Chapter 28 Chance

Rusty's Bar

Lacy's lip quivered as she entered the bar. She looked around and didn't see any of the guys and their girls occupying any chairs. She took a deep breath and made her way slowly to the counter. The bartender recognized her and started to head over. His smile disappeared when he noticed the large bruise on her face threatening to keep her eye closed.

"What happened Lacy?" he asked kindly.

"Some guy came after me," she said having no trouble making her voice waver, "I can't find Lee and I need help."

The bartender paused and nodded. He sighed heavily before writing an address down on a napkin. He slid it over to her and looked at her pointedly. She smiled thankfully and made her way quickly out of the bar.

Lacy's

Mike paced back and forth as he waited for Lacy to return. His phone rang with the jingle he'd designated for family.

"Father?" he asked.

"We were hit hard in New York. All twenty three areas we housed the special packages in were overrun. I'd like to know what you knew about this," his father said sternly on the edge of losing his temper.

"Nothing from any of my sources," Mike said with dread, "I have people in the CIA, FBI, and the locals. They would've come to me if they'd heard a peep."

"Evidently you aren't paying the right people," he said, "I want you back in New York by tomorrow morning. We have damage control to do and traitors to find."

"Yes father," Mike said obediently as he clenched his teeth.

A click sounded on the other side notifying him that his father had hung up on him without asking about his progress with Ava. He glared at the phone and tossed it on the couch. He only had to wait a few minutes for Lacy to return with a slip of paper holding the address to the residence of one Barney Ross.

He laughed callously, "So the bitch went running to family eh?"

Lacy nodded at his rhetorical question, "Her father."

"What exactly does daddy do?" he asked lowly as he turned to face her.

Lacy shook her head, "I'm not sure what him and the guys do. They're gone on trips for long periods of time and Lee knows moves that aren't normal for a business man. I know he brings home a big paycheck and the last trip he had a concussion so bad he had temporary amnesia."

"He have a lot of guns?"

"Knives," she said tilting her head curiously, "I don't understand."

He hummed before shooting off a few texts. He stopped and looked up at her realizing tonight was his last night with her. He grinned widely with a creepy glint in his eyes. He moved towards her, pocketing his phone. One hand went up to her throat to squeeze gently and the other slid up her thigh under her dress.

Early Next Morning Barney's

Maggie sat on the couch downstairs with her arms crossed. She knew the boys would be back soon with Luna and Blake and didn't want to miss her chance at mother henning. She was pretty good with stitches and bandages if she did say so herself. Plenty of experience over the years. Part of her hoped she'd get to stitch another wound on the big brute, but shook off the thought of how an injured Barney Ross would make Ava feel.

The sound of multiple vehicles pulling up signaled their arrival. Church had been insistent on using private government planes to take them to and from New York. Soon the door was opened, a code entered, and everyone filed inside. Tool came in grumbling as he tried to find a comfortable way to use his crutches. He felt older than normal and his mood had fouled along with it. Everyone knew he'd play his wound up to the local gals for sympathy. Barney and Lee both looked unharmed, but that didn't stop her from marching over to them and inspecting them to her own satisfaction. They dropped their gear when she started turning Lee's head side to side and poking him in the ribs to check for any injuries.

"Muuuum," Lee whined making her smirk.

"What?" she chastised, "You think I want that wonderful young woman to see you all scraped up and bleeding all over the floors? It was hard enough getting her to go to bed, tho I wouldn't be surprised if she's still awake."

"We cleaned up back in New York before we found out Mike was down here," Barney said crossing his arms and sighing tiredly, "Everyone just wants to get home and rest before we track this bastard down."

The mission impossible theme song sounded from Maggie's phone making all of them look at her.

"What?" she asked flipping open her phone, "Can't an ex-spy have a sense of humor?"

She answered her phone cheerily before her smile abruptly left. She narrowed her eyes and her jaw clenched. A pissed off mum, was a dangerous mum.

"Thank you for informing me," she said sternly before clicking the disconnect button.

"Mr. Spears has apparently flown the coop," she bit out, "I asked one of my former sources to keep a lookout. He's heading back to New York."

Barney looked more awake, "This buys us some time. We need to find where he's been staying and who came with him."

Thorn raised a hand as he sat on the arm of a chair, "I can hack into the traffic cams and see where him and whoever he brought went. Hopefully it'll help solidify a game plan."

They all nodded in agreement.

"For now, let's all head to bed," Barney muttered.

"That might be a little harder than you think," Maggie smirked, "Connie and Ava are in Ava's room while Dixie and those darling babies are in Barney's. Wake them at your own risk."

Gunnar shrugged and headed upstairs. Lee and Toll followed. Toll soon came back down carrying Connie who slept against his chest. Waking her was like trying to wake the dead so he hadn't been concerned.

