by Laura Acton
Lexa read something in Nick’s eyes. “Why? What aren’t you saying?”
Nick chuckled. “You’re a natural. Gambrill is worried that our number of lethal outcomes is rising. He believes TRF will lose public trust if we don’t reverse the trend. Increasing our skills in this area is one way we can attempt to facilitate more peaceful endings.”
Pursing her lips, Lexa nodded. “Might help, but there are some situations where it won’t. Gambrill understands that doesn’t he?”
“Yes. So, are you interested in going?”
“Yeah.”
“Anything on your mind that you want to discuss?” Nick asked his typical open-ended question. His reviews were only a formality because he kept tabs on his team throughout the year and never waited until the annual cycle to address issues.
“Nope. I’m all good.”
“Okay. I’ll forward you an email with all the details of the training course.” Nick returned to his seat.
As Lexa rose, she said, “I think I’ll join Jon and Dan on the range.” She strode out of the room, happy Boss did not probe deep, and that he had not asked anything about Dan since she was not sure she would be able to hide her relationship under direct questioning.
Nick leaned back and sighed. The tension from all the potential threats to his family caused his head to pound. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples trying to alleviate the pain.
Dan’s Apartment – 7:50 p.m.
Lexa rested on the doorjamb of Dan’s bedroom and studied him as he packed. His movements methodical and lacking the usual ease. She perceived his shields locking down again and was unsure how to help or if she was able.
So much of his past with the military he must keep locked inside. Speaking about it would be a violation of the Securities Act, and more importantly, his oath. That much she figured out about this man. His word meant a great deal to him. She didn’t think he would willingly break a vow.
The fact he survived three months of ungodly torture and according to Blaze, never said more than his name, rank, and service number proved the lengths to which Dan would go to maintain a sacred pledge. Her head dropped, and an unbidden tear escaped. A calloused thumb and soft words startled her. He moved so fast and silently she didn’t realize he stood before her until he touched her.
Dan lightly brushed the tear from Lexa’s cheek. Genuine concern imbued his tone, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Peering up into his eyes, Lexa took a deep breath. “Nothing. Only dust in my eye. Here, let me help.”
Clasping Lexa’s hand when she tried to walk past him, he turned Lexa back to him. “Nice try, but I’m not buying it. My place is clean, dust is too afraid to stay here long enough to float around.” He gave her a lopsided grin, and when she didn’t speak, he led her over to the bed and sat them on the edge.
“Is this about me going to Ottawa? If so, I’ll be back in a few days.” Dan waited for a response.
Feeling vulnerable, something which typically caused anger to rise in her, Lexa gazed into the depths of Dan’s eyes. She might lose herself in them. Something beckoned to her, but she resisted. “I was only thinking.”
“About what?”
“Things.”
“Un huh.” Dan gently caressed her cheek as he tucked a wavy lock behind her ear. He loved her medium-length, auburn hair loose around her delicate face. The shade enhanced her flawless, creamy skin. And the golden flecks in her eyes picked up hints of the reddish color creating little dancing flames.
Lexa let down a shield. “I wish all men could be steadfast.”
Dan wondered if this had to do with her family but remained silent, giving her the space to decide if she wanted to share more, mimicking how she dealt with him.
“All this with Loki’s pa made me think about my father and brothers.” She turned away as tears welled. Standing, she walked to his dresser and noted one of the pictures Allie drew Dan. Allie thought the world of her dad and Dan. Both were Prince Charming in the child’s eyes … much like Lexa’s father had been to her. And her brothers used to be four white knights.
She sucked in a breath and swiped the back of her hand across her watery eyes to clear them before pivoting back to Dan. “Always thought me and Loki had a connection because our fathers were alike. Granted Narciso was a stepfather, but well, they both treated us like shit. Boss, Jon, Ray, and Bram all had good fathers. And, so do you, even though things were messed up between you two for years. You are reconnecting. Loki found out his real father wanted him so much he changed his will.
