by CJ Lyons
In a flash, the memory of those final moments with Grigor passed through her mind. She’d chosen life. Grigor had responded by first kissing her tenderly, and then abandoning her to his men with instructions to flay and burn her alive alongside the boy. “Don’t kill either,” he’d told his men. “They’ll both live for a long time, helpless, examples to anyone who dares defy me.”
Then he’d left. She’d quivered in the corner, the boy had cursed her with all his remaining strength, while the guards laughed and kicked her like a cowering dog. They’d turned to gather the chains to hang her with, and she’d seen her chance. Grabbing the bottle of grain alcohol and the blowtorch, she’d lit them on fire then took their weapons and keys when they fell. She’d left them alive, barely, but did use a knife to end the boy’s suffering before racing down the cellblock, freeing the other prisoners.
Her Razgravian rebel friends, led by KC’s grandfather, had already stormed the prison’s outer walls. If she’d timed things a few minutes later, held out for just five more minutes, KC’s grandfather would have rescued her—and caught Grigor.
As it was, Grigor escaped and his men shot KC’s grandfather. He’d died in Rose’s arms.
This man beside her now, this man who aspired to become another Grigor, would not escape.
“Please, no,” she begged, distracting him and the driver with her sudden cry.
“Hey, remember our orders,” the driver snapped. “We're supposed to deliver her alive.”
The man on top of Rose turned to answer. She couldn’t have choreographed it better.
“Relax,” the man told the driver. “I’m only just getting started.”
Rose slipped the Paracord around his neck. She crossed her hands and pulled tight, jerking hard, pulling him down behind the seat, below the driver’s sightline. Bucking and twisting her body, she dropped her weight against his knife hand, pinning it uselessly against the floor, her entire body leveraging the garrote.
“Stop it. Please, don’t,” she yelled to cover the sounds of his choking, his guttural gasps as his face turned a nice shade of purple. She glanced at the driver and saw him looking forward out the windshield, chuckling to himself at the sounds of her screams.
“Save some fun for the rest of us,” the driver called.
“Absolutely,” she whispered under her breath and pulled the cord even tighter until, finally, a thin line of drool dropped from the man’s lips and he was breathing no more.
She pushed him aside and turned to crouch behind the driver. “Your turn.”
Chapter 22
Rose thought her problems were over once she dumped the bodies and reached a truck stop where she could call in to Billy—until she saw the news reports about a female terrorist bombing a warehouse in Savannah and presumably dying in the blast.
The news didn’t ID her by name, but they didn’t have to. Someone had given them a crazy-ass picture of her from a training op that made her look like a lunatic. Shit. They also didn’t mention KC. Had she gotten out okay? The feds probably had poor EZ in lockdown; questioning him about the intel he’d provided her. Maybe the rest of the team as well.
Worse, Eve would have heard. They’d known each other such a short time—would she believe the lies?
She had to get home. To Eve. To Billy. To her team.
After using change pillaged from the two dead men's wallets to grab whatever protein she could from the vending machines and stealing some clothing from the general store area, taking care to steer clear of any surveillance cameras like the ones near the cash register, she went for the fastest transportation available: a Yamaha motorcycle freshly filled with gas.
If she avoided any speed traps and cops, she’d be home in less than an hour. As she sped along the back roads, avoiding the interstate, her mind raced ahead. If Billy thought she was dead, he’d have gotten her letter to Eve. But if the feds suspected her team, then they might also learn about Eve…and if they knew, then there was a good chance the traitor could know as well.
Rose pulled over to the shoulder, gravel spitting as she braked. She barely made it to the guardrail before she puked her guts out. How could she possibly stay detached and professional when she had Eve to worry about?
Selfish, selfish, selfish. She’d tried to send Eve away, but the girl was so naïve, so excited to find her real mother, that she’d refused to go. Rose wiped her mouth clean on the back of her sleeve. Should have run away herself—almost had. She’d thought about quitting the Team, quitting everything, just vanishing in the night to parts unknown. Anywhere far enough away from Eve to keep her daughter safe.
Told herself she would if there was the slightest hint of danger. Told herself big, fat, selfish lies about how she could protect Eve.
She hadn’t counted on something like this. This went beyond anything the traitor had done before. Setting up fake intel, getting Grigor to cooperate, discrediting not only Rose but the entire team.
Someone who could pull the strings to make all that happen…they could find Eve.
Chills overtook her as she climbed back on to the bike. Best-case scenario, they’d take Eve in for questioning. Worst case…Rose broke every speed limit possible, reaching DC just before nine o’clock. She had stashes all over the area, people she’d helped over the years who returned the favor by letting her keep a footlocker in their storage unit or a vehicle in their garage or even giving her keys to their business so she could crash there if need be.
When she was with the CIA, they’d called it recruiting assets. Treated it like a necessary evil: trusting anyone outside of the agency.
“Prepare for the worst, hope for the best” was their motto. Rose had adopted it, not as a motto, but as a way of life.
But she didn’t recruit assets. She built relationships. Friendships. People she’d die to protect. People who risked their lives helping her. Like KC’s grandfather, who’d been killed while rescuing her from the Razgravian prison the CIA had left her to rot in.
