Undercover in the Dark

by Ann Jensen

  There he went again, trying to take on her problems. Didn’t he understand? Her love meant she couldn’t let him sacrifice his happiness for hers.

  She knocked his hand away and immediately missed its warmth and comfort. The hurt she saw in his eyes was like a knife.

  He stood straight, and his stoic mask fell back into place. “Nothing’s getting finalized tonight. Let’s head back to the cabin. We’ll talk more there. Figure out what’s best for us.”

  Avery bit back what she wanted to say and slowly walked over to his bike. To her it was clear what was best for them. The problem would be getting him to accept it.

  Her aching heart warred with frustrated anger as she watched Max say goodbye to all of his Brothers. It was like they all knew there was a possibility they would never see him again.

  You have to leave him.

  The words beat at her heart like a never ending rhythm. She wanted to stay with him, but that meant giving up on making Victor pay right now. The long ride home curled against his muscular back gave her too much time to think.

  Would the death of the two people who had killed her partner be enough to satisfy her vengeance? Could she let the man who had orchestrated the entire thing get away with it? If it meant that Max could stay here with his brothers and friends and the two of them could live happily ever after in some sort of fantasy, she might have been tempted. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a choice.

  Her choices were limited to ruining the life of the man she loved or leaving him and facing her problems on her own. It shouldn’t have been a hard choice. She had been facing her problems alone her whole life. But she had never had a person she cared for more than herself.

  The time, the fresh air, and the ride, none of it brought her any new ideas. Back inside the cabin she studied the wall, trying to gather her thoughts as Max paced behind her.

  There wasn’t much in the cabin to distract her from what she needed to say. A coat rack, wall hooks with keys, even the furniture was bare bones. There wasn’t a single decoration on the walls to catch her attention.

  What were the magic words that would get Max to let her go? Make him understand that she needed to take care of this herself. Maybe then, after everything was resolved, if she was still alive, they could try to be together again.

  Avery’s eyes burned with tears that she refused to let fall.

  “I know you’re angry, Wildcat. But you need to see, no matter how awful it is, that the bigger picture is important.” His tone was resigned and made her guilt even worse.

  “You think I give a shit about the bigger picture?” Avery’s throat was tight. “Yeah, I’m pissed because in your version of what’s going to happen, Viktor’s gonna get away with everything he’s doing. He’s gonna get to keep his job in the FBI and possibly screw over more innocent people. Leaving him to feed information to our enemies while you and I have to run.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is you, Max. You’re going to tear apart your life to go on the run with me. And I’m just supposed to be okay with that.”

  “What would you have me do?”

  It was selfish, but what she really wanted was for him to have never given her hope. Even a couple of days ago, she hadn’t known half of what she knew now. It might have been naïve, but she had believed there might be a way she could regain her normal life. Finding out that truth had taken that away, shattered what little hope she had left.

  “What I don’t want is you giving up your life for me.” Her voice cracked, and she fought against the tears of frustration that threatened to spill from her eyes.

  “I’m not giving up my life. I’m choosing to be with you, spend my life with you.” His calm tone did nothing to settle her.

  Avery ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “Don’t you see that this is wrong? How would you feel if I was giving up, friends, family, everything that made my life good because of something you had done?”

  She needed him to understand that she loved him. And because she loved him, she didn’t want him sacrificing everything for her.

  “I’m not giving up everything that’s good in my life. I’m choosing you.”

  Max grabbed her arms and pulled her close. His mouth crashing down on hers in a passionate kiss. It was so tempting to just give in, to lose herself in this wonderful feeling that happened every time they came together.

  But she couldn’t.

  She tore her mouth away from his, taking three steps back, clenching her fists, trying to hold on to her sanity. “I need time to think.”

  Avery hated the anger that seemed to boil out of his eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that I need to decide what I’m going to do next.”

  “You chose to be with me.” He pointed a finger at her that felt like an accusation. “You accepted me. You’re my Old Lady. There is no going back from that.”

  Avery wanted to scream. Everything had become so confusing. When she had accepted him back in that clearing. Everything had seemed so simple. She loved him. He loved her. But it was a fairy tale to believe that that would be enough.

  “I love you, Max. But I don’t know if I can accept what you and your Brothers decided about what comes next in my life. What you have to give up for me. I can’t simply accept what you all planned out.”

  “And what I think doesn’t matter? You’re just going to go off and decide our fate by yourself.”

  Avery snorted. “Isn’t that what you did? I wasn’t consulted when you decided this plan of us going off hiding for the rest of our lives.”

  That he was willing to sacrifice so much for her melted a piece of her soul she hadn’t realized was frozen. But she didn’t think she could let him do that. She sighed and took a small step towards him.

  “I need time.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Max talked as if he was forcing each word out through clenched teeth.

  “It means I need to be alone.” Her eyes caught on the keys that hung on the wall and got an idea. “I’m going to take the truck for a drive and clear my mind.”

