Live Past The Edge (Dark Eagle Book 2)

by Julia Bright

  It wasn’t too late, but if he left the area and ran back to grab his bag, he may not have enough time to grab a hotel and catch enough sleep before he had to be back here to follow her into the city for work.

  His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out, answering on the first ring. He’d booked a room at the Marriott down the street and get to bed fast.

  “Hardy showed up today,” Adam said.

  “Shit, did he find anything?”

  “No, but he left multiple bugs in each room. I’m out on top of the canyon wall where I know there are no bugs.”

  “Crap.”

  “And your brother is here.”

  “Dammit, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you.”

  “It’s okay. It threw Hardy off enough he was flustered.”

  “I found out where she’s staying. I’ll stick around here for a few days. Are you both, well I guess all three, are you fine?”

  “We are. We’re trying to come up with plans, but we don’t want to reveal too much to Randy.”

  “I get that. I’m headed to a hotel to get a little sleep so I can be up early enough to watch her tomorrow.”

  “Sleep well. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  They built the hotel for the business traveler, so he told a sob story about the airlines losing his luggage and got a toothbrush and other items.

  He didn’t like his friends being at risk, and he hated that Marissa was in trouble. What if this Hardy jerk really tried to cause them problems? They needed to come up with a foolproof location where any more FBI raids wouldn’t cause them any troubles.

  Sleep came fast, and he woke before the sun was up. He checked out and grabbed a breakfast sandwich before leaving the hotel. Marissa came out from her apartment an hour later and headed back the same way she’d come from the night before. This time, the number of people taking the Metro was tripled, and there was little chance she’d see him.

  After she entered work, he grabbed his bag from the storage location he’d used and found a hotel for the night close to where she worked. It was boring waiting for her to come out that evening. Close to eight thirty she left the building and caught the subway to a stop near her apartment. Following at a distance, he wondered how pissed she’d be when she figured out he was here.

  With her tucked in for the night, he was about to leave when he saw someone approach her door. He paused, watching to see what happened. Her porch light flicked on, and he saw it was Agent Hardy. The guy was a thorn in his side.

  Jackson moved closer, watching through the window with the blinds drawn. Hardy was yelling at Marissa, and she was giving him back what he threw her way. His pride for her grew.

  He pulled out his phone, turned the video camera on, and set it on the windowsill. It was probably stupid to record what was going on, but they needed evidence against this bastard. Maybe Marissa would be able to send it to someone in the FBI and show them Hardy was harassing her.

  Hardy grew more animated and Marissa more stoic. She wasn’t buying whatever shit he was selling. She pointed to the door, and that’s when things went bad.

  Jackson watched in horror as Hardy threw a hard, right hook, knocking her to the floor. It took Jackson a few seconds to move. He raced to the door and grabbed the knob, turning it. Thank God Marissa hadn’t locked the door.

  She was screaming for Hardy to get off her when he entered the den. In two huge strides, he was beside Hardy, reaching for the collar of his shirt. He pulled hard, popping two buttons off before he reached down and grabbed, Hardy around the chest, pulling him up.

  Marissa’s mouth was open wide, shock evident. “What? How—”

  He was about to punch Hardy when he remembered the camera he’d set up. Instead of hurting the guy, Jackson pinned Hardy’s arms behind his back.

  “Do you have cuffs?” Jackson asked her.

  “What?” Marissa shook her head as she stood, brushing her shirt and skirt.

  “Handcuffs?”

  She nodded and turned to the left then paused. Her brows were pinched together, and her frown deepened. “No, this isn’t my house. I’ve got nothing.”

  “Find something to tie the bastard up with.”

  The piercing wail of a siren hit them, and Hardy struggled. Jackson held him tighter, making sure the man couldn’t break away.

  “Let go,” Hardy yelled.

  “Fat chance. You screwed up,” Jackson said.

  “It’s your word against mine.”

