by Rebecca Deel
Trembling, which made her mad, Ivy climbed over the console and slid behind the wheel. Porter shoved the key into the ignition and turned on the car. “Drive.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
“How do you want to handle this,” Josh asked.
Alex scanned the area. Nothing but a nice, quiet family neighborhood. There was no movement inside Pierce’s house, but the lights were on and he’d spotted the flickering light of a television. “Quinn, Rio, keep watch out here. Josh, Nate and I will see what we can find out from Sean.”
“Yes, sir.” His spotter saluted.
His lips curved. Smart aleck. He trusted both men to watch their backs. If a problem arose, they’d handle it. Alex turned his attention to the porch light. He nudged Josh, nodded at the light.
His friend reached up with his gloved hand and unscrewed the bulb. Darkness blanketed the porch.
Alex motioned Nate and Josh to either side of the door. Once they were in position, he rang the doorbell.
When Sean opened the door, his expression turned from surprise to wariness. “Alexander. I thought you would call before you came by. It’s kind of late. This is about the senator, right?”
“In a way.” Alex crowded Pierce back from the doorway. Nate and Josh followed him inside.
“What is this?” His father’s aide stumbled back. “What are you guys doing here? I only agreed to talk to Alex, not a group of thugs.”
“Is that what we are?” Between one heartbeat and the next, Alex had Pierce’s arm trapped behind his back in an excruciating hold. “Funny you’d call us that since you wanted to be one of us.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The man struggled to escape.
Alex simply applied more pressure.
“You’re breaking my arm!”
“Not yet, but that option is still on the table.” He maneuvered the other man into the dining room and shoved him into a straight-backed chair. “Hands behind your back.”
“No way. I’m calling the police.” He started to get up.
Alex shoved him back down. Josh pulled a roll of duct tape from his pack and cinched his hands behind the chair back.
“How about we call the military brass and have you taken into custody for treason?”
“You’re crazy,” Pierce protested.
“Nope, you are for thinking you could get away with selling information on black ops missions. The military takes a very dim view of people who compromise their Special Forces soldiers.” Alex paused. “Oh, but you wouldn’t know that, would you? You flunked out of Ranger school.”
The other man’s eyes burned with hatred. “You think you’re so tough. Why don’t you fight me like a man instead of having me trussed up like a turkey? Maybe you’re afraid I can take you. That’s why you brought your thug friends along.”
Alex shook his head. “Sean, you don’t want to make my friend mad. He’s not nice when he’s mad.”
Nate glowered at Pierce. “Answer our questions and we’ll leave you your pretty face.” He shrugged. “Don’t answer them and you’re going to get hurt.”
“You don’t scare me.”
“Then you’re a fool, Pierce. You trained for Rangers and failed.” Nate smirked. “Delta taught us a whole different level of interrogation techniques. You will tell us what we want to know. The question is, how painful are you going to make it on yourself?”
Sweat beaded on the man’s forehead. “I don’t know anything.”
“Let’s find out.”
Pierce swallowed hard. “What do you want?”
“Who did you sell the information to, Sean?” Alex asked.
“What information?”
“Wrong answer,” Nate said softly. He walked around behind Pierce, pressed on a nerve in his shoulder that had the man groaning with pain. “That was just a sample of what’s coming,” he whispered in the man’s ear.
“Don’t do this to yourself, Sean,” Josh said. “You’re already going down. We dig deep enough, we’ll find out you had a hand in murder as well.”
“You’ve got nothing on me.”
“Surveillance cameras tell all,” Alex murmured. “Why did you do it?” He deliberately left his question vague. And wondered. Pierce was about the right height, had the right moves. Could he be the poisoner? He looked at Nate.
More pressure had Pierce bowing his back from the chair, an expression of agony on his face. “I didn’t have a choice,” he gritted out. “The senator was going to turn me in. I would have gone to prison for life.”
