After several long seconds, she pulled her gaze from his and looked back toward the front of the church. “I’m gonna go light a candle.” She slanted a sly smile his way as she reached for the pew ahead and pushed to her feet. “Can’t hurt, right? I think we need all the help we can get.”
He watched her move for the aisle, then walk up toward the altar. At the front, she bowed slightly, then headed to the right, toward an alcove with rows and rows of tiered candles. She used the matches to light one candle in the middle of the bunch, then knelt with her hands folded in front of her.
And right then, as he watched her silently from the back of the church, he realized . . . he was crazy about this woman. Head over heels crazy about a schoolteacher he had no right being anywhere near. Olivia Wolfe was the kind of person who saw the good in others. She wasn’t jaded like her sister, Eve, wasn’t broken like him. She’d been wounded—several times—but she had this light inside her that gave her the strength to get back up and keep on going. He didn’t know much about where that light came from, but it was a light he’d never seen in anyone else. And it was one he wanted in his life. Desperately.
After several minutes, she pushed up from the kneeler and headed back his way. And as he watched her every graceful movement, his pulse racing as she drew close, his heart felt like it was finally coming to life in his chest . . . for the first time ever.
She slid into the pew next to him and frowned. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“What am I thinking?” Was that his voice? It didn’t sound like him. The words sounded foreign, raspy, uneven.
“You’re thinking I’m a fool for believing in something as simple as religion.”
“Why would you assume that?”
“Because Eve has said the same to me more than once.”
And since he and Eve both existed within the same shadowy world, Olivia was lumping them together.
“Maybe she’s right,” Olivia said, shrugging as she looked toward the altar once more. “I don’t know. All I know is that life is easier when I’m not doing it alone, you know?”
No, he didn’t know. But he wanted to. Wanted her to teach him. “I’m not Eve, Livy.”
“I know you’re not. It’s just . . .” Her gaze flicked to his chest. And a hint of pink stained her cheeks. “My dad used to say everything happens for a reason, and as much as I don’t want to believe that, I can’t. Because he was right. In every bad thing that’s happened in my life, there’s been something good. Even yesterday.”
His body heated. Was she talking about last night? About the two of them together in that barn? He wanted her to be. Because that had been the best thing that happened to him . . . in forever. Even though she’d acted blasé after, even though he knew it couldn’t happen again, it didn’t change the fact she was right.
It also didn’t change the fact that he wanted her. More than he had over the last few months. More than he had last night. More than he had any right to want anyone, especially her.
Her soft green gaze slowly slid back to his eyes. And as it skipped over his face, his body grew even warmer, until his heart was pounding a staccato rhythm against his ribs. “So . . . if you’re not thinking I’m a simple fool, then what are you thinking?”
What was he thinking? Every muscle tensed, and before he could stop himself, he leaned forward, bringing his mouth only centimeters from hers, wanting to kiss her again like he’d done on the street. Wanting to taste her. Everywhere.
“I’m thinking I’m so screwed it’s not even funny. Because I’m—”
Wood creaked. Footsteps echoed. Olivia’s head jerked to the side, and a split second flashed before Landon realized several people had barged in through the main doors of the church and were heading straight for them.
His reflexes clicked into gear. He reached back for the gun at his lower spine, covered Olivia’s head with his hand, and pushed her to the bench. “Stay down,” he hissed.
“Landon—”
“Liv,” a woman breathed.
Landon had the gun halfway out when Eve appeared in the back of the church, her eyes wide, her shoulder-length dark hair falling around her face.
“Eve.” Olivia pushed against Landon’s hand. “That’s my sister, you idiot.” She was out of the pew and at the back of the church before Landon could stop her.
The two women embraced. Behind Eve, Landon spotted Zane Archer stepping into the church, wearing jeans, a white button-down, and the same uneasy expression Landon was sporting.
Relief and disappointment stole through Landon, mixing with the nerves still vibrating through his limbs. With hands shaking more than he liked, he stowed his weapon and slowly made his way toward the newcomers.
Zane held out a hand as he drew close. “Miller.”
Landon accepted the handshake. “Archer. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“I bet.” Zane glanced around warily. “Is it just me, or do you feel an odd electrical charge in this place?”
Landon snorted. “It’s the Man upstairs getting the voltage right. He can take all three of us out in one strike. Pretty sure the only thing stopping him is Olivia.”
“Something tells me you’re probably not far off the mark.” Zane nodded toward the two women, still hugging. “Let’s try to slowly and inconspicuously herd them out the door. I really don’t want to get my ass fried today.”
Neither did Landon. He wanted Olivia out of harm’s way. But mostly, he wanted her safe. From him.
Shit. He’d almost told her . . .
What? How he felt? He wasn’t even sure how he felt. Fucking confused topped the list right now. But even if he did know, any kind of emotional confession would only mess things up more by muddying the waters for her, especially when she was so close to being free of him.
The woman in the back of the church holding a rosary turned with an angry expression and hissed, “Sh!”
Zane grimaced, then stepped toward Eve and placed a hand on her lower back. “Come on, ladies. I think it’s time we got out of here.”