  Jackson wanted to laugh, but a police officer stepped into Marissa’s apartment. There wasn’t any way he would start an argument with a cop, so he let go of Hardy’s hands and held up his own, putting them on top of his head.

  Hardy yelled, and the cop stood there looking unimpressed.

  “Aren’t you going to arrest him? He attacked me,” Hardy yelled. “You saw him with his hands on me.”

  The cop turned to him, and Jackson lifted a brow. “What have you got to say?”

  Jackson smiled at the question. “I feared for my girlfriend’s safety, so I was standing in the bushes, watching. When I saw Agent Hardy show up, I moved to the window and put my phone up on the sill, deciding to record their interactions. Hardy attacked. Luckily, Marissa hadn’t locked the door. I rushed in, and I guess someone called you guys because I probably looked dangerous.”

  “You recorded this?” the cop asked.

  Jackson nodded to the window. “You can see the phone in the window if you look.”

  The cop turned, and Hardy tried to make a dash out the door. Marissa, who’d been standing off to the side, at first appearing angry and then confused, stuck out her foot out as Hardy ran past. Hardy tried to save himself from falling but ended up tripping out the door. He fell right in front of another police officer who had just shown up.

  The first cop turned to him and rolled his eyes. “Hang tight, and I’ll grab your phone while my friend cuffs that guy. We’ll all sit and watch your movie you made.”

  Marissa moved close when the cop stepped away. “What the hell? You’re still here?”

  “I am.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I figured something like this would happen. I didn’t trust that guy when I met him out at the ranch.”

  The comp came back and had already started the video. “Excuse me, ma’am, did you know he was recording you?”

  “No.”

  “Are you okay with him recording you?”

  “Yes, if it means my boss can see how much the jerk has been harassing me.”

  “Who has been harassing you?” the cop asked.

  “The one who tried to race out of here. I think there’s something wrong with him.” Marissa wiped her hand over her face and shook her head. “I didn’t think he would attack me.”

  “I’m going to send a copy of this video to myself.” The cop was doing something with his phone, which was fine since it wasn’t the burner that was tucked into his pocket.

  “I need a copy I can show to my boss in the morning,” Marissa said.

  The cop asked for her email address and sent the file. She pulled out her phone and Jackson watched her checking to make sure she got the file.

  “We’ll need you to come to the precinct to make your statement tomorrow,” the cop said.

  Marissa looked tired when she nodded. “Sure. I’ll be down when I can.”

  The cops left with Hardy in cuffs. When Marissa shut her door, she turned to him, her lips down in a frown.

  “You didn’t leave.”

  “I wanted to stick around, make sure you were safe and all.”

  She shook her head. “A part of me is pissed that you didn’t tell me you were staying, and a part of me is so freaking thrilled you were to here to stop that bastard.”

  “Is your place clear?”

  She lifted her shoulders in a shrug, and he glanced around before his lips thinned and he huffed out a breath.

  “Food? I’m starving.”

  “Sure.” She
grabbed her bag and showed him she had her scanner device. Once outside, she scanned him, and he scanned her. They checked her bag twice and then scanned each other again. They were clear.

  “I talked to Adam,” Jackson said. “Hardy was out there but didn’t find anything. He left angry.”

  “That’s why he came here, to make me pay or something.”

  Jackson rolled his eyes. “Probably.”

  “You know, this is ridiculous.”

  “I have a hotel room not too far from here. Sleep there with me tonight.”

  “Sure. I’m tired of being watched.”

  Since he was only two blocks away, they walked over. Exhausted made Marissa’s feet drag. In the hotel lobby, Jackson grabbed a pre-made sandwich from the refrigerator and a bag of chips. Marissa shook her head when he asked if she wanted anything to eat. He picked up another bag of chips and a soda for her.

  Once upstairs, she sat on the bed and munched on the chips he handed her. He finished his sandwich and ate the chips, staring at her as he chewed. They’d both been through so much. After he finished eating, he moved to sit next to her.

  “I want you.”

