Harlequin Intrigue June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: To Honor and To ProtectCorneredUntraceable

by Debra

  Juliet’s familiarity with the roads near the warehouses helped her as she navigated. But the area was large and there were lots of places to stay hidden if someone was trying to. That was one of the reasons she and Evan had chosen it for use in their undercover work.

  She spotted Bolick’s car, with him still driving it, thank goodness, as it pulled up in front of one of the warehouses. Juliet cursed under her breath. Vince Cady must be around here somewhere and Bolick was about to walk in on his meeting with Evan. It was too late to call for any sort of backup, and if she tried to arrest Bolick right here, he might yell and tip Cady off. She needed to do something more drastic.

  Juliet pulled in behind Bolick as he was getting out of his vehicle, glad that the relaxed dress code at Omega made her look less like law enforcement. She didn’t let herself think about what she was doing, just threw her car keys under the floor mat, grabbed her Glock 9 mm out of the glove compartment and slid it into the back waistband of her jeans as she quickly opened her own door. She grabbed some papers resting on the passenger seat.

  Bolick wasn’t a big guy, thank goodness.

  “Hi. Excuse me? Sir?” Juliet ruffled through the papers as she got out of her car. “I’m so sorry. I’m completely lost.”

  “I can’t help you, lady.” Bolick made no move toward her, didn’t even look at her, but Juliet didn’t let that deter her. She kept walking.

  “I just need to figure out where I am, based on this address. My phone died—”

  “Sorry. I don’t know anything about this area.” Bolick turned away and began heading for the warehouse door. Juliet rushed to catch up with him.

  “Can you just look at this?” She touched him on the arm and he turned, scowling. Juliet didn’t wait to see what he would do next. She hit him in the chin with a brisk uppercut, putting her weight behind the punch, before he could get a good look at her.

  She caught Bolick as he crumpled to the ground, just as she had expected.

  Juliet could feel her entire body shaking as she dragged him the few feet to the trunk of his car. She got the keys out of his pocket and unlocked it, using all her strength to heft his unconscious form and roll him in. She knew he wouldn’t be out forever, so grabbed some duct tape from her own car and tied his hands and covered his mouth. Then she got into his car and drove it a couple blocks away, where it couldn’t be seen.

  Juliet walked back to the warehouse, adrenaline still pooling through her entire body. Hopefully, the threat to Evan had passed, because she didn’t think she could possibly be any help to him at this moment even if he needed it. She clenched her jaw in an attempt to stop her teeth from chattering. Mark Bolick was the closest she’d come to any sort of physical altercation—hell, almost any physical contact—with a stranger since her attack.

  Juliet crouched down, focusing on her breathing and getting in as much oxygen as possible. Eventually, her hands stopped shaking and her heart rate settled into a less frantic pace. She made a call to Omega, reporting the location of Bolick’s car and that he could be found in the trunk. Someone from headquarters would handle it and make sure Bolick was kept out of the picture while Evan was undercover with Cady.

  Feeling a little better, she stood up. Her job here was finished, right? Mark Bolick no longer posed a threat to Evan’s mission, so she was free to return to the safety of the Omega offices. Juliet began walking toward her car, but then stopped abruptly.

  She couldn’t just leave. Yes, Bolick was out of the picture, but she couldn’t just go, not knowing if Evan was okay. Why couldn’t he be reached? Why couldn’t they track his phone? Juliet knew she would never be able to forgive herself if he was in trouble and she had left him to run back to safety.

  Observe. That’s all she had to do. She wouldn’t need to make her presence known. She wouldn’t interfere. She’d just make sure nobody was about to kill Evan or anything like that.

  And if he was in trouble? Then she’d call for backup. Juliet took out her phone. As a matter of fact, she’d call Omega right now, let them know her status and get Baltimore PD on standby if necessary. Done. She could do this.

  Keeping her breath slow and even, Juliet turned and began walking back toward the warehouse, deciding to go to a rear door she knew each of these buildings contained. She rubbed her damp palms on the thighs of her jeans as she silently made her way along the wall, her weapon still tucked in the waistband under her lightweight sweater.

