But if he couldn't use Titan? If he couldn't ask Jared? Nothing would stop him. He would sell his soul to Lucifer to save his family. Brock was that kind of man. That was the only way she could rationalize his betraying her.

"What's it like then, Sugar?" Sarah raised her voice in disbelief, then looked at Asal and breathed in deeply. Quieter, she said, "Why would my husband abandon me? He wouldn't. He loves us. We're his world."

"I think that's the reason. He can't leave here without you. He can't go back to Titan. Not with what he's done."

"And what has he done?" she hissed.

"I'm his boss's girl. More or less." Though after the spark plug incident, the chance of being Jared's girl was much, much less. "He took what Jared Westin has and brought it to his enemy. Brock can't go home. Can't go to Jared. He thought he was making the good move, saving his wife and all, but all he did was sign his death warrant. He can't leave here. He has to do whatever Buck asks of him, and when he gets the green light to leave, he'll swoop in, grab the family, and relocate to somewhere farther off the grid."

Sarah's eyes were round. "But..."

"That's if all works according to plan. Too bad nothing looks good for me and Asal. I'd kill for that kid." She sighed and reached out to touch her shoe. "To bring this convo full circle, Brock might be here. Asal needs a doctor. He might be able to reason with Buck and get her some medical treatment." She squeezed Asal's toe lightly and slid off the table. "Enough with chit-chat. I'm going to find someone-"

The door opened across the room. A large man in tactical pants with guns on his hips walked in. His jaw was set, and his eyes were cold. "Let's go, ladies. Grab the kids."

"We want to see Brock." Sugar put her hands on her hips.

"Let's go."

"Then I want to know when the doctor's coming."

"No idea. Not my problem. Move your asses."

Sarah's two girls had scampered to her side, and none of them moved.

Sugar walked toward him in full bitch mode. "Look, asshole. Take it down a notch. You're scaring the crap out of these kids."

"Yeah, and you're the picture of grade school fun. We're relocating. Grab what you need and move."

Doubtful hope jumped in her chest. "To the doctor's?"

"Sugar, I've been warned about you." The man stepped to the side, gesturing toward the door. "Shut up and do as you're told."

She marched to him and squared off. "Tone it down. Scare these kids again, and-"

The room went dark. The television died. Both the children cried out for their mom, and the armed man cursed. A surge of adrenaline ran through her. Titan.

"Damn it. Hold on." The man walked out.

In the darkness, Sugar turned toward Sarah. "They're here."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

"This has been happening all week. We're in a shitty mountainside basement. Every so often, they use too much power, and the breakers flip." Sarah's voice bled through the dark room.

"No. Not this time. I know it in my gut." Sugar could feel his presence. The air tingled against skin. A raw and unfiltered aura blanketed her in Titan confidence. Jared was nearby, and her body knew it on a primal level.

A flashlight bobbled into the room, preceding the same armed man. His face didn't show, but the light moved in an imperative come-here motion. "Time to go. Move." His voice was clipped with unstated urgency.

Absolutely. Titan had arrived.

Before, their escort had acted impatient. This time, he was driven. The bunker's fuse box wasn't the problem. No, this electrical failure was tactical. Sugar shivered, amped up and excited for rescue. For the opportunity to get Asal to a doctor on the quick. For Jared.

The man approached her, bouncing the light in the space between her and Sarah. "I'll take the kid if you can't carry her."

"No. I've got her." She reached toward Sarah, who gently relinquished Asal, whose listless body felt hot, and her face was clammy against Sugar's bicep. Asal sleepily nuzzled into the repositioned hold, and despite the sick factor, holding her felt right. Whispered promises and prayers flitted silently from her lips as she pressed a kiss to Asal's temple.

The darkness was silent, except for the exasperated breaths from their captor. Sarah gathered her children in the dim light of the flashlight, taking each by a hand. The flickers of their faces in the flashlight bordered on terrified. Poor kids. Vacation's over. Time to get them the hell out of captivity.

"Follow my lead, Sarah," Sugar whispered. "And stick with me, no matter what."

The armed man turned on his boot, blowing in frustration. "What now?"

"Nothing. Sorry." Sugar needed a reason to slow their venue change. She bit her lip. "I forgot Asal's medicine."

"Hurry the hell up," he grunted.

Right. Hurrying at a turtle's pace, Sugar shuffled to the table. "Trying." She faked searching while still holding Asal close. "Sarah, I need help. Can't see anything."

