by Jen Talty
“What else?” Geri asked
Cove let out a long breath. While he trusted Geri, he didn’t trust whoever was sitting in her office. “I’ll make the plan, and you are on a need-to-know basis.”
“That isn’t going to happen,” Geri said.
“Yeah. It is. I’ll make a few phone calls to ensure it. You forget, I’ve got friends in higher places.” He made the cut-throat sign to Serenity.
“We’ve got to go,” Serenity said. “I’ll be in touch.” She tapped the phone before Geri could say anything. “Why the fuck did I just do that?”
He pulled out his cell and found the contact information for a general he knew who happened to be a close personal friend to the secretary of defense as well as the director of the FBI. Cove didn’t often call in favors, even from those whose lives he saved, but when the life of someone he cared for was on the line, he figured it was appropriate.
“Because the less people that know what me and my men are doing, the better.” He arched a brow. “Including you.”
Serenity tapped her foot under her desk and stared at her computer screen at a random report. For the life of her, she couldn’t concentrate on anything.
She couldn’t believe that Geri had let Cove strong-arm her into allowing him to not only call the shots, but not inform anyone of the details.
Of course, the director of the FBI had been the one to sign off on the top-secret mission, and Geri didn’t seem too happy about it, but that didn’t help Serenity feel less on edge. At this point, she had no idea what would happen, or when. Never in her life had she felt more like a sitting duck. The only thing she knew for sure was that Cove had constant eyes on her, whether it be through tracking devices or his buddies.
Thus far, Bosley had been spending the majority of his day in his office, catching up on paperwork. He did seem a little out of sorts, but at the morning meeting, he had mumbled that he hadn’t been thrilled to be sent to Buffalo on what he called a bogus case.
He wasn’t far off the mark.
The office intercom buzzed.
“Agent Bale,” she said.
“A Cove Reddington is here to see you,” the desk agent said.
“Send him up.” Let the games begin. She glanced across the main room. It had taken her a good couple of months to get used to having walls of glass. She’d felt like she was in a fishbowl, but now it gave her some comfort.
Bosley’s office was kitty corner to hers on the other side of the cubicles. His desk was situated sideways, so she could see his strong profile as he leaned back with one hand behind his head and the other cradling the phone. All he had to do was see Cove come in and then leave. Bosley was too nosey not to come to her office and find out what was going on.
She glanced at her watch. It was nearly five in the evening.
When the elevator doors opened, Serenity’s lungs collapsed. She gasped for air as she stared at Cove in his Army fatigues. His long powerful legs carried his muscular body across the floor like God’s gift to everyone.
Hell, even Bosley cocked his head and peeked out his door, taking a look at the specimen heading toward her office.
She stood and opened the door. “Don’t you look all official.” It had been decided to just let the world believe they were an item. She could deal with the harassment she’d get because it would be short-lived. The second they arrested Bosley, no one would care about her love life. She leaned in and smacked her lips against his, letting the kiss linger, enjoying the sweet taste of cinnamon that hugged his mouth.
“I’ve got some bad news.”
Right about now she wished she’d taken that drama class in college as an elective instead of dance. She still couldn’t do the two-step if she tried. “Yeah, what’s that?”
“I’m leaving in a couple of hours.”
While she knew he wasn’t leaving for a full week, just hearing him say the words made her heart drop to the pit of her stomach.
“What do you mean, leaving?” She narrowed her stare, trying to look perplexed.
“My deployment was changed, and I’m leaving on a transport plane in a couple of hours. I’ve got to get to the base. I just wanted to come say goodbye.”
For good measure, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She closed her eyes, afraid real tears might flow. “For how long?” she found herself asking the stupid question, but people were milling about, and someone might discuss it around the water cooler with Bosley around.
“Couple of months.” He cupped her face. “I’ll be back,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Don’t you go and forget me now.”
She chuckled. “Impossible.”
“Good.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss that wasn’t proper except for in private.
When she stepped back and blinked her eyes open, half the office quickly stopped staring and went back to whatever it was they were doing. “That will give them something to talk about for a long time,” she whispered.
He batted her nose. “I’ll let you know when I land.” He turned on his heel and marched back across the room.
She leaned against the doorjamb and just watched his ass as his butt cheeks flexed.
Oh boy. She had it bad. But no time for that now. She had to focus on the plan.
Whatever the fuck that was.
As if on cue, Bosley stood, but instead of heading toward her, he followed Cove into the elevator.
What the fuck was he doing?
If it was going to make him want to go AWOL to say goodbye to her for real, it was time to seriously reconsider his career choice.
Not that he would leave the Army. That wasn’t an option for at least six years based on the contract he just signed, but he did have options, and he would be discussing them with his commanding officer as soon as this mission was over.
He stepped into the elevator and turned to punch the button.
Bosley hit it instead.
That wasn’t the plan.
“Cove, right?” Bosley said.
“That’s right.” Cove folded his arms across his chest and widened his stance. Might as well do the old chest pounding alpha male thing.
“We need to talk.”
