Chapter Twelve
Crouched inside the burned-out building, Jane listened to the silence. The surrounding quiet overwhelmed her. She couldn’t hear the helicopter or gunfire. All was eerily still.
Jane pinched her eyes closed and ducked her chin to her knees.
She couldn’t shake the incensed expression on Midas’s face.
But there was something else profoundly reassuring about his overbearing presence.
He would see that the job was done correctly.
That meant someone, somehow, would come back for her.
But, more importantly, Teddy was safe. And that was all that mattered.
Distant gunfire peppered the silence. She backed into a corner and said a quick prayer.
For what, she didn’t know. Another helicopter?
Guidance on what to do next? No miracles fell from the sky, and she decided she needed to form a plan.
Her concentration came in fits. Adrenaline made her hands shake.
Her legs cramped, and she desperately needed to sleep.
“Think,” she whispered.
The only thing that came to mind was retelling this story at one of the Thanes’ excessive events. She always needed fodder for cocktail parties. The idea made her laugh. A trickle of humor mixed with sheer, utter exhaustion.
Jane stretched her legs and sat down, deciding to stay put and watch for another helicopter. That seemed as good of a plan as any. After a few minutes of waiting, she wondered if it would return for her in the morning. Daylight always made problems seem more manageable.
Could she sleep here? She didn’t know if it was safe—all things considered. Jane peeled herself from her hiding spot and tip-toed to a gaping hole that could’ve once been a window.
The dark velvet night sky enveloped the world in a coldness that went beyond the temperature.
She scanned the remains of a war-torn city.
The moonlight created ghostly shadows. Was this what Dax had wanted to catch on film?
Absolute devastation? Some buildings barely remained, while others seemed impossibly untouched.
Voices echoed from below her. She pushed away from the wall and raced to find a better hiding spot.
Jane crouched and searched for the voices.
She saw no one. But now, the voices sounded like they were coming from above.
“What the hell.” That was one of the many problems with partially destroyed buildings.
Noises bounced and echoed in ways that she couldn’t wrap her mind around.
Another voice and footsteps broke the quiet. This time, Jane was certain the proximity was much, much closer. She rushed down the semi-demolished hall. The scenery blurred together. She tried to reorient herself and turned in time to see three men hurrying in the direction she’d just come from.
The hell with thoughtfully planning her escape. Jane needed to haul ass out of here if she wanted to survive.
Chance did his best to stymie a torrent of curses in front of Teddy Thane. But fucking hell. How did I not see that coming? The woman was a nanny with a superhero complex. He should’ve expected a stunt like that from someone who worked for the Thanes.
Except it hadn’t been a stunt. If she hadn’t jumped back, she’d be dead. If she hadn’t demanded they leave, the helo wouldn’t have been able to stay. The kid would be dead. Hell, they would all be dead.
Begrudgingly, Chance acknowledged she might’ve made the right move. But he sure as shit wasn’t accepting it. He was the one who was supposed to risk his life for civilians. Mary Poppins wasn’t going to die on his watch. Protecting her was his job, and he’d failed.
Chance took out his earpiece and pulled on a headset. “HQ? You read me?”
“Loud and clear, Midas,” Parker returned.
He rubbed a hand over his face. “Drop me back.”
Next to Chance, Hagan’s chin snapped up. “Are you suicidal tonight, man?”
“No.” He gnashed his molars, waiting for HQ to give him the go-ahead. He didn’t hear a word, and unlike his earpiece, the transmissions were clear. Chance readjusted his mouthpiece. “Drop. Me. Back.”
“Negative, Midas,” Parker replied. “The current circumstances aren’t working for—”
“Give me a break. She’s a civilian, and we’re not leaving an unarmed woman to fend for herself.”
“No, we aren’t,” Parker said. “She’ll hang tight, and we’ll send in another team.”
“No.” Chance’s hands balled into fists. “I know the area.”
Hagan put a hand on his shoulder. “They know what they’re doing.”
Chance shrugged Hagan off. “There’s not a single reason to wait. Drop me back in.”
“Negative,” Parker repeated. “We can’t let you risk—”
“Damn it, Parker. If you don’t, she’s as good as—” Chance choked off dead when he caught sight of Teddy’s tear-swollen eyes locked on him. He cleared his throat and dropped his voice. “I need to do this.”
No one spoke. Teddy didn’t look away. Chance felt like he might explode.
“Midas.” Boss Man broke the silence. “If you go after her now, I don’t know when we can get back to you.”
“That’s fine.” Chance could keep them safe until the team returned. “I told her to trust me. I said I’d be back.” He glanced out a window. Miles and time were speeding by. “I have to keep my word.”
Eternity passed.
“It’s your call, Midas.” Boss Man let out a long breath. “The odds aren’t good now or later.”
“So we go now,” Chance requested.
The transmission went silent.
Chance waited, adrenaline flowing, hoping that headquarters was communicating directly with the pilot.
Suddenly, their helicopter angled and circled round. Determination flooded his chest as he braced for the chopper’s hard turnabout. “Thank you.”
“Roger that,” Boss Man said. “We’ll stay in contact, best we can. Until then, do what it takes to come back alive.”