Damn it. The downside of having genetically enhanced brothers slapped Jory in the face. “Shut up.”
“You shut up.” Nate ran a hand through his tousled hair, his gaze thoughtful. “You okay?”
Jory grinned. “Fabulous.”
Nate snorted. “If you say so. Will she work with us now?”
A rare temper tickled the base of Jory’s neck. “That’s not why I slept with her.”
Nate scratched his chin, gray eyes darkening. He leaned back against the pristine bright yellow counter and crossed his feet. “Jesus. You’re not falling for the commander’s daughter, are you?”
“You fell for Dr. Madison’s daughter.” Two seconds in Nate’s presence, and he was a five-year-old little brother again. “I like her.”
“Okay.” Nate shrugged, the innocuous movement failing to mask his sudden concern. “Will she help us?”
“Yes, but I don’t want her in danger.”
Nate shoved off the counter. “Right. No danger.” He eyed his brother. “We can send her to the ranch right now if you want. Get her off the radar and to safety.”
Jory’s world settled. That quickly, with one statement, he remembered he was a Dean brother, and he’d never be alone. Now neither would Piper, and his brothers would protect her to their last breaths. “Never alone, Nate.”
“Exactly.” Nate watched him carefully. “If we need to get her out of here, we have to come up with another plan to get those boys.”
Jory nodded, on alert. “She’s everything to me, and I know it’s been quick.”
“So?”
Yeah. So? “If anything happens to me—”
“She’s covered. I promise.” Nate smiled. “She’s pretty and brilliant. I’m happy for you.”
Jory forced a smile, tempted to share the truth about his chip with his brother. But he needed Nate focused and not obsessed with saving him. “Thank you.”
Nate nodded. “So current plan or new plan?”
Good question. “What is the current plan?”
Nate scrubbed a hand down his face. “We found a cabin about a mile away and took the bodies there. Nice job on the clean neck breaks, by the way. Left print and DNA evidence around the cabin before making sure the bodies will never be found. Now we need the woman to go there, escape, and call for help at a gas station about a mile away.”
“Piper.” Jory crossed his arms.
“Huh?”
“Her name is Piper.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “Stop calling her the woman.”
“Sorry. Piper. She’s ours now, huh?” Nate glanced at his phone. “Okay. So this is your call, and I’ll back you no matter what. Do you think Piper can jump out of a window, run a mile, and then lie her ass off to her father?”
CHAPTER
19
PIPER EYED THE rustic cabin in the middle of nowhere as Jory’s brother pulled his SUV up next to Jory’s. She and Jory had spent the drive discussing the plan, and even now, she shook her head. “This is kind of crazy.”
“I know.” Silence descended in the forest, and he rested his hands on the steering wheel. Moments later, a bird called, the sound oddly chipper. “You don’t have to do this.”
“If I don’t do this, we won’t be able to help Chance. I know you don’t think I’ll have time to work on the codes, but I do.” Taking a deep breath, she turned toward him. “Have you told your brothers about your chip yet?”
“No.” His jaw hardened. “I’d like to keep the information to myself as long as I can, or they’ll spend their time trying to figure out my chip and not save their own asses.”
“Okay.” Although, she’d figure out his chip if it was the last thing she did. “There’s not much they can do without the computer codes, anyway.” Too bad the damn things changed every thirty seconds, or she could’ve just copied them down. “If Chance or I can’t get the code algorithm out of the facility, what will we do?”
Jory shrugged. “We’ll go in. There’s Nate.”
A sharp rap sounded on her window, and she jumped, turning.
Nate opened her door. “Are you ready?” His gaze remained shuttered and his face expressionless, but as he took her arm to assist her from the SUV, his hold was infinitely gentle.
“No.” Her feet squished in the wet leaves.
He barked out a laugh. “Fair enough. You fight me as hard as you can, okay?”
“No.” Jory stood on the other side of the SUV, his head easily clearing the rooftop. “I’ve got this.” Slamming his door, he strode around the vehicle to reach for Piper.