The official line had been that the US utilized every diplomatic channel possible to negotiate her release. The truth wasn’t as pretty. In exchange for the Razgravians keeping quiet about a civilian contractor who’d decided to play Rambo and ferment a civil war, arming rebel forces and talking to every media outlet he could, they’d betrayed Rose, the CIA officer who had been quietly organizing the opposition, preparing for a nonviolent removal of Grigor from power.
But Grigor was dead now. And Rose was still very much alive.
She parked the bike several blocks away from Eve’s street. Pulled her cuffs down over her boot tops so on casual inspection, her outfit resembled cold-weather running clothing. She pushed her body to keep a steady pace, despite the aches and pains the movement unleashed. Just another career woman getting a run in before work.
All the lights were off in her building—including the small one she kept aimed out the corner window. Eve had turned it off to warn her. Smart girl. Rose wasn’t sure if maybe it hadn’t been a good idea, telling Eve the truth about what Rose did, teaching her the basics of trade craft, how to use a weapon and handle herself in a crisis. But it was the best way she could think of to give Eve the tools she’d need if anything happened.
She jogged past, noting a man sitting in a beige Taurus and an unmarked gray panel van. Watching her building. She felt their eyes on her but didn’t hesitate. Instead, she kept going two more blocks before circling back to Eve’s block.
One of Eve’s two porch lights was out—another warning sign.
Very bad.
Without changing her pace, she kept running. Rose retraced her steps, avoiding the surveillance vehicles. Who were they? How’d they find her place? Two blocks down, three blocks over to the second-closest Internet café. From there she logged onto Craigslist, scanning the free-pet ads.
She tried to will the panic that kept nipping at her façade of control. Finally was able to take a deep breath when she spotted the message from Eve. She’d be waiting for Rose at
the safe house in Harbinger Creek.
But no message from Billy. Surely he’d have activated Heartworm?
If Billy hadn’t been able to—had the traitor gotten to him? The men who’d taken her from Savannah had hinted that they were after him.
After posting the Heartworm ad herself, she leaned back in her seat, the nudge of the Beretta at her back slim comfort. Eve was safe…for now. But what about Billy and her team?
She’d give her life for her team. For her country. But no way in hell could she sacrifice her daughter’s.
The cinnamon roll she nibbled on to blend in with the morning crowd tasted like the ashes of her future. She forced herself to eat the whole thing plus an egg and sausage sandwich. No idea when she’d have time to eat again. Not when she was on the hunt.
She was going to make sure Eve was safe, then she was going after the traitor. She had a pretty good idea who it was. And when she found them, she was going to kill them.
Or die trying.
Chapter 23
Billy drove the van, following Chase’s Jeep south out of the metro area. Not much traffic going this way. Everyone was headed into The District, morning rush hour.
His cell rang. A call forwarded from his old number. He glanced at the screen. Teresa. Pursed his lips and decided to take the call. The comms tech was their only civilian team member; this whole bug-out thing probably had her rattled.
“Yes?” he said, avoiding names over an unsecured line.
“It’s me,” she said unnecessarily. You’d think a comms tech would remember caller ID, but that was Teresa for you. “Did Chase pick up Jay? I can’t find him anywhere.”
“We’ve got him. Kid’s fine.”
“Oh, good. What a relief. I know we’re supposed to keep radio silence, but I was so worried—”
“You should go, T.” And so should he.
“Right. Of course. I am. Everyone’s gotten the message except I couldn’t reach EZ. What should I do?”
“Do you have a location for him?” Last Billy knew, EZ was holed up in one of Rose’s safe houses, but that intel was twelve hours old.
“No. Should I keep trying his cell?” Worry lanced through her voice.
“EZ can take care of himself. You set to leave?” Operation Heartworm called for Teresa to wipe their computers before leaving. He glanced at his watch. Not quite nine. Surely the FBI would be there by now.
“Everything’s taken care of.” She hesitated. “Good-bye, Billy.”
“Take care, Teresa.” He hung up, steered with his knees as he dismantled the phone and switched to a new one. It was a short call and given how far apart towers were in this part of the state, he doubted anyone could have gotten an accurate position if they traced it to his burner cell, but better safe than sorry.
Half an hour later, the Jeep slowed and turned off onto a dirt road with a sign leading to Harbinger Creek Paintball Emporium. They bumped past a Quonset hut and the field beyond. The road turned to a narrow track surrounded by thick forest. A few more turns, and they came to a small cabin hidden by mature evergreens on the bank of the James River.
Billy backed the van up to the cabin door to make unloading easier. He hopped out of the driver’s seat just as Chase was stretching his way out from the Jeep. Chase gave Billy a nod and motioned for the kids to stay inside the Jeep. He drew his pistol, playing the role of rear guard while Billy scouted their position.
The cabin didn’t look like much from the outside, but Billy had the feeling that was intentional. As he circled the building, he spotted solar panels and a satellite dish hidden behind the chimney. There were no signs that anyone had approached the building in a long time. On the west side, there was a covered walkway leading to a small boathouse conveniently located under the cover of more trees.