The man beamed his flashlight on the table. Sarah joined her, catching Sugar's eye. A knowing look passed between the two women. Brock hadn't married someone stupid, thank God.

"Girls." Taking her time, Sarah looked each child in the eye. "Stay close while I help collect supplies."

"Come on, ladies. No time for this." He marched over, the flashlight scoring across the table. "Get what you need, or leave it. You've got three seconds."

Stakes raised, Sarah scrambled and grabbed a handful of cloths, a water bottle, and pill packets from the first-aid kit. "Got it."

"Good." He started toward the door again, swirling the light like a traffic cop. "Move your asses, ladies."

"Girls, hold hands," Sarah whispered and took the youngest's free hand.

They began their trek across the black room. Slow, heavy steps fell one after the other. Sugar held Asal against her chest and, without the constant beam of the light, let her eyes adjust to the room. Somewhat. It was still pitch black, but she could make out forms. Sarah both held Asal's supplies and guided her children.

Supply-holding arm in the air, Sarah tipped and leaned to an angle. She lost her balance, scattering supplies, and unsettling her children. "Ow!"

"Mom!"

"Mommy!"

Well, I'll be damned. Worst fake trip ever. Not only had Sarah received the let's-slow-our-departure message, but she was taking proactive measures. If the kids hadn't been worried that their mama had hit the ground under the irate gaze of a gun-toting jerk, Sugar would've had to contain an inner laugh. But hell, job well done, Sarah. Even if she couldn't have been a worse actor.

Sugar knelt next to Sarah, joining in on the theatrics. "You okay? That sounded awful."

"Ow. My ankle hurts."

Ow? Seriously, did she have to lob the ow twice? Sugar bit her lip, burying a grin in the dark and, instead, concentrating on Asal. How long would it take Titan to arrive? If they were really there... Of course they were.

Perfect timing for Titan to bust through the door.

Any minute.

That very second would be excellent.

But nope. No superhero brigade. Nothing.

"Get up." The man came back, his flashlight pinning Sarah to the ground. "Or I'll make you."

Sarah rubbed her ankle under the dim light. "I want to, obviously. No interest in sitting in the dark. Give me a minute, will ya?"

His aggravation was almost palpable. Tension vibrated in the room. But still no Titan. And the room was so quiet. Maybe it was all in her head. Maybe she'd given Sarah hope for no good reason.

Zap. Zap. A red dot flashed, and a shocked gurgle choked out of their captor. The flashlight hit the ground, rolling, rolling, rolling almost to Sugar. A shuffle of noise. Feet? Titan? The guard staggered, then crumpled to the floor.

Titan! Her ears were playing tricks on her. Where are they?

Clutching Asal tightly to her chest, Sugar reached for the flashlight. Contact. She grabbed it and spotlighted the shuffling noise-Titan in full tactical gear. Thank God.

Someone silently subdued their armed guard. She swung the light left. Someone else from Titan stood by the door, facing the hallway.

And a third person... She didn't need a flashlight to define the proximity of the third. She knew exactly where he stood, lording over her. She couldn't see his face. But his masked gaze burned through her clothes and set her blood on fire.

Jared.

Deciding between Baer and Sugar had been a no-brainer. Sugar was top priority, and Jared was certain she could lead him to the kid. All he wanted to do was to find Sugar. Fuck their mission. Screw GSI and Buck Baer. Having Sugar in his arms was all Jared could contemplate.

And then, there she was. Night vision aside, he would've known her in the dark, on the floor, with his eyes closed. Somehow, someway, he had a sixth sense for her. Each step he'd taken had held no logic. Instinct had marked his route. His head, even his heart, pulled him toward his girl.

But to see her cast in night vision, sprawled on the ground and clutching a child he knew she loved, was more than he'd expected. His throat went dry. An indescribable wave of relief coasted from his boots to the tips of his ears.

He took a deep breath. Sugar had Asal, and that shaved a solid ten minutes off their rescue mission. But a second glance screamed that something was wrong. The kid wasn't up and about. The two other kids had crawled on the ground to their mom, mewing in panic. Asal didn't. She didn't even stir. Curled into Sugar's arms, Asal was as still as a stone. Something was definitely wrong.

Sugar stayed on her haunches, her eyes reaching for him in the dark, but she stayed by Brock's wife. Why? The flashlight hung limp in her hand; she never bothered to shine it up. So he dropped to her level, grabbed it from her, and killed the light.