  Where she would go wasn’t important. What she needed was the time and distance to be alone to think. She could see him struggle with the idea. Like the war was going on inside his mind. She could only imagine what he was thinking.

  “I give you time and you come back and we talk about this. We decide what we’re going to do together.”

  He obviously hated the idea of her going off alone, but was trying to compromise. It warmed her heart that he was going to give her the space she needed, even though she knew it went against every instinct he had.

  “Yes.”

  She watched as too many emotions played over his face for her to understand. Finally, he nodded. Content that he was going to let her go without a fight, she walked over, and grabbed the keys off the hook.

  Avery refused to look back as she walked out the door, knowing if she saw the hurt she was causing him in his eyes again, she wouldn’t be able to leave. Avery didn’t know what she was going to decide. But whatever it was, she was going to find a way to keep Max from throwing away all the happiness that he had so richly earned.

  Chapter 28

  See, I don’t need alcohol to make bad decisions.

  * * *

  Max paced the interior of the cabin and understood what a caged tiger must feel like. Why had he agreed to her driving away? Keeping her here would have been a smarter choice. But he knew his Wildcat couldn’t be forced to do anything she didn’t want to do. Not and stay the beautiful, vibrant person he loved.

  The thought of her out there by herself making decisions that could tear them apart made him want to punch holes in the walls. It was impossible to guess what thoughts were running around in her head. She’d been gone for over an hour. And he had no idea when she was coming back.

  He’d started to call her satellite phone almost a hundred times, but stopped himself each time. She wasn’t a patient woman
and pushing or rushing her would get him the exact opposite reaction of what he wanted.

  Her worries were understandable if unwarranted. If their positions were reversed, he wouldn’t have wanted her to walk away from her life for him unless there was no other choice. What she didn’t seem to consider was that she was worth it.

  The friendships and brotherhood he had developed with the men here in Denver wouldn’t end if he left. That was the beauty of the Dark Sons. No matter where he went in the country, he would find men like him.

  Individuals who’d chosen loyalty to a brotherhood rather than the arbitrary laws of the country. Men who had sacrificed and given everything to their country only to come back and find they had nowhere that felt like home. Someday they would figure this out and would stop running. Then he would be able to come back with her if they wanted.

  And even if that day never came to pass, it didn’t matter. Wherever they went, they would make a new home together with a new set of Brothers and their families. Maybe even start a family of their own.

  The sound of his phone ringing startled him in the too quiet room of the cabin. Max pulled his phone out of his back pocket. He hoped it would be Avery calling to let him know she was on her way back. To his disappointment the screen displayed the name Tek.

  “What’s up, Brother?” Max hoped the smart man wouldn’t pick up on his anxiety.

  “Why the hell is the truck heading into the suburbs of Denver? The same suburbs that Viktor lives in.”

  Max didn’t like Tek’s accusing tone, but shock had him muttering a curse. “Avery said she needed to clear her head. I thought she was only planning to ride around the mountain a bit.”

  “What the hell? You really thought your woman wasn’t going to go after Viktor?”

  Disappointment and anger warred in his mind. He had stupidly thought they had come to an understanding. That they were going to decide what to do together. But his impulsive Wildcat had obviously decided to take matters into her own hands.

  “Yeah, apparently I’m an idiot. Let me call you back.” He hung up the phone without waiting for a response.

  His hands trembled as he dialed the satellite phone he’d given Avery earlier. Five times he let it ring until it cut off. His anger built like acid against his tongue with each redial.

  Max barely resisted the urge to throw his phone against the wall. Why couldn’t things ever be simple? He got his breathing under control and dialed Hawk.

  “I’m a little busy here. This important?” Hawk’s voice sounded strained, and the sounds of multiple people shouting were evident in the background.

  Max tried to keep his voice calm. “I’m sorry. Tek called. Apparently Cat took the truck into the city. I think she’s going after Viktor.”

  “Fuck.” There was a shuffling noise and a few seconds later the voices in the background faded away. “Val’s in labor. We’re all about to head out and take her to the hospital.”

  Dozer and his woman had been trying to have a kid for a long time. Max could only imagine the chaos that vibrant southern woman, who was mother hen to all the Old Ladies, would be stirring up. He hated that his problems would darken their special day even a little.

  “I’ve got to go after her, Hawk.”

  His President’s sigh was loud. “Yeah, I know. We can’t back you up officially, but I’ll send some Brothers over into the area just in case. I don’t want to go to war, Max, but we’ll back whatever play you decide.”

  Relief made Max’s knees go weak for a moment. “Thank you.”

  “Do me a favor and try to stop your woman before she does something stupid.”

  “Yeah, I hear you.” Pride and a renewed devotion to his Brothers filled him with strength.

  “Dark Sons for life.” Hawk’s words were a promise that echoed in his soul.

  “Dark Sons for life.”

  Max ended the call and raced out the door to his bike. He dialed Tek back. Not bothering with a greeting, he said, “Do me a favor and send updates on the location of the truck to my phone. I’m going to see if I can stop her before this all goes sideways.”

