5. Cian #3
Her legs kicked and moved, trying to find purchase somewhere.
I bit my lip to stop the laughter from exploding.
I could clearly see the problem. She had somehow thought everything through, figured out how to get the unit out of the window while we slept so she could make her big escape, but she’d made one huge error.
She’d put on her backpack. It was jammed tight in the opening—whatever she had stuffed in it trapping her.
I looked at Sean, knowing he saw the same thing. “Books,” he said quietly. “I saw what she was doing, and I watched her. She added the books you brought her.”
“You watched her try to get through the window?”
He smirked. “Even if she got out, I would have met her at the front of the house, Cian. I wanted to see what she’d do.” He smiled widely. “She’s fucking ingenious.”
I rolled my eyes. “She’s a pain in the ass.”
“She’s gonna have a pain in there. We need to get her out.”
“What’s the plan? Pull her back in?”
“I think we need to make sure she’s not caught on anything outside. You go check, and then I’ll pull her back in.”
“She’s gonna be like a little hellcat when we get her in.”
He nodded. “She’ll be furious.”
I shrugged into my coat. “Okay. I’ll go have a little conversation with her. Brace yourself.”
He rolled his shoulders. “I’m ready.”
I wasn’t sure I was.
T he crunching of the snow under my feet alerted Skylar to my presence. She stopped her struggling and looked up, her eyes wide and panicked.
I stood, staring up at her. “Getting some fresh air, Skylar?”
“Getting away from you,” she snarled.
“How’s that working for you?”
“Get fucked.”
Grinning, I stroked my finger along my chin. “I think you’re the one fucked here.”
Glancing down, I started to chuckle. The plastic bags from the store were lying in the snow. One contained the blanket from her bed and the other the extra clothes Sean had bought. “You should have thrown the backpack out as well, MacGyver.”
“I didn’t want the books to get wet.”
That did it. I started to laugh, which only enraged her more. She began to struggle, trying to pull herself out of the window.
That was when I saw the blood.
My laughter ceased instantly.
“Skylar. Stop moving .”
Her efforts only increased. I lunged forward and grasped her hands, squeezing hard. “Skylar! Stop! Now !”
From inside, I heard Sean. “What is it, Cian?”
“She’s bleeding!”
She looked down, her voice shaky. “I think I cut my stomach. It hurts.”
I frowned at the blood I saw on her hands as well. Her panicked gaze met mine.
“We’ll get you out. Calm down.”
I held her gaze until I felt the panic drain from her and she became limp.
“I have to go get the ladder.”
All I got was the smallest nod.
S ean climbed down from the ladder. He’d been examining Skylar’s position and speaking with her quietly. “I think a piece of the window ledge broke off and is embedded in her skin.”
“Her hands?”
“She cut them trying to get out.”
Cursing under my breath, I looked back at her.
Skylar wasn’t moving, head hanging down, her hair spilling over her face.
Small drops of blood dotted the snow under the window.
For some reason, knowing she was hurt, that I was seeing her blood, was causing me to panic.
“How do we get her out with the least damage?”
“I’m going in and cutting the backpack open at the bottom. I can pull the books out. That’ll give us the room we need to help lift her up and over the ledge.”
Skylar started to struggle. “You can’t ruin my backpack! It’s all I have!”
Ready to scream at her, I started to open my mouth, but Sean held up his hand, stopping my tirade before it began. “Skylar, I’ll get you a new one. Remember what I said to you a moment ago?”
“Yes.”
“Cooperate, then.”
Her voice was resigned. “Fine.”
He shook his head, muttering about impossible women. “We need to be fast—but gentle, Cian. I don’t know if we’re talking a scratch or something more serious.” He fixed me with a stern look. “Can you do that? Or should you go in and cut the pack open, and I’ll lift her out?”
“No. I’ll do it.”
I climbed the ladder, getting ready for Sean’s instructions. Skylar was shaking, either from fright or cold—or perhaps some of both. “We’ll have you out in a minute. Stay still,” I instructed, my voice terse.
She looked up. “And then what are you going to do with me?”
The stark fear in her eyes made my anger evaporate. “Get you warm and cleaned up.”
“And then?”
“Then we’re going to talk.”
She frowned in disbelief, but before I could say anything else, Sean spoke. “Okay. Here we go.”
Skylar’s shoulders moved, and a few minutes later, the straps of her pack disappeared and her body sank slightly. “Okay, Cian. Try to slip your hands under her. Skylar, lift your arms around his neck. I’ll meet you in the middle, Cian, and we’ll see if she can pull herself out.”
She hesitated.
“Come on, Kitten. Work with us.”
Slowly, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around my neck. Cautiously, I slid my hands under her, grimacing when I felt the rough edges of the wood. When my hands met Sean’s, I spoke again, keeping my voice calm. “Pull yourself toward me, Skylar. Slow.”
Inch by inch, she moved, Sean supporting her lower half as her upper body became free.
Once her hips cleared the window, I leaned back, pulling her totally clear, knowing the denim would protect her legs.
Her entire body was pressed against me, tremors running through it constantly.
I descended the few steps and hurried to the house, holding her tight and trying to ignore how right she felt nestled into my arms.
