by Jen Talty
Yeah, right. She trusted him about as far as she could toss a baseball and she couldn’t even get it from the pitcher’s mound over home plate.
“Thank you,” she said, bile smacking the back of her throat. In the distance, she could see the dock with the family yacht tucked neatly between two piers. The lights from the property illuminated the sky.
Let the hacking games begin.
***
Logan watched as Mia walked gracefully down the dock toward the main house, where she disappeared behind tall lush trees with Rock, the asshole, by her side.
“Mia’s entering the house,” he whispered as he pulled up to the dock, hiding the small boat behind the forty-foot yacht. “What do we have inside?”
“Total of eight men,” Ramey said. “One at the front door. One at the side patio door. One at the kitchen door and one near the pool house. I don’t have eyes on the inside.”
“I do,” Dylan said. “Two men parked outside of Markus’s room. One at the bottom of the spiral stair case and one standing guard in front of Mia’s room.”
“I’m a little scared you know the intimate details of my girlfriend’s house.” Logan secured his boat, before opening up his duffle bag, snagging a few smoke bombs, a grenade, and two military grade pistols.
“So, it’s official,” Ramey said. “You’re a kept man.”
Logan shook his head, refusing to comment as he untied the pontoon boat, pushing it from the dock, and letting the current take it down the river. If things went bad he didn’t want Rock to be able to escape by sea. “Once Mia is in Markus’s room, and in front of the computer, start systematically taking out the threat. I’ve got the one at Mia’s door.”
“You really going to climb the lattice?” Nick said. “You’re getting too old for that shit.”
“Time to clear the radio of any unnecessary chatter.” Logan tucked one gun in his belt, while checking the other was fully loaded and ready to go. He ran to the side of the pool house, watching Ramey deal with one of Rock’s men, rendering him unconscious. He then secured his hands with safariland restraints.
Ramey pointed to the kitchen door, then raced across the yard, nailing the second guy in the back of the head with the butt of his gun, and securing him as well.
“Front door dealt with,” Ramey said.
“Back door secure,” one of Ramey’s men said.
Logan’s cue to climb the lattice. He checked his watch. Ten minutes since Mia entered the house. Ten more minutes before the hack would be ‘officially’ detected by the Department of Defense’, though Logan wasn’t entirely sure what Jacqui, Grey, and Athena had worked out with the government regarding this op and it didn’t matter. All he needed to do was focus on making sure Mia and Markus were safe, and Rock and his gang of misfits were taken into custody.
He stared at the white lattice that lined the side of the house. Fourteen years ago, the wood makeshift ladder was unstable at best. He worried then, it would crumble under his weight and he was a good fifteen pounds lighter back then. Grabbing a hold of the lattice, he gave it a good shake. It didn’t move much, which was a good sign. He eased his foot into one of the holes and hoisted himself up, climbing quickly, but carefully.
When his feet hit Mia’s patio, he let out a long breath and retrieved his weapon. Slinking against the side of the house, keeping his pulse in check by methodical breathing and sheer power of will, he scanned the room. Light filtered in through the open door to the hallway. A long shadow covered the floor. He laced his fingers around the sliding glass door handle and pulled it back without making a sound.
“Perimeter of the house is clear,” Ramey said.
“Downstairs is clear,” Dylan said. “Ready for the distraction?”
“It’s a go.” Just as the word ‘go’ came out of Logan’s mouth the crackle of breaking glass echoed through the house.
Two men, one from in front Markus’s room and the one guarding Mia’s, ran down the hallway.
“Where are you, Nick?”
“The master bedroom. Once you step into the hallway, you’ll be seen, but I’ve got your back.”
Logan sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “On three…one, two, three…” He stepped into the hallway, weapon stretched out in front. The man guarding Markus’s door lifted his assault rifle. Nothing like being out gunned.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Logan continued to move down the hallway. His heart beating a little faster. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nick’s shadow.