Nate paused. “You sure? The scene and struggle have to look real.”
“I’m sure.” Jory turned Piper until her back pushed against his front and then he wrapped his arms around her. A quick kiss to the top of her head, and he tightened his hold. “Fight.”
The kiss caught her off guard, and she kept her gaze averted from Nate. The idea that Jory wanted his hands, and his hands only, on her was sweet and took root. The whole situation would be so much easier if she didn’t like him.
But she did. He was infinitely likable. And sexy as hell.
He lowered his head, and his breath brushed her ear. “Fight me, baby.”
She shivered and tried to ignore the blast of heat to her abdomen. Taking a deep breath, she began to buck against him, patting him on the thighs.
He paused. “I need you to actually fight. I promise, you can’t hurt me.”
She sucked in air and nodded. Then she wriggled against him, shoving her butt into his legs and gently digging her elbows into his ribs.
He chuckled. Then a slap cascaded across her ass hard enough to stop her breathing.
She jerked her head around, her eyes widening. “What the hell?”
“Fight me.” He held up his hand. “Or you get another.”
Anger blasted through her. He wanted a fight? Oh, he’d get one. She punched him in the stomach, and pain shot up her arm. He nodded and began dragging her toward the cabin. She gave it all she had. Kicking, shrugging, throwing elbows, she made sure to leave evidence of a struggle as Jory dragged her along the path and to the front door. Her boots scraped the warped porch, and she kicked hard. Finally, Jory shoved open the door and pulled her through a gathering room and a kitchen to propel her into a bedroom.
A dingy queen-sized mattress took residence against the wood paneling, a crumpled pillow had been shoved against the wall, and a patched wool blanket had been folded at the edge. The precise crease along the blanket’s edge seemed creepy in the dusty space. A one-clasp window was set in the center of the wall with the bed. No other belongings were in the room.
The area smelled stale and like old fish. Dead old fish.
She shook to gain her balance and stomped her boots to leave mud on the scuffed floor. Even though the fight had been pretend, her heart beat a rapid tempo against her rib cage, and her breath panted out. No matter how hard she’d fought him, Jory hadn’t hurt her. Not even one little pinch. His strength in containing and somehow not harming her sent little tingles through her. She shoved her hair from her face. “You okay?”
He grinned. “Fine.”
The guy wasn’t even out of breath. Then he cleared his throat. “You need to use the bathroom, touch the sink, doorknob, everywhere. Leave your DNA and prints, because supposedly you stayed the night here.”
A blush rose over her face at where she’d really spent the night. “Do you really think they’ll sweep the cabin?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t even want to imagine how the Dean brothers had gotten the now deceased PROTECT men’s DNA and prints all around the cabin. Instead, she eyed the narrow bathroom off the bedroom. “I don’t need to go.”
He grasped her elbow and drew her to the door. “No choice.” He was in full soldier mode, and something about his confidence served to calm her enough to concentrate. Then he turned and caught a pair of black surgical gloves tossed at him by Nate, quickly yanking them on his hands.
&
nbsp; Creepy. Way over the top creepy.
She backed into the tiny bathroom.
Jory reached for the doorknob. “Say the PROTECT kidnappers had succeeded in getting you somewhere like this. After they shut the door, what would you do?”
“Look for a weapon or an escape.” Of course.
He nodded and walked from the room. “Do it, then.” The door closed behind him.
Well, okay then. She scrambled around, looking for a weapon, under the bed and then toward the bathroom. While dusty, the small room seemed fairly clean. Olive green toilet, sink basin, and shower… and that’s it. No vanity, towel bar, or drawers anywhere. She quickly shut the door and used the bathroom before washing her hands and hustling from the room.
The door opened again, and Jory stalked inside. “You need to lie on the bed.”
Just the suggestion warmed her blood and unfurled tingles in her abdomen. Her heartbeat increased again. She cleared her throat.
His cheek creased, and she cocked her head. How in the world could he know what she was thinking about? “I am not getting in that bed.”
