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And now, knowing men like Shane Lowell were out there, working in the shadows and willing to sacrifice innocent lives as collateral damage in their pursuit of… Power? Money? She didn’t know exactly. But she knew she never wanted to cross paths with Lowell ever again.
She smiled through the apprehension, trying to reassure her daughter. "Yes, baby, we're safe now. You're my brave girl."
Lia nestled back into her embrace, finding comfort in the rhythmic hum of the boat's engine. Her daughter’s resilience never ceased to amaze her. When Lowell suddenly shoved them into the small hidden closet at gunpoint, she was sure it was over. Honestly, if she never had a gun pointed at her again, she’d consider the rest of her life a major success.
Kaylie's gaze wandered to the team huddled on the boat. Marshall and Connor, their expressions mirroring a mix of exhaustion and triumph, exchanged a nod. Ryder and Jackson were immersed in a hushed conversation. Landon, who had been quiet through the ordeal, monitored their surroundings with a keen eye as he steered the boat.
And Anthony, whose dark eyes were locked on her and Lia, the lights from the navigation panel providing just a glimmer of reflection. The adrenaline of the escape was waning, replaced by the reality of the aftermath. They’d rescued her. Anthony had made sure his team did everything they possibly could to make sure she and Lia were safe—exactly what he’d been doing since she called him about Moreno.
As Lia's grip tightened around her, a surge of gratitude washed over Kaylie. They were alive, together, and that was more than she could have hoped for. But the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions lingered. How could she possibly explain the depth of her feelings for him?
How could she ever make up for her own stupidity and the consequences it had led to? She still wondered what coming back to Chicago would end up costing him. Even now, his eyes had turned back to study the skyline of the city behind them, his eyebrows furrowed.
Wind whipped through her hair, and she shifted to keep it out of her face as they skipped across the dark water. A few minutes passed, and then she felt Anthony approach. She turned to find him holding out a small electronic case.
“You should take out the IRIS lens,” he said, barely speaking loud enough to be heard over the engine. “Before your eye gets irritated.”
Kaylie blinked, not quite processing what he’d said. That was the most important thing he felt like needed to be said after everything they’d been through in the last week?
Wordlessly, she reached for the case. Her fingers skimmed his, and for a moment, she almost felt like his touch lingered, but as soon as it had registered, his hand was gone. He crouched down to Lia’s level.
“Hey, munchkin. You must be a warrior princess, you know that?”
Lia nodded. “Mommy said I was brave.”
Tank’s face shifted, a smile spreading across his face, his teeth gleaming against the dark night. “Yeah you were.” Then he reached into his vest for something. Kaylie frowned until she recognized the fluffy gray stuffy.
“Elphie!” Lia’s excitement brought a low chuckle to Anthony as the little girl threw her arms around the stuffed animal and then launched herself at the giant teddy bear of a man on his knees in front of her.
Kaylie swiped frantically at the tears on her cheeks, then slipped the contact lens out and into the case. Landon slowed down as they approached the dock and the noise of the engine faded to a more manageable volume.
Tank turned his eyes up toward hers, a mix of weariness and something she couldn't quite decipher. "You okay?"
She nodded, the lump in her throat making it hard to speak. "Thanks to you and the team. We owe you everything."
Tank's gaze softened, and for a moment, she saw vulnerability beneath the stoic exterior. "It's my job, Kaylie."
Oof, that was just what every girl wanted to hear from the man she had fallen head-over-heels for. “Is that all it is?” she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.
He exhaled. “That’s all it can be, fiamella. I wish—” He hesitated, then started again. “I wish I could give you more than that. But it’s not safe.” The boat glided through the water, the city lights shimmering in the distance.
Kaylie had so much more to say. So many more questions about the man in front of her, but everyone had exited the boat and were waiting for them on the dock. Tank extended a hand to help her and Lia off the boat. The night air was cool against Kaylie's skin, clammy from the exertion of sprinting down the tunnels.
Once on solid ground, she turned to Tank, her eyes locking with his. He looked away, grabbing a bag from the boat. Kaylie opened her mouth, then closed it again. As much as she wanted to argue, it wasn’t the time or place.
Lia tugged at her hand, pointing wordlessly to the team walking up the dock. Kaylie hesitated. Then Lia reached her other hand toward Tank, bridging the two of them.
They walked like that, hand-in-hand-in-hand, up the gangway to the car.
As they drove to the safe house, Kaylie wrestled with her emotions. She wanted to confront Tank, to bridge the gap that had widened between them. She wanted to hold Lia for a month and not let her out of her sight. She also wanted to sleep for a month. And she wanted to tell the world that the slick business suit and arrogant smile of Shane Lowell was hiding a monster.
Marshall turned toward the back from the passenger seat of the large SUV. It was barely big enough for the entire crew. “I’m still ticked that Lowell got away.”
Anthony harrumphed in response.
Marshall’s gaze turned to her. “Is there anything you picked up while you were with him that we could use against him?”
“Marshall.” Anthony said his name with censure, apparently not approving of the question, or perhaps the timing. She couldn’t be sure.
