Chapter 11 #3
“More than you could possibly imagine,” Kyla admitted.
Savvie’s eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you afraid that your past could come back to haunt you and, in turn, Stone?”
“Every day of my life,” Kyla said. “It was never in my plan to commit to a man. What man could put up with me? I’m headstrong. I speak my mind and don’t let anyone push me around. But mostly, what man would accept me or understand my past career?”
Savvie smiled. “Stone.”
“He’s a keeper. So, bring him back to me and our baby.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Oh, fuck. I never cry. Except when I’m pregnant. All the hormones going bananas.” She hugged Savvie. “Go. Keep our guys safe.”
Savvie started to turn.
“And Savvie, you can have a life after the organization. Don’t be afraid to go for it.”
Savvie dashed out of the lodge, Kyla’s words reverberating in her mind.
Hunter stood beside a dark SUV, holding the rear door open.
Savvie dove in and scooted across the seat, making room for Hunter. He stepped in, closed the door and the man named Dax drove them out of the lodge parking lot. A second SUV followed.
Stone sat in the front seat, speaking quietly with Dax, asking him questions about Congresswoman Liliana Lightfeather, the Native American who’d won the congressional seat for the state of Wyoming.
“What did Kyla have to say?” Hunter whispered.
“She wanted me to keep Stone safe for her and the baby.” Savvie smiled.
“I never could’ve pictured Kyla head over heels for a man, much less pregnant.
It still blows my mind. We were all dedicated to the job.
The drill instructors told us the job would be our lives.
Forget about having friends and family. It was easier to limit the number of people who know you.
The best assassins were the ones who did the job and disappeared back into the woodwork. ”
“And Kyla broke all the rules, didn’t she?”
Savvie nodded. “I’ve never seen her happier.”
“Proving it can be done.” Hunter turned to her and took her hands in his. “She’s started a new life that doesn’t include killing people. And she’s let someone into that life.” Hunter continued, “If she can do it…”
“So can I?” Savvie shook her head.
“Why not?” Hunter persisted.
“I’m not Kyla,” Savvie whispered. “Please. Can we couch this discussion for after we save the Caldwell captives?”
Hunter frowned. He opened his mouth, closed it and nodded. “Okay. But I repeat, I’m not ready to give up on you, Savvie.”
“Duly noted,” Savvie said, her heart warming. For a man who’d only just met her, he was staking his claim, or better put, voicing his intent.
Hunter had done a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn from what he’d explained about his life the previous day. He was a man who’d avoided commitment because he couldn’t forgive himself for not saving his high school sweetheart.
Why had he changed?
Was it her?
Her heart fluttered.
Making love with Hunter had been amazing. Did she want to do it again?
Hell, yes!
The only thing that could have made their time together better would have been more time.
Time to bask in the glow of the best sex Savvie had ever had. Time to explore more of each other’s bodies. Time to get to talk and get to know each other better.
Since meeting Hunter, Savvie felt like they’d been running as fast as they could.
Time was running out for the people the Caldwell mafia had captured for sale to others.
Those people needed her focus and the help of the Brotherhood Protectors to free them.
Savvie pushed thoughts of making love with Hunter to the back of her mind and went over everything she knew about the Caldwells and their nefarious tactics.
When they reached the airport in Bozeman, Dax drove up to a gate. It opened, and they were able to drive out onto the tarmac, where a large plane stood with a portable staircase pushed up to the door.
Hank Patterson appeared at the top of the stairs and hurried down, along with a couple of other men.
The go-bags were unloaded from the backs of the SUVs and carried up into the plane.
The pilot made a brief appearance. Savvie recognized him immediately as an actor who had played an international spy in action-adventure movies.
He disappeared into the cockpit.
Savvie marveled at Hank’s friends. Hunter had mentioned that Hank was married to Sadie McClain, the megastar with numerous screen credits under her belt.
The stairs were rolled away, and the door to the aircraft was closed and secured.
Hank quickly introduced the men he’d brought with him from Eagle Rock.
Already overwhelmed with names, Savvie nodded politely and immediately pushed the names to the back of her mind.
As soon as they had clearance, the pilot taxied to the end of the runway. Seconds later, the wheels left the ground.
Her last assignment as an assassin had progressed to a hunt for other victims of the man she’d dispatched. Once they recovered the others, she could move on with her plan to leave killing behind and reinvent Savvie Sanders.
Too bad she couldn’t take Hunter with her. Their one night together hadn’t nearly been enough.