Finding the Way Back: A Stealth Ops Novel

by Sahin, Brittney

  Yeah, they really had kissed like they were teens again in the room last night. So much time to make up for, though.

  A smile met his eyes, and her cheeks heated as he repositioned her hair to hide the evidence.

  “How are things with your people?”

  “A.J. and Wyatt arrived in Dallas,” he said and finally shifted to the side to allow her entrance, “so they’ll be leaving for the compound soon.”

  “Oh, good.” She sidestepped him, her body skimming the lines of his hard chest in the process. “I have to meet up with the rest of your father’s protection detail at two to prep for the flight to Atlanta. It does help he has his own jet for traveling, though.”

  Knox checked his black wristwatch. “Rodriguez staying back to work the investigation, or is he going with you?”

  “He’s coming. He didn’t want to risk having your dad go out of town without him. Quinn will report to him if she finds out anything new.” She viewed the team at work in the room before looking back at Knox. “Quinn’s smart, though. I don’t think it’ll be long before she makes the militia connection.”

  Jessica removed her glasses and focused on Adriana. “We can’t afford to have the FBI showing up at the compound this weekend, not with our men there. We’ll need to keep an eye on her and what she finds out.”

  “I’m still not sure who we can even trust on the inside. If anyone in the FBI field office is actually working with that militia, they’ll give the compound a heads-up if the Liberation Defense Force’s name is brought up,” Adriana said. “I’ve asked Quinn to speak to me first before sharing new intel.”

  “You think she will, especially given your connection to me?” Knox raised a questioning brow.

  “I think we can trust her,” she said with a nod. “Even if there’s not an insider, once the Feds discover the militia, they won’t be in a rush to go after them. They’ll get blowback from the higher-ups. DHS will be worried about another Waco incident, and they won’t be eager to move in on the compound anytime soon unless Ike confirms he was sent to kill Bennett by Darius.” She sat on the couch and glanced back and forth between Asher and Jessica working side by side at the desk.

  “Are you feeling better?” she asked Jessica.

  “At the moment.” She smiled. “Lots of saltine crackers. Little sips of water. Thanks for asking, though.”

  Asher reached for Jessica’s hand between their laptops. The guy was pretty built, but he reminded Adriana of a cuddly teddy bear with how he looked at Jessica. It was endearing.

  “Adriana’s right.” Luke’s words pulled her attention his way. He was sitting across from her, dressed in khakis, a white tee, and wore black-framed glasses. A military-grade laptop rested in the hard-shell case on his lap. “The FBI’s hands will be tied without ironclad evidence.”

  “We’ll get the evidence Quinn needs and hand it over when the time is right,” Liam said.

  “But if any evidence is obtained illegally it won’t be useful,” she reminded them, even though, surely, they’d know that. “The case would get thrown out of court, and Darius would walk.”

  “We’ll figure this out.” Knox sat next to her and clasped her hand, taking her off guard. “It’s what we do.”

  Her heart stammered at the gesture. And when her gaze traveled across the room, there was a twitch to Liam’s lips as if fighting a smile before his eyes returned to his screen.

  “Any luck tracking the whereabouts of the rest of the militia members?” Knox’s grip of her hand tightened.

  How many times had he held her hand before?

  And yet, this time was different. So. So. So. Different. Electric. Warm. Tingly. All the things. Touching her in all the places.

  “Asher and I are working on that now,” Jessica said. “None of the fifty members have taken flights out of Texas, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t leave another way.”

  “But we’re hoping our guys can make some positive IDs on the members tonight,” Asher added.

  “You think everyone will be at the compound this weekend? Well, most everyone?” she asked in surprise.

  “The group convenes the last weekend of every month. It’s mandatory,” Asher explained.

  “We’ll have to keep the situation fluid and see how it goes. I don’t know if I want one of my guys there more than a night,” Luke said.

  She knew Luke and Jessica were the owners of Scott & Scott, but the guys still gave off an intense SEAL vibe.