“That leaves me, well, …” Another tear slipped out.
Dan moved to Lexa and wrapped her in his arms. “Here with me. And Boss, Bram, Jon, Loki, and Ray. We are your family. We will never leave you or hurt you. I don’t know what they did to you, but I vow to you here and now, never to consciously cause you pain and always have your back.”
He kissed the top of her head as her arms snaked around his waist. Holding her, he glanced at his dresser, wishing he could give her the butterfly necklace he bought for her from Tourterelle Boutique. But he realized Lexa had a long way to go before she would accept something like that from him. For now, he would savor the fact she allowed him to hold her and provide comfort.
Regaining her composure, Lexa pulled out of Dan’s embrace. Needing to distance herself from her negative thoughts, she quipped, “So, what can I help with? You planning on going commando or are you packing boxers?”
Dan snickered. “I believe boxers are required apparel for court-martials. Second drawer if you want to grab some for me.”
As she opened the dresser, Lexa asked, “Do you have to wear your uniform? I mean your military one.”
A shudder coursed down Dan’s back as his eyes landed on the duffel bag on the floor of his closet. He deliberately shifted them to his suits. “No. Black or blue?”
“What?” Lexa brought five folded boxers to Dan’s bed.
“Blue or black suit?” Dan held out both.
She loved his blue suit, but said, “Black. Hopefully, this is Plouffe’s funeral of sorts, so black is fitting.”
Dan hung the blue one up and put the black one in his hanging garment bag. “Wish we were flying. Not looking forward to the long drive.”
“Why? I thought you like driving your truck.” Lexa plopped down on the mattress.
“Not driving my truck. The colonel is sending Hammer’s unit down in Humvees, and we are driving them back.” Dan turned in time to catch a quirky grin. “What are you thinking now?”
Lexa’s eyes flashed with mischief. “Only that I would love to provide you better memories of being in a Humvee. Like I did in the elevator.”
Dan groaned with a light chuckle. “You realize my entire four-hour trip is going to be murder now. I’m not going to be able to think of anything but doing recon on your body.” He abandoned his packing and pounced on top of Lexa pinning her to the bed. Dan captured her mouth, and the always banked fire roared to life in both of them.
Clothes were rapidly discarded, hands sought out each other, stoking the inferno. Dan retained full command tonight, taking Lexa where he wanted, needed, and relishing she trusted him enough to relinquish her control.
Jon’s Home – 7:50 p.m.
After tucking Joey into bed, her little boy drifting off to sleep swiftly, Jen came downstairs and found Jon in the living room lost in thought. “Penny for your thoughts.”
Turning to find Jen next to him, Jon grinned and grasped her hand, pulling her into his lap. “My thoughts are worth more than a penny.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. I was thinking of you, and you’re definitely worth at least a nickel.” Jon caught the hand swatting at him as he laughed.
Jen bent down and kissed her husband solidly. She loved it when he became lighthearted, a rarity. Pulling back, she beamed. “What’s got you so happy tonight?”
“Talked with Jack today.”
Surprise lit Jen’s face. “When? About what?”<
br />
“This afternoon. About work stuff mostly. But he called later, and we set a date to go shoot golf.”
Poking Jon’s face, moving it this way and that, Jen said, “You look like the real Jon, but don’t sound like him at all. What did you do with my husband?”
Chuckling, Jon shifted them, so he trapped Jen beneath him on the sofa. He began ardently kissing her, wanting to show her just how real he was.
“Ewwww! Man, I’m going to bed,” Kent griped loudly after coming upon his parents making out on the couch. All thoughts of playing a video game before bed flew from his mind as he turned and stalked out of the room.
Jen giggled and continued kissing Jon. Although she still didn’t quite understand what prompted the change, she delighted in the fact Jon found more time to be home with the family in the past few months. In many ways he resembled the spirited high-school boy Jen fell in love with … only manlier, and she loved that about him too.
