“Seems simple enough,” Jax said.
Aric leaned on the table. “Which is usually when we need to worry.”
All too true. There was a weighty pause.
“We carrying?” Ryon asked.
“Personal choice, as always,” Nick told him. “Some of you have abilities that more than make up for lack of a gun, so use your judgment.”
Hammer, Nick, and Ryon were the only ones who opted for man-made firepower this time around. The rest, Jax included, preferred to rely on their own talents. To the skeptic, Jax would retort that they’d been carrying M-16s in Afghanistan and it hadn’t made a goddamned bit of difference to the pack of rogue shifters who slaughtered them. They might as well have been using flyswatters.
“We doing this tonight?” Aric asked their boss.
“No reason to wait. We’ll head out at midnight; after Aric and Ryon secure the roof, we should be ready to take the building by one.” Nick checked his watch. “It’s almost nine. Everybody try to get some rest. You’ll need it.”
Mac and Melina took a bedroom, Kira another. Some of the team spread out on the sofas and the floor, and some sat at the tables, or paced. Jax and Nick were among those who couldn’t sleep, and so they leaned against the counters in the small kitchenette talking in quiet tones. Something about Nick’s demeanor struck him as off, but he couldn’t put his finger on what.
“What’s bothering you, Nicky?”
The man gave him a long, searching look, but shook his head. “Just thinking about tonight. Strategizing.”
“It’s more than that.” An awful thought occurred him. “We’re going to get our asses kicked, is that it?”
“Not exactly.”
“Come on, don’t give me that shit,” Jax said irritably. “Tell me what’s going to happen.”
“You know I can’t do that, Jax. I don’t know everything, and even if I did—”
“I know. You can’t interfere with free will. You can’t change the future.” Damn, this burned.
“It’s not that I’m not allowed, it’s that I
“We’re going to fail tonight.” A ball formed in his gut.
“Define failure.”
“Meaning we’re not going to accomplish every task we set out to do.”
“Does anyone?”
“Damn it, Nick!”
“What do you want me to say?” He was getting angry, probably because he hated carrying his burden and was torn by the knowledge.
“Tell me if we’re going to lose anyone,” Jax hissed, grabbing the front of the man’s shirt in his fist.
Nick’s silence, the anguish on his normally hard features, told him all he needed to know. Slowly, Jax released his grip and sagged against the counter.
“Who? Is it me?”
His boss met his gaze, jaw clenching, obviously waging war with himself. Finally he pushed from the counter. “I’m sorry. Just watch your back tonight, okay?”
Cold numbed him to his toes. “You’ll look after Kira if something happens to me. Promise.”
“You know I’ll take care of anyone in my fold. You have my word.” For a few seconds, he debated saying more, then walked out of the kitchen.
What would Kira do after he was gone?
Heart heavy, he went to the bedroom where his mate napped so peacefully. So pretty and innocent in sleep. His angel.
If they were alone, he’d make love to her until they had to leave. As it was, he contented himself with holding her in his arms, settling her head on his chest. Cuddling was loving, too, just as much as sex.
He kissed the top of her blond head. “I love you, baby. Always.”
Mumbling, she snuggled closer. He counted himself a lucky man.
For a few more hours, he’d have everything he’d never known he wanted, until it was too late.
It would have to last an eternity.
Nick and Jax were acting weird.
As the team got ready to move just before midnight, Kira watched the two men speaking only when necessary, avoiding looking at each other directly. A couple of times, though, she caught the boss staring at her or Jax when he thought they weren’t aware. Several times she tried to get one of them alone to learn the source of the tension, but with all the activity around them, it was impossible.
The most she and her sexy mate managed was a quick kiss as they left the suites behind and headed for the vans. In the parking garage, they divided into the same two groups riding together as before, and were off in a matter of minutes.
Jax clutched her hand for the short ride. No one spoke. The nicer, chic area north of Dallas soon gave way to the sparse, depressing run-down south side, with its haphazard mix of old apartment units, single frame homes, and businesses. Kira could see why Chappell and his goons would move at least part of their operation to this location—nobody in their right mind would want to hang out in this place. Even the police.
Hammer pulled onto a side street, parked right behind the first van, and said a quick prayer. “Lord, please watch over our tires and rims. Amen.”
Jax and his friends snorted with laughter, and Kira smiled at the grim humor. Hammer never had too much to say, but when he did, it was either really funny, or really important. In this case, it was both.
She climbed out after Jax and he swept her into a prolonged hug, holding her against him as though he never wanted to let her go. A barrage of his emotions hit her at once—fear, regret, anger, and most of all, love. Pulling back, she searched his face, but his expression revealed nothing of the turmoil below the surface. She opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, but he cut her off.
“Stay here and stay safe with Melina and Mac,” he said. “I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.”
His kiss eliminated any further protest. She told herself she was worrying for no reason. His powers had returned and this wasn’t his first rodeo. The whole team was there to watch one another’s backs. Her mate would be fine.
He would.
“I’ll be waiting,” she said softly. “I love you.”
“I love you more.” His mouth quirked into a grin and then he turned to join his team.
As the hottest group of men she’d ever laid eyes on started out for their destination, the one who owned her heart gave her a wink over his shoulder.
Then he vanished into the night.
“Hey, he’ll be okay,” Mac said, putting an arm around her shoulder.
“Something’s wrong.” The words were wrenched from her soul. She’d never been so certain of anything.
“Trust him. You’ll be snuggled together by dawn, after this is all over.”
“Mac, I feel cold,” she said quietly. “I just watched the love of my life walk away and I didn’t do anything to stop him.”
“But, honey, you couldn’t have. Those guys are closer than brothers and where one goes, they all go. You might as well get used to it.”
“I know. I’m sure I will, eventually.” She gave Mac a brave smile, but wasn’t feeling it. This op was big trouble. She could feel it in her bones.
Bad shit was going down, and she wouldn’t relax until Jax was safely in her arms again.
