His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(87)
Author: Shayla Black

“Hell, I’ve got an idea on how to capture him before Callie even walks down the aisle. It won’t even disrupt the wedding,” Logan added.

“Please, Sean . . .” Callie reached out for her fiancé’s hand.

He gripped it. “I don’t like it.”

“I want to be married to you now. And I’d like to wear my wedding dress before my baby bump makes that impossible.”

“I’d rather have you alive than dead,” he retorted.

“I doubt McKeevy would really try to off her in the middle of a high-profile event. I don’t think LOSS wants that kind of attention,” Hunter said.

Sean nodded. “That’s probably true.”

But he obviously wasn’t sold on that thought.

“Besides, everything Callie once held secret is out in the open, along with the fact that her father destroyed his copy of the research. So maybe this is a recon mission or some other fishing expedition,” Joaquin suggested and turned to Bailey. “Or maybe they’ve figured out that you’re in Dallas with Callie. Maybe McKeevy is hoping you’ll turn up at the wedding.”

“And make yourself easy pickings,” Axel added. “Because if he has to choose between offing Callie for revenge and torturing you to find Viktor Aslanov’s research, guess what he’ll take?”

The thought of seeing that man in person—even in a crowded church—made her stomach twist with anxiety until she thought she’d be sick. Being cornered alone with him . . . Utter panic filled her.

“I don’t think we should stay here anymore,” Joaquin said. “We know McKeevy broke into your house and trashed it, then left Houston, headed north toward Dallas. If he suspects at all that you’re here, he’ll stop at nothing to get to you.”

Bailey didn’t want to put anyone else at risk, especially people who felt a lot like friends.

Logan nodded. “In your place, I’d be shoving Bailey in a car and fucking flooring it to Timbuktu, if I could.”

“Ditto.” Hunter lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “I don’t see what offing Callie gets him at this point except a cheap revenge thrill. But Bailey . . . That’s high stakes.”

“You’re truly the last living link to that research,” Axel reminded her.

Thorpe and Sean exchanged a glance, then looked at Joaquin, who nodded. “We’ll be leaving.”

Bailey wanted to cry. How ironic that she’d come to Dominion terrified out of her mind and wishing to be anywhere else. In a couple of short days, she felt as if she’d grown closer to these people than she had to anyone else in years.

“Any ideas where you’ll go?” Sean asked.

“No. But we’ll figure it out.”

“We know of a good houseboat just outside of Vegas.” Thorpe winked at Callie.

“Mitchell! That was low-down.” She huffed, trying not to smile. “And kind of wonderful.”

“Only kind of?”

Sean looped an arm around her and kissed her temple.

“A lot,” she confessed with a dreamy sigh.

Joaquin just shook his head. “I have some ideas on location. No matter what, we’ll be out of your hair in the next two hours.”

He stood and helped Bailey to her feet. She was loath to leave but didn’t see any other way.

“Thanks for everything.” He stuck out his hand to Thorpe, then to Sean. “Best of luck with your wedding and your future.”

Sean gripped his hand. “When the danger is off, come back to see us.”

“You two are welcome.” Thorpe smiled and turned to Bailey, who fought the urge to cry. “Take care of yourself.”

“Thank you—all three of you,” she said from the bottom of her heart.

Callie rose, her blue eyes sad as she held out her arms. “Be careful. Stay safe.”

Bailey nodded and hugged the woman, knowing she had no way to keep such a promise. She couldn’t even be sure she’d have a chance to reconnect with these people. “I will. You’ll make a beautiful bride and a great mother. Congratulations.”

She wanted to say more, but Hunter shot Joaquin a pointed glance. “What should I tell your sister?”

“Nothing to say right now.” He wrapped his hot fingers around Bailey’s arm. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Thirteen

IT didn’t take long to gather up their stuff. She and Joaquin had arrived at Dominion with next to nothing. Other than the few items Callie had given her, she was leaving empty-handed. Though she would have loved some of the comforts of home, Bailey knew McKeevy had destroyed much of it. Another reason to despise him. Besides Blane and dance, she wondered if she had anything worth going back to.