All Things Point to Plouffe
26
January 24
Dan’s Apartment – 4:15 a.m.
Glaring at Dan, Lexa crossed her arms. Anger rising and eating away at the happy mood she had awoken in. “And what the hell do you mean by that?”
“Lexa,” Dan breathed out comprehending he made a mess of things this morning, but his heart was in the right place.
“Dan,” Lexa bit out not really wanting to listen to anything he had to say. Point blank … he is wrong. I am capable of caring for myself.
“I’m not saying you can’t—”
“Sure sounded that way,” Lexa interrupted.
Frustration building, Dan raked a hand through his hair. If she would let me get a word in edgewise, I might salvage things. He tried a different tactic. “Jon and Loki have security systems. They can protect themselves but—”
“I’m not some damsel in distress,” she shouted. Opening up last night was a mistake. Now he views me as a weak woman.
“Never said you were.”
“You implied it.” Lexa lowered her voice realizing she might wake Dan’s neighbors and they might contact the police which would, in the end, cause them both problems they didn’t want to deal with.
“Did not. I only suggested you put in an—”
“I know full well what you said.” Lexa stalked out of the room. If she didn’t leave now, she would likely pummel him.
Dan followed Lexa to his common room. “Lexa, please. I want you to be safe. It is only an added measure. Hammer’s unit will be watching.”
Whipping around, coming face to chest with him, Lexa lashed out with her fist. Once started she couldn’t stop, striking his upper torso multiple times until she found herself trapped in his arms. “Let go of me!”
“Only if you promise to quit hitting me,” Dan said as he struggled to contain the wildcat. He had no friggin clue why she went off the deep end, but he was not about to let her hurt herself or him so held on tight.
Fighting to get away, Lexa realized her efforts were futile. “Fine,” she growled, incensed he could restrain her. He released her, and she took one last parting shot at him, intending to hit his bicep with all her might before grabbing her purse and storming out, but her full-powered blow landed elsewhere as Dan turned and backed away.
“Owww!” Dan’s left hand went to his right side as he took two more paces back. Damn, she hits hard. He half bent as pain radiated from the center of her impact … his recently injured kidney.
“Dan?” Lexa stepped towards him as she realized what she had done. When he moved away from her again, she halted.
“Certainly not a damsel in distress,” Dan hissed out as he rode the downward crest of pain.
“I’m sorry.” She moved forward another step as she blew out a breath. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Straightening, Dan put distance between them. “I know.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fi … okay.” He lied. Fine described his current state more accurately, but she didn’t need to be aware of that, at least not at the moment.
Lexa caught the switch in words. Yeah, I’m fine too. She didn’t bother to correct him but attempted to explain. “This whole situation has me on edge. I realize this must affect you the same. But I don’t need a man … or a system to protect me. Been taking care of me for years.”
Resting his back on the doorjamb to his bedroom, Dan listened. Something or someone hurt her deeply. Not completely an idiot, he deduced it must be her father and brothers, especially after the glimpse into her past she shared last night. One thing he learned about Lexa in the last year and a half is she didn’t like appearing weak, something he fully understood.
Retreat was his only option if he didn’t want to screw things up with Lexa entirely. “Alright. I won’t bring it up again. But for the record, I intended to ask Ray, Boss, and Bram if they had alarms, and suggest they install them if they don’t. I wasn’t singling you out because you’re a woman.
“Plouffe is a conniving bastard, and they still have not figured out how he communicated with the outside world. He sent someone to kill my mother, and may have other contacts in the seedy underworld.” He sagged and captured her eyes. “I worry about you, about the team. I don’t want to lose any of you. I’ve lost too many people who were important to me.”
Slowly moving to Dan, Lexa read sadness in his eyes. “I’m honestly sorry.” Her heart rejoiced when he didn’t flinch from her as she lay a hand on his side.
Noting the regret in her eyes, and wanting to re-establish good humor with her before leaving today, he said, “So, is our first official fight over? If so, I hear make-up sex can be fun.”
