Jackie was an attractive woman in her mid-twenties. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, indicating she was combat-ready despite being casually dressed. She wore her worn, brown leather bomber jacket over a white tank top, revealing her ample cleavage, and her form-fitting black pants showed off her athletic build. Her soft-soled, calf-high boots completed the ensemble and her mildly dangerous look. Jackie had an innocent beauty about her, which led most to underestimate her ability to kick ass. Not many realized that she was as deadly as she was beautiful. Jackie cast several quick glances at her sole passenger, Zack Kinsley, who seemed to stare out the side window at nothing in particular. He seemed quieter than usual.
Zack was shorter than average, barely making five-foot-eight, but he had a surprisingly athletic build, which would almost certainly go unnoticed beneath his black combat fatigues. The moderately handsome man in his early fifties was easily brushed aside as harmless, which was a mistake made by many. His brown hair, now peppered with gray, was kept short and neat, although moderately spiky on top, lending a look that was somewhere between intimidating and cuddly. After being apart from her teammate for such a long time, Jackie was actually surprised at Zack’s silence. When it was just the two of them alone together, he would often talk. He’d talk more than most people ever realized possible for such a quiet man. His relationship with Jackie was a special one. Today seemed different.
“Is everything okay?” Jackie finally asked.
Zack seemed to jolt from his private thoughts and looked back at Jackie. “Yeah, everything is fine,” he replied, then shifted in the co-pilot’s seat. “Scorpio agreed to turn the hotel into a safe house.”
Jackie shot several looks at him and was almost stunned by the announcement. “Really?” She had to think about that a moment. The perceived good news didn’t explain his strange mood. “Judging by your silence, I was almost certain she had shot down the idea.”
“No, actually, she was surprisingly receptive to it,” he replied, then snorted a soft laugh. “Which is pretty astounding, considering Hayden did everything in his power to undermine my efforts.”
“Hayden Vandyke,” Jackie muttered and felt her stomach tie in knots. She then huffed under her breath. “I can’t believe you’d subject your own kids to that man.”
“He’d worn out his welcome at the last place,” Zack remarked, then casually shrugged. “What was I supposed to do?”
“He’s broken and angry,” Jackie reported while shooting a quick look at her teammate. “I know what lurks behind that arrogant smile of his, and it’s not good.”
“That’s in his past,” Zack corrected, then tensed a moment while sinking into thought. “We all deserve a second chance.” He then shifted and returned to reality. “I’m not ready to give up on him just yet. Besides, I think it’s a good fit. Scorpio and Kane can handle him. He won’t be a problem.”
“It sounds as if everything went pretty well then,” Jackie remarked almost cheerfully. Her mood quickly dropped, and she again eyed him. “So why do you seem off?”
Zack glanced at his watch. “How long until we reach the airport?” he asked.
“Doesn’t matter,” she replied and let out a long, loud sigh. “I’ll do laps around the airport until you decide to tell me what’s bugging you.”
“Holden’s waiting,” he reminded her, then eyed her while raising an arrogant brow.
“You weren’t worried about him waiting when you insisted we stay for lunch. He can wait a few minutes longer,” she announced while casting a sly look at Zack. She knew him too well. “And I know once he’s on board, you’ll be quiet most of the flight.”
“It’s a long way back to Colorado,” Zack retorted with some arrogance. “Even I can’t stay quiet that long.”
“Spill it.”
“You’re almost as bad as Kane,” he muttered, then finally groaned while raking his fingers through his short hair. “I’m worried about Scorpio. She may look like her mother, but she takes after her father.”
Jackie eyed him but didn’t comment. It would be rude to express her concerns with that statement. A female version of Zack was something no one wanted.
“She’s a bit cold-hearted, like me,” he continued as if reading Jackie’s thoughts. “I just don’t want her turning into me. I keep hoping her relationship with Rayner puts her on a better path, but I fear she’s going to dominate him eventually.” He sighed with defeat. “There’s nothing I can do for her but sit back and wait for her to implode.”
