She leaned in close. “I never want to hear you say that again.” She straightened and stole her coffee back from him. “Now, we have work to do.”
His face turned serious. “We need to find the artifact.”
She nodded. “I guess the best way to do that is to identify the people who took it.”
“True, but they’re proving elusive.”
“You don’t think it’s the Red Wolves.”
“Nope.” His hand cupped her hip and squeezed. “I’d prefer you were dressed when my team arrives.”
She rolled her eyes, but headed for the shower. By the time she’d dressed, she heard voices in the living room.
When she entered, everyone looked up from where they were sitting, giving her a smile or a wave. Smith and Axel were at the counter, while the others were sitting on the couch. Axel gave her a lazy look followed by a wink.
Rowan sighed. Why did she feel like she had a sign saying “I got laid by Lachlan all night long, and thoroughly enjoyed it” hanging over her head?
As she got closer to the couch, Lachlan grabbed her hand and tugged her down beside him. He kept talking to Blair, who was fiddling with a tablet. He slid his hand up Rowan’s arm.
She felt everyone watching, and she knew enough about Lachlan now to know the move was deliberate.
“Got the connection,” Blair said.
Brooks’ good-looking face filled Lachlan’s television screen, his glasses framing deep brown eyes. “Morning.”
“Brooks,” Lachlan said.
Today, the man’s T-shirt had a stormtrooper on it aiming a blaster and said “Stop, or I’ll shoot in your general direction.” Rowan felt a spurt of amusement.
“Rowan, glad you’re okay,” Brooks said.
“Thanks.”
Lachlan folded his arms over his chest. “Okay, update us.”
Brooks’ smile dissolved. “Seth got a few things out of the guys who tried to take Rowan.”
Rowan glanced at Seth, but his face didn’t change. He was sitting on the arm of the couch, looking relaxed, but something about him made her think of a snake, coiled and ready to strike.
“We’ve confirmed the guys in the gray vehicles were part of the Red Wolves,” Brooks said.
“I spoke to Declan Ward at Treasure Hunter Security,” Lachlan said.
“Hate those guys,” Axel muttered.
“He confirmed the Red Wolves like artifacts, generally ones attached to crazy conspiracy theories, and are usually haphazard and messy with their attacks.”
“But they don’t have the artifact,” Seth said.
Everyone froze.
Lachlan leaned forward. “They took Rowan because they’re still trying to find out about the artifact, and don’t know it’s missing.”
Brooks nodded.
“So there’s another player on the board,” Blair said.
Lachlan scowled and glanced at Rowan. “And they might still try to get to Rowan.”
God. She slumped back on the couch. “The most important thing is the artifact.”
Brooks turned to face the screen on his wall. “I’m working hard to follow the money trail of the payment Airman Kowalski received. But these guys are good, and it’s buried deep. I was in contact with Detective MacKade.”
There was a quiet snort, which Rowan thought came from Blair.
“The police searched her house, but didn’t find anything. She’s disappeared, and her husband’s distraught.”
Rowan wrapped her arms around herself. “And she has a sick daughter.”
Brooks nodded. “The police are staking out the hospital where the airman’s daughter is being treated, just in case she tries to see the girl.”
Lachlan ran a hand through his hair. He looked frustrated.
“Wait!” Brooks started tapping his tablet like mad.
“Brooks—” Lachlan began.
The man’s head jerked up. “Reports of a disturbance at the Venetian.”
Around her, the team all tensed.
“Go on,” Lachlan said.
“Nothing concrete yet,” Brooks said, “but some of the reports mention an attack. Involving ice.”
Oh, no. Rowan gasped.
Team 52 all leaped to their feet.
“Let’s go.” Lachlan ordered. “We go in undercover, weapons hidden until we need them.”
Rowan stood. “I’m coming.”
Lachlan scowled.
“You don’t want to leave her here alone,” Blair said quietly.
Lachlan bit off a curse and gripped Rowan’s arm. “You’re coming with us, but you follow my orders.”
*
When they pulled up to the Venetian, people were pouring out of the casino. The faint sound of screaming came through the windows.
Lachlan touched his ear. “Comms check.”
All his team and Brooks called in their checks. He pushed open the door, helping Rowan out of the backseat. His team moved in around him, keeping their bodies relaxed and casual.
“Keep a low profile.” They didn’t need the warning. His team knew the drill. They were used to operating under the radar, and in unique circumstances.
He looked down at Rowan who was eyeing the running crowd with concern.
Lachlan looked over at Callie. “Callie, you stay with Rowan. Stay back, and only come in if I call for you.”
The woman looked like she wanted to argue, but then nodded. Lachlan knew all his team preferred action over playing bodyguard, but they also took orders when they heard them.
Lachlan gripped Rowan’s arms. “Stay with Callie. Be safe.”
She nodded. “You, too.”
Fuck. His team was watching him, but he ignored them and leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.
With a smile, Callie took Rowan’s arm. As the rest of the team jogged into the casino, Callie pulled Rowan away from the panicking crowd and toward the restaurants.
When Lachlan turned to the others, Blair, Axel, and Seth were grinning at him, and even Smith looked like he was fighting a smile.
“Not a word.” Lachlan strode forward and out into the replica of Venice’s St. Mark’s Square.
More panicked, fleeing people. The screams grew louder.
Together, his team rushed over the bridge that spanned the artificial lake. Then he glanced down, and his gut tightened.
Half of the lake was frozen solid. A gondola was caught up in the ice, pointing straight up.
Shit. “Fan out.”
They crossed the bridge, and on the other side, still more people were pushing and stumbling as they tried to get away.
That’s when Lachlan saw the figure scaling one of the faux Italian-building fa?ades. A large figure that looked like it was wearing white body armor.
Someone had activated the artifact.
He pulled his SIG, and saw his team do the same. He gave a hand signal, and they moved over another bridge.
The creature spotted them and jumped down. It landed, cracking the travertine tiles, then rose slowly.
Fuck. Lachlan took in the brown hair framing the distorted female features.
“Airman Kowalski,” Blair murmured.
The woman had to be at least a foot taller than usual and far bigger. The artifact rested on her chest.
Lachlan touched his ear. “Callie, we need the tranqs. Get in here.”
“On my way,” Callie responded. “I’m sending Rowan back to the SUVs.”
As they waited for Callie, they moved in slowly, circling Airman Kowalski. Suddenly, the woman let out a growl. Then she charged.
Lachlan dodged. He got a clear view of the artifact on the woman’s chest.
Airman Kowalski swung a clawed hand at Seth. He jumped up and kicked her. She staggered backward, then she bent her knees and jumped up. She leaped over their heads.
“She’s getting away,” Smith barked.
Lachlan sprinted after her, his team right behind him. Airman Kowalski ran through a door, and into the casino.
Inside, there were startled screams as Airman Kowalski crashed through the crowd. Team 52 followed her erratic path, dodging blackjack tables and slot machines. Suddenly, Callie appeared, holding the tranq gun.
“Take her down,” Lachlan ordered.
Callie steadied herself, taking aim at the fleeing woman.
The medic fired, then cursed. “Missed.”
“Take the shot again,” Lachlan said calmly.
He saw Airman Kowalski knock through a group of tourists, sending them toppling. He ran forward, Blair at his elbow.
“She’s going to hurt someone,” Blair yelled.