Resurrection Page 6

  At a subtle scuffing sound and a tingling sensation at the back of her neck, she turned to Mary Grace and held up a finger to her mouth. Then she motioned for her to hide behind the desk. Withdrawing one of her pistols, Skye moved on silent feet to the door of the small office. She peered out a small, glassless window. She couldn’t see anyone on the dusty floor below, but that didn’t mean anything.

  Her instincts were almost never wrong. And they were telling her that she and Mary Grace weren’t alone. Ramirez’s guys were thugs though; they’d have made a shitload of noise if they’d broken into the warehouse.

  So this could be one of Perez’s men. Or maybe just some junkie looking for a place to crash.

  Weapon up, she eased the door open, swept out onto the catwalk that looked over the bottom floor—and came face to face with the man who’d haunted her dreams for the past six months.

  Ah, hell. She sucked in a breath as if she’d been kicked in the solar plexus. Colt love-of-my-life Stuart.

  They faced off with each other in total silence, their pistols aimed at each other. He blinked, recoiled, then tucked his weapon away at the same time she did.

  “Colt,” she whispered, not sure what else to say as she stepped back into the room, mainly because he was advancing on her with too many emotions on his face to read.

  The pain and anger though—yeah, she saw those. And they sliced her up.

  “Oh my gosh, Colt!” Mary Grace popped up from behind the desk, but Skye kept all her focus on the tall, sexy and very, very angry man in front of her. “He’s my friend,” Mary Grace continued.

  “I know who he is,” she whispered again, unable to completely find her voice. How the hell had he found them? Damn it, she’d done some covert checking and he was supposed to be on vacation right now. Somewhere warm with his toes in the sand.

  “You’re alive? You’re alive?” he growled at her, advancing like a predator, apparently not caring about anything else.

  Her heart stuttered. “Colt—”

  He was on her in an instant, his mouth crushing to hers as he threaded his hands through her hair, cupping the back of her skull in a tight grip as he kissed her, hungry, demanding. She gave in to it because this was Colt and she’d gone without his taste for way too long. She bit his bottom lip, moaning into him right before he savagely pulled back from her, putting a solid foot of distance between them. Breathing hard, he stared down at her, his chest rising and falling erratically, his expression one of utter betrayal.

  He opened his mouth once, snapped it shut, then turned away from her, raking a hand through his military-short dark hair. He had a little facial scruff going on though, and damn, it was sexy. Everything about him was. Seeing him ripped off the pathetic little Band-Aid she’d put on her heart when she’d faked her death, leaving behind him and the life they’d started to create. The joy at seeing him in person, being able to touch him, battled with the terror at what this might mean for him now that he knew the truth.

  “Mary Grace,” Colt murmured, moving around the desk at the same time the other woman did. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m more than okay.” She went into his arms for a hug and he squeezed tight. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Stepping back, he looked down at Mary Grace, and Skye drank in every mouthwateringly sexy line of him. Over six feet, no fat on him anywhere, he was hard and muscular, though he seemed leaner than the last time she’d seen him.

  “We’re going to get you out of here…” He turned to Skye again, his jaw tightening and his eyes turning to ice. “You better have a damn good reason why you faked your fucking death!”

  She hated seeing the coldness in his expression but locked down her own emotions. They didn’t matter. “Colt, we can’t do this right now. We’ve got to get out of here, get her on a plane.”

  He stalked back to her until they were toe to toe. “I’ve been mourning you until this very moment. Tell me why you did this.”

  The guilt almost smothered her, making it difficult to drag in a full breath. “I can’t.” Because if she did, the man who wanted her dead would go after Colt. He’d rip apart Colt, his family, anyone Colt loved. Because that monster would want to hurt her. She had no one, so he’d been unable to threaten her family. But he had been able to target Colt. With her dead, he’d had no reason to go after Colt. Considering her tormentor had been close to Colt and was just as trained as she and Colt were, she hadn’t been willing to risk the life of the man she loved. So she’d done what she’d had to.