“Boss, we’ve got company,” the man said.
“I suspected we might.” Rock appeared in the doorway, holding a computer. “You were so busy trying to protect the Vanderlin’s that you neglected your own loved ones.” He tilted the screen, showing Logan’s mother, sitting in her home, watching television…
“You piece of shit.”
“I’ve got a sniper just outside your mom’s house. Anything happens to me, she’s…” Rock held his finger to his head and twitched his thumb. “Bang, dead.”
Logan moved his weapon, pointing it directly at Rock’s head. “Get your man off my mother.” He swallowed.
Nick’s shadow slinked back into the master bedroom.
Rock laughed. “Put your gun down. My man can hear me, so all I have to do is give the order.”
Logan loosened his grip on his weapon and held it up. “You touch my mother and I will fucking kill you with my bare hands.”
“I’m certain you didn’t come alone so tell your gang to stand-down.” Rock took Logan’s gun. “And to let my men go.”
“Dylan,” Ramey said over the wire. “You take care of mom. My men and I will take care of this.”
“Stand-down,” Logan said. “Let Rock’s men go.” He knew damn well his brothers weren’t going to do that and if his sense of time was correct, they had only a few minutes before Rock realizes Mia didn’t hack the Department of Defense at all.
“Rock doesn’t know his men personally,” Ramey said. “All contracted, so my men are taking their place.”
“You can’t be sure,” Nick whispered.
Logan couldn’t stand to listen to the chatter any longer, so he took his ear piece out as he entered Markus’s room. Mia and her brother sat next to each other, headphones on, staring at computer screens. They both glanced up and acknowledge Logan’s presence, but that was about it.
“My team is standing down, now call your guy off my mother.”
Rock shook his head, setting the laptop down, Logan’s mother still on the screen. “Not until this is over and me and my men walk out of here.” He glanced at his wrist where he sported an Apple Watch. “Which should be done in less than ten minutes.
Logan squeezed his fists. When this was over, he and Rock were going one round, because that was all it was going to take for Logan knock the asshole senseless.
“We’ve got a problem.” Mia shoved her headphones to the side. “There is a second key-code to unlock HOOVER-PIN.”
“How did you not know that?” Rock motioned to his man to keep a gun on Logan, while he stood behind Mia.
“They change the entry point randomly every five hours and it’s like the Nuclear Codes. We got into the first one, but if we hit the wrong key, we’re locked out and choppers will be over head my house in less than five minutes.”
“Find a way in and do it fast, or your boyfriend and his mother will take one for the team.”
Logan eyed Mia, wondering what the hell she was up to.
“You’re going to have to help me,” Mia said, shoving her chair over, making room for Rock. “I need you to reroute a potential threat, then Markus and I can worm our way in.”
Rock let out an exasperated sigh as he set the gun down. “Can’t fucking believe you won that scholarship over me.”
Logan took the opportunity in the shift of focus from him to the hacking problem, and scanned the room. Rock’s goon stood at the door, rifle in hand, aimed at Logan.
Not
good.
Rock put the weapon on the desk, just a half foot from reach.
Not as bad as it could be.
“Hey, you came to me for help,” Mia said.
Logan glanced over his shoulder and she cracked a smile.
He arched a brow.
Rock sat behind the desk, folding open another laptop. “That’s funny, because I recall it was you who begged to meet with me and clear your name.”
Whatever Mia had up her sleeve, Logan was just going to have to run with it. He turned his attention back to the man with the rifle.
Nick’s shadow eased across the floor, his fingers doing a whirly, finishing up with go, go, go, sign.
Go the fuck where?
“What the fuck!?” Rock stood, slamming his chair against the wall.
Logan spun around.
Rock grabbed Mia by the hair, hoisting her out of the chair. “You little bitch.”
Logan heard a groan and a thud, but he didn’t turn, praying Nick took out the idiot with the gun. Logan lunged forward just as Mia twisted her body, pushing the gun toward him, then smacking Rock in the eye with her fist.
