Lachlan motioned for them to move cautiously. They crept forward, and ahead, the shelving units ended, giving way to a large, open space at the back of the warehouse. From the shadows, she could see Airman Kowalski covered in chains. Struggling soldiers were trying to get close to her and pry the artifact off her chest.
Aimee threw her head back and roared again.
“Just kill it,” one man muttered. “That should free the device.”
“Or fry it,” another said in accented English. “I do not want to be the one to explain to Ca?d how we destroyed the artifact he wants.”
“Steady,” Lachlan murmured in his earpiece.
He pulled something off his belt. It looked like a small silver ball. He crouched and rolled it across the floor. She caught a brief glimpse of it rolling toward the Legion de Mer men.
Lachlan blocked her view. “Close your eyes.”
Rowan did as ordered. Bang.
“I can’t see!” someone yelled.
“Merde. What the fuck?”
Lachlan tapped her arm. She opened her eyes and peered over his shoulder. A bright light was fading, and several of the Legion soldiers were stumbling around, hands over their eyes.
“Now,” Lachlan ordered. His gold gaze locked on Rowan. “Stay.”
Then he turned and was gone, lifting his weapon. His team fell in behind him. They moved like ghosts—fast, steady, and badass.
Rowan stayed where she was, and watched Lachlan take down one soldier with ease. The rest of Team 52 engaged, slamming into soldiers. Gunfire echoed through the warehouse.
Then, Airman Kowalski cried out.
A soldier, the handsome man she’d fought with outside the Cosmopolitan, was jabbing at Aimee with a knife.
Dammit. Rowan glanced around the space. The rest of the team was busy subduing the soldiers.
Lachlan was going to kill her, but she had no choice. Straightening her shoulders, Rowan crept around the edge of the fight, circling closer to Aimee.
She pulled out the Glock Axel had given her. She snuck up behind the French soldier and pressed the gun to the base of his neck.
“Drop the knife, asshole,” she said.
The man spun, the knife streaking toward Rowan. Shit. Off balance, she still managed to pull the trigger.
With a shout, the man fell back, clutching his thigh.
“I warned you not to test me.” Rowan moved closer to Airman Kowalski. “It’s okay, Aimee.” She touched the chains, looking for a way to unlock them. “We’re going to get you out of here.”
Suddenly, the man she’d shot reared up. He rammed a fist into Rowan’s thigh.
Pain speared through her and her leg collapsed. She sprawled on the floor, the gun flying out of her hand.
Oh, shit. The man landed on top of her. With a grunt, she wrestled with him, trying to get him off her. He aimed a punch at her head, and she dodged the blow. She jammed her fingers into his eyes and he shouted.
Airman Kowalski leaned forward, rattling her chains. She strained against the metal, her muscles bulging.
The chains snapped.
Quickly, Aimee reached out and grabbed the soldier on top of Rowan. She lifted the man up and tossed him.
With a cry, he flew through the air, and slammed into some of the shelves. They toppled over with a crash, slamming into the next row of shelves.
Those shelves toppled, as well. Rowan’s eyes widened. Uh-oh. She watched the chain reaction of loaded shelves crashing like dominos.
A shadow fell over Rowan. She looked up at Aimee towering over her. The woman was still huge and menacing, and clearly enraged and upset. She let out a deafening roar.
Then the out-of-control woman grabbed Rowan with bruising hands.
“Hey, calm down—”
Aimee roared again, shaking Rowan until her teeth rattled.
Then the woman spun and took off running down one of the rows, dragging Rowan behind her.
*
Lachlan kicked the soldier in the gut, watching him fall. Once he was down, Lachlan slammed the butt of his weapon into the man’s face, knocking him out.
Nearby, Blair was fighting hand-to-hand with a young soldier. The man was dancing around, and Blair was clearly out of patience.
She stepped in, slammed a hard jab into the man’s face, then hooked her foot around his ankle.
She slammed him to the ground. “Stay. Still.”