Cold fury swept over Alex like a rogue wave. His gaze shifted to Josh. “Switch places with Rio.”
His friend gave him a warning look, then left the room. A minute later, the medic came in, his bag in hand. “What do you need?”
Alex stared hard at Pierce. “Potassium chloride.”
Rio opened his pack and pulled out a syringe and a vial of liquid.
The staffer paled, started to babble. “No, please. You can’t. That’s murder.”
“Seems fair to me since you murdered my father.” He stood. “Rio, finish him off. He doesn’t deserve to live.” Alex began walking toward the door.
“Wait. Please.” Pierce sobbed. “I’ll talk. Ask me anything. Just don’t kill me.”
Alex stopped without turning. “Who did you get the information from, Pierce?”
He spat out the name of a mid-grade active duty Pentagon employee.
Feasible, Alex figured. Word got around. Employees circumvented security. Durango was no longer on active duty.
“What did you do with the information, Pierce?”
“A friend asked me to get it for him.”
Alex turned around, pulled out his cell phone and brought up Neil Evans’ picture. “Is this the man you gave the information to?”
The aide glanced at the picture, shook his head. “I’ve never seen him before.”
Was his contact one of the other militia members? Didn’t seem likely. “Last chance, Pierce. Tell me the name of your friend.”
“I don’t know why your old man made such a big deal about that file.”
“It was classified information. You’ve put several people’s lives in jeopardy by breaching security.” He motioned to Rio. The medic shoved up Pierce’s shirt sleeve.
“If you kill me, you won’t know who to go after.”
“You think I can’t find out without you?” Alex laughed. “You really are an idiot. People run their mouths. Can’t seem to help themselves. I don’t need you.”
“Give me your word you won’t kill me and I’ll tell you.”
“You’d trust the word of a thug?”
“Promise me.”
“Fine. Who did you give the information to?”
“Porter.”
Alex froze. A sharp pain stabbed through his gut. His own brother? Why would Porter want information about Durango and Badger? “You’re lying.”
“No, no, I swear I’m telling the truth.” His voice rose in panic as Rio shifted the hypodermic closer.
“What did he plan to do with the information?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. I just assumed he wanted to learn more about you. I knew he hadn’t seen you since you left home. I thought he might want to reconnect.”
“Did he ask for information about other missions I was sent on?”
Pierce shook his head.
A cold, sick feeling settled in Alex’s gut. His brother had asked only about Badger and the one man who benefited most from that information was Neil Evans. Porter had sold him out to Evans and in the process contributed to the death of his own father.
He turned away, fought to get his emotions under control. Alex stuffed the hurt, bitterness, and betrayal down deep. He glanced over his shoulder at the medic. “Do it.”
“What?” Terror bloomed on Pierce’s face. “No! You promised you wouldn’t kill me.”
“You shouldn’t trust the word of a thug.” He walked out to the porch, Pierce�
�s scream swallowed up in a crack of thunder. Alex grabbed the porch rail with a white-knuckled grip. His father must have known about Porter. That explained why he’d given Alex control of everything.
Josh gripped his shoulder. “Tell me.”
“He gave the information to Porter.”
“And Porter sold you out to Evans.” His hand squeezed in a show of support. “I’m sorry, Alex.”
“So am I.”
Rio shouldered his bag through the doorway. “It’s done.”
“How much of the drug did you give him?”
“Enough to knock him out for a couple hours. Nate is contacting the military police and FBI.”
Alex nodded. The military police would be very interested in the military mole. The FBI could have Pierce for murdering Alex’s father. He didn’t care who locked Pierce up as long as he never saw the outside of a cell again.
Quinn snorted. “He never would have made it in the Rangers. Screamed like a girl.”
That made him smile.
Josh’s cell phone chirped. He pulled out his phone, frowned. “It’s Del.”
Alex swung around, tension tightening every muscle in his body. She wouldn’t have called unless there was a problem.
