“I’ll do whatever you want me to. You know I’m not going to fight you on that.”
He gave a sharp nod. “Tomorrow we can head back. Data and Giovanni are on this. They’ll figure out what we need to do next.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry ‘bout this, baby.”
“Not your fault. But if I see Jake on the way out, I’m gonna kick him in the balls.”
* * *
Stunner woke to the vibration of his phone on the nightstand. As usual, he was instantly awake. Suzie lay sprawled over him, clutching his chest, her leg draped over his thigh. Thankfully, she still slept.
He picked up the phone. “Yeah,” he said.
“You need to get back to Kentucky. Right fuckin’ now.” That was Cain. He sounded equal parts pissed and worried. Hell, he sounded almost scared. “I’ve got Bohannon, Sword, Viper, and Trucker on the way. Be ready to leave the second they get there.”
“How long?”
“That’s the fuckin’ problem. Gonna take them at least thirteen hours to get there. That’s hard ridin’ and leavin’ Trucker behind with the cage. You may not have that long.”
“Explain.”
“Someone’s put a fuckin’ hit on your fuckin’ ass and a soft hit on Suzie. Kind of a take-her-if-you-see-her kind of thing.”
Everything in Stunner went still. He clutched Suzie closer to him. He’d come so fucking close to complete happiness. Now this. Was his past finally catching up to him? If so, why did it include her? Sure, they could be trying to make him suffer, but if that had been the case, wouldn’t it have been the other way around? Or at least a terminate order on both of them?
“You know who?”
“No. But Data and Zora are working with Giovanni. They’ll figure it out, of that I have no doubt. Once we do, we’ll hit the son of a bitch first, then take out his assassin.”
“I’ve got a big-ass truck. I can load her up and head out in thirty. We’ll meet the boys on the road.”
“That’ll probably be best. You alert enough to do this on your own?”
“Had a couple hours’ sleep already. I can make it until we meet the boys. It will cut down the time we have without an escort in half.”
“Good, then. Let me know the second you’re on the road. You’ve got thirty.”
He packed Suzie’s laptop and a change of clothing before waking her gently. She murmured sleepily, but wrapped her arms around his neck without protest when he lifted her. Thank God the garage was attached to the house so he didn’t have to take her out into the open. Even though it went against what he’d normally do, Stunner put her in the back seat, asleep on her side, and tucked her in with a quilt. He kissed her temple before shutting the door and climbing into the driver’s seat.
The truck he’d brought was a black Ford F-350 dual cab. The extra room should be comfortable enough she would sleep for a few hours. Thank goodness, too, because Stunner had to think.
The question was, who had done this? He could guess the why. But he honestly couldn’t imagine who because he’d never left anyone alive who would come after him or El Diablo. That had been part of his job.
As he headed down the interstate, he cursed himself all kinds of a fool. He’d known something like this would happen. It didn’t matter that he’d taken all the precautions he could, killed everyone he’d had to, he still had no right to put Suzie in this situation. He glanced back at her sleeping form. She looked like an angel laying there. So beautiful. Innocent of the things he’d done in life. She’d never hurt anyone. And she’d been hurt far too much early in life.
Stunner made a vow then. No matter what, he’d eliminate the threat to her, come clean with her father, and take whatever punishment he had to before he left. Then he’d make sure she was never in this kind of danger ever again.
Then he had a thought.
No. No, that couldn’t be right.
Taking out his burner, he called El Diablo himself. The bastard answered on the first ring.
“Wondered when you’d call to tell me to back off.”
“So, did you put out the hit in Salisberry’s name or take it for him?”
“Neither. But I’ve been watching.”
“Well, don’t. I need you to back off.”
Stunner could almost see the other man’s grin. “Now, why would I do that? Someone has to keep an eye on you. You tend to get into trouble without it.”
“Now ain’t the time, motherfucker. Just back the fuck off!”
There was a silence before El Diablo spoke. “You haven’t come clean, have you.” It wasn’t a question. When Stunner didn’t respond, El Diablo continued. “You can always come home. Bring your woman with you. She’ll be welcomed as well.”
“I’ve never asked you for anything. But I’m askin’ you now. Back. Off.”
Before El Diablo could reply, or Suzie could wake up, Stunner snapped his phone shut. No sense tossing it out the window. It was obvious Stunner was headed back to Somerset and the Bones clubhouse. Hell, with El Diablo keeping tabs on him, the bastard probably knew the club was meeting Stunner to escort him and Suzie home.
There was so much rage and frustration pent up inside Stunner, he wanted to yell and pound the steering wheel. Fuck. He wanted to get out and find someone to take out his anger on. Hell, a tree would do. But he couldn’t. He had to put distance between Suzie and Cambridge.