“Just on it. As if you had to sleep.” His eyebrows rose, waiting.
She had no doubt he’d toss her on the bed if she refused, so with a purely feminine huff, she gingerly sat on the bed.
“Down.”
“Fuck you.” The words shot out of her instantly.
He eyed the dirty mattress. “Well, if you say so.” Two long strides brought him knee to knee with her.
A strong hand in the middle of her chest pushed her over, and she fought a grimace as her back hit the bed. “If I get germs from this…” she muttered.
He stood back and surveyed her, his eyes glinting. “Roll around a little. Like you slept there.”
She glared. The man had to stop ordering her around. She kicked the folded blanket off and rolled around, curling into a ball. “Enough?”
For answer, he pulled her up, and she smashed into a chest harder than stone. She sputtered and looked up.
Firm lips covered hers. Warm and seeking, he took her away from the dingy room—away from reality. His tongue slid against the roof of her mouth, eliciting a sigh from somewhere deep in her core. She leaned into him, kissing him back, her fingers curling into his T-shirt.
Only the snap of a padlock clicking into place jerked her back into the room.
Panting, she broke the kiss to see Jory’s brother tugging on a rusty lock he’d just attached to the window. She hadn’t even heard him come into the room.
“Are you two about done?” Nate asked, his tone dry.
Jory exhaled, amusement dancing across his face.
Piper patted his very hard, oh-so-nice chest and forced a sarcastic smile. “We are now. Unless you want to leave? I was just getting revved up.”
Nate’s face split in a smile, and his gray eyes warmed. “I love a good smart-ass. Excellent.”
“I don’t like this.” Jory gently moved her to the side and kicked the metal bed frame. The entire room shook. He kicked again, bent, and pulled on a rusty nail. “Piper? Grab this and twist it out.”
He thought of everything. She knelt and grasped the head of the nail, pulling and turning. The rough metal scratched her finger pad.
“Don’t cut yourself.” Jory bent closer to watch.
She nearly fell back when the nail let loose, and he caught her, helping her up. “This isn’t a good plan,” he muttered.
Nate tapped the lock with his gloved hand. “Your woman—your call. If you don’t want to go with this plan, we won’t. But decide now.”
Piper’s head jerked back. “Whoa there, Sparky. I’m nobody’s woman.” Yeah. That didn’t come out quite like she’d hoped.
Nate Dean turned his full attention on her for the first time, and she fought the urge to step back, not expecting the intensity. The seriousness—hell, the deadliness—suddenly emanating from him proved he was every bit the dangerous predator she’d witnessed lurking in Jory.
“Did you sleep with my brother last night?” Nate asked silkily.
Fire bloomed through her face. “None of your damn business,” she ground out.
Nate shrugged. “Even so? That means he decides. If he says you’re locked down, away from danger, then you are. Sparky.” Warmth, amusement, and an odd gentleness coated his words and glimmered in his eyes.
Even so, that man was a lost cause, so she turned on the one she knew better. A whole hell of a lot better. “You don’t believe that nonsense, do you?” Gingerly holding the nail, she pressed her hands to her hips, expecting a nice dismissal of Nate’s ass-backward attitude.
What she got was one word and twice the deadly intensity.
“Yes.” Jory kept her gaze, waiting. Always waiting, so damn patiently.
“Well, that’s, well—” She sputtered. “You’re both assholes.”
“Yep.” Nate sauntered through the room. “You’re not the first one to make that remark. Josie, Shane’s wife, held a gun on me once.”
Jory blinked. “She did?”
“Yep.” Nate grinned. “Come to think of it, Laney, Matt’s woman, held a Glock on me once, too.” He chuckled. “Good thing Piper doesn’t have a gun.”
Piper sputtered, looking from Nate to Jory and back. “You guys aren’t bonding over this Neanderthal code, are you?”
Nate’s gaze warmed as he looked at his brother. “Nope. We bonded decades ago, as solid as can be. Right, Jory?”
