Wheels of Justice (Fortress Security Book 4)

by Rebecca Deel

  Jon and Dana sat at the next table to Zane’s right with Eli and Brenna. One glance told him his fellow SEALs were keeping a close eye on the malcontents in the room.

  When the rest of Durango sat to eat, conversation level rose in the gym. “Tough crowd,” Claire said.

  “You blame them?”

  “Yes, I do. They should have enough sense to know you’d never betray them.”

  “All they know is Maddox fired me for sabotaging operations and endangering lives in the process, all to fill my bank account. The Special Forces community is built on trust. According to the grapevine, I broke that trust.”

  “You proved yourself over and over on their behalf. There is no justification for their behavior, Zane.”

  Over the next hour, one by one the staff and bodyguard trainees finished their meals and left, most without a backward glance at Zane. The only ones left on the far side of the gym were the members of Adam’s team. The dark looks coming his direction left no doubt who they blamed for their leader’s disappearance.

  He glanced at Claire. “Have you met Adam’s teammates?”

  “No. Why?”

  “That’s about to change.”

  Ackerman stood, turned to stare in Zane’s direction, before saying something to his comrades. Two argued with him in voices soft enough Zane couldn’t hear the words. The tones, though, were unmistakable. Whatever Ackerman told the others filled them with resentment, but no one tried to stop him when he started across the gym floor.

  Zane glanced at Jon. His friend’s eyes glittered, though his face showed no emotion. Dana must know the role Ackerman played in Jon’s capture because her face flushed and her hands clenched.

  Ackerman strode to Zane’s table, slammed his palms on the surface, and leaned in, his eyes narrowed. “Where is he?”

  Jon and Eli stood, moving into position to intervene should the confrontation escalate. Not happening with Claire this close. He motioned for them to wait. When the rest of Adam’s team rose in alarm, Josh signaled the three men to stand down. They glanced at each other, uneasy. Alex Morgan, Durango’s sniper, slowly stood, staring at them. He didn’t say a word. Then again, he didn’t have to. One by one, Adam’s three remaining team members resumed their seats.

  “I don’t know where Adam is,” Zane said, his tone flat. “Now back off.”

  “That’s not what the rumors say, Murphy,” the other man insisted.

  “Enlighten me, Ackerman.”

  “You sold us out. You sold Adam out. How could you do that? You were one of us, man. Guess that changed when you landed in that chair.”

  Claire gasped.

  Under the table, Zane reached over and squeezed her hand. “You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

  “If he dies, you’re going down. We have a bullet with your name on it.” He shifted his gaze to Claire. “If you’re smart, lady, you’ll stay away from him.”

  “You must be Joe Ackerman,” she said, her voice ice cold.

  His eyes narrowed. “Murphy talked out of school. I’m not surprised.”

  “Actually, Adam filled me in on his teammates. I’m Claire Walker.”

  The other operative froze. “Adam’s sister? What are you doing with this traitor? He’s the one responsible for your brother’s disappearance. Adam is probably dead, thanks to Murphy.”

  “My boyfriend is no traitor.” She tilted her head. “If you’re concerned for Adam’s safety, why aren’t you hunting for him? If you or one of his other teammates was missing, Adam would be kicking down doors and interrogating people by any means necessary. I don’t see you knocking yourself out to find my brother.”

  Ackerman’s face flushed, whether with embarrassment or anger Zane couldn’t tell. “What do you know about Adam’s disappearance, Ackerman?”

  A sneer crossed the other man’s face. “I’m not telling you anything, Murphy.”

  Nate circled the table. “You might not tell Zane, but you will tell me.” He gripped Ackerman’s arm in a way that made the man’s face pale. “Let’s go.”

  “Hey, you aren’t allowed to use your skills against members of Fortress.”

  “A big, tough guy like you can handle a few questions.” Nate propelled him out of the gym.

  Again, Adam’s remaining team members rose as if to interfere.

  “Sit down,” Josh snapped. Alex and Quinn flanked the three men.

  “Where is Nate taking Joe?” one asked.

