Deadly Target [IAD Agency 3] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Roma, Laurie

  Her hit to the leg wasn’t that bad, but before it could fully heal she had flown out to Las Vegas to help her team take down a black market dealer and three terrorists before they could purchase a biological weapon that could wipe out millions.

  The mission had been successful, thank god.

  Mikayla had assisted Tara Toshi, her friend and fellow agent, in taking down the first terrorist by playing on his obsession with beautiful women. They had rid the world of a drug dealer and human trafficker. It was safe to say no one would miss that asshole. Next, the team took down the black market dealer and then the second terrorist had done himself in by sheer stupidity.

  Taking down the third terrorist had been a little more tricky. The terrorist had been Hassan Sharif, a man who’d had a particularly disturbing history with a few of the IAD agents. They had set a trap to capture Sharif, but before the agents had gotten into place, he had taken Tara hostage. That was when the confrontation turned bloody and Mikayla had taken the bullet meant for Brett.

  Again.

  When Mikayla got out of the hospital she had taken a couple of days to recuperate at the Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas at Tara’s insistence. During the chaos of the terrorist threats, tough agent Tara had fallen in love with the owner of the luxurious hotel chain, Julian King. Tara and Julian were now engaged and Mikayla could practically see the hearts flittering over their heads whenever they were within fifty feet of one another.

  That is, when they weren’t fighting about something.

  Mikayla was happy that her friend Tara had found love. Tara, or “T-rex” as the other agents called her, was one of the best field agents IAD had, but Mikayla knew that kind of dedication had a price. Tara had almost been to the point of burning out after back-to-back missions when she had met Julian. Now, Mikayla knew that Julian would ensure that he pulled Tara back before she reached her breaking point. It was comforting to know that Tara had someone to take care of her just like their other commanding officer Jason MacBain did with his wife, Bella.

  Mikayla’s gaze tracked down to her hands to find they had clenched into fists in her lap. She had calluses on both of her hands, on her trigger fingers. Being ambidextrous was a plus when it came to shooting, but very few people knew what it cost her soul to do what she did.

  What man could ever understand or accept who she truly was?

  It wasn’t easy to find someone outside the life that understood what she did. To actually have him know the real her and not the person she had to pretend to be as a cover. For years Mikayla had firmly believed that romance and being a spy did not mix, but she had been proved wrong in the last six months as she had watched her friends fall in love. Still, that didn’t mean it would ever happen for her.

  No matter how entertaining it was, it was also exhausting to watch Tara and Julian together so Mikayla thought it was best for her to check out and spend the rest of her time recovering somewhere else. When her commander, Brett Michaels, had offered up his sanctuary in Colorado, Mikayla had resisted, wanting to head back to her apartment in Chicago where she could sneak in some work while she healed. That was when she got the call from her uncle, telling her to take Brett up on his offer. Mikayla hated saying no to her uncle Ethan, but she did on occasion.

  Getting around Brett wasn’t as easy.

  Never one to take no for an answer, he had simply issued a command for the twins to take Mikayla out to Colorado and said he would be there the following week. He also made it clear that she better be there when he arrived. She knew he wouldn’t really do anything to her, but the guilt was weighing heavily on Brett since she had saved his life twice in the last few months. Honestly, it had been pure luck that she had done so, but Brett had forced this time out in Colorado so she could take the necessary steps to heal and make sure that she was one hundred percent before she got back in the game.

  Of course, the plan had been better in theory. It would all depend on making it to the freakin’ cabin alive, which, at this point, was highly doubtful. Plus, who in their right mind wanted to spend time out in the middle of nowhere, Mikayla thought as the white blur outside her window seemed to grow thicker.

  Now if they could only find the damn place somewhere in all this damned snow…

  Shaking off the memories, Mikayla turned her attention back to the present and tuned back in to hear the twins continuing their verbal battle. Both men in the car with her were dangerously handsome, but Mikayla had stopped looking at them like that years ago. Mikayla thought of them like brothers. At thirty-five they were a few years older than her thirty-two, but she felt light years ahead of them when they started bickering like they were now.

