Cut And Run - Armed And Dangerous Part 16

They bowed their heads as they fought through the cold to the brand-new travel plaza building. It was mostly empty inside, with lots of open lobby s.p.a.ce in a hexagonal shape around a center convenience shop.

Zane held tighter to Julian's arm.

"Ooh, Starbucks," Cameron said as he leaned toward the row of shops to their right.

"I thought they overroasted their beans," Ty grumbled.

Cameron snorted.

"I'd like to get some gum or something," Julian said to Zane as Ty led Cameron toward the restrooms.

Zane glanced at him and hummed as he studied the narrow aisles of the convenience store. "Try anything in there and I'll put you down."

Julian gave him a single nod.

Zane walked him over to the store, giving the restrooms a last glance. He and Julian meandered through the aisles of the convenience store, Zane watching Julian and Julian looking for something he didn't seem to be finding. When he reached for a pack of gum, his linked hands knocked over an entire row of condom and tampon boxes.

Julian cursed under his breath, glancing at the clerk as he lifted his hands to show Zane that they were empty. Zane sighed and glanced at the clerk as well. She was watching them with a wary frown. Zane waved at her and smiled, and when he looked back at Julian, the man was stooping to pick up the boxes. Zane watched his movements closely, making certain he wasn't doing anything nefarious. Then he plucked a pack of gum off the rack and led Julian to the desk.

Five minutes and a bathroom break later, they met Ty and Cameron in line for coffee.

"Everything okay?" Ty asked.

Zane spared himself a moment to just stare at his partner. He nodded before Ty could grow worried. They locked eyes, and Ty began to smile before he looked away.

They could not get home soon enough.

They filled the car with gas, Zane letting Julian stand in the cold wind to stretch his legs so he'd stop complaining, and then they hit the road again. An hour later they were closing in on Cleveland. Zane watched the Erie County water tower pa.s.s by, and he realized he was growing drowsy. He rubbed at his eyes and glanced at Ty.

"You doing okay?"

Ty jerked his head to the side and nodded. "Couple more hours we'll get something to eat, some caffeine. I think we can get to DC tonight if we both drive."

Zane nodded.

"Sleep," Ty whispered. "I'll wake you when it's your turn."

"Aw. That's sweet," Julian said in a wry voice.

Ty and Zane both ignored him.

Zane reached to lay his chair back, preferably on top of Julian's head, but as soon as his fingers found the b.u.t.ton, the car made a sputtering sound.

Ty raised his hand off the wheel and looked at the gauges.

"What was that?" Cameron asked. The car jerked and began to slow.

Ty managed to get the car off the highway before it died completely. It chugged and grumbled and lurched to a stop. The engine went quiet, throwing the car into the otherworldly silence of a landscape covered with snow.

"What?" Ty said in irritation.

"Did our car just die?" Cameron asked, an edge of panic to his voice. "Are we going to freeze now?"

"Yes," Ty answered as he ran his hand over his chin.

Zane looked around them. The moon was out in full force, reflecting off the blanket of snow. They could see for miles, and it wasn't a comforting view. There was nothing around them. There wasn't even a glow of lights in the night sky that would signify a shopping center or small town within a few miles. "f.u.c.king Ohio," Zane muttered.

Ty exhaled, and the slowly cooling air frosted with his breath. "Cross," he said, voice deceptively calm. "What did you do to it?"

"I haven't touched the vehicle, Agent Grady."

Ty looked at Zane, clenching his jaw. "What did he do in that travel place?"

"Got some gum. Knocked over some condoms. Took a p.i.s.s, and stood in the cold."

Ty rubbed his eyes, lowering his head. "Did you put a condom in the gas tank?" he asked Julian.

Julian was silent.

"You put a condom in the gas tank."

Zane turned to look back at Julian. "How do you even do that?"

Julian looked away, meeting Cameron's eyes.

"If we start freezing, we're eating Cameron first," Ty grunted before unbuckling his seatbelt and climbing out of the car.

J ULIAN had to restrain a smirk as the two FBI agents got out of the car. He could feel the cold seeping through the gla.s.s of the windows, and while it wasn't ideal to be stuck where they were, it would have to serve.