  The chain of command in the military was strong. Respect stitched into every line of their dress blues, both literally and figuratively.

  And it was obvious the respect for leadership had continued outside the Navy because she felt it in the room. They were a tight unit. There was a shared trust amongst them. But when she’d Googled Jessica out of curiosity the first time Knox had mentioned her name years ago as co-owner with Luke, she’d found an IT background only. Not a military one. Her presence had always been a bit of a question that tickled the back of her mind. There was more to Jessica’s story, wasn’t there?

  More to all of their stories, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

  They’d explained they were in the private security business, nothing Knox hadn’t already told her, but something didn’t add up.

  And she was beginning to think that “something” was why Knox had held back so much of this part of his life from her.

  “Did Sarah confirm if Ike had a laptop on him the day of the shooting? Something he used to take down security?” Liam asked, fixing his attention on her. “Or did he have outside help on that?”

  “He didn’t drug her until after he got her out of the hotel, because he needed her to be able to leave by foot, so she remembered a lot from that day,” she began. “She said he was on the phone with someone before the shooting while on a laptop. Someone had walked him through how to cut into the security feeds.”

  “Any ideas who?” Liam asked.

  “No. Quinn checked Chelsea’s work laptop to see if she accessed the hotel’s servers at that time, but she didn’t find anything abnormal, and Chelsea wasn’t logged in then. But Chelsea did have a background in IT, so she may have been able to assist,” she explained.

  “What are you thinking, Addy?” Knox’s phone rang after his question. “It’s A.J.” He placed the call on speaker and rose.

  “Hey, call me back on a secure line. Call my burner,” A.J. said abruptly and hung up.

  Luke pulled out a cheap-looking flip phone from a bag by his foot and dialed up a number before placing the phone to his ear.

  Knox tucked his cell back into his pocket, never losing hold of her hand.

  “Can I put you on speaker?” Luke asked as soon as the line connected, and was that code for Adriana is in the room, can you talk in front of her?

  Knox squeezed Adriana’s hand briefly as if in apology, but then Luke placed the call on speaker.

  “Our boy Aaron called me, and he wants to meet,” A.J. announced.

  “What?” Adriana let go of Knox’s hand and stood in surprise. Her heart a hammer in her chest. Her breastbone the nail it was pounding. “Where?”

  “He said he’s innocent and has information, but he can’t go to the FBI,” A.J. answered. “He saw Knox on the news yesterday, and he figured Knox was working with me. He wants to meet at seven tonight. No address provided, though.”

  “So, how are we supposed to find him?” Jessica asked.

  “Get this, he said the pretty Secret Service agent working with us would know where to find him on a Friday night.”

  Everyone in the room turned and looked at Adriana. What the hell was he talking about?

  Luke shifted the computer off his lap and stood, clutching the phone with eyes on Adriana. “Does that make sense to you?”

  She dragged her palms down her face when realization dawned on her. “Yeah,” she said. “I know where he’ll be.” Her stomach tucked in. “She’s serving his favorite tonight. Pork chops.”
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  “What?” Knox rose. “Who?”

  “The woman who lives across the street from him. She told me that Aaron never misses a Friday dinner.” How had she not realized Aaron could be hiding in plain sight all this time? But why would the woman hide a possible assassin?

  “We’ll handle this,” Luke said to A.J. “Call us when you’re at your next location.”

  “Roger that.”

  Adriana turned away from the room, her mind spinning.

  Knox wrapped a hand over her shoulder, but she couldn’t face him. If she looked into those beautiful brown eyes, she’d do anything he wanted, even if it meant jeopardizing her career.

  How could she not tell Rodriguez Aaron’s location, though?

  He shifted her hair off her shoulder. “You do what you need to do,” he said close to her ear, but not so low his people couldn’t hear him. “I’ll respect your decision.”

  “But if the FBI arrests Aaron, the militia might panic and know we’re onto them, and then our guys could be in danger,” Jessica said, and her words were like an icy whip of reality against her skin. “And we could also lose our best lead.”

