Behind Alexei, Max appeared next. Taylor's heart lifted. Kam would be glad to see his friend, and they could use all of the help they could get.
"Taylor!" a female's voice called. She knew that voice. Taylor's eyes snapped to the door again to see Nalani bound down the stairs, fly past Max and Alexei, and stop in front of Taylor.
"What are you doing here?" Taylor hissed. She hadn't meant for that to sound as harsh as it came out, but there was no way she wanted to put her friend, and by extension, Davin, in harm's way.
Nalani crossed her arms. "You think you can cash in a favor of this magnitude and not have me show up, too?"
Her words had a bite to them, but the concern in her eyes told Taylor that it was more out of worry than anger.
"You know that Nalani can be singularly focused when she sees someone she loves in need." Alexei smiled. "Just like her mother."
Nalani's face softened, color rising to her cheeks. Alexei had spent the better part of the past several months being the father that Nalani never had. The change Taylor had seen in Nalani wasamazing, but Nalani was still an investigative journalist at her core.
Nalani must have read her thoughts because she wrapped her in a hug and said, "I'm here to lend my skills." She pulled back. "No one gets away with messing with my family." Tears clogged Taylor's throat. Why hadn't she asked her friend for help sooner? Was she so determined to do this on her own that she missed the support system she had beside her? The FBI was a brotherhood all its own, but this was personal. Besides, the FBI's solution was to lock her away until they sorted this all out. Not a chance she'd go down that easily.
Taylor looked from Nalani to Alexei, and then to Max. She would never admit it, but these three probably had more resources than her own office of the FBI anyway. Now all she needed was to clear her name without breaking any laws doing it.
"Kam is waiting for us. We should get going." Taylor turned to go back to the lounge/terminal, when Alexei flicked his fingers. A black SUV rolled to a stop in front of them, while Alexei gave orders to two staff members who were pulling bags out of the plane. Taylor stood there stunned, and Amelia stiffened beside her.
"You said this was about Dasha. I brought what we needed to put an end to her." Alexei stated matter-of-factly. The man was still technically married to her, but they didn't even live in the same country anymore. Taylor would have to sort those family dynamics out later, when they weren't standing in the middle of a hanger.
In five minutes, the SUV was loaded with the equipment and supplies that Alexei brought with him. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know exactly what was in the bags, but she was sure it was probably more than they needed.
Amelia stepped forward. "I'll go get the truck. You all follow me back to the homestead."
Nalani looped her arm through Taylor's and tugged her towards the SUV. The last time she was being put into a dark SUV it exploded. Taylor forced her mind to push the memories away.
"Did any one die in the explosion?" she asked as she slid into the back seat with Nalani.
Nalani sobered. "A local police officer is still in critical condition. That isn't your fault."
"That bomb was meant for me. So it feels like I had something to do with it." Taylor leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
"You cannot control the actions of evil people. What they are doing is not on you any more than it is on that officer. You need to do your job and stop them before more innocents are hurt." Alexei's words washed away some of the guilt, then settled in her gut like a brick.
"Do you know anything about what Dasha has been doing?" This was why she called Alexei, of all people. He had knowledge of how his own family worked even if he didn't partake in their less than savory business.
Alexei gripped the wheel tighter. "I know nothing of what Dasha does for the last three years. But it's more than time that I take my head out of the sand and do something to stop her before there is innocent blood spilled."
Taylor sat forward. "So you think that sheisplanning something?"
"I'm waiting to hear back from an old friend." Alexei's voice dropped low. "If anyone would know, she would."
Taylor looked at Nalani with a raised eyebrow. Nalani shrugged. Taylor was sure that Nalani would get the story behind that comment later. It was good to have someone on herside. Kam, of course, was on her side, but some situations called for reinforcements.
Nalani placed her hand on Taylor's knee. "We'll sort this out. I promise to make sure Davin doesn't let Hollands railroad you when we break this."
Nalani's words hung in the air as they worked their way back to the homestead. Taylor could see Amelia's truck cut from one side to the other, avoiding all of the major holes in the dirt road. Alexei surprisingly kept up with her. When the trees broke to reveal the homestead, Taylor's body relaxed a bit. She wouldn't relax completely until she saw that Kam was still resting where she left him, but the cocoon of thick forest gave her a sense of security. She supposed that was why Amelia and Ted had planted them around their property.
Amelia pulled the truck next to the barn, while Alexei pulled in front of the cabin. As their vehicle came to a stop, the door to the cabin opened. There stood Kam, gun in his off hand, shirt off, and no shoes on his feet. If Taylor wouldn't have been angry at the fact that he wasn't resting, she'd have been more distracted by the man standing there, ready to do anything to protect her.
Nalani turned to face her with a Cheshire grin on her face. "Well, now, I've seen that look before. When are you going to marry him?"
"As soon as this is all over." Taylor got out of the SUV with her hands on her hips. "What are you doing?" She tried to keep her eyes from straying from his face. There was fire in his eyes. A car door opened, and some of the tension eased from Kam's features.
Max stood next to her. "I brought reinforcements. I figured you didn't want to wait to take Dasha down so we could finally get married."
That last part slipped out, but Taylor didn't dare break eye contact with Kam. The last of the concern slacked from his faceas a grin ticked at the corner of his mouth. "I see you're still wearing my ring."
