He shoved the door open to survey the damage and check for any sign of life.

Nothing.

He blew out a long breath, trying to drag enough oxygen into his lungs to breathe. It took Caleb another second to realize Avery had never let go of his shirt.

“We’re okay,” Caleb said.

“I can’t believe…” Her voice shook as hard as her body.

Reality came roaring back. This was his life, not hers. She’d held it together, helped him. When everything fell apart around her, she held it together. In that moment, their history didn’t matter.

Knowing it was stupid he leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Once his lips met her soft mouth, the temptation to linger and relearn the taste of her grabbed him, but he pushed it out of his head. This was about providing comfort only. About giving them a moment to celebrate being alive.

Gunning for Trouble
Helenkay Dimon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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To my mom, Joan Dimon, who loves reading mysteries,

thrillers and romantic suspense as much as I do.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author HelenKay Dimon spent twelve years in the most unromantic career ever—divorce lawyer. After dedicating all that effort to helping people terminate relationships, she is thrilled to deal in happy endings and write romance novels for a living. Now her days are filled with gardening, writing, reading and spending time with her family in and around San Diego. HelenKay loves hearing from readers, so stop by her website at www.helenkaydimon.com and say hello.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Caleb Mattern —This undercover Recovery Project agent is trying to adjust to involuntary retirement. Having his ex-girlfriend and former boss break into his house changes everything.

Avery Walker —She once made a tough decision she thought was right but ended up losing Caleb. Now she needs his help…and wants another chance to win him back.

Trevor Walters —A highly regarded and very powerful businessman. On the surface he is well connected and plays by the rules. But looks can be deceiving.

Rod Lehman —The missing head of the Recovery Project. His off-the-books investigation into missing women in the Witness Security Program could cost all the Recovery agents their lives.

Russell Ambrose —One of the few people with inside information about the workings of witness protection. So why doesn’t he know what’s happening on his watch?

John Tate —An administrator in the Office of Enforcement Operations at the Justice Department. He decides who gets into witness protection and who doesn’t. The question is about what else he knows.

Vince Ritter —Rod’s former partner. Vince shows up, offering his help to the Recovery agents, but can he be trusted?

Luke Hathaway —The interim head of the Recovery Project. He has vowed to keep his team together, even if it means sending Avery away.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter One

Caleb Mattern’s watch vibrated against his nightstand. The second after the warning alarm went off and the green backlight flashed, he rolled off the mattress fully awake with his hand grabbing for the gun tucked between the bottom of the headboard and his stack of pillows.

Dressed only in a pair of gray boxer briefs, he reached for the watch and stalked in a crouch through his dark bedroom. The curtains were drawn tight, not letting any light seep in and ruin his nightly four hours of sleep. Any brightness and he wouldn’t even get that much.

So, this is how the end would come. Trapped in a one-bedroom condo in his underwear. He smiled at the thought. Or he did until his fingers tightened on the weapon, causing his mind to snap to attention.

Being armed felt right. He could shoot, attack, roll. Do whatever was necessary to stay alive. He’d learned those skills long ago, and being on involuntary leave from the job he loved didn’t change the adrenaline rush.

He stalked around the end of the bed, his feet quiet as they fell against the soft beige carpet. Opening the door to the hall would be more of a challenge. He rigged it every night. If someone got into the place without triggering the alarm, he had backup plans: a loose floorboard just outside the bedroom; a window that opened only two inches before the sirens of hell rang out; a hinge rigged to squeak if the door opened.

And those were just the obvious tricks.

As fast as his fingers could move, he tightened the screw at the top of the door. At the right pressure it would remain silent and he could pull off a stealth maneuver into the hall. But too long in this position and any bullet traveling through the door would hit him right in the gut. Not exactly the way he wanted to go out of this world.

He pulled the door open enough to slip through. Quiet echoed all around him. Other than the low hum of the refrigerator down the hall, nothing else made a sound.

The place was about seven hundred square feet. He liked it small. Made it easier to strategize and attack if needed, and it looked as if tonight called for an ambush. If the intruder so much as breathed, Caleb would be all over him.

Easing into the hallway, he hesitated just long enough for his eyes to fully adjust to the dark. He stepped around the purposely creaky floorboard and headed down the short corridor to the open area. From there he could see every angle of the condo.

A shuffling noise sounded in front of him. His gaze swept over the family room and into the small kitchen area on his left.

Nothing.

Well, nothing at eye level. A quick survey of the floor told him what he needed to know. Not that he could see the intruder. But the guy had made a mistake. The slimmest edge of a canvas bag stuck out from behind the couch. Could be a trap but there were only a few places for someone to spring up from behind Caleb. He had his ankle wedged against the laundry door just in case someone managed to curl up in there and hide. That left the few feet of space between the couch and the television.

The rat-a-tat drumming of energy pounded through Caleb. He didn’t waste one more second waiting to get shot first. He ducked down, using the piece of furniture as a shield. Him on one side and the target on the other. In one smooth move, he launched his body up over the top of the sofa. The first grab turned up only air. He stretched forward on the second lunge, saw a flash of brown hair and then grabbed a shirt collar and pulled back. Caleb shoved his gun into the intruder’s temple just as the screaming started.

He was a she. A very pissed-off she.

Arms and legs thrashed. Books from his coffee table fell to the floor as she kicked out, missing the television by inches. Fingernails scraped against his forearm. When she bit him, he shoved her away. She lost her balance, careening right for the plasma screen but she caught herself in time. She spun around, her eyes wide with shock, chest rising and falling in a rhythm guaranteed to bring on a heart attack.

Identifying the threat almost did it for him. It was as if the blood stammered to a halt in his veins. “Avery?”

“Caleb?”

His muscles burned from the quick diversion from the fight. “Uh, yeah.”

“Why are you sneaking around?”

Avery Walker, former boss and lover. She fired him exactly two years ago next month. He dumped her right after. They’d carefully avoided each other ever since. “That’s my question. It’s four in the morning.”

“I know.”

“And how did you get into my house?”

“I can explain.”

His breathing finally pulled back to near-normal levels. “You bet you will. And while you’re at it, tell me what you’re doing here.”

“I came to talk to you.”

“There’s this new invention called the telephone.” He took in her tight mouth and the white-knuckle grip on the side of his television. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Could you lower the gun?”

