Chapter 10
Ten
“I’m not sure about this plan,” Lila said, as she looked around the private airstrip. She’d had no idea that this existed, which wasn’t like her at all.
Always have an escape route.
Again, her grandmother’s voice echoed through her head.
The woman always had a rule for everything, but this one had served Lila well.
She had several different options to get off the island, even one that involved a boat, but this one would probably be better.
Still, unease slithered through her as they walked toward the plane.
She was wearing a ball cap and mirrored glasses, but her skin still crawled.
She did her best not to look panicked, because that would definitely tip off anyone who was looking for her.
It didn’t help that she felt as if the entire world was weighing her down.
If she said anything, Ian would have freaked.
He had been eyeing her like a freaking hawk.
Worse, every time he looked at her all she could think of was his mouth pressed to hers.
She had wanted to do much more than just the man.
She had already agreed to the flight, so it was stupid to argue now.
The non-answer from Ian told her he thought it was stupid too.
Oahu would make it easier for her to get away from him.
With everything that was happening, she could easily get in and out of one of the many Dillon safe houses.
Once she rested one more day, it would be easy to formulate a plan to get away from Ian and his father.
She could not bring this danger to their doorstep.
As he strode ahead of her, she watched him.
It was odd being this close to him as long as she had been.
It had been less than forty-eight hours, but since she had been watching him for years, she felt as if she knew him better than she knew a lot of other people.
Still, she didn’t get her reaction to him.
Her gaze traveled down his body. The man was built.
About six-three, with long, lean muscles like a swimmer, and that ass of his. She rolled her eyes.
It was warm on the tarmac, but she shivered. She had never really been that interested in men. It was hard to trust a man, or anyone for that matter. Intimacy demanded trust. So, while she was on the run for her life, she was getting hot and bothered for a damned spy? She really was screwed up.
The truth was, she knew him better than most other people.
She had followed his career, watched as he performed his job, never letting anyone get in his way.
She knew that there were several other countries that had wanted to hire him when he’d left MI-6, but he had opted to go into the private sector.
It still didn’t explain why she was attracted to him. Sure, he had those movie star looks, and she had watched as women did double takes when he walked past them. He was so out of her league. Lila wasn’t even sure she had a league.
He led them to a black plane, then he turned to say, “Stay here with El, Jenner and my father.”
Agitated by his tone, she crossed her arms beneath her breasts and narrowed her eyes. “I’m not a dog who follows orders.”
He shook his head but said nothing else as he climbed up the few stairs into the plane.
“He’s just checking to make sure everything is on the up and up,” El said.
She turned her head. “I was raised by a spy master, you don’t think I know? I just don’t like standing out here.”
Before he could respond, Ian appeared in the doorway, but he didn’t look happy.
Her stomach muscles cramped. What was wrong?
She hesitated, then saw how his jaw clenched.
She had told him she trusted him, and she did.
It was just hard not to second guess everything.
He would never tell her to get on the plane if there was someone in there wanting to hurt her.
She climbed up the short stairway, then stepped into luxury.
The entire jet was gold and black, with plush leather seats, an area with a conference table, and screens on the walls.
Then, her gaze rested on a man. He was tall—not as tall as Ian—with dark hair and dark eyes. He looked vaguely familiar.
“Is he why you’re irritated?” she murmured.
His eyes widened. “I didn’t think I showed that.”
“I know you too well, Mix. Introduce us, because I have a feeling this is his plane.”
He nodded. “Do you want to use your real name?”
“I won’t tell anyone,” the other man said.
She looked at him for a long minute, then back to Ian. She shrugged. “The cat’s out of the bag, so why not?”
Another flex in his jaw. “Lila Underwood this is Devon Stryker.”
She knew who he was, just from the fact that it was his plane.
She knew that Eden had done some work for them with El—a protection detail a few months back.
Devon was a legend in the CIA, a man who had done an even bigger disappearing act than she did.
He also worked with Dillon security on cyber security.
He came forward with his hand extended. She took it, looking up at him. He was handsome, but not…well, Ian.
“It is my pleasure to meet you. I have been trying to track you down for a while.”
Ice skated over her nerves. “Why?”
