by Rebecca Deel
“They disowned me, Ivy. I haven’t spoken to them since I enlisted in the Army.”
She laid her hand over his arm. “I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Don’t let it bother you, angel. I don’t.”
Over the next hours, they covered everything from fishing to books to movies. Nice to know Del and Ivy shared many of the same interests with the exception of outdoor activities. Reminded him of his mother and sisters.
When the grandfather clock struck eleven, Josh stood and pulled Del to her feet. “You and Ivy need rest.”
“What about you?”
He smiled. “Not for a while.”
Alex rose, plucked Ivy from the couch. “Need a drink before I take you upstairs, angel?”
“Water.”
“Kitchen, then second floor.” He glanced over his shoulder at Josh. “Meet you here after I wake Rio and Deke.”
“He’s really good with her,” Del murmured after Alex had left the room. “I wish Ivy had met him sooner.”
“She’s healing.” He squeezed her hand. “Come on.” He walked her to her room. Conscious of Alex’s imminent appearance, he kissed and nudged her inside the doorway.
“What if Granger comes?”
“I’ll let you know if the perimeter security is breached. Rest, beautiful.” Hearing footsteps behind him, something he knew was deliberate as his friend normally moved in absolute silence, Josh turned and strode down the hall. He met Alex and Ivy at the top of the stairs. “Night, kitten.” He tweaked her nose as he passed.
At the bottom, he turned right and headed for the security room. Stella sipped on a Coke as she scanned the monitors. “All quiet?” he asked.
“A couple deer, a wolf. Nothing on two legs.”
“Won’t last.”
“You’re that positive he’ll show?”
“I would.”
She shot him a glance, returned her attention to the screens. “How long?”
“Three, four hours. Heaviest part of the sleep cycle.”
A shower kicked on upstairs as Alex stepped through the doorway. “Any word from Jon or Eli?” he asked.
“Should be here any time.” At that moment, Josh’s text signal dinged. He glanced at the message. “Jon’s at the back door. Says he has something for us.”
The former Navy SEALs were clad in black. Just as in Delta, nothing on Jon Smith and Eli Wolfe reflected light as they stepped inside. Jon carried a small duffel bag in one hand. “Communication gear from Fortress,” Jon said. “Brent has a full team on standby. They’ll cover the roads if Granger gets past us.”
“Thanks.” If they needed Fortress to shut down the roads, it meant his team was down and Granger had captured Del and Ivy. He couldn’t let that happen. Josh knew if Granger took Del and Ivy to Wright, they would be killed as soon as the arms dealer got what he wanted. “As soon as Granger breaches the perimeter, signal Fortress to get in position. Under no circumstances is he to escape with the women.”
“Roger that,” Eli said. He took the bag from Jon and unzipped it. “The gear is similar to what we used in the Teams, but better.” After demonstrating and testing the equipment, he and Jon slipped into the night, their own headgear in place, promising to signal when they were in position.
Josh doused the lights on the first floor and turned to his partner. “Now we wait.”
At 2:30 a.m., the motion sensor on the first perimeter was triggered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Josh cleared the security room door seconds after the alert signaled on his wrist monitor. “Where?” he asked Stella. Staring over the marshal’s shoulder, he studied the screens. One showed a figure moving through the forest, picking his way with care. Satisfaction bloomed in his gut. Nice to know his instincts were still good two years after leaving the military.
“Quadrant 4.” She glanced over her shoulder. “This guy is good, Josh. He hasn’t tripped any of the traps yet. How can he see? It’s pitch black out there. I stepped outside a few minutes ago while Alex spelled me. I couldn’t see anything.”
He watched the figure a moment. Definitely a man. “NVGs.” He sensed movement behind him and turned.
“Not for long,” Alex murmured. “Thunderstorm rolling in fast.” His words were punctuated by a crack of thunder and lightning flash.
Josh blew out a breath. Great. Not only could they not use NVGs with the lightning, footing would become tricky as the rain fell, turning the ground into a slippery mud bath. Granger would be just as blind in the night as Durango and Fortress.
