Chapter Seven
Lights blurred past Athena’s vision, and the scents of street foods filled her head. But all she could focus on was Dylan’s hand in hers. Solid, warm. She was glad for the comfortable jeans, T-shirt and sneakers she’d thrown on after coming back to the safe house, because she planned to eat one of those caramel apples once they got off the Ferris wheel and would never have room in one of her fitted skirts.
She tugged on Dylan’s hand, and he slowed, throwing a look over his shoulder. “I’m a little leery of heights.”
“How leery?”
“Well,” she looked up, up, up at the huge wheel lit with colored lights that seemed to soar into the sky, “I haven’t been on one since I was fourteen, but I ended up practically sitting in my friend’s lap.”
“That’s okay with me.” He threw her a grin, and then concern drew his brows together. “If you don’t want to go on the ride, we don’t have to, cher.”
“Can we just walk around a bit first?” To get her gumption up. She didn’t want to disappoint him since the idea had been his in the first place. And getting out of the safe house was exactly what she needed. After that argument between him and his brother, she was feeling punchy.
Dylan drew her through the crowd to a more open area. He kept glancing around, and she knew he was watching for threats.
“Nobody is going to find us in this crowd,” she said.
His lips tipped slightly on one side. “Can’t be too careful.”
A few feet away, the orange of fire streaked through the darkening sky as three performers began to show off their skills, twirling flaming poles like batons and catching them. One exotic-looking female leaned backward and swallowed the flame. People cheered, and Athena found herself gripped with the excitement of Mardi Gras as she’d once experienced it as a little girl.
“My parents used to bring me every year,” she said loud enough for Dylan to hear above the applause.
“Mine too. When we were old enough, they admitted they liked to stay away from the crowds and dropped off us boys with threats to behave.”
She grinned. “And did you?”
“What do you think?”
She laughed. “I came with a few friends in my teen years, but we never got into trouble. The most I did was stare at people too long to see what they were wearing.”
“So you were interested in fashion even then.”
“Oh yes. I think it was my love of Mardi Gras that started my passion for all clothing you wear to celebrations. Weddings, parties and so much more.”
He studied her for so long that she wondered if he thought she was crazy.
“I’m boring you.”
He shook his head. “Not at all. I’m fascinated by you, Athena. Haven’t you realized that yet?”
Before she could ingest those words or ponder what they meant, he towed her through the crush of people, past food vendors who showcased their frog legs or gator on a stick.
“You like gator?” he asked.
“Umm…”
“Forget about the ways you’ve eaten it before. When I take you to my family’s cabin in the bayou, you can try my maman’s and see that it really is good.”
Again, she was shocked speechless. He was inviting her to his family’s cabin and to share a meal with them? After the words that had passed between the Knights and Rocko, she was really curious about his sisters. Were they as strikingly good-looking as all the Knight brothers were? Her mind started pulling clothing options off her mental racks for the beautiful women.
They stopped to watch some young girls trying their hand at heaving a heavy mallet to win stuffed bears. When none of them succeeded, Dylan stepped up and threw down a bunch of bills.
“I’ll have a couple tries.”
Athena watched with amusement and awe as he won teddy bear after teddy bear and handed them out to the girls. When he finished, the game owner flexed his weak arms at Dylan and then gave him a thumb’s up. The girls squealed and thanked him, and laughing, Athena and Dylan moved away.
After only an hour with him alone this way, away from the pressures of the safe house or all the surveillance and the intrigue that came with it, she was seeing a different side of Dylan.
And it was time to admit to herself she was falling for him. With or without the mess she was entangled in, she believed he was right to say that even if they’d met in line at the Ferris wheel, that things wouldn’t be any different.
She tugged at his hand. “C’mon. Let’s take that ride now.”
He eyed her. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long to get on the ride, otherwise she might have chickened out. But once she was securely barred in next to Dylan with his arm firmly around her shoulders, she breathed in his scent and felt nothing but happiness. As they ascended, the city spread out before them, and she looked away from the shining lights and celebration below to stare into Dylan’s eyes.
“Athena…” He caressed her lips with the rough pad of his thumb, shooting sparks through her system. His eyes glowed and not only with the reflection of the colored lights. Her heart beat faster as he leaned in to kiss her. His warm breath washed over her lips a second before they connected.