His friend swiped the screen and cradled the phone against his ear. “What’s up?” Josh straightened. “Baby, slow down. I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
Quinn and Rio shifted closer, concern evident on their faces.
Josh closed his eyes for a moment as he listened to his wife. “We’ll be there as soon as we can. Do not move from the room, sweetheart.” His dark gaze collided with Alex’s. “Porter took Ivy at gunpoint.”
Alex’s blood ran cold. Porter must have slipped past the Fortress operatives. He walked to the doorway. “Nate, let’s roll. Porter kidnapped Ivy.”
Nate raced from the kitchen. “MPs will be here soon along with the feds. Pierce isn’t going anywhere. I left him taped to the chair.”
Durango piled into the SUV. Alex floored the accelerator. Fear for Ivy knotted his stomach. The team was an hour away from Hunter’s Glen. He prayed they didn’t arrive too late.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Where are we going, Porter?” Ivy fought to keep her breathing regulated. She was on the verge of a panic attack and it ticked her off. Breathe, Ivy. Just breathe.
“To a warehouse on the outside of town.”
Not a basement, she reminded herself. “What are you going to do with me?”
A bitter laugh from the man who held a gun pointed at her. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“So I’m the bait for Alex.”
“You shouldn’t be with a murderer, Ivy. You’re too innocent for him.”
Ivy darted a glance at him before returning her attention to the wet streets. Lightning cracked, followed by a deep rumble of thunder. “You don’t know your brother at all, do you?”
“What’s to know? He’s a high-priced assassin. The scum of the earth.”
“You are such a fool. He’s a good man, Porter.”
“You don’t know anything about him.”
“I love him.”
“Then you’re the one who’s a fool. You’re destined for heartbreak because he won’t live out the night.”
Ivy’s chest tightened. Oh, goodness. Not now. Breathe. “You’re going to kill him.”
“He has to die or everything will fall apart.”
“You plan to kill him over a stupid trust fund?” Outrage sharpened her words. “Be a man, Porter. If you need money, get a real job.”
“Who’s going to hire me to manage money?” he snapped. “No one when word gets out about the bad investments.”
“So do something else. You’re smart. Use your brain and find another job. Create another career for yourself.”
“Just shut up, Ivy. You don’t know anything.”
“I know for a fact Alex will kill you if you hurt me.”
“Not if I find him first.”
“Are you insane? He’s Special Forces. You don’t stand a chance against him. And he’s not alone, Porter. His friends are just as well-trained and deadly as he is. Let me turn around and take us back to the hotel.”
“Shut up and drive. If you say anything else, I’ll shoot you to spare myself the aggravation of hearing you whine.”
Whine? Ivy’s eyes narrowed. She was trying to save his miserable hide because she was truly afraid Alex would kill him for taking her. At least she was breathing easier. Huh. Who knew getting mad short-circuited a panic attack? That wouldn’t hold, though. She’d never been one to nurse a good mad for long.
What she couldn’t figure out was why Porter thought this would work? What was his goal? To force Alex to sign over the trust fund? Wouldn’t do much good. According to the information Ethan had, there wasn’t much in the trust fund. Besides, if her boyfriend did sign the papers, wouldn’t they be null because they were signed under duress? Alex wouldn’t let his brother get by with that.
She swallowed hard. Porter was really going to try to kill Alex. From Ivy’s perspective, that was the only way he’d gain control of the Morgan estate and trust fund, covering his tracks.
Not happening if she could prevent it. She wanted that future she’d sketched for the painting. A house, lots of children, a long, beautiful life with Alex Morgan as her husband. Ivy refused to let a pathetic worm like Porter destroy her dream.
She glanced at her captor, noted the gun was trembling a bit. Great. Her kidnapper was getting tired of holding a weapon on her. She seriously hoped the trigger was not sensitive. She didn’t want that gun to go off by accident. If he didn’t kill her with a gunshot, an automobile accident might do the job.
