Take No Quarter

by Desiree Holt

  Kenzi was working on her third cup of coffee and hoping she didn’t get the caffeine shakes. She alternated between relief that Dana had not been harmed this morning, fear at the situation she was in and irritation—no, anger—that her sister was so focused on this story that she was willing to step into danger again. How important can a story be to risk her life over and over again for it? She had hoped the kidnapping would have been enough to scare the daylights out of her, but apparently not.

  Dana had just received an email in response to her text and everyone watched as she pulled it up on her phone.

  “Well?” Kenzi prompted. “What did he—or she—say?”

  “Whoever it is, they’re having second thoughts. This message wants to put the meeting off for two days. Apparently, word is already out about the shooting and my source is nervous.” She glared at first Trey then Slade. “Damn it. If only you all had just waited to play cops and robbers until my meeting—”

  Kenzi slammed her fist on the table. “If they’d waited, you could be dead. Those men had orders to kill you. Bet on it.”

  “You just don’t understand.” Dana’s forehead was creased in frustration. “This is my ticket to everything. Major networks. Maybe even my own television show. You’ve seen how successful other investigative reporters have been.”

  “I’d like to think you value your life more than bright lights,” Kenzi snapped.

  “Listen.” Trey leaned forward, looking directly at Dana. “You know how dangerous these guys are, and now you have an even bigger target painted on you, but if you insist on doing this, then you have to put your safety in our hands and do exactly what we tell you. This is what we do, Dana. Handle bad guys. Take it or leave it.”

  Kenzi set her mug down and looked at her sister. “He’s right, you know. And speaking from a selfish point of view, since you’re the only family I have, I’d like to keep you safe.”

  Dana sighed. “I hear you. I know you all think I’m nuts for doing this, but I’ve worked my ass off to get a story like this and I can’t walk away from it.”

  “Then let these guys protect you. You won’t find any better bodyguards anywhere.”

  “Okay, okay.” She smiled. “Believe it or not, I’m not eager to get whacked. So where do we go from here?”

  Before anyone could answer her, Kenzi’s cell rang, and when she looked at the screen, it showed her office number.

  “Excuse me. I’ve got to take this.”

  She punched Accept as she walked out of the kitchen, through the living room and onto the porch, where she perched on a chair.

  “This is Kenzi.”

  “Oh, whew! I’m so glad you answered.” Susan, her secretary, sounded uptight, unusual for her. Her ability to remain calm in the craziness of the office was what made her so valuable.

  “What’s going on? I’ve never heard you so wound up.”

  “Oh, god.” She lowered her voice. “Hold on just a second. Okay, I’m in your office where I can talk. Lordy, Kenzi, Mr. Calhoun’s on the warpath.”

  “About what? I thought he was out of town.”

  “He was. He is. But apparently Mr. Reyes called him about accelerating whatever you’re working on, so he asked to speak to you. He went ballistic when I told him you were out for the morning.”

  “Damn.” What on earth is suddenly so urgent about a new corporate structure? So it dealt with foreign countries—so what? They did those all the time.

  “He wants you to call him and, as he said…” She paused for a moment. “Um, get your smart ass back here pronto. He’s calling Mr. Reyes back to tell him you’ll get on it ASAP. And, Kenzi?”

  “Yes?” Now what?

  “He said he’s catching the next plane back here. He’ll be in the office by four and he wants everything ready for him to look at.”

  A frisson of fear danced through her. What was so damn urgent about this, anyway? Another day or two wouldn’t make a difference.

  “Okay. I have to go home and change, and I’ll be right in.”

  “Okay, but hurry.”

  She disconnected the call and walked back into the kitchen. Something about this project had bothered her recently, and she couldn’t put her finger on it. But now, with this phone call and the summons, she was even more unsettled. What on earth could be so imperative about setting up a foreign corporate structure? What am I not seeing here? And, again, she wondered what it was about Alex Reyes that bothered her for no reason?

