Seize (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 2: Erotic Romance by Gina Watson Page A

whistle and the rhythmic movement indicating they were on the move. He hated being a sitting duck.
    “Augie.” She stood before him.
    “What?”
    “Is everything okay?”
    “No, it’s pretty far from fucking okay.”
    Her lips tightened. Her hands rubbed her arms. It was cold in the cabin and she wore only a tank top. She had to be cold; her nipples said she was. He stood and dug in the bed cabinet for a blanket. He found a lightweight blue fleece throw and passed it to her.
    “Thank you.” She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    “Well, I don’t know, Mia. Are you in possession of a time machine?”
    Her brows inched together.
    “Because that’s the only way you can help me with this goat fuck.”
    She took a deep breath and sat beside him. “What’s wrong, Augie? Who were those people? Why did we run?”
    “The plans I had to fix things for Eve and to protect you and your sister have been destroyed.”
    “What happened?” Her eyes widened.
    He sighed. “You happened.”
    “What?”
    “How’d you pay for the hotel room?”
    “I used my credit card.”
    “ And … ? Do you understand the problem?”
    “No.”
    “Are you seriously that fucking stupid?”
    For lack of something to throw, his fingers rubbed vigorously against his scalp. “If you use a credit card to pay for something, it can be traced via satellite.”
    Understanding settled across her face.
    “One or both of us could die tonight. So you see, Mia, you totally fucked me in the ass.”
    Her hands cupped her ears and tears fell from her eyes. “Can you please stop talking like that?”
    She was a quiet crier. She didn’t snort and sniff and carry on like his mother or any of the women he’d been with. She turned her body away from him.
    “I’m sorry.” Her voice was soft, barely audible. “I would never knowingly do anything to jeopardize your safety.”
    “Will you please just get in bed so I can stay focused on this detour and try to keep us one step ahead of the men who are trying to kill me and hurt you and your sister.” She immediately climbed up into the bed.
    He’d made a promise to Clay, and he intended to see it through. During college he’d moved in with Clay; he was the reason Augie had gone into the marines and straightened out his life. He’d do anything for Clay. When he’d seen that gleam in Clay’s eye when Eve was around, Augie knew his buddy needed her like he needed air to breathe. Hell, he’d said as much. When Clay thought she was leaving him to go after Mia, he went to a dark place and Augie vowed he’d bring Mia back safely.
    It seemed like an eternity as he paced and held his breath whenever footsteps stopped outside their door. Finally the train jerked and rolled to life, the whistle sounded, and they were catapulted forward as the train picked up speed. He sighed, plopped to the couch, and closed his eyes. A feather’s touch whispered across his arms and hands. He opened his eyes to a head hanging above him, with hair cascading like a waterfall.
    “Are you still mad at me, friend?”
    He couldn’t help but smile at her. Was she mad at him? He’d said some nasty, hurtful things to her.
    “No. And I’m sorry I lost my cool.”
    She completed an impressive dismount from the top bunk and scooched next to him on the couch.
    “It’s okay. I totally screwed up. I’m really sorry—I honestly didn’t know. I should have, and I guess most people probably would have, but you got stuck with me.” She bumped her shoulder into his. “Are we still going to be besties?”
    “Besties?”
    “Best friends. I guess that’s weird, huh? Just friends then?”
    She offered her hand, and he took it.
    “You’re my first and only one, so I’d rather like to keep you. Even once we get to our destination if that works out.”
    He felt his forehead crease as he frowned. He’d never met anyone who worked so hard to preserve friendship with him. Maybe Clay, but