Show of Force

by Elle James

  Well, he could think what he wanted. He probably only stuck to her like glue to keep an eye on her.

  Why, oh why, had she slept with the man?

  She stood still, staring at the gate without really seeing it. She’d slept with him because she’d felt a connection so deep she’d thought it was real. It had been...on her part. But apparently not on his.

  Riley looked the gate over for a button to open the heavy iron bars but couldn’t find one. Headlights turned onto the street and slowed as they approached.

  Not wanting to buzz the house to let her out, she climbed up a tree beside the stone wall, looped her leg over the top and dropped to the other side.

  The car slid to a stop.

  For a moment, Riley thought it might be the person who’d tried to bash the hell out of Mack’s truck. Bunching her muscles, she prepared to make a break for it.

  The car stopped beside her and the passenger window slid down. “You the lady who called for a ride?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Good. I wasn’t sure about the address. Never been in this neighborhood.” He stared up at the lights shining down on the massive stone gate. “Fancy place.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Riley yanked open the back door and slid into the back seat.

  Even before she had her seat belt completely fastened, the driver pulled away from the gate, heading toward her apartment.

  She’d get her car and continue her search on her own. She didn’t need the liability of someone who couldn’t believe in her. In her heart, she knew she was one of the good guys. She couldn’t kill an innocent person. She could kill, if she had to defend someone she loved, but not at the command of another just because that person had a grudge. If Mack couldn’t see past Riley’s upbringing to the person beneath her skin, he was missing who she really was.

  In her mind, she circled back to the most important issue at hand. Finding Toby.

  Steve Pruett had a lake house. All she had to do was find that house and find Toby. She didn’t need a former marine to hold her hand through the process. She was a trained assassin and spy. She could handle anything anyone could throw her way.

  * * *

  MACK LEFT THE kitchen and returned to the bedroom where he’d left Riley sleeping. As soon as he walked through the door, he knew something was wrong. The bed was a jumble, the sheets half on the floor, the comforter pushed to the end of the empty bed. A quick glance around the room confirmed his fear.

  Riley’s clothes were gone, along with her purse. He checked in the adjoining bathroom but knew before he did that she wouldn’t be there.

  He ran back down the hallway to the kitchen.

  Declan and Jonah glanced up.

  “Riley’s gone,” he said.

  Declan pushed himself away from the counter and set his mug down. “Are you sure?”

  A lead weight sank to the pit of Mack’s gut. “Positive.”

  “Hang on, I’ll tell you where she is.” Jonah touched the screen on his phone and brought up the security monitors. “She’s jumping the front gate as we speak.”

  “Damn.” Mack slammed his fist into his palm.

  Declan glanced at the video. “Where do you think she’s going?”

  “I don’t know,” Mack said. “She doesn’t have Pruett’s second address.” He paced the kitchen floor. “She could be going back to her apartment.” He glanced up. “I’ll go there and see if I can catch up to her. I hope she’s all right. After the SUV attacked my truck, I don’t think she’s safe out there on her own.”

  “We’ll get that address to you as soon as we find it,” Declan said. “Did you give Riley the tracking disk?”

  Mack nodded. “I did.”

  “Good.” Declan’s lips pressed together in a tight line. “It makes it easier for us to track her.”

  Mack’s lips tilted upward. “She was happy we cared enough to give her one.”

  “Does she understand it’s not for us to spy on her, but to keep her safe in case she ends up in the wrong hands?”

  Again, Mack nodded. “Yes.”

  “Good.” Declan tipped his chin. “You’d better get going. And take this truck.” He handed Mack a set of keys.

  “Thanks.” Then he ran out the door and down the steps. He was in his replacement truck backing away from the house when a call came through his phone. He hit the talk button on his steering wheel. “Yeah.”

  “Mack, Jonah here. I went further back on Pruett’s phone records and got a hit on one of the phone numbers. He placed several calls to a Tracy Gibson last month after hours. The calls ended about the time Moretti was killed and Tracy was laid off.”

