Chapter 24
Owen was happy to be back at the ranch. He’d take the truck and hide it again later, but for now, he wanted Natalie in the base where the Russians couldn’t get her.
She’d driven the entire way back, silent with both hands on the wheel. He hadn’t disturbed her solitude, mainly because he was pissed at having had a chance at the group and not taking any of them out.
Then again, he hadn’t expected the third man. The Russians landed punches with the force of a wrecking ball. He tested his jaw, amazed it wasn’t broken.
The mention of the Saints also had him on edge. He sent a quick text to Callie to see if she’d discovered anything yet, but it wasn’t coincidence this was the second time they’d come across that name.
They needed to find out the link between the Saints and Ragnarok—and quickly.
When the truck pulled up at the ranch, Natalie parked it in front of the house. She cut the engine and sat there.
“You did good,” he told her.
She swiveled her head to him. “They could’ve killed you.”
“And I could’ve killed them. We got away.”
“They’ll know we came back here.”
He looked at the house. “We’re going to go inside and turn on some lights. Then I’m going to sneak you into the barn and down to the base. After I know you’re there, I’m going to take the truck back to where it was this morning.”
Natalie opened the door and slid from the truck. He reached the porch first and held up a hand for her to wait. Only after he did a check of the house did he allow her inside. She turned on the kitchen lights while he flipped on the switch in the living room.
Almost immediately, he ushered her out the back door into the growing darkness. They kept low and ran to the barn. Within minutes, they were locked inside the base.
He decided to remain for a few hours. While the coffee brewed, he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. It had been a long day, and it was going to be an even longer night.
Especially after another kiss from Natalie.
That had been completely unexpected. It rocked him to his core, and he yearned for more.
“You were really going to kill those men right there?” Natalie asked.
He poured coffee into two mugs and handed her one. “They think we have the bioweapon. If they get us, they get the vial. Our only choice is to be rid of them.”
“In front of anyone who happened to look out a window?”
“I was only thinking of protecting you.”
She smiled sadly and shook her head. “Don’t use me as an excuse. You wanted revenge for Virgil and Charlotte, the team, and your father.”
“That was part of it, but not all.” He flexed his fingers, working out the bruises in his knuckles. “I’ve seen what those men can do. The thought of them laying their hands on you again makes me insane.”
“You saved me once already.”
“Until the vial is in other hands, Orrin is back, and the group of assassins are gone, you’re still in danger.”
She wrapped her hands around the mug before taking a sip. “We managed a win today.”
He smiled. He liked having Nat at the ranch. There was a tingling of exhilaration every time he thought of her there. It made him realize what he’d missed by leaving Natalie.
And how much he wanted to change things between them.
“You kissed me.” All thoughts of the Russians and the bioweapon vanished as he recalled how she had pulled him against her. The craving to make her his intensified the longer he was around her.
She held his gaze. “I did.”
“Don’t deny the passion between us.”
“I’m not,” she replied. “But there’s no point in talking about it.”
“Why? You wanted the kiss.”
“It was a kiss. Leave it at that, Owen.”
She rose and walked away. He thought of all the things he wished he would’ve said that might have had her in his arms. But once again, he was too late.
He wanted to follow her, carry her to a room and make love to her until the sun came up. He was desperate to let go of the past and get lost in all that was Natalie.
To have a future that consisted of more than death and loneliness.
It would be so easy. She made it so easy to love her. He wanted—hungered—to feel her in his soul, to know they stood together once more.
That’s when he decided he wasn’t going to give up so quickly.