“I don’t give a damn if you’re so important the President wipes your ass. Get in your car and get the hell off this property or I swear I’ll dart you and your minions and pile you all in the trunk.”

Jud suppressed his amusement, but barely. It’d been four hours since chaos rained down on The Arsenal’s front gate. Vi stood with both hands on her hips as she glared up at a suit from Homeland Security. They, along with the FBI and another unnamed guy that stunk of CIA, had shown up and attempted to run roughshod over the situation. That hadn’t gone over well.

At all.

“Ma’am, if you don’t step out of the way and do as I say, I will have you arrested.”

“Go ahead and try,” Vi warned. “If you so much as blink in the direction of my compound, I will shoot you.”

“You don’t have a gun,” his helpful partner replied.

Guns cocked around her as Marcus and the operatives aimed. Jud pulled out his knife and sneered at the collection of idiots. At first, he’d suspected the group was another wave of Collective personnel making a downright idiotic attempt at removing HERA from The Arsenal under the guise of evidence collection.

“I tell you what.” Vi sighed heavily and pulled out her phone. “I’m going to make a phone call and my operatives are going to stand down. If you want HERA, take her.”

She motioned toward the compound. The men looked at one another.

“If you want her, go and get her. All you need to do is bypass her security and remove her from The Arsenal operational theater before the person I am calling sends someone over here to kick your ass so many security levels down the chain, you won’t even be able to work as a janitor in Washington.” She looked at her phone and punched a few more numbers, then pinned the asshole with a glare. “What the fuck is your name anyway? Badges. Get them out. I’m gonna need them.”

When they didn’t move to do as she ordered, she stood up on her tiptoes, leaned into his face and shouted, “Now!”

A rumble of warning rolled from Jud when the man’s face turned a few shades too red. If the bastard moved to touch Viviana he wouldn’t be breathing for long.

“Hi, Bob. I’m sorry to bug you, but we have a situation over here.” Her voice softened, then paused. “Yeah, I love it here at The Arsenal. Marshall and the guys are awesome. You should come by for a visit sometime. We’re setting up a bunch of new stuff I’m thinking you’d have fun with.”

Jud gathered the badges and noted the way the men shifted restlessly as Vi turned her back to them.

“Yeah, we had a critical mission tied to our contract with you. I’m pleased to report things are going smoothly. Or, they were, until a little bit ago. We have some…problems I’m afraid. It seems we have a couple gentlemen from Homeland Security, one from the FBI and a rather strange fellow who hasn’t told me yet, but he’s CIA. Yeah. I’ll ping you their pictures.”

Vi looked at her phone, pushed a few buttons, then continued talking. “So, as you are probably seeing, Bob, they’re way below their security clearance on this one. I hate to bug you with something this trivial, but I’ve just come off an op and we have bodies piled all over the place from a hit squad who showed up to neutralize Edge and I and take HERA. And I’m pretty sure we’ll have more than a mild dust up because an incredibly brilliant and brave woman working intelligence at the NSA ratted out some really bad operatives who were gunning for one of my teams overseas.”

Vi sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. “Thanks to lots of awesome teamwork, everyone’s okay. And we’ll handle whatever comes our way, you know we always do, Bob, but I’m afraid my patience is thin, and I may land out with four more body bags to haul off if they keep tap dancing on my last nerve. You don’t even want to know how close Edge is.”

Vi turned and smiled sweetly at the men, who hadn’t moved to accept her challenge of removing HERA themselves. Jud crossed his arms and laughed outright when she held the phone out.

“I think he wants to talk to you,” she said. “Come on, everyone. We need to debrief. Bob’s handling our unwelcome guests.”

She turned and headed into the building. Marcus motioned for a couple of the guys to hang back. Jud remained hot on her heels as she moved silently along the hall, down a corridor he hadn’t been in yet.

“Who’s Bob?”

“Oh, Robert Mattis,” she said nonchalantly.

