Critical Density Read online

  She sighed and leaned against him for a moment.

  “This is new for me for a lot of reasons. But…” She managed an answering smile. “I’m good with it, too.”

  The smile was real, surprisingly. Go figure that with her life turned upside down, a man like Viper would walk into it, bringing the hint of a hot, exciting relationship. Even if it ultimately fizzled out, it was more than she’d had for too long a time.

  Thankfully, Viper checked out electronically so they could just make their way out through one of the rear doors. Still, she couldn’t help scanning everything in the area as they left the motel. She took note of everything and everyone around them as they pulled out of the lot and onto the highway.

  “We’re clear,” Viper assured her. “I have a lot of years’ experience evading the enemy. Trust me, darlin’. I don’t catch even a smell of them.”

  “Okay. I trust you.”

  But she was still tense, constantly checking the rear-view and side-view mirrors.

  When they reached the airport, Viper turned in the hot pickup then ushered her outside to where the Galaxy plane was waiting, Saint standing beside it.

  “Morning, folks. Viper, we’re cleared to take off in fifteen, so let’s get shaking.”

  Viper nodded. “Got it. Hannah, after you.” When she looked again around the area, he cupped her elbow with his hand, the touch reassuring.

  “I know where you’re at,” he murmured, “but I promise you no one is here looking for you. I also had Saint on the alert for anything that smelled funny. It’s all good, darlin’.”

  Saint nodded. “We’re clean. Everything checks out.” He smiled at Hannah. “And we’re getting you out of here right now.”

  The Galaxy plane took off from Houston at seven a.m. Once they leveled off, Viper fetched coffee and pastries for them and set them on their tray tables.

  “Eat up,” he urged. “You’ll need all your strength to fight this battle.”

  Isn’t that just the damn truth? The coffee was hot and the breakfast rolls crusty, so she focused on eating and drinking while Viper ate his own breakfast and texted on his cell between bites. She was content just to sit quietly while he did whatever he was doing, trying to sort it all out in her head. Even two weeks alone in that damn hotel room hadn’t answered any of the questions banging around in her brain.

  The biggest one was, how had it all happened? Drones were like her alter egos. There was nothing about them she didn’t know. They didn’t just veer off course and drop their payload someplace by mistake. Not when being handled by an expert. Someone had to fiddle with the settings. Someone who knew what they were doing. But in that hotel room, she’d mentally gone over and over who would have done that, and only four names came to mind. Four people with the skills and knowledge to do it. The thought of each of them made her physically ill.

  The second question she hadn’t been able to answer was, why choose Senator Hegman? Assuming, she thought to herself, that the misfire was deliberate. What kind of powers did the chairman of the Armed Services Committee have that made someone want to get rid of him? She needed to talk to Viper about that more. Surely, he’d know more about it than she did.

  He was still busy texting when she leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. She hadn’t expected to fall asleep, but the next thing she knew, Viper was nudging her knee.

  “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.” He grinned. “It’s nine-thirty and we’re here.”

  “What?” She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. “Oh. Oh, sorry.”

  “That’s okay.” A corner of his mouth hitched up. “I guess you didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

  Heat crept up her cheeks in an unfamiliar blush. She smoothed a stray hair back from her face, not sure what she should say to that. Fortunately, the plane came to a stop at that moment, so she looked out of the window.

  “Where are we? That doesn’t look like any kind of airport out there.”

  Viper chuckled. “That’s because it’s not. Privacy is a big deal to us and for our clients, so we bought this huge tract of land outside the city and built a runway and hangar. We still have to clear with Tampa International for takeoff and landing, but we aren’t exposed. And as I said, neither are our clients.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say. She’d seen a lot of things since she’d started her work in aerodynamics, a lot of private situations, but not like this. The people she’d met who had hangars attached to their homes usually only housed planes like Beechcrafts or Cessnas.

  They rolled to a smooth stop. As soon as the engines were silent, Viper was out of his seat and opening the door to let down the stairway. Then he helped her down onto the tarmac. This was, indeed, a large piece of land, with a double- sized hangar and a multicar garage.

