by Cara Carnes
“Jian and I cross paths on occasion, but I’ve left him be because he proves useful to my employer at times. As for Peter, we’ve also crossed paths. Unfortunately.” He continued eating his meal, glancing at his nephew. “Eat your food, bud.”
“Your research is first rate, well organized. Methodical,” Mary offered.
“Wicked.” Jacob breathed the word.
“Jacob here is the brains behind the papers. He keeps me organized and methodical.” He smiled. Jacob’s body trembled, damn near hummed with excitement.
“Is he okay?” The brunette whispered the word gently as she sat on the other side of the redhead.
“He’s not a fan of crowds.” Jud didn’t want to get into the fact his brother-in-law was just kidnapped. Or Jacob’s hero worship of the two women bookending him. That’d be awkward at best. “I’m Jud. You are?”
“Right. I’m Addy Rugers.” The redhead motioned to the brunette beside her. “This is Rhea. Bree is the blonde across from us and to the far left. Then there’s Viviana, who you apparently know. Mary’s on the other side of your nephew. And that’s Riley.”
Jud offered a nod to the women and wiped his hands and mouth. “Introduce yourself, bud.”
“Jacob.” The boy breathed the word. “I-I work with my uncle. Back office work mostly, nothing exciting.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Back office work is sometimes way too exciting,” Mary commented. “Vi and I do back office work at The Arsenal, computer stuff mostly.”
“You’re The Edge,” he whispered.
Mary visibly tightened. Code names were armor in the covert ops world, a way to keep a protective layer between who you were and what you did in the name of duty, honor, or whatever other contrived excuse got rammed down your throat.
“Funny how you and your nephew know the Quillery Edge, but they don’t know you. My two girls don’t forget faces or names. Neither do I, and I knew everyone connected to Hive.” Addy shifted beside him.
“Not everyone, Princess, just those your brother wanted you to know. There were lots of dark corners and shadows, people skulking about,” Jud commented.
“So you were Hive,” Viviana guessed.
“No. Peter wanted me to be, but I was hooked up with a different operation, one that colored in black. Hive worked mostly in the gray.” He took a sip of his beer and met Viviana’s curious gaze dead-on. The woman was breathtaking. Long hair so dark blonde it shimmered like pale brown in the darkened lighting grazed her shoulders. Her wide, expressive, almond-colored eyes studied him behind red wire-rimmed glasses. “I know you by reputation. I’m glad you two have moved out of the gray and into the light.”
Not exactly the truth, not exactly a lie. He took another long drink and let the silence hang a moment.
“The Arsenal has no problems coloring in the gray when necessary,” Vi said.
Jud knew the Masons wouldn’t have issues going into the black if necessary. Dallas had been a hell of an operative. He concentrated on his beer and waited through the silence. Sometimes what you didn’t say was more important.
“Tell us about Mico’s abduction,” Mary ordered. “How did you connect it to Jian’s operation?”
“I didn’t, not at first. Jacob found his auction while we were investigating Jian.”
“And why look into Jian in the first place?” Addy asked. “You said you’d crossed paths before and left him be. Why change that now?”
“I didn’t appreciate him trying to push my buttons. I decided to get some leverage to push back. I started looking into him recently.” A few hours before if he were being precise. He’d pulled old surveillance footage from The Collective’s records to substantiate a connection between the now-deceased Peter Rugers and Jian. The rest fell into place easily enough, thanks to Jacob’s mad computer skills.
Bubba appeared at the table. Beers were handed out. A bottle of liquor was settled nearest Addy. The burly man set stacked shot glasses on the edge of the table.
“You girls want anything to suck all this up? I’ve got some grub left from lunch.”
“We’re good, but thanks.” Riley smiled wide. “I wouldn’t mind taking some of it to go, though. I heard Marshall and the guys had a long day.”
“Sure thing, doll. I’ll even throw in extra desserts. I know your mom has a sweet tooth.”
“I know Mom loves your peach cobbler,” Riley teased. “Add it to our tab.”
