Saxon stood there a moment, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do.
Trade one life, for another?
He looked down at his phone. Victor had always been there for him. His brother needed him right now. If Victor was already shot, if that bastard on the line hadn’t been lying…
I can’t let Vic die.
He dialed the FBI. Used the contact number that Victor had given him. Within minutes, he had Tracy Adams on the line. Before he’d left Miami, Victor had told him that Tracy had been cleared through the FBI channels. The suits in power had put her back in the field.
“Saxon?” Tracy asked, voice confused. “What’s going on? I-I thought you were gone…”
He had been gone from the game, but his brother’s life was on the line now. “I need you to help me find Victor.”
“What?”
“Victor’s in trouble. I know he’s somewhere in South Carolina, but I need a specific location. He’s…his life is on the line here.”
“But he’s not on any sanctioned FBI case.” Her voice lowered, became hushed as if she didn’t want anyone to overhear her as she said, “The Brass is pretty pissed at him because he went off radar. He was supposed to come in for an interrogation, but he didn’t. Said he was working something on his own.”
My fault. “He’s working for me. He’s trying to get Luther Bates to take the hit off Elizabeth Ward.”
“What?” Now her voice sharpened. “But—but she’s gone. The last I heard, the US Marshalls were supposed to be putting her into protective custody.”
“She’s with me.” And I won’t risk her, but I will save Vic. “I’ll be flying in to the Charleston airport, and Tracy I’m going to need help.”
“You have it.” Now her voice was soft again. “I’ll get there before you do.”
“You can track his phone, right? Find him that way?”
“I’ll find him,” she promised. “You just look for me when you land.”
He ended the call. Exhaled. For a minute, he stared down at the scars on his hands and he remembered the past. Once, he’d fought Victor. Now, he’d fight for him.
Just as Victor had fought for him.
***
Elizabeth glanced around the tasting room once more. She had plans for a kick-off gala to be held in that room. She’d already started making arrangements with a local caterer so that they could be ready—
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She whirled at Saxon’s voice, a wide smile on her face.
But he wasn’t smiling back at her. His face was hard, so very tense. Just as it had been the first time I saw him.
He stalked toward her, an air of menace hanging around him. “Do you know what I would do…” Saxon asked quietly. “To someone who threatened your life?”
Goosebumps rose on her arms. “Saxon?”
“I’d destroy him. I’d destroy anyone who wanted to hurt you.”
There was a hard, flat tone of utter certainty in his voice. She shivered.
His head cocked to the right. “Does that scare you?”
“Nothing about you scares me.” That was the truth. She wanted all of him, good and bad and everything in between.
His hand lifted and his knuckles slid over her cheek. “I can be here, wearing the suit, pretending to be someone else, but deep inside…we both know what I am.”
“Saxon—”
“A killer, a—”
“No.” She caught his hand and held tight to it. “You’re a fighter. A protector. You’re the man I-I want.” She’d almost said he was the man she loved. But Elizabeth had held back. Why? Because she was scared. Not of him, never of him. Her eyes searched his as worry slid into her heart. “Something’s happened.’
He gave a faint nod. “I have to leave town for a bit. One of the winery’s security guards will be seeing you home today.”
Her hold tightened on him. “Where are you going?”
His gaze became shuttered. “To see Victor.”
He was holding back on her. “What’s going on?” When he was silent, she stepped closer to him. “Please, Saxon, tell me.”
He glanced away from her. “I’m going to see my brother. A short trip. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Liar,” she whispered.
His lips curled the faintest bit. “I’ll be back before you know it.” He pulled away from her and headed toward the door.
She stood there a moment, her mind whirling, then she blurted, “I want to come with you.”
He stilled. “That’s not an option.”
“Why not? If you’re just going to visit Victor…”
Saxon looked back at her.
She could see the terrible truth in his eyes. “Victor is in trouble, isn’t he?” Her voice was hushed.
The lines near his mouth deepened. “I’ll take care of him. It’s what we do. We take care of each other. Me, Victor, and Jasmine…” He turned away again.
She raced across the room and blocked his path before he could reach the door. “I want to help. Whatever is going on here, let me help you.”
He stared down at her. There was longing on his face, in his eyes, but he gave a determined shake of his head. “There’s one thing I won’t risk for him.”
“What? Saxon, I don’t understand what’s happening.”
His hands curled around her shoulders. He pulled her up against him. Crushed his mouth to hers. Kissed her with a wild fury that made her heart race and her body ache.
“You,” he rasped against her mouth. “I won’t risk you.”
Then he left her, striding quickly from the room.
And Elizabeth knew that whatever was happening—whatever dangers Victor faced—they were very, very bad. The last time she’d seen Victor, he’d been determined to get the hit on her canceled.
Whatever has happened to him…it’s because of me.
***
The airport was busy when Saxon strode inside. There were families around, laughing, talking. Businessmen rushing to collect their luggage.
He barely spared any of them a glance. Everything happening around him—it was all just noise. Getting to Victor, saving his brother, that was his priority.