  “Good to know. Thanks.”

  “Also, texting the address of Pruett’s lake cabin. It’s out there and on a dirt road. Not many houses show up in that area. If he’s hiding the boy there, no one would know.”

  “I’ll get right on it as soon as I find Riley.”

  “Gotcha,” Jonah said. “In the meantime, I can get other members of the team to lead the investigation of Pruett’s lake house.”

  “No. I’ll get Riley and head that way. She’ll want to go in. The boy will want to see someone he knows. Have the team gather and wait on standby. If anything goes south, I’ll need assistance ASAP.”

  “We’ve got your back,” Jonah said. “Just say the word and we’ll be there. Well, Declan will be there for you. I’d come, but I think I’d be better at manning the computers, trackers and other technical support. But if you need me there, I’ll come.”

  “No worries. Sometimes it’s easier to get in and out with fewer people.”

  “Okay,” Jonah said. “I’ll keep you up to date.”

  “Don’t forget to send me Pruett’s lake cabin address.”

  “On it,” Jonah said. “Out here.”

  Mack sped to Riley’s apartment, barely slowing for the light signals. He couldn’t get there fast enough. All the while, he wondered what had spooked her and why she’d felt the need to go after her brother on her own. Had making love to her scared her so badly she wanted to get away from him? If that was the case, he’d keep his hands to himself until they found Toby. After he’d made love to Riley, not touching her would be difficult. He wanted to hold her in his arms and take all her pain and worry away. And he wanted to make love to her again and again. The woman was sensual, sexy and amazing in bed.

  Why the hell had she run?

  Chapter Eleven

  The drive to Riley’s apartment passed in a blur. When she arrived, she dug in her purse for the key and let herself in. Focused on what she had to do next, she hurried across the threshold of the front door. A sound behind her made her pause. Footsteps?

  She started to turn but was shoved from behind so hard she stumbled into the apartment, lost her balance and fell hard to her knees. She hadn’t expected to be attacked, but she should have reacted faster. Her father would have been disappointed in her response.

  The door slammed behind her and a sharp-toed shoe slammed into Riley’s ribs.

  She grunted and rolled to her side, looking up at the woman who’d just kicked the crap out of her. She knew the woman, but not in the context of her apartment.

  “Tracy?” Riley clutched at her throbbing rib. “What the hell?”

  “You’re the one who started all this mess. You’re the one who got Mr. Moretti killed and me fired. If you hadn’t meddled, I’d still be working at Quest, and Steve wouldn’t have dumped me.”

  Tracy cocked her leg and shot out another kick.

  This time Riley was ready for it. Twisting to the right, she avoided the sharp-toed shoe, snagged the woman’s ankle and pulled hard.

  Tracy screeched and threw her hands in the air, searching for purchase, finding none. She crashed to the floor, landing hard on her back. She lay for a moment, stunne
d.

  Riley rolled over and straddled the woman, pinning her wrists to either side of her head. “First of all, Moretti got himself killed by dealing with the wrong people. He was selling proprietary secrets to a foreign country. I didn’t make him do that. I just helped the FBI to discover who was dealing dirty.”

  “So he sold some secrets. They’d have gotten them anyway. Computers can be hacked. Nothing is secret anymore.” Tracy bucked beneath Riley, but she couldn’t go anywhere.

  “As for getting you fired, that was HR,” Riley reminded her. “With Moretti gone, they had no use for a secretary to an empty position.”

  “I needed that job. I have a mortgage and bills to pay. Do you know how hard it is to find a job that pays as well?” Tracy jerked at her arms. “Let go of me. This is all your fault.”

  “And what do you mean by Steve dumped you? Steve Pruett? I didn’t even know he dated.”

  “He did,” Tracy practically spat out. “Me! Until a few days ago. Then he called and said he was done. Dropped my clothes and toothbrush off on my front porch and hasn’t returned my calls since.” Tears welled in her eyes. “He’s done. And it’s all your fault.” She bucked again. “I hate you, Riley Lansing. You’re poison!”

