Chapter 2
“Here’s another bag.” Stone Jacobs handed his fiancée a second barf bag and held her long black hair back from her face.
Normally a woman on top of her game and capable of dropping a target with a single bullet, knife, a set of nunchucks or her bare hands, Kyla Russell vomited for the sixth time since they’d left West Yellowstone, Montana, on the private jet headed for Miami.
Hunter Falcon sat as far from the pair as he could get, but it wasn’t far enough to avoid the stench of bile.
“I’ve never known you to have motion sickness,” Stone said. “And you’ve been over morning sickness for months. It has to be a bug or food poisoning.”
Kyla shook her head. “I don’t understand… I’ve never been sick in an airplane. Ever.”
“What did you have to eat?” Hunter asked.
“The same thing as everyone else at the lodge.” She stared at Hunter. “Are either one of you feeling the least bit nauseated?”
Both men shook their heads.
Stone handed her a bottle of water.
“It’s just me.” She unscrewed the cap and tipped the bottle up, pouring cool, clean liquid into her ravaged mouth.
After swishing the water around inside her mouth, she spit it into the new bag.
“I was fine when we left. It wasn’t until we got into the plane and the pilot fired up the engines that it hit me.
One whiff of aviation fuel and…” Her face paled even more than it had been.
“I might have to drive back from Florida. I don’t think I can be around that smell again anytime soon. ”
“It’s probably morning sickness come back to haunt you,” Hunter said. “When my sister is expecting, certain smells don’t agree with her stomach throughout her pregnancy.”
Kyla frowned. “Fuck. I swear this pregnancy is lasting forever.”
“Remember that when we go for baby number two,” Stone said with a quirky smile.
Kyla glared at him. “One and done, my man. One and done. I can’t imagine going through this misery again.”
“And you haven’t even gone through the birth yet,” Stone murmured.
Kyla backhanded him across his chest. “Not helping.”
Stone pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Sorry, my love. Can I get you another barf bag, bottle of water or butcher knife to put me out of your misery?” He winked. “I still love you.”
“I’m not convinced. I’d rather be tortured by the Taliban than be sick morning, noon and night by the smell of aviation fuel and floor disinfectants.”
Stone kissed her with a loud smacking sound.
“You two need to get a room.” Hunter closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest. Trapped already hours in the plane, he wasn’t sure he could take much more barfing or playful sparring between the boss and his lady.
Stone chuckled and pulled his very pregnant lady love closer. “Envious, Hunter? What you need is a woman in your life.”
Hunter tensed, opened his eyes and shot a narrow-eyed look at Stone. “I’m content in my own skin. I don’t need a woman.”
Stone leaned close to Kyla’s ear, the corners of his lips quirking upward. “He only says that because he hasn’t met the one who will rock his world.”
Kyla nodded. “Look at me… I never thought I wanted or needed a man in my life.” She cupped Stone’s jaw in her palm. “Now, look at me. I get all weepy when I think of you. Me! Former assassin.” She laughed. “Now, a knocked-up blimp. What happened to the strong, independent and thin woman I was?”
Stone kissed her. “You’re even stronger and fiercer than any man or woman I’ve ever known.”
Kyla smiled up at him. Then her eyebrows formed a V over her nose. “But not thin.”
Stone held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t say that. You’re more beautiful than ever.”
The thought of being responsible for a woman made Hunter’s gut clench, even after all these years.
No. He didn’t need a woman in his life, to be responsible for her happiness, health and welfare.
He’d sworn off committing to a female, preferring to keep them at arm’s length.
Whenever one got too close, he walked away.
To avoid being drawn into the conversation, he said, “Don’t mind me.
I want to get some shut-eye before we land in Miami. ”
“You should try to sleep as well,” Stone advised Kyla. “I’m worried that flying this late in your pregnancy can be dangerous for you and the baby. I wish you’d stayed at the lodge and let us check on your friend.”
Hunter had urged her to stay as well. However, Kyla wouldn’t let the fact that she was eight months pregnant hold her back.
He glanced at the former assassin from beneath his lashes.
From the moment she’d rolled off the back of a truck, landing at their feet, she’d proven to be one of the strongest females he’d ever had the pleasure of fighting beside.
She made a great addition to the team of Brotherhood Protectors at the Yellowstone office.
“I couldn’t stay back at the lodge,” she said. “I needed to be there. She and I went through the training at the same time. I doubt she will trust two complete strangers.” Kyla leaned over, laid her head in Stone’s lap and closed her eyes. “She said she’d let me know when her job was done.”
“What job?” Stone asked for the tenth time.
Kyla snorted. “I told you; I don’t know.