“Cher, I think I’m falling for you.”
* * * * *
Dylan had been surrounded by the enemy in Afghanistan, been in the crosshairs of some asshole holed up in a bunker and experienced some near misses in Madrid when a mission went sideways. But right now, the hackles on his neck were standing straight up at full attention.
Fuck, he’d acted so far outside his training in bringing her here, and now he was going to pay for it. He’d have no choice but to let Ben in as well as Colonel Jackson. He could lose not only his post here protecting Athena but his place on the Knight Ops team.
But it was too late now. All he could do was take care of business while he was in the thick of it.
He shot a sideways glance at the man to his and Athena’s left. The field was packed with people eating cotton candy and gasping at chainsaw jugglers. So the chances of him seeing this guy twice now were slim.
Keeping a hand on Athena’s back, he placed another on his weapon. Firing in a group of people like this was not an option, but he’d do what he had to if this guy made a move.
“I need to use the restroom,” she said.
Fuck, now wasn’t the time. He couldn’t let her go into the building without cover. Somebody could be waiting in there for her. This guy in the plaid shirt with the sleeves ripped off wasn’t doing a very good job of blending. Not when Dylan was trained to pick out anybody who looked suspicious. They were being followed, and he had to get her out of here.
“Okay, I’ll wait right here.” Not wanting to alert her to the danger quite yet, Dylan gave her a smile. She went into the restroom and he stood outside the door, trying not to eyeball the guy who was eyeing him.
Dylan casually pulled out his phone and dialed Ben.
“Yeah?” his brother answered.
“We’re being followed.”
“Fuck. Where are you?”
“The fair.”
“Jesus, you’re stupider when you’re in love than I thought. Why would you risk taking her out of the safe house? You knew she was being watched.”
In love? Dylan’s mind tripped over his brother’s words. Yes, he’d admitted he was falling, but he wasn’t in that deep yet. Was he?
Fuck.
“I’m getting her out of here now and back to the safe house. I need an hour and then I’m going to Jackson.”
“Jackson?” Ben echoed. “You’re planning to get permission to end this, aren’t you? You know what the colonel’s going to say. You’re fooling yourself if you think you can just take over the FBI’s job on the investi—”
“I don’t give a damn what it takes—I’m ending it. Give me an hour and a half and then pick me up at the safe house.” Dylan ended the call, keeping his sights on the man in plaid from the corner of his eye. The man acted like he was intrigued by a group of kids arguing about which ride to go on next, but Dylan saw the hungry expression on his face. The asshole had found what he wanted.
Over Dylan’s dead body would he let him take Athena.
She emerged from the restroom, and he slipped an arm around her. He could tell her what was going on, but that would only throw her into a whirlwind of fear. He wanted her not only calm but still experiencing the emotions they’d shared on the Ferris wheel. Because before Knight Ops showed up at the safe house to collect him, he wanted to take his leave of her properly… with passion and boundless pleasure.
His chest burned as he led her through the crowd. Judging by how she clutched his hand and brushed against him, she had no awareness of the situation or the thoughts running through his mind.
That she was so innocent, naïve and trusting almost killed him. The urge to surround her with big guys packing enough firepower to take out a small town was real.
“Are we leaving?” she asked as they passed the last concession stand.
He trailed a hand down her spine to the top of her buttocks, letting his touch speak for him. “I want to get you alone.”
And safe.
And naked.
She arched a brow and threw him a secretive smile that would have his balls bluer than the Louisiana sky in the height of summer. But he couldn’t think about his desires until he had her away from whoever was following them.
In the car, he took the craziest way home and quickly lost the guy on their tail. After a few minutes, he relaxed, able to breathe a bit easier knowing his skills were enough to continue keeping Athena safe.
Which brought him to other thoughts…
In love? Damn, Ben was an astute fucker. Even gripped by his feelings on the Ferris wheel, staring into Athena’s dark eyes and tasting her sweet lips, Dylan hadn’t realized the extent of his feelings. In one sentence his brother had left him with a perspective that only heightened his need to protect her.
Before they drove to the section of town where the safe house was located, he triple-checked that they weren’t being followed. With the coast clear, he parked and took her inside. The locks on the door didn’t seem like enough to keep her from harm.
She turned to face him, that tempting smile on her beautiful face.
