Silver Shield Security Box Set

by Dee Bridgnorth

  Rusty turned to face them. “Nico, you will go inside with Tamika, but try to remain in the shadows. No use spooking her before we get the plans.”

  “Roger,” Tamika said. She took a deep breath and methodically began shifting her confused thoughts and emotions to the back corner so she could focus on what was before her.

  “I’ll be in there as well as Rae and Pete.” He mentioned two other operators they used on a part-time basis. “I’m going to approach her, but Tamika, you watch for my cue.”

  Tamika understood that for this outing, Rusty was the team lead. There was always a team lead, someone who coordinated between the operators and made sure that everyone was on the same page. She’d been the team lead on some missions as well. She enjoyed working with all her teammates. They trusted each other with their lives, literally, and it was nice to know that such capable badass folks had her back.

  “Guess it’s show time,” she said as the door slid open.

  “Damn straight.”

  Nico exited first, and then Tamika was right behind him. He waited for her to catch up and casually placed a hand on the small of her waist. Very subtly, she leaned into him, feeling the heat from the spot where his hand rested. She had no idea what the night would bring, but there was one thing she could not deny. Walking into the nightclub with Nico beside her felt so damn good.

  Chapter Sixteen

  7:50 p.m., Club Zero, Downtown Seattle.

  The car came to a halt outside Club Zero, the designated location for the assignation. She stared out the window at the glittering lights and wondered why she was thinking in such big words at such a time. Probably because the last thing she wanted to do was leave the cab and walk through those doors. She fought the temptation to ask the cab driver to turn the car around and take her back where he’d picked her up less than ten minutes before. But there was a lot at stake and she could not afford to miss this meeting.

  “This is Club Zero, madam,” the driver said in a friendly tone.

  She looked away from the scene outside with a small smile. “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”

  She handed over the money and asked him to keep the change, then with a deep breath for fortitude, she opened the door and stepped out of the taxi. She clutched the straps of the large purse she carried and relaxed a little when she felt the large roll of papers nestled inside. She was so focused on what she had to do next that she did not notice the cab driver tap his watch and speak into it before driving off.

  She hated this. Hated the life she’d been forced to live before now. But that was going to end. As soon as this shit was over, she would take what belonged to her and go somewhere far away where she could live a quiet life. She slipped her arm through her purse, letting the straps rest in the crook of her elbow. Then she heard the ringtone for her phone.

  With a frown, she dug it out of her purse and swore when she saw who was calling. She glanced around furtively. The sun had set, but it was not yet completely dark, besides the street lamps were all on. A few people were walking around, but there was nothing suspicious. She tapped the green button on the screen of her phone and lifted it to her ears.

  “Yes?” She made her voice as cold as possible.

  “What’s this, baby? Are you not happy to hear from me?” the voice at the other end said.

  She gritted her teeth, but forced herself to keep her control. He was goading her, knowing that she could not react because of what was at stake.

  “What is it, Cruz?” she asked.

  “I see, bitch. You’ve been away for less than two months and you have forgotten who’s boss, yeah?”

  She remained silent. There was no point antagonizing him. He had all the power and he knew it.

  After a few seconds he got to the point. “Hope you have the goods?”

  She glanced at her purse and bit back a sigh. “I had them three weeks ago, Cruz. They would have been in your hands if you had kept our last appointment.”

  “I was busy, chica,” he said in a bored voice.

  The hand that was free formed into a fist as she struggled to get a hold of her anger and frustration. He was busy? She was the one who had risked everything and put herself in danger.

  “What if he called the police?” she snapped.

  He laughed. “I told you, he’s not gonna call the cops.”

  He was right. They wanted to keep things under wraps and calling the cops was tantamount to alerting the press, which she knew they would want to avoid at all costs.

  “Fine. I’ve kept my end of the agreement. Now it’s time to keep yours.” She was getting impatient with his games. She wanted this to be over like yesterday.

  “I don’t owe you anything, bitch.”

  “Cruz, you need to stop shitting with me right now. We had an agreement, you asshole! What the hell do you mean you don’t owe me anything?”

  She thought of all the blows she’d taken, the trips to the doctor. The rape and forced sex and she was mad. He owed her so much more than he could pay, but she was willing to walk away from everything. All, except the one thing he was holding on to. For that, she would do anything. She would destroy him if she had to. But he didn’t know that.

  “You watch your tone with me or I will make you pay.” His tone was softly menacing and she knew all too well how he could make her pay.

  She took a deep breath and let it out, gathering the tattered remains of her self-control.

  “Okay, I’m sorry, Cruz.” It killed her to say it, but she would lick his ass if that was what it took. In this matter, she had absolutely no shame. It was a luxury she could not afford.

  “Fine,” he said after a moment of silence. “I’ll find you inside. Don’t mess this up.”

