Deadly Target [IAD Agency 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (8 page)

Gage’s vision went red. His mind went blank of everything but his raging need for her. Before he knew it his lips were on hers, hard. She tasted like sweet cream and coffee and it fed his hunger even more until he thought he’d die for the taste of her. He could feel her seeping into his pores, her taste, her touch, her sweet scent of lemon vanilla that made him want to bury his head in her hair just to breathe her in.

Her mouth opened under his brutal assault, her tongue stroking into his mouth as his surged into hers, delving deep. Both of them took and gave, meeting beat for beat as equals. His hunger for her had him shaking as he jerked her body closer to him, his hand holding her head in place so she couldn’t escape him.

The radio in the truck sparked to life, emitting a crackling sound before a voice filled the truck, making Gage and Mikayla jerk apart in surprise.

“Gage? You there?” Gage’s best friend, Deputy Nick Cooper’s voice called out.

Still breathing heavily, Gage stared at Mikayla with eyes so bright they practically were glowing. He picked up the radio mic, holding it up as he held eye contact with her. “I’m here.”

“You anywhere close to Cedar Bridge?”

“About ten minutes away, why?”

“Flash flood took out the bridge. There is a bus on it and kids in the water. We need help quick. I’m two minutes away and we have emergency vehicles moving in, but the call came while they were out at another crash site. I need you here buddy, and fast.”

“I’m on my way.” Gage put the mic down and put the truck into gear, taking off so fast that the wheels slipped on the snow before the truck lurched forward on the road. He shot a warning glance toward Mikayla. “This isn’t finished. We aren’t finished.”

No, they weren’t, but they should be. And Mikayla couldn’t help but wonder if this hunger between them wouldn’t destroy them both.

* * * *

The truck pulled to a quick stop beside a police jeep. As they stared out into the wintery scene they looked into a nightmare. The bridge had collapsed in the middle from the pressure of the icy river water and the bus was halfway immersed into the frigid water, precariously close to being swept downstream along the icy torrent.

The sound of the rushing river water almost drowned out the screams and cries of the children, some still in the bus while others were hanging onto pieces of the broken bridge, trying to escape being submerged in the freezing water. A few other cars were parked around the area and about a half dozen men and women were fighting to get the kids to the safety of the river bank.

Gage opened the door and got out of the truck, letting Wulf jump down before he slammed his door shut. He all but snarled at Mikayla as she opened her own door and slid out of the vehicle.

“Stay.”

Her spine stiffened. “I’m not your bitch, boy. Don’t take that tone with me.” He’d learn that she didn’t take orders well and certainly not when given in that manner.

Gage raked a hand through his hair and glared at her. “Christ. Will you just stay here? You’re already injured and will get in the way. I have to go help.”

“I can help.”

He shook his head dismissively. “No. Stay here, baby. I want you where I don’t have to worry about you. Wulf, guard Mikayla,” he ordered the dog before sprinting across the snow-covered riverbed. Mikayla rolled her eyes as she watched the scene from the short distance away. She could hear the ominous creak of the metal groan against the pressure of the rushing water. She wanted to help. Hell, she was going to help. It might hurt her leg a little, but she could climb down. There was no way she could sit idly on the sidelines when children were in danger.

“Come on, Wulf. Screw your stupid owner and his orders,” Mikayla muttered at the dog. Wulf gave a happy bark and wagged his tail as he pranced in place at her side. She had only taken two steps when she heard them.

Icy fear shivered down her spine as she heard the faint voices of two children calling out for help over the rushing rapids. Mikayla scanned the area and her heart nearly stopped as she saw two heads further down the river as two little kids hung onto a broken tree lodged between some rocks near the center of the river.

“Hey! Over here!” Mikayla called out as she saw an ambulance pull up close to the bridge. It was no use. The others were too far away to hear her and she knew that the water was too cold for the kids to hang on for long.