  “You good?” Viper asked Saint when he joined them on the tarmac.

  Saint nodded. “All set. I’ve got some stuff to do at home. Call me if you want to take another trip.”

  The men shook hands, then Viper hitched the strap of his duffel over his shoulder and guided Hannah to the garage.

  “No one here, either,” he told her. “They wouldn’t even know this place exists. Of course, before they could look for it, they’d have to know you were with me, and that didn’t happen. We’re good.”

  He opened the passenger door to a dark blue Lincoln Navigator and motioned her to climb in.

  “Hmm. No pickup?” she teased.

  He grinned as he started the engine. “I have one back at my place, so I can switch off when I want to. But sometimes I need a slightly different vehicle. Come on, let’s get going so we can get to work on this. My partners are already dialed in and a couple have started looking into this.”

  He thumbed a quick text then put his cell phone in the cupholder and backed out of the garage.

  We’re really doing this. I didn’t imagine the whole thing. These men are really going to take me on as a client and help me. But why? And this man is taking me to his home. I don’t know whether to run and hide or rip off my clothes and attack him. And neither of those things is me.

  Swallowing a sigh, she leaned back against the seat. This was the first time she’d taken a full breath since she’d made her escape from the hotel. Everything had been happening so fast and it all seemed like something out of a movie to her. Leaving a bar with a stranger, especially a very sexy one. Falling into bed with him. Putting her life in his hands. She hoped she wasn’t making a mistake.

  ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’ as her avionics instructor, who’d loved cliches, used to say.

  She was more curious to see where Viper lived, what kind of place it was. She wondered if, being a former SEAL, he’d be drawn to the water. As they drove through downtown Tampa, she realized the city was surrounded by a lot of it. And she wasn’t surprised when they crossed over a short arched bridge into a separate community on an island. They passed shopping areas, apartments and restaurants before reaching a gate. Viper used a remote to operate it and waved at the guard on duty as they passed through.

  “Nice area,” she commented, taking it all in. “You all must be raking in the bucks.”

  Viper laughed, a warm sound.

  “Not always. But the ones where we do make up for the ones where we don’t. Besides, winning all that money allowed us each to buy the homes we wanted free and clear.”

  She didn’t know what to say. She was used to being around people with lots of money. In addition to the military, Lowden had several clients with large bank accounts. But Viper seemed casual about his situation, his possessions like the plane, without wearing his money on his forehead. More and more interesting.

  They drove by what looked like condo buildings, then some townhouses before passing through another gate into a section with single-family homes. Viper made a right turn onto a short, curved street, then turned into the driveway of a Spanish-style home with a decorative adobe fence surrounding the property. He used the same remote to ope
n the wrought-iron gate before pulling into the garage, parking next to—sure enough—a tricked-out pickup.

  “Here we are.” He put the Navigator in park and turned off the engine. “Let’s get inside.”

  He punched the button to close the garage door then led her inside through a side door, stopping for a moment to reset the security panel in the wall.

  “This picks up anyone and anything outside. Sound and cameras.” He grinned. “We’re almost as tight as the president. First, they’d have to find you, which they won’t. Then, they’d have to try to breach the security, which they can’t. I even have a backup generator that kicks in if the first one gets taken out by a power failure or an EMP. Okay, this way.”

  She found herself in a kitchen. A very big kitchen, that looked like a cook’s dream.

  Viper turned into a short hallway, carrying his duffel and messenger bag,

  “I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home.”

  “Thank you.”

  A step down took her into a large family room furnished with comfortable-looking couches and chairs and a huge flat-screen television over the fireplace, and a wall of sliding doors that looked out onto a lawn, a dock and a large body of water.

  “Wow!”

  She stood, staring out at the scene, at the expanse of water with its gentle lapping waves, boats bobbing on its surface, and the dock that extended out from Viper’s property, where a gleaming boat rested beneath a canopy. A peaceful scene if she had ever seen one, and something she needed right now.

