Invincible (World of Danger Book 1) Read online

  “Stop it! Stop agreeing with me,” she said, wiping moisture away from her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, especially in front of him, but she’d just witnessed too much to stay emotionally calm. “Tell me why you’re alive and my boss is dead, because I’m barely keeping it together.”

  “If you’re going to pass out, or feel as if you’re going to vomit, just put your head—”

  “Shut up!” she cried. “Just shut up while I think. In fact, stop this SUV and let me out.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, God damn it!” She grabbed at the door handle, but it wouldn’t open. “Let me out!

  “Stop it, Lidah. Fuck! Just wait okay?”

  A flash of sanity returned. She didn’t answer, but she also didn’t try to open the door again. Her mind raced with all types of thoughts, but all the tracks led back to the man driving. She looked at him, trying to find the young man she had known and loved, and knew there were many things that she should be asking. Things she should be analyzing. Yet her mind kept replaying the moment, long ago, when she learned that his house had burned down with him and his father inside. That night had been forever seared in her psyche. A stain on her whole life and now to see him, it turned everything she’d known and lived through upside down.

  “What happened?” she finally asked. Starting at the beginning seemed to the best first step.

  He sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “I’ve had twenty-two years of waiting, Lee. I think you owe me the time.”

  “Very well.” He turned onto an old dirt road. “If we’re going to talk about this before dealing with the shooter, then we might as well start at the beginning.”

  He turned the wheel and she immediately recognized where they were heading. His house had been the only one down this bumpy country lane. The last time she’d been on it, however, had been to see the remnants of the fire that had taken him from her.

  “Someone did die that night,” he finally said. “My father. But it wasn’t from the fire.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Through the countryside they continued, driving deeper into the darkness. Eventually the SUV came to a stop where his old house used to be. Lee turned off the engine and they sat there, staring at the empty field. The only hint that a home had been there once upon a time was a propane container slowly rusting away. Bulldozers had erased everything else.

  “I came home that night, after dropping you off, to find my father tied to a chair, slumped over and bloody. He was already dead.”

  She gasped. “What happened?”

  “A simple explanation is revenge. My father was part of a branch of the government that operated strictly off the books, doing the dirty work that needed to be done.”

  She wasn’t sure if he was making this up. It sounded way too James Bond to be believable. “Are you saying he was a spy?”

  “No. He was a hired gun, sent in to deal with situations that the government couldn’t legally or publicly do anything about. He met my mother through an undercover operation, and when I was born, they began making plans to get out.”

  “You told me your mom died in a car accident.”

  “I had to say that. I couldn’t tell you the truth that my mom was killed while on assignment in the Middle East. My parents had always been upfront with me, and I knew the lies we lived were secrets no one could know. Once my mom died, my dad walked away right then and there, and he moved here, to a small little pit stop in Kentucky hoping to outrun his past.”

  Despite herself, his story intrigued her. “Go on.”

  “That brings me to the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance,” he said softly. “Like I said, after I dropped you off and came home, I saw the warning light my father had installed not turned on. A just in case scenario. Three men were inside, waiting for me. The rest, well, I told you he was already dead. I managed to kill the fuckers responsible, and that’s when dad’s work showed up to take me in. Since I was eighteen, I was recruited. And here we are.”

  She didn’t know what to say. He’d wrapped up the story with a neat little bow, but instinctively she knew under the surface existed a plethora of information he didn’t, or couldn’t, share. He sounded crazy and she didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

  “I know how it sounds,” he said.

  “No, you don’t. I’m wondering if I’m sitting in the car with a madman.”

  “I would never lie to you.”

  “Omitting the truth is lying, Lee.”

  “I only did it to protect you. Do you think I wanted to leave you? I had plans of us getting married, starting a family…”

  “Stop!”

  “What?”

  “Just … don’t go there. Okay? The past is gone. Let’s focus on the here and now and right now my boss is lying dead on the road.”

  “I told you Lake is taking care of him. Right now, it’s all about you. I want to protect you.”

  “From whom?”

  “I don’t know yet. I was protecting a senator, and someone opened fired on him. Before I could find the shooter, he disappeared. The next thing I knew I got a picture of you texted to my phone. Somehow this fucker hacked into my personal history and figured out the best way to get to me was through you.”

  “But why? I’m nothing to you. Not anymore.”

  He glanced at her. Even in the darkness of the SUV his handsomeness took her breath away. He’d always had that effect on her.

  “If you think that,” he said softly, “you’re very much mistaken.”

  Once more her heart thumped heavily in her chest, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of his words or proximity, or maybe a combination of both.

  “Don’t,” she whispered. “I can’t… We should call the police. Or you can take me to the station. You don’t need to protect me, Lee.”

  He shook his head. “The police are useless against him.”

  “Who is this man and why does he want to hurt you?”

  “I don’t know. I wish to hell I did, but right now we have to take this one step at a time.”