“Stay here, Wulf,” Mikayla ordered with a hand gesture. The dog whined but sat down and looked up at her with a questioning quirk of his head. Moving quickly, Mikayla rounded the truck and jumped into the driver’s seat. Sending out silent thanks that Gage had left his keys in the truck, she put it into gear and drove farther down until she was just ahead of where the kids were hanging on for dear life. She spun the truck around so the back was facing the river and got out.

“Help! Please, we can’t hold on!”

She turned to see two little girls about nine years old hanging onto the tree branches. They were blue with cold and their voices were weak. Mikayla could see their little hands were slipping farther down the branches and knew she didn’t have much time.

She hurried to the covered truck bed and opened it. Relief flooded her as she saw various items thrown into the back that would help her. She pulled out a long length of coiled rope that looked like it would have been used for rock climbing. Perfect. This would work for what she needed it for.

She felt a brush of fur and looked down to Wulf as he stood by her, a silent sentinel. She bent down and rubbed his head, holding his face in her hands. Feeling like an idiot, she said, “Go get help, boy. Get Gage.” She repeated the demand, pointing a finger toward the bridge. Wulf let out a bark and raced across the snow-covered ground, obviously understanding her plea.

Not willing to wait for additional help to arrive, Mikayla tied one end of the rope to the truck’s tow lever and looped the other end in a large loose circle. She yanked at the knot hard to ensure it wouldn’t unravel and looked toward the bridge. Wulf was running toward the others but still hadn’t made it yet.

She towed off her boots and took off her down coat and sweater. Shit, it was cold standing in nothing but a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, but the rest of her clothing would just weigh her down and make it more difficult to maneuver once she was in the water. Mikayla looped the circle of rope around one of her arms so it laid across her chest, with her other arm free. She hurried to the edge of the water and braced herself.

God, she hated the water, hated it so much that the fear was almost incapacitating. But she wouldn’t let it stop her. Not when the lives of two girls were in jeopardy. She would do what she had to, just like she always did. Mikayla thought she heard her name and turned her head to see Gage running toward her.

“No! Mikayla!” His voice was faint as the wind carried it toward her.

“I’m slipping!” One of the girls cried out. “Help me!”

Gage was still too far away. Time had run out. Mikayla panted in a few deep even breaths then jumped into the icy river.

The cold literally stole Mikayla’s breath as she plunged into the icy rapids. It felt like sharp needles were stabbing her entire body. She fought off the initial panic that tried to set in as she struggled to keep her arms and legs moving so she broke the surface of the water and gasped for air.

The river was colder and deeper than she had first realized, but it made maneuvering into position easier as she used strong strokes to propel her forward, using the river’s natural current to take her downstream to where the girls were struggling to hold on.

Fight through the fear.

She kept repeating the mantra over and over again in her head as she swam down the river.

Mikayla was happy that her calculations of the distance were spot on and she reached the tree where the kids were hanging on just in time. She took a firm hold of the tree, using it to move closer to where the kids were waiting for her.

Closer now, she could see that one of the children was holding the other in place. Hypothermia had set into the other girl and time was of the essence. The first girl sobbed with relief as she saw Mikayla, but the branch she was holding onto broke and she let out a scream. Mikayla lunged forward and grabbed the girl’s arm before the river took her and she pulled the girl to her with arms that felt leaden by the cold and fatigue.

“I’ve got you, sweetie.”

“No one could hear us, but you came. You came for us,” the child sobbed.

“Everything is going to be okay now,” Mikayla said, praying it were true. “Climb onto my back, under the rope so you are tucked in. Hurry now.”

The child fumbled a few times but was able to wedge herself under the rope so she was clinging to Mikayla’s back like a monkey. Mikayla used her body to surround the other girl, holding her unconscious body in place again the tree. She could hear frantic calls coming from the river bank but didn’t let herself get distracted. “Come on, honey. Let’s get out of this water.”

“Lindsey won’t wake up,” the girl sobbed from her back.

