by Rebecca Deel
After working a couple minutes, he said, “That’s the best I can do. Zane might be able to finesse the picture a little more.”
“Send it to him. I want Z to run the face through facial recognition and see if he’s in the system.”
“Safe bet.” Trace shot off an email to Zane with the picture attached. “Done. Want to look at the rest of Mercy’s photos?”
Nico motioned for him to keep scrolling. Mercy pointed out various buildings around the estate and told them about the rooms she’d been allowed to photograph inside the massive mansion. “That’s only a handful of the rooms in the house. A whole football team could live in that place, and there would still be plenty of room for everybody.”
“Did you like the house?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“But you didn’t like it.”
“I wouldn’t want to live there. You saw my house in Sherwood. I love the cozy feel of the place. Sean’s home feels impersonal.”
When they finished studying the pictures of the Jeffries estate, Trace turned to Nico, eyebrow raised. “We have another two hours before we leave. What’s the plan?”
“Sam and Joe are on shift. Ask Ben to dig up anything he can find on Jeffries Industries. You take the senator’s father. Mercy and I will look into the senator’s background.”
With a nod, Trace left to find his teammate.
“Do you think Sean is responsible for my abduction?” Nausea boiled in her stomach at the thought.
“I don’t know, kitten, but we have to look into the possibility.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t go today. Take me somewhere with your team. I can call Sean again and tell him it’s not safe for me to come to Washington today.”
“You could. You will still have to talk to him and the committee. If you don’t, they’ll send law enforcement after you.”
She scowled. “So take me out of the country.”
“A fugitive life is not what you need. Eventually, you’ll make a mistake, and they’ll have you. If I think there’s no choice, I’ll create a new identity for you, and we’ll relocate to another country.”
“We?” Mercy turned toward him. “You would go with me?”
“I won’t let you go on your own. Fortress offers a private witness protection program. If I determine that’s the only way to save your life, I’ll adopt a new identity and go with you.”
How could she protect her heart against a man like this one? Strong, valiant, noble, caring, kind, and deadly when he needed to be. Mercy pressed her mouth to his and felt her heart fall, hard.
She drew in a shaky breath. Oh, man. She was in so much trouble. There was no turning back now. If he didn’t come to love her, she was doomed to another heartbreak of epic proportions.
Nico gripped her upper arms and nudged her back. “What is it?” Concern filled his gaze.
Mercy didn’t want to lie to him, but she also wasn’t ready to talk about her revelation, either. “I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”
He looked deep into her eyes for a moment. “Will you tell me at some point?”
“Yes.” Eventually, she wouldn’t be able to hold the truth inside. “It’s not bad, Nico. I’m just not ready to share.” Mercy cupped his jaw, unable to resist rubbing her fingers across his beard scruff.
Nico captured her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the center of her palm. “All right. Ready to tear Sean Jeffries’ life apart?”
“I hate to invade his privacy.”
“In an investigation like this, there are no secrets. Everything will come out.”
She glanced at the handsome operative by her side, wondering what he would think when he knew her secret.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Nico followed another link in his and Mercy’s search through Sean Jeffries’ life and skimmed through the article. Nothing new, he decided. More about Jeffries’ rise to political power.
“Nothing,” Mercy said, sounding disgusted. “I thought we’d have better luck. The tabloids love to spread gossip about everybody. Why not Sean? I’ve heard all this news in the mainstream press.”
He gritted his teeth at her continued use of the senator’s first name. Yeah, Nico needed to get over it. He couldn’t act like an overbearing, jealous boyfriend every time she mentioned another man’s name even though jealousy burned inside when he thought about her interaction with Jeffries. “The man has money. Maybe he greased palms to keep unsavory items out of the headlines.” Tough to squash all of it, though. Most tabloids would create scandal if they couldn’t unearth any on their own.
He logged into the Fortress website and clicked on one of their search engines.
“What’s that?”
