Читать книгу Star Witness - Lisa Phillips - Страница 13

FOUR

Aaron leaned back against the wall, listening to a teen girl singing. There really was no other way to keep an eye on Mackenzie without it looking as if he was doing exactly that. Diligence was the only thing that paid off. Faith in a higher being to solve all his problems was nothing but a childish dream. Not when in one split second everything could go wrong and no matter how hard he tried to fix it, someone still got hurt.

He rubbed a hand down his face, dismissing the memories of heat and sand...and blood.

He loved the spontaneity of being Delta Force, though there was a shelf life to the career. Retreating just didn’t sit well with him, but when it was that or put his teammates in danger because he couldn’t admit he was slowing down...there wasn’t anything to it. When the time came, Aaron would just finish up his days and move on with the confidence he’d done his duty to Uncle Sam.

Aaron was almost to his mid-thirties, so it was past time to start thinking about fallback options. Especially considering the fact his team hated him at this point. When he got back, there wasn’t going to be much of a working relationship between them all if they didn’t trust Aaron anymore.

They’d banded together around Franklin, which was the right thing. Aaron didn’t fault them for giving their support to their blind teammate. Franklin would need it. But did they have to reject Aaron in the process? Hadn’t it just been a mistake? A horrific one, sure, but he was only human. Didn’t they know that?

“What do ya say?”

Aaron glanced down the hall where a teen boy in a white T-shirt and saggy jeans crowded a younger girl against the wall.

“I’m not sure.” The girl’s voice was a nervous murmur. “I don’t think—”

The boy’s face hardened. “Not the right answer, babe.”

Aaron sauntered over. “Hey, what’s up, guys?” They both turned to him. The boy’s face hardened and the girl’s eyes went wide. “Is there a vending machine around here? I’m really craving a soda.”

The girl’s face washed with relief, even though the boy hadn’t stepped back. She pointed down the hall behind Aaron. “In the kitchen. They’re a dollar, but if you hit the top three buttons on the left and the bottom right one at the same time, an orange soda will drop out.”

The boy looked at her. “Why would you tell him that?”

“He’s Ms. Winters’s new boyfriend. I saw them together earlier.”

The boy looked back at Aaron. “For real? You’re Ms. Winters’s new boyfriend?”

Aaron nearly rolled his eyes at the third degree from a kid who apparently thought his teenage self was something everyone needed to take note of. Was that what he had looked like at that age? Aaron must have seemed ridiculous. It was a wonder his foster parents hadn’t laughed at him.

Aaron looked at the girl, admittedly a little intrigued. “Does Ms. Winters have a lot of boyfriends?”

“I think you’re the first.”

“How long have you been coming here?”

“Like, four years.”

That was interesting. So as far as the kids knew, Mackenzie didn’t date. At all. Maybe it wasn’t just him who noticed the air of “I’m hiding something” that she wore. Or he only saw it because he knew she was in witness protection.

Aaron lifted his chin to the boy. “You might want to back up a step there, champ. Give the girl some breathing space.”

The teen’s eyes narrowed and he moved forward. Aaron’s body tightened in readiness.

“Is everything okay?” Mackenzie appeared beside Aaron, bringing with her the scent of cotton candy. She looked at the girl. “Megan?”

“Everything’s fine, Ms. Winters.”

Aaron watched the boy step back and wondered how Mackenzie managed to generate that level of respect just by smiling.

“Class is over, so your sister is waiting for you.”

The girl scurried around their huddle and disappeared around the corner into the room where Mackenzie had been teaching. Aaron turned back to see Mackenzie had closed in on the boy. “You take care, Hector.”

Hector? This was the kid whose brother had shot at them on the street?

“I don’t need advice from you.” Hector stepped back, motioning with his fingers.

Aaron moved to shut down whatever the kid was about to do, but Mackenzie stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Let him go. He’s dealing with enough.”

“Like an older brother who tried to kill you yesterday? I’m surprised he even showed up.” Aaron blew out a breath. “You shouldn’t let him disrespect you that way.”