Out of habit it was still aimed right for her heart. He dropped his arm to his side but didn’t put the weapon away. Not until he knew what was going on. “Better?”

“Barely.”

He felt the same way. Seeing her ripped through his usual wall of control. The jeans and bulky sweater seemed out of place for someone who spent most of her life in a lab coat. Studying her, he saw the same long brown hair and the huge dark eyes that could drop a man to his knees. She had just turned thirty-four, two years older than him, yet her round face and smooth skin made her look a good ten years younger.

The off-the-charts hotness factor had also made some of her days at Hancock Labs tough. Men talked down to her while they ogled her hourglass figure and tight butt. There were few women there, but the one near the top of the food chain piled menial jobs on top of Avery’s heavy workload as a DNA analyst, as if daring her to fail.

Caleb knew because he watched it all play out. Quietly fought battles on Avery’s behalf without her knowledge. Then she got promoted, the rumors started and everything fell apart.

“You can let go of my television now.” They had enough bad blood between them without adding a couple of thousand dollars’ worth of smashed electronics.

“It’s not what you think.”

He actually had no idea what to think. “Okay.”

“This is an emergency.”

He stared at his front door, but didn’t see any sign of a break-in. “How did you get on this side of the door?”

Her arms slowly fell to her sides as she blew out a long breath. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“Try answering any of them. Just pick one and start talking”

“I used the code and this to get in.” She slipped her fingers into her jeans pocket and pulled out a shiny key.

The move stunned him more than seeing her face. “I didn’t live here when we…before…so you sure shouldn’t know my code, though I’m thinking you have an old one since my alarm still went off. And don’t try to tell me I gave you a key, because we both know that’s not true.”

Her chin lifted. “Not to this or any other apartment.”

“Is now the right time for that discussion?”

She threw the key on the couch cushion between them. “You’re the one who’s been running. Not me.”

He refused to take the bait. “So, you decided burglary was the best way to get my attention?”

“Forget that.” She waved her hands in front of her. “I’m not here about us.”

The fact she could dismiss their relationship now as easily as she did two years ago sent his temperature spiking. Had his hand squeezing against the gun until the metal dug into his skin. “What else is there?”

“I had to find you.”

“Why?”

“Rod told me if he ever…”

“Stop.” Caleb stepped around the sofa to stand in front of her. “Rod who?”

She didn’t roll her eyes, but she looked as though she wanted to. “The man you work for. Rod Lehman.”

With his free hand, Caleb wrapped his fingers around her elbow and dragged her even closer, his chest practically resting against hers. He dropped his voice to a whisper just to be safe. “You can’t know about this.”

“About the Recovery Project? About your undercover work?” She tried to wiggle free, but he didn’t ease his grip. “I assure you, I know.”

“Not possible.”

She flattened her palm against his chest, her gaze searching his face as she talked. “Caleb, listen to what I’m telling you.”

The soft touch of her hand burned through him. The feel of skin against skin lit his nerve endings on fire. It had always been that way with her. Despite the fury and betrayal, his body reacted to her nearness.

He stepped back to break the hold, physical and otherwise, she had over him. “This is nuts.”

“We don’t have a lot of time.”

“For what?”

She bent down and grabbed her bag. “I have information for Rod. Where is he?”

Nothing she said made any sense. The Recovery Project was top secret, an off-the-books, quasi-governmental agency that hunted missing people, both those who wanted to stay missing and those who wanted to be found. Or it was until a congressman with a personal vendetta pulled the funding and disbanded the group. Now it functioned as a private, rogue investigative organization.

Rod had always spearheaded Recovery, handpicked its operatives, but he had nothing to do with Caleb’s past. And Avery was most certainly his past. “What do you know about Rod?”

“Like I said, he’s your boss.”

Caleb wanted to shake her, but touching her again was out of the question. “Damn it, Avery. That’s not public information, and I think you know it.”

“He told me if I needed him and couldn’t find him through our usual communication channels—”

“What does that mean?”

“I should come to you.” She sent Caleb that disapproving frown, complete with flat-lined lips. The same look he dredged up from memory whenever he got dangerously close to calling her to talk over old times. Caleb shook his head. “So?”

“I don’t know where he is.”

She went from frowning to sighing, another of her annoying specialties. “This isn’t the time to play super-secretive-operative guy. Rod told me if he ever failed to check in, I should come to you. So, here I am.”

She talked as if she worked for Rod, but that was impossible. Rod was his boss. The man ran Recovery, or he did until he disappeared, leaving behind only cryptic notes about a problem in the Witness Security Program, WitSec.

Caleb shook his head as he tried to make sense of his colliding worlds. “We’re starting this conversation over.”

“No, we’re not.” She pulled her bag over her shoulder as she looked him up and down. “Go get dressed. I have to keep moving.”

“Why?” Caleb barely got the word out when he heard the scraping at the front door. He expected reinforcements, but not from that direction. “Did you relock it?”

“Of course.”

A danger signal flashed in Caleb’s brain. He grabbed Avery by the wrist and pulled her into the small kitchen while the panel on his watch went wild with racing lights. His stare never wavered from the door. He raised the weapon with one hand and reached around Avery to unlock the window behind her with the other.

“Out on the fire escape and then go down. Do not wait or stop until I tell you.” He whispered the command right as the front door shattered off its hinges.

Wood splintered and cracked. A metallic smell mixed with a puff of gray smoke. The too-late alarm screeched inside his condo while the building’s fire alarm kicked to life out in the hall. A gun barrel peeked into the room as the door across the hall opened, only to slam shut again.

Caleb didn’t wait. He turned to the empty space beside him, relieved to see Avery gone, and then slipped out the window. As quiet as possible, he closed the glass behind him. Ignoring the cold air against his bare skin, he started crawling down the metal steps. His feet touching against the cold, he was careful not to slip or make noise to draw the gunman’s attention. Caleb counted on the guy searching the bedroom first. That would be the instinct, to go into the other room, which was exactly why Caleb’s escape route didn’t lead that way.

Police sirens wailed in the distance as the lights flickered and the building came alive with activity. Avery was a floor below him. She kept glancing up but never stopped moving. When she hit the landing two floors down, he banged the gun against the metal railing to get her attention.