From nearby, Axel chuckled.
Suddenly, Airman Kowalski roared. There was a loud crash as a storage shelf toppled over. Then another. And another.
What the fuck? They all spun, and Lachlan instantly looked for Rowan. The spot where he’d left her was empty. Dammit.
He turned again. Airman Kowalski was loping into an aisle between the shelves, dragging Rowan behind her.
“Fuck!” Blair kicked a shelf.
Airman Kowalski’s restraints were broken, and the twisted, broken body of a man lay near the shelves.
“After them!” Lachlan yelled.
He raced between the shelves. But Kowalski was fast, and he couldn’t see or hear them.
“There!” Seth cried.
Lachlan saw a trail of water leading off down another row of shelves.
“Brooks, be advised that Airman Kowalski is on the run and has Rowan.”
“Shit,” Brooks answered. “Acknowledged, Lachlan.”
Lachlan bolted, pumping his arms, his team just paces behind him. They reached the end of the row, and before them stood the metal exterior wall of the warehouse.
There was a huge hole torn in it, like a large creature had burst through it.
“Fuck.” Lachlan jumped through the opening. He spun, seeing no sign of Kowalski or Rowan on the street.
“Axel and Callie, get the vehicles.” The pair immediately ran off. “Everyone, spread out, and let’s try to pick up the trail.”
They fanned out. Lachlan tried to stay calm, his hands tight on his weapon. He should never have fucking let her talk him into this.
“Here,” Smith yelled.
He pointed to a faint trail of water that led down the street. They broke into a jog.
“Kowalski’s moving fast,” Smith said.
They turned down another street, and then crossed a parking lot.
“She’ll be fine,” Blair said. “She’s tough.”
“I’m locking her up after this,” Lachlan growled.
“Good luck with that,” Seth said.
Lachlan scowled at his friend. “One day, you’ll see.”
“Shit, you’re in love with her.” Seth blinked.
Love. That word was like a kick to Lachlan’s gut. He loved his mom, hell, he’d even loved his dad. But what he felt for them didn’t come close to this big, chaotic, warm feeling he felt for Rowan.
He’d give his life for Rowan. For the girl who distracted him from his father’s rages as a child. For the woman who was sexy, smart, courageous…and his.
“Lachlan?” Brooks’ voice came through his earpiece.
“I’m here. Go ahead.”
“There’s been a disturbance reported at Desert Springs Hospital.”
Damn. “That where Kowalski’s daughter is?”
“Yes, that’s where Jenny Kowalski is being treated.”
The SUVs roared up beside them. Lachlan yanked open the door, and glanced at Axel as the others piled in.
“Desert Springs Hospital. Now.”
As the SUV sped off, a muscle ticked in Lachlan’s jaw. Hold on, Rowan. I’m coming.
Chapter Eighteen
She was cold. So cold.
Rowan stumbled down the hospital corridor, watching people screaming and running to get out of their way. Aimee was still holding Rowan’s arm in a fierce grip, and she knew it would be bruised. The woman’s touch was also freezing cold.
“Aimee, please—”
A rough jerk and a growl. Whatever the Legion de Mer soldiers had done to Aimee Kowalski had caused the woman to withdraw.
On their way into the hospital, Aimee had incapacitated the security guards who’d tried to stop them. Rowan saw doctors and nurses cowering, trying to protect the patients in the adjacent rooms. But Aimee wasn’t paying any attention to them as she powered down the hall.
Rowan’s teeth started to chatter. “Aimee, you’ll frighten your daughter.”
The woman paused, head tilted.
Rowan looked at the artifact on the woman’s chest. God, Rowan wished they’d never pulled the damn thing from the ice.
But right now, the most important thing was to contain it. To let Lachlan and his team lock it away so it couldn’t hurt anybody else.
Lachlan. Rowan trembled. She knew he and the others would be on their way. She also knew she’d endure his anger if it meant she was back in his arms. God, she was head over heels for that man.