The Hero Page 11

  The concern in Emily’s voice made her lower her gaze to the ground. “I’ll explain more when we get there.”

  “You better.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Are you sure about this?” Natalie asked.

  Owen looked at the vial that had begun this whole sordid mess. A few ounces that had the potential to wipe out the world. This wasn’t the first time he’d been neck-deep in shit, but it was the first time he was in it with Natalie and his family.

  Then there were the Russians. The fucking faction who were relentless in their objective. They had no idea where any of the group was, but with Callie looking, it wouldn’t take long to find them.

  “Owen?”

  He lifted his gaze to Natalie. Her green eyes were clear and without fear. That’s how he wanted to keep it. Going to Baylor could bring said shit storm right into their path. And it probably would.

  But that’s how someone got answers.

  She blew out a breath. “You’re the one who mentioned an antidote. And you were right. We need one. That can’t happen until we know what Ragnarok really is.”

  “Leaving the safety of this base, the ranch. It’s a risk, Nat.”

  “A risk we have to take. You know it. The only reason you’re hesitating now is because of me.”

  He shot her a look. “Of course, it’s because of you. Those Russians will come again. Here, we’re ready.”

  “We can be prepared out there.”

  She was right, but that didn’t stop his agonizing. If something happened to Natalie because he wasn’t prepared … He couldn’t even think of it.

  Before he could answer her, his cell rang.

  “It’s Emily,” Natalie said before she answered the call.

  He hoped like hell Emily had managed to set everything up, because if she didn’t, it was going to take them more time to find another place to get the tests run—time they didn’t have.

  He knew—just as Cullen and Wyatt did—that Orrin’s time was rapidly ticking down. Callie might pretend otherwise, but she was aware of it, as well. She couldn’t do the job she did and not be cognizant of it.

  “Okay,” Natalie said, a smile pulling at her lips. She gave him a thumbs up. “We can be there whenever. You tell me the time.”

  He began planning how he was going to get Natalie back and forth from Waco without any interference from those after her. The group would want retribution for their dead comrades. How long before they came for payback?

  “See you tomorrow,” she said and disconnected the call. “We need to be there at ten in the morning.”

  He scrubbed a hand down his face. Then he took his phone and dialed Wyatt, putting it on speaker.

  “Yeah,” Wyatt answered.

  “We’re making a trip to Waco.”

  “For?”

  There was a loud snort that came over the phone. Then Callie said, “It must have something to do with this mess. If you narrow it down, there isn’t anything in Waco that they couldn’t get in Dallas. Unless … Nat, do you know someone at Baylor?”

  He shared a look with Natalie, who was shaking her head while she smiled. The longer Owen was around Callie, the more he understood why his father had brought her onto his team.

  “Yes,” Natalie answered. “Emily is a biology professor, but she’s managed to get us a lab and a chemist who is willing to look at the vial.”

  He hurried to add, “They don’t know what they’re looking at, and won’t until we get there.”

  “Owen pointed out that we need to have an antidote,” Natalie said.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Working alongside Natalie was a reminder of how well they’d once fit together. It was yet another indication of what his life could’ve been with her beside him.

  “I’m glad y’all called,” Callie said. “I’ve been tracking down the group who attacked. Nat, I found your phone in Dallas at the embassy.”

  Natalie made a face. “They’re not trying to hide it anymore.”

  “There’s no reason for them to,” Wyatt said.

  Owen sank onto the stool nearest him. “Did you find anything else, Callie?”

  “Did I find anything else?” Callie said, her voice laced with sarcasm. “That would be a definite hell yes. I put myself in Orrin’s shoes. If he had such a mission, he would send only a few of his men to go after Natalie.”

  Owen nodded. “The rest would be for a second or third round.”

  “Exactly,” Callie exclaimed.

  Wyatt said, “There were six men at Natalie’s. It was a job for no more than two.”

  “They wanted to make sure they got her,” Owen replied.

  Natalie had gone quiet, her gaze on the floor as she listened. Owen wasn’t a stranger to having enemies after him, but what Natalie was going through was different.

  “Y’all must have missed one of them,” Callie said. “Because how else would Natalie’s phone get to Dallas?”

  Owen propped his arm on the table. “Damn.”

  “I did a sweep. I didn’t see anyone,” Wyatt stated.

  Which meant the bastards were that good. They couldn’t stand to underestimate the group again.

  “Give me a sec,” Callie said.

  Owen could hear the sounds of her typing on a keyboard. It wasn’t long before he heard Callie sigh.

  “Okay, folks. I searched flights into the area that had anyone from Russia aboard,” Callie said.

  Natalie leaned toward the phone. “You really think they would’ve landed in Dallas?”

  “Yep,” Callie said. “No one wants to drive across the country.”

  He wished he could see what she was doing. It was people like Callie that saved lives while people like him were on the ground.

  “You’re assuming they know Orrin’s base is here,” Owen pointed out.

  Callie didn’t stop typing as she said, “Tell me, Owen. How many times have you traveled—around the world and even in the States—and everyone knew you were from Texas as soon as you spoke?”

  “Shit,” Wyatt said. “She’s right.”