  Trey looked up when she walked back into the kitchen, raising his eyebrows at the look on her face.

  “Problem?” he mouthed.

  She held out her hands in a helpless gesture, but mouthed, “Maybe.” Then she cleared her throat. “Sorry, but my office just called and I need to get in there. Reed Calhoun is on his way back from out of town. If he’s cut his trip short there’s something going on. Trey, if I take the car, can you get transportation?”

  He pushed his chair back and rose. “I’ll drive you. I—”

  “No, it’s okay. Really.”

  “I’m taking you.” His voice left no room for argument. “Let’s go. Slade, call me and fill me in. I’ll be available while Kenzi is at her office.”

  Slade nodded. “Ring me when you get there. I’ll have information for you by then.”

  Kenzi reached for her sister and pulled her into a hug. “You’ll be safe here. No one can get to you.”

  “Not even the DEA? You and I both know they’ll have a million questions for me.”

  Kenzi glanced at the men still seated at the table, tough warriors who didn’t take shit from anyone.

  “Unless you say it’s okay, there isn’t a chance in hell that will happen.”

  “I know I’m being a pain in the ass,” she said in a low tone. “But this is a hot story and my big break.”

  “As long as you promise to do what this team tells you, everything will be fine. You’ll get to meet your source with better protection than any private agency. You’ll be safe here. No one will find you, and Slade has everyone weaponed up.”

  “But the DEA—”

  Kenzi looked at Trey. “What do you think?”

  “Slade, you want to bring her up to speed?”

  Slade nodded. “I’m just waiting to hear back from my friend Joe Trainor. You met him earlier.”

  Kenzi allowed herself a small grin. “Ah, yes. The cavalry.”

  “He was on the phone with the DEA even as he drove away from the hangar. He texted he’d get back to us shortly. No one is doing anything until then, so we’re on hold for the moment. Believe me, it’s better for everyone that way. We’ll do everything possible to make sure you get your interview, but not at the cost of your life. That’s the deal.”

  Kenzi waited and when at last Dana nodded, she let out the breath she’d been holding.

  “Good. Trey, let’s get going then. I still have to change my clothes for something more office appropriate.”

  She fretted the entire drive to her apartment, her brain so busy with everything going on that she hardly noticed where they were until Trey pulled into the apartment complex. They were barely inside, the door closed behind them, when Troy put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so he could force her to look at him.

  “Okay, I don’t want to get into your professional business, but something’s going on here. That call put you on edge, but you’ve been…uneasy about something at your office since Saturday. Can you spill it without violating professional confidence? I hate seeing you like this.”

  She stood there for a long moment, gaze shifted downward, every muscle in her body rigid with tension. At last she looked up at Trey.

  “I must sound like a broken record to you,” she said, “because I keep mentioning this with nothing to go on.”

  He cupped her chin and tilted her face up so he could look in her eyes. “Don’t knock intuition, Kenzi. It’s saved our asses more times than I can count. And this isn’t the first time you’ve mentioned it.”
>
  “Silly, right?”

  “Let’s say I wouldn’t discount it. You’ve got a sharp brain, Kenzi, and good instincts about people. Why don’t I get Slade to ask Rod Bustamente, our DEA contact, if his name has ever popped up?”

  Kenzi frowned. “You think we should? I don’t want to put him in the crosshairs if he’s nothing more than a wealthy asshole who irritates me. And the odd part is, the few times I’ve been in meetings with him, he’s always been very courteous and pleasant to me.”

  “I’ll say it again, babe. Trust your instincts. Now.” He gave her a little pat on the ass. “Get yourself together and I’ll take you to work. You’ll get there before Reed Calhoun’s flight even lands and have things well in hand.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears,” she tossed over her shoulder as she headed for her bedroom.