“The guys stole Rayner from her for six weeks,” Jackie reminded him. “I’m sure some of what you were seeing was just her missing her boyfriend.”
“Maybe,” Zack replied, then fidgeted in his seat. “I should probably return in a few weeks after everything is set up for the safe house transformation and see how things are going. I’m sure they could use some additional assistance.”
“Is Sal still renting the place for his little get-together?” Jackie asked, then smiled teasingly. “What does Kane call it? The ‘mob convention’.”
“Last I checked, Sal was still having his little get-together,” he remarked and again looked at his watch, swiftly changing the subject. “Sorry I made you stay for lunch. Even if we fly straight through with only fuel stops, you’ll still be flying a couple of hours in the dark.”
“I took that into consideration,” she informed him. Jackie hated flying long distances in the dark. It wouldn’t be so bad if everyone else weren’t sleeping on those journeys. Sometimes, it was tough staying awake with everyone else sleeping. “I called Holden before we left your kids. He’s booking some rooms at that hotel just outside the airport in Michigan.”
Zack considered the comment and nodded. “They have a nice lounge there,” he remarked.
“You and Holden can enjoy the lounge,” she announced matter-of-factly. “I told him to book me a massage, and I’m going to use the sauna.”
Zack was quiet a moment, but it was apparent he had some devious thoughts racing through his mind. Jackie didn’t comment, but she knew the way his mind worked. He finally cast a look at her and raised a curious brow.
“Co-ed?”
“No,” she firmly replied, having been expecting the comment or something similar. “And even if it was, you wouldn’t be joining me.”
“You really are no fun,” he muttered.
“Maybe you can find some overnight company in the lounge,” Jackie informed him while offering a sly grin.
“Really, Jackie?” he scoffed and shook his head. “It’s like you don’t even know me.”
She rolled her eyes and groaned. It was always the same conversation with him. “What do you have against spending the entire night with a woman?” Jackie finally asked while shooting a glare at him. “Just once, wouldn’t you like to wake up alongside someone in bed?”
“I would, but Holden keeps ruining that for me,” Zack remarked.
Jackie sneered at him. “Not funny,” she scoffed.
Zack smiled and chuckled. “I thought it was,” he teased. His smile immediately faded. “Besides, I’ve spent weekends with Katya. It’s overrated.”
“I’m not sure Katya really counts.”
“How can she not count?” he demanded while glaring at Jackie and seemed a bit offended. “My guy parts fit into her lady parts. Am I missing something? What sort of requirements are necessary for it to count?”
“Maybe someone who doesn’t want to kill you afterward would be a good start,” she remarked.
“Okay, I know where this conversation is going, and I don’t approve,” he informed her. “Stop trying to fix what isn’t broken.”
Fix what wasn’t broken? Jackie’s mind was racing. Everything about Zack screamed something was broken. She hated inserting her thoughts into his lifestyle, but she couldn’t help herself.
“You need a girlfriend,” she remarked and instantly regretted saying it the moment the words left her lips.
“I have plenty of
girlfriends,” he replied.
She saw that one coming. “They aren’t girlfriends, Zack,” Jackie insisted and raised a cocky brow. “They’re fuck buddies.”
A sly grin crossed his face. “Best kind of girlfriends,” Zack countered.
“Don’t you want an intimate relationship?”
“I already have you for that,” he replied.
Jackie internally groaned. “I meant one you can have sexual relations with,” she countered.
“Again,” Zack announced with little emotion. “Holden is preventing that.”
Jackie rolled her eyes at his joke in poor taste. He was impossible! “Never mind.”
“Maggie was the only woman I wanted,” Zack informed her. “She was special. I don’t need anyone replacing her. I’m happy with the way things are in my life. All of my needs are currently being met.” He then hesitated. “Being a single father isn’t easy, you know.”
Jackie heard the comment and refrained from lashing out. She cast a look at him and sharply raised her brow. Up until a few months ago, Zack didn’t even know his children existed. His ‘single father’ bullshit didn’t float, but Jackie would again let it slide. They flew the rest of the way to the airport in silence. She couldn’t force Zack to have a personal conversation with her if he didn’t want to.