Through the flashes of light, Ivy noticed the houses were sparse now.
“Turn right at the next street.”
Ivy slowed to negotiate the turn. Up ahead, a darkened building loomed. “Is that where we’re headed?”
“Stop in front of the door.”
She parked and turned off the engine.
He yanked the keys from the ignition. “Get out of the vehicle, nice and slow. If you run, I’ll shoot you in the back.”
“You know, I’m tired of you threatening me.”
“Get out.”
Right. She eased out from behind the wheel and into the deluge. Just great. Now she’d be scared, wet, and cold. Could this night get any worse? Ivy clamped her hands over her arms, hoping a little body heat might stave off the shivers. A bone-deep shudder crushed that idea. She hoped the warehouse was heated.
Porter grabbed her arm, gun jammed into her side again. He forced her to the door. “Open it.”
Ivy eyed the interior. Dark, except for one tiny light at the back. The invisible band around her chest tightened. No. She could do this. Alex believed in her. She straightened her spine. More important, she believed in herself.
Porter shoved her ahead of him. “Walk to the light.”
With careful steps, Ivy picked her way around a few scattered boxes. At the back of the warehouse, light spilled from a small office. He must be planning to stash her in there. At least it would be lit, she reasoned.
“That’s far enough,” said a male voice in the darkness.
Ivy froze. That voice didn’t belong to Porter. Who else was in this warehouse?
“You can go now, Morgan. We’ll take care of her.”
We? The band tightened further. Breathe, Ivy. Breathe.
“What about the money transfer?”
“As soon as the members of Durango are dead, the money will be transferred to your account.”
An ambush with her as the bait.
“And you’ll let Ivy go unharmed after they’re dead?”
A cold silence greeted that question.
“You gave me your word, Evans.”
Ivy’s heart slammed against her chest wall. Porter was working with Neil Evans? “Porter, no. Don’t let him do this.”
In response, Alex’s brother s
hoved her toward the voice. In the darkness, hard hands reached out, clamped around her arms, and yanked her back against a granite chest. “Hello, Ivy Monroe. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you.” Neil Evans smiled down at her, a smile that chilled Ivy to her bones.
“Hey,” Porter yelled. “You promised not to hurt her.”
Evans chuckled. “You’ve got a choice, Morgan. It’s either you or her. If she lives, you won’t have a chance to spend all that money. But don’t worry, I’m not going to kill Alex’s little angel yet. I’m going to make her watch him die first.” He turned a cold gaze on Porter. “What’s it going to be, Morgan?”
Porter’s gaze dropped to Ivy’s. Regret gleamed in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Ivy.” He turned, began to walk away.
“Porter, don’t!” Ivy struggled to no avail. Evans was too tall and strong. He held her too tightly. She couldn’t gain any leverage.
Porter’s footsteps echoed through the cavernous warehouse. The outside door opened, slammed shut. The next sound Ivy heard was the car pulling away.
“We have some time yet before your boyfriend makes an appearance. Why don’t we become better acquainted?”
Evans dragged Ivy into the office. One of his friends followed, zip ties in hand. Evans thrust Ivy into a chair. The other man yanked her arms behind the chair and cinched her wrists together. Then he left.
The militia man studied her, let his gaze rake over her before returning to her face. “You are a pretty one. No wonder Morgan is so taken with you.” He reached over, grasped her chin in his hand. “It’s a shame I have to mark your beautiful skin, but…”
Before she could draw in a breath, Evans backhanded her across the face. Ivy’s head snapped around, her vision blurring from the quick sting of tears.
He cupped her chin again, turned her head toward the light. “Perfect.” He trailed his hand down her cheek, over her shoulder. “One more thing.” Evans gripped her collar with both hands and ripped her shirt in two. “There. The stage is set. I’ll come for you when your boyfriend shows. It will be a pleasure to witness his expression when he sees you, angel.”