  Colt rolled his shoulders once, his expression harder than she’d ever seen it. “Oh, you’ll tell me. First we’ve got to get Mary Grace out of here. I’ve got a pilot on standby about fifteen minutes from here.”

  She let out a small sigh, glad she wouldn’t have to reach out to her Border Patrol contact. She’d also have to let her other contact know his services weren’t necessary, but only after she saw Mary Grace and Colt get on a plane. Skye turned to Mary Grace, who was watching her with wide eyes. “Tell your husband I’m sorry I didn’t fly with you to Corpus Christi, but I’ll stay until you get on the plane. Colt will make sure—”

  “If you think for one second I’m letting you out of my sight, you’re out of your mind.” Colt’s voice was quiet, deadly. “We’re going to get on that plane with her together.”

  No way. “I can’t. David Ramirez thinks she killed his father. I’m going to set up a meeting with him.” David might be scum, but he wasn’t a psycho. He was still a businessman and he had to know that Mary Grace had nothing to gain and everything to lose by killing Arturo. Still, Skye wanted to meet with him, give him all the info Mary Grace had saved, including the vials of blood.

  Colt let out a curse, turned away from both of them and rubbed a hand over his head. He’d always done that when he was trying to figure out the best plan of action. A moment later he swiveled back to face them. “We’ll put her on the plane together. My pilot will get her to Corpus Christi, no problem. You and I will set up a meet with Ramirez together.”

  “Not happening.”

  “You need backup.”

  “No, I need you to use your head.” Apparently he was determined to piss her off.

  “Oh, I am. You’re not leaving my side. If you do I’ll broadcast your whereabouts to every US government agency.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.”

  She didn’t think he actually would, but she’d never seen him like this. “I should put a bullet in you right now, you stubborn jackass.”

  “Good. I’ll have a scar to match the last time you stabbed me,” he snapped, his big body vibrating with anger.

  “That was in training and it was an accident!”

  “Sweet baby pandas, you two are insane,” Mary Grace muttered. “Can we please get the heck out of here now?”

  “Yes,” Skye said. “And stop stressing her out, she’s growing a person inside her!”

  Colt practically jumped as he turned toward his childhood friend. “You’re pregnant?”

  Mary Grace nodded, gave a hesitant smile. “Three months.”

  He cursed again, then started pulling his short-sleeved, sand-colored tactical shirt off. It took Skye all of two seconds to realize what he was doing.

  Her chest squeezed when he pulled off his bulletproof vest and handed it to Mary Grace. Of course he would do that, because his heart was so damn big. “It’ll be large on you, but put it on under your shirt.”

  “Colt, I can’t take this.” Mary Grace shook her head. “You need it.”

  “I’ll step out while you change.” His green gaze snapped to Skye. “And you’re coming with me.”

  She wasn’t intimidated by him. Just worried about what he’d do now that he’d found out she was alive. He wouldn’t tell anyone, but he was likely to do something stupid. Like try to help her or not let her go, putting himself in danger.

  Because arguing would be pointless and they needed to get the hell out of there, Sk
ye went with him. “You can come with me,” she said as they stepped out onto the catwalk. “But you can’t let anyone know I’m alive. Mary Grace said she won’t tell anyone what I look like, and she doesn’t know my real name. When I meet with Ramirez I’ll change up my look.” Being this close to him was pure torture, a reminder of what she couldn’t have.

  “First, you’re not meeting with him. I am. Second, what the fuck? Seriously, what the ever loving fuck?” The pain in his eyes made her glance away, out over the stale nothingness of the warehouse floor.

  She was weak for not being able to witness all that raw emotion, but he’d made her weak from the moment they’d met. All cocky and obnoxious and…hers. God, their first time had been after a mission in some remote hut in the jungle. It had been wild, intense, and she’d never been able to get enough of him. He’d gotten into her system, into her blood, and he was it for her. Walking away from him once had almost killed her. Doing it a second time surely would. But if it kept him safe, it was worth it.