  Natalie met his gaze and nodded. “All three of y’all have been gone for a while, but Orrin hasn’t. His twang is just as thick as it’s always been.”

  “So they know he’s from Texas,” Wyatt said. “They couldn’t know his base is here.”

  Owen blew out a breath. “It wouldn’t take much digging to learn of the ranch and Dad’s relatives. Though I don’t think the Russian unit knew the base was here. I’m guessing they wanted to deliver a message.”

  “To who?” Nat asked.

  Wyatt’s voice was grim. “To Orrin. And us.”

  “Got it,” Callie shouted through the phone. “There were eight Russians who boarded a plane from Moscow that landed in Los Angeles. Four of those eight got on the same plane to Dallas. The next day, the remaining four boarded a flight to DFW.”

  Natalie leaned her hand on the table. “It could be coincidence.”

  “Each group sat together,” Callie replied.

  “Ah,” Nat said with a twist of her lips. “Perhaps not.”

  Owen drummed his fingers on the desk. “Eight landed in Dallas over two days. One got away with Nat’s cell phone and is in the city. We got five of them. Makes the odds a little better.”

  “We need to prepare in case there are more,” Callie added.

  Wyatt grunted. “There seems to always be a supply of them. Hang on. Callie’s making a face. Not sure what that means.”

  “It means we have a problem,” Callie said.

  Natalie sat straighter, worry lining her expression. “Problem?”

  Difficulties were part of what Owen took care of on a daily basis. But then again, those “problems” hadn’t ever been directed toward someone he cared deeply about.

  “What is it?” Owen asked.

  Callie blew out a loud breath. “I expanded my search. Add four more to the original eight. I have their passport photos, and I’ll text them to you, Owen.
”

  “Wyatt’s right. There’s an endless supply of them,” Natalie said.

  Owen hated that she was scared. He didn’t want her frightened, because things had only just begun. It was about to get a lot worse very soon.

  Wyatt’s voice faded for a second as he spoke to Callie. Then he stated closer to the phone. “Callie found that the first four landed in Dallas a week before Orrin and the team left.”

  “There’s no way they could’ve known about the mission,” Callie said.

  “Of course, there is,” Wyatt declared harshly. “People share secrets all the time.”

  Callie’s voice lowered in resentment. “It’s never happened before.”

  “I’m betting Orrin never stole a bioweapon from Russia before either,” Owen chimed in. “Am I right, Callie?”

  “Yes,” she answered grudgingly.

  Wyatt said, “Let’s assume someone told the Russians Orrin was coming for the weapon.”

  “If I was informed, I’d have moved it to a different location,” Owen replied.

  “Exactly. If Russia knew it was being stolen, they would either move it someplace else, or they’d replace the biochemical with something different to allow Orrin to think he stole the right thing.”

  “Something isn’t adding up.” Owen rubbed his chin as he widened his stance. “If Dad didn’t steal Ragnarok, why kill Virgil and Charlotte? Why kill his team and kidnap him?”

  “Then Orrin did steal the bioweapon,” Natalie said.

  Wyatt let out a sigh. “Not necessarily. We need to talk to Orrin’s contact, but this is also another reason we need to know for sure what’s in that vial.”

  “I’m the only one who handles communications with them,” Callie said of Orrin’s contact.

  There was a moment of silence where Owen could imagine Wyatt and Callie glaring at each other.

  Finally, Wyatt said, “Not anymore. Our government took all three of us off assignment and brought us to Texas. If they want us to fix this mess, we need details.”

  “All of them,” Owen added.

  Callie relented reluctantly. “I’ll let them know.”

  The line disconnected. Owen looked to Natalie. “You should get some rest. Tomorrow is going to start early.”

  He thought it would be easier if she were out of sight, but the knowledge that he was alone with Natalie only made him ache for her even more.

  How the hell was he going to keep her safe? Not to mention, how was he going to keep his hands off her?

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The next morning, Natalie stood in front of the mirror in the small bathroom of the base and stared at her reflection. She hadn’t slept much. Not all of it was because there could be men waiting as soon as she and Owen left the ranch.

  No, the major reason was Owen himself.

  After that kiss, he and it occupied the majority of her thoughts. Alone. They were alone. It didn’t matter for how long. The simple fact was that it would be just the two of them.

  No one else to talk to or help her push aside the growing desire that threatened to break her apart.

  She swallowed, the coffee she’d managed to drink rolling in her stomach. Fourteen years was a long time. Why then did it feel as if she were still eighteen, and it was the day after graduation?

  He had gone on with his life. And so had she.

  She rested her hands on either side of the sink and dropped her head. The truth was, she hadn’t gotten on with her life—at least her love life. She’d been stuck, perpetually waiting for a man who could never be hers.

  What had it gotten her? Nothing but heartache. These past few years had shown her she didn’t need a man in her life to be happy. She quite liked it on her own.

  Someone pounded on the bathroom door. Then Owen’s voice asked, “You about ready? There’s a storm headed this way.”

  Natalie took a deep breath and turned to the door. She opened it to find Owen still there. He held her gaze for a moment before he turned to the side to allow her to pass.

