“Every chance I get, little one.”
The knock sounded again, this time impatient. Trees cursed. His time alone with Laila was up.
He wrenched the door open to find Matt leaning against the porch railing, cowboy hat shading most of his face from the patio lights. Ghost stood a few feet behind him in darkness, wearing a black ski cap nearly pulled down to his inky brows, which accentuated his otherworldly gray eyes. The shadows clung to the angles of his face, more suited to the runway than undercover work. Dark stubble clung to his aggressive chin and a sharp jaw. His mouth was turned down in an eternally pissed-off smirk.
“You got a problem with me?” Trees challenged the guy.
The look Ghost shot him would have felled any man who didn’t make their living by a gun. “I have a problem with you fondling on the client while we should be getting the fuck out of here. It’s unprofessional. You mooning over her risks all of us getting killed.”
Trees couldn’t argue with Ghost’s logic; he was right. But the motherfucker didn’t understand. “I’m sorry this isn’t to your liking, Casper. Laila is upset and afraid.”
His dark brow arched up, almost disappearing under the cap. “So you’re going to revive her with mouth-to-mouth?”
Trees lunged for him, violence sizzling through his veins. In the back of his head, he knew attacking an ally was stupid, but he didn’t need this shit. Neither did Laila. Based on size alone, he could take the guy, but… “I thought we were on the same team. I guess you just want to flap your gums so you can feel superior?”
Ghost, who hadn’t moved a muscle, suddenly snapped to life, moving so fast he was a blur.
Before the guy could make good on his furious snarl, Matt stepped between them, glaring at them both. “Let it go. We need to get on the road before we have uninvited company.”
Fuck. The cowboy had a valid point. As for Ghost…Trees admitted he probably was out of line. Having to separate from Laila was fucking with his mood. He let out a deep breath and backed down. “Fine.”
Ghost stepped away, too. “Fine. But don’t ever fucking call me Casper again.”
Whatever. Trees didn’t have time for this guy’s ego. He turned his attention to Matt. “Where are you taking her?”
Apology crossed his face. “Need-to-know basis, man. And you don’t need to know.”
“Seriously?”
Matt nodded. “Precaution. She won’t know where to find you, either.”
Clearly, the cowboy didn’t understand Trees’s role on this team. Otherwise, Walker’s bestie would have figured out that he’d already given himself a way to track Laila’s phone. He’d also given her a way to track his. She didn’t know yet, but all she had to do was look.
Trees forced himself to relax. “Let’s go.” Then he turned to Laila and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Soon.”
She blinked up at him as if he were her moon and stars. “Soon.”
Ghost glared his way. “Looks like you’re stuck with me. I’ll follow you in my truck.”
Trees shook his head. “I can take care of myself. She’s suffered six years of rape and abuse. Stay with them.” He gestured to Laila and Matt. “Make sure neither Ramos nor Montilla gets their hands on her again.”
“Those aren’t my orders.”
Did this asshole love to argue for the sake of arguing? “In my shoes, what would you suggest?”
Ghost hesitated for the span of a heartbeat, then pulled his keys from his pocket, grumbling. “I’ll trail them and stay with her. You leaving first?”
To provide a target if anyone was watching. “Yes.”
“Don’t get too far from us until we’re on the open road.”
Where there might be traffic, witnesses, and cameras. “Sure.”
Silently, they made their way to Matt’s truck. Trees settled Laila’s bag in the back seat of the cab, everything inside him hating this idea…yet knowing it was the safest choice. The cowboy settled behind the wheel. Ghost hopped in the back of the bed, gun drawn, looking watchful.
Laila paused beside the open passenger door. “Stay safe.”
“You, too. Don’t try to run from your bodyguards. Don’t balk when they feed you. And no matter what, don’t put yourself in danger.”
“Will you promise me the same?”
Crafty girl, answering his question with a question he was guaranteed to refute. “Danger is my job.”
“Danger has been my life,” she countered. “But for you I will do my best to stay safe.”
Trees brought her against his chest and held her close, breathed in the spicy floral musk of her scent, and closed his eyes. He was putting off the inevitable, and he knew it. But he didn’t want to let her go.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much choice. He was Ramos’s number-one target, so she was safer in someone else’s capable hands. End of story.
Laila laid her head on his chest and exhaled, melting against him. “I can hear your heart beat.”
He dropped his lips to her ear, whispering to her alone. “It beats for you. When I come back, you’ll marry me?”
She eased back, a tear perched on her lashes. “I want that more than anything.”
Trees believed her…but there was something she wasn’t saying.
“Let’s go, kids,” Ghost growled.
The longer they were here and unmoving, the more they were sitting ducks.
“I love you,” he murmured.