My job is not to please Asher. It is to make sure he stays alive, and that Santina doesn’t fall.
Rachel recalled the words she’d overhead in the hallway, and now it all made sense. She didn’t think Reed had been speaking—it had likely been James—but Reed was definitely the person being spoken to.
“If Abi’s in, I’m in,” Rachel said, and she already knew Abi would go because she’d never be able to live with herself if she played it safe saving her life from Lamberi, but let others—seventy others—be subjected to that fate. Rachel needed to put Daniel on standby.
Reed nodded, and there was something in his eyes, but Rachel still couldn’t read him. “I’ll give it to you, the two of you are fucking brave.”
Rachel felt her cheeks heat up. “Thank you,” she said, sounding awkward even to her own ears.
He passed her a phone. “Put your team on standby for the rescue,” he said, catching her off guard. He gave a small smile but it transformed his face. “I don’t need to be a genius to work out that would be your move after the meeting.”
Rachel grinned. “I’m too predictable,” she joked, but there was a slither of truth to it—or, rather, insecurity.
Reed didn’t miss it. “Predictable is not a word I’d use to describe you. When Abi was taken, none of the moves you made were predictable—except going to the village, which is where anyone with a brain would’ve started. I’m not sure if you give yourself enough credit,” he said, standing. “I need to check in with Abi, and make sure Asher hasn’t murdered James,” he said with a crooked grin.
He turned and left without another word. Rachel could only imagine the conversations that were being had between James, Abi, and Asher.
Rachel shook her head, returning her attention to the phone in her hand. She messaged Daniel: Notify team on standby. Be ready to activate in 3 hours.
His response came a second later: Activating now.
Asher
Asher’s jaw hung open and his eyes blazed. James and Reed stood casually, like they were discussing the weather.
“I did not give approval for this,” Asher said sharply.
“You need to let us handle the strategy, Asher. This is what we do,” James said. “Trust me, I don’t like this situation either, but right now it’s the best option we have to take out Lamberi. And frankly, we’re wasting time we should be spending on strategizing.”
Asher shook his head sharply. “That’s right, you should be strategizing some other fucking plan, because this one isn’t going ahead!”
Asher didn’t care that Rachel had agreed to go, it didn’t ease any of the crippling fear he felt. He would not put Abi in a position where she was within a hundred miles of Lamberi. Not. A. Chance.
“No. The answer is no,” Asher said, resolute.
Abi, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. “Can you give us a minute?” she asked James, and Asher’s blood boiled, heating his entire body.
Reed and James left without a word.
“No,” Asher said the moment the door closed. “I can’t do this, Abi. I can’t.” His voice was strained—carrying the weight of the past few months. “How can you even consider this?” he all but screamed. “You told me Lamberi is the one person you wouldn’t survive, and now you’re willing to risk being put in front of him like bait.”
She pressed her lips together, seeming to take a calming breath. “Don’t speak to me like I wished for this,” she said calmly, but firmly. “I don’t want to do this, but I want to be able to live without fearing he’s coming after me. He will never stop, Asher. I know men like him, and over and over again he will try to teach you a lesson for taking me back.” She sighed. “This is a good opportunity. Look, I’m no security strategist, but I agree it’s worth the risk. This could end it, Asher, and then we can both live without fear of him. And the world will be a better place,” she said, a plea. “You know what he does to his captives! If Thomas Security can take him out, hundreds—if not thousands—of women and children will never have to be subjected to him. Of all the things I’ve ever done, this would have the greatest impact. For Santina, and for our entire region, eliminating him will be the greatest gift we can give this world.”
Asher began to pace. He understood all that, but he would not let Abi pay the price if it all went wrong. Not to mention the price he would pay if she was taken—hadn’t they suffered enough?
“I know all of this, Abi, but it’s still not enough. I can’t lose you,” he said, his panic rising. “I can’t. I’ve almost been there once before, and I might as well have been in hell. If you want Santina—and our region—to flourish, I need to be able to think straight and I can’t, not knowing you’re anywhere near Lamberi. Let alone if you were taken again.”
They stood at a stalemate. Abi’s eyes softened, clearly aware of his pain, but he knew she wasn’t going to back down. He wanted to fall on the floor and beg her not to do this, but he knew even that wouldn’t help. The things he loved about Abi—including how much she cared for others—he hated in that moment, because it was going to tear her away from him.
She took a step toward him, taking his shaking hands. He didn’t know if he was shaking from fear or anger.
She put his hands on her hips and draped her arms around his neck.
Asher raised an eyebrow. “If this is an attempt to pacify me—”
“This is an attempt to make the most of a moment alone before I go and do this,” she said softly, but there was no mistaking the resoluteness in her voice.
“Abi, please,” he said, a final plea. She brushed her lips over his and he shuddered. “I can’t lose you, not again,” he whispered.
She placed a sweet tender kiss on his lips. “I’m coming back to you. But I need to do this, or else I’ll never be able to live with myself.”
