“Deacon Burns got away. He got past us somehow.”
Fuck! He’d left Aaron alone in the house with no one really. What if the lunatic followed Aaron? Fear coiled in his gut, and Kreed’s heart wedged in his throat.
Kreed didn’t say a word. He spun on his heels and took off running as fast as he could toward the house. He could hear Masters’s booming voice instructing others to set up perimeters and search each and every house near the church’s complex, but Kreed never slowed as he sprinted across the street. Burns could have seen the way he’d covered Aaron as he’d left the church and figured out Aaron was involved in this somehow. He hadn’t considered the consequences when he’d busted out of the house; he knew what Aaron didn’t, and his only goal was getting Stuart to safety.
The house was across the street, no more than three hundred feet, but the last hundred feet felt like miles. His legs and lungs burned with worry as he sprinted up the walkway.
Kreed kicked open the door, knowing it would be locked if Burns did indeed have Aaron. He barreled through, barely pausing as he rounded the corner, prepared to fire. Aaron came rushing through the office door. Fear, then surprise, crossed his face. Aaron’s eyes went straight to the gun in Kreed’s hands, and he stepped back as his hands went in the air. “What the hell?”
“Are you alone?” Kreed bellowed.
“Of course,” Aaron answered, taking another step backward, clearly unnerved. Kreed moved, his eyes sweeping the room as he stalked toward Aaron. He wanted to touch him, draw him into his arms just to make sure Aaron was truly okay.
“Has he been here? Did you see the deacon leaving the building?” Kreed asked. He stopped at the entrance of the hall and finally lowered his weapon.
“No. You guys didn’t get him?”
Kreed shook his head and, feeling someone’s presence raised the weapon until he verified it was an agent behind him. An unspoken faith had him moving forward, turning toward the study, hoping the agent behind him moved toward Aaron’s bedroom.
“No,” Kreed finally said. He turned to speak to the small team forming in the living room. “Sweep the place,” Kreed instructed as he went for Aaron, only stopping about a foot from him, forcing himself not to draw the guy against him like he wanted. Instead, he holstered his weapon.
“How’d he get away? Is he going after Mitch?” Aaron asked, moving toward him with the same fear and concern clouding his eyes that Kreed had felt only moments before.
“You two can relax.” The deputy marshal who checked Aaron’s room came out, pointing to his earpiece as he spoke. He had a direct line of information filtering through his ear. “They’ve got an eye on the suspect. He’s headed down Midlothian Parkway. He’s on the run, but they’ll get him. There’s nowhere to go.”
“Keep me posted on that.” The front door was still wide open, and Kreed heard several vehicles taking off from across the street. Probably Masters heading toward the chase. Reaching out, he took Aaron by the neck, guiding him inside the office, away from prying eyes. Kreed closed the door behind them, before pulling Aaron to his chest.
“You scared the shit out of me,” he whispered on a haggard breath, burying his face in the crook of Aaron’s neck.
“I was scared. That guy was off the charts,” Aaron said, wrapping his arms tighter around Kreed.
“I didn’t know if you’d get out of there. I was texting you, telling you to leave. It felt off from the minute you walked inside the place,” Kreed said, pressing his lips against the heartbeat pulsing in Aaron’s neck, still clutching him like a vise, so thankful he was safe in his arms.
“I didn’t have a chance to check my phone.” Aaron relaxed against him.
“I need to check on Knox. Find out what’s going on. Are you good here? I’ll have someone stay.” Kreed started to pull away, but Aaron’s hands fisted in his jacket. There was a hint of panic hidden in their blue-gray depths. He looked down to see Aaron’s hands shaking as he clenched them closed. His calm, cool, collected guy that pushed every boundary Kreed put in place had anxiety rolling off him in waves. Kreed covered Aaron’s fists with his palms. “You’re okay, Aaron. It’s over. You did good, exactly what we needed. You don’t have to go back there again.”
“I’ll be all right. It’s just a lot,” Aaron said quietly. Kreed watched as Aaron visibly tried to pull himself together. Even with the uncertainty of the deacon on the run, Kreed waited several long moments before he lifted Aaron’s chin with the tips of his fingers, studying his face. Aaron was freaked, but had worked himself out of meltdown mode. That said a lot for a situation like this and the man Aaron truly was.
“We’ll be leaving here tonight. Pack up, but plan on staying with me for the next few days while they decide how much they need from us.” Kreed tried for reassuring as he kept his eyes on Aaron’s. Giving a small smile, he wanted to convey the pride he had for the job Aaron had accomplished. The kid had done everything he was supposed to. While Kreed sat at the monitor, watching, he’d been going a little nuts wanting Stuart to abandon the job and get his ass out of there, but church boy pressed on, closing this case up tight.
Not completely certain they weren’t being heard, Kreed still leaned in and kissed those slightly upturned lips. “You did so good today. Stay put for me.”
“Call Mitch. Make sure they’re okay.” Aaron nodded.
“They are. I’m going to call and check on them, but they’re at a secure location,” Kreed confirmed, bending in to kiss Aaron again, this time he lingered for a second or two longer.
“This has to be bigger than just here,” Aaron added. The kid was thinking now, surely that was a good sign. Except when Aaron started using that brain, they ended up in situations like this. Maybe the kid could contain the thought process until they got this part of the investigation closed.