Retribution (Otter Creek Book 8)

by Rebecca Deel

  “Then why didn’t he send me to someone else? I never wanted to cause you more pain. I swear I didn’t know you worked for Fortress or PSI.”

  Quinn closed his eyes for a moment, as if the sight of her hurt him. When his eyelids lifted, Quinn’s gaze locked with hers. A moment later, his shoulders relaxed. “I believe you. Here’s the bottom line, Heidi. You need me.”

  Her breath caught. “There are other bodyguards capable of protecting me.” She didn’t want anyone else, but that was a different matter.

  “No. Durango is the best unit Maddox has. He knows we’ll get the job done no matter what obstacles are thrown in our path.”

  Despite the tense circumstances, her mouth curved. “Not modest, are you?”

  “Simply stating facts.” He moved closer until his breath whispered across her lips with his next words. “Decision time, baby.”

  “What decisions?”

  “How many different names have you had since I knew you as Katie?”

  “Five.”

  “Do you want a sixth?”

  Want one? No. She had changed identities so many times she almost didn’t know who she was any more. “I like this name. I think I’ll like this life. I want the chance to find out.” She desperately wanted the chance to know Quinn as an adult. So maybe she wasn’t a kid with a childhood crush. Perhaps she was an adult woman with a crush on an attractive man.

  “Do you want to run again or do you want to stand and fight?”

  Heidi wanted a life. Levi deserved that and so much more. He was a good man, one who had given up everything he had left to protect her. “My cousin and I tried that several times. Each time we almost died.”

  “You didn’t have us before.” He paused, then amended his statement. “You didn’t have me before. If you want to start over somewhere else, my team and I will tap a few resources Fortress knows nothing about. You’ll have new identities, new jobs, new housing in the same location. A fresh start all the way around if that’s your choice.”

  The thought of reinventing herself one more time made her stomach hurt. “If I decide against that option?”

  “Do you want to stay, Heidi?”

  She was distracted for a moment by the way he said her name. Quinn didn’t hesitate to call her by the latest name. “You find it easy to call me something besides Katie?”

  “Katie was the adorable pixie from my hometown.” He lifted one hand to cup the side of her face. “Heidi is the woman standing in front of me. Answer my question, baby. Do you want to stay or run?”

  She wanted to stay. To be on the ground floor of building this S & R training program was a dream come true for her. Heidi could be part of something good, maybe prevent another tragedy like the one that had taken her little sister.

  “To stay would be dangerous for everyone involved with me or my cousin. You have to know that. Your friends and their families need to understand that as well. I don’t want to be responsible for another innocent person being hurt.” Her gaze searched Quinn’s. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Do you want my personal preference or professional opinion?”

  “Professional opinion.” Chicken. She really wanted his personal preference. Did he want her to stay or would he prefer Heidi out of his sight and life for good?

  “Stay. Fight. Otherwise you will always be watching over your shoulder, constantly on guard, monitoring every word from your mouth. You’ll slip up. Word will leak. The kidnapper will find you again. If you take a stand now, we can end this for good, and you and your cousin will be free to live the life you want.”

  Did she dare? She wanted to say yes so badly she could almost taste it. Ramping up her courage, she whispered, “What’s your personal opinion?”

  Quinn’s hand slipped around to the back of Heidi’s neck. His thumb brushed over her skin. Just that light touch sent heat curling through her body. “Stay,” he whispered. “Trust me.”

  “I thought you hated me. Why would you agree to protect me?”

  Quinn’s mouth brushed against hers, the touch so light she almost believed she imagined the kiss. “I don’t hate you. I hate what your father did and the repercussions from his choices. He hurt a lot of people, not just my family. The company closing down cost many people their livelihoods.”

  Afraid to consider the light kiss as anything more than a friendly peck on the mouth or a gesture of comfort, she focused instead on his words. “Do you mean that? You don’t blame me?”

  His hand tightened at the back of her neck. That was the only warning she had before he pressed his mouth to hers for a deeper, hotter kiss. For a few seconds, Heidi froze, then her arms crept up to circle his neck. She lost herself in the heat and texture of his mouth. Heidi wished for time to stand still, to live in this moment, fear and uncertainty gone. Only Quinn holding her in his strong arms.