“A search engine Zane created that surf’s information on the dark web, too.” He typed in the senator’s name. A moment later, the search produced thousands of hits.
He checked the time. They had thirty minutes left. “I’ll start reading while you gather what you need. Bring your sketch pad.” He didn’t want to stay in D.C. overnight, but plans could change, depending on what happened in the city.
“Should I pack everything, Nico?”
He kissed her. “To be safe, yes. If we have to go on the run, I want to stay out of stores to avoid surveillance cameras.” Shadow would take their gear as well.
With a nod, Mercy slid from the barstool and went upstairs.
While she was gone, Nico clicked on the first link. The senator was Dwayne Jeffries’ golden boy. The second son, Mark, became hooked on cocaine in high school. Jeffries cut his son off financially when he turned twenty-one, refusing to support his drug habit. Desperate for money to buy his next hit, Mark broke into houses and stole money and jewelry.
Six months into his criminal career, he chose the wrong house. The homeowner, a third-shift worker, was sleeping in the master bedroom at the time. The Army veteran heard Mark rummaging through his belongings in another room and confronted him with a gun. The kid charged him with a knife. The vet took him down. No charges were filed against him despite Dwayne’s threats to do just that.
Sean, on the other hand, appeared to be the perfect son. Excellent student, top notch athlete in football, and voted most likely to succeed in high school. He earned a full ride scholarship at Harvard and graduated with a law degree. After practicing law for a few years in a prestigious New York City law firm, Sean ran for senate and won. Rumors said he was the favored pick for the next presidential run.
Nico frowned. No mud anywhere. Everybody had a past, including the golden boy senator. He clicked on another link from the dark web, skimmed the first few paragraphs, and sat up straighter. Perhaps the golden boy had a smudge on his halo after all.
He changed the parameters for his search and read more. Nico rubbed his jaw, the beard stubble scraping against his fingers. Not sure what to make of the information, Nico sent Zane a text, requesting him to dig deeper. If Z didn’t have time, the research geeks at Fortress could handle it.
When Mercy descended the stairs, Nico took the bag from her hand. “How’s the shoulder?”
“No need for pain meds this morning.”
“Might change after the drive into D.C.”
“I can take something if I need it.” She motioned toward the computer. “Did you find anything?”
“A couple things I’m having Zane check before I say anything. The rumor mill says Sean Jeffries is the favored pick to succeed your uncle.”
Mercy frowned. “He’s a power player, but I don’t see him as presidential material.”
“People with money and power are grooming him for a run.” Nico set her bag by the back door. “How much do you know personally about Jeffries?”
“Almost nothing. He’s a pleasant dinner companion. Very attentive, polite.”
“Do you know if he’s involved with a woman?”
Her cheeks colored and she glanced away. “I don’t think so.”
Interesting reaction. “Mercy.” When she didn’t turn his direc
tion, Nico tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “Jeffries is interested in you, isn’t he?”
“Sean asked me out several times, yes.”
He considered her words and reaction. “You turned him down.”
“Every time. I didn’t think I was ready to date again. Even if I had been, I wasn’t interested in him. He’s too slick for my taste and he always paid attention to who noticed him while he was with me. He considered me a prize to be shown off rather than a treasure. Besides, I have zero interest in Washington social life.”
“What’s your idea of the perfect date?”
Surprise filled her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“Think about it and tell me.” He’d do his best to fulfill her dream date.
His teammates arrived in the kitchen, bags in hand. Nico tossed his keys to Joe. “You and Trace check the SUVs to be sure we don’t have surprises while I grab my gear.”
“What about Jon and Eli?” Mercy asked.
“They’ll stay here to keep the house secure unless we tell them we’re on the run.” Nico squeezed her fingers and took the stairs two at a time. Soon, he returned to Mercy and the others. He set his bag on the floor and distributed the ceramic knives Jon had brought for them, keeping the last one for himself. “SUVs are clear?”
“They’re clean.” Trace turned off kitchen lights as Shadow hoisted bags to their shoulders.