  By the time the call ended, she was breathing heavily as though she’d just run a two-hundred-meter sprint. With shaking hands, she opened her purse and dropped the phone inside. She took several breaths, trying to calm down. She had never felt so powerless in her life. She hated being at another person’s mercy, but that was what this was. She had no one to fight for her, and she didn’t really want anyone fighting for her. She had always taken care of herself, except for when she’d been with Cruz. She shivered in disgust. Those were the worst six years of her life. Not even living through her mom’s various boyfriends had been that bad, and those years had been pretty horrible.

  But it didn’t matter what Cruz thought, she knew she was a formidable enemy. Most people made the mistake of underestimating her, which was to her advantage. She was strong. She was resourceful. She was a cat with nine lives and always landed on her feet. She’d had to reinvent herself several times and it was time to do so once more.

  She pressed her palm against her right thigh and felt the comforting length of the sheathed steel blade. Then she straightened up and flicked her long hair back. Her hand lingered on the row of studs that lined her ear. She ran a finger over the one at the very top of her ear. Her back straightened almost of its own will, she squared her shoulders and walked into the building through one of the side entrances.

  **

  “Stop staring! You’re supposed to be the professional here, sheesh.”

  Tamika turned to glare at him. “You know why I’m staring, dammit! That’s me sitting over there, it’s like looking into a damn mirror.”

  He saw the fascinated horror on her face and hid a smug smile. They were seated in a corner booth at a vantage spot. From where they were sitting, they had a good view of the main entrance into the club as well as the side entrance they had not known existed until a few moments ago when the woman walked in. They were able to observe without being observed.

  Chicha had walked into the club several minutes ago, but Tamika still had not gotten over the incredible resemblance between them. Nico should not be feeling so smug, but he could not help himself. He felt vindicated. They really could have passed for twins.

  “Are you sure you are not a twin?”

  A troubled look fleeted over her face
and was gone in a moment. She shook her head, looking adorably confused.

  “I’m almost sure I’m not a twin.”

  “Almost?”

  “Abuela would have told me if I had a twin sister, wouldn’t she?”

  “I think she would have told you something like that,” he said, agreeing with her. “I heard that twins who have been separated usually have this feeling that something is missing from their lives…did you not feel that way?”

  “Yeah, but I always knew exactly what was missing from mine. My mother.”

  “Hmmm.”

  He turned his gaze back to Chicha. She looked a bit different from the flighty, airhead he’d gone home with several weeks ago. He couldn’t believe it was just three weeks ago; felt like three months. There was a calculation in her gaze that he’d missed earlier. It was clear that she was waiting for someone. As he watched her, he expected to feel the familiar rage her felt whenever he thought of her, but it was gone. He was still pissed, but mostly at himself. Not for the first time since she disappeared with his plans, he was glad he’d stopped short of bedding her. Sure, she’d deep throated him, but somehow, he’d lost interest in having sex with her. He’d wanted to send her off immediately, but had felt guilty and had decided to wait till morning. His greatest mistake had been leaving her in his bedroom to sleep in the guest room.

  He shifted his gaze back to Tamika. She was peering at her phone.

  “What are you looking at?”

  “I want to see what info we have on her,” she replied without looking up.

  “See anything?” he asked.

  “Hmm,” she grunted, her thumb furiously scrolling.

  She looked so cute concentrating on her screen that way. Of course he wouldn’t tell her that, it would just annoy her. He was beginning to know her a little and cute was not a word she would want associated with herself.

  He continued watching her, the way the fat strands of her dreads teased the side of her face. She’d caught it up in a sort of high ponytail, but the strands fell down her face in a way her found really sexy. Her features were small, all except her eyes. She had what his sister would term bambi eyes. Just then, her expression changed. A look of shock came over her face.

  “What is it, Tamika?”

  “It says here that her name is Takeisha Esperanza Martin.”

  Nico did not see what the problem was. “Okay…so?”

  She lifted those large brown eyes to him, looking adorably confused. “My name is Tamika Esmeralda White.”

  He saw it then. “You both have the same initials.”

  She nodded. “Coincidence?”

  He didn’t think so. Not with how strong the resemblance between them was. “Are you sure you are not a twin?”

  She sagged right before him. “A few minutes ago I would have sworn that I wasn’t a twin,” she said.

  He didn’t bother to point out to her that a few minutes ago, she had sworn that she wasn’t a twin. It was clear that she was doubting herself even now.

  “Maybe there are things that your grandmother didn’t tell you?” he asked softly.

  She shook her head, then placed her elbows on the table and lowered her head to her palms.

  “I can’t deal with this now,” she said, her voice muffled.

  “Maybe if you found out more about her?”

  She dropped her hands and looked at him inquiringly.

  He gently pushed her phone towards her and saw comprehension light her face.

  “Oh, yeah…okay.” She unlocked the phone and went on reading. “She is the longtime girlfriend of Cruz Fuentes, and—”

  “Fucking hell.”

  She stopped reading. “What?” Her eyes darted towards the table where Chicha was seated. When she saw that the other woman was still there, she turned back to him with an upraised brow.

  “Did you say Cruz Fuentes?”

  “Yeah, what’s the matter? Friend of yours?”