  “Will do. Did you hear about Val?”

  “Yeah.”

  “All right. I’m going to the hospital with Dozer but I’ll keep my computer on me and keep you updated.”

  “Thanks.” Max ended the connection and kick-started his bike. If he managed to catch up with Wildcat before it was too late, he was going to tan her ass raw for this stunt.

  Max found the truck parked exactly where Tek had said it would be. Unfortunately, Cat was nowhere in sight. The location was about two miles up the road from where he knew Viktor lived on the edge of where the suburbs met a business district.

  He could picture what she was doing, as he would have done the same. Sneaking through the residential area on foot would be a lot easier and less remarked on than a strange vehicle parked watching a house. He would have gone on foot using the sidewalks until a block or so before the house, then snuck through the large back yards all these affluent houses seemed to have.

  On the way here, he had tried her phone at least a dozen more times. Each time it rang out to voicemail. Max tried it one more time. Sound chirped from inside the cab. Her phone sat forgotten in the center console inside the cup holder.

  Max searched the rear tire well until he found the hidden key box. He opened the door and prayed she might have left a clue of what she had planned. Other than the phone, there wasn’t anything to find. The gun locker behind the seat still held the rifle and shotgun.

  He opened the glove compartment, and he saw the backup handgun was missing. Damn that woman. What was she thinking?

  A hundred different images flooded through his mind. His mind focused on the possibilities that she might be dead or needing him. He shook them off. There wasn’t enough information to know what was going on.

  Did Viktor have men with him at the house? What kind of security did it have? She had broken into the place once, so she knew a lot more than he did.

  The Dark Sons had just started gathering information on the man, but Max had been too busy to look over what they had. He shot off a text to Tek. Hopefully, he would have something helpful he could send.

  His Brothers would be the ones to suffer if he couldn’t clean up this mess. He pictured some of his brothers sitting in the hospital with their families, waiting for the newest member of the Dark Sons to be born. Then he thought of the Brothers Hawk would have sent to him sitting out in the cold nearby, ready to help if he called them. The fall out if she had killed Viktor would be a nightmare for his Club.

  Cat didn’t understand what that would mean. No one who hadn’t seen it could. Innocents wouldn’t be spared. And if Viktor had killed her? He would die knowing he started the war because there’s no way Max would let him live after that.

  The only hope they had was if he found her before she acted. Max looked at his phone. It was after midnight all the men and women of this neighborhood should be asleep. His bike made too much noise for this quiet suburb, but he didn’t care.

  If Cat heard him, she might hesitate and come find him. Max parked a few blocks away from Viktor’s house. There wasn’t enough information to make a plan. So he moved from shadow to shadow, trying to do what he thought Cat would have.

  The neighborhood was upscale, with each place its own little mini-mansion. They didn’t have the amount of property the truly rich would, but it was obvious that each homeowner was trying their best to declare their status. Viktor’s house was no exception. A two story modern monstrosity with a circular drive and over manicured lawn. Tall bushes surrounded the property, blocking off view from nosy neighbors. Max’s stomach dropped. Unlike its neighbors, lights were visible in all the windows, clearly announcing someone was awake.

  Several cars were parked in the drive. He had visitors. Max crept up to the house and settled in the bushes. Fifteen minutes later, he was still trying to decide what to do. There was no noise coming from the hous
e, but not knowing how soundproof the place was, that could mean little.

  If there had been a fight, surely the sound would have woken the neighbors. He was near a window and all he could hear was muffled conversation. The front door opened, and he held himself still, counting on the shadows to hide him.

  A tall woman stood silhouetted in the doorway. She matched Cat’s description of Akula, and she looked pissed.

  “Don’t be a fool. We can’t do this here.” Max thanked all the gods that he spoke fluent Russian, as that was what they were speaking.

  “What does it matter? I want to watch her die, but it is late. I have no desire to be up all night.” The sound of the man’s voice brought with it so many memories. Viktor still sounded like a spoiled, pompous brat after all these years.

  “Your weakness sickens me. You would leave potential evidence in your own home because you want a nap? I would have thought you might learn something in the FBI, other than how to whine.”

  This was the woman who was Hawk’s lover? The ice in her voice was enough to shred a man at fifty feet.

  “Bitch.”

  Akula stepped out of the doorway, pulling a woman behind her. They moved down the steps towards the car parked at the top of the circular drive.

  “I may be a bitch, but at least I’m not a sniveling puppy begging for scraps from a Papa who will never approve of him.”

  The woman she practically dragged behind her had her hands bound behind her back, a dark bag over her head as she stumbled on the steps. The sight of the long, dark hair peeking out of the back of the bag set his blood to boiling.

  Rational thought flew out of his head as he realized they were planning to take Cat somewhere and kill her. He was too late to stop her from trying to kill Viktor, but he had one chance to give her the opportunity to run. Adrenaline flooded his system, and he burst from cover.

  His initial rush startled them, and he was able to knock Akula to the ground and rip Cat out of her grip.

  “Run!”