Rescuing Baylee (Nightshade #3)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Landon drove Baylee through the quiet streets, the darkness of the night wrapping around them like a cloak. The air was thick with anticipation, every shadow seeming to hold a threat just out of sight. Landon was hyper-aware of his surroundings, his instincts honed by years on the job, but tonight felt different. Tonight, the stakes were higher. And he was cussing himself for taking a victim directly into possible danger. He’d messaged his lieutenant to let her know what was going on, and he’d gotten her blessing, but it still went against his training and every one of his protective instincts to take Baylee out.

For a damned cat…

Hopefully, they could sneak in and out and no one would be the wiser. She could get her cat and pack a quick bag of essentials, and they would be gone, letting the gang suppression unit deal with the Vegas.

A block away from the apartment building, they pulled alongside a parked Austin PD car. They were under the cover of a large oak tree. Landon rolled down his window and turned off the engine of his car.

“Hey, Porter.”

“Hey, Hunter. I’ve been here about thirty minutes, and I haven’t seen anything. Two of the undercover guys are walking the street, and I have another marked unit about a block on the opposite side. If you have any problems, we’re close.”

Hunter nodded. “I appreciate this. I’ll let you know when we’re gone.”

Porter shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. We were just dispatched here for the night, till Gangs lets us go.”

Hunter snorted. “Sorry, dude. Could be a boring night.”

“Yeah,” the sergeant sighed, “but that’s why we get paid the big bucks. Right?”

Hunter laughed. Cops were not paid big bucks by any means. “Right,” he drawled. “Still on for the softball game next weekend?”

“You know it,” Porter laughed.

Hunter started the car, rolled up the window, and pulled away.

“He seems like a nice guy,” Baylee said.

Landon glanced at her. “He is. The upper brass have tried to promote him off the street several times, but he loves running out here. And he’s a good supervisor, so they let him. Watch for anything out of the ordinary, okay? Keep your head on a swivel.”

“Roger that,” she said, but she didn’t even need the instruction. As soon as they’d pulled onto the street, her awareness had crept up. She knew someone, or several someones, had been watching her, and she knew that her life was literally in danger.

She was also aware of the undercurrents in the conversation between the two men. Were they hoping they would see the gang bangers? She was presenting them with the perfect opportunity to catch them.

They went quiet as he pulled into the alley behind the apartment building. This was mostly a storage area, though there were a few parking spots. Landon backed into one and turned off the car, then he looked around for a few long, heart pounding seconds.

“Do you have your keys?”

She nodded, patting her cross-body bag.

“Then let’s go.”

They stepped out of the car, the night air cool against their skin. The apartment building loomed ahead, dark and quiet, but Baylee’s senses were on high alert. She scanned the area, looking for anything out of place, but everything seemed normal. Too normal, perhaps.

With a protective hand at the base of her spine, he escorted her into the building. They crept past Mrs. Traeger’s apartment on the ground floor and jogged up the stairs to the second floor. At her door, Landon took her keys from her and went in first. She watched as he went through the entire apartment, his gun out as he checked the shadows. She followed along, quietly. Everything was just as she’d left it. No signs of forced entry or disturbance.

The apartment wasn’t huge, so it was easy enough to check. He stopped in the living room. “It’s clear.”

Baylee heard the buzz of a cell phone, and he pulled it from his pocket. He read the text, then turned the phone so that she could read it as well.

We’ve got eyes on Hector. He’s at a known hangout several blocks away. Looks like you’re clear for now but stay sharp.

Landon sent a quick acknowledgment and then turned to Baylee. “We’re clear, but let’s not take any chances. Get your bag packed and find the cat.”

Turning to the kitchen, she poured some cat food into his bowl and started calling for Siggy. He crept out of the dark, meowing pitifully. Crouching, she scratched him on the head for a few seconds. “Oh, buddy. You’re fine. Eat some food and then we’re going to go for a ride.”

Baylee left Siggy eating his food and eyeing Landon malevolently.

“Do you need a bag?”

Indecision crossed his face, and he glanced toward her door. “No, get your stuff and we’ll stop at my apartment on the way out.”

She nodded, moving quickly. She would let Siggy eat his food and then she would grab him on the way out. He hated his cat carrier, so as soon as she pulled it out of the hallway closet, he would know something was up and probably bolt. Cat carrier usually equaled vet, so he would be upset.

Baylee moved toward the bedroom, grabbing a backpack from the hall closet. She started stuffing things inside. She packed enough panties for a week, then a few changes of clothes, some cash. Then she grabbed a spare mag for her Glock and a box of rounds. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need any of this.

Moving to the bathroom, she grabbed her essentials and dropped them into her makeup bag, then she stashed it in her backpack. Pausing, she looked around the bedroom. Was there anything else she needed? She didn’t think so.

Moving back out to the living room, she closed her laptop and put in the protective sleeve, then slid it down into the backpack sleeve. Then she wrapped the charger, using a Velcro tab to keep the cord looped. Glancing around, she tried to imagine what she might need, but her mind was a little chaotic. Anything else?

No, she didn’t think so.