  Relaxing, my ass. Freezing to death is not my idea of a fucking vacation.

  Instead, they were probably going to end up popsicles. On that cheerful thought, Mikayla squinted against the white and wanted to cheer at the sign proclaiming welcome to Serenity.

  “I see a sign!”

  “About damn time!” Adrian gritted through clenched teeth as he continued to push the SUV slowly into the small town blanketed in white. Faint halos of light appeared in the distance, lighting their way down the snow-covered streets. They drove through the small town and once again found themselves on an empty stretch of road. Someone above must have taken pity on them because the snow let up long enough for them to follow the markers that Brett had told them to reach the cabin.

  They drove down a dangerous snow-covered road, through dense trees toward a large dark mass in the swirling white. As they got closer, the dark mass became clearer and Adrian pulled the SUV in front of the large wooden cabin. The SUV skidded again as Adrian miscalculated, hitting a sold mass under the snow that brought the vehicle to a hard stop.

  A low rumble came from the backseat. “What the hell, asshole. You drive us through a goddamn snowstorm and crash once we get to the cabin? You’re fired.”

  “I quit, fucker,” Adrian muttered back.

  Mika chuckled. “Okay, kids. This has been fun, but I’m done and need a damn beer. I want out of this car, guys.”

  “We’ll get your bags, Lynx,” Rock stated. “Do you have the keys?”

  “Yep.”

  Adrian turned to stare at her, his dark-green eyes filled with concern. “Can you make it up to the door?”

  “Yes.” Adrian opened his mouth, but Mikayla was quick to cut him off. “If you think you’re going to carry me, you are sadly mistaken. I can make it just fine.”

  He nodded and watched as Mikayla shouldered her door open against the driving wind and snow. She cursed her independent nature under her breath as she slowly trudged through the snow, up the front stone steps. By the time she made it there she was breathing heavy and her leg burned like the fires of hell.

  “Stubborn fuckin’ woman,” Rock muttered a second before he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the front door.

  Mikayla rolled her eyes, shoved the key into the lock of the door and opened it. A swirl of snow followed them inside as she quickly took off her glove and pressed her palm down onto an innocuous looking panel on the wall next to the door. The panel turned green and the security system disengaged. Rock quickly carried her over to the couch and unceremoniously dumped her on it before turning around to head back out for their bags.

  “Thanks,” she called out. “If this is how you treat your women, no wonder you guys are still single.”

  “We treat our women like queens and you know it. We stay away from fucking stubborn women like you because you’d drive us bat-shit,” Rock replied, making her laugh.

  “Or give us a heart attack,” Adrian muttered as he came through the door with another gust of swirling snow.

  Rock moved to the doorway, calling over his shoulder. “Your leg better not be bleeding when I get back, or I’m gonna be pissed.”

  Adrian came into the room, dropped the bags down on the floor and turned on the lights. The cabin was large, with an enormous open living room with a high vaulted ceiling.
An army could have fit on its three humongous couches centered around a gigantic fireplace and matching flat screen TV over the mantel. Across the room was a massive dining room table that could easily seat twenty. There were no animal heads or kitschy country style décor to the place. It was a sophisticated hideaway, with modern comforts and a kick-ass feel. The problem was it was too damn big and fucking cold at the moment.

  Mikayla had looked down at her leg and saw a patch of blood seeping through her jeans. Well, hell… She guessed when the doctor said light activity he really did mean it. “Awesome.”

  Adrian blew out a breath and shook his head in disbelief. “We can’t leave you here. You’ll be dead in a week on your own.”

  She rolled her eyes at that. “I’ll be fine. I just have to rest my leg.” She started to get up, but Adrian strolled forward and put a hand on her forehead and pushed her back into her seat.

  “Stay.”

