51. Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter fifty-one
Peter
I’m not sure how long I’d been asleep when my alarm went off, jolting me awake. Letting out a groan, I reached for my phone on the bedside table to silence it.
“Is it really time to get up?”
I chuckled at Adair’s playful whine. “Yep.” It was then I realized she was still wrapped around me and that she hadn’t had any night terrors.
A knock on the door pulled me from bed. When I opened it, Lukas was standing there, looking only marginally more awake than I felt. “Good. You’re awake. We leave in an hour.”
I nodded. “We’ll be up in a few.”
As quickly as the conversation started, it was over, and I ran my hand through my hair. Right as I closed the door, the lamp on the bedside table clicked on.
“Was Lukas seriously double checking to make sure we were awake?”
“Yep.”
Adair snickered as she rubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t know why the control freak tendencies this morning are cracking me up, but they are.”
I couldn't help but stare at her. Even after a late night with an early wake-up call, she was smiling and completely adorable.
Why am I thinking that?
After grabbing my jeans, a t-shirt, hoodie, and loaded holster, I headed for the bedroom door.
“I’ll be back in a few.” By the time I got back to my room, Adair was dressed and zipping up her duffel bag.
She reached for the blond wig Quinn had given her, and I didn’t miss how her hands were shaking.
Walking over, I took them in mine and rubbed my thumbs against her skin.
“Remember, I’ve got your back and will be sticking to you like glue. ”
She nodded and let out a tense breath. “I know… and thank you.”
After securing the wig on her head, slinging the strap of her duffel bag across her chest and draping her blanket over her arm, I grabbed the suitcases, and we headed upstairs.
Phil was already there when I opened the door. “Good. You’re up. I’ll take those to the truck and let Cole know everyone’s up if you get the coffee going.”
I nodded and handed over our luggage. “Deal.” As he walked away, I added the water and coffee grounds to the machine and started it before pulling to-go mugs out of the cabinet.
“I can’t believe I’m going back.”
I turned around to see Adair leaning against the counter, arms wrapped around herself.
The pinched expression on her face had me moving to stand in front of her and rubbing the sides of her arms. “I have no idea how overwhelming this is for you, but you won’t be alone.
You’ll be surrounded by even more people who want to keep you safe.
And beyond that, I think you’re going to be surprised by the number of people who are going to want revenge on your behalf. ”
Her eyes went wide as she looked up at me. “But they don’t know what happened. Hell, you don’t even have all the details.”
“All they need to know is Lynette was hiding you for your own safety. Those who knew who you were engaged to will figure out enough to go into a rage. Trust me when I say Liam has a lot more enemies than allies at the moment.”
Adair narrowed her eyes as she studied my face. “If you say so.”
Moments later, Quinn let out a happy groan as she walked into the kitchen. “I will kiss whoever got the coffee going already. Oh, Adair! I like the blond on you.”
Adair chuckled and gave her a little shake. “I’m not sure if I’ll make it a permanent thing, but I don't hate it. Also, won’t your husband have something to say about you kissing other men?”
“What?”
I shook my head as I gestured to the coffeemaker. “With all due respect, Quinn, you’re welcome, but I’ll pass on the kiss.”
The fiery redhead smirked, walked over, kissed the tip of her finger, and pressed it to my forehead. “You made coffee in the middle of the night when he could have just as easily done it. I’m more than appreciative. He can deal.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her sass. “Speaking of your husband, did he happen to head into his office?”
“Yep. Hand this to him, please.” She held out the mug of coffee. “I’m not the only one who needs it.”
“Will do.” After taking it, I made my way to where my boss was, walking into the room without knocking. “I have coffee.”
Lukas’s head popped up in surprise as he was finished sliding his laptop into its bag. “That was fast.”
I couldn't help but chuckle. “Well, I’m not one to dawdle.”
He rolled his eyes as he took the travel mug from me. “I was talking about the coffee, smartass.”
“It helped that I already had a fresh pot going before Quinn came into the kitchen.”
“Fair enough.” He took a sip and let out an appreciative hum. “Thank you. Are you and Tori ready to go?”
“Yep.”
Phil and Cole stood next to the SUVs as we walked into the garage.
Lukas let out a tense breath and looked at all of us before speaking.
“While I'd love for this to go smoothly, we all know the contingency plans if something goes sideways. Above all else, Quinn and Tori need to get on that plane and the hell out of Colorado.”