Nico picked up Mercy’s bag as he spouted off the name of the parking garage a few blocks from the Capitol. “Maddox arranged parking passes at the ticket booth as we drive into the garage.”
Ben scowled. “Jeffries insisted Mercy come in a day early, but didn’t bother to provide secure parking for her? Some friend he is.”
Nico agreed with his teammate’s assessment although he refrained from commenting. Jeffries didn’t know Mercy was accompanied by a security team. Didn’t say much about a man who wanted a relationship with a woman yet didn’t provide basic security for her when he knew what she’d been through in Mexico. If he thought she might be in danger from the Scorpions, he should have insisted law enforcement escort her to the Capitol building. Unaccompanied, Mercy was an easy target. “Time to go.”
Nico drove from the house with Trace on his six. Hopefully, they wouldn’t run into trouble today. Mercy had almost reached her limit of tolerance for disasters and emergencies.
This time, Joe and Sam rode with Nico and Mercy. Although they kept the conversation on neutral topics, Nico sensed Mercy’s uneasiness growing by the increasing tension in her shoulders.
“This is a waste of time.” Mercy glanced at Nico. “We’re spending all this time driving into D.C. so I can tell Senator Jeffries I don’t know anything. I could have told him that on the phone if he’d bother to talk to me personally. Instead, he pawned me off on his aide, Theo Morris.”
“Not a waste of time.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “He’ll be answering questions, too.”
“I hope he knows more than I do.”
Two hours later, he and Trace parked the vehicles in the parking garage. “Wait here.” He exited the SUV along with Sam and Joe, and scoured the row of vehicles near his own, looking for signs of something that didn’t belong or someone who paid too much attention to the anonymous black SUVs from Fortress Security.
Nothing set off his senses beyond his growing unease. Nico opened the passenger door and extended his hand to Mercy. “We have ninety minutes to kill before your appointment. Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
He smiled when his teammates brightened at the mention of food. “I know a nice cafe two blocks from here. It’s a hole in the wall, not a place the political bigwigs enjoy frequenting. The food’s great and the owner is a friend.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Nico walked with his arm around Mercy, his teammates surrounding them in a loose circle. When they walked into the Blue Moon Cafe, Nico’s friend, Ace, spotted him and exited the kitchen with a huge smile on his face.
“Patch! What are you doing in D.C.?” He dragged Nico into a one-armed hug and pounded him on the back.
“Working. Let me introduce you to some people. My teammates. Sam, Joe, Trace, and Ben.” He turned to Mercy. “And this is Mercy Powers. Ace O’Brien.”
The gunnery sergeant held out his hand to Mercy. “Let me know if Patch doesn’t treat you right. I’ll set him straight.”
She smiled. “He treats me like a princess.”
“Glad he paid attention to the lessons I taught him about wooing a lady while we worked together.” Ace winked at her, then turned to Nico. “You stopping in to visit or eat?”
“Both.” He glanced around at the full tables. “Looks like you’re packed, though.”
Ace grabbed a handful of menus and motioned for them to follow him. He led them through the dining room to a hallway at the back of the cafe. Ace turned into a break room with a large round table and chairs along with vending machines, refrigerator, and coffee maker. “Have a seat and check the menu. I’ll be back in a minute for your orders.”
An hour later, the group left Blue Moon with full stomachs and an admonition from Ace to stop the next time they were in D.C. They walked the remaining blocks to Capitol Hill. After clearing security, Nico escorted Mercy to Senator Jeffries’ office.
“Trace, Ben, stay in the hall. Sam, Joe, with us. Wait outside the senator’s office in case we need you.” Overkill. Maybe. Nico wouldn’t take chances with Mercy’s safety.
He glanced at her. “Ready?”
She nodded.
Nico brushed her lips with his, then opened the door to the senator’s office. A receptionist smiled as they approached her desk.
“May I help you?”
