Savage Rising

by Katie Reus

  Zac stepped into the waiting elevator with Skye. Colt and Leighton—who’d joined them—were downstairs as lookouts and so far they hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary.

  The address Neely had given the DEA had been the same address Agent Moore had texted Skye’s burner with. Moore had also told Skye that she had maybe fifteen minutes to get what she needed before someone would be there. It was late afternoon and the sun would be setting soon. If they ended up having to make a break for it, it was a good time of day to do it. Always easier to blend in places after dark.

  “Moore never acknowledged how he was set free or any of the events leading up to it,” Zac said. “He kept everything pretty damn vague.”

  Back at the house he’d been eavesdropping on the live feed from the living room. And not once did Agent Moore acknowledge that he’d had contact with Zac or Olivia in the penthouse. As if they’d never existed. During another conversation he’d also told his boss that he’d escaped and then had to lie low after Neely had ordered him killed. But he’d given a very vague description of the man Neely had ordered to kill him. And he hadn’t given Savage’s name. Something Zac didn’t think Neely knew. Moore had also been very careful in how he worded things in the recorded interview with Neely and his attorney. Not only that, Maxwell and Smith hadn’t said a word about Olivia or Savage. Apparently Leighton had terrified them into silence.

  “I know,” Skye said. “He’s smart. At this point I think we can trust him. If he was going to turn on us, he’d have done it by now. And if he tries later, how’s he going to explain why he lied about so many things? No, he wants this win. He wants to bring down Neely. And Neely is about to prove himself to be a liar.”

  So whatever Neely tried to come back with after this point wouldn’t matter. He’d be labeled a liar and no one was going to believe him over a DEA agent with no viable reason to lie. Savage nodded in agreement even if he didn’t feel completely secure in Agent Moore’s acquiescence to the whole situation. So far Heath hadn’t breathed a word about Olivia either. Though Zac wasn’t holding his breath the man didn’t talk. He should have just killed him. Mark that down as one of his greatest regrets. Heath should be dead.

  They’d beat Agent Moore’s fifteen-minute time frame and were now leaving the downtown Miami condo complex with the evidence from the heist in hand. He planned to destroy it as soon as he saw what was on it. He needed to know that it was what Neely had said it was.

  “Is what you said to Olivia true?” Skye asked.

  “What?”

  “When Neely was holding his weapon on you. Were you telling her the truth or were you buying time?”

  He inwardly winced, hating that his entire team had heard his confession. “I really don’t want to have this conversation.”

  “Too bad.” Her voice was dry as she pressed the button for the lobby. “Cause you’re gonna have it. Olivia is my friend and I adore both her and Valencia. So if you break her heart, I’m probably going to break your face.”

  Zac was pretty sure she was being serious. His lips curved up slightly as the elevator dinged and the doors whooshed open. “Trust me. If anyone breaks anyone’s heart, she’ll destroy mine.”

  Skye looked sideways at him but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. Admitting to Olivia how he felt, actually saying the L word, had been hard enough. He hadn’t been lying. He’d never said those words to a woman before. He hadn’t thought he could actually feel them, love someone like he did her.

  As they stepped out into the lobby, his gaze snapped to the three men and two women striding through the glass front doors. All of them had on blue jackets with DEA clearly embellished in yellow over the right breast pocket.

  Zac reached into his pocket, wrapped his hand around the DVD. He’d wanted to view it first but he’d crush it now. As he did, Agent Moore looked over at him and Skye—made direct eye contact with Zac.

  And looked away as if he didn’t know him.

  “Keep walking,” Skye murmured low enough for his ears only.

  Okay, then. Clearly Agent Moore wasn’t going to betray them to his team.

  Still, Zac wasn’t going to fully breathe easy until they were outside. Pulse pounding, he headed straight for the lobby doors, his steps even and steady as the DEA agents barked orders at the woman standing behind the welcome desk.

  Once in the fresh evening air, he looked at Skye.

  She gave him a megawatt grin. “Let’s finish this crap and head home.”

