Chapter 8
“Good morning.”
Natalie never thought she’d hear Owen’s sexy voice say those words again. How many times had he woken her at dawn after a night beneath the stars with that same seductive voice? Too many to count.
“Good morning,” she said and fidgeted for something to do. “It’s not a lot, but it’s food.”
There was a beat of silence. “Thank you.”
She looked at Owen. He’d been up all night, but he didn’t look nearly as tired as she felt. She was on her fourth cup of coffee and was seriously considering switching to decaf. Then she smiled, because if there was one thing Virgil Loughman couldn’t tolerate, it was decaf coffee.
How she missed him and Charlotte. Owen’s aunt and uncle had been salt of the earth people. They were the kind of folks who would give you the shirt off their backs. And Charlotte always had food for anyone in need.
She moved out of the way for Cullen to get to the food, and when Natalie looked up, Owen was gone. While nibbling on a biscuit, she heard his voice. A moment later, he stepped out of the back room with Wyatt.
Owen had changed into a pair of jeans and a white shirt. The urge to run her fingers through his long, dark waves was almost too much to resist. She hurriedly stuffed a bite of biscuit into her mouth.
“This is really good,” Cullen said around a mouthful of food. “Thank you.”
Owen lifted his mug of coffee to her while he chewed and swallowed. Then his gaze shifted to Callie. “The cameras are a much-needed addition.”
Callie halved a biscuit and slathered it with butter that she’d pulled from a small fridge beneath her desk. “No one will be approaching without an alert.”
Owen nodded and swallowed. “With as small as they are, we were able to hide them in places no one will ever know to look.”
“That means all three of you won’t have to stay out all night again, right?” Natalie asked.
Cullen glanced up at Owen before looking to Wyatt. “Uh, huh.”
“What’s going on?” Callie demanded.
Natalie had seen the looks passed between the brothers. And the way Wyatt tapped his watch as he and Owen stared at each other was a silent message.
“There’s a chance the group might attack during the day, but most likely, it’ll be at night,” Owen said.
Cullen wiped his hand on his pants as he swallowed the last bite of his bacon and biscuit. “The Russians won’t give up on finding Natalie.”
“I’ll be fine,” Natalie said. “There are five of us now. And I’m still a good shot.” When Owen simply sat there, she replied, “You taught me to shoot, remember?”
“I remember,” he said softly.
“You need me. I’m here and willing to help.”
The one thing she did well was being a strong, independent woman. It infuriated her mother, who constantly told her she needed to play the weak, helpless female to get a man. Her mom played the part to perfection, and it made Natalie gag.
It was one of the many arguments that made having any kind of relationship with her mother impossible.
Before their brief talk last month, a year and a half had passed since she and her mother had last spoken.
With the Russians and Orrin missing, her was happy her mom was on a trip with her latest victim/boyfriend.
“I’m still better with a rifle,” she told Owen. “But I’ve gotten a lot better with handguns.”
“I’m happy to hear it.” Owen’s chest expanded as he inhaled. “But . . .”
Callie slammed down her coffee mug so that the remaining bit sloshed over the rim and onto the table. “Spit it out. We’re not children.”
“Those men after Natalie last night are just the beginning,” Owen said. “There will be more.”
Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. “They won’t stop until she’s dead.”
Natalie felt dizzy. She’d heard rumors about how vicious the Russians could be, but she had never seen or experienced anything like that in the decade she’d worked for them in St. Petersburg or the embassy.
But there was no denying the truth now.
“That group last night wasn’t simple thugs. They were trained assassins,” Cullen added.
None of this was making her feel any better. She sank into the nearest chair and gripped the sides to keep upright.
“We need to split them up,” Owen said. “Make them wonder who Natalie is with.”
Callie sighed. “Which means we’re splitting up.”
“It’s the only way.” Wyatt nodded after, to emphasize his words.
Natalie’s stomach churned. “I thought I was helping. I’ve only made things worse.”
Owen’s chocolate gaze held hers. “You helped tremendously. You did it knowing your life could be in danger. That took a lot of guts.”
And where did that leave her now? Scared and cornered. Fat lot of luck her “guts” had given her.
“So what have you three planned?” Callie asked, a brow raised.
“Natalie and I will remain here where I know the terrain and can keep her safe,” Owen said.
Natalie looked at the others around the room. Cullen and Owen were both staring at Wyatt, who was apparently supposed to talk next.
“And me?” Callie asked. “What am I doing?”
The sound of beeping filled the room as three of the cameras alerted them to a presence.