“Sorry I’m early,” he says quietly, then a bit louder, “But I just needed to get my sister back.”
It’s hard to describe what happens next, but there’s almost a whistling sound coming from my left near the four windows made of splintered wood and rectangular panes of glass. I narrow my eyes when I see a shadow being thrown from the streetlight. It gets larger and larger until it’s right at the window.
Then, with a resounding crash that causes me to scream in fear, something comes barreling through the window. It hits with such force, the entire wooden frame crashes inward. There’s just a split second—barely a moment—where I realize it’s a man swinging through on a rope.
There’s hardly time to digest the fact before he hits the ground, leans forward, and rolls to stop his momentum.
My eyes flare wide as he pops to his feet right in front of the chair where I’m sitting… and I realize it’s my husband.
“Close your eyes,” he orders before curling his body over mine, placing his hands over my ears.
I do as he says. Despite the covering over my ears, I hear three loud explosions and see flashes of light under my eyelids. When I jerk, Cage curls around me tighter. I can hear men yelling, “Get down, get down,” and “Hands up, asshole.”
I’m so confused. I can’t comprehend what’s going on. Is Cage here with Brian to rescue me?
And how in the hell did he come crashing through the window?
And for that matter… why?
Cage releases me, kneeling so he can look me in the eye. Smelling acrid smoke, I start to turn my head toward the doorway to see what happened, but Cage grips my chin so I’m forced to look at him. “Are you okay?”
I nod, barely able to think of anything to say. I feel like I’m in a dream.
“Are you sure?” he demands.
Jerking my chin away from his hand, I snap, “I’m fine. Now, what the hell is going on?”
Cage stands, taking me by the arm and urging me out of the chair. When we turn to face the door, I’m stunned to see all four men who kidnapped me on their knees with their hands behind their heads. Two men dressed in black fatigues, black shirts, and black combat boots are holding guns on them.
Brian stands off to the side, clutching the bag in front of himself, looking terrified.
More activity starts… more men come in with guns drawn, wearing navy jackets with yellow letters spelling out FBI.
I twist to look at Cage. He’s dressed like the other guys in black.
I glance at the FBI, my brother, then to the men on the ground.
“What the fuck is going on?” I manage to say.
“This is your rescue,” Cage murmurs, and I whip back around on him.
Eyes narrowed, I ask, “Rescue? You’re a car salesman. What the hell are you doing crashing through windows?” I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “Are those your fellow workers from the car dealership?”
Cage tips his head back and laughs, because, yes, I know that sounds ridiculous. What the hell else am I to conclude, though?
“I have a lot to explain to you,” he says, pulling me into his arms and giving me a hard hug. Except there’s nothing within me that wants to hug him back. I have the weighted feeling I’ve been played for a fool by this man.
I shrug out of his embrace, noting the way his eyes cloud over. “Who are you?”
“I’m Cage Murdock,” he replies quietly. “Your husband.”
A growl of frustration rumbles within me as I shake my head. “No. I mean… who are you really?”
His expression turns grim. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, we do,” I retort, my anger growing profusely, although I have no idea why. I just know that Cage is not who I thought he was.
“Cage,” a man says from behind me. We both turn to see an FBI agent. “I’m going to need to take Jaime in to get her statement.”
Cage issues a growl of frustration, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah…okay.”
He then takes my arm, pulling me slightly toward him, but not so much that I’ll jerk away, which is my inclination. “This is Agent Brandeis. You go with him, and I’ll be along shortly.”
Something comes over me, and I jerk out of Cage’s hold. Whirling on the FBI agent, I ask, “Will you please just give me a few moments with my husband?”
Granted… I almost spit the words “my husband” out.
Agent Brandeis nods. “Sure. I’ll wait over by the door for you.”
I watch as he walks away, then turn my gaze over to the rest of the action. The other FBI agents are cuffing the men who kidnapped me. The other two men dressed like Cage converse with my brother.
I need to know what it all means.