He stepped forward, sliding a hand into her mass of hair and looking into her eyes. Yes, he had to end this at all costs. Even if whatever was between him and Athena ended after tonight, at least he’d walk away knowing she was safe.
* * * * *
Dylan stood before Athena, peeling her clothes off with his eyes. She wished he’d hurry up and do the job for real, because she was burning up.
She made a move for the hem of her top, but he caught her wrists. The small feeling of restraint sent a thrill through her, and her pussy squeezed. She dropped her head forward, afraid to speak and tell this man how bad she needed him. Since his confession on the Ferris wheel, she had thought of little else.
He hovered over her, nose brushing the fine hairs at her temple. “Don’t move. Let me take off your clothes.”
Her chest heaved with a breath she had to force past her lips. It was misery being so close to him and not being able to touch him let alone tear off both their clothes.
He took a step back, gaze roaming over her from head to toe as if deciding where to start. Finally, he moved forward again, drawing her tight against his body and claiming her mouth.
Each pass of his tongue across hers sent spikes of lust through her until she was out of her head. Gripping at his shoulders, a plea filled in her mind. She wanted his mouth all over her naked body and his cock buried deep in her pussy.
He nibbled at the corner of her lips and worked his way down her jaw to her throat. She angled her head to give him complete access. Gooseflesh broke over her, and it wasn’t remotely chilly. In fact, it was the hottest night of the year so far and she could already hear the rumbles of thunder in the distance.
Running her hand up his spine, she held on to keep her knees from buckling as he reached a sensitive spot on her neck. A gasp left her, and he gave a rumble in answer.
“You taste so damn sweet.” He licked down to her collarbone while working his hands under her top. She sucked in a sharp breath at the brush of callused fingers against her heated skin. Passion flooded her, and she dragged him closer.
“I need you, Dylan.”
His hands stilled, his lips stopped working up and down the column of her throat.
“Please, I need you so bad.”
“Cher… My God, I love to hear you beg.” He lifted her, and she snapped her thighs around his hips as he carried her the few feet to the bed and laid her down. A wildness took hold of him, igniting her with the fever too. She dug her nails into his shoulders as he ripped away her clothes. When she lay bare for him, he parted her thighs.
Eyes glowing, he looked up at her. “I’m going to make you come twice at least on my tongue and then when I take you, you’re going to be burning up for it.”
“I already am.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “We’ll see about that.”
When he dipped his tongue between her wet folds, she knew she was in for it because the man had thrown down a challenge and would never renege on his promise.
Crying out, she twisted the sheets in her fists. He slipped his tongue up and down with the slow passes that would drive a woman crazy. Her patience fled, and she thumped him with a fist on the shoulder.
“Dylan!”
“Mmm.” He was in no hurry to get down to business. She wiggled and bucked her hips to bring his tongue into contact with the bundle of nerves that needed his touch so badly. Tingles raced through her, and her nipples throbbed.
As if knowing this, he reached up her body to strum each, back and forth as he finally opened his mouth over her clit and sucked it in.
Liquid heat enveloped her. She threw her head back as her pussy gave the first contraction. The rest hit with a force like the raging Louisiana storms, and she rocked her hips in time to each wave. He never released his suction on her clit and when he eased his fingers inside her, the second orgasm hit rapid-fire.
She writhed. He pressed his fingers downward on a spot that had her soaking wet in a blink. Breathless, she collapsed on the bed, only able to wiggle her fingers.
“That was two,” she gasped.
He vibrated the inside her thigh with his chuckle, and pure happiness took over. She didn’t have time now to absorb what was going on with her emotions, but the sensation deep in her heart wasn’t something she’d ever felt before.
When he didn’t move from between her thighs, she waggled her fingers at him again. “Dylan, don’t make me wait another second!”
His chuckle turned into a full baritone laugh. Slowly, he moved to the side of the bed. How many times had she watched him strip off his clothes now? Each show seemed to get better, and she didn’t know if she’d ever get enough of staring at that steely, tanned flesh.
At her place, she’d emptied her drawer of the condoms and laid several on the nightstand here in the safe house. He plucked one up with a crooked grin that melted her even more. Another look like that from him and she’d only be a puddle on the bed.
The veins in his forearms stood out as he stroked the condom down over his cock. Gripping the base, he moved over her.
“Arms above your head.”