Working as fast as she could, Mikayla shoved Lindsey’s unmoving body under the rope and held her with an arm wrapped around her. She looked over to the side of the river and saw Gage standing there with a man next to him while another was in the truck looking back at her.

“What’s your name, sweetie?” Mikayla asked, her voice shaking with cold.

“Megan. I’m so cold.”

“I know you are, Megan. My name is Mikayla. Just hold on and we’ll get warm soon, I promise.” Mikayla slowly worked her way around the tree so the rope wouldn’t get tangled. “This next part is a little scary, but it’s also going to be fun. When I give the order, the truck is going to pull us onto shore and we’ll be able to get warm again. It is going to be scary when we are being pulled, but you have to hold on tight to me, okay?”

“Okay,” Megan said into her neck.

“Good girl. Now deep breath, Megan. Here we go. Pull us out!” Mikayla yelled, releasing the tree so they wouldn’t get caught up in the branches.

The man in the truck drove forward, pulling the three bodies in the water quickly to shore. Hands grabbed at them as soon as they were on land, wrapping their bodies tight in blankets and coverings. The little girl Lindsey was taken and rushed toward the waiting ambulance. Megan screamed as another man tried to take her away from Mikayla.

“No, no!” the little girl screamed repeatedly.

Mikayla turned to the traumatized girl and hugged her frozen, wet form to her. “It’s okay, sweetie. Go with him, Megan. He’s going to make sure you get warm.”

Megan reluctantly released her hold on Mikayla and the other man picked her up, rushing her to the ambulance as well. Her mind was sluggish, slowed down until everything barely seemed real. Mikayla tried to lift the rope off of her and winced as her arms barely moved.

The rope was yanked away from her and she was jerked into a hard body. Gage’s warmth seeped into her chilled body as he rocked her gently on his lap. Another warm body pressed against her from behind. She heard Wulf’s whine and knew her furry friend was pressed up against her back.

“Good dog,” she whispered.

“Goddamn it, I am going to spank the shit out of you,” Gage growled at her. “You’re fucking crazy, you know that?”

She smiled and absently realized her teeth were chattering when she tried to speak again. “You do that and I might just shoot you.” She wedged her cold nose into the crook of his neck, burrowing into him seeking more of his warmth. She let her eyes drift closed as shivers raked through her.

“Gage, we should take her in,” a male voice said from behind them as he untied the rope from the back of the truck and threw it into the bed, slamming the back closed. “We’re out of heat blankets, and she needs to be checked over.”

“S-s’all right. I’m okay,” Mikayla said on a slur. “Just need a nap.”

“Fuck.” Gage snarled again as he quickly picked her up, taking her to his truck. “I’ll take her in. Take Wulf will you.”

“Fuck man, your dog hates me.”

“Do it, Nick,” Gage ordered then slammed the door shut.

Gage put the vehicle in gear and took off with her lying on the front seat with her head in his lap. Mikayla began to fumble under the blanket, causing Gage’s gaze to flicker down to her.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“F-freezing,” she stuttered out. “Have to get t-these off.” She was trying to get her T-shirt and jeans off, but her fingers felt numb. She gave up, pulling the blanket around her. Her eyes closed and she wished more than anything to just go to sleep. Gage let out a string of curses and jerked his truck over to the side of the road, speeding down an empty lane then jerked to a stop. His seat belt was undone and he was jerking her up into sitting position.

“Don’t you fucking go to sleep on me! You hear me? You stay awake!” Gage ripped the blanket open and yanked her T-shirt off of her then snapped her bra as if it were made of string before throwing both items onto the floor of the trunk.

“Quit shaking me.” Mikayla opened her eyes to see Gage’s blazing down at her with concern. “S-so cold, Gage. I’m…”

“Just hold on, baby. I’ll get you warm.” Gage pulled at her jeans, undoing them and dragging the sodden material roughly down her legs. She let out a hiss of pain as his hand rubbed over the bandage covering the stitches on her leg where they had pried a bullet out of her less than a couple of weeks ago.