  Nodding, he broke into a jog as Colt pulled up to the front curb in an SUV. Skye jogged around to the passenger side as Leighton threw open the back door and scooted over for Zac.

  “Was that the DEA?” Colt asked.

  “Yep,” Zac muttered.

  “I’m going to die of a heart attack before I hit forty.” Leighton strapped in as Colt steered into traffic. “I don’t want to see any of them for a long damn time.”

  Yeah, no shit. “You’re sure you’re good with your contact?” Zac asked Leighton—who’d called in a huge favor to pose as the lawyer for both Maxwell and Smith. It had been the only way for him to get access to them. And it had been a hell of a risk.

  “Yeah. I’m good.”

  “Let’s grab some takeout after we make the drop off at the jewelry store,” Skye said, pulling her cell phone out. “Anyone else in the mood for Italian?”

  “I want Thai,” Leighton said.

  As the others talked about food Zac stared out the window, watching the darkening city fly by. On any other op he would have been putting in his own food order. The Corps had taught him a lot, and one of those things was that you ate when you could because you never knew when the next meal would happen. Or if it even would. Some things had stuck with him.

  But the thought of food made his stomach tighten. He wanted to see Olivia, hold her, talk to her.

  It was good she’d gone back to Redemption Harbor. Necessary.

  But he still missed her. And he wouldn’t rest until they’d cleared the air, until he knew he still had a shot with her. Because that whole house, picket fence and kid scenario he’d once thought was complete and utter bullshit sounded like the best damn thing in the world. But only if he had it with Olivia.

  * * *

  Gage looked up as everyone filed into the kitchen, takeout bags in hand. He had a lot to tell everyone but he was glad they’d brought food. He was starving. “Someone better have saved me something.” Or he was going to be cranky.

  “I snagged this before Skye could eat it,” Savage said, dropping a brown bag onto the fold-out table.

  This place was a dump but Gage wouldn’t give up his current job to go back to the cushy—and boring as fuck—job he’d had in Seattle seven months ago. Working with his family, helping people, this was what his life had been missing.

  “I would be offended if he wasn’t telling the truth.” Skye grinned and popped a fried shrimp into her mouth.

  Colt brushed his lips over Skye’s, uncaring that she was chewing, before leaning against one of the counters and opening his own bag.

  “You guys drop off the jewels?” Gage asked.

  Skye nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Good… I’ve broken the encryption on two of the flash drives.” Leaning back in his chair, Gage linked his fingers together behind his neck and rolled his shoulders. “And before I lay everything out, I just want to prepare you. Some of this we need to give to the Feds. Some of it, however…”

  No, better to just show them. Turning to his laptop, he pulled up one of the files.

  He talked as he typed. “I’ve been digging deeper into Prisock. And they’re exactly what they appear to be on the surface. But the safe Olivia’s ex-husband targeted, that belongs to a man named Jarred Watson. Or belonged to. He’s dead now, by the way.”

  “What, when?” Skye asked.

  “Half an hour ago. Heard the address on a police scanner and it sounded familiar. It appears as if he was killed in a home invasion gone wrong. Considering the guy
was killed by garrote wire, I’m thinking no. He was killed by Alexei Kuznetsov—or one of his guys more likely.”

  “The mobster we’ve been looking into?” Colt asked.

  “Yeah. In a sec, I’ll show you why I think he was killed by the guy.” Kuznetsov was a piece of shit who ran a lot of drugs up and down the East Coast. Weapons and people too, and he’d been on their radar for a few months. “Heath was killed—he’s dead too, by the way.”

  “What the hell, Gage?” Savage muttered, but he didn’t stop eating. “Anyone else die while we were gone?”

  “What? I’m just telling you what I discovered.” Gage was glad that bastard Heath was dead too. He might not have said anything about Olivia—probably because he was too afraid of the Russians to say anything at all—but he might have tried later.

  “Well don’t just drop that information on Olivia. I’ll tell her when we get back.” There was a bite to Savage’s words. Oh yeah, his friend was a goner for her.

  Gage nodded. “I figured you’d want to.”