  Mary Grace pulled the door open, adjusting her shirt over the vest, which was indeed too big on her small frame. “Hopefully I won’t need this thing, but I’m ready.”

  “Good. What are you guys driving?” he asked.

  “Stolen vehicle,” Skye said.

  “Me too. My guy knows what I’m driving, so we’ll take mine. Mary Grace, you can lie in the back seat and…you’ll be in the front,” he said to Skye, carefully avoiding her name. Something she was grateful for.

  It didn’t take long to get to his car and load up. Skye didn’t want to drag him into this with her, but if she argued it wouldn’t go well. He’d just follow her, so they’d have to meet with Ramirez, make sure Mary Grace was safe from misguided revenge, and then she’d convince Colt to let her go. And not tell anyone she was alive.

  “This is surreal. I never thought I’d see Mercer again. Thank you guys,” Mary Grace said from the back seat as Colt steered onto the road.

  “He’s been a mess without you,” Colt murmured, ever alert as he scanned the other drivers on the road.

  “I would have been a wreck if I’d thought he was dead too.”

  Skye winced and looked out the window. The small town flashed by her in a blur as he drove. Though she knew she should be focusing, the neutral-colored buildings, some with graffiti, all flew by, blending into a blur of colors and shapes. There was a cartel war going on now and the criminal activity in this region was on an epic level. But it was clear Colt was sticking to the main roads, which should keep them relatively safe. Trickles of rain started drizzling against the window, the patter smarter to focus on than the man beside her.

  “Why’d you go after her?” Colt asked a few moments later.

  As if she was a puppet and he controlled her strings, Skye turned to look at him. “I remembered her name from all the stories you told me. Her death, along with all those doctors and civilians, made the news. I wasn’t sure if it was even true, if she was alive, but I got a tip that the cartel had a female doctor from that massacre still alive…” She paused. “I wanted to do this for you. I know how much she means to you.”

  “Damn it. You make me crazy. I’ve literally never wanted to simultaneously fuck and shake sense into someone.”

  She looked out the window again. “You were never supposed to know.”

  He grumbled under his breath as he took another turn.

  “What airport are we headed to?”

  “Not a real one. And we’re using my friend’s plane.”

  “Friend, or asset?” Skye asked.

  “Friend.”

  Well, that made a difference. And if Colt trusted the pilot to get Mary Grace to Corpus Christi, she would too.

  “So…you’re definitely CIA, Colt,” Mary Grace said from the back, breaking through the awkward silence after a couple minutes. “I freaking knew it. I knew you weren’t an accountant! That’s the lamest cover ever.” Before either of them could respond, she continued. “And you, whatever your name is, you faked your own death? That’s Lifetime movie kind of stuff. But if you did it, I’m sure you had a good reason. You should go easier on her, Colt.”

  Colt frowned. “What the hell, MG?”

  “She saved my life because she knew what I meant to you. Pretty sure I’m going to make her my new best friend. I’m also pretty sure Mercer is going to kick your ass for not bringing him down here with you.”

  “He already got in a few good shots before I left.”

  Skye didn’t respond, just listened as the two of them continued to banter back and forth. Their conversation was ridiculous but she understood that Mary Grace probably needed to talk or go crazy. She’d be on a plane to see her husband soon, and had to be close to her breaking point. Skye knew that once Mary Grace saw Mercer, once she was safe on American soil, she’d probably let go of any and all control. She’d probably end up sleeping for days.

  A tiny part of Skye was actually jealous of that. She didn’t have the luxury to let go.

  When Colt turned down another road, mountains stretched out far in front of them, but not a soul in sight. “We’re close,” he said.

  Skye automatically tensed, pulling out her weapon even though there was no danger to be seen. They were so damn close to getting the doctor off to safety, she didn’t want to let her guard down.

  “Is everything okay?” Mary Grace asked, her voice tight. Even though she was lying down, she still had a decent visual of Skye and Colt in the front seat.

  “We’re good. I’m just being prepared.”