Olivia blew out a long breath and looked his way. “Thank God.”
Thank God. Yeah, Landon could buy into that right now too. Especially here. Especially if it meant this was all finally going to be over for Olivia.
Eve didn’t let go of her sister’s hand as they moved through the vestibule and stepped out into the midmorning light. Landon followed, blinking several times at the bright sunshine. “We’re parked right over here,” Eve said, nodding to her right. “I’m so glad you remembered the church, Liv. When you didn’t show at the airport, I freaked.”
Zane huffed. “That’s an understatement.”
Eve shot Archer a look over her shoulder. “You were as worried as I was.” She looked back at her sister. “He’s all talk.”
To Landon, Zane muttered, “If we’d lost Olivia, I was never gonna get sex again. So thanks for keeping her safe, man.”
One side of Landon’s mouth curled. “You’re welcome.”
They reached the four-door sedan Landon was sure was stolen, and Eve popped the back door for her sister. “We’ll be in the air in a few minutes. Archer?”
Zane pulled out his cell as he climbed behind the wheel. “Already on it. Tony?” he said into his phone. “Yeah, we’re on our way. We want to be wheels up in fifteen.”
Eve slid into the backseat with Olivia, so Landon took the front next to Zane. He glanced down the street ahead, then behind, but saw no signs of the people who’d been chasing them.
“When did you hit trouble?” Zane asked as he pulled away from the curb and made a right.
“On the outskirts of Tortoli.”
“We saw the roadblock,” Eve said from the backseat. “That was meant for you, wasn’t it?”
When Landon nodded, she added, “Someone wants you hurt, Miller, besides me.”
>
“Eve,” Olivia warned next to her sister.
“Shush,” Eve snapped. “This is between him and me.” Eve leaned forward between the front seats as they made another turn and smacked her fist into Landon’s injured shoulder. “What the hell were you thinking? She could have been killed. Again.”
Pain spiraled up Landon’s arm, and he immediately reached for the spot with his right hand, cringing.
“Eve, dammit.” Olivia leaned forward too, pushed her sister aside, and reached for his arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m . . . fine,” he hissed, carefully easing away from Olivia’s tantalizing touch.
Olivia turned a hard glare on her sister. “He got shot protecting me. The least you could do is be a little nice.”
“You wouldn’t need protecting if it weren’t for him.”
Eve was right, and all that guilt Landon had been trying to push away came screaming back. “Wolfe—”
“No,” Olivia snapped, her voice strong and calm, as it had been in the truck when she’d fired his weapon and taken out the tire on that van. “I’m the one who flew out here to surprise him. He had no idea I was on my way. My being involved in all this is not his fault. It was just dumb luck. He didn’t do anything wrong, so stop yelling at him.”
Eve was silent. She met Zane’s gaze in the rearview mirror, glanced at Landon, and then looked back at her sister. “I’m just worried about you, Liv. You scared me.”
“I know,” Olivia said, softer. “But you don’t need to worry. I’m okay. Landon kept me safe. He didn’t hurt me. I don’t blame him for any of this.”
Surprised by her words, Landon turned to glance at Olivia. At her sweet face, her gemlike eyes, all that blonde hair that made her look like an angel. And his chest constricted. Tighter than before. So tight it felt as if his heart was about to burst.
Because he knew now what he’d been feeling in that church. Knew what all those emotions were pummeling him from every side.
He loved her. Loved every part of her. Loved her so much he hurt. Loved—
“Um,” Zane said from the driver’s seat. “I hate to break up this fun-filled family festival, but we’ve got trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” Eve asked, leaning forward between the seats to look out the windshield, her head blocking Landon’s view of Olivia.
“The AK-47 kind,” Zane answered.
Whipping around, Landon spotted the truck ahead and the three men standing in the bed, pointing assault rifles over the cab, right at them. “Fuck me.”
“Fuck us is more like it,” Zane said, cranking on the wheel. “Hold on. We’re about to take a little detour.”
Olivia braced her hand on the door and ducked down in the backseat next to her sister. Could nothing go right? How the heck were these guys tracking them?
The sickeningly familiar click of magazines being snapped into place echoed in the car as Zane whipped the vehicle to the right, then left, and stomped down on the gas.
“I’m almost out,” Landon said from the front seat.
“Take mine.” Eve handed him a big black handgun she’d pulled from somewhere on her body. “I’ve got Olivia.”
Oh God . . . They were going to fire into the city? Hadn’t Landon told her not to do that?
Eve’s arm wrapped around her, and she leaned toward Olivia’s ear. “It’s okay, Liv. We’re almost to the airport.”
The car hit a speed bump and hurled through the air. Zane yelled, “Hold on!”
Olivia’s eyes snapped shut, and she gripped the seat beside her as the wheels slammed against the ground and the entire vehicle jolted. She could hear Eve talking to the pilots on her phone, but she couldn’t make out her sister’s words.
Okay, she’d been wrong. She wasn’t cut out for this kind of stuff. The whole spy-on-the-run thing was so far outside her measly range of normal, she didn’t know what to do. And, dammit, she wanted Landon back here holding her, not her sister. When she was with him, she felt totally safe, even in the middle of car chases and shoot-outs and buildings exploding. Why the heck had he sat in the front?
