Dangerous Rescue - Linzi Baxter Page 0,14

need to find her.”

“She’s at her house,” Cy said. The sound of keys clicking came through the phone.

“Okay,” he grumbled, irritated. She’d said she was going to a friend’s house, and instead, she was still home, putting herself in further danger. “Gumby’s going to get in touch with you. He said his team isn’t slated for an op for a couple weeks.”

“He already sent me a text. Hudson…you need to watch your back on this one. I have all the faith in the world that Gumby and the team can protect Siena. The mission you’re going on doesn’t sit well with me even though you’ll have someone watching your back.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t found anything concrete, but it doesn’t feel right. They shouldn’t be pulling you into the operation this late.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Hudson paused. “And thank you for the help.”

“Just get your ass back.”

They said their goodbyes, and he sped down the street, wanting to get to Siena's house. He pulled into the driveway behind her small car and let out a frustrated sigh. She’d lied to him. He exited the car and walked to her front door. All the lights were off in the house. He expected she might be asleep since it was close to midnight.

He pressed the doorbell and waited. Nothing. He banged his fists against the door, but it didn’t open. Hudson raised his arm to bang again when a gun was jabbed into his rib.

5

Siena

“Lock the door, and don’t call the police,” Angel growled.

After Mia went to bed and she couldn’t sleep she went back out to the living room to watch TV with Angel. They were on another episode of Criminal Minds when lights flashed out the window. Someone pulled into Siena’s driveway. Siena had tried to talk her friend into calling the cops. Instead, Angel pulled a gun from a locked drawer in the end table. She had so many questions for Angel, but they were cut short when another loud bang sounded.

She watched as her friend went outside. Siena was still sure calling the cops was the best idea. She grabbed her phone, and her thumb hovered over the nine buttons on the screen.

The loud knocking stopped. Siena opened the window and heard hushed voices back and forth, followed by a loud growl and a huff. It didn’t sound dangerous. Siena grabbed a knife from the kitchen counter and opened the front door.

Angel stood in the driveway next to a tall man. In the dark, she couldn’t see his face, but Siena didn’t need to see it because she knew who it was. “What are you doing here, Hudson?” she said, cutting into their conversation.

“Me? You’re the one staying with one of the deadliest assassins in the world,” he said.

“Jesus, Casper,” Angel mumbled.

“Casper? Assassin?” Siena asked. “You have Angel confused with someone else. She’s an international real estate agent.”

Hudson rolled his eyes and pointed at her friend. “Really, a real estate agent? You couldn’t come up with a better cover?”

“It worked perfectly fine until you went around blabbing, and I’m not an assassin.”

Assassin. Siena looked over her shoulder. She felt like someone was watching them. A conversation about assassins and Navy SEALs wasn’t appropriate for outside.

The truth was, she didn’t want to be near either of them at the moment. Angel had lied to her. Hudson had left her. The betrayal from both of them stung. She also knew Hudson well enough to know he wouldn’t drop the conversation or leave until he’d had his say. The speed at which he’d found her irritated her as much as him not listening to her request. She told him on the phone she was at a friend’s house and didn’t need his help.

“Let’s go inside,” Siena said.

Angel glared at Hudson one more time before walking back into her house. Siena followed her, and Hudson walked in next. He closed the door and locked it. The three went into the kitchen. Angel pulled a bottle of wine from the fridge and a beer, which she handed to Hudson. Siena waited for Hudson to explain why he was at her house at midnight, demanding that she talk to him.

“You need to grab your things,” Hudson said.

“Really?” she countered.

Siena used to do what Hudson said at the drop of a hat, but a lot had changed over the years. She didn’t follow blindly anymore, and she sure as hell didn’t listen to demands. He still hadn’t answered the question as to why he came to her house