“And you are?” Cove played dumb.
“Let’s not insult my intelligence.” Bosley let out a dry laugh. “But it can’t be here.”
“I’ve got a plane to catch.”
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Cove stepped out.
Unfortunately, Bosley followed him through the lobby and right out the door and down the steps of the federal building.
“What do you want?” He stopped and turned, planting his hands on his hips.
“Just to talk. I’m going to assume you’ve got people watching, but so does Big Mike.” Bosley pulled back his suit coat, showing off his weapon.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No. But if you want you and Serenity to stay alive, then you need to let me help you,” Bosley said. “It starts by me abduct you.”
“Like that’s going to happen.”
Bosley glanced over his shoulder. “Did you ever wonder why I gave Serenity the information about Miliana Farms putting money into Nimitz’s commissary?”
“You were the one looking into it, so my best guess would be to throw her off your trail.”
“Now you’re insulting your own intelligence.”
Cove shoved his shades up on the top of his head. “If it was a hint that you’re a bad guy, we figured that out.” A few things started to form in Cove’s brain. The first being that his well-laid plan A was out the fucking window, and it was on to the go-to-shit plan. Good thing he had one.
It needed some adjustment, but he’d make it work.
“I’m not the bad guy,” Bosley said. “I’m just trying to save lives, including my family’s.”
That caught Cove’s attention. “Excuse me?”
“My wife and kids were abducted the day Geri sent me to Buffalo. Your entire operation is compromised. You and
Serenity trusted the wrong bitch.”
Cove let out a long breath. “What the fuck are you talking about?” This is where things got tricky. The enemy would always try to manipulate and turn you against your own team. But there were some things that flagged in his brain, specifically Big Mike and his appearance in Geri’s office.
And her random appearance in New York City.
Why’d she do that? Had he been arrogant enough to think she’d come just to see him? Or had it been for other reasons?
Fuck.
Geri never left the Big Apple.
“Who kidnapped your family?”
“Geri and Big Mike did.” Bosley rested his hand on the butt of his weapon. “Now, please, if we stand here any longer like this, someone is going to get antsy, and then this will get ugly. Just come with me.”
“All right. Let’s go.” Cove had no idea what Bosley’s game was, but he didn’t like the idea that maybe his family could be in danger, regardless of how deep Bosley might be in with whoever was calling the shots.
But what really didn’t fit in his mind was Geri.
He could almost understand Geri having it in for him, but why Serenity?
Unless Geri had been in on this heist from the beginning. But that still didn’t make sense.
Fuck.
Big Mike.
And Michael was her fiancé.
Could they be one in the same?
Cove followed Bosley into the parking garage and toward a standard issue dark sedan.
Bosley popped the trunk.
“No fucking way.”
“Just trust me. You’ll be fine,” Bosley whispered. “I just don’t know who’s watching in here.”
“If you think I’m leaving without notifying—”
“Just do it. There will be time for that when you are in the trunk.”
Cove let out a long breath. The man wasn’t asking for his cell, so that had to be a good sign. He climbed in, pleasantly surprised that the center portion of the back seat had been pulled down, giving him access to the back of the car.
The engine turned over, and slowly, the car maneuvered through the garage.
Pulling out his cell, he pulled up Serenity’s contact information.
Cove: Change in plans.
Serenity: R U OK?
Cove: I’m ok.
Serenity: What’s going on? I saw Bosley get in the elevator with you and he hasn’t come back?
Cove: I need you to text Geri tell her that you’ve lost contact with me. That something went wrong, and you don’t know where I am and that Bosley left the building.
Serenity: Why?
Cove: Do you trust me?
Serenity: Yes. But your scaring me and I don’t like not knowing what the fuck happening.
Cove: Just do it and don’t tell anyone. No one. I will be in touch.
Serenity: Ok. But Geri is going to want answers, and I don’t understand why I can’t tell her that I’ve spoken to you.
He contemplated if he should tell her what he was thinking or not. He’d kept her in the dark about half his plan, but only because he didn’t want her to know who was watching, or where. Even the best agents would glance in the direction of their undercover operators.
But he also had to keep her safe.
Cove: Because she might be part of the problem.
Serenity: What? How so?
Cove: I’m not exactly sure, but I’m letting Bosley kidnap me. Speaking of which, he says his family was abducted. We need to have someone look into that, but you can’t from your office. If Geri is behind this, your office is more than compromised.
Serenity: I’ll get someone from NYPD to check it out.
Cove: Speaking of that. I’m having Thor meet you in the lobby. He’s your bodyguard. Got it.
Serenity: Loud and clear.
The car came to an abrupt stop, and Cove’s shoulder slammed into the side. He groaned.
Bosley said something to the security guard before pulling out into the busy New York streets.
“Where are we going?” Cove asked.
“To an abandoned building in the Bronx. Geri is supposed to meet us there. You can tell your team and we can put an end to this once and for all.”
“How the hell did you get mixed up in all of this?” Cove climbed through the hole from the trunk to the back seat, staying low and out of sight.