  He heated but didn’t act. “How do you feel?”

  She shrugged. “Okay.”

  “He hurt you, right?” He ran his hands over her shoulders and down to her sides. She winced. “Your ribs, are they okay?”

  “I’m sore.”

  “Do you think he cracked them?”

  “No. It’s not that bad. It’s more like Hardy’s punches just jarred me. He’s a wimp. I’ll be fine in a few days.”

  He didn’t know what to believe, but the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. After he took a fast shower, they stretched out together in bed where he held her close as he made love to her. He noticed the way she winced more than once. She was more injured than she let on.

  He brought her to the edge, and she fell over, her muscles clenching as her orgasm blasted through her. That set him off, his cum pooling on her belly.

  She was breathing hard as she cupped his cheek with her hand. “I didn’t want to give you up, but I couldn’t put Adam and Marissa at risk. She’s pregnant, and I couldn’t be selfish and risk them.”

  “I get it. I know Hardy would try to make their lives miserable. He thinks he has something.”

  “I don’t know what. If Hardy actually has anything, he would bring it forward. I think he’s lying.”

  “He has to be lying,” Jackson said.

  “So tomorrow, what do you think will happen?”

  “I’ll turn in my resignation.”

  He sat up and stared down at her. “You don’t have to quit.”

  “I can’t stay. This is just the last in a string of crap I had to wade through. And I’m not just quitting for that, or for you. It’s everything mixed together.”

  He lowered and brushed his lips over hers. “I’d give up the ranch for you.”

  “I know. But I don’t want to give up the ranch. I don’t want to abandon what you have there just so I can work here. There’s not that much great going on here for me to stay. Besides, I like that area. I think we could have an awesome life together in Wyoming.”

  “I do too.”

  Her phone rang, and she rolled her eyes before answering. “This is Agent Edwards.”

  He couldn’t make out what the other person was saying, so he had to guess by her frown it wasn’t good.

  “No, sir.” Marissa squeezed her forehead and shook her head. “Yes, sir.”

  He could only guess what was being said and who had called. He was glad she had planned to quit the FBI. If she wanted to stay, he would support her, but he wasn’t impressed with them at the moment.

  Marissa hung up and growled. “Fuck, I have a meeting with Director Black in the morning.”

  “Maybe it’s good.”

  “I doubt it. Black seemed to be working with Hardy. No question, I have to quit tomorrow.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No, there’s no way they’d let you past the public areas. I’ll just have to buck up and show Black I’m not afraid of him.”

  “Well, I am afraid of him.”

  “We’ll sort it out. Don’t worry.”

  But he was worried. He worried that everything would fall apart. One wrong move, and the ranch, Adam and Kelsey, everything, would be wiped away.

  26

  The next morning she went in early to meet with Director Black. Jackson was at her apartment packing her things, which wasn’t much, and he planned to meet her at a restaurant across the street at noon. She figured that would be how long it would take for her to end her employee in with the FBI.

  She stepped into the conference room, and Director Black greeted her. “Agent Edwards, it’s nice to see you.”

  “I’ve typed out my resignation letter and sent it through the proper channels. I’ll be leaving at noon.”

  “Oh, I don’t think there’s any need for that. We could use an agent like you.”

  Her lips twitched up as thoughts of yelling at him filled her mind. “I’m sorry sir, but that’s not going to happen.”

  Black’s brows furrowed. “Is this about Hardy? We’ll fire him.”

  “It’s more than Hardy. I’m not fit to work right now. I tried coming back, but I’m exhausted and want a break. Maybe in a few years, or maybe not. What happened in Morocco took a lot out of me, then to come back here and have you accuse me of God only knows what, it changed everything.”

  Black narrowed his eyes. Fear filled her, making her think she really hadn’t been cut out for this work. The events in Morocco changed her. The time in that house, thinking she’d never be free again made everything different. Before, she’d been happy to live her life for other people, but not anymore. She didn’t want to spend her life working for the FBI only to find she’d missed everything to live for.

