lips when she saw Caleb’s drawn cheeks and the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“You don’t sound it.”

“It’s been a long night.” When she scoffed, he focused those tired eyes on her. “I’ll be great once I know what you have in that bag.”

“Information.” Almost everything they needed, and she hoped it was enough.

“And what is it you know that almost got us all killed?”

When he phrased it like that, it sucked the defensive anger right out of her. “I hope it’s worth it.”

“That makes two of us, Avery.”

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