  She just prayed she wouldn’t have to use it. And if she did, that she wouldn’t freeze up. Sweat broke out on her forehead just thinking about it.

  Juliet opened the door to the warehouse as silently as possible. She could hear some people talking, but couldn’t make out the words. She eased inside.

  She wasn’t prepared for the hand that grabbed her shoulder from behind. She stopped. Everything stopped.

  Her movements, her thoughts, her breathing, even her heartbeat—it all stopped. Neither fight nor flight was an option. She had forgotten how to do both.

  She felt the cold muzzle of a weapon against the back of her neck and realized it didn’t matter, she couldn’t do either, anyway. So much for just observing.

  “What are you doing here?” the man said from behind her.

  Juliet fought to get a grip on her terror. “N-nothing,” she stammered. “I got lost.”

  He used his free hand to push her, face forward, against the door she’d just closed. She sucked in a breath, gasping for air, her skin clammy. Squeezed her eyes shut and struggled to withhold a whimper as the man began running his hand down her back.

  Juliet felt bile rise in her throat at his touch. She might vomit right here. Her shudders returned full force.

  Blessedly, the hand stopped when it reached the Glock tucked in her jeans.

  “What’s this?” he barked close to her ear. She cringed, unable to answer even if she had a good plan for what to say. Which she very definitely didn’t.

  “Thomas, what’s going on back there?” a voice from the center of the warehouse called out.

  “I found an intruder, Mr. Cady. A woman coming in through the back door.”

  Juliet tried to calm her breathing enough to listen for Evan’s voice, but couldn’t manage it. She was spending all her energy attempting to control her panic.

  Her captor grabbed her arm and began dragging her toward the middle of the warehouse. Juliet didn’t resist much, especially when they rounded a stack of boxes and she could see what was going on with Cady and his men.

  She expected to find weapons trained at her, but found them pointed in the opposite direction.

  At Evan.

  Juliet had to give him credit; he kept his wits about him even with her showing up so unexpectedly. She couldn’t figure out what to say, just stared at Evan as the man holding her arm steered her closer to the group.

  Evan sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes.

  “Damn it, Lisa, I thought we agreed you were going to stay out of sight at the pier. What the hell are you doing here?”

  Chapter Seven

  Evan knew he was taking a huge risk engaging Juliet as Lisa Sinclair, but didn’t see any other choice. Cady didn’t trust Bob Sinclair, thinking it suspicious that he was here without his “wife.” Well, she was here now.

  Why Juliet was, Evan had no idea. She should be behind a desk at Omega, where she felt safe. What the hell was going on?

  Juliet seemed only a moment away from complete panic, if her expression was anything to go by. She pulled as far as she could from the man holding her arm. Evan knew she didn’t like anyone touching her, and was sure that went double for some thug she didn’t know.

  “Cady, have your guy let her go. My wife doesn’t like to be manhandled.”

  Cady nodded at the man and he released her. She floundered for just a second, not seeming to know what to do, but then rushed over to Evan. He put his arm around her—loosely, so she wouldn’t feel trapped—and slid her behind him. Keeping himself between her and the g
uns still pointed his way.

  Vince Cady chuckled. “Looks like you haven’t quite been honest with me, Bob. You made me think your lovely wife had left you for good. Yet here she is.”

  “Yeah, well, she wasn’t supposed to be.”

  “And why is that?”

  Juliet still didn’t seem to be capable of any sort of speech, so Evan just kept talking, well aware of all the weapons trained on them. “She was supposed to stay at the car, back at the pier. Away from all this, and people throwing her around.” Evan gestured toward the guy who had brought her into the warehouse.

  “She was armed, Mr. Cady. I didn’t know why she was here,” the guy chirped, holding Juliet’s Glock out as proof.