  By the time they left the apartment, Kenzi had cloaked her unsettled feelings in a navy business suit with a short-sleeved gray sweater, navy business heels, her hair in a French twist and tiny gold studs in her ears. Conservative and discreet, she thought. By the time Reed Calhoun arrived at the office, she’d be knee-deep in her paperwork again, everything organized for him as if she hadn’t been AWOL for a few hours.

  “Have someone get you something to eat,” Trey insisted when he dropped her off. “One doughnut is not going to take care of you for the day.”

  “I will. I don’t know what time we’ll be finished, but hopefully not after seven. I’ll text you when we’re getting close.”

  “Don’t let Reed Calhoun get to you,” he ordered. “I don’t want to have to punch his lights out.”

  Kenzi actually giggled. “That would be a scene.” Then she sobered. “You’ll make sure Dana is taken care of?”

  “You have my word. She couldn’t be in a safer place or with better people. By the time I pick you up, I hope we’ll have the information from the DEA and know what the fuck else is going on.”

  She unbuckled her seat belt and opened her door, but by the time she climbed out of the car, Trey was there, pulling her into his arms and hard against his chest.

  “You take care of yourself.” His voice was fiercer than she’d ever heard, and had an unfamiliar rough edge to it. A well of unexpected emotion rushed through her, and she wondered exactly what turn this relationship might have just taken.

  “I promise.”

  “Okay. I’d kiss the living shit out of you, but I don’t want to mess up your lipstick. Just remember I’m only a text away.”

  She was smiling as she rode up in the elevator, a smile that stayed with her until she entered her office and Susan came rushing in.

  “Oh, thank the lord you’re here. Mr. Calhoun called twice before he got on the plane and he did not sound like a happy camper. What on earth, Kenzi?”

  Kenzi shrugged. “I wish I knew. What time does his plane land?”

  Susan looked at her watch. “In another hour. I ordered a car to pick him up.”

  “He always takes only carryon luggage so he should be here right quick after that.” Kenzi blew out a breath. “Okay. Can you call our favorite delivery place and ask them to send up lunch? Chicken salad on rye and iced tea for me.” She fished in her purse and handed Susan some cash. “And get whatever you want for yourself.”

  “So, you need me to work with you?”

  Kenzi nodded. “You bet your ass I do. As soon as lunch gets here, bring your laptop and come in here. And get someone to take our calls.”

  “Wow.” Susan blinked. “This must be some damn important project.”

  “Apparently more than I thought,” she muttered. “Okay. Order lunch while I get myself organized.” She glanced at her watch. “Mr. Calhoun will be here in just a little over an hour and I want to be ready for him.”

  Her concentration was broken only twice during the afternoon, both times by texts and both from Trey.

  Dana has nw metng set up with source. Details when I c u.

  An hour after that her phone beeped with the second one.

  Be sure u do not leave office w/o me.

  What the hell? Had they received new information? Had Joe Trainor’s DEA friend answered their questions? She did her best to quell the uneasy feeling that crept through her and focus on her work. She still wondered what it was about this particular project that had gotten Calhoun’s shorts in such a bunch.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The two women worked steadily, Kenzi sending her notes to Susan and the other woman typing them into the format they used. Kenzi had almost everything ready when she heard a strident voice in the corridor that she recognized as belonging to Reed Calhoun, and gulped down the rest of her coffee before sending her current document to the printer.

  “We finished just in time,” she murmured to Susan. “Thanks for all your help. Let’s get all this cleaned up.”

  Susan closed her laptop and gathered the reference books they’d been using into a pile. Kenzi saved her final document, stacked the printouts already finished and grabbed the last document as the printer spat out the final pages. A single loud knock on the door and Reed Calhoun strode into the room. His mouth was set in a grim line and his eyebrows were drawn together in a scowl.

  Susan hurried out past him as he came to stand next to where Kenzi was seated.

  “I called the office this morning,” he barked, “and was told you were out until early afternoon. I thought I made it perfectly clear that Alex Reyes was a top priority and the work needed to be done. Did I not leave explicit instructions for what I wanted while I was gone?”

