Delta Salvation (Phantom Force, Book 1) (9 page)

The blond shut the door and she recognized the danger she was in. Two larger than life men in military fatigues had walked right past the security of the car park, past the front desk lady, who admittedly wasn’t very attentive, and up to her little cubicle. She’d not only voluntarily took her purse and walked away with the two men, they looked very official and intimidating. Alexa couldn’t imagine anyone stopping to question them if they took the new girl out, even if she was protesting loudly. What was the saying? Out of the frying pan and into the fire?

She had to keep her senses about her, and try to get out of this situation alive. Having survived two terrible attacks, surely she hadn’t made it out of them, only to be killed now.

“We aren’t here to kill you damn it,” Kai growled.

Did she say that out loud? “How the heck am I supposed to believe that? You come in like two beasts, drag me back here demanding answers to things I don’t know, and then tell me I’m to go with you. Like that should make me have the feel goods.” She sniffed, wiping her arm across her nose and hating that she was too scared to reach into her purse for a napkin.

“I’m truly sorry for scaring you, and for what it’s worth, you’re safer with us, than left here. If what you’re saying is true, then you could be a target. Jase Tyler used to be one of our team members, and for some reason you are on his radar. Now, we could leave you here, and hope we’re wrong, but in my experience, I haven’t been wrong often.” Kai folded his massive arms over his chest. In his cargo pants and tan T-shirt with the huge knife strapped to his thigh along with the black belt holding a multitude of weapons around his waist, he made a very intimidating picture.

Tay grunted, making her eyes jerk to his. She saw an odd expression flash in his blue orbs, then it was gone in an instant. Both men wore matching outfits, but Kai was darker, more, in her mind. She thought it was because he was the leader.

“So, are you coming willingly, or do I need to knock you out and carry you like a sack of potatoes? Trust me, I’ve carried men out of war-torn countries on my shoulders for miles, and never broke a sweat. I won’t have a problem doing it to you through a busy office. Besides, Tay says your co-workers might find it romantic if they think I’m a suitor.”

Alexa was sure her jaw was hanging open. “Are you saying I’m fat?”

Kai unfolded his arms. “Where the hell did you get that idea?”

Tay shrugged his shoulders. “You’ve got me, captain. You dug that hole, I’ll let you get yourself out of it.”

“You just said carrying a man for miles was no problem, so carrying me for a short distance wouldn’t be. Hence, I must be fat.” She poked him in the chest, feeling the rock hard pecs beneath her finger. “That is rude, buddy.”

“I didn’t mean it that way, I was just pointing out I could and would do it without a problem. You are so far from...what I mean to say is, I think your form is perfect.” He grabbed her finger, holding it between his own.

She could feel the warmth of his body in that one touch. “Well next time think before you talk.”

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

The way Kai’s lips kicked up at the corners let her know he was fighting a smile, and she swore he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Hands down, he was gorgeous from his dark hair and eyes, to his ripped body. She wondered if she could wrap both hands around one of his biceps, and knew she couldn’t.

“I need to tell my supervisor I’m leaving. I don’t want to lose my job on my first day. Oh god, what if I get fired? I can’t get fired.” Standing so close she inhaled Kai’s scent, panic setting in.

“You won’t get fired. I’ll make sure your boss is taken care of,” Kai swore.

“We need to move,” Tay said looking at his phone.

Alexa had forgotten about the other man as she was almost on top of Kai. Her hand was still clasped in Kai’s and felt heat crawl up her cheeks. “Sorry,” she muttered taking a step back. The chair behind her made her stumble, but Kai’s quick reflexes kept her on her feet.

“Easy. When we walk out of here, I want you between Tay and I. I’ll lead, with Tay taking up the rear. I don’t want you to look around. Keep your eyes on my back, and don’t speak to anyone. Try to look relaxed, and normal. Can you do that? When we reach the garage, I want you to stay with Tay while I look around to make sure it’s safe to come out. Follow all my orders without question. Got it?” He tipped her chin up to his face.

“What if someone talks to me?” Alexa bit her lip.

“Do you know anyone yet?”

She thought about it and shook her head.

Kai nodded. “Then nobody should stop to chat. If they do, then smile and say you are heading out for lunch. I’ll do the rest of the talking. Just smile and agree with what I say.”