“Your money’s no good here, not for grub.” Bubba motioned toward the beers. “You girls drink anymore and you’re eating. I’m not liking the idea of calling Marshall and Nolan and having them come get your drunk asses.”
“We’ll go slow,” Bree promised.
Jud swallowed the food he’d shoved in his mouth. Resino respected the Mason brood. It’d been smart to set up shop here. Upon initial inspection it appeared to be a foolish mistake, but he grudgingly admitted there was a lot of mileage in respect that deep.
“I’m not here to stir up trouble. I’m sure that’s what Dallas assumed. My apologies, I should have made my approach in the morning. Late night visits aren’t ever a good idea without permission.”
Vi’s mouth quirked into a confused cross between a glower and a smile. “If you want us to take this request seriously, you need to give us some answers. Tonight.”
“Fair enough.” He looked around. “Ask your questions. I can’t guarantee an answer.”
“You worked with Dallas. Where?” Mary asked.
So much for starting off simple. He should’ve expected hard questions straight out of the gate. These women didn’t mess around, which was why they were the most sought after assets around.
“Did he tell you where he worked?” Jud knew the answer.
“Not exactly,” the woman replied.
“Then let’s keep it that way. It’s best you not know,” he replied. “I’m still there. This is a favor, personal time. Anything else isn’t up for discussion, not here.”
“Why help us? We don’t know you.” Mary crossed her arms. “Why care if we get hit?”
He didn’t want the 411 to shift to his nephew, why the favor mattered. He hadn’t been lying when he said crowds were an issue for Jacob. Add the fact he was bookended by the two most influential people in his world and Jud suspected the kid was about to lose it. He noted the widened eyes and red complexion, the clenched hand around his fork.
“You helped someone close to me a long time ago. He’s not in a position to help you, but I am.”
“Who?” Vi asked.
“Do you always look a gift horse in the mouth?” he asked.
“Yep, every time. She’s not stupid,” Riley replied.
“It’s my dad,” Jacob blurted. “You helped him once and he needs your help again. We have to keep you breathing so you’ll help us keep him breathing.”
“Your dad?” A softness settled in Vi’s voice as she looked at his nephew. “How does he need our help? Do we know him?”
“Jian had him kidnapped to force Uncle Jud to take the contract on you.” Jacob’s voice rose. “No one messes with family. That’s the rule. Jian broke it, so now he’s gonna pay, but Uncle Jud can’t go alone. He needs the Quillery Edge. You saved Dad once. You can do it again. I know it.”
The two women visibly recoiled beneath the voracity in his nephew’s words. Tension sliced through the room as Addy and the other women focused on him and Jacob.
“You didn’t mention anything about an abduction,” Vi said through clenched teeth. “You dangle Jian in front of us to get our help with a rescue mission? Is that it?”
“Pretty much.” Though he suspected it’d be more of a recovery mission than rescue at this point. “My other option was to take the contract and kill you both. I figured you’d prefer this option.”
The two women looked at one another, then their gazes settled on Jacob, who sat silently between them, tears in his eyes.
“No one touches my family and lives.”
“How do we k
now you aren’t here to take the payday Jian’s offering?” Mary asked.
“Uncle Jud’s between you and a bullet because you can rescue Dad.” Jacob’s voice was icy cold, malevolent. “He wouldn’t hit the Quillery Edge. Ever. Anyone gets close to you, he’ll take them out because he’s the best.”
“And we’re supposed to believe you,” Addy said.
“Believe me or not, help or not.” Jud shrugged. “I’ll keep everyone off you either way. I can’t get Jacob’s dad freed without your help though. That’s not a lone wolf operation.”
“I don’t want or need you between me and a bullet,” Vi replied.
“What you want isn’t what you need, not in this instance. I won’t ever stand between you and anything, Viviana. I’m keeping everyone off you, but I’ll do it at your side, or behind you. I know this is your fight. But it became mine, too, when they took my family.”
“You’ll do that so I can help rescue him,” she whispered.
“Hopefully. Whether you take that on or not, I’m helping you take down whoever issued the hit.”