  “I can’t stay here. There are too many other things I want to do with my life. I can’t stay. Thank you. Goodbye.”

  “Wait, what about Hardy?”

  “He attacked me.”

  “Do you have any proof?”

  She whipped out her phone and pressed play. “Someone outside the apartment was filming.”

  Black gasped when Hardy hit her. She let it play out until the cop showed up and Hardy tried to run.

  “There you have it. I’ll send this to you and to HR. I think they’ll be interested to know what happened.”

  Black’s frown grew deeper. “Yes, I’m sure they will.”

  There was a twinge of guilt that slid through her, but she pushed it away. They were running illegal missions and in the strictest sense of the word what they did was illegal, but the world had gone crazy, and maybe teams like Jackson’s was the only way wrongs would ever be righted.

  After Marissa left Black office, she headed to the desk where she’d worked the day before. After reading through most of the files from Hardy on Adam and Kelsey, she wanted to see if he had anything else. Frank wasn’t around yet since it was still early. She turned on her computer and plugged the thumb drive into the side of it. A quick glance through the rest of the files didn’t net her much. She was about ready to flip off her computer when she opened a file for a case Hardy marked closed. She flipped through a few of the documents then saw jpeg that drew her attention. She opened the file and was shocked to find a photo of Adam. He looked to be in a foreign country.

  There was something about the photo she didn’t like. She zoomed in, studying the photo. Adam was less in focus than the building behind him. Was this for real? She leaned back and glanced at the clock. Frank would be here soon. How bad would it be to have him find her digging through Hardy’s files?

  No question, the photo had been manipulated. Hardy was trying to fake a photo of Adam. Was this his evidence? A forensic photographer would be able to discredit this in minutes.

  If she sent the file to her boss, they’d question why she was looking through Hardy’s things. She emailed
the file to herself, deciding it was worth the risk to hold on to it. Since Hardy had lost his job, she hoped his files would be combed over. If the man was trying to use this pieced together photo to prove Adam had committed a crime, he deserved to be out of a job.

  She exited out of the file system and turned off her computer. Since she’d been stationed in Europe, she wouldn’t have to have a sit down with Cheryl. Marissa called her and told her she was leaving. Finishing up with the HR department took about an hour.

  Walking out the door for the last time was freeing. Life with the FBI had been rewarding. Now, everything was twisted up, and she needed time to heal. Since the abduction, she’d been chasing something elusive. Maybe it was peace, or perhaps something else, but she owed it to herself to discover what it was.

  After she stepped outside, she texted Jackson on her burner phone, telling him she was done. A text came back almost immediately. He already had a seat at the restaurant.

  Her heart felt lighter, and the buzz in her brain quieted. She walked fast and stepped inside, seeing Jackson right off. He stood and moved to wrap her in his arms. Having Jackson’s arms around her was like coming home. She pulled back enough to look into his eyes, his smile said a lot, promising love, comfort, caring, and lots of good sex. A sigh escaped her lips, and he lifted a brow.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes. I’m better than okay. I’m great. I’m ready to go home.”

  “And you want that home to be with me, right?”

  “I sure do.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Good, because I want you to live with me.”

  They sat, and the waiter came by, delivering tea before taking their order.

  “Marissa booked us a flight for this evening.”

  Shocked pulsed through her. “She didn’t have to do that. I can pay for my own flights.”

  “She knows, but the money needed to be spent. She’ll explain that to you later. I’m glad you’ll be home with me. Oh, and for some reason, Randy is at the ranch.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, said he needed a break from dad, which I totally get.”

  “So you two, your dad and you, what happened?”

  Jackson sighed and shook his head. “No clue, but if I had to guess, he just doesn’t like me. It’s been this way since forever. He wanted to toughen me up to be a super soldier. I know years separated them, and different behaviors would have been expected, but my dad is incredibly intense with me, but with Randy, he lets him get away with so much shit it’s crazy.”