She stopped and shrugged her shoulders at him. Only Avery could maintain her offended sense of bossiness in the midst of a crisis.

Some neighbors flooded into the street as others ducked their heads out windows, looking for the source of the noise and confusion. The action made sneaking away to safety even more difficult. Skipping the last few steps, Caleb jumped down, landing on the platform beside Avery and ignoring the feel of whatever was underneath him.

“Why are we stopping?” she asked.

He didn’t take the time to explain. With his hand on her shoulder, he moved her to the side and slipped his fingers between the sill and wall of the window two floors below his condo.

She slapped at his arm. “What if the people are home?”

With a touch of his watch he silenced the alarm for this condo before it could go off and join the others. The window lock clicked open and he raised the glass. “They’re not.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I own this, too. It’s my escape route.” He glanced around but all attention seemed centered on the lobby and the two fire engines pulling up to the curb, instead of the guy in his underwear on the steps.

“Well, of course you own it.” She sat on the frame and then swung her legs inside. “Doesn’t everyone keep two condos in the same building?”

“I don’t remember you being this sarcastic this early in the morning when we dated.”

“At this time of the day sarcasm is all I can manage.” She continued to grumble even as he followed her in side.

“You could try being grateful that I had a contingency plan.”

She stood in the middle of the studio apartment. “Is there a light switch?”

So much for gratitude. “Leave it off for now. The only thing in here is a couch, so you don’t need to worry about tripping and I don’t want you skulking around anyway.”

He walked past her and headed for the front door, trying to block out the emergency evacuation message blaring through the building on an endless loop. The speakers were mounted in the hall, but the beeping followed by the monotone voice instructing occupants to use the stairs and meet in the lobby echoed all through his small space. He’d hear that thundering warning in his sleep. That was, if he ever had the chance to sleep again.

Looking through the peephole, he saw people scurrying in the hallway. Another neighbor simply opened his door, glanced out and then went back inside again. Caleb didn’t care what anyone else did so long as no one tried to come inside.

He reached for his cell and remembered he wasn’t wearing anything more than his underwear. No shoes. No shirt. Certainly no pockets.

“Do you have your phone?” he asked.

When Avery didn’t answer, he turned around. She wasn’t there.

Chapter Two

Avery felt a rush of air behind her right before a hand clamped over her mouth and another slipped around her waist, banding her arms to her sides. A startled scream died in her throat as she was dragged out of the room and deeper into the shadows. The fog cleared from her head just as panic bubbled up from her stomach.

The bare forearm and stone wall of a chest gave away the sex of her attacker. A man. A big man with a grip destined to leave indents on her skin. She kicked out her leg only to have his wrap around hers and lock it back. Her neck straining, she tried to get out a mumble over the shrieking building alarm, anything to warn Caleb.

“Avery, I asked you…” Caleb’s comment faded as he scanned the room and his gaze fell on them. He reached for the switch and the overhead light flickered on.

Despite having her chest compressed and her jaw locked shut by some animal’s fingers, her nerves stopped jumping around. Hearing Caleb’s voice didn’t send her spinning with relief, but it did bring back hope for survival. She knew him as a man who worked in a lab. This side of him, the part that felt at home with a gun and confident while engaging predators, was new to her, even though she always sensed that protective streak lurking beneath everything else. Heck, he didn’t even let the fact he was half-naked stop him.

“Let her go.” He didn’t yell or threaten. Didn’t even raise his weapon.

And that fast, the suffocating hold was gone. Off balance, she listed to the side only to have the attacker’s hand return again, this time to steady her. But it was too late for calm. If Caleb wasn’t going to shoot this guy, she would try to take him down. She turned and raised a fist to knock him into the fridge.

The attacker caught her clenched hand in his but didn’t hurt her. “I don’t think so,” he said.

She tried to think of another way to cause damage. “Who are you?”

“The cavalry.” The man’s amused tone didn’t match the black commando T-shirt or stealth attack. Then again, neither did the boyish dimple or the wire-rimmed glasses.

“He’s with me.” The second Caleb stepped up, the other man dropped her hand. The building alarm shut off right after.

“Thank God. I can hear again.” The man nodded in Caleb’s direction. “Nice outfit, by the way.”

Avery followed the stare as she tried to calm her breathing. Looking at the muscles stretching across Caleb’s bare chest sure didn’t help with that task. He hadn’t gotten soft in their years apart. If anything, he’d gotten more fit. She imagined this is what his body looked like back at the Naval Academy and in the years in the military that followed. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on his stomach.

Those broad shoulders brought back memories. They would lie in bed with him hovering over her. She used to love to run her fingers over his skin, dip into the space between his collarbone and his neck, and then up and through his sandy brown hair. The man possessed the sexiest green-gray eyes she had ever seen.

And a stubborn streak that made her head pound.

“You got here fast,” Caleb said to the man who was obviously a friend and not an enemy.

“Always nice when a contingency plan works,” the man said as he stole glances in her direction.

When Caleb didn’t explain what was happening or even bother to act like standing there half-naked after his front door exploded was an odd thing, she took the lead. The way she figured it, she’d tolerated just about enough confusion for one evening. If her heart raced any faster, she was going to pass out. Last thing she needed was the show of male bonding, not with armed guys hunting for them only a few floors above.

She looked up at the stranger. Caleb stood about six feet, but this guy had to be another three or so inches taller, so looking up was her only option. “Who are you?”

Caleb placed a hand against the small of her back. “Avery Walker, this is Adam Wright. We work together.”

Adam nodded his head. “Ma’am.”

“You don’t want to know why I’m with Caleb?”

She saw Adam swallow back a smile. “I figure if you’re here, it’s because he wants you to be. The rest isn’t my business.”

“He’s the computer genius of the group,” Caleb said, cutting through the personal stuff.

Adam scowled at Caleb but he missed it and Avery was too busy fighting off the flood of anger pouring through her. “Computers? Are you kidding? Felt more like you were the pain enforcer to me. You scared the he—”

Adam held up his hands as if surrendering, even though he held a gun in one. “And you were a worthy adversary. If I hadn’t stopped you just then, we’d be picking my teeth up off the floor.”

“We still might,” she mumbled.

Adam smiled. “Fair enough.”