She sucked in a breath and prayed she could do as they told her. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Tay patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ve done this before.”

“You’ve kidnapped a woman from her office?”

“Yep,” Tay said.

Alexa wasn’t sure if he was serious and was too nervous to ask.

“I just sent an email to her boss. He is in a meeting, but his secretary has replied with an okay.” Tay opened the door, looking both ways before holding it for Kai.

It was surreal and a little like she was in a movie. She wasn’t sure if it was a horror flick, but she was sure she wasn’t cut out to be a heroine.

“Come on, we got you.” Kai reached for her hand.

His reassuring touch did funny things to her.

Chapter Five

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K
ai looked around for signs of his team, wondering where Coyle was. He knew Oz had been shot and that Sully had gone with him. The other team was an unknown. Dex, Hailey and Mad were somewhere, and he didn’t trust any of them. He and Tay had purposely made it sound and look as though they were alone as they’d come into the building. Whoever had shot Oz would think they only had two men left to take out. Big mistake. Coyle was just like his name, coiled and ready to strike at any given moment. Kai could feel his teammate watching, waiting, ready to pounce when needed.

They made it to the reception desk, the young woman was on the phone again, her conversation animated. Kai’s ears picked up her side of the conversation, but he didn’t take for granted it was one hundred percent real. His life depended on being cynical. He watched her eyes dart to the side, looking at them without turning her head. Using his right hand, he signaled to Tay, letting him know she was communicating with someone.

He pressed the button to the elevator, then decided to take the stairs. Having his back to the open area, and not knowing who could be coming out of one of the three enclosures made them sitting ducks.

“Damn, I could use some exercise. How about you?” Kai strode toward the stairs, not waiting for his companions to agree, keeping Alexa’s hand in his.

Inside the stairwell, he turned to Tay. “This is a clusterfuck of epic proportions. They’ll be expecting us to go down. Do you have the layouts of the building?”

“There’s a rooftop with a place for employees to get some fresh air and shit. We could easily get down from there if she’s not scared of heights, however, I don’t think it would go unnoticed as this building is all glass.” Tay pointed out.

Mind made up, Kai started down. “Stay right behind me. I need both hands free, but if you need to hold onto my shirt go ahead. If we encounter anyone, just hug the wall.”

“I’m scared.”

Alexa’s whisper hit him in his solar plexus. He’d been in the military for too long he’d forgotten what it felt like to be scared. Seen countless faces of men, women, and children with fear etched on their dirt streaked expressions. Yet, hearing true worry on the woman he was forcing into a situation that could very well end her life, made him stop in his tracks. “On my honor, I’ll protect you with my life.”

She swallowed audibly. “I’ll try not to scream.”

They reached the bottom level, and his internal radar was perking up.

“Stay here with Tay. I’m going to scope out the situation. If I’m not back in five, you take her back out the front, make all kinds of noise and get attention. You feel me?” Kai met Tay’s eyes.

“I’ve got your six, Cap.”

Kai slipped out the door, knowing there were probably eyes on them. He’d saw cameras in the stairwell as they’d come down. The over fifteen minutes of wasted time it had taken to get Alexa to agree to go with them, gave their enemies a heads up, but Kai had faith in himself and Tay. Once he was sure their vehicle hadn’t been tampered with, he motioned for Tay and Alexa to come out. They’d taken a couple steps, when the sound of feet shifting off to his right had him throwing Alexa onto the concrete floor. He rolled so he took the brunt of the fall. A bullet whizzed past his shoulder by mere inches. He gave the woman in his arms credit when she didn’t scream, her body going with his, allowing him to maneuver them further into the protection of another vehicle.

“How many shooters, Tay?” Kai was sure he’d only heard the echo from one, but several shots had been fired at him and Alexa as he’d rolled, one had hit his thigh, but he didn’t let it slow him.

“Just the one I think. I’m going to lay out a line of fire. Get Alexa to the rig. I’m right behind you.”

More gunshots rang out. If Kai didn’t think the authorities were aware something was going on, they would be soon. He heard a grunt, and hoped like hell it wasn’t Tay who’d been hit. “I need you to stay low, and follow me. See that black Hummer?” At her nod, he continued. “That’s our car. I’m going to need you to get in and do it quick. Feel me?”