A shock went through her. “What?”
“Hold your arms over your head and don’t move them until I tell you to.”
Oh my God. She’d heard about guys taking control in the bedroom, but she’d never had the pleasure of finding one. Until now.
Locking gazes with him, she moved her arms upward. Heart thumping hard and fast, it took all her control not to yank him into her. The need to feel him stretching her doubled and then tripled.
“Dylan.” Her voice came out as a reedy cry.
“Mon Dieu, I can’t get enough of you.” When he used his Cajun, she saw a bigger glimpse into the man’s soul.
Bracing his weight over her, he poised his cock at her entrance. She spent several heartbeats lost in his eyes, and just when she wasn’t expecting it, he plunged into her.
She arched at the invasion, her pussy clutching at him as he immediately withdrew.
“I can’t go slow. Fuck, I want to.”
“Don’t.” She moved her arms to hold him, but he gave her a look that sent another spike of need through her.
“Don’t move until I tell you.” He sank back into her, hard and fast. Fucking faster with every stroke until she shook and rough growls erupted from his throat. She clung to the edge of another release, holding on to make it last.
He churned his hips, digging his cock so deep that she cried out.
“Hell. Athena, I can’t hold back. Put your arms around me.”
She did, and he lifted her off the bed, pounding furiously until her insides clenched hard on yet another orgasm. At that moment, he poured his release into her with untimed jerks of his hips. A low groan left him, and he went boneless atop her.
His weight was too much, and he rolled to the side, taking her with him. His eyes were still closed, the pulse pounding in his neck. For the first time, she realized he really was a man and not a machine—that he could actually be as tired as she was. Probably more.
She gave a deep sigh and entangled her legs with his.
He cracked an eye. “I hope that’s a good sigh and not a disappointed one.”
She grinned. “Did I sound disappointed to you?”
There it was—that grin. “No.”
She stared at his hard lips that were incredibly soft when they needed to be. Leaning in, she kissed him softly. The tenderness she felt seeped into the caress. When she finally pulled away, he wrapped his hand around her nape and held her.
“I’m not done with you yet.”
She hoped he wouldn’t be done with her for a long time, but she was only fooling herself. This fling couldn’t withstand the stress of the situation and bloom into more.
But as she relished his sweet kisses, all she could think about was how much she wished it could.
* * * * *
During this hell of the past few days, Dylan had been her only comfort, a rock in the sea that would toss her until she didn’t know which direction to swim.
She shouldn’t feel so broken but dammit, she did.
Pressing her fist to her lips, she tried for a few deep breaths of calm, but tears threatened. No, she couldn’t be so upset by a stranger she didn’t want to storm into her life in the first place finally walking out of it. It was just the emotions taxing her for a week finally reaching the surface. She—
“Hey. It’s gonna be okay.”
She jerked at the deep voice, so close to Dylan’s. But she’d woken in the night to an empty bed and when she’d gone looking for him, she’d found Sean in his place. If not for the lamp burning in the living room, she might have mistaken his shape in the darkness for Dylan and embarrassed herself.
“Dylan had business to see to, but he’ll be back.”
“Does this have to do with how quickly we left the fair?”
“I’m not at liberty to disclose that information.”
She hugged herself. After finding him gone, she’d armored herself in jeans, a T-shirt and a cardigan. Though the air was warm, the storms were back in full force, and her favorite natty sweater was the comfort Dylan couldn’t offer.
She couldn’t believe he’d left this way, without a word of goodbye. Was this how it would feel to be in love with a man like Dylan? Never knowing where he was or if he was doing something dangerous?
Of course he’s doing something dangerous. It’s his job.
Something tickled on her cheek and when she raised a hand to brush away a curl, she found tears drenching her skin. One dripped off her chin.
Sean moved closer. “May I?” He held out his arms, and she looked at that broad chest. She felt herself nodding and then he drew her head down on his chest and let her cry. “It’s gonna be okay,” he repeated soothingly.
“You sound like you do this all the time.”
“No, just with my wife. She’s full of pregnancy hormones right now. Oh. I shouldn’t have let that slip. Nobody knows it yet, so just don’t tell my brothers, all right?”
She nodded against his chest. “I didn’t know you were married.” Actually, she didn’t know anything about Dylan’s family—or him outside of this mess she was tangled in. Who was he really?
