Lisa Renee Jones [Jones - Part Three: Dirty Rich Secrets, #3

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Ashley

I suck in the smoke billowing around me, flames already encroaching on the place where Smith and I stand in the Airbnbs living room. Smith grabs me and pulls me close. Use your shirt to cover your face. Ive barely done as he says when hes moving, pulling me around the couch.

Aaron intercepts us, snatching me from Smiths grip. Blake and Savage are outside covering us, he says, eyeing Smith. Back left window per Blakes direction. Smoke expands, and the flames grow closer. He leans in and whispers, Keep your face covered, baby.

Were running down a hallway then, flames licking through a door to our left, but we make it to the end of the hallway to the bedroom. Even before we enter, I can feel the air rushing into the room. Its with great relief that I spy Blake, leaning inside an open window while sirens lift in the air. The next few minutes are a whirlwind. Aaron lifts me and hands me over to Blake, and the minute Im on the ground, Im aware of Savage in front of me, his back to me, as he fires into the distance that I cant see. I cant do anything but gasp for air, and then suddenly, Im coughing and choking, it feels like Im going to suffocate.

Aaron lands on the ground next to me, and just that fast, he has my hand, running with me, giving me no chance to do anything but suck in good air and force myself to just breathe. I have no idea how he knows where to go to avoid danger, but Savage is there, and hes still shooting at someone somewhere behind us. My heart thunders in my chest, adrenaline surging through me when Aaron cuts right and leads me down an alleyway where a black SUV is parked. We charge toward it, and in a matter of minutes, were inside the back of the vehicle with Savage on one side of me and Aaron on the other. Wheres Smith and Blake? I ask, as the driver, who I really cant even see at this point, guns the engine.

Covering our pretty little arses, Savage says, as Aaron turns me to him, cupping my face. Are you okay? Tell me youre okay.

Yes. Yes, Im fine. How are you even here? I thought you left. I thought you were gone.

I had a gut feeling. I stayed close and called in backup.

How did whoever did this find us?

He eyes Savage over my shoulder. Someone in your operation is behind this.

No fucking way, Savage replies. My men, my people, they dont betray each other. Ever.

Bullshit, Aaron says, turning back to me and kissing me. This isnt going to work. He releases me. Stop the vehicle. Were getting out.

Do not stop this fucking vehicle, Savage orders.

Aaron releases me and pulls his gun, aiming it at Savage. If you think I wont shoot, this ends with you dead.

Yeah, well, Im the guy who doesnt give a fuck, but you should. Someone has your number. That means they have hers. You need me. If you wont trust my team, trust me. Come to my home. Stay with me, and well figure this the fuck out.

Why would I trust you?

I get that you CIA guys have a hard-on for doing things yourself, but, my man, Im here to tell you from experience, that shit gets difficult.

Aarons jaw clenches, seconds ticking by, before he says, Your place is the first place someone looking for us will go.

I also get that you CIA agents think the rest of us dont do shit right and take precautions. But guess what, asshole, I do.

Im not CIA, not after this, never again. Im not stupid.

Cool, cool. We can be not stupid together. We didnt betray you. We can, however, help you figure out who did.

At the very least, Aaron says, You asked too many damn questions. You exposed us.

This isnt us fucking you, Savage says. And in case you dont remember, despite living this shit, you were getting bent over without even a slather of Vaseline before you met us. And we, voluntarily, bent over with you tonight.

Six months, I interject, wiping ash from his face or trying to unsuccessfully. Six months on the run, Aaron. You need help. We need help.

My place is wired like Fort Knox, Savage adds. No one is getting in or even out, for that matter, if I dont make it happen. At least come with me until you can figure out what comes next.

Aaron cuts his stare, and it takes him a good minute to lean in, kiss me and then look at Savage. On foot. Stop the vehicle. We go on foot.

All right, Savage agrees. I havent gotten in a good cardio kick today, so, yeah, man, we walk. He leans forward and taps the drivers seat. Pull us over.

Im not sure if Aaron is planning on us leaving with or without Savage, but he gets what he wants. The driver responds instantly and maneuvers the vehicle to the curb. Savage opens the street-side door, and Aaron urges me to follow him, which answers my question. Were going with Savage, and this delivers a burst of relief. We need help, and I trust Walker Security enough for both of us. Savage motions to the alleyway to our right, and we head in that direction.

Watch where you are, Aaron reminds me, pulling me under his arm, as the two men sandwich me between them again. I take it all in, looking for people, looking for escape routes, learning this new life, leaning into it, because thats what its going to take to survive. Theres a part of me that could panic at the idea that from this point forward, I will always have to look over my shoulder. But theres another part that is oddly comfortable in this new life. The high of running, surviving, and winning driving me forward is surprisingly exhilarating. I want to be as good as anyone chasing me. I want to train. I want to learn.

It takes a good fifteen minutes before we enter a high-security building, and Savage leads us past the elevator to the stairs. You do know the stairs will torture my smoke-filled lungs, right? I ask.

Thats my thing, Savage says, opening the stairwell door. Torturing people.

The scar down his cheek has me wondering if someone tortured him, but I dont have much time to consider how that might have shaped the life of the man were trusting with ours. Aaron steps into the stairwell, scans and then catches my hand and pulls me inside with him, but off to the side to allow Savage to join us. Elevators are small boxes where you could be trapped and killed, he explains. Stairwells let you go up or down or even over a railing.

Trapped and killed.

Im now living a life where everything is a potential place to be trapped and killed. On that thought, Savage joins us and starts up the stairs. Aaron positions me in front of him, and with him at my rear, we start what turns into a ten-floor climb.

At the door, Savage holds up a hand. Ill clear the way.

Aaron nods, and Savage leaves. The minute that door seals me and Aaron inside alone, Aaron turns me to face him, his hands sliding under my hair as he presses me against the wall, his big body caging mine. Do you have any idea how fucking scared I was of losing you?