Just because we trained together doesn’t mean we get the same information.
In fact, we weren’t allowed to talk amongst ourselves about assignments.
The less we knew about each other’s work, the less chance of blowing someone’s cover or disclosing information that could get a teammate killed or incarcerated. ”
“And her job is in Miami.” Hunter leaned his chair back. “Somehow, I had assumed your training was for targeting dangerous foreigners. I’m uncomfortable about the fact that our government is deciding who lives and who dies among its citizens.”
“They vet the targets thoroughly,” Kyla said.
“Except the one you refused to kill,” Stone reminded her.
Her brow furrowed. “He didn’t deserve to die.”
“Agreed,” Stone said. “And you exposed a bad apple within your elite government-sponsored team of assassins.”
Kyla’s lips pressed into a tight line. “You just don’t know who you can trust anymore.” She gave Stone a crooked smile. “Except you and your team of Brotherhood Protectors. I one-hundred percent trust them.”
Stone lifted his chin. “Right answer.”
Hunter must have dozed off, only to be jerked awake as the wheels of the small jet skimmed the runway, and the reverse thrusters kicked in, slowing the aircraft. Once they left the runway, the pilot taxied the plane to the general aviation terminal, parked and turned off the engine.
Instantly alert, Hunter unbuckled his seatbelt.
Kyla’s cell phone chirped, indicating an incoming text.
“Is it her?” Stone leaned over Kyla’s shoulder.
Kyla nodded, her brow dipping low. “Yes.”
Hunter leaned forward. “What did she say?”
Kyla held out her cell phone for the guys to read the message.
Unk Caller: Need pizza delivery
The next text was a set of GPS coordinates.
Kyla glanced over her shoulder at Stone, a worried frown denting her smooth forehead. “She sent it over two hours ago. Nothing since.”
“She’s going to be okay.” Stone touched Kyla’s shoulder. “If she’s anything like you, she’s smart and good at fading into a crowd.”
“She’s very smart,” Kyla agreed. “But why hasn’t she texted since?”
“Maybe she’s being followed and can’t take the time to send another text.” Stone unbuckled his seatbelt.
“I’m sending you both her coordinates,” Kyla said.
Relieved that Stone had convinced Kyla to stay with the plane, Hunter lowered the steps and descended to the tarmac in front of the General Aviation terminal.
Stone followed him out of the aircraft and stood beside him.
When Kyla started to get out, Stone held up a hand. “No way. You’re staying here. We need someone to guard the plane.”
Kyla frowned. “I’m going with you.”
“You’re staying here, Kyla,” Stone insisted. “We’ll bring your friend to you.”
Kyla frowned. “She won’t know you. I need to be there. She might not come forward.”
Stone climbed up the stairs and took Kyla’s hands in his. “I know the badass in you can’t stand the idea of hanging back while Hunter and I meet your friend, but think of the baby. If she’s being followed, her tail will be armed and dangerous.”
Kyla lifted her chin. “I can be just as armed and dangerous.”
“I know you can, but we don’t want to risk someone shooting at you.” Stone slid his hand across her swollen belly. “Your life isn’t yours alone.”
Kyla’s lips pressed together for a moment, and then she sighed. “Fine. I’ll stay.” She frowned down at Stone. “Promise you’ll be careful.”
He nodded. “I will.”
“If she’s being followed, she might kick your ass first and ask questions later.”
“We’ll take that chance,” Hunter said, ready to move out.
“Be sure to tell her you’re delivering pizza,” Kyla instructed.
“Got it.” Stone pressed his lips to Kyla’s. “We’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Hunter patted his jacket, reassured by the bulge of his handgun tucked into the shoulder holster. The nice thing about flying in a private aircraft was he didn’t have to go through TSA or check his weapons. He also carried a knife in a scabbard strapped to his ankle, covered by his pant leg.
He followed Stone into the building. The brunette manning the counter smiled. “Stone Jacobs?”
Stone nodded.
She held up a key fob. “Your vehicle is in the parking lot outside.”
“Thank you.” Stone glanced toward the plane on the tarmac. “My woman is waiting out there. She’s eight months pregnant…”
The brunette’s eyes widened. “I’ll keep an eye out for her.”
“Thank you.” Stone glanced at Hunter. “Ready?”
“Been ready.” Now that they were in Miami, a sense of urgency fired adrenaline into his bloodstream. “The sooner we find Kyla’s friend, the sooner we can be on our way back to Montana.”
Stone nodded. “Kyla shouldn’t have come. I’m worrying about her when I should be worrying about her former teammate.”
As soon as they stepped outside, Stone hit the unlock button on the key fob. Lights winked at them.