I held her arms as Sean picked out the splinters from the pale skin of her stomach, grateful her injuries weren’t worse.
She’d been scraped badly, but the bruising would be worse than the cuts.
Every time she flinched, I found myself flinching with her, hating the idea of her being in pain.
She gasped when he poured rubbing alcohol on the cuts, frowning apologetically at her.
“Sorry. I don’t have anything else to use.
We can’t risk infection.” After wrapping some gauze around her small waist, he straightened, glancing out the window.
“Can you look after her hands? The storm is coming, and I need to go stock up and grab a few things before it hits. I think we’re gonna be trapped for a few days. “
“Sure.”
“You better make contact again. The, ah, message has been received.”
“I will.”
He grabbed his coat and left, leaving Skylar and me alone. I could feel her tension mount as I cleaned the cuts on her fingers and hands. One was particularly deep, and she gasped as I probed it, looking for splinters. “No wood in there,” I murmured. “That’s good.”
“I didn’t cut it on the window.”
I glanced up. “What did you cut it on?”
Her cheeks flushed. “A piece of glass I had hidden. I was using it to cut the wood.”
MacGyver, indeed.
“Skylar . Stop this .”
“Let me go, then.”
I sat back, feeling exasperated. “Where are you going to go? Back to the streets? There’s a storm coming.” I swung my arm around. “Here, you’re warm. Clean. Fed. Safe.”
She shook her head.
Without thinking, I cupped her face, holding her cheeks tight. “ You. Are. Safe ,” I spat out. “Neither Sean nor I will hurt you.”
“I don’t believe you. I saw you murder someone. I know you won’t let me leave here alive.”
“You know nothing.” I sighed and tried a different tactic. “Skylar, if we were going to harm you, why would both of us be so worried about caring for you? Why did we bother to save you from hurting yourself further on the window?”
For the first time, uncertainly flickered across her face. Then she straightened her shoulders. “Maybe you want something from me.”
I dropped my hands. “No. I only want you safe.” I stood, closing the lid of the first aid kit. “You’re staying here. Give in and relax.”
“No. Stop telling me what to do.”
I had to laugh—I expected nothing less from her. Stubborn as hell, this one. She shrieked as I scooped her back up and carried her down the hall. “What are you doing?”
I stood her back on her feet in her room and handed her the comforter from her bed. “Cleaning up your mess. Wrap yourself up and sit down.” She paused, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t make me get my gun. I will if that’s the only way I can get you to cooperate.”
Grudgingly, she sat down, watching me as I cleaned up the mess. She frowned as I shoved the chair back into place. “Your privacy rights just went out the window, Kitten.” I chuckled. “Unlike you, they made it.”
“Ha-ha, fuckwit,” she muttered.
“Gun,” I warned.
“Asshole.”
I hid my smile.
There she was.
Foulmouthed, fuck-you-attitude, MacGyver girl of mine.
Wait.
Girl of mine?
I rolled my eyes at the thought.
S he wasn’t very happy when I locked her in the bathroom so I could call Orson. I knew she’d be listening at the door, but I didn’t want to risk her yelling and then having to answer a lot of questions.
Rex answered, only grunting when I demanded to speak with Orson.
“Agent White has been found.” Orson’s cold voice sent a shudder down my spine.
“Yes, he was,” I said, making sure it sounded like I was sneering. “I believe the message was received loud and clear. Especially since his wife has gone missing too.”
His voice was surprised. “I didn’t know that was on the agenda.”
“It was personal.”
“I thought you didn’t include women in your…ah…résumé.”
“I, too, have contacts, Orson. I called in a favor.”
“Excellent,” he breathed.
I shut my eyes at the delight in his voice.
Let him think what he wanted. As soon as I knew it was time to “remove” Harper, I’d had Frank arrange for Harper’s wife, Sarah, to disappear.
Their house had been torn apart, making it look authentic in case anything was checked.
Sarah was safe with Julia. When this was over, both Sean and Harper would join them in a new life.
I glanced back to the closed door behind me.
Hopefully, they would take Skylar with them. She deserved that chance.
“We need to meet.”
“I’m blocked in with a storm.”
“Ah, it has already hit where you are?”
I smirked, knowing he was trying to figure out where “where” was.
“Yep. I’ll be holed up for a couple days at least.”
“Fine. When it’s passed, I want you here again. I have a proposition for you.”
“I don’t like to be ordered around. You know this, Orson,” I snapped coldly. “I don’t need you.”
There was a pause. “Of course. I only meant I am anxious to discuss something with you.”
I kept my voice level, but I knew my plan had worked. “I’ll be there as soon as I can get out of here.”
“How’s your guest?”
“Silent.”
“Another favor?”
“No, she decided she preferred to try to escape. The cold caught up with her.” I paused. “I let it.”
He laughed, the sound low and evil. “How convenient for you.”
“Indeed.”
“We have much to discuss.”
“Soon.”
“Always so cold, Tony. As if you’re not even interested.”
I knew what would get him. “Not sure that I am. I’ve done what you hired me to do.”
“I have more.”
“Then, as I said, soon.”
I hung up.