“And if you do this and something goes wrong, I’ll never be able to live with myself,” Asher said.
“This is my decision. You’re not forcing me—or even encouraging me—so you will be able to live with yourself. I trust this team, and I agree it’s better to take on Lamberi on our terms. I can’t live the rest of my life in fear of him taking me again, Asher. I can’t.”
He sighed heavily, resting his forehead against hers, inhaling the sweet, floral scent of her perfume. He prayed like he’d never prayed before that this wasn’t the last time he’d hold her.
“Come back to me,” he said, feeling like he couldn’t breathe.
She looked up at him. “I used to think we weren’t meant to be. And now I think we are destined to be, because despite all the odds, and everything that has happened, here we are. Our story isn’t over, Asher.”
“God I hope you’re right,” he said, drawing her in, tightening his hold on her. He didn’t know how he was going to be able to let go.
He tilted her chin up and his lips found hers. Hungry, savoring, desperate. She deepened the kiss and he kissed her harder. A moan slipped from her lips and it had never sounded sweeter.
He threaded his fingers through her hair, treasuring every second they had together. If life had taught him one thing, it was to never take a moment for granted.
Abi pulled back. “This is the right thing to do,” she said with gentle eyes.
Asher shook his head. “I’ll never agree with that,” he said. Risking her life to save others would never be justifiable for him. He knew that was selfish, but he’d raise hell to protect her.
“But you’re not going to stop me,” she said, a statement rather than a question, he thought.
How was he supposed to stop her? If he forbade her going, the guilt she would live with for Lamberi’s captives, and the fear of always looking over her shoulder, would eat away at them. It would destroy someone like Abi, and eventually she’d end up hating him for it.
But if he let her go, he was going to hate himself if anything went bad.
A knock at the door interrupted them.
“In a minute!” Asher called out, not h
iding his annoyance.
He sighed, unable to shake the fear that this would be his last moment alone with Abi.
She looked up through her lashes, searching his eyes.
His lips swept over hers. “I love you, Abi,” he said, and she inhaled sharply.
She kissed him. “I love you too,” she whispered and his heart swelled.
A second knock at the door signaled James’s impatience.
“What?” Asher yelled, noting Abi’s somewhat amused expression.
“He knows no boundaries,” she whispered under her breath.
“He’s a pain in the ass,” Asher said, whatever fondness he’d had for James Thomas was rapidly deteriorating.
Abi grinned. “You’ll like him again when this is all over,” she said as the door swung open and James entered.
Asher didn’t agree.
“Lamberi has made contact,” James said, looking directly at Asher.
Asher sighed, looking away. He didn’t want to face this, and he didn’t want to let Abi go, but he knew he was going to have to.
“Let’s make a plan,” she said, her voice strong and confident.
“It’s best if we do this in your office,” James said with a nod.
Asher nodded, keeping Abi’s hand firm in his. He wasn’t ready to let her go, and he wouldn’t be anytime soon.
When Asher entered his office, he wasn’t surprised to see Reed waiting. A conversation was being had between Reed and Samuel, but it ceased upon Asher’s arrival.
“Hi, Asher,” Samuel said, almost apologetically. At least someone felt bad for the situation he was in, Asher thought bitterly.
“What are Lamberi’s demands?” Asher asked, getting straight to it. He was not in the mood for polite conversation.
James spoke next. “It’s worse than we thought,” he said, and for the first time Asher thought James actually looked worried.
“How much worse can it get?” Asher said, almost rhetorically.
An image flashed on the screen. A series of green lines formed, overlaying the map of Santina. “What is that?” Asher asked.
James paused for a moment. “It’s Santina’s water supply,” he said, grim.
Asher felt like James had punched him in the stomach. “No,” he said, his voice hoarse. “What about the bombers?”
“They’re only one part of this. The second part is the water supply. If you don’t hand over Abi, he’s going to contaminate all of Santina’s water. You can’t—”
“I’m very aware I can’t let that happen,” Asher said sharply. “Tell me how he can do that. Shouldn’t we have security in place to prevent things like this happening?”
“You should, yes, but someone is helping him. Someone who has something to gain from Santina falling—someone who knows Santina’s operations well,” James said. “I think that person is Martin Snider.”
“Did he help Lamberi enter Santina too?” Asher asked.
James sighed. “We don’t know yet, but I’d bet my life on it,” he said, and he didn’t sound happy. It pleased Asher to see some kind of emotional response from him, but he wanted him to be angry—he wanted him to be as furious as Asher was.
“Right now, the focus is on drawing Lamberi out. When we do, he’s going to find himself in a world of pain that he could never have imagined,” James said. There was a slight purr to his voice, but not that of a house cat—it sounded more like a lion waking up. Asher didn’t know whether to be comforted by the fact that a guy so chillingly cold was protecting him, or to install another lock on his door.
“We need to find Martin Snider,” Asher said. He was sick of hearing that name, but knowing little else about him, he wondered again if it was a coincidence that the alias this person had chosen had the same given name as his father.