  Oh boy, she had no idea. He leaned back against his seat. He could not believe this was what it was about. Cruz was behind the theft of his plans? The bastard!

  “It all makes sense now,” he muttered.

  “What does?” she asked in confusion then shook her head. “Wait, hold that thought.” She tapped on her watch then placing the elbow of that hand on the table, she rested her head on her palm and spoke in a hushed voice. “Target is on the move, heading towards five o’clock.”

  There was a pause then a voice came through, “Roger.”

  She got to her feet and Nico joined her.

  “Wait here, let me check this out,” she said. Her attention had already shifted as she watched Chicha walk towards the exit that led to the back.

  “You are kidding, right?” She thought he would just sit and watch while she walked into what might turn out to be a dangerous situation now that he knew Cruz was involved? Hell no.

  Tamika shot him an impatient glance, “I don’t want you in danger,” she said, already moving out of the booth.

  “I’ll stay out of your way. Now you better get your ass in gear before you lose the target.”

  The look she gave him said clearly that she would deal with him later, but she didn’t say a word as she walked briskly towards the door behind which Chicha had disappeared. The door led into a long corridor that was poorly lit. They saw Chicha slip around a corner at the far end and hurried there. They had just gotten to the bend when they suddenly heard a loud scream, followed by a gunshot.

  Nico paused, his first thought was to get Tamika to safety. But the woman had already pulled out her firearm as she ran out the door. He followed her and saw that it was an exit to the parking area behind the building, most likely for the staff.

  He hurried towards Tamika and found her standing above the body of a woman. On getting there, he was not really surprised to see Chicha lying in a pool of her own blood. At first, he thought it was Tamika on the ground and he gasped as pure unadulterated agony pierced though him. Then common sense told him that she was standing beside him. It was like looking at a mirror image and the effect was harrowing. He could see plainly that it could have been Tamika and his hands shook as he went down on his hunches and placed two fingers at the pulse point on her neck. After a moment he felt the pulse, weak, but present.

  “She’s alive,” he said, though he didn’t know for how much longer. She was bleeding profusely.

  “We’ve called 911.”

  He looked up to find Rusty there and nodded, before getting to his feet. One of the people, and he assumed it was a Silver Shield person, produced a tourniquet and got to work, trying to stem the bleeding.

  Nico glanced at Tamika and saw that her gaze was fixated on the woman on the floor. He wanted to go to her and let her know that it would be alright, but he was still shaken from that brief moment when he’d thought he was staring at the lifeless body of Tamika. He knew he was breathing hard and he took a few steps back to try and get himself under control.

  “We need to get Nico out of here,” Tamika suddenly snapped out of her trance to say.

  Rusty nodded. “We don’t want the press getting wind of this. Heaven knows where they’ll stop when they start digging,” he said. “You take him back to the hotel. The rest of us will stay here till the cops come.”

  “Let’s go,” Tamika said.

  He nodded then snagged her hand in his. When she squeezed his hand, he felt some of the tension ebb. As they walked away from the scene, it struck him then that the entire thing had just become much more complex.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Back at the hotel, Tamika sat on the sofa in the living room and stared at the floor. She was in a daze. She was used to events turning so quickly, it was part of her job and she’d been trained to always be prepared for the worst. But all her years of training had not prepared her for what had happened that evening. She was shaken.

  She lifted her gaze to Nico. Since they got in, he’d been pacing the length and breadth of the living room. She
could see that there was obviously something on his mind, but she also had a lot she was dealing with. She was still trying to process what she’d just seen. How could there be a woman with her exact same face and bearing her initials? She knew that there were doppelgangers and the woman she’d seen could very well have been one, but even the hair had been the same tight curls she’d had before she locked her hair. She stood up and walked to the windows. They were floor-to-ceiling windows and she had a clear view of the city from where they were on the twenty-fifth floor.

  She wrapped her arms around her body, trying her best not to freak out and searched her mind for any hint her grandmother might have dropped over the years. She could not think of any. There had been absolutely no reference to a twin.

  Could I have had a twin? Abuela, did you keep this from me? What other secrets have you hidden from me, Abuela?

  She knew she should not be thinking like this, because it could all have been a horrible coincidence. But first of all, she did not believe in coincidences and second…well, there was no second. She did not believe in coincidences, period.

  I should have made more of an effort to find out about my mother. She thought to herself. The truth was that as soon as she was old enough to understand that her mother had dropped her off with her grandmother and had no intention of returning, she’d closed her mind off to the woman who had given her birth. She had never tried to find her or even find out what had happened to her. She had refused to care. As far as she was concerned, if she had not wanted her in the first place, then she would not burden the woman with her presence. Besides, her mother had known exactly where she’d left her. It had not been Tamika who left.

  But looking back now, she knew she should have searched for the woman. Maybe not when she was younger because she had not had a lot of resources then. But since she’d grown up? Hell, Rusty would have had the information she needed in a heartbeat if she’d asked him. He had even offered, but she had not been interested. Now she felt blindsided.