  “So how did Heath die?” Skye asked, her tone impatient. “And we’re going to go back to Kuznetsov’s involvement.”

  “Olivia’s ex died during the prisoner transfer from the hospital. One of the DEA agents called Agent Moore while he was searching the condo you guys robbed. Gave him the bad news. It’s the only reason I even know about it.”

  “Who did it?”

  “Just another prisoner. Russian. And I think with some digging we’ll find a link between Heath’s killer and Kuznetsov.”

  Skye shrugged. “I’m surprised he was killed so fast, but it was bound to happen.”

  “Yep.” He’d agreed to deliver the contents of that safe to someone and when he’d failed, they’d killed him. Now that Gage had seen said contents, he understood why. A man like Kuznetsov wouldn’t have taken the chance that Heath talked, regardless. “So back to Watson. From what I’ve gathered he used to work in DC, sort of as a fixer, I guess. Someone powerful had a problem, he’d fix it. And he started gathering blackmail on said powerful people. About six months ago he moved to Miami and got a job at Prisock. And it appears his blackmailing days weren’t over. Which brings me to why I think Kuznetsov is involved.”

  He shifted the laptop so everyone could see. “Is that…” Skye’s eyes widened. “Damn.”

  “A standing US senator having sex with Kuznetsov’s thirty-year-old, married-to-a-woman son? Yes. There’s video too.”

  Skye grinned. “Holy shit. I remember that asshole. He based his whole campaign on what he considers ‘family values.’ This will destroy him.”

  “Exactly. But it’s not illegal. Some of the shit I’ve found is very, very illegal. That, I think we should turn over to Moore and the DEA and some to the FBI. But anything like this…” He motioned to the picture on his computer. “I think we should save this as our backup. What we’re doing… One day we’re going to cross the wrong person or people. Maybe even get tangled up with the government. Hell, it almost happened with this job. We’re lucky Agent Moore only cared about bringing down Neely and his crew and that the other players were willing to keep their mouths shut. We need some insurance as a get out of jail free card. Now, I know this might be—”

  “I agree,” Skye said at the same time Colt nodded.

  Savage and Leighton murmured their agreement as well.

  “I thought I might have to convince you guys.”

  Skye lifted an eyebrow. “Did you prepare an argument?”

  “Maybe. Now you’ll never know.” He turned back to his computer and pulled up another image. One that made Skye toss her bag of food onto the nearest counter.

  “Come on, man. Gotta give a girl some warning.”

  Colt snickered. “Someone finally made you lose your appetite.”

  “Why the hell would someone want another person to pee on them?” She shuddered and shoved her food even farther away as Gage closed the image.

  “All right, so we’re in agreement. We turn over anything that reveals illegal activities to Agent Moore? Everything else we take with us—and we keep backups.”

  Everyone nodded so he turned back to his computer. He still had five more drives to unencrypt. There was no telling what he was going to find.

  Chapter 22

  —If he’s the right guy, he won’t leave.—

  Savage moved quietly through Brooks’s house, looking for Olivia. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but he needed to see her. He and the others had recently arrived in Redemption Harbor and he’d gone straight to find her when they got to the ranch. But she hadn’t been in her room. Neither had her daughter. Realistically he knew that they were okay but he wanted to see her with his own eyes. She’d quickly become an addiction and now he was on a mission at six in the morning.

  When he stepped into the movie room, that vise around his chest eased the smallest fraction. A table lamp was on and Valencia was sitting next to her mom, some kind of tablet open in her lap, while Olivia was fast asleep, leaning back in one of the recliners. The little girl smiled when she saw him and then held a finger up to her mouth and told him to be quiet.

  Slowly, the little girl eased her blanket off and slid off the recliner chair. Then she grabbed her processors from another chair, slid them on, and picked up a stuffed toy unicorn. Olivia shifted but instead of waking, curled up onto her side with a pillow clutched to her chest. Her long, dark hair covered half her face and she looked so peaceful. Yeah, he needed to let her sleep.

  I’m hungry, Valencia signed.

