by Rebecca Deel
“You’re sure he’s going to Dana?” Trace asked.
“He’s breathing, isn’t he? He’ll detour by my house to check on the girls on the way back here. Nico, do you want me to take over your shift?”
Nico turned to Trace, noted his friend’s fatigue. “Trace, go sleep.”
A scowl from the sniper. “You’re the one with new stitches in his side.”
“Stitches?” Eli asked.
“Courtesy of thugs in the alley behind the hotel. Go, Trace. I won’t be sleeping for a while anyway. I need to review the files Zane sent.” And now he had more research to do on the senator and his father.
Trace clapped Eli on the shoulder and left.
“Time for another security sweep.” Nico dumped his coffee mug into the dishwasher and grabbed a bottle of water. “You want the sweep or the monitors?”
“I’ll take the tour outside. How bad is your injury?”
“Surface. Tip of the knife caught me.”
“I’ll be back.”
Nico returned to the security room and studied the monitors. No change from the view fifteen minutes earlier and the motion sensors hadn’t gone off. When Eli walked into the room to take over surveillance, Nico booted up his laptop and checked his email.
He brought up the file Zane sent. Nico finished reading the file by the time he needed to complete another security sweep. As he searched for signs of intruders, he processed the information he’d learned. All three men were losers. Multiple convictions and jail sentences here and in Mexico. The men were part of a gang while they were growing up in San Antonio, Texas, in and out of juvie with offenses ranging from drug and weapons possession to pimping kids and teens younger than themselves.
Nico’s lip curled in disgust. Real princes, these guys. With their track record, he was surprised they survived to adulthood. Plenty of their friends didn’t. The Scorpions swept into their area of Texas about the time these bozos got out of prison and tried to hook up with their gang. Turned out their territory had been taken over by the Scorpions.
They switched their allegiance to the new group and worked their way through the ranks. They were still bottom feeders except for Boxer who was a mid-level thug named Holden Tate.
So why had Holden allowed Bellhop to go after Mercy when he was obviously ill-suited to the task? His nervousness would have made Nico and his teammates suspicious even without the knowledge they hadn’t asked for more room service.
He thought again of the poorly fitting bellhop uniform. Maybe Holden and the other alley thug couldn’t fit into the uniform. When he returned to the cabin, Jon sat in the security room with Eli.
The SEALs turned. “We’ve got the watch if you want to sleep,” Jon said. “Tell the rest of Shadow they’re off duty until six. Sleep while you have the chance, Nico.”
“If something happens, wake me.”
“Count on it,” Eli said.
Nico collected his laptop and water, and trudged upstairs to his room. Much as he hated to admit it, he was tired. Two hours of sleep the night before on top of short nights while Mercy was in Bayside and no sleep the night of the rescue plus months of unrelenting missions dealing with the dregs of society weighed on him. After Mercy was safe, Nico would insist Shadow be off mission rotation for at least a month. Otherwise, he and his team would skate too close to burnout.
He paused outside Mercy’s room. She’d left the door open a crack. The compulsion to peek in and be sure she was resting well was too strong to resist. He nudged the door open a few more inches and looked in on her.
Mercy slept on her side, covers tossed aside and rumpled as though she had trouble sleeping. She was also fully dressed except for the shoes. Smart lady. Hopefully, that precaution would be unnecessary.
Satisfied she was safe and resting, he entered his room and dropped off his laptop and water before informing his teammates they were off duty. When he finally laid down to sleep, he dropped off in seconds.
His cell phone rang three hours later. Nico glanced at the screen and sat up. Only one person called him from a blocked number. The news couldn’t be good or the information would wait until a normal hour. “Mr. President.”
“I apologize for calling so early,” William Martin said, his voice a deep rumble. “How is my niece?”
“She’s recovering well. She’s losing the sling today, something that makes her happy.”
The president chuckled. “I can imagine.”
“What’s wrong, sir?”