She refused to be charmed or put off. Concentrating while Caleb stood there in his tight underwear was hard enough. “Anyone want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Adam is with Recovery.”

Adam’s shoulders tensed. “Caleb, what are you—”

“She knows.”

Adam looked back and forth between Caleb and Avery. “Not possible.”

The poor guy looked ready to vomit, which she figured served him right after the squeeze play he put on her midsection. “Totally possible.”

Caleb blew out a long, exaggerated breath. “Apparently it is.”

She saw Adam’s hand shift toward his gun. She saw it and Caleb saw it.

“Stop.” Caleb pressed his hands down as if trying to calm the situation. “Avery is safe. Trust me. I’m not worried about her alliances.”

She had no idea what that meant but the whole talking-like-she-wasn’t-there thing wasn’t her favorite.

“She does about Rod and Recovery.” She hesitated to make sure her sarcasm made an impression. “My question was really about why we’re in this condo and when exactly Caleb here had the time to call in the cavalry here.”

He had the nerve to shrug. “We all have contingency plans in case of an emergency.”

“I’m his,” Adam said.

They acted as if that explained everything. “I still don’t get it.”

“If the silent alarm trips—” Adam pointed to his watch as he spoke “—I come running. If Caleb isn’t here or on that fire escape, I know he needs help.”

“You got here before we did.”

“I live in the building and was already in the condo when the building’s fire alarm started blaring. Something tripped Caleb’s silent alarm before that.”

“You mean someone.” Caleb played with the buttons on his watch, as if the conversation bored him. “Avery broke into my apartment.”

“Impressive.” Adam’s tone and his slow nod suggested he meant it.

Caleb finally looked up again. “And now we’re stuck because there are police and bad guys roaming around, and I’m not sure which is which.”

“Do we know the identity of said bad guys?” Adam asked. “Just wondering who we ticked off this time.”

As much as she wanted to hear about whatever idiot would be self-destructive enough to come after these two, she jumped in. “You didn’t. I did.”

She waited until both men looked at her. She wanted to make sure she had their attention because she needed them to understand how serious the situation had become. “They want me.”

Caleb stared at her for a few seconds without saying anything. Then he wrapped his fingers around her elbow and turned toward the front door. “Then despite the danger, we have to get you out of here and somewhere safe.”

“You might want to put on some clothes first,” Adam called out, right before she could.

Caleb stopped in midstep and glanced down his front. “Good plan.”

Adam shook his head. “I’ll get them.”

She waited until Adam stepped into the bathroom to whisper her question to Caleb. “Can he be trusted?”

He stared after Adam, glanced around the room, basically did everything but give her the courtesy of looking at her. “Yeah. Adam’s one of the few people I do trust.”

There was nothing subtle in Caleb’s comment. “Unlike me?”

This time his gaze locked on hers. “Yeah, Avery. Unlike you.”

TREVOR WALTERS LEANED back in his oversize leather chair and stared at the men sitting on the other side of his desk. They were experts in their fields but he could control them both with a few phone calls, as evidenced by the fact they showed up on his turf before five in the morning, before the workday even started. Likely before these government workers normally woke up. They asked for a meeting. He set the unreasonable terms to see if they’d meet them. Not a surprise they had.

His company, Orion Industries, specialized in threat management. He advised governments and corporations, supplying assessments and muscle. Today his country’s government had come calling in the form of a fifty-something bureaucrat with graying hair, a runner’s build and a Georgetown Law class ring.

“We’re here on a sensitive subject,” John Tate said, then stopped. It was as if he thought his impressive title at the Department of Justice gave him the right to make demands.

Trevor wasn’t impressed by the deputy director of the Office of Enforcement Operations. The man oversaw complex surveillance and witness protection requests, including who got in and who didn’t. But with all that power the guy still had no clue about the corruption raging through his office.

Russell Ambrose, the other man in the room, knew all about deceit. As chief inspector in the D.C. office of WitSec and a career government official with the U.S. Marshal Service, he should have been crystal clean. Trevor knew from experience that wasn’t the case.

Trevor knew. Russell knew. Tate, the man at the very top, was the only one in the dark. Trevor almost smiled at the irony.

“You know I am always willing to lend my company’s services if needed,” he said.

John gave a quick glance in Russell’s direction before starting. “I’m afraid this is a bit more personal.”

Trevor had an idea where the conversation was headed but wanted to make the man spell it out. Let John squirm a bit. In Trevor’s view, powerful men always did the best squirming. “How so?”

“Your brother.” John brushed lint or something equally invisible off his pants. “I’m very sorry for your loss, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

“I attended the service. It was very moving.”

“Agreed.” Trevor had planned it, headed the cover-up into the true cause of the death and saw to it everyone believed his brother died a hero. Their parents deserved to grieve with honor. Having the world view Bram as the model statesman and father served that purpose. It also ensured a steady stream of contracts for Trevor’s company. Bram got the praise and Trevor reaped the benefits. He could live with the deal, even though the sting of Bram’s loss pricked stronger than Trevor expected it would.

In the quiet of his home office with only his whiskey as witness, he had mourned. He’d let the weakness flow through him. Mostly, though, he simmered with fury that Bram had gotten pulled so far into the terrible situation that led to his murder. He had been so reckless and paid the ultimate price.

Russell tapped the thin file resting on his lap. “We need some information.”

“You should know I don’t have any access to Bram’s records. Those were in his congressional office and are confidential.” Except for the boxes Trevor had already destroyed. He had owed Bram that much. Preserve his memory and bury the evidence. That had always been their unspoken deal if the worst happened.

John nodded. “Of course, but—”

Trevor flipped through his Rolodex even though he knew the number by heart. “Bram’s former chief of staff, David Brennan, is handling everything in the office pending a special election to fill Bram’s seat. David is one of the nominees and the likely successor. You can call him to get what you need.”

John put out his hand as if to stop Trevor’s movements. “This relates to work outside Bram’s job as U.S. Representative.”

“Former.”

“What?”

“My brother died saving a member of his office staff.” The kidnapping of Mia Landers by her abusive ex, the shoot-out, the inevitable death toll even Trevor could not hide. It all played out exactly as Bram had planned, except for where he got caught in the cross fire. That had been a possibility, but a remote one. “As such, my brother is no longer a member of Congress. Or of anything else, for that matter.”