“The Secretary of Defense Robert Mattis?” Marcus asked.

“Yeah. Bob and I get along way better than me and his boss. That guy’s a grade A dick,” she said. “Don’t worry, I told him so last time he called. He appreciates me shooting straight with him, even though I think he likes Mary better than me. Probably because she hasn’t called him the ultimate asshat of all time like I have. Repeatedly.” She shrugged and headed through a set of double doors.

Jud froze and stifled his curse as his gaze swept the interior. Medical.

“Well, well, I heard rumors you were around.” Logan Callister, CIA doctor and general pain in Jud’s ass, snapped on a glove and offered a grim smile. “It’s been a while, Judson.”

“Not nearly long enough,” he returned.

“Wait.” Vi froze. Her gaze darted between the two of them. “You know each other. How?”

“Long story,” they answered in unison.

“A mutual friend of ours sometimes reaches out to me for favors,” Jud said. “The last one was a setup that got me gut shot.”

“Didn’t have anything to do with that,” Logan said. He reached down and pulled up his shirt. “If it’s any consolation, a wound like the one I patched up on you almost got me.”

“What are you doing here?” Jud cut to the chase. He didn’t like anyone tied to the CIA hanging around. He was a bit surprised Viviana and Mary were okay with it.

“I’m out,” Logan said. “I got called in when Dylan and the guys pulled Mary out. I’m Arsenal now.”

Interesting. Jud studied the doctor. Vi squeezed his arm.

“You’re bleeding like a stuck pig, Jud. Let him patch you up,” she pleaded.

“It can wait. We need to get a few things handled first.”

“It’ll wait,” she said. “Sit.”

“Definitely not a cat person,” he muttered.

“Just got word the rescued hostages are being treated. Other than the three casualties before arrival, everyone’s going to be okay.” Logan looked at Jud as he approached. “Heard one of them is a relative of yours.”

“Not sure how that’s any of your business,” he snapped. Two and a half decades of ingrained distrust in everyone surged forward. “Anyone so much as whispers that connection to him or his kid, they’ll eat a bullet.”

“I understand you, man,” Logan replied. “I’m the same way with my family.”

“You have family?” Vi asked. “You’ve never mentioned them.”

“Would you? Do you?” Logan shot back.

Jud wondered what Vi’s family was like. He suspected he’d be beating one of them down for the shit they instilled in her head, the need to be perfect. Someone did a number on her.

“He’s been favoring his left side, too. I think he has some cracked ribs,” Vi offered.

“I’ll check it out,” Logan replied.

“Should you be up? Aren’t you still on bed rest?” She looked around. “We need more staff so you aren’t our only go-to-guy.”

“Patching up a bullet wound isn’t a strain on me, Vi,” Logan promised. “Marshall and Nolan are working on more staff for this place.”

“Oh, good.” Her gaze settled back on Jud. “You’re a close quarters ninja. I haven’t seen too many of those, maybe one.”

He wasn’t sure what the term meant, but Logan whistled low.

“The girls don’t hand out ninja status to just anyone. I think only Fallon and Gage have it here.”

“Not the Masons?” Jud asked.

“Dallas is close. Mary says Dylan is, too, but she’s biased.” Heat settled in her cheeks.

“What kind of ninjas are Fallon and Gage?”

“Gage is just a ninja. That’s like the first level. Fallon is an ordnance ninja cause, well, he’s Fallon. He’d make a building blow with just a stick of gum.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s a hierarchy in progress. The Pentagon has to approve all appointments though, so don’t think you’re really in.”

“The Pentagon?” He couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.

“That’s her, Mary, Addy, Bree and Rhea,” Logan offered.

“Right, the white boarding crew,” Jud commented. Jesus, Viviana was an adorable, geeky nut. “Didn’t Bree mention something about Riley being in it now?”