Unless you were using thermal imaging, the place would be virtually invisible from air. And anyone approaching by either land or water would be easily spotted. Good place to make a last stand. If it came to that.
He went in the rear door, taking care to check for trip wires and traps. Eve had said there was nothing except for a few telltales Rose had left, but he took no chances. Rose’s telltales were still in place, undisturbed. The cabin was cozy with a bedroom, bath, and open kitchen-living area.
After waving the others inside and quickly unloading their gear, he and Jay hid the vehicles where they’d be out of sight from the air but easily accessible.
“So. This is really happening,” Jay said as they walked back. “I mean, this is how you guys live? Like, all the time?”
Billy shoved his worries about the Team, about Rose, aside to give the kid an encouraging grin. “What, you thought it was all tuxedos and beautiful women? Like James Bond?”
“After what happened over Christmas with Chase, I knew there was more than that, but I never dreamed—”
An animal rustled in the woods behind them. Jay jerked and looked over his shoulder.
Billy rolled his eyes. Never dreamed he’d be bugging out with a pair of untrained civilians. “Relax, kid. You’re with the best.”
“You mean Chase.” It wasn’t a question as much as a proclamation. “And KC. I’ll feel a lot better when she’s here.”
So would Billy. But first, he had to find her. No. First, he had to face Chase with the news that KC was missing. Talk about high-risk operations. Best make sure the Marine was sitting down, weapons out of reach, before he tackled that job.
He and Jay joined the others inside.
“Did you know that just across the river is Jamestown, and they found evidence of cannibalism there? First settlement in America, and we ended up eating each other,” Jay said, breaking the awkward silence.
Chase looked up from where he’d been positioning weapons at strategic points near the windows. “What’s that got to do with anything? You trying to tell me you’re hungry? Again?”
Jay shrugged. “Everyone seems to have a job to do except me, so thought I’d provide a little trivia to entertain you all.”
Eve laughed from where she was setting up a laptop and satellite feeds at the kitchen table. “That's your idea of entertaining? Hey, if you want something to do, it’s a little chilly in here. Maybe a fire?”
Jay’s eyes lit up. “Your wish is my command.”
“I don’t suppose you’re majoring in computer science,” Billy asked Eve. “We could use someone with those kind of skills.”
Eve shook her head. “Not unless you need something Photoshopped. I’m actually a design major.” She blushed. “My dad was an artist.”
“Is he still around?” Billy asked, not sure if he wanted the answer. If Rose was involved with another man…
“No.” Eve’s expression turned sorrowful. “He died when he was eighteen.” She hesitated. “Rose’s dad killed him.”
Billy blinked at that. And he thought his family was screwed up. He was torn between asking more and needing to attend to the current danger. Had no idea what to say to the kid—obviously it was an old wound, perhaps one best left untouched. He settled for, “Sorry to hear that.”
She nodded and went back to work.
“Kids are hitting it off,” Billy said as he joined Chase on the other side of the cabin from Eve.
Chase glanced over his shoulder at Eve. “She’s handling all this pretty good.”
“With Rose tutoring her, are you surprised?”
That brought a faint smile. “As soon as we have a secure comm feed, I need to reach KC.” His voice held an undercurrent of worry. “The feds should have released her by now.”
“I have some bad news about that,” Billy said. Damn, this was hard. Best to just lay it all out. “According to Susan Payne, KC never made it to her debriefing.”
Chase jerked up, barely catching his crutch before it fell to the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He glanced at Eve holding the door for Jay as he came in with an armful of firewood. “Didn’t trust me not to run off, ditch my own brother?”
“
No.” Chase knew the mission came first, but that didn’t make losing KC any less painful. If anyone understood that, it was Billy. “No,” he repeated, lowering his defenses to reveal his regret. “Didn’t have time alone with you until now. And without more intel, we have no idea where to look for her.”
“Even if KC heard about the accusations against Rose, she wouldn’t have run off on her own, not without contacting us.” Chase spun on his crutch, obviously wanting to pace but unable to in the cramped room. “Do we know if the Coast Guard got her to the airfield at Hunter?”
“No.”
Chase’s gaze cut away, his face blanking as one fist tapped his crutch. Billy understood. Being helpless, not knowing, unable to take action—it was the worst fate imaginable.
He squeezed Chase’s shoulder. Sometimes words just weren’t enough. “Let’s get a secure perimeter established, and we’ll see what we can learn.”
“Times like this, I sure miss EZ and Teresa.” Chase looked up. “Any chance of looping them in? If we’re careful, we could use the cloud to communicate.”
Billy had already thought of that and decided the risk was too great. Especially with the kids here. But once they were settled in, he could leave them with Chase and start working the problem in person. “Security first.”
He couldn’t stay here. As long as he had a target on his back, so would they.
Besides, he was tired of playing defense. Past time for him to take the fight to the enemy. Let them see what kind of damage an “old man” like him could do.
Rose would follow Eve here—if she came back. No, when she came back. She’d be safe here. But Billy couldn’t wait here for her, not while he still had team members out there at risk.