The helicopter landed not far from the refueling station, which was only a short trek to the private terminal. Jackie’s federal agent husband, Holden, waited outside the terminal. Even though Jackie and Holden hadn’t been apart for more than a few hours, seeing him waiting for her always gave her a rush. The kind of rush that made her want to handcuff him to a bed and have her way with him. Well, again. Holden Falcone was a ruggedly handsome man in his mid-thirties. Standing just a tick under six-foot, he was built less muscular and more athletic with broad shoulders and a toned chest. His neatly trimmed, black hair matched his excessively dark brown eyes. He had the perfect disposition, making him one of the FBI’s finest. Serious and calculating, he was a rational thinker, never allowing his emotions to overtake his demeanor, well, except when it came to his wife.
Holden had been waiting outside from the time he’d seen the helicopter come into view and made his approach as Jackie shut down the aircraft.
Zack removed his headset, nudged Jackie, and indicated the approaching man. “He’s like a loyal dog waiting for his master to return,” he remarked.
“Yeah, he says the same thing about you,” Jackie teased and flashed a cheap smile.
Zack eyed her and didn’t appear humored. “I’ll tap her off,” he remarked. “In case you want to use the little girl’s room.”
“That’s very nice of you,” Jackie replied, then raised a brow as if reading into the kind gesture. “Just so we’re straight; Holden’s riding shotgun until we reach the next stop.”
Zack frowned at the comment but didn’t seem pleased with his inability to play her. “Fine,” he reluctantly muttered. “I’ll take a nap in the back.”
Jackie climbed out of the helicopter and jumped down just in time to leap into Holden’s arms. He kissed her quickly then pulled back just far enough to meet her gaze.
“I booked you a massage for eight tonight,” Holden announced cheerfully, then appeared curious. “We should be there before then, right?”
“I’m hoping to be there by six,” Jackie replied. “Maybe we can have dinner first.”
“Perfect.”
“While I’m in the sauna sweating out those margaritas from our vacation, you and Zack can have a few drinks in the lounge together,” she announced.
Holden raised a curious and somewhat skeptical brow. “His idea or yours?”
“Definitely his,” Jackie replied. She certainly wasn’t going to tell Holden the truth that she wanted Zack and Holden to spend more quality time together.
“Liar,” Holden muttered, then grinned and kissed her again.
Chapter 3
Colorado, five o’clock in the afternoon Mountain Time. Bogart hurried away from the detached, eight-car garage while fiddling with his watch. He’d soon need to put his plan into effect if he wanted to rescue Harris from the basement detention cell. He just had a few more details to iron out before implementing his plan. Avoiding the big boss, Reeves, and his second in command, Decker, for the next hour was imperative. He couldn’t risk either man sending him on some errand that would take him away from the estate or, worse, have him work with someone else, keeping him from slipping away unnoticed. Rescuing Harris was now his first priority, but he wanted to keep his cover intact, if possible. Since it was getting close to dinnertime, the kitchen staff would be bustling about getting dinner together. Slipping through the kitchen would be the best route to the basement entrance.
Decker and Reeves wouldn’t be in the kitchen so close to dinner. They’d want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the kitchen staff. Bogart entered through the back kitchen door. He was greeted by the wonderful smell of dinner cooking, reminding him he hadn’t had much to eat for lunch. The kitchen staff of four was tending to their duties and barely noticed he was there. Bogart maintained course across the large kitchen and headed for the hallway entrance. He entered the back corridor just off the grand hallway and nearly collided with Reeves’s young, attractive daughter, Zoey. She jumped with surprise then laughed at their near collision. Zoey was dressed casually for dinner in jeans and a silk button blouse. She wasn’t nearly as high-maintenance as her wealth suggested she should be.
“There you are,” Zoey announced with a strange smile on her face.
Bogart seemed a little surprised by the comment. It wasn’t as if she’d ever looked for him before. What did she know that he didn’t?
“You were looking for me?” he asked while cocking his head and giving her an odd look.
