Chapter 12 #2
Lena motioned toward the still-standing cabin. “If we let that bomb go off, whoever set it will think he accomplished his mission.”
He glanced that way before his attention moved to the surrounding sea of trees. “Unless they’re watching us right now.”
“I don’t think so.” She followed his gaze through the dark. “Damien’s been dead at least a day, maybe more.”
And Roger was nowhere to be found. With any luck, the retired agent found a safe place to hunker down, and he’d reach out to Lena soon.
Rafe looked back at the blocks that had kept him from being blown into pieces. “If we position ourselves back there a few yards”—he pointed to the wooded area behind them—“we could take simultaneous shots at the blocks.”
“That’s smart.” Her hazel stare found his. “Throw off the weight, the explosive ignites, and then . . . boom. If the killer comes back to the scene, he’ll see the destruction and assume we came here for Damien and died in the blast.”
“It could buy us another day . . . maybe two.”
After that, Rafe planned to take this thing to a whole new level. The U.S. government may no longer see Kozlova as a threat worth acting on, but the bastard was at the very top of Rafe’s most-wanted list.
“Hopefully it’s enough time to locate Roger.” Lena pulled her personal gun from the holster at her hip before grabbing the smaller one she’d borrowed from his safe. “Okay, let’s do this. It’s been a long day, and I could really use a shower.”
“You and me both.”
When they were a safe distance away under the protective cover of the trees, he and his partner dropped to their bellies on the damp ground below. Rafe counted down this time, starting at three. He and Lena began pulling their triggers when he got to one.
On his third shot, the cabin exploded into a massive cloud of flames, smoke, and debris. Rafe dropped his head, covering Lena’s hunched form with his.
A blast of heat rolled heavily through the trees, but thankfully, they were sheltered from the barrage of splintered wood. Moments later, the world grew quiet again.
“Now, we can go.” Lena slid herself out from beneath him before rising to her feet. “Any idea where we’re staying tonight?”
He pushed himself up with a sigh. “We’ll figure it out on the road.”
One thing he did know—government safe houses were far from safe. At least for them, so that option was out.
Burning wood crackled, the dancing flames sending clouds of billowing smoke high into the air. Someone would probably see it come daylight and report it to the authorities.
They’ll only find one body in the rubble.
By then, it will be obvious that only one person was dead at the scene. And anyone watching his place back in Charlotte will most likely have figured out that he and Lena had slipped away. They’ll assume they took off in search of Lena’s people, which led them here.
He spared a glance at the woman walking beside him. She turned those gorgeous eyes of hers his way.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m appreciating the view.”
And the fact that we’re still alive.
Lena smiled, holding his gaze captive. A few steps later, she pulled the keys to his car from her pocket.
“You know”—she paused dramatically—“I did save your life.”
She twirled the keychain around her finger with a playful waggle of her brows.
Rafe’s deep chuckle reverberated into the air. “Pretty sure I thanked you quite properly for that.”
Appearing almost as a subconscious act, the tip of her tongue swiped across her rosy lips. He wondered if she could still taste him.
I can still taste her.
“Yes, you did.” Lena’s delicate chin rose a bit higher. “But I think I’ve earned the right to drive. At least, for tonight.”
Rafe didn’t bother trying to hide his smile. “I agree,” he rumbled low. “You can drive.”
She went to the driver’s side door with a slight bounce in her step, making him love her that much more.
They’d nearly died tonight, yet here she was, practically giddy at the idea of driving his car. Most women he’d met over the course of his fifty-plus years would be in hysterical tears after experiencing something like that.
Not my Lena.
She wasn’t his yet, but that was about to change. Because Rafe’s earlier thoughts about second chances and taking advantage of life’s blessings weren’t fleeting. They hadn’t gone away simply because he’d lived.
If anything, his desire to pursue something more with Lena was stronger than ever. And if the way she’d kissed him back was any indication, she was open to the idea as well.
Only one way to find out.
They got into the car. He and Lena buckled their seatbelts. Lena fired up the engine and started to put it into reverse.
Rafe reached out at the last second, covering her hand with his. She looked his way. He leaned over the console and pressed his lips to hers.
“Go south,” he instructed. “I’ll find us a hotel for the night.”
“Isn’t that too risky?”
“Not if the reservation isn’t under my real name.” He pulled out his wallet and showed her the driver’s license with one of his most trusted—and impenetrable—aliases.
Lena chuckled. “Brandon Smith?”
“In the flesh.” He sat back in his seat. “Once I nail down a location, I’ll have West make the reservations online, just to be safe.”
She turned the car around and took off down the long drive. “You should also give Alice a call to let her know her father’s okay. I’m sure she’s worried.”
“I will,” Rafe agreed. “As soon as we’re in for the night.”
He laced their fingers together as the cabin’s flames dwindled in the rearview mirror. Lena glanced down at their joined hands and back up to him.
“Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t mean you get to start bossing me around.”
A slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He wasn’t in charge of her any more than she oversaw him. They were partners, and she was his equal. But something Lena didn’t know, what she couldn’t possibly realize before tonight—
She’s mine.
And Rafe wouldn’t hesitate to burn the entire world down to keep her safe.