“Am I that transparent, Nico?”
“Doesn’t take transparency to know something is wrong when you call at three in the morning. Are Charlotte and her family safe?”
“They’re fine. I’m afraid this problem concerns Mercy.”
When the president fell silent, Nico swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. “Talk to me, sir.”
“The Senate Intelligence Committee wants Mercy to testify about her experience in Mexico.”
Every muscle in Nico’s body bunched, readying for a fight. “With respect, sir, I’m not taking Mercy to Washington, D.C. She’s still a target for the Scorpions.”
“Care to explain that?”
Nico summarized what happened at the hotel. He didn’t want to give too many specifics, just enough to convince the most powerful man on earth that his niece would be in greater jeopardy if she was brought out into the open to testify before a senate committee.
“No injuries?”
“A minor one to an operative. Mercy sustained no new injuries. Mr. President, there’s another reason I don’t want to bring Mercy before that particular committee. Your niece saw a man in the Scorpion compound and was able to draw a picture of him. Sir, we think the man is Dwayne Jeffries.”
Martin was silent a moment. “Are you sure?”
“Near one hundred percent. Senator Jeffries being the head of the Intelligence Committee raises red flags for me.”
“I understand. I can’t set wheels in motion until I have a positive link between the Scorpions and Senator Jeffries. I can have law enforcement keep an eye on Dwayne.”
“No offense, sir, but there’s a leak in the law enforcement community, and D.C. leaks information like a sieve. I’d rather task Fortress with surveillance.”
“Very well. Look, Nico, I’ll see what I can do to divert attention from Mercy and delay them as long as possible, but I have to tell you I think we’ll only delay the inevitable. You and your team need to prepare for a trip to Washington. Do whatever you have to do to keep my niece safe.”
Nico dropped his phone on the bed and scrubbed his face. He’d wait until after six to call his boss. Maybe Maddox could call in a favor and kill this committee appearance or at least delay it until the danger to Mercy ended. Doubtful, but it was worth a try.
Knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep now, Nico rose and readied himself for the day. Fifteen minutes later, he entered the security room.
Jon frowned at him. “Do we need to knock you over the head, Rivera? You’re off duty for another three hours.”
“Wasn’t my idea to wake this early. The president called me.”
Eli turned. “What’s up?”
“Senate Intelligence Committee wants to talk to Mercy.”
The SEALs groaned. “No such thing as coincidence in our business.” Jon rose and stretched. “What are you going to do?”
“I asked Martin to delay or derail it. While he’s exploring that possibility, I’ll talk to Maddox, see if he’ll call in a favor. I don’t want to take Mercy into the lion’s den.”
The sniper watched him for a moment. “Your stance is about more than protecting your principal.”
Yeah, Jon Smith was one observant man. “She’s mine.”
Eli lounged back in this chair, arms folded across his chest. “Does she know that?”
“She agreed to give us a chance.” And he would do his best to see she didn’t regret her choice.
A slow nod from Jon. “What can we do to he
lp safeguard your woman?”
“Get me the schematics for Capitol Hill and the surrounding area.” If he had to take Mercy to Washington, he wanted as much information as possible, and Jon was the perfect man for the job. In addition to being a top-notch sniper, he also rivaled Zane in computer skills. “I also need a safe place for Mercy to stay.”
“I’ll take care of it.” He glanced at Eli in a wordless communication. When his teammate nodded, Jon turned back to Nico. “You’ll need more than Shadow to provide protection in D.C. We’re in.”
“Shadow can handle it.”
“You’ll handle it easier with two more operatives at your disposal.” Eli sipped his coffee. “Might as well give in, Nico.”
He couldn’t deny a sense of relief at knowing the two SEALs would be available. Aside from his own team, these two men were among the first operatives he would call upon for backup on any mission. “Thanks.”
He just hoped the extra precaution was unnecessary.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Mercy walked down the hall, frowning when she noticed the rooms occupied by Shadow were empty. Something must have happened overnight, but Nico didn’t wake her.