  “Boy, when I get up you’re gonna want to run,” Mikayla hissed at him. She did not take orders well at all and had very little patience when people spoke to her with a lack of civility.

  Adrian shook his head again as Rock came back into the cabin and set down two more bags. He shut the door and came back into the room, scowling at her. “You’re bleeding,” he accused.

  “And she was just trying to get up again,” Adrian added.

  “Tattletale.” Mikayla let out an exaggerated sigh. “I just wanted to start a fire.”

  “I’ll do it,” Adrian said, pulling off his coat.

  Rock put his hands on his hips. “How the hell are we supposed to leave you here tomorrow if you won’t take care of yourself?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll take it easy, I promise. Trust me, what trouble can I get into out here in bumblefuck by myself?”

  At their incredulous stares, Mikayla sighed again.

  Yeah, vacation my ass.

  Chapter Two

  Oh, come on!

  Mikayla lay on her back staring up at the dark-gray sky, thinking about how fickle luck was. Here she was, minding her own business, even using the cane that everyone kept insisting she use…and splat! She was taken down in the parking lot of a bar by a dog.

  Really, it just wasn’t fair.

  Two days indoors had Mikayla experiencing cabin fever in the worst way. The snow had cleared yesterday, allowing the twins to head back to the city where they would be doing their security consult. Mikayla spent most of the last two days back in bed, sleeping off the travel and just allowing her body to heal naturally.

  When she next woke it was to watch the day fading to dark gray in the cloud-covered sky. Mikayla had thrown on some black yoga pants and a matching long sleeve T-shirt with a winter-white fleece vest over it as she decided to break out of her solitude to go explore the town of Serenity for something to eat that she didn’t have to make herself.

  She was pleased to find a large black all-terrain vehicle in the garage just waiting to be taken out for a ride. Mikayla smiled as the big engine quietly purred to life and she pulled out of the garage to head to town. She made her way through a small residential area and was disheartened to see that she hadn’t missed much of the town the other night in the snow. The town was so small she was afraid she’d miss it if she blinked.

  Mikayla had noticed a faint glow of a sign on an adjacent road. She had never been happier to see the neon glow of a Miller sign before, as a bar meant alcohol and the promise of food. The vehicle slowly continued forward, tires crunching over the snow piles blowing onto the road. She took the turn and was pleased that the monster car continued rolling forward easily into the snow-covered crowded lot.

  She had just gotten out and closed the driver’s side door when she heard a happy bark. Mikayla had just enough time to turn and brace herself before she was hit with a ton of bricks. Now the large wolfhound sat politely at her side with its tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth, wearing what could only be described as a canine apology grin. Its tail hit her leg every few seconds telling her that it was just happy to see her and not in attack mode.

  “Oh my god! I’m so sorry!”

  A young woman rushed up to where Mikayla was lying and fell to her knees beside her, trying to push the big dog away. The woman had her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and her face had a natural beauty to it even without a speck of makeup. Her breath puffed out in a white cloud as she spoke. “Oh please, please be okay. Please tell me Wulf didn’t hurt you.”

  Mikayla let a small, laughing groan escape. “You named your wolfhound ‘Wolf?’”

  The woman grinned down at her. “It’s spelled with a U. It wasn’t my idea. Wulf belongs to my brother, but I took him to the vet earlier and was supposed to take him straight home, but I wanted to come visit my friend Roz, who owns the bar and thought I could bring him with and stick him in her apartment over the bar for a little while so I could have a drink.”

  Mikayla blinked as the young woman paused in her rambling explanation. She took a mental rundown of her body’s aches and pains and decided that overall she was unharmed. Holding back another groan, she sat up. Wulf pressed closer to her, as if trying to help her as he propped his big body by her side.

  “Wulf, stop that! I’m so sorry. He’s never like this. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Here, let me help you up.”

  “I’m okay. Just give me a minute.” Mikayla reached down and grabbed her cane.