The car jerked to a jarring stop. Olivia hit the driver’s seat in front of her, then bounced back. Eve pushed her door open and scrambled out. “Come on, Liv. Now is not the time to dawdle. Pick up the pace.”
The door at Olivia’s side popped open before she could scoot across the seat toward her sister. And then Landon was there. His hand closing over Olivia’s, pulling her out of the car, his body warm and solid and real as he tugged her against him, then turned and ushered her toward a plane yards away on the tarmac, the engine already running. “I’ve got you. Come on.”
The fear slid to the wayside. That strength came rushing back. She hurried with him toward the stairs and gripped the handhold as she headed for the open cabin door. Somewhere close, brakes screamed, and voices echoed over the roar of the plane.
“Go, Livy,” he said at her back. “Hustle.”
She stumbled into the plane. Gunshots sounded. She jerked around, afraid he’d been hit again, but he was right at her back, a gun in his hand as he stepped in behind her, followed quickly by Eve and Zane.
Olivia breathed deeply as Zane brought up the stairs and closed the door. Eve rushed toward the cockpit and hollered, “We’re here. Go. Now.”
Landon ushered her toward a seat. They plane was small, posh, with captain’s chairs on one side and a bench seat along the other. She found a seat in the middle and sat. Landon took the window next to her and reached for her seat belt, buckling her in like a child.
Okay, that was a little overkill, but right now, she didn’t care. Her hands were shaking too much from that last run, and she liked having him close. Liked having him take care of her, even if somewhere in the back of her head she knew it wouldn’t last.
Zane and Eve both sat on the bench seat to her right, grappling with their own seat belts. As the plane pulled out onto the runway, Olivia glanced past Landon, out the window, toward the truck racing beside them. Several men stood in the bed, waving their rifles, trying to get the pilots to stop.
Landon’s hand closed over hers on the armrest, and she didn’t think to pull away. She turned her palm over, wrapped her fingers around his, and held on tight as the plane rocketed down the runway.
The force of the liftoff pressed her back into the buttery leather seat, and she closed her eyes, breathing deeper the higher they climbed.
“Well,” Eve said several minutes later, somewhere to Olivia’s right. “That was fun. I need a drink.” The clink of metal echoed as she ripped off her seat belt and pushed to her feet.
Zane chuckled. “I’ll help you, babe.”
The two moved for the back of the small jet, and Olivia opened her eyes and blinked rapidly, but she still didn’t let go of Landon’s hand. Couldn’t.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
Was she? She wasn’t sure. Couldn’t quite process everything just yet. She was thrilled to be out of Sardinia and away from those thugs who’d made their lives a living hell these last few days, but that freedom brought on a new set of worries, ones she thought she’d been prepared for but now realized she wasn’t.
He was leaving. As soon as they got wherever it was they were taking her, Landon planned to disappear. In a matter of hours, he’d be out of her life for good.
“Yeah, I’m . . .” Slowly—because she couldn’t go on touching and relying on him like this, not if he wasn’t sticking around—she pulled her hand from his and swiped her sweaty palm across the thighs of her dirty jeans. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t have to be. You know that, right? It’s okay not to be fine, considering everything we’ve been through.”
Her gaze lifted to his, and she thought back to the tender way he’d held her on the street when she’d started to freak out. To the almost desperate look she’d seen
in his eyes when he’d gazed at her in that church. “Are you? Fine?”
A small smile pulled at his lips, and he shrugged. “Part of the job description. I’m always fine. It’s what I do.”
He wasn’t, though. There was something sad and unsure in his eyes. Something that told her whatever he’d been about to tell her in that church was important. And for whatever reason, she knew it was something she needed to hear.
Her pulse picked up speed, and she licked her lips. “Landon, when we were—”
“Here.” Eve pushed a glass into Olivia’s hands. “Drink. I know you need this more than I do.”
Startled, Olivia looked down at the ice and clear liquid and took a careful sniff. Vodka. Yuck. She held the glass out toward her sister. “I’m fine.”
“Drink it,” Eve said, pushing the glass back and sitting on the bench beside her. “You’ll feel better, trust me.”
Olivia wasn’t in the mood to argue. She downed the inch of liquid, grimaced, and then coughed. Zane handed Landon a bottle of water over her head. “Sorry, no beer.”
“That’s fine.” He uncapped the bottle and handed it to Olivia. “Try some of this.”
Olivia mumbled a thank-you, tipped the bottle back, and drank deeply. When she finally came up for air, Zane was handing Landon another water. She swiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked his way. “You don’t drink?”
“Not the hard stuff.” He uncapped his own bottle and took a long swallow. “Better?”
She nodded and relaxed back into her seat, loving that he always seemed to know what she needed, sometimes even before she did. What was she going to do when he left? Thoughts pinged around in her brain as she looked at his dusty hair, his ripped black shirt, and his dirty pants. God, she was pathetic. She’d just given her sister a diatribe about all the reasons she didn’t need to be coddled, and here she was wanting him to coddle her all over again.