“We’ve been married two months now. We found out about the baby the same week, and I’ll tell you, that hit me hard. In this line of work, until you have something to lose, you don’t know how every second counts. Now I have more reasons to keep from being reckless.”
“Do you think all your brothers feel that way? That they have a lot to lose and have to be careful?” He smelled like clean cotton and she was glad for the brotherly comfort because she was afraid of his answer. If she learned Dylan took risks… She swallowed hard.
“I’m sure Ben does. And if I’m not wrong, Dylan does too.”
She drew back. “What does that mean?”
He smiled softly, his lips a bit thinner and harder looking than Dylan’s. Then again, she’d believed the man she’d kissed—oh, so many times—to be carved from granite. That meant Sean was flesh and blood as well.
“Don’t you know why you’re so broken up that Dylan left? Or why he looked about to put a fist through a cement block wall?” His hazel eyes gleamed with a kindness that made her tears flow faster.
She shook her head. “He looked like that?”
“I don’t think I’m wrong in saying you’ve been more to my brother since he met you.”
Talking to a stranger this way—and a male too—was disconcerting, so why did she feel her mouth opening and words tumbling out?
“There’s an attraction, yes. But it’s not real. It’s from the stress and being thrown together for so many days.”
He stared at her. “Are you sure that’s all? Sometimes things happen fast, especially if they’re meant to be.”
She drew away. “I don’t know anything anymore. I’ve had so many days cooped up here that I can’t think straight. Especially when he touches me…” She trailed off and looked up at Sean, embarrassed. “You don’t need to know the details. I’m sorry.”
His warm smile was back, coupled with a crease between his brows. “It’s all right. I guessed anyway.”
“Does the whole Knight Ops team know?”
He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “They do if they’ve been paying attention.”
“What does that mean? Are we that obvious?” She almost changed her words to were we that obvious because she and Dylan were over. She couldn’t deal with a man leaving in the middle of the night and not telling her where he was going or if he’d ever return.
She swiped another tear away as it dribbled down her cheek.
Sean rubbed her shoulders, his strong hands finding all the knots she didn’t know she had. A sigh left her.
“Look, we’re brothers. Even Rocko might as well be blood. We know each other inside and out and you see changes in people.”
“You saw changes in Dylan?”
He nodded. “He’s been different. He’s always been the quietest Knight. God knows our sisters are anything but quiet. But he’s been even quieter when he’s around us. He’s also moodier.”
She tensed. “I make him moodier?”
Sean grinned, the smile line cutting through his cheek so much like Dylan’s that her heart flipped over. “Don’t you know love makes a man moodier?”
She blinked.
“You didn’t know how he feels?”
“I—” She looked up at him, unable to find the words with the big L word flashing in her head like a neon sign on a carnie booth.
She drew a deep breath to control the crazy notions circling her head. This was Sean speaking and not Dylan. He didn’t really know how his brother felt unless Dylan confided, and it sounded as if that wasn’t the case.
He must be misinterpreting his brother’s silence and moodiness. Heck, he hadn’t even been around him that much lately. How could this be love when she and Dylan had just met and were in a situation that was a breeding ground for emotional turmoil?
Then again…
She pushed out a breath. “He told me he’s falling for me.”
He grunted. “That’s what I thought at first too with Elise. I thought it couldn’t be anything but lust and a heavy crush. Damn, was I wrong. But it didn’t take me long to figure things out, and since Dylan and I share DNA, I bet he’s the same way.”
Athena shook her head. “Nothing can happen between us.”
He cocked his head, watching her closely. “Why not? Are you attached?”
“No! I mean, of course not. I wouldn’t play around with Dylan if I was. But… it isn’t real. These feelings.” A cry bubbled up her throat, and she narrowly cut it off before breaking down entirely. She rubbed a hand over her face. “Look, I’m exhausted. I should get some sleep and I’m thinking about closing the boutique tomorrow.”
He pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry, but you can’t do that.”
“I can’t?” She gaped at him. She could set her own hours. Never once had she chosen not to open Athena’s Creations or left early in all her years until this week.
“Athena, we’re trying to find the people who are not only on our watch list but our targets. When they send in Knight Ops, we have a duty to smoke out the criminals and capture them. In this case, your customers.”
Once again, her guard went up. Her clients weren’t criminals, just people who loved to flaunt their money.