Unable to stop the bubble of laughter bursting forth, Lexa giggled. This man took her on a roller coaster ride of emotions. She stepped back, reluctantly if she was honest with herself. “I don’t have time. You’ll have to settle for a make-up coffee from Timmy’s today. And when you return from Ottawa, I’ll show you precisely how sorry I am that I punched your kidney.”
Dan grinned. “I’ll hold you to that, Princess.” He laughed and twisted away from the hand reaching out to swat him for calling her princess. From his room, he called out, “I’ll see you at HQ. Oh, and timbits would go a long way in showing me how repentant you are.”
Lexa grabbed her purse. A smile blossomed as she strode out of his apartment. He truly is under my skin.
After his door closed, Dan sank down on his bed and rubbed his side. I need to ensure Lexa’s safety even if she doesn’t think she needs protection. How do I do that without pissing her off?
When no answers came, he rose and quickly finished packing. He needed to arrive at headquarters by seven to run evals for Delta Team then he would head over to the Fourteenth this afternoon. Fleetwood requested his assistance with another group he found had missed their evals last year.
Guns and Gangs Task Force – 9:15 a.m.
Sanchez glanced at his cell phone and nearly growled. He answered in a terse voice, “What do you want?”
“I want you to visit Rat’s home. You’ll find stuff there to blame the hospital attack on him, connect him to his cousin, and Uranus Smellie, too,” Pitbull said.
“Why?”
“Because Machete doesn’t like loose ends. This will tie up a neat package for the inspector and divert any attention from us.”
“What exactly is there?” Sanchez stood and grabbed his jacket before striding from the room.
“You will find out when you arrive. Go now, Machete wants you piggies to quit snooping into us, and this is the way to do it.”
Stopping in the hall and checking to ensure he would not be overheard, Sanchez asked, “What about Smellie? Can he dispute what I find?”
“Don’t worry about him. Machete has that one covered.”
The dead air indicated to Sanchez that Pitbull hung up. He bustled out of the station hoping to hell whatever he found would keep the heat off him too.
Luis Garcia’s Apartment –
11:00 a.m.
Inspector Pope roamed the two-bedroom apartment in the middle of Blooddrop Crew territory. Upon arriving, after receiving Sanchez’s call, he first noted the main living area. On the coffee table lay an assortment of decaying food along with maps of Toronto and the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
The kitchen table held the materials necessary to make a bomb; explosives, wiring, a detonator, and a second white backpack with a red maple leaf. Just like the university bomber used. As he entered one of the bedrooms, he spotted military fatigues shoved in one corner on the floor. The general disarray of the room and unmade bed indicated a slovenly person resided here.
Moving to the larger bedroom, Pope noted it appeared a struggle took place. A broken lamp, sheets ripped off the bed, and a smashed cell phone. The open drawer on the bedside table revealed a bowie knife.
Returning to the living room, Pope shook his head as his eyes focused on Sanchez. “How the hell did you connect the hand to Luis Garcia? We got nothing off the fingerprint.”
Still stunned by the setup produced by Pitbull and likely Panther, Sanchez replied, “Lucky break. I developed a few contacts in the area. I put the word out I was looking for a missing Blooddrop member, and they kept their eyes open. Garcia failed to show his face for a while, and they called me.”
His gaze shifted to the table containing the bomb parts. Pope still couldn’t believe their luck. “There are enough explosives here to do significant damage. And you say this is all related to getting back at Constable Broderick for something that happened in Afghanistan?”
Wearing gloves, Sanchez held the planted notebook but pointed to a map with a location circled. “Yeah. This diary of sorts, more ranting of an angry man, indicates Tapia and Garcia planned to target the TRF building next. They wanted to blame this on the university bomber to throw suspicion off them, so they hired Smellie to act as a decoy. Garcia’s cousin aimed to kill Broderick’s parents as retaliation too.”
“What did Broderick do to earn enemies like this?” Pope wondered aloud.
