“I’m sorry, baby.” He leaned close and brushed a soft kiss on her lips. “Carstairs was probably aggravated he couldn’t steal you away from me.” Brent froze. “Did you tell him you were interested in someone else?”
Rowan’s cheeks burned. “I did. I didn’t tell him your name, though.”
Remy chuckled. “You ticked him off and pricked at his male pride. Carstairs thinks he’s irresistible to women. I’m glad a beautiful woman shut him down. Good job, sugar.”
“Hey,” Lily called out. “The clowns back here are getting restless.”
“What do you want to do, boss?” Remy asked.
“We’re going hunting.” He raised his voice. “Lily, come to the living room.”
A moment later, she rushed into the room. “What’s the plan?”
“Stay with Rowan. Remy and I are taking these guys down, beginning with the ones in the back.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If we don’t take them down fast enough or if they figure out we’re picking them off, you’ll have company.”
“I’ll handle it.”
He and Remy headed for the hallway. Brent stopped, glanced over his shoulder. “Lily.” He didn’t say anything else.
“No one will hurt her, Brent. You have my word.”
He shifted his gaze to Rowan, his stare intense. Strong emotions roiled in his eyes, probably the same ones welling up in a tidal wave inside her at the thought of him and Remy going into battle.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, making sure her voice was firm. “Come back to me unharmed. I have plans for you.”
Brent grinned and walked to the back of the house with Remy.
Rowan frowned. “How will they leave the house without the men in back seeing them?”
“The bedroom where Brent was sleeping has a window that faces the side of the house and it’s dark over there. Fortress deliberately left it that way in case we needed another escape from the house.”
“Turns out that was a good thing to do. I’m glad Brent and Remy have some safety in the darkness.”
Lily stationed herself by the front window, her gaze scanning the outside. “You’re good for him,” she murmured.
Those simple words warmed Rowan’s heart. “I hope so. He’s amazing. I don’t know what I’d have done without him these last few days.”
The operative grinned. “Tell me how you really feel, Rowan.”
That made her laugh. It felt good to laugh despite the circumstances. “Can’t help it, you know. He captured my heart a long time ago,” she admitted, not that she’d tell Brent Maddox. It was too soon to bare her heart to him, especially since she didn’t know the depth of his feelings. She definitely didn’t want to scare off the man of her dreams.
“Are you serious?”
“You can’t tell?” Rowan grinned. “I must have done a great acting job.”
Lily lifted one shoulder. “I’m not the best at reading other people’s emotions. Interpersonal relationships? Forget it. Remy had to convince me we’d make it as a couple because I was afraid to believe in us. I didn’t think we had a chance. With my lousy background, why would anyone take a risk loving me?”
“I’m more than half in love with Brent. I hope he doesn’t break my heart.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Rowan. He’s just as crazy about you.” She stopped talking abruptly, one hand clenching into a fist.
Rowan scrambled to her knees. “What is it?”
“The clowns in the front yard are moving in.” Lily blew out a frustrated breath. “I can’t let Remy or Brent know because we don’t have our comm systems in place. There wasn’t enough time.”
That didn’t sound good. She could ask Lily for a weapon, positive the operative had a backup piece. Unfortunately, the guys closing in on the house were experts in handling weapons while Rowan was not. Besides, Lily might need the second gun. Rowan needed some kind of equalizer in case Lily needed help. “Is there a baseball bat in the house?”
Lily tossed her a grin before returning her attention to activity outside the window. “Sorry. No bat. I like the way you think, though. Know how to use a gun?”
“Not enough to deal with these guys.” She glanced around the room for something she could use. Looked like her choices were a lamp or a skillet from the kitchen. “Lamp or skillet, Lily?” Those Rowan could wield without a license to carry or training.
Her friend was silent a moment. “Lamp. I don’t want you out of my sight long enough to grab a skillet. The lamp will also give you a slightly longer reach. Be fast and ruthless if you have to use the lamp, Rowan. Don’t second guess yourself. These boys play for keeps and they don’t have a conscience if they’re coming after you for revenge against Brent.”
“Fast and mean. Got it.”
Rowan crawled to the end table and grabbed the ceramic lamp. After taking off the shade and unscrewing the lightbulb, she moved beside Lily. “Are they still moving in?”
“Yep. Ah, man. Here they come. Get in the hallway and stay there.”
“But you might need help.”
“If I need it, you’ll know. Whatever happens, don’t put yourself at risk, Rowan. You’re the grand prize. The only thing these guys have to do to take down Brent is grab you. Don’t let them hurt him.”
“Never.”
“Go,” Lily murmured. Once Rowan ran to the shadowed hall entrance with the lamp, the operative sprinted across the room and dived over the back of the couch. The second she landed on her feet, one of the men kicked the front door open. It slammed against the wall with such force the doorknob sank into the drywall. A man dressed in black ran into the room, rapid-firing his gun.
Lily dropped him with two shots of her own.
At the same time, more gunfire from outside the house shattered the front window. A second man in black dove through the opening and rolled up on this feet, firing at the place where Lily had