  “You heard him, Moore,” Josh said. “Nate has questions for Ackerman. I have one for you. How long did you wait before accepting Ackerman as your leader?”

  Jon snorted. “About two minutes.”

  “That’s not fair, Smith,” Hollis growled.

  “Not fair?” Eli snapped.

  “Eli,” Brenna murmured, touching her husband’s back.

  “I’ll tell you what’s not fair,” he continued as if she hadn’t interrupted. “Ackerman abandoning his post and leaving my partner in the hands of a human trafficking ring. How can you accept that clown’s leadership? He’s not a tenth of the leader Adam is.”

  “What are you talking about?” Simmons frowned. “Ackerman would never abandon his post.”

  “Want to bet your life on that?” Jon asked. “I trusted him. I almost didn’t live to tell about it.”

  The three men exchanged glances again. None of them knew what to believe, Zane thought, disgusted. Maybe Maddox needed to fire the team and create a new one for Adam to lead.

  “Jon, take Hollis,” Josh said. “See what he knows.”

  The operative stared as Jon crossed the open space. He looked to his teammates for support. Got zip from them. At least they were learning.

  “Let’s go.” Jon indicated for the other man to walk ahead of him. The fear on the man’s face told Zane that Hollis may not have worked with the Navy SEAL, but he’d heard rumors. By the time Jon finished with the other man, he would have no secrets. Hollis had reason to be afraid.

  “Alex, you and Quinn keep Moore and Simmons occupied until Nate and Jon are finished with the other two.” Josh’s gaze shifted to the remaining people in the room. “The rest of us will clean up. Darcy, there’s a stool in the kitchen my sister uses when she covers Nate’s cooking duties. You can and direct traffic in there.”

  “I can help, Josh.”

  Durango’s leader chuckled. “I’m afraid your boyfriend doesn’t agree.”

  “Definitely not.” Rio stood and started gathering plates and cups. “You’re exhausted, sweetheart.”

  “I’m also not made of spun glass, Rio. How about a compromise? I’ll help clear tables and store the food, then sit while the rest of you clean the kitchen.”

  Eli grinned. “Something tells me we’ve just been had, Rio.”

  “Yeah, I’m getting the same impression.” He dropped a light kiss on Darcy’s upturned lips. “Come on. Let’s get cracking. Four o’clock in the morning comes early.”

  “Eli, should you be with Jon?” Dana asked.

  “He’s fine, sugar,” Eli said. “If he’d been interrogating Ackerman, then, yeah, I would need to be there along with someone else to keep Jon reined in. Questioning Hollis isn’t a problem.”

  “Does Nate have a plastic bin we can use?” Darcy asked.

  Josh rubbed the back of his neck. “Probably. Why?”

  “Cleanup will be faster if we place plates in the bin and transport more than a handful at a time to the kitchen.”

  “I’m all for that,” Del said. “Come on, Ivy. Let’s find something to use.”

  In a couple minutes, the cousins returned, carrying two gray bins used by restaurants to aid in clearing tables. “Look what we found.” Ivy placed her bin in the center of one of the tables.

  “Perfect.” Darcy stood.

  “I’ll transport bins,” Zane said.

  “Great. Let’s get to work.”

  Within fifteen minutes, the tables were cleared and Darcy sat on the stool, directing traffic and giving in
structions on food storage. The women chatted like old friends while they worked. With so many people in the kitchen, Zane couldn’t maneuver in the crowded space. Frustrated yet again with his confinement to the chair, he was relieved when Josh motioned for Zane to follow him into the gym. “Lily.” She turned, nodded.

  He maneuvered around people and fixtures until he glided onto the hardwood floor. When he stopped beside Josh, his friend sat on the floor and leaned against the wall.

  “So how is this going to play out, Z?”

  With Josh on the floor, the strain on Zane’s neck was gone. Being with that many standing people meant constantly looking up. When he’d been able to stand, he was six-four and rarely looked up at anyone. Now, that’s all he did. He frowned, thoughtful. Except with Claire. She was so small, there was almost no difference in their eye level, even with him sitting. Zane had to admit he liked that.