She shook her head.
He nodded. “There are things we can’t tell you.”
“Dylan mentioned that.” A pang hit her at saying his name.
“We need you to keep your normal business hours and stick to the plan with us. Did Dylan mention he also needs you to place another order to that supplier you purchased the jeweled shoes from?”
She shook her head, exhausted and drained. How was she going to make it through the next day feeling this way? And without Dylan to push her.
Sean squeezed her shoulder. “I have a plan.”
She met his stare.
“I’m bringing in backup, someone to help you in the boutique.”
Her brows shot up.
He grinned. “My wife. She’s OFFSUS too.”
“OFFSUS. I keep hearing that word but I don’t know what it means and nobody will tell me.” She folded her arms over her chest again, trying to find comfort in the natty sweater. But only having Dylan close right now would drive away this panic rising inside her.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this. It stands for Operation Freedom Flag Southern US.”
“So you’re like… Homeland Security?”
The crooked smile he wore was so like Dylan’s that she had to squeeze herself harder to keep from running to the door and out of the house to look for him.
“You could say we’re an amped up version of that crew.”
“How amped up?” She thought of Dylan’s muscles as he thrust into her.
“Think of it this way—they’re mall cops and we’re Knight Ops.”
* * * * *
Ben, Chaz and Roades stared at Dylan while Rocko just leaned against the wall, a grin plastered on his face. For ten minutes they’d been trying to talk him out of confronting Colonel Jackson, but they were wasting their breath. They were told Jackson was en route to the base, and Dylan was climbing the walls waiting.
“Think about it, Dylan,” Ben said for the third time.
“I have thought about it. This is dragging on. If we’d held back and waited on that mission overseas—”
Ben sliced a hand through the air to cut him off. “That’s completely different and you know it.”
“The threat isn’t small or we wouldn’t be here discussing it right now. Jackson felt it was important enough to set us on the path and we’ve been running in place for days. I’m fucking done churning up dirt.”
“Dammit, you know what you did was wrong. Taking her out of the safe house to a fucking public place? And Mardi Gras, the biggest security threat in the country—hell, maybe even the planet? This isn’t going to go unanswered for.”
“I’ll deal with the fallout if it comes to that.”
“Oh it will. You’re not thinking straight because you’re in—”
“If it isn’t the Knight Ops boys. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Jackson’s voice cut off what Ben was about to say, but Dylan could guess. They’d spent the past ten minutes trying to convince him that his emotions were making him act irrationally. But from Dylan’s point of view, he was the only clear-thinking one of the bunch. Lying in wait was not their style and never would be. Why were they stalling now?
Jackson waved them into his office and circled to his desk. The team gathered around, shoulder to shoulder, at attention.
“At ease, men. Now somebody explain what the hell you’re doing in my office.”
The colonel didn’t hold back even though the captain of the Knight Ops team was his own son-in-law. In fact, he was probably harder on Ben because of it.
Jackson looked from face to face. “Well? Dylan, shouldn’t you be at the safe house?”
“I left Sean in charge, sir.”
“I was awakened in the middle of the night after receiving a phone call from Ben.” He directed his stare at their caption. “That you had disobeyed direct orders and taken the woman you’re charged with out of the safe house and to the fucking fair?”
“Sir, I—” Dylan began, heat infusing his face. He’d done it, all right. Fucked up bad. He had no excuses other than he wanted to see her happy, and he’d achieved that at least.
“You what? Screwed up? I’d say that’s an understatement, Knight.”
“It won’t happen again, sir. I will take whatever punishment is coming to me.”
Jackson eyed him for a long minute. “Damn right you will. I should take you off the operation.”
“Sir, that isn’t necessary. I’ll scrub latrines, whatever it takes.”
He shook his head. “Goddamn latrines,” he muttered.
“Sir, I request that you do not remove me from the operation. What I did was wrong. I acted irresponsibly and beyond my authority.”
“I’ll deal with that later. Right after you tell me why you dragged me out of bed to come down here.”
Dylan shot Ben a look and received a warning glance in return. But he stepped up to the desk and took charge. “Sir, I’m asking permission to act fast. The vendor of those jeweled shoes and some of the other necklaces in Athena’s Creations has a false front.”