Mackenzie frowned. “You don’t think these kids understand love, or kindness?”

“Trust me, they have one currency and that’s respect. Nothing else gets through to them.”

“You sound as though you know what you’re talking about.”

Aaron shrugged. “Same world, different city.”

“Maybe you could tell me about it later.”

“Why? So you can feel as if you know me?” He shook his head. “I’m not one of those kids.”

“I know that. Aaron, I just—”

“Thought we should be friends? Is that what you want? Or do you want me to keep you safe from the guy who wants you dead? Because you can’t have it both ways. That’s not how this works.”

Mackenzie stepped back and her face blanked. “I’ll be in my office. Try not to start any more fights, okay? I’m only going to grab my purse.”

He followed her, unwilling to mess up the only thing that would keep Eric’s respect when he found out Aaron was responsible for the failed mission and his teammate’s medical discharge. He watched her switch off her computer and shut out the lights. The other woman who worked there—Eva—met them in the lobby.

“So I’ll meet you at the restaurant? Or are you going home to change first?”

Aaron glanced between them. “What’s this?”

Mackenzie sighed. “I forgot to mention it. I’m really sorry, Eva.”

She thought Aaron wasn’t going to let her go?

Eva glanced between them before her attention settled on Mackenzie. “But you have to come out. You promised. It’ll be fun, I’m telling you. All-you-can-eat appetizers and we’ll splurge on something chocolate for dessert even though we don’t need it. Come on, what do you say?”

Mackenzie clearly wanted to go. Did she not want him tagging along and putting a crimp in girl’s night out? Well, too bad.

Aaron smiled. “Sounds great. I’m in.”

Eva’s eyes flickered, but she recovered quickly. “Sure, why not.”

Aaron stuck his hand out. “Aaron Hanning, nice to meet you.”

She shook his hand. “Eva Partez.”

“Mackenzie and I’ll meet you there. All right?”

Mackenzie swallowed. “Sure.”

He grabbed her elbow and led her out before she could change her mind. Mackenzie locked the front doors as Eva sped off in a black Mustang with the top down. The sun had turned the sky pink and Aaron had to sidestep so he could see Mackenzie’s face without the glare.

“All-you-can-eat appetizers?”

Mackenzie sighed. “She’s been asking me to hang out with her for weeks and I finally broke down yesterday and agreed. I actually thought it would be fun, but now that Carosa might have sent someone to kill me...”

“Carosa? As in the Colombian drug cartel?”

She hesitated for a minute, and then nodded.

“So that’s who the guy in the picture was.” He whistled. “You don’t mess around, do you? But don’t worry. I’ll be there to keep you safe, whatever this is. That’s why Eric asked me to stay.”

“Why would you? I mean, it’s kind of clear that you don’t really like me. Why would you give up your time to protect someone who basically means nothing more to you than some stranger on the street?”

“What I’m protecting is Eric’s witness. It’s his career on the line because of your safety. And I never said I didn’t like you.”

“Seemed kind of obvious to me.”

“Well, I’m—” he swallowed “—sorry for that. In the future, I’ll try to be...nicer.”

Mackenzie laughed. “That was hard for you to say, wasn’t it? Big tough guy like you. It must be rough, having to be pleasant.”

Aaron didn’t like one bit that she was laughing at him. “Let’s just get going, okay?” He grabbed her elbow again and headed down the street toward where he’d parked his truck.

“Why do you do that?”

“What?”

“Haul me around like a sack of potatoes.”

He loosened his grip but didn’t let go. “Guess I need to be nicer about that, too. I don’t usually work with people who are willing to cooperate. I normally have to push a lot harder to get the result I want.”

“Then maybe you should just try asking nicely.”

“Is it going to be as uncomfortable as apologizing?”

Mackenzie laughed. “Probably.”

Okay, when her face brightened like that he didn’t much mind that she was teasing him. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad having to be around her for a couple of weeks. He could get used to sparring with Mackenzie Winters.