Most of the guys headed out, while others took care of their gear right away before storing it away. Grumbling came from the top of the stairs as Dixie griped about lack of sleep and her babies finally being quiet for the night. Gunnar smirked as he watched her hips sway. Damn if she wasn't hot when she was angry. Each held one baby, which were quickly loaded up with their other stuff and they took off as well. Barney sighed in relief as the last person left and he locked up behind them. He trudged upstairs before falling into his bed fully clothed. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Lee had it the easiest as his woman was still in bed. Once Toll had taken Connie, he'd locked the bedroom door and undressed. He slipped into the bed and pulled Ava into his arms. Her head rested against his chest and she sighed contentedly as she realized he was home and safe. Tho she was too tired at the moment to give him a close up inspection.

Later in the Morning Barney's

Ava woke cuddled into Lee's chest with his arms around her. He barely stirred as she turned in his arms to get a better look at him. He had a small scrape above one eyebrow, but otherwise looked okay. Well, she'd just have to do a more thorough inspection now wouldn't she?

Her hands wandered down his bare chest until she reached his treasure trail. His stomach clenched in reflex and he moved a bit before settling back again. She smiled mischievously while slowly moving the covers down to his waist. She slid a finger under the waistband of his boxers. Another twitch of his stomach. She chuckled silently and slowly moved his boxers down. She had to get creative with getting them out from under him, but she managed. Slowly again, she moved his legs apart before resting between them. She grasped him softly and rubbed her thumb around his tip.

A loud groan ripped from his throat and he thrusted once. She saw his eyes slit open just as she enveloped him with her warm mouth. A lower groan sounded from him as she watched his face. Sleepy eyes continued to watch her while she licked, nipped, and sucked on him. He tried not to moan too loudly lest they wake others.

His hand threaded through her hair and clenched tightly. She moaned around him as her hair pulled lightly at her scalp. She felt herself getting wet the more he tugged. He wasn't too rough and his moans made her squirm with need. It seemed she'd barely started before he was pulling her off and up. His mouth met hers desperately while he held her tightly against him. She moved her legs to straddle him once they parted for a breath. One of his hands gripped her hip and the other pulled at her skimpy thong. The sound of ripping filled the air before he pulled her down for another kiss. She mewled into his mouth as his fingers slipped into her. He scissored her a bit before lining his head up with her tight, wet cavern. He thrusted up, burying himself inside her. Her back arched in a silent moan and her head tilted towards the ceiling. He pulled her back against him and thrust into her again.

"Missed you," she moaned.

"I missed you too love," he growled lowly.

He wrapped his arm around her and whipped her around to her back. He thrusted into her faster making her hands clench the sheets. He pulled her hands above her head and linked their fingers together.

"You are so damn beautiful," he whispered loudly, "And mine."

She moaned, "Yours. And your mine."

"Say it again," he demanded as he started pounding into her.

"I'm yours baby."

He groaned loudly, released one of her hands, and gripped her thigh to raise it higher on his hip. He pounded into that little button of hers making her arch into him. High pitched mewls ripped from her throat while he moaned loudly. He could feel his balls tighten and tried to hold back. Just when he thought he couldn't hold it any longer, he felt her clamp down on him and a bit of wetness gushed while she threw her head back. He pumped into her a few more times letting go. He grunted as he felt his own release pour into her.

He held himself on shaky arms, but still cupped the sides of her face. He kissed her firmly before pulling back enough to gaze into her dazed eyes.

"I love you," he whispered as her eyes slowly cleared, "I won't let him get you. You're mine and I will protect you until my last breath."

Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears, "I love you too. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than in your arms."

He smirked, "Even better than your precious Candyland?"

She chuckled huskily, "Baby you are better than any invention, bacon, and chocolate."

He raised his brows, "High praise indeed.

She tilted her head and traced one side of his face with her fingers, "The absolute best I can give."

"You sure about that?"

"Yes why?"

He smirked and pulled out of her before pulling his boxers on. She growled in protest as his sweat laced body was covered from view. She sat up holding a sheet across her body. He pulled out a small box and kneeled down on the floor in front of her.

"What are you doing?" she looked at him confused.

"I'm a traditional British bloke love," he said moving to kneel on only one knee, "What do you think I'm doing?"

He opened the small box to reveal the ring inside. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with one hand as she gasped loudly. The sheen of tears finally broke thru and trails slowly made their way down her face.

"Love," he said softly taking her free hand in his, "I know we haven't known each other as long as others, but I know I've found the other half of my soul in you. In our line of work, we have to take the chances given to us. I want to take a chance on us being together and making a family. Would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?"

Her throat felt tight and she tried to speak. The tears came faster even tho she was smiling wider than he'd ever seen. She tried to fan the tears to stop them, but it was futile. She still found herself unable to speak so she nodded quickly a few times to get her point across. He seemed to relax at that and put the ring on her finger. She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to her for a quick kiss. She hugged him tightly to her and felt the need to never let go. He rubbed her pack for a few minutes to help her relax. The tears slowly subsided and he pulled back to look at her. He cupped both sides of her face again. He kissed both her cheeks and then her mouth gently.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

She pulled him back into bed and they slept wrapped in each other's arms.