“No, not me,” she replied. “Casandra was looking for you.”
“Casandra?” he asked with surprise. “Why would she be looking for me?”
“She wanted to run to the city this evening after dinner, but it’s the driver’s night off,” Zoey replied, then shrugged. “I guess Daddy said you would take her.”
Bogart eyed Zoey suspiciously. “I thought that was more Decker’s thing,” he remarked then immediately tensed, suddenly putting the reasoning for that together. Now it made more sense. “I mean; I thought Decker was her official escort, you know, in case something happened.”
“I’m guessing Daddy needs Decker tonight,” Zoey informed him.
Bogart drifted into thought. Playing chauffeur slash bodyguard for Reeves’s trophy wife was low on his priority list tonight. That Decker couldn’t take her; it suggested Reeves and Decker intended to interrogate Harris this evening before killing him. Dinner was at six, so Bogart had to make sure he got Harris out between six and seven. Reeves almost certainly wouldn’t bother with Harris until at least ten that evening. He’d want to make sure his daughter and the staff were tucked away for the night. Even if Bogart didn’t have a rescue planned for that evening, escorting Casandra would be the last thing he’d want to do. Decker’s jealous nature wouldn’t handle that news very well.
“Everything okay?” Zoey asked, apparently noticing Bogart lost in his thoughts.
“Well, not exactly,” Bogart reluctantly replied and fidgeted. “I think I should hear it from Decker. I’m not sure he’d approve of me leaving the estate and especially taking over his usual duties.”
Zoey raised a curious brow then grinned. “Are you concerned that Casandra will make a pass at you?” she almost teased. “Or are you more worried that Decker will find out and kill you?”
Bogart stared at Zoey with some surprise and a loss for words. “Why would you--?” He couldn’t even finish the sentence.
Zoey laughed softly and shook her head. “I know more of what goes on around here than most people think,” she informed him, then smirked. “It’s like Peyton Place around here.”
Bogart fidgeted slightly and seemed to find his silver lining in Zoey. “Then yo
u’ll understand that I don’t need any more misunderstandings with Decker.”
“Yeah,” Zoey replied with a tiny, humored grin, then nodded. “He’ll kill you without thinking twice.”
“And I’d like to avoid that.”
Zoey grinned while studying Bogart. “I don’t want to see him kill you either,” she teased. “You’re one of the nicer guys around here.” Her grin then increased. “I’ll help you out, but you’ll owe me one.”
“Done,” Bogart agreed a little too quickly. “What’s the plan?”
“I’ll mention Casandra’s evening plans to Decker, and he’ll squash them,” Zoey replied.
“Think that’ll work?”
Zoey raised a curious brow while eyeing Bogart. “Have you met Decker?” she asked. “If he tells her she’s not going with you, trust me; she’s not going.”
“If you could do it discreetly and not mention me at all, I’d appreciate it,” Bogart remarked.
“Decker may be scary, and he may be smart,” Zoey informed him, “but I know how to play him.”
“And while you’re doing that, I’ll be hiding in the security office,” Bogart informed her. “If you would be so kind as not to tell anyone you saw me, I’d appreciate it.”
Zoey smiled and laughed. “You’re nothing like the other guys on Daddy’s payroll,” she remarked.
“I kind of enjoy breathing,” Bogart replied.
“Bogart,” a man called from down the grand hall.
Zoey pushed on Bogart’s shoulder. “It’s Daddy,” she announced. “Go. I’ve got this.”
Bogart didn’t bother looking and walked along the back hallway as if he didn’t hear his boss. His boss continued along the hallway, heading toward his daughter and the direction Bogart had gone. Reeves was a taller, well-built man in his late forties with short, dark brown hair and a clean-shaven face. He wasn’t necessarily unattractive, but without money and influence, it was almost a given he hadn’t gotten a high-maintenance woman like Casandra based on his looks. Women like Casandra were attracted to wealthy men with power. Reeves was about to call again when Zoey hurried to greet her father.
Witness Protection 9: S.N.A.F.U. Page 2