Aaron opened the passenger door for her, like a gentleman was supposed to. Unfortunately that meant they both got a look at the interior. Last night he hadn’t been in any shape to apologize for the state of his truck. He’d just shoved everything into the middle to make a space for her. But now he saw exactly how bad it was. The foot well had a bunch of fast-food wrappers tossed there, and the passenger seat was under his jacket, a duffel bag and two gel packs that weren’t frozen anymore.

Aaron tossed the duffel and jacket behind the bench seat and motioned to the seat. “Your chariot, my lady.”

“Why, thank you, kind sir.”

When he pulled out, he scanned the street while Mackenzie stared at him again.

“So what are we going to tell Eva about you? I mean, you did just show up out of the blue, so we can’t pretend you’re my new boyfriend. What about my cousin?”

He glanced at her and then back at the road. “Why do we need to have a story?”

“Isn’t that what people do in these situations? Develop a cover story. Perhaps you could be my cousin from out of town, recently laid off from your job of hunting down rogue skunks in the Alaskan wilderness.”

“Rogue skunks?”

“Or something.”

He smiled. “Judging by the contents of the bookshelves in your living room, it doesn’t surprise me you have a vivid imagination.”

Mackenzie folded her arms. “What’s wrong with what I read?”

Aaron waved away her question. “I’m not even going to get started on what’s wrong with your taste in books. You really don’t want to know.”

“Well, what have you read lately?”

She probably thought he didn’t know how. He smiled. “Dr. Seuss.”

“Like when you were six?”

He nearly laughed. “No, a couple of weeks ago. There was this kid in the hospital who had burned his hands, so he couldn’t hold the book. I hung out with him a while before I got discharged. Sweet kid.”

“Seriously?”

“What? It was a nice thing to do.”

“It was.”

He pulled across an intersection, about a mile from the restaurant. “And you’re the only one who can help kids?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just contrary to what I’ve seen from you before. You were a little...gruff earlier.”

“I apologized then.”

“And I accepted. I’m just saying—” Mackenzie froze.

A black van came at the front left corner of the truck. Another van came from the right, boxing them in. The two vehicles moved closer together, tightening the noose. Aaron gripped the wheel, fighting to keep them from bouncing off the side of one van into the other.

* * *

The vans screeched to a halt, stopping Aaron’s truck with them. The door on one van slid back, and Mackenzie gasped as hooded men in black fatigues with big guns poured out. More appeared behind them, cocooning them in the truck. All the weapons were lifted and pointed at Aaron.

“Let the girl out!”

Aaron gripped the wheel with both hands but didn’t move or speak.

“Um...Aaron?”

One of the men in all black moved toward her door.

“Put it in Reverse.” Aaron spoke, but his lips barely moved.

“What?”

“They can see both my hands. Reach over and put it in Reverse.” He pushed out a breath. “Now.”

He moved his foot to the clutch. Mackenzie ground the gearshift, wincing at the sound. Before she was barely done, Aaron’s foot hit the gas and they flew backward. She screamed and gripped the dash. The truck spun in an arc, Aaron changed gears again and they sped forward. She looked back. “They’re right behind us. They’re chasing us.”

“I know.”

“They didn’t shoot, though.”

Aaron glanced at her and then took a corner so fast they almost went up on two wheels. “You want to talk about this now? Fine. I’m guessing they don’t want you harmed. They don’t get paid for delivering damaged goods.”

“Carosa wants to kill me himself. I know. He yelled it across the courtroom the day I testified against his brother.” She took a deep breath and pushed it out slowly as they raced down the street. “This isn’t about Hector’s brother now. Maybe someone hired him just like they hired these guys.”

“Good thing for us Carosa seems to only know semicompetent thugs.”

Every few streets she glanced back until finally she said, “They’re not there anymore.”

“They must have backed off.” He pulled into a gas station and out the other side, cutting off a Buick. “That means they’re confident they’ll get another shot.”