Chapter Four

In the tiny aircraft, Shannon squirmed in her seat. The high-powered pain medication she’d received at the hospital had left her system, and her entire body ached.

“You can get up and move around if you need to,” Fuller pointed out, and when she frowned in confusion, he took off his seat belt, stood, and gestured to her.

Shannon nodded her understanding and followed suit, wincing.

“She’s hurting,” Leah observed. “Guess the good stuff wore off.”

Fuller mimed you okay? and received a mirthless chuckle from Shannon.

“No, and you wouldn’t be either if you’d been thrown twenty feet and landed on concrete on your face, then caught fire,” she griped. “Everything hurts.”

Leah rummaged through her handbag and pulled out an economy-size bottle of Tylenol, holding it up in triumph to shake it at her roommate.

“I absolutely love you,” Shannon sighed with relief and held out her hand. “Gimme twelve of em.”

Leah solemnly shook her head and held up two fingers.

“Fine,” Shannon muttered. “Just… anything, please.”

Leah handed two pills over, then scribbled you’re loving my great big ol’ purse now, aren’t ya?

“I really am,” Shannon agreed before swallowing the Tylenol. “But it still cracks me up that it’s almost as big as you are.”

“If we’re going to be hiding out longer than a couple of days, we’re going to need extra supplies - bandages, surgical tape, and aloe vera,” Leah mentioned to the agent. “I don’t think what the hospital sent her home with will last very long.”

“Once we get there, we’ll go get whatever she needs,” Fuller responded. “The biggest thing is, when you get where you’re going, you’ll need to stay put, and stay inside as much as possible.”

The ‘fasten seat belt’ sign flashed on, quashing any continued conversation, and the three retook their seats for landing.

***

Pete was leaning against the side of the hangar when the plane landed and taxied into the structure. Fuller exited the aircraft first and walked over to meet Pete, who had moved toward the plane.

“Hey Pete, long time no see. How ya been?” Fuller said, hand outstretched.

“Not bad, buddy, how about you?” Pete responded as they shook.

“Pretty good, all things considered. Your people read you in?” Fuller asked as they approached the plane.

“Yep, for the most part. I have a couple of questions, though. Why are there two of them with you?”

Fuller grinned.

“Her roommate insisted on coming along. She’s quite the little firecracker, too. You’ll see for yourself in just a moment. What’s the second question?”

“Why didn’t you deal with our office up there?”

Fuller leveled his gaze at his old friend.

“It’s a long story, and I’ll fill you in on the details later. Let’s just say I need someone I know I can trust working this.”

“Fair enough. Shall we?”

Agent Fuller led the way back up the short steps into the passenger compartment, with Pete right behind him.

Pete ducked to enter the cabin, then stood upright. As he did, he was immediately accosted by a tiny woman with closely cropped dark brown hair, whose hazel eyes flashed a challenge as she stood blocking his path.

“Badge and I.D. please,” she barked, and he raised an eyebrow but complied.

She reviewed them carefully then returned them, pivoted, and wrote the third passenger a note. When she held up her notebook, Pete’s eyes moved to the woman being shown the message.

He only barely stopped his jaw from dropping open as his heart melted. Standing before him was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Pete stared, taking in her long, dark red hair and brilliant aquamarine eyes. He noticed her tall, willowy frame, the light smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, and her naturally long eyelashes.

And he felt his fists clenching as he also noticed the scrapes marring her milky white skin along her chin and nose. His rage built inside him to see the large and already bruising knot on her forehead, and the pain and fear showing in those amazing eyes. He was suddenly obsessed with finding whoever had hurt her so he could strangle them with his bare hands.

Swallowing down his unexpected anger took every bit of self-control Pete Jenkins possessed, and he knew at that moment that he would, without question, be willing to die to protect her if that’s what it took.

“Ladies, this is Pete Jenkins with the U.S. Marshals,” Fuller announced. “He’s taking point on keeping you safe until this is over. Pete, this is Leah Culverton, and Shannon Rivers.”

Shannon, who nodded that she’d seen Leah’s message, stepped forward and held out her hand.

“Pleased to meet you,” she said quietly, and the touch of her skin against his sent a vibration throughout Pete’s system.

He watched her eyes go wide for a moment, and thought to himself did she feel that, too?

Get it together, dude, you’re on the job, he reminded himself, and murmured, “Likewise,” before reluctantly letting go of her hand.

***

Shannon just managed to stifle a gasp of surprise. The moment she’d locked eyes with the stranger she’d felt her pulse quicken.

He’s tall, over six feet for sure. And built. Those blue eyes of his are amazing, she’d thought to herself before she could help it. I want to run my fingers through that coal-black hair…

Seriously? Now is not the time, girl! Get a grip!

She’d inwardly focused on restoring her heart rate to a reasonable level, then stepped forward with much more confidence than she felt, greeted him, and offered to shake hands.

His large, strong hand had wrapped warmly around hers, and the sensation of electricity sparking between them had almost buckled her knees.

Next came the realization that something big and unexpected and, well, intense was happening, and it made her eyes widen.

She saw a flash of something – recognition? acknowledgement? - in his arctic blue eyes as well, then watched it disappear as he shuttered away whatever he was thinking.

His lips moved, saying something in a voice that she just knew would have made her pulse ratchet up again if she could hear it, then pulled his hand back.

***

Pete paused, then spoke again, this time to Agent Fuller.

“We should get going. It’s about a forty-minute drive. Let me get your suitcases.”

Fuller pulled the bags down from the overhead compartment, handing one to Pete and keeping the other.

“Let’s go,” Fuller said, gesturing with a wave.