  He thought about Josh’s question. “We uncover the traitor, rescue Adam, and have Maddox reinstate me with a massive publicity effort. I’d prefer not to have a bullet in my back from a fellow operative who didn’t get the memo.”

  “And Claire?”

  That drew his gaze from Adam’s teammates. “What about her?”

  “Z, I’m your friend. Level with me. Is this relationship with Claire real or fake?”

  “You think it’s fake?” Did Josh see something Zane didn’t? He hated the slight overtone of vulnerability in his voice. Since when had he lost his confidence with women? He glanced down at the chair. Since Maureen had dumped him and every other woman he’d met since then treated him as if he was invisible or worse.

  “Don’t get bent out of shape, Murphy. I’m thinking about your girl.”

  He stiffened. “You think I’m not worth the risk?”

  “Get over yourself.” Josh scowled. “None of us are a prize. I’m amazed Del took a chance on me. Let’s face it, Zane. We’re high risks. We don’t have safe jobs. No, I’m talking about Claire’s feelings for you. Guard her heart, my friend.”

  He blinked. Guard her heart? “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t toy with her feelings, buddy. You’ll break her heart. That woman feels something for you. If it’s one sided, make that clear.”

  “It’s not one sided,” he murmured. “But I’m a bad bet, Josh.”

  “Explain.”

  He motioned to his useless legs, the wheelchair. “I come with baggage. No woman should have to deal with that.”

  “Don’t shortchange yourself or her. Let Claire decide if you’re worth the baggage.”

  “Is that what you did with Del?” he challenged.

  His friend nodded. “I was upfront about the risks and PTSD. A cop’s job isn’t safe, either. Alex did the same thing with Ivy. Same with Nate and Stella, and Rio and Darcy. The right woman can handle the baggage, Z. Don’t pass on something unique and special because of fear. If she’s willing to take the risk, give the relationship everything you have.”

  “And if Claire decides she can’t handle it?” he asked softly.

  “Better to know now before you marry.”

  He was silent a few moments. “Do you think we have a chance?”

  “Based on what I saw in the lobby and heard from Remy and Lily about her handling of the kidnapping attempts? Yeah, buddy, I think you have a shot.”

  Elation and terror assailed him in equal parts. The last thing he wanted was to be a burden to Claire, but he was tired of being alone.

  “You have a plan to track down Adam?”

  “Working on it.”

  “Work faster, Z.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Claire stretched her tired muscles. She couldn’t imagine how much food Nate went through every day feeding this crew of hearty eaters. From what the others said, he also fed Durango and the women in their lives at least once a week, sometimes more, depending on what was happening in the school or their personal lives.

  Must be nice to be part of a community and an even smaller, more intimate circle of friends. Maybe she’d find that kind of community in Nashville. She hoped so. When Nana passed away, Claire would need that community in her life when Adam was on a mission. She knew what she was letting herself in for when she encouraged her brother to accept the Fortress job offer. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, one her brother longed to accept. If she’d objected, Adam would have turned the job down, something she couldn’t let him do. That meant she dealt with the loneliness and days and weeks of silence, wondering if her brother was safe. The alternative was to destroy his dream.

  “Claire, tell us about the hot guy you came with,” Darcy said with a smile.

  Her face flamed. “He is hot, isn’t he?”

  Feminine laughter filled the kitchen. Rio winced. “That’s my cue to leave.”

  “Ditto,” Eli said, looking uncomfortable and turning toward the exit.

  “Oh, no, Rio.” Darcy waggled her finger at him. “You and Eli need to give us a man’s perspective on this situation.”

  “Somebody in this building must be spilling blood.”

  “If they aren’t, we can incite violence,” Eli said. “Shouldn’t be too hard with Adam’s idiot crew spoiling for a fight.”

  “Aww, don’t be a coward,” Lily teased. “You two can handle a few women.”