  The woman gasped then let out a loud groan. “Oh no, you’re injured. I just let our stupid dog jump on an injured woman! This is horrible! I’m a horrible person! I’m so sorry, but Wulf really doesn’t listen to me.”

  The young woman’s worry was so earnest that Mikayla couldn’t help but smile. “I’m fine, really.” With the help of her cane, and to her surprise, the help of the dog, she gained her feet. The dog had placed himself under her hand as soon as she had gotten up on her left knee with her right leg straight and had all but pushed under her hand to help give her a boost up.

  Mikayla smiled down at the dog and patted his head. She was rewarded with a quick lick to her fingers with its tail thumping away against her leg as if on jet fuel.

  “Seriously, he is never like this. He usually hates people…well, not hates them but is pretty standoffish. He really likes you.”

  “He’s beautiful.” Mikayla patted the dog’s head again then held out her hand. “I’m Mikayla.”

  “Oh! I’m Katie. Katie Stark. It’s nice to meet you. Are you visiting? I ask ‘cause I pretty much know everyone in town.”

  Mikayla took a quick assessment of the young woman and deemed her relatively harmless. Unless she counted being talked to death a viable threat. She let herself smile as she answered. “Yeah, I’m staying at a friend’s place, not far from here.”

  Katie’s pretty hazel eyes grew wide. “Are you talking about Brett Michaels’ place?”

  Mikayla froze.

  “Ooooh, you are! We’re neighbors! I mean, my brothers and I own the ranch next door to Brett’s place. I absolutely love that cabin! I’ve never seen the inside though, is it nice?”

  “Ah…”

  “I bet it’s really nice. And Brett is sooo yummy! Is he your boyfriend? Oh lord, you must be freezing. We should go inside. I’m going to drop Wulf off in Roz’s place then I’ll meet you by the bar. We can get a drink together.”

  The hopeful look on Katie’s face had Mikayla saying, “Sure.”

  “Great! See you inside!” Katie started away then had to turn and call the dog twice before he left Mikayla’s side. The dog whined and Mikayla used a small hand gesture to motion him forward. The dog walked a few feet then turned back and gave Mikayla a sorrow-filled look before following Katie around the corner where they both disappeared.

  Mikayla shook her head in amusement as she made the slow walk over the well-salted pavement to the front door of the bar. Pushing at the heavy wooden door, music and warmth slapped her in the face as she made her way into the bar. She took in the scene at a gla
nce. No stranger to the seedy side of life that could exist in small-town bars, she was pleasantly surprised by what she saw.

  The Twisted Tap was an upscale version of what Mikayla liked to think of as a biker bar. Dark wood gleamed under the dim lights, showing that the place was well taken care of even though the floors were littered with peanut shells and other assorted materials making the place a casual resting stop which looked to be filled with regulars at almost every table or playing pool in the back.

  She looked at the roomful of eye candy with an appreciative sigh. Well, well, it seemed as though being stuck in the small town of Serenity wasn’t going to be as difficult as she thought. At least she hoped their beer was cold and the food was edible. Then this would be her new home away from home during her stay at the cabin.

  Conversations stalled as the locals took in the newcomer. Well aware that all eyes were on her, Mikayla made her way slowly across the room to the bar. She could sense the curious glances cast her way as she used her cane to walk to an open seat. She chose a seat at the far end so her back was to the wall and she could see the entrance. She might be on the disabled list, but she wasn’t dead. Training was ingrained in her and would be until she took her last breath.

  Even so, no one knew about the razor-sharp stiletto encased inside the wood of the cane she used. With one twist of the handle, the sharp blade would be free to be used in close-quarter combat and the staff of the cane could be used in similar fashion. The cane had been a present from her uncle Ethan, to make sure she used it while she was recovering. Knowing her well, at first she had refused, until he had twisted off the handle to show her the wicked blade hidden inside.

  Damn, she loved her toys.

  The buzz of conversation around the room started up again as she settled into her seat. She hooked the cane with her good leg, propping it between her thighs, leaving it easily accessible if needed.