“Lukas Reginald, I--”
“No.” He cut off Quinn as he shook his head. “This is non-negotiable, and worst-case scenario only. I have every intention of the four of us flying together. I just want to reiterate the bottom line.”
Cole, Phil, and I all nodded, and I didn't miss how Adair tensed up. It was obvious she didn’t like this plan any more than Quinn, but she didn’t vocalize it.
“Quinn, you packing?”
She rolled her eyes at Phil. “Obviously. This isn’t my first day on the job, Phillip.”
I glanced at Adair. “What about you?”
Lukas’s eyes went wide. “Tori?”
She nodded, and I caught the flash of angry determination that went across her face. “Oh yeah. I haven’t made it this far in life without it. Respectfully, if you have a problem with it, you can pry it out of my cold, dead hands.”
A proud smile appeared on his face. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He glanced at me. “Sounds like our truck has quite the firepower. Hope Cole and Phil aren’t jealous.”
Phil snickered, and Cole shook his head. “We’ll be fine.”
“Good to hear. Let’s load up and roll out.”
While Lukas helped Quinn into the back seat, I did the same with Adair. “You’re going to be okay.”
She smirked at me. “You trying to convince me or yourself?”
“Both.” After I hopped into the driver’s seat, Lukas climbed into the passenger’s side. “Ready?”
He nodded at me. “Let’s do this.”
My gaze met Adair’s in the rearview mirror as I started the engine and waited for the garage door to finish opening. There was fear in her eyes, but there was also strength and determination. When Lukas gave the signal, I pulled out first, with Phil and Cole taking up behind me.
There was a nervous energy throughout the cab, and I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel as we headed out of town and toward the highway heading for Denver. The ladies were quiet in the back, but I noticed how Adair gripped Quinn’s hand.
Please let us get there in one piece.
We passed the reservoir outside of town when a truck turned onto the road behind Phil. I glanced at Lukas, who was staring at the side mirror intently. “You noticed it, too?”
He nodded.
I drove on, as if nothing was wrong, but then the third vehicle in our pack started playing games. Its headlights disappeared entirely, and I knew it was likely riding Phil’s bumper. My phone rang, and I hit the button on the steering wheel to answer the call. “Your road buddy riding your ass?”
“Yup. Permission to take evasive action?”
Lukas nodded at Phil’s question. “Do it. We’ll create some distance and do what we have to do.”
“Got it. See you there.”
The call ended, and Lukas looked over his shoulder. “Tori, in case you didn’t know, Peter was trained as a stunt driver. You and Quinn might want to brace yourselves. This could get interesting.”
I pressed on the gas, going as fast as I dared on the curvy, two-lane highway. With mountains on each side, blind turns, and the occasional drop off into a creek, it was not a road to underestimate.
Twenty tense minutes later, another call came in from Phil.
“I think we lost the tail.”
Lukas’s attention snapped to the center console. “What do you mean?”
Phil let out a sigh. “The truck turned off on another road. I don't know where it went, but it’s not behind us anymore.”
I furrowed my brow. “I don’t get a good feeling from that.”
Lukas nodded. “Same. Until we see or hear anything else, we keep going. We’re close to Boulder. Where are you?”
Cole replied this time. “About ten minutes behind you. Tell speed racer to let up for a few so we can catch up.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I suppose I can do that.”
Their SUV caught up to us as we rolled through Boulder, but I couldn't shake the feeling the truck from earlier wasn’t the only obstacle we’d deal with.
Something else was coming. Taking advantage of the relatively calm moment, I glanced up in the rearview mirror.
Quinn and Adair had matching tense expressions as they looked out their respective windows.
We passed the planetarium, and a deep sigh came out as I checked all my mirrors again right as Phil broke hard, forcing the vehicle behind them to swerve to miss him.
As it sped up, he matched the speed and blocked him from merging behind me.
While they played their little cat-and-mouse game, I worked on putting as much distance between them and us as I could.
“Hold on tight. This might get interesting.”
Lukas’s muttered, “Fuck” had me grinning. One too many times he’d been in the passenger seat when I had to drive evasively.
“Don’t worry, boss. I won’t do anything too stupid with our girls in the back seat.”
Lukas shook his head, but as I looked behind us again in the side mirror, the dark vehicle I now recognized as an SUV was gaining on us quickly. Well, shit.