“Right.” Jory grinned back. “I wish I could’ve seen them hold a gun on you.”
“Good times, and we’ll make more in the future.” Nate headed for the door. “I’ll be outside to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself when she falls. Unless the plan has changed?” He paused without looking back.
Jory studied her, no expression on his face. “Do you want to go through with this plan, and if so, will you follow orders?”
She stepped into him, knowing the move to be one of intimidation, although with their size difference, she only succeeded in cranking her neck to keep his gaze. “I am going through with this plan because it’s the only way to save your ass as well as rescue those poor kids. Get on board, now.”
“Nate?” Jory called out, not moving an inch. “The plan is off.”
Damn it. “Fine. I’ll follow orders.” She shuffled her feet, left with absolutely no alternative. God, she hated making such a promise. It was a somewhat military plan, right? Orders kind of made sense.
“Good.” Jory took the rusty nail from her fingers and stalked to jam it into the lock, which gave easily. He stepped back. “Jump out, and be careful when you land. I’ll meet you in front.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode from the room and out of the cabin.
She had the oddest feeling he had to leave before she tried to shimmy out of the window. The glass swung up easily, and she held it open with her head. Slivers pierced her palms when she pressed on the edge and heaved herself up to plant one knee. Then gravity took over.
Her yelp as she pitched forward echoed in her head, and she landed in a bush that prickled. Scrambling, she rolled into the mud and shoved to her feet just as Jory rounded the corner.
“Damn it.” He started toward her, and Nate grabbed his arm.
“She’s okay. Don’t disturb the area.” Nate squinted, eyeing her. “You are okay, right?”
“Fine.” She brushed off leaves and stretched her aching back.
Nate chuckled. “Tough. Our women are tough, thank God.”
She warmed from the compliment and flushed at being included in the Dean brothers’ women. Old-fashioned to the point of being silly, but she kind of understood. Lost boys raised by the military with no mother? They probably did have a slightly skewed sense of relationships and protectiveness. “Now what?” she asked quietly, wondering if she’d have a chance to teach Jory how to be modern.
Jory pointed toward the rough road. “Stick to the sides, hidden by trees, until you get to the main road. Feel free to touch trees
, branches, and even tumble once or twice in your desperation to get free.”
Man. Somehow she’d ended up in a spy movie. “And then?” The prickly bushes had scratched her arm, and she fought the urge to rub.
“Go left, hit the gas station, and call the commander. We’ll keep eyes on you until you make the station. Go to work, and then I’ll meet you at Earl’s house afterward.”
She caught her breath. “They know about Earl’s house—they have surveillance there.”
“I know.”
She blinked. “You do?”
“Yes, but they don’t know we know, so it’s okay. We can feed them information this way. Trust me. This is old hat.”
“But we, I mean we—”
His gaze softened. “I know, and that convinced them that we didn’t know we were being watched.”
Heat flared into her face. So Jory had known about the recording? That they could be heard? “You used me.”
“No. Actually, I completely lost myself in the moment. I promise.” He grasped her jaw and slid his finger along her lips. “Trust me, Piper.”
She didn’t have a choice at this point and already had enough to worry about. Plus, she’d lost herself in that moment, too. “Okay.”
Jory took a deep breath, his massive chest moving. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She took in his serious gaze and allowed for a moment to think. She had to do this. If she didn’t, she was leaving three boys in hell, and she couldn’t live with that. Plus, if anybody had a chance at finding the correct algorithm for the codes, it had to be her. “I’m sure. Trust me.”
“I do.” His eyes darkened, and the muscles visibly shuddered in his well-developed arms.
Plus, she’d damn well find a way to reach his chip so it would accept the codes. She’d just found him, and she wanted a future with him. “Don’t worry,” she breathed. She’d be the one to save the super-soldier, and she had to get to it.
He exhaled, tension filling the air around them. Harsh tension filled with worry and a hint of anger. Yet he trusted her enough to let her go. “Be careful… and good luck.”