He keyed the mic on his headset. “Breach in quadrant 4.”
He squeezed Stella’s shoulder. “Keep track of him. Update his position in five-minute intervals unless something changes.” Maybe they’d get lucky and Granger would be caught in one of their traps. Unlikely, but possible given the weather conditions.
Deke entered the security room and leaned down to observe the monitors. “That him?” He turned back to Josh.
“Let’s catch him and find out.” He inclined his head toward the shoulder holster and weapon the marshal wore. “How many magazines do you have?”
“Two.”
“Got a third one?” Alex asked, his voice soft.
Deke looked startled. “Will I need it?”
“Get it.” The sniper turned his attention to Stella. “Same for you, Stella. If Granger gets past all of us, you’ll need every bit of fire power you have to stop him. You can’t let him take Ivy and Del. He’ll kill them as soon as Wright gives the word.”
The female marshal swallowed hard, glanced at her partner. “Watch the screens, Deke.” She hurried from the room.
Deke eyed Josh and Alex in turn. “Level with me. Is this guy as bad as you’re making him out to be?”
“Worse.” Josh signaled Alex to grab his gear. He had one more thing to do before he joined his partner. “We’re depending on you, Deke.”
“We won’t let you down. You have my word.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” Josh hated to leave Del and Ivy in the protection of the marshals, even knowing they were professionals. Still, they were no match for Granger. At least if Durango went down along with Eli and Jon, Granger would be injured. No way all those trained operatives wouldn’t do damage to the Ghost. Might be the only edge Deke and Stella would have. “You’ll only get one chance, Deke. Don’t miss.”
A solemn nod from the marshal before he turned back to the computer screens to track their quarry.
Josh took the stairs two at a time. At Del’s door, he knocked and pushed the door open. Two figures sat up.
“What’s wrong?” Del asked.
“Perimeter breach, baby. You and Ivy need to dress, fast.”
“Already ahead of you. We slept in our clothes. We just need to put on shoes.”
A soft chuckle escaped. Beautiful and brainy. Couldn’t ask for more than that. “Good job, both of you.”
“Josh?”
“What is it, kitten?”
“I still can’t run and I’m not very fast with those crutches.”
“If Granger slips past us, Deke and Stella will get you out. We need Alex in the field. You okay with Deke carrying you if it’s necessary?”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. Make sure Alex doesn’t worry, okay? I don’t want him distracted.” Her voice quavered a little at the last.
“He’ll know, Ivy. Do everything the marshals tell you.” A brush of fabric told him Del slid from the bed. Her feet pattered across the floor in his direction. He opened his arms and she slipped her arms around his waist, head nestled over his heart. Probably not comfortable for her since he had on a bullet-proof vest. Josh dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I need to go. Alex is waiting. No lights, baby. It will shine like a beacon and draw Granger right to this room.”
“No lights. Be careful, Josh.”
“Always.” A last squeeze, then he forced himself to let go and slipped from the ro
om.
Del turned away from the empty doorway. “Where are you tennis shoes, Ivy?”
“Here by the bedside. Del, what are we going to do?”
“Everything Deke and Stella tell us to.” She bent over and grabbed her cousin’s shoes. “Do you need help with these?”
“No. Aren’t you scared?”
“Terrified. We got away from him before. We’ll do it again.”
“Are you kidding? He was playing with us. You heard Alex. The guy shouldn’t have missed us in the forest. Maybe he’s come back to finish the job.”
“You’re not helping. I’m ready to barf as it is.”
“I wish Alex were here.”
“They need him. Based on what I heard from the rest of the guys, Alex is the best at what he does. With him watching their backs, the team has a better chance to come through this in one piece.” Though that was important, to Del the most pressing reason for Alex to man his post was his ability to protect Josh. An invisible band squeezed her chest. Now that she’d gotten to know Josh, losing him would break her heart. He might not realize it, but there was no one else for her. She was depending on Alex and the rest of Durango to bring Josh Cahill back to her.