  Quinn’s phone signaled another incoming message. After a few seconds, Quinn broke the kiss, backed up a step, and pulled out his phone. Scanning the message, he frowned.

  “Something wrong?” Heidi asked, struggling to focus after that mind-melting kiss. Who knew childhood crushes could kiss like that? Like a splash of cold water, her gaze dropped to Quinn’s phone. Was Levi safe?

  “Unexpected meeting at PSI in two hours. Guess I won’t drop off my SUV for repairs today.”

  “Is that a meeting I should attend?” If so, she needed to get moving. Charlie wasn’t fond of baths and Heidi would have to unearth his grooming supplies, then wrestle her eighty-five pound dog into the tub. The Lab was not going to be happy when he realized what was in store.

  “Not sure. Let me ask.” He tapped out a message. The reply came back less than a minute later. “You and Deke are both requested to be there as well.” Quinn sounded puzzled.

  “That’s unusual?”

  “In this case, it is. We’re meeting with Ethan Blackhawk, Otter Creek’s police chief.” He slid his phone into his pocket. “So, what do you say, Heidi? Will you walk away or fight for what you want?”

  She raised her chin. She was finished with the run-and-hide routine. “Fight.” The decision felt positive, like she was taking a step forward. Heidi prayed she wasn’t making a mistake that would cost her life or the life of Quinn or his friends.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Quinn strode into the conference room at PSI with a large cup of black coffee in his hand. He saluted his unit leader with his cup. “Looking a little tired there, Major.” Something he could relate to considering his own short night. Josh, however, had one up on Quinn since he’d been up all night on duty.

  “I’ll catch some sleep after this meeting.” He lifted his own over-sized to-go cup and sipped.

  “Any idea what Ethan wants?”

  “Nope. I’m as much in the dark as you are.”

  Not what he’d expected Josh to say. Once the meeting with Ethan ended, he needed to tell his teammates about Heidi. Quinn wouldn’t let himself think of her as little Katie Henderson. For one, she wasn’t little anymore. Katie had grown into a beautiful woman. Second, if he thought of her as Katie, the kiss that burned him to cinders a couple hours ago would feel inappropriate. Third, he couldn’t think of the name Katie Henderson without associating her with her father. Thinking of Caleb Henderson always filled him with rage and he didn’t want that feeling connected to Heidi.

  She didn’t understand how he could distance her from her father in his mind. The wariness in her eyes had made that obvious. Once he realized she was telling him the truth about not knowing he was with PSI, he knew where to lay the blame. Maddox. Quinn frowned. That was a conversation he’d have without Heidi or his teammates nearby.

  The conference room door opened again and the rest of Quinn’s teammates filed in, each with a coffee cup in his hand. Yep, they were dependent on the magic elixir as Heidi had named it. Each member of Durango had developed the coffee habit while in the Army. Those early mornings and late nights required vats of the stuff.

  “Don’t ask,�
� Josh said to his team before anyone uttered a word. “I don’t know what Ethan wants. We’ll find out when he tells us what’s on his mind.”

  “That’s a surprise,” Rio said, dropping into the nearest seat. “He usually tells you when he needs something from us.”

  “He said he needed a favor and would explain when we met.” Amusement lit Josh’s eyes. “My brother-in-law isn’t one for repeating himself.”

  “Must be a big favor,” Alex said as he took the seat next to Josh. “Our chief of police is one of the most capable men I know. I wouldn’t want to go up against him. Not sure I’d come out on top.”

  And that said something about Ethan, Quinn thought. Alex Morgan was one of the deadliest men on the planet. An elite world-class sniper, Alex hit what he aimed at. Rumors abounded in the Special Forces community about Ethan Blackhawk. The six-foot-four Native American was in a class of his own as a tracker, and he was relentless. The most dangerous men Quinn knew gave Ethan a wide berth.

  “Heard about the fire at Heidi’s place,” Nate said to Quinn. “She all right?”

