Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(25)

“Axel and Seth, with me. We’re going out on the roof.”

Blair nodded. “Rest of us will be outside, and deal with crowd control.”

Lachlan nodded and looked for the nearest stairwell. He shoved open the door and then pounded up the stairs, Seth and Axel right behind him. He felt a heaviness in his chest he couldn’t quite ease.

He was going to make these assholes pay for scaring Rowan. And if she was hurt…

“There,” Seth said.

Lachlan shouldered out the door. There was a large terrace outside, with a bar and low seating areas clustered around. It looked out onto the glass roof just below. A crowd had gathered, leaning against the railing, staring at Rowan and her attackers struggling on the far side of the roof.

As they watched, Rowan kicked out at a man. He lunged for her and she jerked back.

Seth hissed.

“Ay, Dios mío,” Axel bit out.

Fuck, no. Lachlan watched in horror as Rowan slipped off the edge of the glass.

She fell, managing to grab the edge with one hand, dangling off the side of the building.

Fury burst through Lachlan—strong and raging. He pressed a hand to the rail and leaped over, pulling out his SIG at the same time.

“Lachlan! Fuck,” Seth called out.

Lachlan landed on the glass roof with a bend of his knees.

“Hey!” Above, he saw several security guards rushing toward them.

“I’ll take care of them,” Seth said. “Go.”

Axel leaped over the railing and landed beside Lachlan. He lifted his own Glock. Together, they jogged across the glass.

Lachlan focused on the first attacker, his jaw tight. The man didn’t hear him coming.

A swift kick sent the man tumbling. He hit the glass with a shout and started sliding. The other two men turned, lifting their weapons.

But Lachlan and Axel were ready. They both fired.

The gun flew out of the hand of one man. With a scream, he gripped his injured hand and fell to the glass.

The final man had ducked, dropping to his knees. Lachlan kicked the gun out of his hand. The man tried to run, but Lachlan grabbed his shirt with his prosthetic hand. He lifted the man up, dangling him off the glass. His eyes widened, and Lachlan noticed he had a scar on his eyebrow.

“What the fuck?” The man growled, kicking his feet.

“Who sent you?”

The man kept struggling. Lachlan shifted, holding the man over the side of the building.

“Who do you work for?” Lachlan asked.

The man’s face twisted, and he yanked something from his belt. Another gun.

Lachlan let him go. The man screamed as he fell.

“Lachlan.” Rowan’s voice was strained.

He dropped to his knees. Her white face looked up at him. He reached for her, but she was just out of reach.

“Hang on,” he said.

He went flat on his belly, leaning over the edge to get to her.

“I’m…slipping.” Panic flashed in her eyes.

“Hold on, dammit.” His fingers brushed hers.

But that’s when she lost her grip. Her fingers slipped and she fell.

“Lachlan!” she screamed.

Lachlan didn’t hesitate. He moved into a crouch and launched himself off the roof.

He slammed into Rowan midair, wrapping his body around hers.

“Lachlan.” Her arms and legs clamped onto him. The rush of the wind tore at them.

“I’ve got you.”

They hit the casino pool with a huge splash, the water closing over them.





Chapter Eight





Rowan came up sputtering. Lachlan wrapped an arm around her and yanked her to the edge of the pool.

She looked up. Holy cow. Her stomach rolled. They’d fallen a long way, and if he hadn’t grabbed her, she’d likely have landed on concrete.

If he hadn’t arrived, those men would have killed her.

Lachlan climbed out of the pool, pulling her with him with a flex of his arms. Water streamed off them both.

“Rowan?”

She blinked up at him. Water clung to his eyelashes. The man had really long eyelashes.

“Hey, stay with me.” He cupped her cheek. “You’re okay.”

That’s when she realized she was probably a little shocky. “I’m okay. Thanks to you.”

His fingers tightened on her. “Rowan—”

Blair materialized, looking pissed. “You both all right?” The woman touched Rowan’s arm.

“Hi, again.” Rowan pushed her water-soaked hair from her face.

Blair gave her a faint smile, then looked at Lachlan. “Plan?”

“We keep her safe. I want to know who these assholes are. Tomorrow, she’s coming back to base.”

Rowan cleared her throat. “Don’t I get a—”

Lachlan scowled down at her. “No.”

She glared at him. “Excuse me, but I was the one getting shot at.”

His face changed, his gold eyes glittering. She snapped her mouth closed, and almost took a step back. He looked three degrees beyond scary.

“Here.” Callie appeared, holding some pool towels.

Lachlan grabbed one and wrapped it around Rowan. That’s when she became aware that her drenched pajama tank was clinging to everything. She clutched the towel tighter.