Anxious to find out what was going on, she descended the stairs in a hurry and followed the rumble of voices to the kitchen. When she walked into the room, the operatives fell silent. Nico turned from the coffee pot.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He was armed with a handgun and Ka-Bar. And probably more weapons she couldn’t see. The other members of his team as well as the two SEALs were also in full gear. The only thing missing was body armor.
Mercy faced Nico. “What happened?”
He grabbed a to-go cup and held out his hand. “Come with me.”
Oh, boy. Whatever happened must have been bad. She clasped his hand and allowed him to lead her outside to the patio where he had already placed a blanket.
“Sit with me for a few minutes.” He urged her toward the outdoor couch, pressed the to-go cup into Mercy’s hand, and draped the blanket over her lap. “I thought you might like a hot drink this morning.”
With her stomach in a knot, she couldn’t keep coffee down. “I’m not sure I can handle coffee.”
He smiled. “Guess it’s a good thing I made you green tea with mint. Drink a little, then we’ll talk.”
They sat in silence as the sun started to make an appearance in the sky. When Mercy finished the tea and set the cup aside, she turned to face Nico. “Are you and the others okay?”
He captured her lips in a soft, lingering caress. “We’re fine. We didn’t have unwanted visitors last night.”
“But something did happen. You’re all armed to the teeth.”
Nico eased back. “Do the weapons bother you?”
“Of course not. Aiden always carried a weapon as do my brothers and father. Tell me what’s going on, Nico. I don’t want secrets between us unless it’s necessary because of national security or job secrecy. In this case, you and your teammates are my protection detail. I want to know everything.”
“Fair enough. I showed your sketch to Jon and Eli last night after you went to bed. They identified the man you saw in Hector’s compound as Dwayne Jeffries. Does that name sound familiar?”
Puzzled, she frowned. “He’s Sean Jeffries’ father. What was he doing in Mexico?”
“We don’t know yet. Do you know the Jeffries?”
“I know Sean, but I never met his father.”
“How well do you know the senator?”
“He took me to dinner a couple times.”
Nico narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t give me that look. Sean likes my art, nothing more. He commissioned me to draw a series of portraits depicting the evolution of the Jeffries estate. It’s been in their family for more than one hundred years, and he thought his father would appreciate the pictures. He commissioned them for his father’s birthday.”
“And you never saw the senior Jeffries?”
She shook her head. “If his father met me, he would have known something was up. He has several of my drawings in his office at Jeffries Industries and I’m not in their social circle. Sean wants the drawings to be a surprise.”
His expression darkened with her use of Sean’s first name. Amused at his territorial attitude, she threaded her fingers through his. “Sean’s a friend. I’m not interested in him, Nico. He’s not a buff, tough-as-nails black ops warrior who makes my heart race.”
Nico’s eyes lit. “Glad to hear that. Did you hear Hector or his buddies mention Jeffries’ name?”
“No. They were more interested in intimidating me and tossing me back in the cave to wait for the next interrogation session. I don’t understand what Sean’s father was doing in Hector’s compound.”
“That’s a very interesting question and may be the key to why you’re so valuable to the Scorpions.”
She studied him a moment. Her heart sank when she realized there was more. “What else do you have to tell me?”
“You’re sure I have more information?”
Mercy cupped his cheek. “Nico, I can handle it.” She would rather know the truth than be kept in the dark.
He pressed a kiss on her palm. “The Senate Intelligence Committee wants you to testify at a hearing.”
“In Washington, D.C.” No wonder he and his team looked grim. “You don’t want me to go?” Even thinking about telling a room full of strangers plus the rest of her protection detail about Hector and his threats made Mercy feel sick. Talking about her ordeal with Marcus Lang and Nico had been traumatic enough.
