Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Ten heat signatures surrounding the cabin. Four moving toward it now,” Cass’s voice came over the comms.
“Copy that,” Fox responded, having taken over as team leader on this part of the mission. Jag was fine with that change. “Jag, your focus is to get to the cabin, Hound, Deal, and I will cover you and handle those nearby. Irish, Angel, Ox, and Growler, you’ll take down the others.”
“With pleasure.” Irish checked his gun. The guy was locked and loaded, like the rest of them, pissed that Steff had been taken.
The chopper hovered, and the eight men grabbed the ropes. On Fox’s signal they repelled out of the machine, landing on the ground in a synchronized soft thump.
Once down, the bird retreated higher to allow Cass to monitor what was going on with the perps and relay the information back to them.
As hard as it was, Jag had locked his emotions and the need to storm the cabin and grab Steff, down tight. To save her he had to keep a cool head. He could lose it later when he had her safely in his arms.
“Everyone ready?” Fox asked. Six affirmatives were given, and they were off. Jag focused on ensuring his steps were light and didn’t make as much sound as possible. Given the amount of dry grass and leaves surrounding them, it wasn’t possible, but they did their best.
The popping sound of suppressed gunfire registered, but he didn’t let it distract him. He had complete faith that the men he was with would ensure all threats were handled.
The small structure came into sight, and the four of them halted. They used hand signals to communicate, and Hound and Deal moved quickly and quietly to take down the two perps at the back of the building.
He and Fox would take out the two guarding the front door.
Fox held up three fingers, he’d lowered the first one when a scream filled the air.
Jag didn’t wait for the rest of Fox’s fingers to drop, he was off racing toward the door, knowing his friend would have his back. His attention only on getting to Steff.
He stormed through the door just as Cynthia crashed to the ground with Steff standing above her like an avenging angel. Eyes wide with fear and determination. Arm raised with a piece of a broken chair, as if she was getting ready to hit Cynthia again.
He rushed over to her and grabbed her tight around her waist, aware that he could get hit, but he didn’t care. If she hit Cynthia again and the blow was a more damaging one, Steff wouldn’t be able to live with herself.
“Steff. I’ve got you. It’s me Dalton. You’re safe.” He yelled the words he hoped would penetrate the rage consuming her.
It worked, her body sagged, and the piece of wood clattered to the ground.
“Dalton?”
“Yeah, hon, it’s me.” He turned her in his arms so that she could see him. He also wanted to check her over. See if she was hurt anywhere. Or if she’d been drugged.
He couldn’t see any visible bruises. Nor were her pupils blown, suggesting she had been drugged.
It took a second, but recognition lit her eyes before they widened again. He whipped around, shoving her behind him to protect her from whoever had entered the cabin, but apart from Cynthia on the ground, it was just them.
“What is it?” he asked, bringing her back in front of him so she could keep her attention on him and no one else. He trusted his teammates to have his back and keep them safe.
“They’re going to kill you and the others. Cynthia said so. It’s a trap. She said there are men who are going to hurt you.”
Jag ran his hands up and down her arms. “They’ve been handled.”
Now wasn’t the time to explain everything, but he would, because Steff needed to know what happened.
A groan from the ground had him moving quickly to Cynthia’s side. He grabbed some zip ties from one of the pockets in his cargo pants and quickly slipped them around her hands and feet—she wasn’t moving anytime soon.
“Stay right there, Cynthia. It’s over.”
She groaned again, but didn’t say anything, as if she accepted her fate. It couldn’t be that easy, not after everything she’d done. The woman was hurting, though, and maybe that was keeping her quiet more than anything else.
He went back to Steff’s side and held her in his arms, closing his eyes in relief that this beautiful woman was safe with him again.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmured against her cheek. “So sorry I wasn’t there to keep you safe.”
“It’s not your fault. You gave me everything to keep me safe. Problem was, Cynthia had them too. I’ve found out today that she’s a calculating bitch, and not the person I thought she was at all.”
