Taking It Slow - Reese Knightley Page 0,57
him. “Fucking go,” the soldier whispered harshly through his tears.
Swallowing past the lump in his throat, he turned from Zane and caught the gaze of the guy holding the money bag. The car was between them. Money bag guy couldn’t see Zane or Isaac.
Aiming at the concrete, he fired two bullets as if killing Zane and Isaac and then shouted at money bags.
“Run.”
He careened around the car, grabbed the guy by the arm, and ran. Worry gnawed at his gut about Isaac, but he couldn’t stop now. The sting would go south.
“Where to?” he whispered harshly when they dodged down another alley.
“This way.” They reached the street a few blocks over and the guy called an Uber on his phone.
“You armed?”
“No. I’m glad you are.” The guy gave a relieved breath and clutched the money bag to his chest.
“What’s your name?”
“Steven Moss.”
“Spencer Turner,” he said, and the guy briefly shook his hand. So, this was Councilman Coulier’s assistant. This might be easier than they thought it’d be.
The Uber driver dropped them off at a high-rise building in a commercial district and they entered together.
“Who are we here to see?” he asked, looking around the deserted lobby.
Steven stopped and gazed at him nervously.
“I did just save your life,” Spencer pointed out.
Steven sighed. “We’re here to deliver this bag to Councilman Coulier and tell him that Mayer was killed.”
“What floor?” he said conversationally.
“The tenth.” Steven pushed the button.
And while the man was facing away from him, Spencer reached out and caught Steven in a choke hold.
When Steven passed out, Spencer hit the sixth floor button. He’d take the stairs up from there. He zip-tied the man’s hands and placed a gag over his mouth. When the elevator stopped, Spencer drug the perp into a nearby supply closet.
Grabbing up the money, he tossed it in on top of Steven and closed the door.
Liam
An hour later, he entered his office at the base and tossed his keys on his desk. His cell phone rang.
“Colonel Cobalt,” he murmured.
“I’m sorry, Colonel,” Maddox said over the phone.
“What happened?”
“We were T-boned.”
“Are either of you hurt?” he said sharply.
“River banged up his arm, but other than that, we’re fine.”
“Get River checked out and then report in,” he ordered.
“Will do.” Maddox ended the call.
“Fuck.”
“What happened?” He glanced up to find Dillon in his doorway.
“Maddox and River were T-boned while following the CPS agents that took Wesley.” He filled Dillon in on what was going on.
“Well, isn’t that fucking convenient,” Dillon snarled.
“What? What’s convenient?” Blade poked her head into the office, looking at them.
He also filled her in. “So, I’m going to need you two to call Maddox and see if they need any assistance with getting their SUV towed.”
“Copy,” Dillon said and left.
Blade lingered.
“I’m okay.” He smiled at her and after a moment, she squinted and nodded before disappearing after Dillon.
The next few hours moved at a snail’s pace and his concentration was for shit. Rather than sit still, he stood and shut down his laptop.
Locking his office door, he made his way down the hallway and shoved open the exit door. Stepping out into the bright sunshine, he shielded his eyes just as his phone buzzed.
He blinked down at the message and frowned.
Get in the car.
“Colonel?”
He spun and found a man in military greens standing behind him. Beyond him was a black SUV with the rear door open.
He stepped toward it and glanced inside to see a pair of familiar green eyes.
“Liam,” Luke said as he slid into the car.
“Luke, fuck, this isn’t your phone number.”
“No,” was all Luke said.
Liam pulled the door closed. “What did you find out?”
The car left the base parking lot and turned onto the highway before Luke closed the partition between them and the two men in the front seat, sealing off their conversation.
“This whole thing goes deeper than you can imagine,” Luke said.
“Deeper than the CPS thing?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know that?” Liam frowned out the window and gripped the door handle tightly.
When Luke didn’t answer, Liam yanked his gaze from the passing cars and stared his friend in the eyes.
“What are you, NCIS now?” he joked.
“No.”
“Wait…” He suddenly gaped, his mind racing. “CIA?”
“I’m not at liberty to divulge that, you know that,” Luke reprimanded him.
“Well, fuck me.”
“Um…” Luke coughed. “I thought we decided to stay friends only.”
Liam gave Luke’s attempt at humor a flat stare.
“So, you’re in the know on this whole extorting money and selling children scheme?”
“I am. This little operation is just the tip of an iceberg.”
“Shit.”
“Mhmm.”
“Does Director Taylor know?”
“Forest knows