Ivy grabbed her tennis shoes and started tugging them on and tying her laces. “I know. Did Josh say anything else before he left?”
“No lights and to do what Deke and Stella tell us to.”
“If we balked, they would bully us for our own protection.” Finished tying her laces, she sat up and grabbed her crutches. “Let’s go.”
“Where are you going?”
“Down to the first floor security room. At least we’ll see what’s happening.” Ivy hopped toward the door. “There’s the additional benefit of being on the first floor if Granger does get past the guys.” Her breath hitched. “Makes it easier for Deke to haul me out the nearest door or window.”
Del laughed softly as she grabbed their backpacks in case they had to make a run for it. Wouldn’t do to let Granger have the book. Something told her that might be a huge mistake. “Lead the way. Take your time. If you fall, you might break a leg this time.”
Ivy stumbled, did a hop and skip combination. She glared at Del. “Now you’re the one who’s not helping.”
They managed to navigate the stairs without more than a couple minor scares. They both blew out a breath when they stepped onto the first floor. Ivy turned toward the security room. “I’ll follow you in a minute.”
Ivy skidded to a stop. “Where are you going?”
“To get the paper and the book. I left them in the kitchen.”
“Hurry.”
She felt her way to the kitchen. Deep shadows messed with her depth perception and generally gave her the creeps. Finally, she reached the entrance to the kitchen. A flash of lightning lit the room like the noon sun for a few seconds. Her gaze zeroed in on the white paper and Nora Roberts book on the counter. Del swept both into her backpack. If she and Ivy were taken, she’d use everything at her disposal to safeguard her cousin. All she had to do was convince Granger she would give him what he wanted if he left Ivy behind. Her cousin was vulnerable. No matter what, Del couldn’t let him take Ivy.
A loud rumble of thunder made her jump. Time to get into the security room. She was spooked. Another flash of lightning sent her scurrying from the kitchen and racing down the hall, backpacks in hand. She slid around the corner. Both marshals turned to glance at her. “What’s happening?”
“Granger’s here,” Deke said, pointing at a motionless green blob on one screen. “The others are ours.”
“How far is he?” Ivy asked.
“Half mile. Closing fast.” Stella touched her mic, gave another position update.
Del leaned the packs against the wall near the door. “And our guys?” Fear for Josh beat like a living thing under her skin. She knew he would confront Granger.
“Closer to Granger than to us.” Deke shifted the camera view, tracking Granger or whoever that was. “That was the point of their plan. Confront Granger before he got into the cabin. Don’t want him that close to you.”
Del dropped into the nearest chair, gaze glued to the screens. One of the men on the screen gave a series of hand signals. She leaned as close as she could without obstructing the Stella’s view. That had to be Josh. Tension ratcheted up several degrees. From the way the men fanned out, they were closing in on the intruder.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Rain poured down in a blinding waterfall. Good thing the Fortress comm system was waterproof. Josh signaled Alex to find high ground. Quinn followed, close on his heels. Nate and Rio swept in from either side, flanked his position. They moved in tandem toward Granger.
In his ear, Stella relayed the Ghost’s position at one minute intervals. At the coordinates he and Alex had agreed would be ideal positioning for the sniper to be the most effective, Josh stopped, keyed his mic. “In position.”
“Roger that,” came Alex’s response.
“Still on the move,” Jon whispered. He rattled off their coordinates.
He estimated the distance to his present position. Granger was slowing. Josh’s lips curled. Granger knew he was out here. The rain hampered his senses. All the better to catch Granger off guard. No way Granger caught all the cameras, not in this deluge. Right now they had the upper hand. His unit knew where Granger was while the Ghost suspected Durango was in the wet darkness.
He snorted. Granger wouldn’t know their location until his men revealed themselves. Josh trusted his men, knew from long months in the field how good they were.
“In position,” Alex murmured.
“In position,” Quinn added.