Marcus went for Rock, but Rock flung Mia like a sack of potatoes, hitting her brother with force and knocking them both to the floor.
Rock reached for Mia.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Logan said, scrambling to get the gun.
“Fuck you,” Rock said, reaching down toward Mia, who scrunched under the desk.
“I’ve killed better men than you, so if you touch her again, I will shoot.”
“So, will I,” Nick said.
Logan shot one round, grazing Rock in the arm.
He groaned, grabbing his biceps as Nick breezed by Logan to secure Rock.
“Call your man off my mother.”
“Already done.” Marcus hoisted himself up using the sides the desk. His smiled, showing a bloody mouth. “Trust me, your mother is fine.”
Mia crawled out from the under the desk.
“Come here baby,” Logan dropped his weapon and scoped her into his arms. “Nick, get that piece of shit out of here before I strangle him.” Sirens blared in the background. Logan put his ear piece back in. “Ramey? Dylan? Anyone got eyes on mom?”
“I do and she’s fine. Sniper in custody.” Dylan’s voice boomed into his right ear. “Your girlfriend has some skills. What she sees in a dumbass like you, I’ve got no clue.”
Logan smiled as he held her tighter. “You okay, baby?”
“I am now.” She let out a long breath, her arms wrapped tight around his middle.
“Mind telling me how you two knew my mother was fine?” Logan asked.
“As an incentive, Rock showed us the video, which gave Mia an idea.” Markus wiped his face. “Can I go downstairs. I’m hungry.”
Logan nodded. “What did you do my brilliant little geek?” Logan kissed her temple, her body trembled, or maybe it was his.
Her eyes brimmed with pride. “I hacked into my father’s system and told him what happened, he told the police and they were able to capture the sniper. My dad then managed to let me know she was safe. We just kept the video going.”
“That’s smart.” He kissed her forehead. “Is that what Rock flipped out over?”
She smiled bigger “Not sure he even knows about that, but while he waited for you, I hacked into the video feed of the animal the world is waiting to give birth. The world has been watching Rock confess to holding us against our will and using me to hack into the Department of Defense for the last ten minutes.”
Logan cupped her face and stared into her loving eyes. “That was a dangerous little game.”
“Your IT girl helped execute the plan. She would have stopped me if she thought it wouldn’t have worked.”
“But if my end of this op went south, then you and your brother would be dead.”
“And what would you have done if you were me?”
“We could go on like this for another round of twenty questions,” he said, licking his lips.
“Are you gonna kiss me or what?” she asked, smiling.
Logan growled as he pressed his lips hard on hers, shoving his tongue deep into her mouth. His pulse continued to beat faster than it should after the completion of an op, but the thought he could have lost her after he’d just found her made his body shiver. He pried his lips away, kissing her cheek and earlobe. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too.”
Sirens blipped, and flashing lights filtered through the bedroom window. He heard an array of voices booming through the house.
“We need to go downstairs.”
“Why?” She dropped her head to his shoulder. “I’d rather just curl up in your arms. It’s been a long day.”
He let out a small laugh. “One. We’re going to spend the next few hours talking to all sorts of people. Two. I need to do something for your father.”
Logan took her hand and led her down the hallway to the main staircase where a half a dozen federal agents form various agencies were talking with twice as many Nightstalkers and Rangers that his brother Ramey had brought. Rock, and all of his men were in restraints and being escorted outside by local and state police.
“Wait.” Logan let go of her hand and jogged down the stairs, taking the last six two at a time. “I need a word with that one.”
The officer holding Rock’s arm stopped. “Fine with me.”
Logan curled his fingers around Rock’s arm. “Let’s step outside.”
Rock jerked his arm. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Logan ignored Rock and hauled his ass outside where he eyed Mr. Vanderlin’s car skidding to a stop just inside the gate.