  “She’s fine. So is Charlie. The blaze was confined to the garage.”

  “Electrical?” Alex asked.

  “Deliberate. Arson, according to Nick.”

  Rio whistled. “Tough way to start a new life. Doesn’t put Otter Creek in the best light.”

  Josh frowned. “Can’t remember hearing of an arsonist in town.”

  Nate snorted. “In a place this size, a neighbor or friend would spot you doing the deed and call the cops.”

  His friends had no idea how tough this was for Heidi. Quinn admired her courage. She must be scared witless by the prospect of facing down the person targeting her and her cousin.

  He scanned the faces of his teammates. He had to tell them what was going on. He would be depending on them to protect Heidi from this psycho when he couldn’t be with her, which meant convincing them of her honesty. His teammates always had his back and they wouldn’t like her not revealing her identity to Quinn when she recognized him.

  Her silence smacked of deception, but he didn’t believe that was the case. They’d talked while they bathed a very reluctant Charlie. Heidi planned to tell Quinn who she was today. The arsonist had forced her hand a few hours early.

  Deke and his dog, Ace, came into the room. “Morning, guys.” He placed three red and white boxes on the table, then flipped open the lids.

  The yeasty scent of fresh donuts made Quinn’s mouth water. He and his teammates reached into the boxes and grabbed a few donuts apiece. When Quinn reached for another couple, conversation in the room ceased.

  He glanced around. “What?”

  “Extra hungry today, Quinn?” Deke asked, eyes twinkling.

  “These are for Heidi. She won’t have time to stop for breakfast.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “I just left her place a few minutes ago.” He’d wanted to follow her to work, but she refused, insisting he go on to PSI while she showered. Once this meeting with Ethan was over, he’d talk to Heidi and the others about her security arrangements. Like it or not, she didn’t have the option of being on her own when her stalker was in the area, too. He wasn’t buying the possibility Heidi had a second arsonist in her life.

  The only sound in the room was the breathing of his teammates. He frowned. “Problem?”

  “You just left her place?” Alex asked, an amused twinkle in his eyes.

  “It’s not like it sounds,” Quinn insisted, his cheeks burning. His aggravating teammates chuckled.

  Ethan strode into the room as if he owned it, followed by Nick and Rod. Quinn straightened at Ethan’s blank expression. Normally, the police chief was animated unless he was on police business. His expression indicated something more grim than normal police business on his mind.

  “Outstanding,” Rod said as soon as he saw the open boxes of donuts. “Meg will be envious.”

  Nick grinned. “A wise man wouldn’t tell her.”

  “Wise for you, maybe. Madison is a gentle sweetheart. My wife has the nose of a bloodhound. I guarantee she’ll find out. If it’s junk food, she loves it.”

  “Be smart,” Ethan said. “Take her a couple.”

  “You guys mind?” he asked the men around the table.

  “I’ll wrap them for you when you’re ready to leave,” Nate said.

  Quinn glanced at his team leader while the others talked and downed donuts and coffee. Josh said nothing, but he was worried. Something big was up or Ethan would never have brought in Nick and Rod.

  Nick turned to Quinn. “Where’s Heidi?”

  “On her way. She needed a shower after we gave Charlie a bath.”

  A quick smile from the detective. “For such a well-trained dog, he really doesn’t like baths.”

  “I thought Labs liked water.” Alex frowned. “Spenser loves baths.”

  “According to Heidi, her dog loves swimming. He’s not impressed with a bath. That boy let us know he objected.” In fact, Quinn had almost been as wet as Charlie by the time the bath was complete.

  Nick chuckled. “My ears are still ringing from his howling. Charlie has a pair of lungs on him.”

  Heidi rushed into the conference room, Charlie by her side. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “We haven’t started yet.” Josh motioned to the coffee pot on a table at the back of the room. “Grab a cup. Quinn saved a couple donuts for you.”

  Her gaze skated to his. “Thanks.” She motioned for Charlie to sit and stay beside Quinn before pouring herself a mug of coffee. When she sat in the chair next to Quinn, Josh said, “Heidi, you’ve already met Nick and Rod. This is Ethan Blackhawk, our police chief and my other brother-in-law. Ethan, Heidi Thompson is the newest member of PSI’s S & R training staff.”

