Page 47 of Shadows Relived
She blinked. “You know my name?”
“We know everything worth knowing,” Elvis said. “Like the fact that Callen here got himself shot trying to play Superman. Again.”
“Also heard you kept our buddy here from bleeding out,” Gage added. “Not a simple task, but we appreciate it.”
“I had help,” she mumbled, her hand drifting briefly to Callen’s.
Elvis nudged Callen’s leg with his boot. “Tequila would’ve numbed the pain better. You’re getting soft, Romeo.”
“Bite me,” Callen murmured. “And I asked for tequila, but Abbie refused.”
“Please. I saw you take on an entire team with a pocket knife and a curse word. You can handle a minor scratch.”
Callen groaned. “You weren’t the one getting shot at.”
“Details,” Elvis said, waving it off. “Anyway, figured you’d still be too slow, so we brought snacks.”
He tossed a protein bar toward Callen’s chest, who caught it with a grunt.
Gage reached into the duffel bag he had carried in with him, pulling out a bottle. “And whiskey. Figured you could use a belt.”
Meaghan stood there stunned for a moment. These men were soldiers, killers even, but they laughedat the silliest things. They cared, obviously. And there was a history between the three of them. Something forged in fire, thick as blood.
Gage moved to the counter, snatching a couple of plastic cups the motel provided, ripped the plastic wrappers off, and poured two drinks. “We also heard you got three kids out with you, protecting them from getting caught in the crossfire. You did good.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Both of you.”
“Speaking of kids, we heard from Sage on the way over,” Elvis said as he leaned against the wall near the door. “Kids are nearly home. They’ll make sure the houses are clean before dropping them off, but to be honest, I doubt whoever is chasing you even know who the kids are.”
“But they found us through the boy’s iPad,” Callen said.
Elvis shook his head. “I don’t think so, although it’s possible. Still, they’ll make sure the coast is clear before leaving.”
Meaghan felt her knees weaken. “Thank God.” She took a slow breath, rubbing her hands along her thighs. “So, what’s the plan now?”
Gage handed Callen a cup and then carried one to her with a dip of his head. “We’ll stay here tonight. Get some rest. Elvis and I will take turns watching the window just to be safe. Then tomorrow, we head to a new safe house until this blows over.”
Elvis nodded. “We told Blaze to cancel the room for us, intending to stay here and keep a watch. You two earned a break. I’d take it. One thing I’ve learned… you never know what tomorrow will bring. So, get some rest. You did good.” He glanced over at Callen, who was already settling in for the night. “Even better keeping this one alive. He usually just bleeds and complains.”
“I do not complain,” Callen muttered.
“Sure you don’t, hound dog.”
They all shared a smile, Meaghan included this time.
“We also got some news once we hit the road,” Gage said as he moved over to a chair around the small wooden table. “Blaze intercepted another signal while he was tracking residual data traffic around the cabin. Picked up some chatter near Tallahassee.”
Callen’s eyes narrowed. “Another one of Harrington’s people?”
“Not quite,” Gage said. “More rumblings coming from that acquisitions group New Horizons.”
Meaghan blinked. “The land development firm?”
Callen’s jaw tightened. “The one with the fast-tracked swamp permits.”
“Yeah,” Elvis chimed in. “Blaze ran it through a few other channels. It took some digging, but it’s them. Signal was light, just a ping to confirm location. Someone inside New Horizons was keeping tabs, tapping the senators phone. He says they’ve hire some sledgehammer types.”
“They’re not politicians,” Gage added. “They don’t do diplomacy. They burn through loopholes and blackmail like wildfire. If they know where Meaghan is…”
“Then they’ll get to her and use her as leverage,” Callen finished grimly.