She set the zipped backpack at the door and walked toward Siggy. He’d guarded his food, but he hadn’t eaten much because he’d been glaring at Landon. She grabbed a cloth grocery sack and packed his dry food, then several cans of wet. She would have to find a box lid or something he could use as a litter box at the house.

Reaching her hand around his belly, she gave him some loves, then moved to the hallway closet. Before he could argue, she’d dropped him down into the crate she’d opened when she’d grabbed her backpack. He gave a howl of indignation, then went quiet as she closed the door and righted the cage. He was just going to have to be pissed at her.

Landon snorted at the cat’s predicament. Before he could say something, his phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Morgan. He answered quickly. “Morgan, what’s up?”

His partner’s voice was tense. “We’ve got a problem. Hector left the hangout about three minutes ago. We’ve lost him on the GPS.”

Landon’s heart sank. “He could be headed this way.”

“Exactly. We’re spreading out, but you need to get out of there now, Hunter. Don’t take any chances.”

Landon glanced at Baylee, who was holding the cat carrier close, her eyes widening in alarm as she overheard Morgan’s words. “We’re on our way out,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

He ended the call and turned to Baylee. “We need to move. Now.”

Baylee didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the sack of cat food and the backpack she’d left by the door and hurried after Landon, the carrier clutched securely in her arms. They moved quickly, retracing their steps through the hallway and down the stairs. Every sound seemed amplified in the silence of the night, every creak of the floorboards a potential threat.

As they reached the side door, Landon peered outside, scanning the area for any signs of danger. The street was still empty, but he knew that could change at any moment. “Stay close,” he whispered to Baylee, leading her out the door.

They made their way back to the car, moving swiftly but carefully. As they reached the vehicle, Landon’s instincts screamed at him to hurry. He opened the door for Baylee, who quickly slid into the passenger seat. He took the cat carrier from her and positioned it on the floor behind her seat. “He’ll be secure there.”

Just as Landon rounded the car to get in on the driver’s side, the distant roar of an engine reached his ears. His heart raced as he glanced up, seeing headlights approaching rapidly from down the street, bouncing through the potholes in the alley.

“Get down!” Landon shouted, diving into the car and slamming the door shut just as the gray Hellcat came into view.

The car screeched to a halt just a few feet away, revving the engine, its tires leaving marks on the pavement. For a split second, the world seemed to freeze, the tension in the air so thick it was suffocating. Then, in a flash, Landon started the engine and threw the car into drive, peeling out of the parking spot with a burst of speed. Baylee could have sworn she heard pops of gunfire as they sped away.

Baylee gasped, clutching the dash as the car sped back down the street. The Hellcat’s engine roared again, and Landon could see it giving chase in the rearview mirror.

“Hold on!” Landon barked, spinning the wheel and slamming on the brakes to swing the car around in a tight arc. The tires screeched in protest, but the maneuver worked, and they were now speeding down the street, the Hellcat in hot pursuit.

Landon’s focus narrowed to the road ahead, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to lose their pursuers. They had the advantage of knowing the area, but the Hellcat was faster, more powerful. He needed to out-think them, not outrun them.

He reached for the mic on the dash. “D-78 to shift sergeant zone 3. Porter!”

“Go ahead.”

“We’re coming your way. The Dodge is chasing us. I’d appreciate some intervention.”

“Gotcha!”

They tore through the streets, weaving between parked cars and dodging late-night traffic, but they couldn’t shake the Dodge. Baylee hadn’t made a sound, leaving him to concentrate on his evasive maneuvers. She grunted once, then was quiet again. She looked back when she heard the Austin PD car pull in behind the Dodge, blue lights flashing and the siren screaming, and he could see by her face that she was relieved. Landon suddenly decelerated and cranked the wheel, sliding into an alley just wide enough to squeeze through. Then he veered sharply to the right again, the car jolting as it jumped the curb and slid into another narrow alley.

The Hellcat roared past the entrance, unable to stop in time, and continued down the street, the APD cruiser chasing him. A second cruiser flashed by seconds later.

Landon slowed down, navigating carefully through the tight space. His heart was pounding in his chest, the adrenaline making his hands tremble slightly on the wheel. He glanced over at Baylee, who was pale but composed, her eyes wide with fear but also determination.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough with tension.

Baylee nodded, her grip on the dash loosening slightly. “Yeah. I’m okay. You?”

“I’m fine,” Landon replied, though the truth was he felt anything but fine. The reality of how close they had just come to danger was hitting him hard, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Not yet.

They reached the end of the alley and eased back onto the main road. The Hellcat was nowhere in sight, and for now, it seemed they had lost their pursuers. But Landon knew it was only a matter of time before they regrouped.

“We need to get to a safe place,” Landon said, his voice tight. “I’ll call Morgan and have him send backup to meet us.”

Baylee nodded, her eyes still scanning the darkness outside. “Landon… thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Landon’s heart skipped a beat at her words, but he forced himself to stay focused. “We’ll get through this, Baylee. I promise.”

As he drove them toward safety, the tension in the car slowly began to ease, but the threat of what lay ahead still loomed large. And he was more determined than ever to protect Baylee, no matter what it took.