"Did you really kill the car?" Cameron asked in a low voice. "You have to give me some credit for being subversive." "Yeah, freezing to death in the middle of Ohio really turns me on."

Julian grinned, chuckling as he looked out the window at Ty and Zane. They stood at the front of the car, Zane calm as he spoke, Ty gesticulating wildly instead of using words. They were discussing something quite heatedly.

"What are they fighting about?"

Julian could take his guesses. "I would say Grady wants to shoot me. Garrett is telling him no, too much paperwork. Then Grady will move on to how to get help. Garrett will suggest calling for a rental, Grady will be more... illegal, and likely want to go steal one." Cameron laughed.

"Listen, Cam. When I make my move, I want you to aim for the pressure points like I taught you and then run."

"Julian."

"I'm serious, love. These men are delivering us to our end. Either I'll be killed, or I'll be conscripted back into service, and either way, you won't be allowed to come with me. Do you understand?" Cameron met his eyes, swallowing hard as he nodded. Julian let his eyes linger on his lover for a few moments, and then looked back at Ty and Zane. To his surprise, Ty had turned and was walking off across the white field of snow toward a side road on the other side of a fence.

"I'll be d.a.m.ned," he whispered as he watched Ty put a hand on a fencepost and leap over the barbed wire.

"What?"

"He's leaving."

The front door popped open and Zane slid into the pa.s.senger seat.

He brought a gust of cold air with him before he shut the door. "You're just going to let him walk off into the snow?" Cameron asked.

"He'll be back," Zane a.s.sured them, as calm and steady as ever. Julian looked from him to the retreating figure of his partner in the distance. This hadn't gone to plan at all. Julian had antic.i.p.ated a rental being called, exchanging vehicles, the two agents being distracted and irritated enough that he could get the drop on them as he was transferred. He hadn't expected Ty to storm off into the darkness alone.

"Agent Garrett, while I don't pretend to particularly like your partner, I have to express some concern over this plan."

"Your concern is noted," Zane said, his voice stilted and curt. "It's below freezing out there, Garrett."

"Julian," Cameron whispered.

Julian glanced at him and licked his lips, trying to force his shoulders to relax. He wanted to get away, but he didn't want to be responsible for the death of either of these men. They were only doing as they'd been ordered, just like Julian had done for so many years. Zane turned his head to look back at them. "If either of you knew Ty like I do, you'd be more worried about us freezing than him." An hour later, a pair of headlights flashed behind them, rousting all of them from a cold-induced doze. Julian craned his neck to watch the car approach. It slowed as it neared them, revealing itself to be a truck or SUV of some sort. Julian would have guessed it was an older vehicle from the shape of the headlights. The driver flashed the lights again before pulling up behind their sedan. The lights didn't shut off, and Julian could barely make out the figure that stepped out of the SUV and walked toward them.

Ty opened the driver's side door and ducked in to look at them.

"Got us a ride," he said, voice hoa.r.s.e and gruff.

Zane got out of the car and slammed the door. The trunk opened, and Julian could feel them removing things from the back to transfer.

Julian flexed his fingers, trying to get the blood pumping. If they could catch Ty and Zane by surprise now, after the effects of the cold had made them slower and less aware, then they might be able to take whatever vehicle Ty had found and make a clean getaway. His fingers were stiff and cold. His whole body was. He also realized, somewhat belatedly, that his mind wasn't working at full speed either. Ty and Zane weren't the only ones who'd gotten cold and sleepy.

"s.h.i.+t."

"What?" Cameron asked, his voice sluggish.

"I'm afraid my plan has backfired. I didn't expect the exchange to take so long."

"Are you cold?" Cameron whispered.

The trunk slammed. Julian turned his head just in time to see Ty and Zane standing in the light of the headlights, Zane's hands on Ty's face. For a brief moment, Julian thought they were kissing. He closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened his eyes again, Zane was merely feeling Ty's cheeks, apparently to check that he was warm. "I believe... I might be hallucinating," Julian muttered as he tried to s.h.i.+ft enough to get his blood flowing.

Cameron didn't respond, he merely looked at Julian, his eyes glazing over. The door popped open at Julian's elbow, and Ty reached in to unlock his handcuffs. Ty pulled him out of the car, and the blast of cold was enough to make Julian gasp.