  Rio narrowed his eyes. “Do we look stupid?” He held up a hand. “Don’t answer that. Apparently we do.”

  More laughter.

  “I don’t know what you want from us, but I can assure you from a man’s perspective, Zane Murphy is not hot.”

  That sparked more laughter. “I don’t know, Rio.” Ivy nudged him. “Zane has shoulders a mile wide.”

  “The muscles in his arms are bigger than tree trunks,” Del contributed.

  “And that dark, thick hair.” Stella sighed dramatically.

  “And those chocolate brown eyes,” Darcy finished.

  “All right. That’s it.” Rio cupped her face between his palms. “The only eyes and arms on any man you should notice are mine.”

  “Same for you, Mrs. Wolfe.” Eli wrapped his arm around Brenna’s waist and yanked her up against his chest. “The only mug you should appreciate is mine.”

  “Well, lucky for you, Mr. Wolfe, no other man draws my interest.”

  “I have a question for Brenna.” Stella folded her arms across her chest. “You write romance novels with all those different heroes. Is Eli the model for one of them?”

  The writer turned in the circle of her husband’s arms to face the other women. “The hero who is closest to Eli is the one in my latest book. I didn’t know Eli before I wrote that novel. However, now that I do know him, I realize the best characteristics of my husband are in the heroes of my stories. He’s everything I dreamed a mate would be.”

  “Aww.” Ivy snatched up a paper napkin and dabbed at her eyes.

  Claire’s eyes misted watching Eli hug his wife closer and kiss the top of her head. She wanted a man who adored her as much as Eli adored Brenna, as all these couples valued and appreciated their mates. Would Zane be the one for her? She turned away from the crowd to throw away the paper towels in her hand, afraid the longing would show on her face. How could she explain to people she barely knew that she wanted what they had?

  “Hey,” Lily murmured. “You okay?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Her bodyguard raised an eyebrow.

  Yeah, she wasn’t ready to dissect her emotions, especially not with an audience of people she didn’t know well. Best to divert the topic of conversation to another avenue altogether. “Where’s Remy?”

  “Hanging around the corridor where Jon’s working.”

  “Why?”

  “In case my partner needs a hand in the interrogation room or out of it,” Eli said.

  Dana spun to face Eli. “You said he didn’t need help.”

  “He doesn’t. It’s insurance in case someone else is involved in Adam’s disappearance.”

  “Who?�
�

  “Maybe a Fortress trainee or one of PSI’s staff. We went with the highest odds of finding the traitor. That doesn’t mean we guessed right. There’s still a chance we’re off base.”

  “You think the traitor is in Adam’s team?” Stella asked, emotion glimmering in her eyes.

  Claire frowned, wondering what she was seeing in the detective’s gaze. Anger? Definitely that, but something else as well. She looked almost haunted.

  “We have to start somewhere, sugar.” Rio laid his hand on Stella’s shoulder and squeezed. “It makes the most sense to start in his circle of friends and co-workers.”

  Claire watched the byplay between the two. Something there, some history she didn’t know. She hoped to be in Otter Creek long enough to hear Stella’s story. She had a feeling the tale would be interesting.

  “We’re off track,” Darcy said, mischief in her eyes. “The point is to find out about Mr. Murphy.”

  “Absolutely.” Del leaned against the industrial-sized refrigerator. “Tell us about him, Claire.”

  “He’s…amazing.” Lame, but how else could she describe him? No one would believe her if Claire told this group she thought Zane was Superman, Batman, and Captain America all rolled into one Navy SEAL bundle. But that’s how she saw him. Didn’t matter if he rolled instead of strolled. No doubt they’d shake their heads in wonder if she told them the thing she loved best about him besides his brain was his voice. No matter what happened between them, she would never forget his baritone rumble in her ear providing a calm lifeline in the middle of the scariest night of her life.

  “How did you meet?” Brenna asked.

  “Two men kidnapped me. I called Zane for help.”

  “Wait a minute.” Ivy held up her hand like a traffic cop to stop Claire’s flow of words, her eyes wide. “You were kidnapped?”