  Riley couldn’t help feeling sorry for the woman. But her hardship wasn’t Riley’s fault so much as Tracy’s bad luck with her boss and poor choice of a boyfriend.

  “Do you know where Steve’s lake house is?” Riley asked.

  She snorted. “Yes, of course. We spent weekends there before he dumped me. But what’s it to you?”

  “Tell me where his cabin is, and I’ll see if I can get you back on at Quest.”

  “Why should I tell you where Steve’s lake cabin is? Isn’t it enough he dumped me? Now you’re making a play for the man?” Trace shook her head. “No way.”

  “Fine, I’ll just call the police and report you for assault. If you have a criminal record, you’ll never find a job.”

  The woman sagged beneath her and stopped struggling. “Oh, what’s the use anyway? I’ve lost Steve. I don’t have a job, and I’m going to lose my house. If I go to jail, at least I’ll have a roof over my head and three meals a day.” Tears leaked from her eyes. “Go ahead, call the police.”

  Frustrated beyond patience, Riley bit back a curse. “I’d rather you tell me where Steve’s lake cabin is.”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “He has something of mine that I want back.”

  “Find him yourself,” Tracy said. “I owe you nothing.”

  For a long moment, Riley stared down at the woman with tears dripping down the sides of her face. “I’m sorry this all happened to you, but it’s important that I find Steve. Please, tell me where I can find his cabin.”

  Tracy sighed. “Let me up, and I’ll tell you.”

  Riley frowned. “You’re not going to try anything, are you?”

  “What could I try? You’re clearly better at fighting and pinning someone than I am.” Tracy didn’t pull at her wrists or move beneath Riley.

  Shifting slowly, Riley released Tracy’s wrists, one by one. Then she swung her leg off the woman and pushed herself to her feet.

  Tracy lay for a moment on her back.

  Riley reached out a hand to her.

  The woman grabbed her hand and let her pull her to her feet. “I’ll tell you where Steve’s cabin is if you don’t turn me over to the police.” Tracy gave her an address.

  Riley repeated it to her, committing it to memory. Then she opened the door and held it for Tracy. “You should go now. And just so you know, I’m sorry you lost your job.”

  Tracy bent to retrieve a small backpack from the floor by the door and turned in the doorframe. “Moretti was an idiot. He had a good thing going at Quest. He shouldn’t have gotten involved in selling secrets.”

  “No, he shouldn’t have,” Riley agreed.

  “And I shouldn’t have turned a blind eye to his activities.” She dug in the backpack as if unearthing keys. “But you know—” Tracy pulled a small handgun out and aimed it at Riley “—you shouldn’t have set him up.”

  Riley stared at the gun, her pulse quickening, her thoughts racing through several scenarios. “Do you even know how to use that thing?”

  Tracy stared down at the gun in her hand. “There’s not much to it. You point and shoot.” She raised her arm, leveling the weapon at Riley’s chest. “If I’m going to jail, it might as well be for a damned good reason.”

  Riley could see when the woman’s finger tightened on the trigger. She dived to the side in a flying somersault and rolled to her feet.

  The gun went off, hitting the wall behind where Riley had been standing the moment before.

  Tracy swung the gun toward Riley’s new location. Before she could pull the trigger again, a man stepped up behind her and grabbed her around the waist, clamping her arms downward against her sides.

  The gun went off, the bullet hitting the floor beside Tracy’s foot. “Let go of me!” she screamed.

  “Not until you drop the gun,” Mack’s deep, resonant voice said.

  Riley’s heart swelled in her chest as she rose to face Tracy and Mack. She grabbed the gun from Tracy’s hand, dropped the magazine from the handle and expelled the round in the chamber. When she was done, she stared over Tracy’s shoulder at Mack. “Thanks.”

  Mack gave Riley a slight chin lift. “Call the police.”

