Page 4 of Protective Phlox

“Let’s go. Now.” My shock-riddled mind allowed him to grab me by the shoulder, and we ran behind my parked car to the open door of his SUV. He shoved me roughly inside and slammed the door, blanketing our bodies with his. “Go,” he yelled.

Everything was happening so fast. The screeching of tires and then being jerked around as we flew down the street. I couldn’t see where we were going, but we’d made a sudden turn one way and then the other.

“Boss, they’re chasing us.”

“Doesn’t matter, just drive faster,” Nathan barked out, and Cutter buried his head tighter to me.

“What the hell is going on,” I asked. Nathan didn’t answer. “Nathan, what’s happening?”

“I’ll tell you when we’re out of danger,” he growled.

Fear lanced my heart even as gratitude for his protection wasn’t lost in the moment. No matter how thankful I was, I’d kill him before I let him take my son from me.

Chapter

Two

NATHANIEL

TEN MINUTES EARLIER

Fucking customs. I swear they were holding our plane at the airfield on purpose. Everyone in my family had been here many times before and never had to deal with the bullshit we just did. We had already taken off late because my pilot was out on a date with his wife and intoxicated, so I had to find one looking for last-minute work. That never sat well. The twelve-hour flight felt like an entire year, and with each passing second, my nerves became more frayed. Then we sat at gunpoint in customs for another three hours before finally being released when I managed to get someone from the Russian consulate on the line. Now, here we were, racing to the school to get to Savannah and my son before Aldo’s men did something stupid.

A horn blared as all of my men barreled through a red light. I didn’t give a fuck if the cops were called. They had no jurisdiction over me.

“Any word,” I asked as Ivan got off the phone.

“The hit is active, and my guy says that men are on the move.”

“Fuck,” I growled and punched the leather seat. If Aldo hurt one hair on either of their heads, it would be all-out war. Nothing would stop me until I ripped his beating heart from his chest.

“The school is coming up on the left. Holy shit, there they are,” Ivan said, pointing as I followed the direction of his finger, and my world slowed. Savannah had her hair down, the strawberry color catching the sunlight as it blew around her face in the breeze. She was still as beautiful as the first time I saw her in the hotel bar. My eyes dropped to my son, and if you can instantly love someone, I fell hopelessly in love and knew that I’d sacrifice my life to save his.

“Shit,” Goran growled from the diver’s seat, snapping me to attention. “Aldo’s men are already here.”

I pulled my gun and clicked the safety off. Savannah must have spotted them as well because she picked up Cutter and ran down the street out of view.

“Go, go, go, don’t let them out of your sight,” I growled as the men who had been standing around casually broke their posts. I didn’t even have to give the order for my guys following me. They were already taking care of those on foot as we flew past them. The tires squealed, and smoke rose into the air as we careened around the corner. I had to grab the door, so I didn’t roll to the far side of the car.

I didn’t care about the bullets hitting our vehicle as I kept my eyes peeled for Savannah. I caught sight of her just before she dropped down out of sight to take cover.

“Protect them at all costs,” I yelled over the noise as we screeched to a halt, blocking Savannah and Cutter from the oncoming cars that were already firing at us.

My men knew what to do. They were some of the best-trained soldiers in the world and immediately blocked the SUVs and returned fire.

Pushing open my door, I jumped out and stayed as low as I could. As I rounded the backside of the car, relief washed over me to not see any sign of blood. Savannah looked at me, and her eyes went wide. The connection between us, which sat dormant like a pilot light waiting to be ignited, roared to life.

“Nathan?”

“Let’s go. Now,” I barked out, grabbing her by the shoulder and pulling her between the parked cars. I could just see a glimpse of black hair poking out from the top of her coat as she passed and ran for the open door. I shoved her roughly inside as more of Aldo’s cars came at us from the direction we’d just come. We needed to get out of here now. I slammed the door and then blanketed their bodies. “Go,” I yelled.

Everything was a whir as Goran floored the vehicle into action. We needed to get to the Russian consulate. They couldn’t touch us once we were on the property. Getting out of the country was another problem, but I already had a line on an ally to escort us safely to my plane.

“Boss, they’re chasing us.”

“Doesn’t matter, just drive faster,” I ordered.

“What the hell is going on,” Savannah asked, but I didn’t answer. “Nathan, what’s happening?”