At least that was the carefully constructed story Trevor had sold to the world with the cooperation of the Recovery Project agents, the very men who killed Bram.

John’s squirming started right as expected. “Yes, well, I am aware of that.”

“Then you also know my brother and I kept our respective careers separate. Since I deal in government contracts, it would have been a conflict of interest for Bram to be involved in my business and vice versa.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” John said under his breath.

“Why?”

Russell opened the mysterious file in front of him. “We have some questions relating to the congressman’s role in the Witness Security Program.”

“Witness protection? Isn’t that your specialty? Both of you.” Trevor let his gaze travel over the two men, hesitating just long enough to make sure they understood who controlled this conversation.

Trevor knew Russell wrongly believed he had the upper hand. His attempts at blackmail had proved that much. Trevor admitted to the serious miscalculation in letting Russell worm his way into his private life. Trevor vowed never to make that mistake again.

“It would seem your brother also had an interest in WitSec. He made several inquiries prior to his death, some through proper channels and others not,” Russell said.

Trevor had warned Bram not to dig, or at least to be careful when he did. One of his brother’s many failures had been his oversize ego and naive belief that his office would protect him no matter how egregious the offense. Trevor knew better. He had seen dictators of small countries fall, even helped make it happen, so he understood the devastating impact of poor choices and emotional thinking.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you,” he said.

John shifted to the front part of his chair. “Is it possible the congressman sought information about witness protection on your behalf?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Quite.”

John frowned. “Yet you’re not offended by my question.”

“You learn many things when you lose a sibling. You understand that no matter what you’ve achieved in this world or how much power you command, some things remain out of your final control.” Trevor leaned back in his chair. “Except my temper. It would seem that is the one thing I can control.”

Russell closed his file without ever reading a word from it. “Maybe if we looked through your correspondence we might see something you didn’t.”

“That is not possible, as I’m sure you know. Not with the confidential nature of my work. I have clients, and their needs must be protected.” But now Trevor knew the real reason for the visit. They wanted free access. John suspected him, of what wasn’t clear, but Trevor knew the groundwork once laid could be a significant problem.

“I was hoping to handle this privately,” John said.

“I believe we just did.” Trevor stood up and tugged on the bottom of his suit jacket to make sure it had fallen back in place. “Now, if that’s all, gentlemen?”

Russell took the hint and rose to his feet. “Of course. We won’t take any more of your time.”

Trevor had to bite back a wave of bile whenever he looked at Russell. He was the worst kind of man—one dripping in weakness who wrongly believed he possessed strength.

He paid Russell well to make sure meetings like this never happened. Looked like the man needed a reminder of the terms of their deal. “Nonsense. I am always available to government officials.”

“We do all want the same thing here,” John said.

Trevor seriously doubted that. “And what would that be?”

“Justice.” Russell fumbled over the word. Not a surprise since as far as Trevor could tell the man did not have any concept of the word.

“I’ve always found that term somewhat elusive. After all, we don’t all agree on what’s just, now do we?” Trevor let the words sink in before he headed for the door to show them out.

John hesitated for a second but then followed. “If you think of anything, you will let us know, correct?”

“Of course.”

Russell nodded. “We would appreciate that.”

Trevor decided Russell would do more than that. He would have a front-row seat to what happened next. “Rest assured I will do everything necessary to resolve our issues.”

Chapter Three

They climbed down the fire escape on the outside of the building, Adam behind her and Caleb in front. Caleb tried to think of another way to hide Avery, but he suspected her pursuers would start going door to door and keep coming. That meant they had to get out and away as fast as possible. Since there were police cars and fire trucks downstairs, their options were limited. Almost nonexistent, actually.

“Where are we going?” Avery asked as she carefully placed her feet on the metal rungs.

“Anywhere but here.”

She shot him a frown over her shoulder. “Am I supposed to know what that means?”

“No.”

She stopped ten steps up from the street and stared up at him. “You could try answering the question without being a jerk.”

He knew he should, but something about her brought out the worst in him. So did being woken up in the middle of the night to go running all over his condo build ing, dodging men with guns. “You’re the one being followed.”

“Because of Rod.” Her knuckles turned white where they held the strap to her shoulder bag. Any tighter and she’d cut off circulation.

Adam popped up next to her. “Uh, kids. I get that you two have some history and all, and I want to hear about it, I do, but we need to keep moving.”

Caleb heard the warning behind his friend’s joking tone and heeded it. “Right. We can fight about this later. Preferably when we’re out of earshot of anyone holding a weapon.”

“Fine.” She sounded anything but.

“Fine.”

Adam nodded. “Happy to hear we’re all fine. So, can we get moving?”

“One question.” Avery pointed at the side of the build ing. “There are cameras all over the place. Won’t the attackers look for us and then follow?”

“I cut their access,” Adam said. “Anyone checking the security monitors is seeing an endless loop of barren hallways and quiet outdoor areas.”

Caleb clicked the bottom button on his watch and showed her Adam’s tech handiwork. “See? There’s nothing on there that can help them or hurt us.”

Adam tapped a finger against his forehead. “Computer genius.”

“But, when did you manage to do all of that?” she asked.

“I set up the program the day we moved in and check it every week to make sure I’m still dialed in and can take over if needed. When the silent alarm went off, I switched the security monitors to my loop and have been sending the real footage to my off-site computer so I can analyze it later. The only potential problem is that the police will check it and know someone tampered with it.”

“You?”

“Oh, they won’t trace it back to me.”

She smiled for the first time all evening. “I guess you can do more than grab women and scare the crap out of them.”

“Since I’m not sure how to answer that, I won’t,” Adam said.

Caleb had had enough conversation. He wasn’t too fond of Avery’s reaction to Adam either. Hearing them joke back and forth while he stood right there was not Caleb’s idea of a good time. It made him want to punch something. Like Adam.

Leave it to Avery to come between them. From his experience, she ruined everything. Seemed she hadn’t lost that trait.

But they had a bigger problem at the moment and it—or rather, they—had just turned the corner and were heading down the alley. When Adam tensed, Caleb figured his friend had seen them, too. It took Avery a little longer, but her sharp intake of breath signaled her awareness.

“Everything okay up there?” The policeman was on top of them in a few steps. He put his hand on his gun and his partner beside him followed suit.