  Riley shook her head. “We don’t have time. She gave me the address to Steve’s lake cabin. I’m going now.” Riley swiped her car keys off the table in the hallway and stepped past Mack holding Tracy.

  Mack’s hand shot out and he grabbed Riley’s arm. He repositioned his other arm to clamp Tracy in his grip. “You’re not going on your own.”

  “I don’t need anyone’s help.” She lifted her chin, her lips pressing together. “This is my problem. I’ll take care of it.”

  “You can’t go there alone. If Steve’s desperate, he could do anything.”

  She squared her shoulders. “I’m willing to take that risk.”

  “Even if it means Toby will be hurt?” Mack pinned her with his gaze.

  For a long moment, Riley stared into his blue eyes, and then her shoulders sagged, just a little. “No.”

  Mack glanced down at the woman in his grip. “We can’t leave her. She might give Steve a heads-up.”

  Riley twisted her lips. “I’m not staying to babysit her. If there’s a chance we can find Toby, I want to be there. The kid has to be beside himself and scared.”

  “My phone is in my back pocket.” Mack tilted his head to the side. “Get it. Call Declan. Tell him what’s going on and ask him to send a backup to hold this woman until we can get to Pruett’s lake cabin.”

  “He won’t be there,” Tracy said.

  “Why do you say that?” Riley asked.

  “It’s being renovated,” she said. “He hasn’t been visiting the cabin for the past few weeks.”

  “Would he go anywhere else?”

  Tracy shrugged. “Where else would he go? His parents live in Ohio, and he doesn’t have any close friends or siblings in the area.”

  Riley met Mack’s gaze. “We have to check. It’s the only other place I can think of.”

  Mack nodded. “We will.”

  Tracy’s eyes narrowed. “What’s Steve got that you want? Is he stealing secrets like Mr. Moretti? If so, he can rot in hell with Moretti.”

  “I don’t know if he was stealing secrets, but he took something I care a great deal about.” Riley hesitated telling Tracy that Pruett might have taken her little brother. Not many people knew she had a brother. And from the way Tracy was acting, she didn’t know what Steve was up to. If Steve had dumped her several days before, he might not have wanted her to know about the kidnapping he would undertake. If, in fact, he wa
s the kidnapper who’d taken Toby.

  Tracy squirmed in Mack’s grasp. “You can’t hold me forever.”

  “Oh, we won’t,” Mack said. “As soon as help arrives, we’ll be gone.”

  Riley placed the call to Declan. While she waited, Riley keyed the address into her cell phone and brought up the directions to get to Pruett’s lake cabin. Thirty minutes away. She tapped her foot, counting the seconds until help arrived, freeing her and Mack to go after Pruett.

  Within ten excruciating minutes, Declan arrived at her apartment with Mustang.

  “We’ll take her from here.” Declan and Mustang each took an arm and led Tracy into Riley’s apartment. “Let us know what you find.”

  “Will do,” Mack called out.

  Riley was already through the door. She ran toward her car and slipped in behind the steering wheel.

  Mack quickly caught up and dropped into the passenger seat, folding his long legs into the car.

  She didn’t wait for him to close the door before she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street. Then she pressed her foot to the accelerator, racing down the dark street toward the edge of the city and out into the countryside.

  For the first five minutes, silence reigned inside the confines of the vehicle.

  Riley was fine with that. She didn’t have much to say to Mack.

  “Why did you leave Charlie’s place without letting us know?”

  Riley stiffened, but she forced a shrug. “I needed to move on and find my brother. Why does it matter?”

  “I thought we were doing this together. What made you change your mind?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “To me, it does.” He turned in his seat and faced her.

  Riley kept her attention on the road, but she could see him clearly in her peripheral vision and the light from the dash. His brow furrowed, and his lips were drawn into a line.

  “Why?”

  “Maybe I read you wrong, but I thought we had something special going.”

  Her chest tightened. “Or not. What’s special without trust?”