“Yeah, she’s a new appointment. We were supposed to have an initiation ceremony for her tomorrow night, but I’m thinking we need to postpone.” Her shoulders drooped a bit as she moved past the silliness of ninjas and a Pentagon and struck the heart of the matter center mass. “Someone tried to kill us.”

“Yeah.”

“You said you recognized one. Was he Collective?”

“Yeah, he was.”

“So they’re in.”

“Yeah.” They were in. He recalled the op he’d sent Addy on. “I’m sorry I didn’t read you in on what I had Addy pull. We ran low on time.”

“What was it? I don’t like people going behind my back, Judson.” She wet her lips. He tracked her tongue as it darted in and out. So sexy. “I’m responsible for every single one of them, for keeping them safe and bringing them back in one piece. Her going off book for you could’ve been a disaster.”

Tension lines appeared along her forehead. He couldn’t imagine the tremendous burden she placed on herself—sole responsibility for everyone on a team. Did Mary or anyone else realize the pressure Viviana put herself under every time they took on a mission? Would it matter?

Jud waited a few minutes as Logan treated the bullet wound. He offered a few token care tips they both knew he’d ignore anyway.

“Come on, you need to unwind and rest,” he said as he rose. “First, we need to get Jacob and Mary to help us activate the lists.”

“The lists.” Blood seeped from her face. She yanked her hand away and took a step back. “How do you know about those?”

“Because everyone who gives a damn about someone has them in our line of work, Viviana.” He pulled the card from his back pocket, the one he’d put there earlier in the day—just in case.

She read the names a minute. “Judith isn’t on here.”

“No.”

“Why isn’t your sister on here?” She looked up. “My family’s on mine and I so don’t get along with them.”

“Judith isn’t on there because Danny is. He’s been through enough. Seeing the woman who cut him loose the first time he survived hell on the heels of surviving a second time wouldn’t be good.”

“We’ll get her secure somewhere else. We’ve got resources all over, I just need an address where she is.”

“Come on, let’s get this done so we can rest.”

* * *

They’d contacted most of the family. Vi sat between Mary and Jud and stared at the conference phone. Everyone had slipped out to help Gage and Marcus make room for the incoming guests. Family.

“I’ll do it,” Mary offered. She squeezed Vi’s hand. “Let me do it.”

“No. They’ll take it easier from me, even though it’s been a while since we spoke.” Eleven or twelve years?

It was the first couple of years she’d worked at Hive, the first security threat. After the first debacle she’d made alternative arrangements for their security, but that wasn’t an option this time around. Vi dialed the number she’d memorized long ago.

“Hello.” The sing-song voice sounded happy, welcoming. Nothing like what she expected.

“Mom, it’s me. Viviana.” She swallowed, forcing her dry throat to continue. “There’s a situation.”

“You have a lot of nerve, young woman.” Her voice grew distant. “Harold, it’s Viviana. She has another situation.”

“What’d you screw up this time?” Her father’s voice blasted tension into the room. Jud tensed beside her.

“Hello, it’s good to talk to you, too, Father.”

“Don’t give me that tone, young lady. You don’t call, write or visit for fifteen years and have the nerve to phone us now because you’ve messed up and have a situation?”

Like a used car salesman from Hoboken could take down The Collective and withdraw the six-million-dollar contract on her head. Vi couldn’t share details with them. Even if she could, she wouldn’t. They’d probably choose the two-comma payday over her if given half a chance. She knew her brother Rich would, probably for way less.

“Captain Mendoza will be by to pick you up and keep you secure until someone can escort you to a private airfield. That will likely be tomorrow around this time, maybe later. Pack enough to stay for a couple weeks.”

Marshall and the guys were en route stateside and had insisted on gathering families and bringing them back themselves before returning home. She pitied whoever drew the short straw to collect her so-called family. Captain Mendoza was a veritable saint who rounded them up whenever a threat was serious enough to merit doing so, which had been a rare occurrence. Thank goodness.