  They fell into an uneasy silence. In truth, she didn’t know what to say to him because he was a ghost she was ill-prepared to face. Part of her wondered if this was some sort of practical joke he and Wally were playing on her, but if it was, it was the cruelest thing she’d ever seen.

  “Why aren’t you married?” he finally asked, completely changing the subject. “I expected to learn you had a husband and a passel of kids running around.”

  Of all the things he could’ve said, that hurt her the most. Pain pushed down the anger, shutting down all other emotions. She opened her door and got out of the SUV, ignoring Lee’s call because she had to escape from him and the hurt he caused.

  “Lidah!” he shouted, and she heard a car door slam right before he grabbed her upper arm and swung her around to face him. “It’s not safe out here in the open.”

  “I don’t care.”

  He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong?” She broke his grip and took a step away from him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “You looked … broken.”

  “I am broken, Lee! My world shattered that night you died. So much so that I’ve never been able to connect with another person. You can’t fall in love with someone when your heart is broken.”

  “My world shattered, too,” he said harshly. “Believe me, I didn’t want to leave you, but I had to because those men that killed my father would’ve come after you.”

  “Christ, you sound like a badly written movie.”

  “This isn’t fiction! Your boss was just killed, if you remember.”

  “Oh, I remember. It’s hard to forget when I have his blood splattered on my uniform.”

  “Then why are you mad at me for saving you?”

  She took a deep breath. “That’s not why I’m mad. How much do you know about my life, Lee? Did you ever think about me? Did you ever look up what happened to me after you were
pronounced dead?”

  “Yes, I thought about you,” he replied softly. “My home computer system is named Lidah. I use your birthday for my bank pin number. I buy a fucking pink rose every year on the anniversary of the Sadie Hawkins dance because it was the most beautiful night of my fucking life. And I dream about you every God damn time I close my eyes!”

  His words shook her, and her shoulders slumped as the blinding anger drained away. “You’re twenty-two years too late to say all that to me, Lee. Actions have consequences and our one night… I got pregnant.”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I’m a father?”

  She shook her head. “Not anymore. He never took a breath. I miscarried.”

  They stood facing each other for a long moment, staring at one another. Even in the dim light of the moon the shock radiated off him in waves. She felt sorry for him because she’d had twenty-two years to get over the fact she couldn’t carry their son to term. He was just now starting to process the heartbreaking nightmare.

  “Lee?”

  He let out a harsh breath and bent over, placing his hands on his knees. He stayed like that for several moments, gulping in deep breaths of air. She let him have his moment. Let him adjust to the idea that he had been a father for a brief moment in time. “I didn’t know. I wish I had.”

  “You were dead.

  “Holy fuck. I wasn’t there for you when you needed me most.”

  “The past … it’s gone. We can’t change anything.”

  “No wonder you hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you,” she said softly. “I could never do that. I just… Take me home, Lee. I can’t hash this out now. I don’t want to talk about our son.”

  “A boy. Fuck!” He straightened and looked into the night sky, shook his head, and turned to face her. The pain that had been there a moment ago had left. He was back to the old Lee and the transition saddened her. How did a person learn to switch their emotions off so quickly? “You can’t go home. The sniper will be waiting for you there.”

  “How do you know that? If my job was to bring you out into the open, then I’ve fulfilled my importance.”

  “You’re still important. He knows that. He will come after you again and again until I find him and kill him.”

  She flinched at the emotionless word. “Then take me to the police.”

  “Did you not hear me when I said they were useless?”

  She poked him in the chest. “I’d rather take my chances with them then dredge up the past with you.”

  He took hold of her hand and threaded their fingers. A tingle shot up her arm, awakening a rollercoaster of emotions she thought long gone. She tried to tug free, but he held firm.

  “No,” he whispered. “Not yet.”

  “Let me go.”

  He pulled her against his body. Hip to hip. Chest to chest. Her breathing turned shallow as desire speared through her, rippling over every nerve ending. It wasn’t fair that he could do this to her again, that he held this much sway over her body. That could’ve been written off as teenage hormones all those years ago, but it made no sense now. It wasn’t like she’d been a monk for twenty-two years, but to know he still made her pussy wet was just another blow she couldn’t deal with.

  “Lee—”

  “How can you deny this?” he asked. “I’ve been dead inside for twenty-two years, missing you. Missing this. These are horrible circumstances, but I can’t deny I’m glad I’m here now. I’ve missed you so much, Lidah.”

  He bent his head and she knew he intended to kiss her, but she couldn’t allow that. Not right then. It wasn’t the time or the place. Too much had transpired and her head still spun with all she had witnessed and learned. She turned away and his lips landed on her cheek. Still, he kissed the skin, lingering for a moment before pulling back. Their gazes met, locked, and part of her wished she could tell him everything that had happened to her in the years he’d been gone, but the words didn’t come forth. What good could the knowledge possibly serve now?

  “This is a mistake,” she whispered.

  He stared at her for a long moment before running a hand through his hair. “The only mistake was me bringing you here with a shooter still gunning for us.”