Big scared eyes blinked up at him. “Yeah. I can do that.”

“Good girl. Let’s go. Stay low.” He tucked her hand into the back of his pants. He had a feeling she needed something to hang onto.

Reaching the driver’s side, Kai opened the back door and lifted Alexa into the back, then got into the front. He fired the engine, exhaling when Tay jumped into the passenger seat. “Yeehaw. I think I got the fucker, but I’m sure it was just a surface wound.”

More shots rang out, pinging off their rig as he roared out of the garage. “At least we won’t owe JoJo for windows. Smart man getting a bullet proof vehicle. Make contact with Oz. I need to know how he’s doing and where he’s at.”

“I’m assuming we aren’t going back to the apartment building?”

Kai looked at Tay, his eyes narrowed. “This is much larger than we’d thought.”

“Sweets, can you hand me my laptop?” Tay turned in his seat.

“I want to go home now please.” Her voice broke.

“You’re doing great, Alexa.” Kai looked at her in the rearview mirror. “Just a little longer and we’ll have you somewhere safe.”

Fuck, he didn’t know how to tell her he had no idea where that somewhere was at the moment. An image of Rowan’s hunting cabin popped into his head. Their former team member could be counted on, and Kai was sure he wasn’t using the place. He was also sure Jase Tyler wouldn’t know about the cabin. They needed to dump the vehicle they were in and get one that wasn’t potentially tagged by the traitor.

“Contact Rowan. I think he and his new family can help us out.”

Tay dialed Rowan, putting the phone on speaker. “This is Shade, and this had better be an emergency. I’m busy making babies.”

“Oh my gawd, you can’t answer the phone like that.” A woman’s high pitched voice interrupted Rowan.

“The hell I can’t. We were busy. What’s up, boys?” Rowan’s deep voice asked.

Kai laughed. “It’s good to know you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Tell Lyric I said hello.”

“She can hear you. What did I tell you about flirting with my wife?” Rowan laughed at something Lyric must’ve done.

“We got a problem,” Kai said then explained in a few short sentences what they needed. He waited for Rowan to ask questions, not surprised when none came.

“I’ll have a vehicle waiting for you at the gas station outside of town with the keys to my cabin inside. You’ll need to stop and get some groceries and shit. Other amenities are all stocked up.”

“I’m going to leave this rig there. Can you have someone look it over and tell me if there’s a tracker on it?”

Rowan’s deep chuckle had Kai missing him on their team. “Y’all don’t even know what I have available here. Kellen and Xan have a garage that tricks out custom cars and shit. You should see their Knight XV Urban Assault vehicles. I want one.”

Kai was sure he heard Rowan whimper. “Now that you’re a civilian get yourself one. Thanks for doing this. I’ll repay you.”

“Of course you will. Alright, I got to get off here. If you need me to get you square, holler.”

The line went dead before he could find out anything more. “He’ll hook us up.”

“You need a medic?” Tay indicated the blood on Kai’s leg.

Looking down, Kai dismissed the injury. “I’ll deal with it when we stop.”

A gasp from the backseat pulled his attention to the woman they’d commandeered, or kidnapped from the Steinem building. She’d been a trooper, but he could see the glassy look in her eyes, and was sure she was in a state of shock. The petite young woman had been through a lot in her young life. He’d read her file. At twenty-seven years of age she’d been beaten to near death, then held for weeks in a compound with a crazy woman after being chased down by the same bastard who’d nearly killed her. Now, she was being targeted again, and he didn’t know why. Was she in Jase’s sights because of her time at the compound, or something else?

Whatever the reason, Kai couldn’t let her out of protection, or guard, until they figured out what was going on.

“Hey, it’s nothing. I’ve had worse when I’ve shaved on the field.” He tried to put her at ease.

“I’m so tired of blood and gore. Just damn tired.” She closed her eyes.

He could see exhaustion lining her features, wanted to wrap her up in his arms and tell her it would be over tomorrow, but didn’t want to lie.

“Close your eyes. You’re safe, luv.” Tay stared at him as he murmured the endearment, but he ignored his teammate.

Even before he finished talking she’d leaned her head back and closed her eyes. He kept his focus on the road in front of him, and the traffic behind him.