commit any terrorism.”
She grunted. “Bad enough when I thought it was the law comin’ here to start some trouble, but they ain’t even the law?”
“No, ma’am,” Jacob said.
She looked over her shoulder. “Look, I don’t know what the hell is goin’ on, but they’re lookin’ hard for you. You let me distract them, and you go out the back. I’m gonna make a few calls and…”
Levi shook his head. “Don’t put yourself at risk for us, Laura. These are bad people, and they won’t hesitate to hurt you.”
“And I got me a rifle that says they better think twice about layin’ a hand on me.”
Jacob snorted, not caring that it earned him a dirty look from Levi. “I’m starting to really like you, Laura.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. And while you’re exactly my type, I’m guessin’ the condom wrapper and bottle of lube in the hallway tells me I’m not exactly yours.”
Jacob felt his face get hot. “Uh…”
Levi bowed his head. “Laura…”
“About figures, you manage to find yourself a man after I went through all the trouble of convincing my cousin to come visit too,” she sighed.
“Your cousin...the oil guy?” Levi asked incredulously.
“That’s the one. Makes good money too.”
“He lives on a refinery in the middle of the ocean for half the year!”
“And is hardworking and very handsome. No offense Jacob, this was before I knew about you.”
Jacob sighed. “None taken. I promise you that.”
“My life is a shitshow,” Levi muttered.
“Language,” Laura chided.
Before Levi or Jacob could think of what to say to that, they were interrupted by the door to the hallway bursting open. Laura gave a yelp as the two men from the storefront barreled into the hallway, guns raised.
Jacob grabbed hold of Laura, yanking her back into Levi and putting himself between them and the men. The first rounded the corner, gun out. Jacob snapped his hand out, grabbing his wrist and pushing it down. The man stumbled, with Jacob grabbing his head and shoving it into the solid wood doorway. The fake agent grunted, slumping forward, but was caught by Jacob.
Without missing a beat, Jacob shoved the limp body of the first into the second. He grit his teeth at the sound of the man’s gun going off in the tussle. Stepping forward, he grabbed the second’s face just as he managed to toss off his half-unconscious partner. Jacob shoved him back, bouncing his head off the wall before driving his knee into the man’s gut. After that, clenching his hands together, he drove his palms into the man’s neck, dropping him instantly.
A swift kick finished the job on the first man, and Jacob bent down to gather up their weapons. “We don’t have much time. They’re going to have heard that gunshot and come running.”
“Fuck, what do we do?” Levi asked, stepping around a wide-eyed and gaping Laura.
Jacob checked the guns, holding one out to Levi. “Think you can manage?”
Levi winced. “I’m not what you’d call a good shot. There’s a reason I had that shotgun.”
Which had been left behind in their flight and was of no use to them now. Jacob shot him an understanding look but wiggled the gun for emphasis. Levi took it, still grimacing, but at least he didn’t put his finger immediately on the trigger, so Jacob trusted the man could handle it.
Jacob stood up. “Laura, you’ll need to stay out of sight. These people don’t care who you are, they’ll do whatever it takes to get to Levi. If you can, get a hold of the townspeople, let them know what you can, but most of all, that they need to stay out of the way.”
“No one gets hurt because of me,” Levi muttered.
“We can handle ourselves, but we don’t need anyone else getting caught in the crossfire,” Jacob told her.
She continued to stare, looking between Jacob and the two men. “You sure can take care of yourselves. Holy hell, Levi, is being a badass what you look for in a man?”
Levi flushed. “And you corrected me on my language.”
“That was before I saw Rambo here take two guys out like it was nothing,” she sputtered.
“Should’ve seen what he did at my house,” Levi said with a shrug.
She turned to him. “Oh my god, you are turned on by it.”
Jacob stared at them, suddenly realizing he too very much wanted to know the answer to that question. Levi glanced toward the ceiling with a scowl, and not for the first time, Jacob wondered what the spirit had to say. Whatever it