  Kenzi nodded, forcing herself to remain calm. This was a side of Reed, usually the epitome of calm and collected, she’d never seen. What in all that’s holy is so urgent and important about this project? It wasn’t the first corporate structure they’d put together and certainly wouldn’t be the last.

  “I had some family business I had to attend to,” she told him in what she hoped was a calm, measured voice. “I apologize, but I got here as soon as I wrapped it up.” Liar! “Everything that you asked for is ready, and it looks good. We’re right on target.”

  God! I certainly hope so.

  “Then get your laptop and bring it and your printouts to the conference room with you. We’ll work in there.”

  Kenzi grabbed everything and hurried down the hall while Reed Calhoun made a stop at his office. She barely made it to the conference room before he strode in and settled himself at one end of the table.

  “Okay.” He looked at Kenzi. “Let’s have it. Where do we stand with everything?”

  “Right where you wanted to be,” she assured him. “Let me walk you through everything.”

  At the end of two hours she had explained it all to him in great detail then sent the finished document to him at his computer. He’d be able to access it from anywhere with his personal code.

  “Can I get you more coffee?” she asked, carrying her mug over to the machine.

  “No, thanks. I think I’m about coffee’d out.” He studied her carefully when she sat back down at the table. “Thank you for getting this done so quickly. Sorry I was a bear before, but Alex is really pushing to get this done fast. He’s escalating the timeline to take advantage of some new opportunities. I don’t want to take the chance on screwing up.”

  “It’s none of my business,” she said slowly, “but did something happen to make this so urgent? This kind of corporate structure is complicated with all the foreign banks and regs involved. Surely he knows that.”

  Reed nodded. “Of course he does. As I understand it, some new opportunities have arisen that make it imperative to get this in play sooner rather than later. The international marketplace is getting more crowded every day and he doesn’t want to lose his edge.”

  “Yes,” she agreed, “it is a busy place out there. It’s interesting that he’s expanding beyond cattle and minerals into things like electronics and leather goods. And that he’s chosen to do it overseas.”

  Reed shrugged. “La
bor’s cheaper, costs are less. Plus he can take advantage of the ever-changing rate of exchange.” He studied her intently. “Is there a particular reason you’re asking?”

  “Oh, no.” She made herself smile. “Just curious. I guess I’ll just wait for you to review all the documents and let me know if we need to make any changes. I added a page to the first one with the list of reference sources I used.”

  “Very good. That will help when I go over it with Alex.” He looked at his watch. “Who, as a matter of fact, I am having dinner with tonight in one hour. Damn. This day certainly went by in a hurry.”

  “Then I’ll let you get back to your office and do whatever you need to.” She gathered her laptop and the folder with her notes.

  She was more than ready to be out of this room. Somehow, she’d shifted from the excitement of working with one of the senior partners to a tension that gripped her entire body. She hoped it didn’t show, or that at least he’d just chalk it up to the demands of what she was doing.

  “Kenzi.” His voice stopped her as she reached for the doorknob.

  “Yes?”

  He studied her face, and she was amazed to see a slight tic near his left eye. This was the most self-controlled man she knew next to the Delta Force team.

  “I’m sure this is a stupid question,” he said in a slow, tight voice, “and please don’t be insulted by it, but you don’t discuss this stuff with anyone, do you?”

  What the hell? No one had brought anything like that up to her since the day she’d been hired here and signed the all-encompassing confidentiality agreement.

  “Of course not.” She tried to sound insulted he’d even ask. “I knew about confidentiality before I even graduated from law school.”

  “Of course you did. And I apologize if I insulted you. But this project just happens to be…particularly sensitive. We’re taking our client into new territory. It’s a very aggressive move on his part, there is an enormous sum of money involved and he is understandably highly focused that there be no problems that can trip him up. You understand, right?”