“Did she hurt you?” He swallowed, needing to ask the next question even though he didn’t want to. “Did anyone hurt you?”
“No. No one touched me. I’m okay.”
“Thank god.” He leaned back and brushed his fingers against her cheek. Her skin smooth and familiar. “I love you, Steffanie Price, so damn much. I can’t live without you.”
He’d promised himself the minute he saw her he’d tell her how he felt. That he wouldn’t waste any more opportunities to do so. It was probably overwhelming for her, and if she didn’t say it back, he would be totally fine with it.
If she needed more time to grow to love him, he’d give her all the time she needed.
“You love me?” Her voice trembled, and tears filled her eyes.
“I do. So much.”
“I love you too, Dalton. I don’t ever want you to let me go.”
His lips found hers, and he poured all the love he felt for her into it. He held her like she was the most precious gem in the world. Because to him, she was. He was being a sap, but he didn’t care.
This woman was his.
And he was hers.
He broke the kiss, aware that there was still a lot to do, and there would be time later, for them to be alone, and he could do more than kiss her. “I love you,” he said again. “I should’ve said it sooner, and I’m going to keep saying it.”
Steff laughed, and he relished the happy sound. “I should’ve said it to you sooner, too. But no regrets now, Dalton. We look forward. Always forward.”
“Yes. Forward.”
His lips found hers again, and they only broke apart when footsteps sounded behind him.
He wasn’t worried if it was one of the bad guys coming for them.
They hadn’t stood a chance against them.
It would be one of his teammates; he only hoped it wasn’t Fox.
His friend was going to find it hard to see the woman he’d fallen for restrained on the ground.
Once again, keeping Steff pressed to his side, he turned and found Ox standing in the doorway.
“Everyone is accounted for. Authorities will be here shortly,” his boss announced. “All good?”
Jag knew what his boss was eluding too. “Yep, all good.”
“Excellent. Chopper’s ready if you want to get out of here.”
“What about talking to the police?” As much as he wanted Steff away from Cynthia and the cabin, he was also aware that she would need to answer questions and give the police a complete rundown of what happened.
He would rather they get it over with than go back to his place, only to have to leave again so they could deal with the formalities.
“Julian called, he said the Feds have authority over the situation now, seeing as it seems Viktor Koznovi? and Cynthia were well acquainted. He’s going to head to the office and will meet you there.
He figured asking Steff questions there was better than taking her in.
It’s not exactly by the book, but if Julian suggested it, then I figure it’s all good. ”
Dealing with the questioning in the comfort of Alliez’s offices was much better than a cold interrogation room in the federal building. He turned to Steff. “Okay. Are you okay with this? If you’re not, we can put it off until tomorrow.”
“Dalton,” Steff’s hand wrapped around his forearm. “I don’t need coddling. I’d rather talk while it’s fresh in my mind.”
“Right, we’ll do that then.” Jag canted his head to where Cynthia now lay on her back, staring daggers at them all. “What about her?”
“We’ll deal with her. She’s not going anywhere for a long time.”
“You may think you’re winning, but you’ll never stop it. Someone will replace me and what I do,” Cynthia sneered at them.
Ox didn’t bother answering, he just bent and hauled her to her feet and marched her out the door.
Jag wasn’t sad to see the back of her, and the way Steff sagged against him, it was clear she felt the same way. “Ready to blow this joint?”
“Are you going to blow it up, because I would be totally okay with that?” Steff said with a shudder.
He chuckled. “Nothing that drastic, I think the cops and Feds might like to survey everything.”
“Not sure they’ll find anything.”
“I don’t either, but they need to do it.” He led her toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
“You don’t need to tell me twice.”
How she could have a sense of humor after all she’d been through, only showed Jag how strong his girl was. There might be some setbacks, but he didn’t think so.
Steff was much stronger now than she had been when they first met. He’d loved her then and he loved her even more now.