“I’m the one who found out that Nimitz was involved with Big Mike and the bank robbery. A sting operation was put in place, but it went sideways in more ways than one. Geri was in charge, and when she wouldn’t bring in Serenity, I asked Rachel to and while Geri is higher up in the ranks, neither Rachel nor Serenity knew Geri was involved. I should have known it was all fucked up from the beginning, but Geri promised me she’d help me get a promotion and a raise. Of course, that never happened. And then, after Nimitz was arrested, I found out he was being blackmailed by Geri.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Cove said.
“Nope. Mind you, Nimitz wasn’t a saint of an agent. He’d been known to take a bribe now and again.”
Cove pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, now explain to me how you ended up in debt, and why would you give Nimitz money?”
“That’s easy. It wasn’t me. It was Geri and Big Mike. And fucking Sarah.”
“Now I’m lost.”
“Sarah’s maiden name is Simmons, and she’s Big Mike’s cousin. When Nimitz went to prison, Sarah came to me all upset. Next thing I knew she was all over me, but I turned her down. For a while, she continued to try to seduce me, and I enjoyed the attention. It wasn’t until I got a notice from my bank that I realized she’d stolen papers that had my signature on them. I’ve been secretly trying to battle that for a couple of months while dealing with all the blackmail.”
“How does Serenity fit into all of this, and who set up the bombs?”
“I did,” Bosley admitted. “But you have to understand that I didn’t have a choice. Just like now. She has my wife. My kids. Who knows what she’s done to them. I have to do what she says. But you keep fucking up her plans and pissing her off. And that gave me some time to think things through. I figure together, we can beat her at her own game.”
“Maybe. So is she really with Big Mike?”
Bosley laughed. “Big Mike is her fiancé.”
Serenity swallowed. “Hi, Geri,” she managed to say as the elevator doors closed. “What are you doing here?”
“Taking care of some loose ends.”
“I see.” Serenity reached for the lobby button, but Geri stepped in her way.
“You’ll be coming with me to the garage.”
“I’m meeting a friend of mine,” Serenity said. “Cove was deployed today, and I’m—”
“Cut the bullshit,” Geri said. “We both know that’s not true. As a matter of fact, I know that right now, Cove is stuffed in the trunk of a car headed to meet his maker.”
“That’s impossible.” Serenity rested her hand on her weapon.
Geri pulled back her blazer. “You might be packing, but I’ve got your boyfriend. I’ve also got someone sitting down the street from your parents’ house.” She lifted her cell, showing an image of a vehicle parked around the corner from her folks. “If they don’t hear from me every half hour, they go in and kill Mom and Dad, got it?”
“What the hell is going on, Geri?” Serenity asked. “Why are you doing this?”
“For starters, crime pays better than being an agent. And second, you fucked up my fiancé’s bank robbery, costing us a lot of money and killing good people.”
Serenity opened her mouth, but nothing come out. She cleared her throat. “Big Mike is your Michael.”
“That didn’t take you very long.” Geri stretched out her arm and unhooked Serenity’s weapon, releasing it from its holster and then placing it in her purse just as the elevator doors opened. “Let’s go.” She gave Serenity a little shove. “We’re going to have a nice drive.”
&nbs
p; “You tried to have me killed,” Serenity said with a bitter taste in her mouth. “You almost killed an innocent woman.”
“You single-handedly put my fiancé’s operation back a good year.” Geri opened the rear door of an SUV. She took out a pair of handcuffs and secured her in the back seat. “I can’t have you in a position of power, and with Rachel being transferred, you’ll be given her job. I can’t have that.”
“What about Bosley? I take it he works for you. I’m sure you could work your magic and get him in that position.”
“Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought you were,” Geri said, holding her weapon in the air. “Bosley’s part of the problem that I need to get rid of.”
“And how do you plan on doing that?” Serenity had a million questions, but she decided to follow Geri’s lead.
“Everyone thinks Bosley is the bomber, so he’s going to blow up you and Cove, but he’s going to have a case of the guilts and kill himself.”
“And what about Sarah?” Serenity hadn’t quite figured out how she fit into this, but Sarah couldn’t be innocent at this point.
“Poor Sarah. Big Mike and I feel horrible about this because she’s family and all, but earlier today she had an accident. She really shouldn’t be on a ladder painting alone. Those two-story foyers can be a bitch, and when you land on your head on a tile floor, it’s never good.”
“You’re not going to get away with this,” Serenity said.
“But I am.” Geri slammed the butt of her weapon into the side of Serenity’s temple.
A sharp pain ripped from her brain, through her muscles, making her body go limp. Her vision blurred. Everything turned grayish black until she saw nothing at all, and her mind went blank.
12
Cove appreciated Bosley’s honesty and giving him enough time to put his team into place before driving him into the lion’s den. The only question mark was Big Mike. Bosley wasn’t completely sure if he was going to be at the warehouse or not. While he’d met Big Mike, it had been as Michael Simmons, Geri’s boyfriend, and he hadn’t seen him in a long time and never in this context.