"Cold, isn't it?" Ty asked through gritted teeth as he pushed Julian chest-first against the sedan.

Julian waited until Zane had freed Cameron. Then he rammed his elbow into Ty, catching him on the chin. Ty stumbled back and Julian turned, finally having gotten the drop on the man. He swung at him and Ty leaned away from his fist, dodging the blow. Instead of squaring against him to prepare for the brawl, Ty lunged at him. He jumped, turning sideways in the air, kicking out at Julian. He wrapped his arm around Julian's neck. One foot went between Julian's legs, the other on the outside of his knee. Then he wrenched his body sideways as he fell, wrapping Julian up and taking him to the ground.

By the time they hit the snow, Julian was completely immobilized, his legs tangled in Ty's, in a headlock as he struggled to free himself.

"Ty!"

"We're okay," Ty called back, his voice freakishly calm as Julian tried to find a pressure point or something to fight back with. "Get the kid in the car. I need your help."

Julian gritted his teeth. "Why is an ex-Recon Marine trained in Russian Sambo?"

Ty didn't answer, merely tightened his hold on Julian so he couldn't speak as they both s.h.i.+vered with the cold seeping into them.

ZANE hastily secured Cameron in the sedan before rus.h.i.+ng over to the other side of the car, his gun drawn. Both men were on the ground, Ty wrapped around Julian and restraining him with his body. It looked a little too much like they were spooning.

Zane grumbled under his breath and bent over them. "Quit messing around. I'm freezing," he told them, and then he put the muzzle of his gun to Julian's forehead and grabbed him by his collar.

They stood him up, Zane keeping his gun on him as Ty bullied him over to the other vehicle.

Zane didn't know where Ty had found the old Bronco II, but Zane was glad he had. Ty used every bit of bungee cord, rope, and handcuffs they had to strap Julian down in the back of the Bronco. Then they moved Cameron over and tied him down too.

When they were finally all in the car, the heat chugging, Zane felt like he could breathe easily again. He glanced at Ty.

"Where did you find this thing?" he asked, unable to keep from being amused.

"Old barn near that water tower we pa.s.sed. It had a cracked cylinder head. I found one to replace it in a Ranger nearby and hotwired it. It won't go far, but it'll get us to a hotel."

Zane stared at him for a second before glancing behind them. Both of their prisoners were tied down, blocked by the rear seat. Zane reached out and set his hand on Ty's thigh, squeezing. "Nicely done," he whispered.

Ty set his hand on Zane's, letting their fingers lace together. He looked at Zane and gave him a tense smile. Zane didn't move his hand as they drove on into the night.

"W E FOUND the car, sir," Agent X told his boss as he stood on the side of the road in the freezing cold.

"They dumped it?"

"No, sir. It appears it broke down. I suspect the gas tank is the culprit."

"Why?"

"The engine is fine. The car won't start. I believe Cross sabotaged it. They left the keys in it, and there are signs of a struggle on the side of the road. Another car was here, possibly a truck or SUV. I believe they stole the car and switched over."

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yes, sir. They took their toll ticket. They have to have it to get off the highway. As soon as it comes up, we'll know what exit they've taken and we'll go from there."

"Very good. Keep me apprised. We have to get Cross before they deliver him."

"Yes, sir."

Chapter 10.

T WENTY minutes after Ty had dropped them off and told them he was going to stash the stolen car, Ty still wasn't back. How long did it take to dump a broken-down Bronco in rural Macedonia, Ohio? Zane sighed and looked at Cameron, who was sitting uneasily on the other bed, looking toward the bathroom where Ty had left Julian cuffed to the plumbing again.

"Go on," Zane said gruffly, waving a hand toward the bathroom. Cameron blinked at him and then smiled gratefully. "Thanks," he said, and he hurried to join Julian.

"Leave the door open," Zane said as Cameron disappeared inside. "Just remember I can shoot him before he can get to the door."

Zane took off his jacket and slung it into the sink of the tiny kitchenette before thumping down on the end of the bed. He was tired. This trip was testing his patience. And what the h.e.l.l was taking Ty so G.o.dd.a.m.n long?