  “Then why did you bring me here, Lee?”

  “Because I took one look at your photo, at how you’ve grown into a beautifully mature woman, and I knew I wanted you back.”

  “Our past is one big tragedy. Where does that leave us now?”

  “It leaves me making up a helluva lot to you,” he told her. “But make it up I will. Right now, however, you’ve got to come with me so I can protect you.”

  “Come with you where?”

  “A safe haven. Until I find this asshole and end him.”

  She took a deep breath to steady herself. “Okay. I’ll go with you to your safe haven, but as for us … I don’t know. I can’t promise anything.”

  “I know,” he said softly.

  She walked past him, back to the SUV, and it took him a few minutes to follow. But when he did, he didn’t say anything as he slid behind the wheel and backed away from the empty homestead. Turning her head to the side, she let the tears silently slide down her cheeks.

  Chapter Three

  It was difficult not to look at her. In fact, it took all his willpower not to stare at her like a little lost puppy or follow her around like one. Jesus, all his dignity seemed to have fled the coop. What a fucking way to resurrect himself, not only over the death of her boss, but at the painful memory of their lost child.

  A son. Jesus. He didn’t know how to process the information, except to file it away for a later date. Instead he thought about Dr. Wally. He vaguely remembered the old man, being the only dentist in the tri-county area. It was a shame the man had died like he had, and yes, part of him felt guilty at having brought evil to the doorstep of Cleavon, Kentucky. But he’d learned long ago to dispel guilt, so he easily pushed it out of his mind. One more crime on his blackened soul wasn’t going to make much difference when the devil finally came to stake his claim.

  “Where are we going?” she asked quietly.

  “Booneville.”

  “To a safe house?”

  Lee shook his head. “Any information that was encrypted in my company’s database has the potential of being corrupted. I can’t trust he won’t find us in one of the designated protection homes.”

  “So why does that take us to Booneville?”

  “Lake and I decided to use that as our headquarters. He’s waiting with a helicopter. I’m flying us somewhere you’ll be safe. Somewhere off the government grid.”

  “You’re a pilot, too?”

  “I’m a lot of things,” he said wearily.

  “I just bet you are,” she muttered

  It didn’t take him long to figure out the muffled sniffing and deep breathing was because she was trying not to cry. It made his heart lurch.

  “Are you crying?”

  “Not over you, Lee McMasters!” she stressed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “I’m upset that Wally died because of me and our past.”

  “Masterson,” he said softly.

  “What?”

  “My name. It’s Lee Masterson now.” She didn’t answer. As much as he should let it drop—just save her life and then leave once more—he couldn’t. There was too much between them to simply let sleeping dogs lie. “I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen.”

  “Then or now?”

  “Then and now.”

  Something loomed in the distance and he slowed down. The SUV came to a halt and both stared at the large tree lying across the road, cutting off any hope of continuing. They sat there for a moment, simply staring at the too convenient obstruction.

  “That’s weird,” she said.

  “Plan B,” he muttered, throwing the engine in reverse and backing away. Once he came to a small extension on the shoulder, he turned the vehicle around and d
rove back the way they had just come from.

  “Coincidence?” she asked.

  “No such thing.”

  Suddenly, car lights appeared behind him, shining bright in the rearview mirror. Another SUV if he had to guess from the height of their placement. His awareness of the situation heightened, making everything sharper.

  “We’re being followed,” he muttered.

  She turned around to stare out the back window. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know?”

  “A tree blocked the road. How did a vehicle suddenly appear behind us?”

  “No need to be snippy,” she said as she turned back around. “I’ve never had to Scooby Doo it before.”

  He fought a smile at her analogy. Then a series of pings hit the back and he reached out to push Lidah’s head down.

  “Take cover!” he yelled.

  “Are they shooting at us?” she asked, bending over. “Oh, God, not again.”

  “Just stay down,” Lee replied grimly.

  “If I die tonight, Lee, I’m going to be very pissed at you,” she said.

  “I’ll be pissed, too,” he said. “I just returned from the dead, woman. I’m not looking to go back there anytime soon.”

  He pressed on the gas, speeding up, trying to outrun the shooter behind him.

  “I tried to do right by you, you know,” he said, suddenly wanting her to know everything. “I tried to keep assholes like the one following us from ever getting close to you. And I succeeded for twenty-two years. I can’t go back to the grave, Lidah, and when we get out of this, I’m going to prove to you how much you still mean to me.”

  The SUV hit a hill and became airborne for two seconds. They landed with a thud.

  “Ugh,” she uttered in a half groan.

  “Sorry,” he said. A brown Parks and Recreation sign suddenly appeared. “Is that road around Timber Lake still usable?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, hold on.”

  At the last second, as soon as they passed the sign, he turned the wheel and skidded through the turn on the loose gravel of the road that made a loop around the large man-made reservoir. The SUV behind them had to break before reversing to follow. Lee turned off his lights.