Two men in their late forties, if Caleb had to guess. Uniforms, matching battle stances, calm tone. Caleb wasn’t getting the paid-assassin vibe from them, but he inched his fingers closer to the weapon tucked in his waistband just in case. He noticed Adam did the same.

Caleb decided to play dumb until one of their guests gave him a reason to start shooting. “Is it a fire? If so, we figured it wasn’t safe to use the elevators.”

“Something like that.” The officer’s shoulders relaxed. “You see anyone else wandering around over here or upstairs?”

Avery shook her head, but the rest of her body remained rock still. “No, sir.”

The officer motioned them off the steps. “Then get moving. You should have been out and on the street a half hour ago.”

“We thought it was a drill.”

The officers waited until the three of them stepped on the macadam. “We need everyone out until we confirm the electrical fire and make sure it’s under control. Can you three find your way?”

Even though they looked to be in the clear, Caleb didn’t let any of the tension leave his body. He stayed ready. “Absolutely.”

The officer nodded. “Get moving.”

They waited until the police turned the corner to the front of the building again before anyone said anything. Finally, Avery let out a shaky breath. “That was close.”

“Too much so.” They kept to the side of the brick wall, out in the alley and far out of the line of sight of any of the professionals or gunmen who may be walking around the front of the complex as Caleb explained their plan. “Adam will act as a decoy and drive Avery’s car. We’ll take his alternate truck and head in the opposite direction.”

“Alternate what? You know what? Forget it. I’m not going to ask.” Avery reached into her bag and grabbed her keys. “Here. I’m parked on the street.”

Adam took them and then threw his set to Caleb. “I’m in the garage.”

Caleb felt more faith in the plan than he did five seconds ago. “Even better. We can divert their attention.”

“But there are people everywhere.” Her wild-eyed gaze traveled between the men. “And then there’s the part where this is dangerous. Adam could be hurt.”

“We could all be killed.” Caleb took in her openmouthed stare and decided she still didn’t get it. “What did you think was supposed to happen when my front door exploded? That wasn’t a friendly hello.”

A fiery heat replaced the worry in her eyes. “I am well aware of what happened, Caleb. I was there.”

“They broke into my house with weapons drawn. They, whoever they are—and you will be filling me in on that as soon as I get you to safety—were not there to talk.”

As a result, his condo, her house and anywhere else obvious was out as a hiding place.

That left the new Recovery Project headquarters as their option. The place was little more than an empty shell, an abandoned warehouse, but it couldn’t be traced to her and that’s all that mattered at the moment.

“You can stop talking to me like I’m an idiot.”

Oh, he knew she wasn’t that. She was smart and confident and driven. He’d lost his last job thanks to her and her ambitions. “Their orders likely were to grab you, kill me and take you somewhere for questioning. That means torture, Avery. You do understand, right?”

Adam shoved at Caleb’s shoulder. “Ease up.”

“She needs to understand.”

“I think she does.”

She stepped in front of Adam and right up to Caleb’s chest. “I’m sorry I involved you. Is that what you want to hear?”

Seeing her clenched fists and pale face knocked the temper right out of him. “If you’re right, you didn’t. Rod did.”

“He couldn’t have anticipated putting you in danger,” she asked.

“That’s exactly what he thought would happen.” Caleb tried to shut off his questions about Rod and WitSec and every other disaster, and focus instead on the problem in front of him. “Avery, that’s what we do.”

“This?”

“Exactly this.”

She hesitated a second more. “Then it’s good I’m with you.”

Them. Together. Caleb had to block out those images. “We’ll see if you feel that way in a half hour.”

“What happens then?”

“We’ll know if we escaped without gunfire,” Adam said and then turned to Caleb. “The truck is in my extra space on the top floor. No one will be looking for it or put me together with Avery. Keep her head down until you’re away, just to be safe. Don’t stop for any reason—roadblocks, questioning, I don’t care. If I need to cause a scene on my end to get you out, I will.”

“Sounds like you guys have done this before.” Her nervous laugh ruined her attempt at a joke.

“We’ve done far worse,” Caleb said.

Adam winked at her. “Certainly far stranger.”

“I’m driving a red sedan. I don’t know the license plate, so you’ll have to hit the automatic locks if there’s more than one of that color.” Her hand shook as she brushed her hair off her face. “It’s up the street on the left.”

One piece of information didn’t mesh with what Caleb knew about Avery. “Why don’t you know your license plate?”

“It’s my neighbor’s car.”

“Does she know you have it?”

“He doesn’t. I took it without asking.”

Caleb pushed the male reference out of his mind. They didn’t date anymore. She could see anyone she wanted and it wasn’t his business. He repeated the comment in his head three times, and the reality still refused to sink in. The idea of her with someone else made his back teeth slam together.

“With our luck the guy reported it and Adam will get picked up for stealing it,” Caleb grumbled, more at the idea of the neighbor than anything else.

She reached out and touched his arm. “My point is that the bad guys shouldn’t recognize the car, so Adam should skip the driving around part and come with us.”

“Negative.” Caleb made the comment right as Adam started shaking his head.

She dropped her hand back to her side. “Both of you?”

“It’s a safety measure,” Adam explained.

“And we’re done talking.” Caleb gave his command and then turned to Adam. “Head for the street. If the situation is too hot, ping me, keep walking and I’ll send someone to come around to pick you up.”

“Someone?” she asked.

“Another agent.” Caleb wondered if she thought he and Adam worked alone.

Her mouth dropped open. “How many more of you are there?”

Adam chuckled. “Three. Does that scare you?”

The shock turned into a small smile. “The exact opposite, actually.”

“Let’s go.” Caleb slipped his hand under her elbow and used his key to open the outside door to the garage.

Chapter Four

To anyone watching they might have looked like a loving couple. In reality, Caleb had a death grip on her skin as he pulled her out and onto the underground garage floor. If he thought she would run, he was wrong. She was too busy trying to keep her dinner in her stomach rather than on the cement in front of her. The internal muscles heaved and rumbled. Everything sloshed and moved.

She’d never had a run-in with the police. Never had men track her down, or seen a door explode either. Car chases and gunfire—if this was Caleb’s life now, she almost felt bad for firing him. He had been insubordinate and difficult, rarely followed the rules and liked to solve cases instead of limit his work to DNA testing, but he was safe there. So was she. A few more minutes of this level of panic and she was going to throw up. Or worse.

