Without Fear - Reese Knightley Page 0,25
old friend of mine and my mother’s. We used to live next door to each other in Crumpet. Let’s just say, I wish my mom would have married someone like Sam instead of Tony.”
Macy took the freeway off-ramp and drove through the quiet streets of Crumpet.
After some very fast talking, he’d gotten Macy to at least agree to meet with his team. If things went south from there, he’d come up with another plan. It had been touch and go for a moment. He could see Macy was torn between letting him help or ditching him at the first chance.
His team was near the airport at the only hotel in town. Jaxon had rented the top floor of the three-level hotel, and all of his men were waiting for them to arrive.
Macy turned down the next block and got off the main street. He drove down an alley that Logan hadn’t known existed in the small, one street town. Some spots didn’t even look wide enough to drive a car through, but Macy expertly handled the Audi. Pulling up to the back of the hotel, Macy shut off the engine and reached over to pluck the gun from the glove compartment.
Logan pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jaxon.
“It looks deserted.” He gazed covertly around, checking out the dimly lit back lot.
“It does,” Macy agreed and slapped the cartridge into the chamber of the nine millimeter handgun. “Looks can be deceiving, though.”
The back door to the hotel eased open and Jaxon motioned to them.
Sliding out of the car, he waited until Macy came around and grabbed the younger man’s hand.
Macy shot him a look, but Logan ignored it and laced their fingers together.
Reaching the opening, he pulled Macy through and Jaxon closed the door. The automatic lock clicked into place.
“Hey boss.”
“Hey Jaxon, this is Macy.”
“Hiya.” Jaxon returned Macy’s smile.
“How many are here?” Logan asked as they took the stairs up to the top level.
“Felix, Hayden, Ryder, and me. Gunner and Brick are getting the Carson case started,” Jaxon said, entering the hotel room and locking the door behind them.
Nails clacked on the floor and Echo raced across the room.
“Echo,” Macy breathed and dropped to his knees on the floor. It was the first sign of softness Macy had shown all morning.
The big Bull Mastiff charged into the slender man, almost knocking him over. Macy didn’t mind, he wrapped his arms around Echo’s neck and buried his face in the dog’s fur.
Echo loved Macy, and it was clear to all in the room the feeling was mutual.
Echo had never attached himself to anyone the way he did Macy. It was the weirdest thing Logan had ever seen. The bond between the pair had happened when he’d been on a job to catch a diabolical killer who’d been after Elijah’s husband, Justin. To get the perp, Logan had brought his best dog.
Echo had caught the perp holding a gun in his hand and had taken the guy to the ground. Logan had called the dog off and got him settled when the café door had opened.
Macy had run out of the café, slipping and sliding on the slick sidewalk. Before Logan could blink, Echo had charged across the icy streets.
To his horrified gaze, his attack dog had headed straight for Macy.
“Echo!” Logan remembered screaming, but the dog had ignored the command and kept on going.
To his utter amazement, Echo reached Macy just as the slender man slipped on the ice. Echo steadied Macy with his big body and the man’s slim fingers had caressed Echo’s fur.
“You’re such a good boy,” Macy’s sexy, smoky voice had crooned to Echo.
Logan was so gobsmacked that he couldn’t speak at the time, but that vision of Macy crooning to Echo had stayed with him to this very day.
It wasn’t long after that Logan found himself using any excuse to return to Crumpet.
“I missed you,” Macy murmured to the dog.
Echo wasn’t a licker by nature, but he always managed to get in a few kisses to Macy. The young man giggled and pulled away. Standing, Macy wiped a hand at his cheek and smoothed his fingers over the dog’s large head.
“Macy, this is Ryder, Felix, and Hayden.” He pointed to each one of the men and continued, “Guys, this is Macy Finch, and he’s got a problem that we might be able to help him with.” He left off the details. If Macy wanted to share with his team about being FBI, then he could.
“So,