"Baby Cakes." His voice was barely audible, but she heard. She leaned a degree toward him, nodding, and his arms ached to gather both woman and child into an embrace. Nothing like he'd ever felt for a rescue victim before.

"I knew you'd come," Sugar whispered.

"Couldn't let you off the hook that easy." In the dark, on the job, he felt a smile tugging at his cheeks. "Mess with a man's truck, and he'll find you."

Nicola turned from the door, walking to the woman with the children. "Can you quiet your girls? It'll be okay."

Sarah nodded. "Girls." She looked at Sugar for confirmation in the dark, but she probably couldn't see much. "These are the good guys. It's okay," she told the girls.

Nicola reached for the woman's hand. "Can you stand up?"

"Yes. I'm fine." Sarah easily stood, gathering her kids to her sides.

"I'm Nicola." Her voice was one hundred percent trustworthy, and the anxiety drained out of Sarah's face. "The three of you stick with me."

Nicola nodded to him and staged her charges next to the exit. Jared looked at Roman, who stood in the corner. GSI's man was down and unarmed. Roman threw a thumbs-up and headed to the door to lead them out.

Sugar still crouched, clinging to Asal. Not good. He pulled off his mask. "What's wrong with her?"

"She's sick. Unconscious. Needs a doctor."

He didn't need night vision to tell him that tears brimmed in her eyes. Her voice nearly cracked. All the warm and feel-good thoughts vanished and were replaced by a vicious pounding in his chest. Buck Baer would pay. Whatever was wrong, whatever he'd done, the bastard deserved to be in Jared's grip that very second.

Lesson number one: do not mess with what was his.

Lesson number two: payback would be exponential.

Jared brushed his fingers over Sugar's cheek, and she sucked in the quietest of breaths. The softness of her skin penetrated the calloused tips of his fingers, calming his rage and focusing his mind. "We have to move. Is she stable?"

Sugar nodded. "Enough to roll out."

"Good. That's my girls."

One hand supporting her back, he helped Sugar stand.

A simple hand gesture got everyone ready to head for safety. Roman would go ahead, then meet up with Rocco. Nicola would take the lead, and he would follow at the rear.

In Jared's earpiece, Cash gave the all clear for their hallway exit plan. Nicola nodded to nobody and guided the group out the door. Slipping his night goggles back on, Jared watched the group move forward. As soon as he secured Sugar, Sarah, and kids into Titan's waiting vehicle, Cash and Nicola would haul ass for safety, leaving Jared to go Buck hunting.

Roman and Rocco were already scouting for him, but he wanted to be the one to pull Buck by his neck out of whatever rathole he'd stashed himself in.

Keeping pace with the group, Sugar glanced over her shoulder. No way could she see much in the dark. But he could see everything in goggled shades of green. Her expressive eyes went from unsure to settled, and with that, she surged on.

The hallway ended and dropped the group into an equally dark stairwell, which was safer than where they'd been, but not relief worthy. Nicola cracked two Day-Glo sticks and gave them to Brock's kids. They shuffled up the long flight of stairs and into a garage. As soon as the heavy door clicked shut behind Jared, a garage door began to rise and an engine turned over.

In the SUV, Cash flipped on the headlights. Pale light from the outdoors spilled in through the faraway garage door. He jumped out of the driver's side. Along with Nicola, they piled Sarah and her kids into the vehicle.

Sugar and Asal were the last ones to get in. Turning to him, her downcast eyes traveled from Asal back to him, and his heart clenched. This was too easy. Almost textbook. It could've gone so many ways. But he wasn't going down that road.

No one else in the world would believe it, but Sugar was vulnerable, sweet, and scared. He felt it all over. His heart lurched as he wished that he could've clicked his rifle and destroyed her problems before she'd gotten into this situation.

Jared took a step away from the stairwell door. It was against orders. His orders. But still, there he was. Not doing his damn job, not standing on post as he should've been. Needing to be closer, needing to say something, Jared closed the space between him and Sugar.

He should've been scanning the perimeter. He should've been watching for a thousand things that could go boom in the night. But his clouded mind chose that moment to remember how soft her skin had been on his fingertips and how much he would miss her. She'd absconded, leaving him madder than he'd ever been, for umpteen hours. Every lecture, each smart-ass thing he'd planned to say and school her on was forgotten.

"Thank you," she whispered.