“I knew that from the report, Knight.” If Jackson had been pulled from his bed to come to the base and have this conversation, he didn’t look it. He was just as sharp and eagle-eyed as ever.
“Why haven’t we reacted to that intel? The address leads to a warehouse.”
“The warehouse was already inspected. It checked out as being a storage facility for a local department store.”
He shook his head. “I don’t buy that, sir. With all respect to the investigators—”
“Are you saying our people are wrong, Knight?”
He held his breath. Then let it go.
“That’s what I’m saying, sir. Requesting permission to search the warehouse.”
“Denied. Now I’m going back home and get into bed. There’s still,” he checked his gold watch, “three hours left before dawn. Now get out of my office, men.”
The guys filed out, and when Dylan didn’t budge from the spot, Ben grasped his shoulder, each fingertip bruising. He knew when he removed his shirt, he’d be wearing four blue crescent marks.
Dylan turned for the door and didn’t stop walking until they were outside.
Ben glared at him. “That went well.”
He ran his fingers over his hair. “If this was Dahlia, you wouldn’t be standing there saying this to me. You’d have the hammer back as you ran into that warehouse.”
“So you’re admitting your feelings for the woman?” Ben asked.
“Look, are we new recruits on the bus about to be greeted by the drill instructor? Or are we fucking Knight Ops?”
Rocko was nodding. “I’m with ya, Dylan.”
Chaz hesitated only a heartbeat before stepping up. “Me too.”
“Goddammit, you fuckers are going to get us court martialed,” Ben rumbled.
Roades shook his shoulders as if limbering up for the fight. “Then we go down swingin’. Let’s go, Ben.”
Dylan yanked open the door of the black SUV and climbed behind the wheel. Chaz tried for shotgun, but Ben leveled a look at him that sent him to the back seat.
“I’m still the fucking captain of this team even if there’s a fucking mutiny at the moment. You’d better be fucking right about this, Dylan.”
He started the engine. “How many times you going to say fuck in the same paragraph? Maman would wash your mouth out with soap.”
“She’s too busy washing out Lexi’s. Since Tyler’s in Boot Camp, she’s decided she needs to step up and fill her sister’s shoes,” Chaz added.
“Jesus, is that right?” Dylan asked.
“Yes.” The answer came from Rocko, which earned a collective growl from the brothers.
“Didn’t we tell you to stay away from our little sister?” Ben twisted in the seat to glare at their team member.
Dylan glanced into the rearview mirror to see Rocko kicked back, relaxed. When he didn’t answer, Dylan’s brothers started arguing the point. But Dylan just focused on the road and drove. His mind was back with Athena. Sean would keep her safe—he had no worries on that front.
He wasn’t wrong in paying a visit to the warehouse, permission or not. He had to end this. Breaking some faces would feel pretty damn good right about now too.
The argument continued until the time he rolled up a block from the building. He cut the engine and turned in his seat to look at the men.
“Roades, you cut the security cameras.”
“Done.” He saluted Dylan.
“Chaz, you’re with Ben, Rock with me. Roades, as soon as you get those wires cut, we rally and go in together.”
“What are we looking for?” Chaz asked.
“Anything the investigators would have missed.”
“Wait a damn minute here. I’m still in charge of this team.” Ben’s voice stopped the conversation.
“Fine, then you’re responsible for getting us in and getting what we need,” Dylan said.
“All right.”
They all waited for his command.
Ben rubbed his knuckles over his jaw. “I’m not exactly sure what to look for either.”
Dylan gave a shake of his head. He’d say I told you so later, after Ben had a couple beers in him to soften the blow.
He looked at his team. “Look for labels that seem out of place or boxes with no labels at all. I think what we’re looking for would be hidden among the other crates.”
“And if we run into anybody?” Roades asked.
“Then we secure the threat.” Dylan’s no-nonsense tone was answered with no-bullshit nods. He put his hand on the door handle. “Let’s roll.”
Entering was a breeze and they shined flashlights on crate after crate, searching for something out of the ordinary. Roades took down one box and sliced it open, pulling out a plastic bag of men’s socks.
“This what we’re looking for, Dylan?”
“No, dickhead, it’s not and you know it. Stay on task.” Dylan moved through the towers of crates, reading labels. Suddenly, a sound made him stop dead. He jerked his head to the side.
“Keep low, weapons at the ready.” Ben’s quiet command came to them.