“Mercy Powers to see Senator Jeffries. She’s expected.”
“Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll tell the senator you’re here, Ms. Powers.” She turned away to speak softly into the phone as Nico led Mercy to the seating area.
Sam and Joe sat, eyeing the senator’s staff. When Mercy showed no inclination to sit, he wrapped his hand around hers and memorized the office layout and the entrances and exits.
Ten minutes later, a door to one of the offices opened, and a tall, slender man with dark hair and eyes stepped out. His gaze swept over Mercy. “Ms. Powers, Senator Jeffries will see you now.”
“Thank you. It’s good to see you again, Theo. How is your mother?”
Theo smiled. “She’s great and sends her thanks for your gift. Mom brags to all her friends about the original MJ Powers drawing hanging on her wall.”
“I’m glad she liked it.” She walked toward Theo and the door to the inner sanctum with Nico by her side.
Theo held up his hand, his gaze on Nico. “I’m sorry. The senator is only expecting Ms. Powers. You’ll have to wait out here.”
Nico slid his arm around Mercy and pulled her against his side. “With danger circling her, Mercy isn’t going anywhere without me by her side. If Jeffries wants to see her today, he’ll do it with me in the room or not at all. If you want to consult with the senator, we’ll wait two minutes for his decision. After that time, I’m taking Mercy back to her safe house.”
A scowl. “This is a secure building. She’s perfectly safe. On top of that, the senator is a very busy man. He can’t juggle his schedule to accommodate your demands.”
“Clock’s ticking, Theo. Talk to your boss or let us pass.”
After another hard look at Nico, he reluctantly motioned for them to follow him.
Anticipation hummed in Nico’s veins. Maybe they would finally learn some answers.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Mercy stepped into the office, glancing around at the decor. Nice. Really nice. Leather furniture. Cherry desk. Coffee bar. Several paintings on the walls by famous artists. Plush carpet. Huge windows with a killer view. Great natural light.
Her attention focused on the blond-haired man with a surfer tan and blue eyes who leaped to his feet and hurried around the desk toward h
er as she moved further into the room.
“Mercy, thank God you’re all right.” Sean Jeffries spread his arms and went to envelop her in a hug when Nico stepped between them. The senator stopped abruptly and glared at him. “Who are you?”
Nico pushed Sean back a few steps before he clasped Mercy’s hand again. “Nico, a friend of Mercy’s.” He kissed her knuckles. “A very good friend.”
The senator shifted his attention to Mercy, his jaw tight. “Care to explain?”
Something about his tone raised her hackles. “Nico and I are dating.”
“You weren’t dating two weeks ago when I asked you out. You said you weren’t ready.” His lips pressed into a thin line for a few seconds. “Why did you bring him here?”
“He’s the head of my protection detail.”
“You’re safe. We have security.”
“Not safe enough for me to trust Mercy’s life to the Capitol police,” Nico said, his voice low.
Sean’s eyes narrowed as he motioned them to guest chairs. “She’s not in Mexico any longer.”
“The Scorpions aren’t giving up.” Mercy sat. “They tried twice to capture me since I’ve been back in the States, and someone broke into my house in Sherwood and trashed the place. Do you blame me for preferring to trust my own security over a police force spread too thin with more important people to protect than me?”
The senator leaned against the edge of his desk, stunned at her revelation. “I had no idea. Now I understand why you wanted me to delay the hearing. I’m sorry I couldn’t accommodate you, honey. The committee refused to wait. National security is at risk and you might have vital information.”
Nico scowled at Sean. Mercy laced their fingers together. No doubt he objected to the pet name. She wasn’t a fan of that one. Mercy glanced at Nico. It seemed she’d developed a preference for being called kitten.
“Were you hurt in the attacks?” Sean asked.
“Gunshot wound to her shoulder.” Nico stared at the other man. “It’s only a matter of time before she is hurt unless I stop them.”
“You can’t think the attacks will continue. They failed. The gunrunners should move on.”
