The Hero She Needs (Unbroken Heroes Book 1)(28)

“Sure,” Boone said. “He’ll love it.”

Declan held the little girl while she patted the dog and beamed.

“She should be in bed,” Dani added. “But she refused until Declan could do the honors.”

“Which will be very soon.” Declan expertly set the little girl on his hip, and she snuggled against his shoulder. “Boone, we have a couple of clean cellphones for you and Gemma, as well as a secure laptop. And some weapons and gear.”

“Thank you,” Boone said.

“And I have this for you.” Darcy held up a small device. “It’ll create a secure hotspot for you that can’t be traced.”

“I can offer you the apartment upstairs, if you need a place to stay,” Declan added.

Boone shook his head. “I’ve got a friend in the mountains. We’re going up there.”

Declan nodded. “Remote, and out of sight. Good choice. There are too many cameras in the city.”

“And these guys have already tracked us twice since we’ve been on the road. Not giving them another chance.”

A computer pinged and Darcy whirled, then tapped on the keyboard. “Guys, Vander just sent some intel.” She looked up, her blue gaze sharp. “He’s identified who hired the mercenaries who are after Gemma.”

Boone stiffened.

Gemma gasped. “Who?”

“A multimillionaire English businessman by the name of William Barron Carruthers.”

Declan and Cal both cursed.

“You know him?” Boone asked.

“Yeah,” Declan said. “Carruthers runs some legitimate businesses, but he’s well known in the right circles for selling arms.”

“An arms dealer?” Gemma sounded horrified.

“Carruthers is high-end,” Cal added. “He doesn’t pedal guns and grenades. He only does big stuff. Drones, missiles, high-tech systems.”

“Carruthers owns a vast estate in Vermont,” Darcy added. “I suspect that’s where your abductors were taking you when you escaped.

“What could he want with me?” Gemma said. “I can assure you that my father’s company does not have anything to do with weaponry. Expanse specializes in online retail and cloud storage.”

“We’ll work it out,” Boone said. “And then we’ll expose the asshole.”

“Vander said to remind you that your mission priority is keeping her safe,” Declan said.

Boone nodded and took Gemma’s hand. “I haven’t forgotten.”





CHAPTER ELEVEN





“You like Mexican food?”

Gemma glanced at Boone as he drove them through Denver. Her mind was still spinning after the attack at the airport and learning that an international arms dealer was after her.

“Who the hell is this Carruthers, Boone? I can’t wrap my head around this. Nothing Expanse does should interest him.”

He reached over and gripped her knee. “It’s going to be okay. Once we get to the mountains, we have the laptop from Declan. We can do a little digging of our own on Carruthers.”

Okay, that would help. Doing anything was better than just feeling like a sitting duck with a target painted on her back.

“So, Mexican food?” Boone asked again.

She drew in a deep breath and tried to relax. They were in a new vehicle the THS team had given them. The Jeep Cherokee was dark green, a few years old, and best of all, the mercenaries had no idea they were driving it. “Sure, I like Mexican food. One word. Cheese. After sugar, it’s a favorite thing of mine.”

“We’ll grab some Mexican takeout for dinner.”

She cleared her throat. “Actually, there’s a bakery I’d love to visit. After the last few days, I need to stock up on comfort food. There’s one in LA but I don’t get to it often enough.”

Boone smiled and shook his head. “Is it open this late?”

“It just so happens that it is. They make these incredible doughnuts.” She tapped on her new cellphone. “Looks like there’s a decent Mexican restaurant nearby, as well. Lots of good reviews.”

“Burritos and doughnuts it is. Give me the address.”

She beamed at him. “Thanks, Boone.”

They had a plan. The Treasure Hunter Security gang had given them a Jeep and supplies. They’d grab their food and then disappear into the mountains.

“Does your friend know we’re coming?”

“Yeah. I gave him a call. I almost didn’t. Sometimes it’s best just to surprise Shep. He’s not the most social guy.”

“Another loner.”

“Yeah, but he makes me look extroverted. Anti-social tendencies aside, Shep’s a damn good man. I’ve seen him risk his life, again and again, to do what’s right. To save his fellow soldiers, or rescue women and children. He doesn’t mind disobeying an order if he has to. Used to drive Vander crazy.”

“I can’t imagine Vander losing his cool.”

“No. He hides it pretty well. We’d only know when he’d chew Shep out after a mission was done.” Boone found a parking spot near the bakery. “But Vander always protected him from the brass.”

All these heroes. Willing to put themselves on the line for others.