“I think Lamberi is probably the only one who has seen him. Martin Snider has never shown his face to anyone, but Lamberi isn’t a fool, and he’s not going to do business with someone he’s never met. Lamberi will know who Martin Snider is, and then we’ll find him,” James said. Asher searched his eyes, only to find that they were dark wells of confidence.
“I need you to go now,” James said. “It’ll be easier for you if you don’t know the plan.”
Asher’s jaw fell open. “What? No.”
“Please let us handle this, Asher.”
“I am letting you handle it, but if you think I’m letting Abi do this without consulting on the plan, then you’re out of your mind! And I’m staying connected while she’s out there. I’m not on board, and the only reason this damn plan is happening is because I can’t convince Abi not to do it,” Asher said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Through the screen, Asher saw Samuel’s eyes darting to James. He looked concerned, and he should be, because Asher wasn’t backing down. He didn’t care how they did things, he needed to be involved regardless of whether he was of any help or not.
“Okay,” James said, not sounding even a little thrilled about it. “You’ll stay here with Jesse and Samuel, and you’ll be connected throughout. But I’m telling you now, you don’t give anyone an order throughout this mission. I have men on the ground, Abi and Rachel are on the ground, and I need my men to think straight and not worry about orders coming through from the king. They don’t need a single distraction. I’m asking them to risk their lives, and they take that risk because they trust me. I won’t have my men dying because orders are confused.” There was a fire in James’s eyes, but he had nothing to worry about—Asher had no intention of giving any orders, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to sit in his living quarters while this was going on.
“You have my word,” Asher said.
James nodded then turned to Samuel. “Connect Asher’s office in so that he has full access to the footage.”
Samuel nodded.
Asher’s door opened and Reed and Rachel entered. Rachel was chewing on her cheek, and she looked nervous. Asher didn’t blame her.
Rachel’s eyes landed on Abi and she looked resigned, like they were two women with bombs strapped to their chests.
“Okay,” James said, “vests.” He passed them a bulletproof vest each. “Put this on now, because I want you to get used to the weight. If Lamberi—or any of his men watching—notice something is amiss, they won’t hesitate to act.”
Rachel and Abi left the office to put their vests on and Asher returned his attention to Samuel.
“Have we responded, confirming the meeting?” Asher asked.
Samuel nodded. “Yes, and the reply has been received. We went in and prepped the location we chose, and then sent the email giving the building address. If anyone was watching the building after that email was sent, they’ll see nothing, because our men are already in place and are so hidden that even if Lamberi’s men search the building they’ll never find them.”
“Where are they hiding?” Asher asked, trying to distract himself.
“In some concealed cavities in the tunnels below the restaurant. I found them on some old blueprints from the Santina council department,” he said, seemingly pleased with himself.
Asher opened his mouth to inquire further but Abi returned with Rachel. He watched her walk. “How is your back?” he asked.
“It’s fine,” she said.
He hated that word. Fine never meant good; fine was the mediocrity of all things.
“It’s hurting you,” Asher said, but she shook her head defiantly.
“It’s okay, and it’ll hurt much less than a bullet,” she said.
James nodded in apparent approval. “It’s just for a few hours and then we’ll take it off you. Take these,” he said, extending his hand to reveal two white pills. “It’ll help with the pain and any ache that sets in, but the dose is low enough that it won’t have any side effects.”
Asher wondered if James should’ve asked when she ate last before giving her the medication, but he probably already knew.
Abi popped the pills out of the plastic and swa
llowed two.
“So this is the plan,” James said. “We’re leaving in twenty minutes. We’re going to drop Abi and Rachel here.” He pointed at a map that flashed on the screen. “It’ll take you about fifteen minutes to walk to the location. That’s longer than I would like, but we’re concerned that if we drop you any closer, Lamberi’s men might see. So, it’s actually safer if you walk the distance. You’ll wear a baseball hat and sunglasses until you reach the building—that’s both for Lamberi’s men and for the public. The last thing we need is Abi attracting attention and getting stopped on the street.”
James looked to Abi, but Asher didn’t think he was seeking approval. Abi nodded regardless.
“You’ll enter through the main door and proceed down to the basement restaurant. Restaurants are common meeting grounds for criminals; we like them because they’re crowded, and therefore it’s less likely to cause a scene, because there are too many witnesses.” James paused, then added, “Less likely, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. If this is a setup and not a legitimate lead, Lamberi will be ready to attack at any time. If I were him, I’d attempt an attack before you even step foot inside the restaurant. That said, there may be other factors involved that we aren’t aware of, so we need to be prepared for all situations.”
Asher felt like his throat was thickening and maybe he should’ve left when James had told him to.
“And if it is a legitimate lead, is our informant going to be compromised?” Abi asked, and Asher marveled once again at her ability to think of others when she herself was going through so much.
“We’ll protect the informant,” James said, not elaborating.
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