  “Welcome to Otter Creek, Heidi. Glad to have you as part of our community,” Ethan said. “We’ve needed a search and rescue team in our area for a long time.” He turned to Josh. “Anyone else attending this meeting?”

  “No. What’s going on, Ethan?”

  “I received a call from my former lieutenant in Las Vegas.” His large hands clenched into fists. “Hans Muehller escaped from prison.”

  “Oh, man.” Rod scrubbed his face with his hands. “I thought we’d seen the last of him.”

  Deke’s eyes narrowed. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “International assassin who murdered a Marine veteran here in town and tried to kill my wife,” Ethan said.

  “What do you need, Ethan?” Josh asked, his voice cold. “Name it and it’s yours.”

  “Protection for Serena when I can’t be with her.”

  “You think Muehller is coming here.”

  “He never leaves a job unfinished. Serena was his last target.” His eyes glittered. “Muehller failed.”

  “You’re just as much a target as she is. He’ll come after you as well. You are the reason his mission failed.”

  Ethan’s face hardened. “I can take care of myself. I’m concerned about my wife and baby.”

  “You want Durango to provide security?” Alex asked. “Or PSI trainees?”

  “Durango or Fortress,” Josh said. “No trainees. Muehller is as lethal as any of the terrorists we’ve gone up against. He’s also a master of disguise.”

  “You’re positive this guy is coming to Otter Creek?” Heidi asked Ethan.

  “There’s been a string of murders with his signature,” the chief said. “He beat them, then killed them with a bullet in the forehead.”

  “His motive for the murders?” Nick asked.

  “Transportation, money, clothes, food. Since he was incarcerated in California and he must avoid detection, it will take him a few days, but Muehller is headed this direction.”

  “We’ll be ready for him,” Nate said.

  “Wouldn’t he have a large supply of alternate IDs and money stashed in different places?” This from Rio. “We do and I’d say you do as well, Ethan.”

 
A small smile curved his lips. “You’re correct, Rio. The assassin will go under when he reaches the location of his first stash site.”

  “That’s when we need to worry,” Deke muttered. “We won’t know he’s here until he strikes.”

  “He won’t catch us off guard,” Josh said.

  “Why did you ask me and Heidi to meet with you, Ethan? We’re not part of Fortress or a Special Forces unit.”

  “Muehller will tip his hand. He’s too arrogant to do otherwise. Your first S & R job might be to track an escaped murderer.”

  Everything in Quinn rose up against Ethan’s statement. No way. He didn’t want Heidi on this creep’s radar, especially not with her facing her own problems. “You’re an expert tracker, Ethan. You could do this yourself.” He ignored Josh’s scowl in his direction. Heidi had no business tangling with this guy.

  “True, but I can’t be everywhere. I have a job to do, a town to protect. I can’t afford for him to slip through the net. When the time comes to find him, speed will be the deciding factor. Charlie or Ace will tip the scales in our favor.”

  “Muehller is that dangerous?” Heidi asked, voice soft.

  “Yes, ma’am.” No surprise that Ethan sounded positive. When Josh had returned to duty after he’d been home on medical leave, he’d told the members of Durango his sister was lucky to be alive, that Ethan had tipped the balance in Serena’s favor. And captured her heart in the process.

  “Deke and I will need clothes Muehller has recently worn for a scent for the dogs,” Heidi continued. “The clothes need to be collected with rubber gloves and placed in a zipped plastic bag. The fewer people who handle the clothes, the better. We don’t want the scent muddied.”

  “I’ll take care of it. You’ll have the clothes tomorrow.”

  Rio pushed away from the table and freshened his coffee. “What about your aunt, Ethan?”

  “She’ll need protection as well, but Ruth won’t be Muehller’s primary target. She was an annoyance more than anything to him. Serena is the grand prize as far as he’s concerned.” His jaw clenched. “I would do anything for my wife and baby. If he captures her, he’ll have both of us where he wants us.”