  “Lisa is always armed,” Evan interjected quickly. He didn’t want to take a chance on Cady linking the words armed and law enforcement together. “She had an...accident a while ago and feels better carrying a gun with her.” Evan could feel Juliet stiffen behind him, but couldn’t do anything to make her more comfortable. He shrugged and smiled at Cady. “I personally find an armed woman very sexy.”

  Cady looked at Evan and Juliet for a long moment, then gave the motion—finally—for his men to lower their weapons. Evan felt a little better, but knew they were still far from safe.

  “Yes, that was another rumor I heard about your wife. That someone had tried to kill her,” Cady declared.

  Evan gave a curt nod. “We don’t like to talk about it. But Lisa and I decided she would stay out of the business side of things after that incident.”

  “And yet here she is at our meeting.” Cady’s eyebrow was raised.

  “Not by my choice.” Now that the guns were no longer pointed at them, Evan drew Juliet from behind him and wrapped his arm around her. He could feel fine trembles racking her body. “She must have gotten a little scared and followed us when you decided to switch the location. Is that right, honey?”

  Evan looked down at Juliet and squeezed her closer, trying to get a reaction from her. She nodded blankly. Not great, but enough.

  He pulled her even nearer to his side. “Look, Mr. Cady, ever since Lisa got attacked she’s been a little skittish. She doesn’t like being touched by people she doesn’t know, and she doesn’t like being surrounded by a roomful of men with weapons. That’s why we’ve been keeping a low profile for the past few months.”

  Evan hated using Juliet’s attack as a tactic to get ahead in this situation, but didn’t see any way around it.

  Cady broke into a smile. “Trying to keep your woman safe. No wonder you were acting so suspiciously! I can totally respect that. I am a family man myself. I have a wife who means a great deal to me, as yours obviously does to you.”

  For the first time, Cady’s men seemed to relax, as if they finally believed their boss was okay with the situation. Evan smiled also. “Exactly.”

  “Thomas, give Mrs. Sinclair back her gun. She obviously doesn’t feel safe without it.”

  “But, Mr. Cady, are you sure you want her to have a weapon?”

  “These people aren’t our enemy, Thomas.” Cady gestured to Juliet. “Would you feel better about this situation if you had your gun back?”

  Juliet nodded.

  “But please don’t shoot poor Thomas. He was just doing his job.”

  She nodded again. When her captor walked over and handed Juliet the Glock, she kept it in her hand, down at her side. Evan could tell she felt much better having it in her possession, although the lack of color in her face still worried him.

  It was a nice gesture on Cady’s part to give Juliet the security blanket she so obviously needed, although Evan was sure the man’s motives were not altruistic. He was trying to form some sort of bond between them. But Evan was also aware that there were at least four men in the room who could kill both him and Juliet immediately if she began to raise her weapon in a threatening manner. Having the gun in her hand provided a slim facade of control at best.

  “I’m sorry for what happened to you, Mrs. Sinclair.” Cady bowed his head slightly. “I would never condone that sort of behavior from any employees of mine.”

  “All right, Cady, let’s cut the chitchat. You have some surface-to-air missiles to sell. I have a buyer, possibly multiple buyers, who are interested.”

  “Good, good. I also have other items, much more important items, to be auctioned off. Including something acquired only recently.”

  “More important than SAMs?” Evan raised an eyebrow. “I find that hard to believe.”

  “How about access to override codes that would allow someone to turn US military drones onto any target they so desire. Attacks untraceable back to them.”

  Evan swallowed the expletive he so desperately wanted to let loose. Instead he gave an impressed whistle through his teeth. “You have drone override codes available for sale?”

  Cady had the gall to casually flick a piece of lint off his shirt. “I do, in fact.”

  “Wow!” Evan feigned excitement. “That’s some next level stuff. Where did you get them?”

  “I’m sure your buyers would not actually care, correct? They would only want to be sure that the codes work.”

  Evan could feel Juliet stiffen beside him. How the hell did Cady have drone override codes in his possession? Things had just gone from bad to critical.