  She’d been grateful for the clothes Callie had lent her, but she felt more herself now that she was in her own clothes—a pair of jeans and a cream sweater with gold threads shot through it. She zipped up her brown suede booties, added a long, gold necklace, earrings, and a set of bangle bracelets in addition to her watch. The fatigues might be practical, but they weren’t her style.

  “You might want to bring those boots for later. Wear the combat boots Callie gave you.”

  Natalie raised a brow. “Why? What haven’t you told me?”

  “We’ve got a walk ahead of us.”

  “A walk?” she asked in confusion.

  He nodded. “The truck is parked on the back of the property. No one will see us leaving the ranch.”

  He was nothing if not careful. She changed into the combat boots and held her booties. When she stood, their gazes clashed.

  She stared into his chocolate eyes and wondered what he thought of her. Did he think she’d changed as much as she knew he had?

  “Ready?” he asked as he adjusted the backpack he’d put on and grabbed a rifle.

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  He grinned before opening the door of the base and slowly making his way up the stairs. She waited, watching the cameras.

  “Come on up,” Owen called.

  Natalie grabbed the .9mm left on the desk and made her way up the stairs. When she reached the top, Owen closed and locked the base doors.

  “Here,” he said and handed her a rifle.

  She recognized it as the one he’d taught her to shoot with. She put the pistol in her purse and grasped the larger weapon. “Thanks.”

  They crept from the barn and dashed across the field to a copse of trees as dawn streaked the sky. She was grateful that he’d mentioned her changing her boots. Though he hadn’t done it to be kind to her feet. He’d done it because it was the rational thing to do.

  They said nothing as they steadily made their way over the Loughman Ranch property. She had forgotten just how big the ranch was. It looked vastly different on the back of a horse versus walking.

  Once they were in the thick forest of trees, she said, “It looks as if there’s more livestock.”

  “I believe there is. Virgil must be keeping up with the demand for good Texas beef.”

  Owen stayed a few steps ahead on constant alert. She learned quickly to keep notice of him at all times. If he stopped, she immediately did, as well.

  When she spotted the truck through the trees, she let out a sigh. Her feet were killing her. There was no denying that it had been a long time since she’d hiked anywhere other than to a department store.

  Owen held up a hand. She halted and watched as he slowly ventured from the trees, his rifle up and ready. He walked around the truck twice, checking tires, doors, and even under the truck.

  Finally, he lowered the gun and motioned her forward. Natalie jogged to the vehicle while Owen retrieved the keys and unlocked it for her.

  Once inside with her seatbelt strapped, Natalie rested her head against the seat. One ordeal finished—a million to go.

  She tried to quiet the thoughts in her head. Impossible with a man as imposing and gorgeous as Owen sitting a few feet from her.

  Natalie surreptitiously glanced his way. He looked as rested and refreshed as she wished she was. Then again, he was used to this kind of life. And thank God for that.

  The engine roared to life. The backpack was in the seat behind them, holding the vial. Never would she have imagined weeks ago that she would be sitting next to Owen, attempting to rescue his father, save herself, and save the world from a bioweapon.

  It was the blurb for a movie. Except there was no guarantee that the good guys would win or that she would still be alive at the end.

  “You all right?” Owen asked as he drove.

  She turned straight ahead. “I think so.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him glance at her. She forced her hands to relax an
d loosen the grip on the seatbelt.

  “It’s going to be fine, Nat.”

  “Okay.”

  They soon drove out of the trees to what might pass for a road. The only indication was the tracks of another vehicle.

  She turned her head to find him leaning forward, his hands covering the steering wheel as he stared at her while the truck slowly rolled down the path. “What?” she asked.

  “Don’t you think I can keep you safe?”

  She winced. “Sorry. I’m nervous. Of course, I do, Owen. The closest I’ve ever been to this kind of situation was reading a Steve Berry novel.”

  Owen suddenly smiled, making the corners of his eyes crinkle. “You never liked anything remotely scary. I couldn’t get you on a hayride during the Halloween festival. You wouldn’t even get on the Ferris wheel at the fair.”

  He remembered that? A curious feeling began to spread through her. Damn him. She’d forgotten how charming he could be, but no amount of sweet talk would ever make her forget how he’d casually left her behind.

  Even if he’d left to follow his dreams and a code that only the Loughmans understood.

  He sat back with a sigh, a resigned expression on his face. “You’re uncomfortable alone with me.”

  “A little.” There was no use denying it or lying. If they were going to spend any amount of time together, he needed to know how she felt.

  And it was a reminder for herself, as well.

  “I suspected as much.” There was no heat to his words. Just resignation.

  The radio was on, playing George Strait. She hadn’t listened to country music in years, and it was another reminder of her time with Owen. How could it not be? She was with him, on the ranch, in his father’s truck. Where did the memories end?

  Natalie forgot how nice it was to ride high up in a truck. She leaned her head back against the seat again and stared out her window for the next twenty minutes as he navigated through a maze of “roads” until finally they found pavement.

  It was a back road with minimal traffic. Owen pulled out and pointed them toward Waco. She looked at him and smiled when she spotted him driving with his right hand at the top of the steering wheel while his left elbow was braced on the door.