Perfect timing.
Mr. Vanderlin stepped from his vehicle with wide-angry eyes.
Logan waved him over, then turned to Rock. “Years ago, my father arrested you for assaulting Mia, but unfortunately, all you got was a slap on the wrist.”
“It was so much more than that,” Rock said behind gritted teeth. “I had to change schools and the DA charged me, so that sucker stayed on my record. Why the fuck do you think I dropped out of college. That cunt—”
Logan shoved Rock to the ground, where he landed at Mr. Vanderlin’s feet. “Say something like that again and I’ll beat the shit out of you. I’ll even make it an almost fair fight by un-cuffing you, letting you try to take a swing at me. But then, everyone would know what a God damned pussy you are.” Logan glanced at Mr. Vanderlin. “Sorry, about the language, sir.”
“Not a problem,” Mr. Vanderlin said, his hands clenched at his sides. “Did he hurt my little girl again?”
Logan swallowed. “I wish I could tell you I was able to stop him before he yanked her by the hair.”
“You bastard,” Mr. Vanderlin said.
Logan hoisted Rock to his feet, who glanced between the two men with wide-eyes. “I’m not bound by the same ethical and legal restraints my father was that night, so feel free.”
Mr. Vanderlin raised his fist.
“What the fuck?” Rock tried to break free from Logan’s grip. “You can’t let him haul off and hit me?”
Logan stepped back just as Mr. Vanderlin’s tossed his best punch, landing right on Rock’s left eye. It might have been childish and slightly unprofessional to let Mr. Vanderlin take his pot shot, but it sure did put a smile on the man’s face.
Mr. Vanderlin then smacked the right side of Rock’s jaw.
“You’re going to regret this.” Rock stumbled backward. “This isn’t over.”
“Have fun in prison,” Logan said as a local cop waltzed over, giving him the evil-eye before ushering Rock away.
Mr. Vanderlin shook out his hand. “You have no idea how good that felt.”
Logan smiled. “Felt good to watch.”
“You’re all right.” Mr. Vanderlin slapped Logan on the back as they headed toward the house.
Mia leaned on the front porch, staring at him and smiling.
How could a dumb jock like him end up with a woman like Mia Vanderlin?
“You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Vanderlin.”
“You call me that or sir again, I’ll give you my right hook.”
“I’ll remember that sir…Mr….I mean Brett.” Logan shook his head. “It’s going to take me a while to get used to that.”
“I have feeling we have all the time in the world by the look you put on my daughter’s face. All I ask is that you make her happy.”
“I’ll die trying.”
CHAPTER 14
Two days later…
LOGAN SLAPPED THE WATER, splashing his brothers Nick and Ramey, before jumping on Dylan, giving him a good old fashioned nuggy. “We’ll get them next time, baby Dyl.”
“Don’t call me that.” Dylan shrugged his brother off before flipping himself onto a floaty. “I hate it ,” he muttered.
Logan climbed the ladder at the deep end of the pool taking the towel Mia handed him. “Your parents didn’t have to have all of us over.”
“They wanted to. You and your family did a lot for us.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Want a beer?”
“I’d love one.”
He twisted the towel in his hands, fingers itching to fling the fabric forward, smacking Mia on her adorable ass as she swayed her hips. She eyed him over her shoulder as she walked toward the outdoor bar, daring him to do it front of everyone.
Well, that wasn’t going to happen. He winked at her, then sighed as he waltzed over to where his mother lounged, sipping some fruity drink.
“Hey Mom.” He bent over, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek, before settling down in the chair next to hers.
“Thanks for bringing me all my boys, even if it’s only for another eighteen hours.”
“I needed their help.”
“Ha!” His mother jabbed him in the arm with her index finger. “You have friends closer than Nevada. You asked Ramey to come not only to help you, but because you know how much I miss my boys.”
Logan smiled. “I don’t trust anyone as much as I do those clowns.”