  “Like it?”

  Viper had come up behind her so noiselessly she hadn’t even heard him.

  “Are you kidding? What’s not to like? You must love coming home to all this.”

  He was silent for a long time, standing behind her, not saying a word until she wondered if she’d somehow insulted him.

  “I spent a lot of years in the heat and sand of Iraq and the cold mountains of Afghanistan. Some missions, my team wasn’t even sure we’d make it out alive. Some of them were killed. Others injured. All of us still have nightmares of that time occasionally. We all decided when we got the money that we’d buy homes that reflected what we needed and where we wanted to be for the rest of our lives.”

  She turned to him and looked up at his face, seeing the deep grooves that came with remembered misery and nightmares of days in hell.

  “Oh, Viper, I’m so sorry. I was only trying to give you a compliment.”

  “No problem. And yes, I picked this lot and built a house that would make me feel good when I was home.” He pointed to the dock. “Being out on the water when a stressor sets me off brings me peace unlike anything else.”

  “Well, you did a good job. And if it’s safe, I’d love a boat ride, when we can.”

  “That’s a deal.” He dusted a light kiss over her forehead.

  “But first I have to figure out how to get some clothes. I can order them online if I can use your name and address. Can’t leave any electronic footprints. But”—she hurried to add—“I have some cash with me so I can pay you for them.”

  “I think I got the clothes thing taken care of. We’ll worry about the cash later.”

  At that moment, a security panel on the wall by the front door buzzed and a woman’s voice called out, “Viper? Open the gate. I’m here.”

  He had reached for the gun at his back, but at the sound of the voice, he left it where it was and grinned. “And that’s why we don’t have to worry about online orders right now.”

  “What—”

  “I sent a text after we landed. There’s someone I want you to meet.” He pressed a button on the security panel, then another to speak. “Come on up.”

  He opened the front door, keeping his arm around her, as a silver Lexus pulled up and stopped at the stairs leading to the door. The woman who got out was about Hannah’s height. She waved to them and smiled.

  “Hey, Viper.”

  “Hey, Peyton. Come on in.” He slid a glance at Hannah. “You’ll love Peyton. She’s really down to earth and doesn’t take crap from anyone.”

  Hannah laughed. “That’s some introduction.”

  “And I mean every word of it,” Viper told her.

  “Yes, he does.” Peyton nodded, pulled some shopping bags from the back seat and trotted up the stairs. She gave Viper a one-armed hug. “At least he’d better, or Blaze will get after him. Anyway, I wasn’t sure what all to pick up, but I think I bought enough for us to get started with.” She turned to Hannah and held out her hand. “Peyton West.”

  “Hannah Modell.” Hannah shook hands with the woman.

  Peyton flashed a grin. “The super sexy drone engineer. Nice to meet you. Let’s go on inside. I have some things for you.”

  Super sexy? Hannah didn’t think anyone had ever applied that description to her. But she liked the woman instantly. She was natural, relaxed and friendly. Thick, shiny chestnut hair was pulled back with a clip, the few tendrils that escaped framing creamy cheeks and accenting warm, green eyes. She was about the same size as Hannah, although a little more endowed in the breast department and with slightly curvier hips. She had an air of self-confidence and happiness that Hannah found herself envying.

  She also had the look of someone who was very satisfied with her life, something Hannah had thought she herself had until this disaster threatened to destroy it. Shows just how wrong I was.

  Damn! What was the matter with her? She’d hardly met the woman and already she was jealous of her. No, not of her, of her situation. Of what she had, something Hannah hadn’t even thought she was missing. Freedom. Fun. Good friends. But she managed a smile as they all moved into the family room. Peyton plunked the bags she was carrying onto the couch and turned to Hannah.

  “Viper said we were about the same size. I can’t believe how he nailed it.”

  Hannah frowned. “Nailed what? I don’t understand.”