“I knew your mother. Well, briefly when I was training.”
She frowned. “So, it’s true? You were recruited in high school?”
“Much like you.”
“I wasn’t in high school. I went to college. I just graduated so early.”
“You can let go of her hand,” Ian said. She thought she heard someone snort behind her.
Devon’s mouth twitched, but he did as Ian ordered.
“We should get settled so Bryan can take off, but I would love to talk to you. Maybe not now because, from what I understand, you have been through a lot. But I would love to talk to you about the business.”
“Okay.”
What could she say? Hey, I would like to talk to you, but I probably need to run away again. And oh, by the way, someone wants me dead so there’s that. There was a good chance she wouldn’t survive the next week.
She settled into one of the seats and Ian took the chair beside her. She glanced at him wondering at the frown.
Leaning closer so no one else could hear, she asked, “What’s your problem with Stryker?”
“Nothing.”
“Mix, I know you. You’re irritated, and I need to know if we should get off this plane.”
He turned to look at her, and this close, she could see the tiny flecks of gold in his blue eyes.
“I don’t like how solicitous he is.”
She frowned. “What?”
“He held your hand too long…” his voice trailed off.
“Ian.”
He sighed. “I just didn’t like how he was acting around you.”
“He had a crush on my mom. I met enough of them when I worked for The Company.”
He blinked, and that’s when she noticed his insanely long eyelashes once again. What was up with that?
“Really?”
She nodded. “I have a feeling she would have been pretty high up if she hadn’t died. She trained a lot of analysts though. Also, from what El and Ed have said, he’s insanely in love with his wife.”
He grunted his response, so she figured that was the end of the discussion. All of a sudden, the last couple days caught up with her once again. With a sigh, she settled against the chair and decided to at least grab a cat nap.
Ian was happy that Lila finally settled down and was getting more rest. Also, he was thrilled she couldn’t ask him any more questions.
He couldn’t explain why he was so damned pissed at Stryker.
The man did nothing and had been nothing but pleasant to all of them.
His territorial feelings where Lila was concerned were becoming a problem, but he really didn’t know what to do about it.
El tapped him on the shoulder. “Stryker wants to talk to you.”
He glanced at Lila, worried about leaving her. Stryker was about twenty feet away, so he knew he was being insane, but he hated leaving her. If she woke up, he wanted to be here.
“I’ll sit next to her,” El said. “Also, we’re on a small plane and no one is getting to her here.”
He heard the exasperation in his friend’s voice, so Ian undid his buckle and rose from his chair.
“Are you okay?”
He realized that El was worried about him. “Fine.”
Then he headed to the galley to talk to their host.
“Thank you again for the use of the plane.”
“No problem. How is she?”
“She’s better than she was yesterday. She had a pretty bad concussion.”
He nodded. “I didn’t mean to step on any toes. I mean, if she worked for me, she would still probably work for Dillon.”
Surprise lit through him. “You want to hire her?”
“Yeah.” He sipped his coffee. “I’ve seen some of her coding. She’s a genius.”
“You’ve seen some of it?”
Devon rolled his eyes. “Let’s just say The Company isn’t that great with their cyber security at times.”
“Her employment has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, I thought…” He broke off, then his mouth curved. His gaze carefully studied Ian long enough to be uncomfortable. “So, it’s personal.”
Not a question. Ian shifted his weight and glanced back at her. He could only see the back of her head, but El was there.
“Smith?”
He glanced at the other man. “Yeah, it’s personal. She’s been…well, I guess my guardian angel for a while now.”
“So, that’s all it is?”
Ian didn’t answer that question.
“Take it from a man who almost lost the love of his life because someone wanted her dead, if you’re interested in her, make sure you keep close.”
Ian knew the story through rumor. Devon’s wife was former MI-6, who had been in hiding with their child for years. Instead of some foreign agent, it had turned out to be a cousin.
“Did your wife know Judith Eddington?”
“I’ve heard her mention her once or twice. Why?”
“The connections. I know your wife or knew of her. We were in different divisions, but I knew her in passing. Plus, you know…family business.”
“Yes, when I mentioned you, she mentioned knowing your father.”
“You told your wife what you were doing?”