A box teetered and fell, making a loud thump on the concrete floor. Two guys rushed out from one aisle and then Knight Ops was in the thick of it.
Dylan pulled up and took aim. He ignored the throbbing of his heart and slowed his breathing for a split second before he took the shot. The man fell on his side and didn’t move again.
“Nice shot.” Rocko flashed a grin before sprinting after an assailant.
Dylan assessed the situation in a blink, tracking his own men and zeroing in on the enemy. Apparently these guys didn’t approve of somebody scoping out their warehouse and were armed for a damn good reason.
Because they had something to hide.
The faintest sound of a boot scuffing against concrete had him spinning. He whipped around his rifle and smashed the butt over the man’s eye. He screamed as bone shattered and dropped to his knees.
“I’ve got a prisoner,” Dylan called to his team.
“Good. Get him talkin’,” Ben responded.
On high alert for other attackers, he kicked the guy in the shin. “On your feet.”
When he didn’t move, Dylan commanded, “Now or I’ll find someone else to let live long enough to tell me what I need to know.”
The man swayed to his feet, blood dripping down his face from the butt to the face.
“Show me where the goods are.”
“You can’t steal them.”
Ah, so they believed they were being robbed. They were just a bunch of bodies standing guard.
Using this to his advantage, he shoved the man forward. “Take me to the goods.”
To his right, another shot exploded, and he jerked his head around. Roades had a guy pinned down around a huge crate. If the guy got desperate as a last chance at survival, things would get ugly.
Dylan had to do something. “I’ve got a clear shot.”
Roades’ voice came back gritty with suppressed fury. “Take it.”
He got the guy in his sights and took him out with a hit to the right shoulder, through the meaty part where no vitals were. Roades rushed around the corner and jumped the guy, confiscating his weapons and using zip-ties to immobilize him.
Dylan nudged his captive. “Get goin’.”
With a hand still holding his pulverized eye, he moved forward. They walked the length of one row of crates to the end and then turned right. Up another aisle.
“If you’re trying to throw me off, don’t bother. You can’t.”
“Just let me leave with my life. We’re supposed to guard this stuff but it isn’t worth never seeing my wife again.”
Dylan had a moment of remorse for hitting the guy, yet this was a battle and he couldn’t stop to think about anything but the mission and Knight Ops.
“Just show me and things won’t get out of hand.”
“Come out, you fucking cowards!” someone screamed, and it wasn’t any of the Knights or Rocko.
A shot went wild, followed by two more blasts. Dylan heard the telltale whoosh of bullet cutting through flesh. Then a thump as a body fell.
The man in front of him pointed at a box.
“Get it down,” Dylan ordered.
The man took his hand away long enough to reach up for a box wedged between two. Nothing out of the ordinary here, no markings to indicate it was anything but more socks.
Dylan took it from him, prepared for more physical blows. But the man just stood waiting for him to flip open the lid.
Revealing more gems.
“You’re laundering these. Why? And for who?” Dylan’s demands had the man shaking his head.
“I don’t know, man. I only guard the stuff.”
“You don’t even know who signs your paychecks?”
He shook his head. “We get paid in envelopes left in a locked box in the office.” He held his eye again, grimacing. It had to hurt like hell.
“There are more of these. Show me where they all are.”
He nodded and half an hour later, the team had every hostile guard subdued and a virtual pirates chest of treasure spread out on a metal table.
“Jesus.” Ben blew out a whistle. “Gotta be millions worth here.”
“Yeah, but why? Think our intel’s still correct? Who is funding this operation and is the money only going as an investment to gain more? Shut down that power grid and all the banks and then wipe them out?”
Ben shook his head. “Above our pay grade. I’m sure you could find out with enough time to hack some systems, though.”
Dylan grunted.
“Let’s pack these up and get them to Jackson. I have a feeling there are more microchips inside some of the gems. The intelligence officers will have their work cut out for them.” Ben twitched two fingers toward the exit, indicating they should move out.
He was right that Dylan could uncover more about this, but what he most wanted to know was which of Athena’s customers was really moving the jewels. The woman who’d acquisitioned the shoes had gone underground it seemed, vanished off the face of the earth. He had a feeling there was more than one customer using Athena’s Creations as a way to move funds, and he just had to keep Athena out of it… safe.