“Even if it’s your group?” Mary asked.
The women were brilliant, quick minded. They’d put two and two together. They didn’t know who his employer was, but he doubted it’d matter. They stared impossible in the eyes and kneed it in the nuts every day.
“Even if it’s my group,” he replied.
“Then we’d better get busy,” Mary said.
“You’re in.” He leaned back in his chair, a bit surprised they’d made a decision so quickly. “Dallas and the guys okay with that decision?”
“We have operational governance over back office,” Viviana said. “As for your desire to keep Mary and I safe, it’s appreciated but unnecessary. We are protected, but you can stay at The Arsenal while we work on the Jian angle.”
“Thank you, Viviana.”
“It’s Vi,” she replied. “We’ll postpone the application exercise tomorrow morning. We’ll white board your intel and see what HERA spits out.”
“White board?” Jacob asked.
“It’s so cool. Vi and Mary enter all the data into HERA and data gets spit out into all these categories based on whatever parameters they establish. Then we all get to work filling out the white boards,” Bree explained.
“Cool.”
Jud watched his nephew shut down beneath the pressure, the anticipation and curiosity were too much when combined with his dad’s kidnapping. His shoulders drooped, his gaze swept downward. Mental lockdown. No matter how much he might want to work with the Quillery Edge and their group white boarding with HERA, he wouldn’t ask. Risk rejection.
“What time do we start?” Jud asked.
The women looked at one another.
“You want to white board?” Vi asked.
“Sure. Why not? It makes sense. Jacob’s got a real knack for technical stuff and knows the details almost better than I do,” he supplied proudly. “He’d be an asset, and I promise not to get in the way.”
Addy chuckled. “You have no idea what you’re stepping into. Their process takes hours. Hours and hours of brainiac genius at work.”
“I can’t wait,” he replied, gaze locked with Vi.
“A word,” Viviana repeated as she pushed her chair back. “Alone.”
“Vi,” Mary said.
Addy rose. Vi held up her hand. “I’ve got this. We’ll be back in a minute.”
Addy unholstered a weapon and set it on the table beside her beer. She motioned toward the hallway heading to the bathrooms. “Where I can see you.”
Riley and Bree exchanged wide-eyed looks. Rhea and Mary both chuckled as they took a sip of their beers. Vi didn’t reply, she simply headed toward the hall. Jud smiled, watching her progression. All sass and attitude, just like she’d marched into reception.
The moment he entered the narrow hallway, she shoved him back against the wall with more force than he expected. Her forearm pressed against his throat. He looked down, noted how she stood on her tiptoes to accomplish the grip. He could have her pinned in under a second, but that’d probably get him a bullet in the brain for his trouble. He looked over at Addy, who raised her eyebrows in a silent dare.
He took Viviana by the waist. “I think it’s too soon for us to be alone. Your chaperon isn’t happy.”
“She’s not my chaperon and I’d pay more attention to me and less to her if I were you,” she clipped. “I’ll make this quick. Nothing about anyone or anything remotely connected to what went down with Mary, Peter Rugers or Hive is mentioned around her. I field everything.”
Protective. Fierce. Way more than superficial sass like most women. A fire rumbled in him, a flicker of appreciation born from something more than her operative reputation. This wasn’t just Edge’s partner shoving him against a wall. This was a friend. Someone who cared about those around her and would do anything to keep them safe.
“I’m not here to stir trouble. I’m more than happy to work one-on-one with you.”
Her eyes narrowed, tiny slivers of glimmering brown. “You’d be better off sniffing around my chaperon if you’re looking for more than taking Jian down and getting your brother freed.”
“I’m only here to help, nothing else.” He grabbed her arm and settled her into a constricting hold within a couple seconds. Her eyes widened. She tugged and twisted, but he held her firm. “Just to say, if I want more than that, I think I know my taste better than you.”
“Chasing after the others will get you in a heap of trouble, Jud.”