  “This isn’t an easy decision to make,” Luke added. “I don’t envy your position, but—”

  “There’s only one choice,” she said, trying not to let fear swallow her words. “And that’s whichever one keeps you safe.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Adriana was risking her career for them, and he hated his team was putting her in that position, but he wasn’t sure if they had any other choice.

  “I really like her,” Jessica said over speakerphone as they drove.

  Knox, Luke, Liam, and Asher were en route to Aaron’s neighborhood to meet him as scheduled.

  “I wish you’d brought her around sooner,” Jessica added.

  “And you would’ve scared her off,” Knox replied. “You weren’t always so lovey-dovey.”

  “That’s fairly accurate,” Luke said with a laugh.

  “You’re no one to talk,” Jessica shot back.

  “Any word from the boys yet?” Asher asked from the back seat.

  Echo Team would be attempting to infil the militia compound in a not-so-covert way by knocking on the door. Or fence. Whatever the hell they had for an entry.

  “They’re thirteen mikes out,” she said. “If this militia is as low-tech as they appear to be, this should be an easy in and out. But Roman’s going to wear the new camera I designed. Harper will be able to see and hear everything, and there’s no tech on the market that can detect it.”

  “Wait. We’re sending Roman?” Liam asked. “Chris or Finn. Yeah. Roman? No. What kind of conversation will he have? The guy hates talking.”

  “Yeah, exactly. Chris and Finn aren’t the best actors. You’ve seen them,” Asher said, sitting alongside Liam.

  “Roman has the whole quiet thing going for him. It’ll work, I promise,” Jessica added.

  “If you say so,” Liam responded on a sigh.

  “Anyway, we’re here. If Knox and I are still inside with Aaron, let Asher know when Roman enters the compound,” Luke said as he parked on the street.

  “Stay safe,” she said, and Luke ended the call and handed out comms.

  “Liam, stick to the front. Keep an eye on the squad car that’s monitoring Aaron’s house,” Luke instructed and shifted his focus to Asher. “Stay in the car. Be on standby if we discover this is a trap.”

  Knox got out of the vehicle, and a few seconds later, he and Luke made their way to the property and climbed over the fence to get into the woman’s backyard.

  The back porch light was off, but one interior light was on. No movement from the inside from what they could see.

  The back door swung open. “Come in,” a female voice called out.

  Luke approached first and announced, “We’re good.”

  A whiff of fried meat met his nose once inside. The woman really was cooking, wasn’t she?

  They entered the kitchen and found her standing over the stove. “You staying for dinner?” she asked as her dog ran up to them and began excitedly spinning in circles.

  Knox resisted the urge to reach down and pet the Yorkie, needing to keep his hands ready if he had to draw his weapon.

  “No, ma’am,” Luke responded. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  “What?” She set her spatula down and faced him. “Of course not. He’s a sweet boy. He’s in my son’s old bedroom. Second door down on the right.”

  Luke glimpsed Knox with a surprised, Are we in the Twilight Zone? kind of look.

  “Someone has to stand up for vets. God knows people have turned their backs on them.” She pointed to the hall. “If you change your mind, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Luke moved first, clearly hesitant as if worried the woman had a shotgun hidden under her apron and this was an extravagant mind fuck.

  Knox tapped his ear. “We’re on approach. Good so far.”

  “Roger that. Back is still clear,” Asher replied.

  “Good out front,” Liam noted. “The officer did a perimeter sweep of Aaron’s house, and he’s in his car.”

  Luke peered at Knox from over his shoulder, his Sig in hand, and he called out Aaron’s name. “Show me your hands,” he said at the sight of Aaron peeking out from the bedroom, and Knox drew his 45.

  Aaron raised his hands above his head. “Come in.”

  Luke checked the room and motioned the all clear to Knox. “I’m gonna take a look at the rest of the house. Stay with him.”

  “Roger that.” Knox went into the bedroom with Aaron and motioned with his gun to sit on the bed.