“Not in a million years. First, the Scorpions are burning up the Internet, looking for any clue to where you’re hiding. Zane said his bots have picked up more than one hundred inquiries about your location. Second, protecting you will be much harder in D.C. The media is bound to find out you’re in town and why. The hearing itself will probably be closed, but that doesn’t keep the newsies from splashing your face all over the evening news. I’d rather keep you here where we have total control of the situation.”
“If the news media exposes the fact I’m in town, the Scorpions will know where to find me. That makes your job harder.”
“They’ll have a specific city to search instead of the middle Tennessee area. I don’t like this scenario.”
“Can I refuse to testify?”
Nico shook his head. “They’ll issue a subpoena. Your buddy Sean Jeffries is the head of the Intelligence Committee.”
Oh, boy. Even more reason to avoid the hearing as long as possible. “That could be a coincidence.” Mercy could tell from his expression that Nico wasn’t buying her explanation. “How long before we have to go?”
“Not sure. Your uncle will try to buy us some time and Maddox is calling in favors. The intervention won’t be enough to deter the committee.”
If she had her cell phone, Mercy could call Sean and try to delay the inevitable further. Maybe Zane could help. “Would Zane talk to me?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“A phone number.”
Nico made a call and placed the phone on speaker.
“Yeah, Murphy.”
“It’s Nico. You’re on speaker with Mercy. She needs a favor.”
“What do you need, Mercy?”
“A phone number.”
“Sounds easy enough. Who do you want to talk to?”
“Senator Sean Jeffries.”
Silence greeted her statement.
“I have his personal number in my cell phone, but I don’t have any idea where my purse ended up in Mexico. I want to talk to him about delaying the hearing.”
“Hold.” The sound of keys clicking drifted through the speaker. “Nico, I’ll text the number to your phone. Anything else I can do for you?”
“Alert Maddox that Jon and Eli volunteered to join Mercy’s protection detail when we go to D.C.”
“Copy that. Will you be in Nashville today or should I have an operative deliv
er a cell phone for Mercy to the safe house?”
He looked at Mercy, his eyebrow raised. “Your choice, kitten.”
“Is it safe if we leave the cabin?”
“We’ll make sure you are. You’re not a prisoner. I don’t want you in a crowded space that we can’t control like a restaurant. You’ll be safe at Fortress headquarters.”
“I need a few more clothes, especially if I have to appear before the committee soon.”
With a nod, he said, “We’ll be at Fortress by ten o’clock, Z.”
“I’ll have the phone and a few other things ready for Mercy.” Zane ended the call.
“How long will I be able to borrow the phone?”
“It’s yours to keep as long as we’re in a relationship. The phone is encrypted so we can communicate without fear of someone hacking into the system.” He draped his arm across her shoulders. “That also means I’ll be able to text or talk to you while I’m deployed.”
Mercy couldn’t deny the relief she felt at having the ability to connect with Nico while he was gone. She would have enjoyed that convenience with Aiden. “Your boss won’t mind me having the phone?”
“Immediate families of operatives have these cell phones. Maddox knows if the operatives aren’t worried about what’s happening at home, they’re more likely to complete the mission and come home safe.”
“I wish the military did something like that for troops.”
“My mother would have enjoyed being able to talk to me more often. You mentioned needing more clothes. How many stores are we talking about?”
“One if you choose a department store. Should take me less than an hour. I’m easy to please.”
He turned. “In clothes or everything?”
She thought about that for a moment. “Everything. I’m not high maintenance and simple things make me happy. What about you?”
“Same. I prefer to stay at home rather than go out. Too many people make me uncomfortable.”
Mercy smiled. “I’m not a fan of crowds, either. I’m a homebody.”
“Were you a homebody when you and Aiden were married?”
The sweet memories of their backyard barbeques and holiday parties with two or three of their friends flooded her. Her husband hadn’t like being in crowds. “Aiden had PTSD. When he was home from deployment, home was his safe place. He spent as much time as he could at home. He told me he was storing up the memories for when he was overseas.”