He settled a hand on her cheek and smiled when she glared up at him. “And throwing all that sass will get you in a bigger heap of trouble.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’ve got a sweet tooth for sass, babe, and it’s been a long time since I’ve met a woman who could satisfy it.” He released her from the hold when he sensed Addy’s approach. “I’m here to help, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind or dead.”
“You will be if you don’t back off,” Addy warned. “Not tonight, Romeo. There’s a bathroom down the hall. Go satisfy yourself without her.”
Vi gasped.
Jud laughed and headed toward the table. Jacob was sitting there staring at the women as they chattered on about drones and new weapons. “Let’s go, bud.”
He waited as Jacob grabbed his backpack. Vi stood a couple feet away, her gaze curious and gleaming sass. Her brain likely fired words like an automatic weapon—so fast and intense it’d knock you down if you weren’t prepared. “Text instructions for tomorrow and I’ll be there.”
“Bring data on Danny. He’ll be our first priority,” Vi declared.
5
Vi tapped on the door and waited. Her pulse hammered hard, but she didn’t have a choice. The door opened silently, much like the man inside. She took a few steps in as Dallas wandered back toward the bed. Clad in a pair of jogging pants and shirtless, he swiped his hand down his face and turned. Resignation reflected in his gaze.
“This couldn’t wait until daylight?”
“I’m thinking you already know the answer,” she said. “He claims he’s here to keep me breathing. His nephew’s dad needs a rescue. What do you know about him?”
Her pulse still quickened from the brief time Jud had her pinned against the wall. No one had ever stirred her curiosity or incited her desire so fast, which made sense because he was clearly wrong for her in every conceivable way. Vi had a taste for bad boys, always had. She’d never scratched that itch. She might’ve liked bad boys, but she certainly didn’t turn their heads.
Because I’ve got a sweet tooth for sass, babe, and it’s been a long time since I’ve met a woman who could satisfy it.
God, she was beyond pathetic. She knew nothing about Jud at all. Oh, except he was being coerced into killing her to save Danny. Yeah, that was a great reason to be attracted to someone.
Idiot.
He wasn’t taking the contract, though. He was going to take the assholes down instead
.
Or so he said.
“What do you know about him?” She repeated the inquiry into the silence as Dallas prowled toward his bed.
“More than most. Nothing.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Jud isn’t someone you know. He’s someone you survive.”
“He said he’d take down anyone who goes after us, even his employer,” she said.
Dallas shook his head in disbelief. “No one takes them down, but I guess he’d get closer than anyone else. I sure as hell wouldn’t go after him.”
“Dallas, Mary and I have respected your need to keep those years blacked out, but I can’t risk not knowing, not when it’s come and knocked on our door. Literally.” She knelt on the floor and took the man’s hand.
He’d gone through hell during those years; that much was obvious. He’d come home and fallen into a deeper rut of problems because of Dylan’s manipulative ex. The two brothers had barely reconciled. While Vi didn’t want to push, she didn’t have a choice. She wasn’t letting anyone or anything get near Mary or her teams. Failure wasn’t an option, not again.
“Jesus, you’re worse than Riles,” he muttered.
“I’ll keep it under wraps,” she promised. “I can’t let that dark patch in your life jeopardize everyone here, not if it’s about to rain hell down on us.”
Dallas expended a breath and ran his hand down the back of his head and neck. Gaze averted to the floor, he pulled his hand away. “You’re right. We can’t let that happen. Marshall knows who I was with, but not how deep I’d gotten.”
Few operations were so dark Vi couldn’t find them. Dread seeped into her as she waited through the silence. Each second deepened her certainty that what she learned wasn’t good—not for her. Mary. The Team.
Or Dallas.
“The Collective.”
The two words swooshed the breath from her lungs. She leaned back on her heels and sealed her eyes closed. The Collective. They were the monsters under the bed in the Deep Web, the urban legend bandied about to terrify the worst of the worst. An unstoppable force capable of doing anything at any time with zero repercussions because their influence was marrow-deep within any and every governmental organization. Some believed they controlled the world’s empires from the shadows.