  “We’re clear,” Luke told Bravo Three and Four over comms when he rejoined the room. “So, you want to tell us what the hell is going on?”

  The room had a twin bed, one nightstand, and a small desk. A few faded posters of Charlotte Hornets basketball players—from about thirty years ago—clung to the walls for dear life as the tape peeled at the edges.

  “I had nothing to do with this, you can ask her.” Aaron pointed to the door, even though the woman wasn’t standing there.

  “Then why not go to the police? Why’d your neighbor say she saw you take off on your bike after your face was all over the news?” Knox asked.

  Aaron appeared young right now. Like the teen who once inhabited the room. Lonely and scared. Not one bit a SEAL. “Because I asked her to lie.”

  Luke shook his head. “Let’s go over what we know. You were dating a girl who worked at the hotel from where shots were fired at Senator Bennett and his wife. When questioned by the FBI, she had bruises on her face, and she said you were responsible for that.” He paused for a breath. “The same rifle that you own, and is missing from your home, was used to shoot at Bennett. Then there’s the email.”

  “And Chelsea being dead and you dropping the knife—well, it clearly looks pretty shitty for you,” Knox added and Aaron held his palms in the air. “But it’s also why we think you’re being set up. The problem with that theory is usually the guy being framed never lives to see the light of day so the truth can die, too.”

  “But the shooter missed, and so, they needed you alive until they went after Bennett again,” Luke said. “But why would they let you run in the first place?”

  Aaron tore his hands through his hair. “Monday night I went to bed with Chelsea, and the next morning, I woke up tied to my bed and both Ike and Chelsea were there. I hadn’t seen him since I lived in Texas, so to see him—and with her—was a surprise.”

  Knox glanced at Luke then focused back on Aaron, not sure if they could believe the guy.

  “Ike had unlocked my safe with my key, grabbed my rifle and ammo, then informed me I’d be doing my patriotic duty by dying in the name of liberty. Then he kissed Chelsea and left.”

  “Are they a couple?” Luke asked.

  “I guess so, but I don’t think she loved him. Not anymore, at least. She’d been trembl
ing when she went on to my laptop in my room, and tears started pouring down her face when she returned from my bathroom with bottles of my meds.”

  “Make it look like a suicide?” Luke asked.

  “Yeah. I tried to get her to explain to me what was going on, but she could barely talk. Just kept crying.” He took a shaky breath. “She sat by the bed with a phone in her hand, and then when the call came—”

  “It wasn’t the call Chelsea expected,” Knox finished for him. “Because Ike missed the shot. And since they sent the threatening email and already set everything up to make it look like you were the shooter, they couldn’t risk you’d get arrested before their second attempt to kill my dad.”

  “So, how’d you get away?” Luke asked, but he kept his gun in the same position, pressed against his abdomen with his free hand resting atop his other.

  “She was supposed to force me at gunpoint to get into my car, then drug me once I was in the back seat so she could go meet up with Ike.”

  Knox’s gaze dipped to the faint bruises on Aaron’s knuckles.

  “I asked Chelsea to let me go. I said I’d take the fall for the shooting if that’s what she needed to happen, and I’d never show my face again if she’d let me live. She told me to hit her a few times. She said it’d be the only way. She’d tell Ike I overpowered her, we struggled, and I got away—that was going to be the plan.” His arms stretched, palms up, as shame slid across his face. “She kissed me goodbye with her lip still bleeding, then took off.”

  “All that planning, and she let you go?” Knox asked in disbelief.

  He smoothed a palm over his bruised hand. “I guess she didn’t plan on falling in love with me.”

  “Why not go to the police as soon as she let you go?” Luke asked.

  “I was worried he’d kill her, and I made a promise.”

  “You didn’t really plan on holding up that promise, did you? You’d let my dad die to save her?”

  “I knew the police would never believe I was innocent, anyway, so I came over to Judy’s house and asked a pretty big favor. And then I was going to come up with a plan to save Chelsea and take down Ike.”