  Evan sure as hell cared where and how Cady had gotten the codes, but Bob Sinclair wouldn’t press. Evan had to let it go. “That’s true, and it’s also pretty impressive, Mr. Cady. I was worried that since DS-13 seemed to be out of business, there would be a gap in merchandise available for sale. But it seems that’s not the case at all. As long as everything works, I’m sure my buyers will be interested, no matter where the codes came from.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I plan to have an auction on Monday. A few choice buyers, you included. I will be in touch with more details.”

  Monday. That was only three days away.

  Cady walked over and held out his hand. Evan reluctantly unwrapped his arm from around Juliet to shake it. She still didn’t seem too steady on her feet and he knew he needed to get her out of here as soon as possible. He willed her to stay strong.

  “Like I said, I am a family man,” Cady told Evan. “One of the reasons I contacted you in the first place is because the two of you work together as a couple. Call me a romantic, but I find that love makes people more trustworthy.”

  Cady turned to Juliet. “I know you don’t enjoy the business any longer, but I hope that you will see coming to my home as more than business. I can promise your safety.”

  Evan didn’t like where this was heading. “Mr. Cady—”

  The man stepped back from them. “In any case, my invitation to the auction at my house is for you as a pair. If your lovely wife decides she cannot make it, there is no reason for you to come, either, Mr. Sinclair. My wife will be expecting a couple, not a single man. I am not interested in letting her down on this matter.”

  “I just think it would be better—”

  “Both or neither, Mr. Sinclair.” Cady seemed uninterested in any argument, so Evan just shut his mouth.

  The drug lord turned and began walking toward his men. “I assume, since your wife had to arrive in some sort of vehicle, you won’t need my men to escort you back to the pier.”

  Evan looked down at Juliet, who nodded again. “Yes, we’ve got our own ride, thanks.”

  “Then I’ll be in touch and look forward to seeing you both again soon.” Cady and his men walked out the door.

  * * *

  EVAN WATCHED THEM LEAVE, then tucked Juliet more firmly to his side. “Hang in there, baby,” he whispered.

  “Evan, I can’t...” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

  “Don’t think about anything right now. Let’s just get out to your car. Where is it?”

  “In the back alley, on the northeast side of the building.” Her words had an uneven cadence.

  Evan led her out through the door she’d come in. They made it
to her car.

  If possible Juliet looked even more pale out in the sunlight. Evan leaned her up against the vehicle “Where are the keys, Jules? Under the mat?”

  She nodded.

  “Okay. Let’s get you in the car and back home. All right?”

  “Evan, I’m going to be s—” Juliet didn’t even get all the words out before she bent over and was violently ill all over the pavement.

  Evan offered his support by touching her back, but she waved him away. Even after she lost the contents of her stomach she continued to dry heave.

  Evan knew there was nothing he could do. Her system was in shock and just needed to run its course. He winced as she once again heaved. It was painful to watch, and he was just glad she had been able to keep herself under control for so long.

  Eventually Juliet pulled herself to an upright position, although she kept her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. “I think I’m okay now.” Her voice was cracked and hoarse.

  Evan helped her into the car, thankful that her face had some color in it now and the shaking seemed to have stopped.

  “Juliet, what the hell are you doing here?” he finally asked, as they pulled away from the warehouse area and headed back toward DC.

  She sat with her eyes closed, leaning back against the headrest. “Mark Bolick, one of the guys you arrested from DS-13 last month with Sawyer, has ties to Cady and was about to blow your cover.”

  Evan cursed under his breath. Things had already been going pretty poorly before Juliet arrived. If Bolick had stumbled in and accused him of being a cop, that would’ve been it for Evan.

  “You saved my life,” he told Juliet.

  She gave a bark of mirthless laughter. “Not on purpose. If there had been anyone else around I could’ve called, I would have, believe me.”

  “Well, you did it and that’s what counts. Plus, Cady was pretty antsy about why Lisa Sinclair wasn’t with me. You showing up when you did probably saved my life again, or at the very least the whole case.”