“Copy.” Josh signaled Rio and Nate to take cover. He moved behind a stand of trees and waited. Five minutes passed. Ten. At the thirteen-minute mark, Jon signaled he and Eli were in position. Anticipation zinged through his veins as a shadowy figure moved from one source of cover to another. Yeah, good luck with that. Durango thinned the coverage about 15 feet ahead. Granger would hate being in the open. No choice if he wanted Del and Ivy.
At the edge of the clearing, the black-clad figure stopped. Soft swearing reached Josh’s ears. He mentally urged Granger to take a chance. The figure hesitated, eased two steps closer. Good enough. Josh moved in silence, not that it mattered at that moment. A rumble of thunder covered any noise he might have made.
“That’s far enough.”
The figure froze. “I just want to talk, Cahill.”
Right. Fury rose in Josh’s gut. Was this the man who had terrorized Del and Ivy for days, killed Judge Reece and maybe Mae? “So talk. You responsible for the deaths of Judge Reece and his mother?”
“Not the old lady. Heard a scream while I was searching the library that night. She was dead when I found her.”
Didn’t suppose Granger had reason to lie. “And the woman in Del’s house in Oakwood?”
“House should have been empty. She threatened to call the cops.” The intruder took a step forward. “Your woman has something that belongs to my employer. He wants it back. I get that, I’m gone. You won’t hear from me again.”
“The man pulling your strings will simply let the women walk?” Fat chance. Granger must think he was an idiot. Xavier Wright couldn’t afford to let Del and Ivy live. Law enforcement would love any excuse to take down the gun runner.
“I’ll tell him I killed them.”
Josh stared at him. Granger had researched him, knew he was a cop. Did he think the promise of safety for his girlfriend would blind him to the law? Josh couldn’t let the Ghost slide back into the mist and disappear again. No telling how many more people would die if he did. “He’ll want proof.”
Lightning flashed at that moment and lit the area enough for Josh to ID the man feet from him. Curt Granger. Disgrace to the Delta name. Seeing Granger behind bars would bring great satisfaction.
Granger shrugged.
Ice water surged through his veins. Curt would provide two bodies
for his employer. A casual shrug as he planned to murder two other women and claim they were Del and Ivy. “I’m a cop. I can’t turn my back while you murder two more people.”
“You’re a bleeding heart, Cahill. Too soft. No matter. You should take my offer.”
“Threatening me?”
“A fact. Give me what I want and I’ll disappear.”
“And if I don’t?”
In his ear, Alex murmured, “Don’t react. He’s trying to make you lose control. If you do, you’re dead.”
Josh mentally took a step back and shoved his emotions behind a wall of ice. He had too much at stake to lose at mental chicken.
“I’ll kill you and your men, then take your woman and, after I have the information I need, gut her like a fish.” The sound of the last word hadn’t died in the night when Granger moved.
Though Josh realized Curt was planning to attack, he was unprepared for the burst of speed. For such a beefy man, Granger was on Josh before he could draw in a breath. One second he was standing, the next he was on his back fighting for control of the knife in Curt’s hand. He hadn’t seen him pull the weapon. He shot his left arm between Granger’s knife arm and his head. Josh wrapped his arm around Granger’s, his hand grabbing the shirt at the back of the guy’s neck to hold him in place. He bucked his hips up, knocking him off balance. Again he bucked, using his right leg, and flipped Granger onto his back, knife arm still pinned. Josh shoved his right forearm into Granger’s neck and leaned with all his weight. Curt punched Josh in the ribs, but the punches were ineffective because of the bullet-proof vest. More resistance from the assassin, but the struggles were becoming weaker. Twenty seconds after Josh had trapped Granger’s knife arm, the man slid into unconsciousness.
Breathing hard, he sat back, wiped mud from his face. The rain finished what he missed. Nate and Rio moved in from the trees, weapons in hand. In Josh’s ear, Alex said, “Good job, Major.”
“Hold position. Make sure he didn’t bring friends.”
“Copy.”
“Copy,” Quinn added.