Caleb scanned the large open floor from one end of the cement block area to the other. It didn’t take long, since the floor consisted of four rows of cars separated by two lanes. There was an elevator and a guard cubicle where the cars entered and left but it appeared empty, as opposed to most of the parking spaces. They were full.

“Where is everyone?” she asked.

“Probably up on the street.”

His gaze stopped searching and fell on her. “You’re turning green.”

“I’m terrified.” Her teeth rattled to prove it.

“I’ve never known you to be scared of anything.”

“I could make a comment about you not knowing me at all, but now probably isn’t the right time.”

A sharp honk of a horn grabbed his attention, but when the car pulled out and left the garage he stared back down at her. “You think?”

“Believe it or not, I’m not a complete idiot.”

“Never said you were. Never thought it either.” His gaze flashed over her shoulder for the briefest of moments as he hurried their steps to a parking spot near the stairwell.

She would have missed his look if she hadn’t been concentrating on the unique mix of green and gray in his eyes in an effort not to double over. “What is it?”

“There’s a guy to our far right, standing just inside the garage door exit. Pretend to cough and give a quick peek over at him. Ready?”

“Yeah.” She concentrated, making sure to keep her head down as she did what he asked.

“Look familiar?”

“Not at all.”

“Did you see the guys who were following you?” Caleb aimed the key chain at the small black truck as he whispered his question. The click echoed through the floor as the automatic locks opened.

“I didn’t know anyone was behind me until your front door caved in.”

He opened the truck door for her. “Put the seat belt on and then lean down as if you’re checking in the glove compartment. I want your head out of shooting range.”

“Does this thing have air bags?”

“Adam took them out just for this type of situation.”

She thought it made more sense to load the truck with them. “Why?”

“You’d smother if we got hit.”

“You’re not making me feel very confident.”

“Right now my job is to keep you alive. We’ll worry about how happy you are later.” He walked around to his side and slid in. He jammed the key in the ignition as he strapped the belt across his lap and put the shoulder strap behind him.

“What about your head?”

“I’m going to need it to drive.”

“That’s comforting.”

“See, I’m getting better at the making-you-feel-confident thing already.”

She wanted to snort, but she followed his orders instead. Well, most of them. The not-moving part proved impossible as she glanced over the dashboard. The sight in front of her sent fear whirling through every cell and muscle. The man who stood around smoking a cigarette earlier now ran toward them, his face red and his arms pumping. “The guy is moving.”

“I see him.” Caleb pressed a hand against her shoulder and pushed her cheek closer to the leather seat. “No matter what you hear, stay down.”

“Why?” Footsteps thundered closer. A deep voice shouted for them to stop.

“He’s aiming his gun.” Caleb ducked even as he sent the truck flying out of its spot and screeching into the lane. “Down!”

Gunfire rang out all around them. Loud pings sounded as the bullets hit metal. She crouched into a tight ball and pressed as close to Caleb’s thigh as the seat belt digging into her thigh would allow. The smell of heated rubber stung her nose as the vehicle lurched for ward then picked up speed. Tires squealing, they headed in the general direction of the exit.

Before they had gone ten feet, an engine revved off to her right. At least she thought it was that side; at the awkward angle everything sounded muffled and distorted. This wasn’t just someone pulling out. This was someone looking to ram them. She knew that as sure as she knew she’d never make it out of this situation without Caleb’s help.

The whirl of tires grew louder, as if another vehicle were about to drive through her skull. She braced her elbow against the seat and touched the seat belt to make sure it was secure.

“Hold on.” The back end of the truck spun around and smashed into something solid as a rush of air passed by them on the right side.

The jolt slammed her forward. Her skin burned from the strangling belt. The contents of her stomach raced up her throat as her eyes began to water.

He shot her a worried frown. “Okay?”

“Fine.” She saw Caleb hit the gas, but the car didn’t move. When he switched gears, she closed her eyes and said a little prayer that they would survive this nightmare. “Were we hit?”

“No.”

“You’re a target.” With her hand tangled in his shirt, she tried to pull him out of the line of fire.

“Just stay down.”

Caleb never stopped moving. The wheel shook under his iron grip as he shifted his position and swore. When he hit the gas this time, the car raced through the small space.

She could hear him screaming Adam’s name, which didn’t make any sense since he wasn’t in the garage. With her eyes closed, she hunched there and waited for the truck’s walls to cave in around her. She wanted to crawl onto the floor and sit with her hands over her head, pretending none of this was happening.

But she needed to know he was okay. “Caleb!”

“What?”

His sharp response actually felt good. Hope sprang up out of nowhere, tamping down the fear bubbling up inside of her.

“No matter what, do not sit up!” His voice lost the stiff tone he’d been using with her. He now sounded wild, out of control and yelling.

She had no intention of ignoring him on this. She slid as close to him as possible. With her head tilted, she pulled her hair to the side so she could see what was happening above her.

“Hide your face.” With his body flat against the steering wheel, Caleb reached up and touched something against the windshield. It shattered into hundreds of tiny blocks.

Someone screamed, and she was pretty sure the high-pitched wail came from her. “What did you—”

“Safety glass.”

The glass tumbled over her. She put up her hands to block the shower of glass, but she could feel the pieces in her hair and lying all around her. She didn’t even notice the gun on his lap until he grabbed it and put the muzzle through what was once the windshield. He fired two shots as he accelerated and crossed through the garage entrance and out into the dark night.

She heard the police sirens wind up as soon as Caleb turned right onto the street and sped away from the building. He didn’t slow for the speed bump. The truck went airborne then landed with a clunk against the ground. Glass cubes crunched around her. She struggled up to one elbow and looked him over. No blood, just huge eyes and clenched hands.

Tension bounced off him in waves. Every muscle in his body seemed to be pulled tight and ready to snap. “Caleb?”

He kept checking the rearview mirror. “We have about one minute to pull this off.”

“What?”

“The switch.”

She had no idea what he was talking about. For a minute she worried he’d knocked his head in their big escape. “Maybe we should—”

“I’m going to turn into another garage. Adam will pull up and your job is to jump in his car.”