“Mrs. Chambers, this is Mary. I’m sorry this is necessary, but it’s for your own good and you and your husband will enjoy it out here. It’ll be a nice vacation.”

“So this is your fault, too?” Her mom’s voice rose. “I told her you were nothing but trouble, but she was too smart-mouthed to listen. Always a little know-it-all.”

“What the fuck?” Jud muttered.

Vi snagged his arm and squeezed. “Please, don’t.” She mouthed the words when he leaned forward as if intending to offer his thoughts. The last thing she needed was another opinion when it came to her parents. The more time she gave them, the nastier they’d get.

“We have to go. I’ll see you both and Rich tomorrow evening.” She clicked off before they could argue.

“Are you okay?” Mary asked, her voice soft and concerned.

“I will be,” she said. “We need a list for Zero. Sorry, Zoey.” She rubbed her temples as she tapped out a message to Gage. “I offered her a job out here, sort of.”

“Good. We need the help and she’s good,” Mary said. “What’d she do that merits the protective detail?”

“I’m not sure, but it somehow involved her throwing the brakes on whoever was going after Fallon’s team. I’m assuming it was a dirty op running that she spotlighted. She’s scared and wanting to bolt before the fallout hits,” Vi said. “We need support personnel and I was already thinking about recruiting her. It’s a win win.”

“Marshall wants all footage and images we’ve gathered from the dust up here sent to him stat,” Mary said. She set her tablet down and looked at Jud. “You’re a one-man army, a deadly one.”

“Was that ever in doubt?” Jud leaned back and crossed his arms. His hair was still damp from the shower he’d recently taken.

The coppery stench of death still tainted her nostrils as she studied his hands. The same hands that had touched her cheek, held her in place while he kissed her, had killed more enemies than she could count. The stray thought heated her cheeks when she noted Mary’s raised eyebrows. Best friends were a serious pain in the ass sometimes.

“Thank you for what you did today, Jud,” Vi said.

“Are we seriously having this conversation?” He pointed at the phone. “I’d rather chat about what the hell that was. Those were your parents?”

“They aren’t winning any parenting awards anytime soon,” Mary muttered. “They’re like a bad case of hemorrhoids.”

Jud didn’t respond. The intensity in his gaze rippled through her, a silent awareness he saw more than she wanted him to. He reached into his pocket and slid a hard drive on the table.

“What’s this?” Vi pulled it to her.

“Strike one against The Collective,” he answered. “A couple years in I realized leverage was important, necessary if I wanted those I loved to keep breathing. I earned my way back into their lives by doing things no one should ever be asked to do, much less agree to. I didn’t always know why or for who, but I kept what I could in the way of names. Locations. Anything I could remember.”

Holy. Shit.

Shock rolled through her as she locked gazes with Mary, who’d grown pale.

“We need this kept between us. I don’t want Jacob involved. If anyone knew I had this, we’d have way more than The Collective after us. It’d be a fallout no one could contain. My graveyard is too extensive and too deep to be exposed. What I asked Addy to get tonight will be strike two. Jian had records of what he’s done for The Collective and others.”

“Including whoever hired Peter,” Mary guessed.

“That’s the hope,” Jud replied. “Either way, I’m thinking what he has and what’s on there should be enough for you to find their Achilles Heel. If they have one.”

“They will. Everyone does,” Vi said. “I don’t even know what to say, Jud. Thank you for trusting us with this.”

“Don’t thank me yet, Viviana.” Regret and embarrassment crept into his expression. “I promised to chase away your nightmares. What’s on there will guarantee you’ll have even worse ones. If I saw another way, I’d take that route. Releasing all of this into the world isn’t a nuclear reaction, it’s a thousand times worse. We need to neutralize The Collective without a ripple effect. You two have been through enough hells lately. We all have.”

Jud rose and reached for her, but then pulled back. He took a couple steps backward. “I’m sorry it got so messy today. There wasn’t any other way. I promised I’d keep you two breathing. I never promised it’d be clean.”