  “You didn’t get to bring any clothes with you,” Viper pointed out. “Right? I don’t feel safe taking you into a store. I’m pretty sure Tampa’s not on Lowden’s radar at the moment, but there’s no sense taking chances. So I called Peyton.”

  Peyton winked at her. “And it was fun.”

  Hannah was stunned that the man had even thought of it. She was definitely not used to anyone paying attention to the details of her life except her. All she could say was, “Wow.”

  “I love shopping with someone else’s money, although I think Blaze would be happy if I never wore any clothes.” She held out her hand and flashed a stunning engagement ring. “From Blaze. He’s my hero. You’ll meet him in a bit.”

  Hannah managed a smile. The woman’s happiness was so obvious. “Congratulations.”

  “I feel as if he and I have known each other for six years instead of six months. Being with him is, well, exceptional.”

  Hannah drew in a slow breath. “And thank you for everything. I’m in your debt.”

  Then she embarrassed herself by bursting into tears. Her! Hannah Modell! The Ice Queen. She never, ever cried. All the tension from the past two weeks, especially the last twenty-four hours, just exploded. Eventually she managed to stop crying. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d let anything get to her like this. She sniffed and wiped her eyes and cheeks with her palms, feeling like a prize idiot, and took in a deep breath.

  “Sorry. Really. I feel like an idiot. I guess it’s just the strain of everything. I apologize, especially after you’ve been so nice to do this.”

  Peyton crouched down in front of her.

  “Hannah. I don’t know what your specific deal is, but I’ve been in a place like that myself. That’s how I met these big guys. Whatever it is, they’ll fix it.” She rose and gathered the shopping bags. “Come on, now. Let’s go in the bedroom and play dress-up. That’ll take your mind off things.”

  “Sorry I’m such a mess.”

  “Like I said, no worries.” Peyton turned to Viper. “Blaze will be along shortly with his laptop and t
he food, and Rocket and Eagle soon after. Blaze is bringing subs for lunch and steaks and stuff for dinner, since we weren’t sure how prepared you were to feed everyone.”

  Viper laughed. “I think I have stuff in the freezer, but thanks. This is better. Makes it easier.”

  Hannah tucked her hair behind her ears and let out a breath. She needed to get her shit together before Viper decided she wasn’t worth the effort. She was already embarrassed at her breakdown. The last thing she wanted was to look like a melted tissue and have Viper’s partners wonder if he’d lost his mind in taking her on as a client.

  She let out another deep breath and stood up.

  Viper was there in an instant, cupping her face in his big hands. “You sure you’re okay?”

  She nodded and managed a smile. “Embarrassed as hell but otherwise fine.”

  The look he gave her was serious. “Like I said. Pressure. We all snap now and then. There’s nothing wrong with it, Hannah.”

  She bit her lower lip. “But I—”

  He touched a finger to her chin. “It’s all good. Now go have fun with Peyton.” He pointed at the hallway that ran from the big room. “Bedrooms are that way.”

  “Okay.” Hannah nodded. “Yes. I’m good. Let’s do this.”

  Blaze’s eyes were on her as she walked out of the room and a warm feeling settled over her. She could hardly believe that a man she’d met less than twenty-four hours ago had somehow become such an integral part of her life. She just hoped she wasn’t in for a big fall.

  “Whatever these guys are doing for you,” Peyton said as she began to unload the shopping bags, “I promise you they’ll get it done. I know that for a fact.”

  “Is that how you met them?” Hannah was curious about the woman’s connection to Galaxy. “Were you in trouble?”

  Peyton shook her head. “Not exactly. I was trying to find out who killed my brother-in-law and put my sister in a coma.”

  Hannah stared at her. “You’re kidding.”

  “Not even a little. My brother-in-law was dead, and the police were burying everything because strings were being pulled by some very powerful people. Which, by the way, could easily be the case here. Anyway, when my sister’s doctor, Ryan Hamilton, realized what was going on, he gave me the number for his brother, Blaze. Well, Scott, but no one calls him that. They agreed to help me. Galaxy dug out the truth and made sure everyone paid for it.”