  I can make pancakes. He had no idea what possessed him to say that but he would certainly give it his best shot. How hard could it be?

  But she smiled. My mommy makes them like Mickey Mouse.

  I can do that. He hoped.

  Still smiling, she fell in step with him as they left the room, clutching the purple and green animal. The horn was a rainbow of colors. My mommy said you were on the trip with her and you helped my Nana.

  He doubted Olivia had told Valencia much but he nodded. I was. And how’s your Nana doing?

  Good. She tried riding horses yesterday but she wasn’t very good. Valencia giggled at that. She said she wanted to try again today.

  What about you?

  She shrugged and answered audibly. “I think I like watching them and petting them more than riding. Maybe when I’m older I’ll ride more.”

  He inwardly smiled. Olivia was right, Valencia sounded so adult. As they stepped into the kitchen he headed straight for the coffee maker while Valencia climbed up one of the bar stools and sat at the counter. She placed her unicorn in the chair next to her.

  “My unicorn wants pancakes too,” she said primly.

  He laughed lightly. “I think I can manage that.” He started the economy-sized Bunn coffee maker before moving to the stainless-steel fridge. “What do you normally drink in the mornings?” He figured before starting her breakfast he should get her something to drink. That seemed like something Olivia would do.

  “Coke.”

  Frowning, he looked over his shoulder at her. “Really?” He might not know much about kids but that didn’t seem right.

  She giggled and shook her head. “No, I’m not allowed to have it except on special occasions. Milk, please.”

  “You’re sneaky.”

  “That’s what my mommy says.” Her eyes lit up when she talked about her mother.

  Something he understood. Whenever he thought about Olivia, it did something strange to his insides. “Your mommy is a special lady.”

  “I know.”

  After giving her milk, he found a container of shake-and-pour pancake mix and wanted to do a fist pump. All he had to do was add water. Hell yeah. He could do this pancake thing. Mercer was always cooking. How hard could it be?

  Moving to the center island across from Valencia, he turned on one of the stove burners. “So, I know that you’re missing your Thanksgiving play.” Or…he assumed she was. Technically they still had time to get back. Bu
t Savage selfishly hoped they didn’t leave. He wanted more time with Olivia. Valencia too.

  “Yeah, it’s okay though.”

  “I thought maybe we could put on a play for everyone.” He started shaking the water and mix together. “I already asked your Aunt Skye and Uncle Colt.” And he was definitely dragging Gage into it. He’d googled “turkey play” and come up with an actual script and everything. The costumes…he wasn’t so sure about. Even if Olivia decided he wasn’t worth the effort, he wanted to do this for her. For both of them.

  Valencia’s eyes widened. “For real?”

  Nodding, he pulled out butter and scooped some into the pan. “For real.”

  “That would be awesome.” She looked over as Brooks’s dad walked in wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

  He smiled warmly at the little girl. “Hey, kid.”

  “Good to see you, sir.” Zac had practically grown up over here, spending most of his weekends at this estate. Douglas Alexander hadn’t been here much though. He’d been a better parent to Brooks than Zac’s own mother had been to him, but absent emotionally all the same. Brooks said his dad was making an effort now, however. Zac hoped Brooks gave the man a chance.

  “You too, son.”

  “Mr. Alexander! The foal was born yesterday!”

  “I heard that.” He ruffled her hair absently before moving to the coffee pot and pouring himself a mug. “And you get to name her.”

  “For real?”

  Douglas laughed lightly as he leaned against the granite countertop. “Yes, for real… You’re cooking?” he asked mildly, raising an eyebrow at Zac.

  Zac lifted a shoulder. “Giving it a shot anyway.”

  He snorted lightly. “So, you living in Redemption Harbor now too?”

  Zac nodded. He wasn’t sure how much Brooks had told his dad about their new venture with Redemption Harbor Consulting. “We’re all back home.” No need to explain who “all” meant.

  “Looks like you’ve added more to your bunch too. I like that Skye. She’s a pistol.”

  “That’s one way to say it. So you moving back or just visiting?”