Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(43)

Screw this. He reloaded. “Cover me.”

“Lachlan, wait—”

Ignoring Blair, he leaped out of cover and ran toward Rowan. He pulled the trigger. Bam. Bam. Bam. More soldiers fell.

Several soldiers scattered for cover. Airman Kowalski managed to get free, tearing the net off. She let out an ear-splitting roar and charged at the nearest soldier. She grabbed the end of his rifle in a massive fist. With one crunch, it was nothing but a length of twisted metal.

The man staggered back, wide-eyed. Airman Kowalski grabbed him, lifting him over her head. The man screamed.

Even from a distance, Lachlan felt the blast of cool air. The screams cut off and he watched the man literally freeze.

Fucking hell. Lachlan ducked, racing closer to Rowan, but keeping his eye on Kowalski. He touched his ear. “Callie, take her down.”

Bullets whizzed past Lachlan and he dropped down behind a parked car. Airman Kowalski roared again, and when he peeked around, he saw the bright-red feather of the tranq dart against her neck.

She staggered, tearing at the tranq. Suddenly, a soldier rounded the car and Lachlan leaped upward. He kicked the man’s weapon out of his hand and fired his own.

The man fell with a cry, clutching his shoulder.

Lachlan touched his earpiece. “Contain Airman Kowalski and then round up these assholes.”

He scanned around and saw the man who had Rowan dragging her down an adjacent alley. They disappeared from view.

Shit. “I’m going after Rowan.”

“Wait!” Seth called.

But Lachlan wasn’t waiting. He ran for the alley.

As he turned the corner, there was a volley of gunfire. He felt a burn on his arm and ducked back. Shit. He pressed his back to the wall.

He glanced at his arm and saw where the bullet had grazed his bicep. It was bleeding, but it wasn’t a life-threatening wound.

“Come any closer and I’ll kill her,” a gravelly, French-accented voice shouted from the alley.

Lachlan crouched, and pulled a small device off his belt. He flicked open the small mirror and turned it around the corner. The guy had a gun to Rowan’s head. Of course, she didn’t look afraid, but instead looked angry.

“You aren’t after her,” Lachlan called out.

“I wasn’t, but now she’s my way out of here.”

Lachlan tried to calm his pulse and pulled in a deep breath. Usually, it was easy to find the combat calm he’d perfected over the years. But now, that feeling eluded him.

Rowan’s life depends on you, asshole. Lachlan gripped his weapon and stood. He counted to three, then spun around the corner, raising his weapon.

The bearded soldier holding Rowan narrowed his gaze. “Merde. Stay back!”

Lachlan fired.

At the same time, Rowan yanked down hard and kicked her captor’s shin.

Lachlan’s bullet hit the man between his eyes.

But the soldier’s weapon discharged as well. Right at Rowan’s head.





Chapter Fourteen





Rowan staggered dizzily. Her ears were ringing.

God. She was so mad. Clutching her head where it burned, she spun, and saw her captor was down on the ground.

And very dead. Her stomach rolled.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

Lachlan’s roar made her ears ring even more. She turned back to face him, and relief ran through her. She stepped toward him and saw his eyes widen as he took her in.

His face changed and he cupped her head, tilting it to the side.

“Fuck. Fuck.”

“Lachlan?”

“It’s only a graze.” He yanked her close and pressed her face to his chest. “Just a graze.”

Then he pulled back and kissed her.

Rowan forgot everything—the artifact, the bad guys, her aching head. She opened her mouth and kissed him back, her hands gripping him hard.

Lachlan kissed her like she was air and he needed her to breathe. Warmth flooded her.

It was the sound of running footsteps that made them pull apart. Lachlan kept her pressed close to his chest.

Seth appeared and lowered his weapon. “Shit. She okay?”

“Graze.” Lachlan’s hand slid into her hair. “Don’t want to lose you, sweetheart. Can’t lose you.”

God. God. Her heart was beating so hard, emotion choking her. She curled her fingers into his vest.

The rest of Team 52 sprinted into the alley.

“I’m fine.” Rowan reluctantly stepped back, looking at them. “I think I need a drink, and chocolate isn’t going to cut it this time. Maybe tequila.”

The team all sucked in shocked breaths and stared. She took in their serious, grim looks and reached up. Her hand came away, sticky with blood.

She winced and looked at Lachlan. “It looks bad, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.” He pulled her close again.

“Airman Kowalski got away,” Blair said. “The tranq wasn’t strong enough to stop her.”

Lachlan cursed. “Smith, can you track her?”

“I can try,” the big man said.

Lachlan nodded. “Do it. Axel, go with him.”

The pair swiveled and were gone. Lachlan took Rowan’s hand and led her out of the alley.

“SUV’s down that side street,” Blair said. “Police are en route. Figured just one of us can deal with them.”