“How does he know where we are?”

Caleb shook his wrist. “I told him.”

“When?”

“He’s been listening.”

The answer popped into her head. The watch. That thing performed miracles, as far as she could tell. It linked them. Provided information. It could actually save them.

She sat up and glanced behind them. The sirens screamed through the quiet streets, but she didn’t see the cars yet. She figured they must have had a small lead, one Caleb tried to use in some way.

“Are you hurt?” she asked.

“I’ll be fine.”

The stiff arms made her think he was prepared for another option. Not that she would let it happen. She refused to be the reason he got injured. Jumping back into his life had not been her idea, but she had to take responsibility for dropping this mess on his lap. “I’m not leaving you in this car.”

His gaze shot to her then back to the road. “Yes, you are.”

“I can’t.”

“You will and I’ll be right behind you.”

“Caleb.” She laid her hand on his thigh and felt the tight muscles jump underneath. “Keep driving.”

“Not an option. Get ready.” When she continued to sit there, he reached over and unsnapped her seat belt. “On my word you go.”

She burned with the need to refuse. She wanted to stay with him, make sure he was safe and not in police hands—or worse. But the flat line of his mouth and flashing fire in his eyes told her to listen. Smart women didn’t question a rescue when the plan for one landed in front of them.

“Avery?”

“Okay, okay.” Not sure if he even intended to stop to let her out, she shifted. Crowding her body against the door, she was ready to move on his order.

“Remember your bag.”

She’d forgotten all about it. When she arrived at his condo, it was the most important package in the world. The groundwork for Rod’s concerns, everything she needed to make Caleb believe her, sat in there. Now surviving and making sure Caleb did also trumped all else.

The street sped by her as Caleb maneuvered through alleys and off main streets. Red lights switched to green as soon as he got near them. When he didn’t bother to even tap the brakes to slow down, she figured Adam was providing access with another one of his computer programs. Assisted or not, Caleb managed to make a four-thousand-pound truck seem invisible on the abandoned streets.

He no longer hunched over the wheel. Shoulders back and eyes always moving, he drove fast and sure, like a man born to outrun the police.

He made a sharp turn that sent her flying into the door. “Sorry. We’re almost there.”

She could tell that by the noise. Sirens rang out in every direction. She half wondered if the entire police department had taken to their cars in pursuit.

“I’m ready,” she said, even though she didn’t feel it. Only now had her stomach stopped jumping around.

“Good.”

She didn’t even question his choice when he drove into a parking structure. She just slipped her fingers under the handle and waited to open the door. A glance over her shoulder at Caleb’s firm jaw and steady determination made her heartbeat bounce in double time. She wanted to make him promise he’d be fine, but she knew that didn’t matter to him. He was a warrior, strong and in charge, protective and dependable. Just as she always suspected.

Without warning he hit the brakes. “Go now.”

Knowing seconds could mean the difference between him being safe and the absolute worst scenario, she didn’t hesitate. She threw the door open just as her neighbor’s car pulled up beside her, facing the opposite direction.

Adam held his arm out to her. “Get in.”

They were men accustomed to having their commands followed. Not that she had any choice. The second she stepped out of the truck, Caleb had sped away. She could see the red brake lights and hear the tires squeal as he drove up the ramp to a higher floor of the garage.

“Avery, now.”

“Right.” She fell into the seat and dumped her bag on the floor.

By the time Adam pulled back out to the entrance of the garage, police cars had descended on the block. Two blew by them. Another pulled over and idled across the street.

“What’s he doing?” She really wanted to know what they were doing just sitting there and why they hadn’t left the area.

“Checking our plates.”

“What?”

When the street cleared, Adam pulled out nice and slow. “That’s what I would do if I were him.”

“What if he stops us?”

“We’re just a nice couple going home from a party. Lucky for us, our sobriety shouldn’t be a problem.”

“We’re in the middle of a police chase.”

“Innocent people get stuck in those all the time.”

“Where exactly do you live that this sort of thing keeps happening near you and you have so much information on it?”

“Arlington, but you knew that, so I’ll assume you’re just engaging in a bit of nervous chatter.” He checked the mirrors and then smiled over at her. “Your neighbor must have a clean driving record, because the officer isn’t following us. Also, looks like your friend hasn’t gotten up yet and realized the car’s been stolen.”

Her stomach turned again but for a very different reason this time. “I feel bad about that.”

“Don’t.” Adam stole a quick look at her. “You did what you had to do and I’ll return it.”

Part of her knew that she hadn’t had a choice, but she was too worried and panicked to think it through. “Where’s Caleb?”

“You’ll see in about two minutes.” Amusement moved through Adam’s voice.

“I thought I was the one with the nonsense-chatter problem.”

“Nervous.”

“What?”

“I said you had a problem with nerves.” Adam pointed off to her right. “And there’s Caleb. Standing on the corner right on time, as usual. Was he always this punctual?”

She glanced at the parking structure and the block between where they left Caleb and where they were now. “How did he—”

“Dumped the truck, ran down the stairs, circled around the building.” Adam flashed her a smile. “You know, the usual.”

“Impressive.”

“Not really. That’s the easy stuff.”

“What’s the hard stuff?”

“You don’t want to know.” Adam pulled over and unlocked the door. “Good to see you made it.”

“Everything run according to plan?” Caleb asked as he climbed in the backseat.

“No issues.”

“That’s a first.” He slumped back in his seat. “Head for the warehouse. Luke checked in. He’s on his way there, so we’ll have a welcoming party.”

“Is it safe?” she asked as she turned around to face Caleb.

He sat with his gun resting on his knee and his attention focused on the scenery passing by outside the window. “It’s totally secure. No one can get you there.”

She wanted to knock the smugness right out of him. “I meant is it safe for us to drag a problem right to your friends’ doorsteps.”

“Of course.”

A nasty reply died on her lips when she saw Caleb’s drawn cheeks and the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“You don’t sound it.”

“It’s been a long night.” When she scoffed, he focused those tired eyes on her. “I’ll be great once I know what you have in that bag.”

“Information.” Almost everything they needed, and she hoped it was enough.

“And what is it you know that almost got us all killed?”

When he phrased it like that, it sucked the defensive anger right out of her. “I hope it’s worth it.”

“That makes two of us, Avery.”

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