Page 22 of Paradise Ties

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess she wants to do things her way. Blake said he tried to send her to Smithy, but he refused to train her.”

“Too much guilt there.”

“I guess, which is crazy. I know I was angry, but I don’t blame him for what happened. He was as much a victim as Lizzie.”

“But he blames himself. I also think he and Lizzie might have feelings for each other. I’ve seen the way they look at each other when neither thinks the other is watching,” Lauren said.

“I don’t see how it could work between them. Surely it would be a constant reminder of what happened?”

“Or they’re the only people who can understand, so they’re perfect for each other. Either way, they need to be left alone to sort things out in their own time.”

Dane grinned. “What, no matchmaking?”

Lauren scowled in mock anger. “I don’t always interfere, just when I think someone needs it.”

Dane laughed and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her to his side and kissing her head. “You’re crazy, babe, and I fucking adore you.”

“I adore you too but watch your language in front of my babies.”

“Sorry, I fudging adore you.” He chuckled as Leah clapped and Aaron held his arms up for his mummy. “Always getting in on my action, ain’t you, son?” He kissed his son’s silky hair.

“He didn’t seem to stop you last night,” Lauren said.

“No, he certainly did not,” Dane said, then closed his eyes.

“What’re you doing?”

“Just reliving it, babe.” Dane laughed again as she slapped his abs playfully. He was about to reply when a shrill alarm sounded from his wristwatch. He pressed a button and started getting up. “We have to go. Now. Can you grab the bags?”

“What is that?”

Dane was on his way back up the beach. “It means whoever sounded it is in grave danger. In this case, Drew, Lucy, Jace, and Will.”

He turned to her and saw the fear he felt reflected in her eyes. “We need to get back to the hotel while I call Zack. In fact, leave the bags.” Lauren nodded and his phone rang in his hand. “Zack!”

“Did you get the alarm?”

“Yes, from four of them. What’s happening?”

“Not sure. We’re on our way back now and so are the rest of the team. Hang on, Liam’s calling me, I’ll call you back.”

Zack hung up and Dane buckled the kids into their seats in record time. They were ten minutes away from the hotel and they drove in silence, even Aaron and Leah seeming to sense the mood in the car. Lauren drove in case Zack called back, not wanting that conversation going to the kids on the Bluetooth car speaker.

Dane put his hand on Lauren’s leg. “It’ll be okay,” he reassured her, not knowing if he was lying. His phone rang. “Yes?”

“Armed gunmen have taken everyone in the pool bar hostage including your sister, Jace, Drew, Will, Aubrey, Jack, Zin, and Celeste. Luckily Liam and Smithy were playing tennis with Bebe and Astrid when it happened and were able to slip away without being seen.”

“Do we know if there are any casualties?” Dane asked as Lauren cast a worried look in the rear vision mirror to see if the twins were listening.

“We’ve activated the mics in the watches and Smithy’s using Will’s software to listen in. It seems the target is Princess Taamira. Her bodyguard is dead, and we’re trying to reach her brother to find out why only one of the three-man team was with her. A female hostage is dead, but that’s all we know for now.”

“Okay, we’re just pulling up down the road. Where are Ava and the kids?”

“Roz is taking them all to the beach shack for safety. Drive around towards the golf course and you’ll see us waiting.” They followed the instructions and saw police barricades cordoning off the area. He saw Zack waving as he stood with Daniel and Nate.

Dane helped Lauren from the car with the kids, leaving them in their car seats so they could quickly put them in the next vehicle.