Lies(47)

“You think it’ll make a difference?”

“Everything we can do to come out on top is worth trying. If this gives us an extra moment or two before they know where we’re firing from, then, yeah, it could make a difference.”

I nod. “That makes sense.”

“Glad you approve.”

Oh. My. God. He’s making a tiny smirk and it’s the absolute cutest. Man, I have it bad. My stomach does some intense swooping thing. Like my nerves needed any more help. I rub my sweaty palms on the sides of my jeans. Pretty sure I had more game in middle school than I have now.

Inside, the house is all shadows. Only a few lights strategically placed down low are on. If you didn’t know better, you’d think the place was deserted. Which is exactly the image we’re going for. We’ve been reorganizing the furniture to cover exits or slow down anyone trying to gain entrance via the doors and windows.

All of us have done our best to help turn the cottage into a fort. And while movie montages involving prep for battle are usually exciting, I’m here to tell you they’re not. There was no dynamic music for starters, and my back hurts from lugging a jade coffee table into position. In truth, the whole getting-organized-before-the-big-action-scene thing is actually just really hard work.

“What’s wrong?” he asks. “You haven’t changed your mind about being here, have you?”

“Huh? No, not at all.”

He exhales in relief. Guess getting me out this late in the day would be a big problem. I am, however, sticking by his side.

“But I, ah…I have something to tell you,” I say.

At this, he sets down the tool, giving me his complete attention. And not that this isn’t an important moment and all, but I can’t help be distracted by how he looks. Thom wears a black long-sleeved Henley under a bulletproof vest like nobody’s business. All of the rippling of muscles in his arms, care of the way the fabric lovingly molds to his body, is awe inspiring. My hormones do a giddy dance. I basically just want to plant my face in the middle of his chest and hide for a while. Maybe forever. But I’m a woman on a mission.

“Okay.” He crosses his arms. “I’m listening. Then, after you’ve said your thing, you need to go put on your vest and stay in the basement with Helene.”

“Right, I’ll do that. But what I wanted to say is…” Honest to God, I’m about to tell him. About to say the big L word to someone outside of my immediate friends and family for the very first time.

Only, then I see a little black thingy discreetly tucked into his ear.

“Thom, can other people hear this conversation?”

“They’re not interested in listening to us.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Just then, his gaze shoots to heaven and he holds a hand up to his ear. “Shut up, Bear. Go shit in the woods or something.”

Chuckles drift down through the hole in the window. I think they’re coming from a northerly direction. As in, above our heads. “Is that Crow up on top of the house?”

“Yeah. We’re getting into position just in case.”

“Can you possibly turn that thing off for a minute?”

“Sorry, babe. Just a sec.” He does the slightly furrowed brow thing well too. “Thank you, Fox. I’m aware there’s no time for fornicating just now. But I do appreciate your feedback.”

“Fornicating?”

Thom shakes his head. For all his “there’s no friends in this business” rhetoric, the man clearly enjoys having people he trusts and likes at his back. Which is nice. “Sorry. Apparently we’re all reverting to twelve-year-old humor to alleviate tension. What were you going to say?”

And I have an audience. A big fucking audience for my big fucking feelings. My stomach pretty much falls through the floor. “Oh. Um. Later is fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It can wait.” Because as much as I like his friends, there’s no way I’m vowing my eternal love to him under these conditions. Especially with them all in such a comedic mood. Nope. Not going to happen. The coward in me rises, once again victorious. Ugh.

Suddenly, there’s the pop pop pop of gunfire.

The window where Thom was standing shatters. He’s already in motion. His arm swings out to tackle me, taking us both to the ground. Holy hell.

“Confirmed contact, I know,” he responds to whoever is talking to him through the earpiece. “Tell me you’ve got eyes on them…multiple hostiles. Roger that.”

He quiets and listens, his body half on top of mine and his arm around me tight. From overhead comes the sound of Crow returning fire. And from one of the kitchen windows facing the waterfront, Fox does the same. Bear is outside somewhere, no doubt doing his part. But it would sure as hell seem they’ve got us surrounded.

“Crawl toward the stairs on your elbows and knees, babe,” says Thom, picking up a rifle. “Stay low. I want you in the basement with the bulletproof vest on now. Go.”

Shards of glass cut into my arms through my long-sleeved T-shirt, but I do my best to ignore them and hustle my ass out of there. The thought of leaving Thom sucks. I 100 percent hate it. However, I follow orders like a good recruit/fiancée.

As I crawl along there’s more blasts and bangs and other assorted noises from various weapons coming from both inside and outside the house. People are damn well shooting at us. Again. And it’s way worse than the time in the hotel room. It deafening, like hail is pelting the house or we’re caught up in a tornado or something. People are actually trying to wipe us off the face of the earth and I’m terrified they’re going to succeed. My blood is pounding in my ears, adrenaline pouring through my body. But we are not going to die. Everything is going to be fine. At least, I really fucking hope so.