  Skye scanned the rocky, mountainous expanse of land as Colt turned down another road. As they neared the turnoff into a warehouse that boasted a huge sign for helicopter rentals, she frowned. “I thought you were flying her into Corpus Christi.” A chopper wouldn’t make it that far.

  “You can sit up now,” he said to Mary Grace, who instantly popped up. “And my guy—Brooks’s father’s pilot—will get you across the border into Laredo. From there he’ll fly you into Corpus Christi via plane. I wanted to get you across the border and onto American soil the quickest way. This will only be a forty-five minute flight, and then you’ll officially be in the US. This company isn’t bothered by anyone because of…reasons.”

  Skye nearly snorted, not needing him to explain. No doubt whoever ran this company helped out the US and Mexico alike. They probably ran illegal shit into the US, and helped the US out by giving information on drug runners, but she didn’t care as long as the pilot got Mary Grace to safety.

  As Colt steered into a parking lot with only two vehicles in it, Skye zipped up her light parka and twisted her hair up before pulling on a plain ball cap. Then she slid sunglasses on despite the overcast day. “You want me to come with you?” she asked as he parked.

  “No, I’ll make sure she gets on. And if you leave without me, I’ll hunt you down.” He tossed the words over his shoulder without bothering to look in her direction as he got out of the car.

  She knew he meant every one of them too. Even though she was tempted to leave, she couldn’t do that to him. Not now. It would be stupid and unnecessary. Especially since she needed to convince him to let her remain “dead.”

  Taking her by surprise, Mary Grace lunged at her from the back seat, giving her an awkward hug from behind. Skye patted her arm, feeling uncomfortable. She didn’t have many female friends. Only a couple really. And overall, she didn’t have many friends, period. And her family hadn’t been huggers. “Stay safe.”

  “Thank you,” Mary Grace murmured. “Once you and Colt fix what’s between you, you’re coming to meet my husband. And he’s going to feed you more food than you can imagine.” She squeezed tight one more time before sliding out of the back seat.

  Skye watched as her new friend and Colt hurried into the wide open rolling door of the hangar, disappearing from sight—and wondered what the hell she was going to do about this thing with Colt. Because even once they straightened out this mess with Ramirez—and she was hopeful they
would—she wasn’t sure how the hell to convince him to let her walk away.

  Deep down, she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to do it again.

  Chapter 6

  —If she doesn’t scare you a little, she’s not the one.—

  Colt was walking a dangerous edge as he drove with Skye through the mountains. They hadn’t said much over the past couple hours, though he wanted to. He wanted to grill her about where she’d been, why she’d lied to him and who the hell wanted to hurt her. Because there was no way she’d have faked her death without a damn good reason.

  Yeah, he was pissed, but he knew she still had a reason. And he was going to hear it.

  “You have contacts with Ramirez?” Skye was the first to speak since watching that helo lift off, Mary Grace safely onboard.

  “No. I’m going to reach out to him myself.”

  “We’re doing this together,” she snapped. “I started this, and I’m finishing it. Where do you want to hole up?”

  “I’ve got a safe house about ten miles from the outskirts of the compound. But we’re not going there. He’ll be gone by now.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Chatter.”

  “Where is he?”

  Colt lifted a shoulder. If he didn’t tell her, she couldn’t run from him. And he wasn’t certain she wouldn’t do just that when the time was right. He wasn’t losing her a second time.

  “Seriously, you’re not going to tell me?”

  He shot her a sideways glance before turning back at the road. Looking at her almost hurt. Her long, auburn hair was pulled back in a tight braid against her head. Since they’d left Mary Grace she’d pulled it out from her ball cap and just had on sunglasses. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see her eyes—he knew what they looked like, had stared into them as she’d ridden him, as he’d ridden her. It had been six months since she’d “died.”

  Six months he’d been in agony.

  “You’re so frustrating,” she muttered as she double-checked the weapons she had strapped to her person, including her pistol, a couple blades and a bit of C4 tucked into one of the pockets of her cargo pants.