by Casi McLean
Parker leaned against the doorjamb, shaking his head.
Harper raised an eyebrow. “Do you want a snack, Teale?”
“No thanks. I’m good.”
Grabbing the loaf, she drew out four slices then dressed the bread. After cutting them in half, she reached into the cupboard, snagged two paper plates and a bag of chips then dumped a handful on top of the sandwiches.
Pushing off the jamb, Parker strode toward Wyatt. “Pass me a beer, bro.”
Wyatt frowned but silently complied.
“Thanks, buddy. I’m heading to bed. Call me if any shit hits the fan.” He turned and disappeared down the hallway.
“We need to talk, Wyatt.” Harper handed him a plate holding a ham sandwich buried in potato chips. “This team’s success is too important for us to jeopardize with our baggage. If we’re expecting to work together, we should at least clear the air.”
After placing the plate on the bar, he took a bite, chewed, and swallowed before replying. “Fine. I have no interest in pursuing an intimate relationship with anyone. Is that clear enough?” He swigged several swallows of beer then slammed the bottle next to his food. “I think I’m done here.” He turned toward the door and attempted to squeeze past.
“Not this time, soldier.” She hooked an arm through his.
Caught off guard, he stumbled before slamming against the wall, with Harper’s full length pressed against him. Clearly, not what either of them expected. “What the––”
“I’m done playing coy, Wyatt.” She yanked her weight backward. “One way or the other, this hard-ass, cold-shoulder shit has to end.”
His senses on fire, he drew in a long breath, filling his lungs with her scent. Never did he think her very aura could lure him to the point of no escape. Never––until that moment. He looped an arm around her waist and drew her so close he felt the beat of her heart. Then he kissed her long and hard with the passion of ten years drumming through his veins. Shifting their weight, he spun and pinned her wrists against the wall then began a journey of kisses over her cheek, behind her ear then down her neck…his hand slid under her shirt. Fingers running across her soft, bare skin, he teased her then caressed her breast and fingered her nipple until the hard surface matched the ridged hardness exploding between his thighs. Her response, so seductive.
Drinking in her essence, Wyatt slid off her tee-shirt then licked and nibbled down her neck. He cupped her breasts. With his tongue, he circled her areola…first one then the other before sliding downward. He flipped the button on her jeans, then, with his teeth, he pulled down the zipper and slipped his hand under her panties to feel the warm, moisture dampening them. He played until she moaned, begging for more.
He had to have her…all of her.
“Holy shit,” Steel announced, spewing soda across the entryway.
Harper promptly yanked her tee-shirt from the floor and covered her breasts in one fluid motion. “Crap.”
“Director…uh, Assistant Director…I, uh…eyes averted, ma’am…uh…sir. I’m so sorry to uh…” Steel spun and marched away, mumbling apologies.
“Oh God, I haven’t felt like that since the night my mom walked in on my boyfriend and me making out in our basement.” She rolled her eyes and let out a chuckle. “Seriously, though. Don’t any of these Marines sleep past five a.m.?”
Wyatt turned away to collect his composure. Embarrassed at the interruption, but not a bit sorry. How well he knew that soft chortle. For years, Harper’s quirks spun through his thoughts. At times he felt those memories kept him from giving up on the world. God, how he longed to hold her…kiss her like that again. But he knew, for her sake, he had to resist her allure. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her dress, memorizing every movement so he could later replay the scenario.
Slipping on her shirt, she gazed toward the line of clocks attached to the rear wall––one for each of the various world time zones. “Damn. I need to hustle. Thank God the tunnels connect to my office at headquarters.”
A buzz rippled over his thigh. Digging into his pocket, he drew out his phone, his gaze still fixed on Harper. Reluctantly, he answered. “This is Wyatt.” His automatic response mindlessly fell from his lips.
“And this is your sister. It’s about damn time you answered your cell.”
“Emily?” Immediately, his attention shifted. “Are you okay?” Glancing at the clocks, he continued. “It’s six a.m. and you’re never up before dawn. What’s up?”
“I didn’t want to wake you…God knows you need your sleep, but I think you and Harper need to come to Savannah.”
“We kinda have our hands full at the moment. Why? Did something happen?”
Harper shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I gotta run…is she alright?”
Wyatt shrugged and held up one finger.
“I’m fine, but yes, something’s going down. Ash and I need you and the team here as soon as possible. It won’t take long…maybe a few hours.”
“Hang on a sec.” He turned to Harper. “Emily says somethings going down in Savannah and needs some help. Do you think we can shoot down there in the NCIS jet? We’ll be back by this evening.”
Harper nodded. “Set it up. Kara and Logan can look after the kids and try to track down Damien.”
Lifting the phone to his ear again, he confirmed. “You’ve got it, sis. I’ll ready the team.” He raised his brows and motioned for Harper to wait. “Director Drake will book the flight.”
She nodded. “Anything else? I gotta run, Wyatt.”
“One minute,” he whispered to Harper then redirected his attention to his sister. “What do we need, Em? Can you give me details?”
“I’m not sure, yet…just bring basics. Call me with your flight plan and I’ll fill you in.”
“I’ll let you know our ETA as soon as I can.” He pressed End then turned to Harper. “She’s not sure what’s going down, but you know Emily. Her instincts are always spot on. I’ll round up the team. How soon can you have a plane ready?”
Drawing her phone from her back pocket, she perused the screen. “I’ll call the pilot now.” She pressed-in a number then glanced toward Wyatt. “I have to show my face at headquarters. Director of NCIS has its perks, but my official team expect me to be in the office when they know I’m in town…which makes my dual occupations a bit tricky at times. Jeopardizing my position would spin our entire operation into chaos. As soon as I check in with my agents, I’ll call you and head to the airport. You and the team meet me as soon as you can.”
“You think the kids will be okay?”
“I think so. Kara will love watching them. Besides, they’ll probably sleep late after everything that’s happened and, as you said, we should be back before dark.”
Pulse still racing, Wyatt nodded. “Good. I’ll have Steel keep an eye out, too. Go. I’ll call you when we’re on our way.”
She strode toward the door, paused, then turned to face Wyatt and smiled. “By the way. I really missed those lips. I’m glad you finally let down your guard if only briefly. I’m not the enemy, Wyatt. Whatever is going on with you, I––”
He grumbled. “As far as I can see, our sexual tension released.”
“For the moment. We all have scars, Wyatt…and you might have tamed your demons, but I haven’t.” She rushed through the door then disappeared around the corner.
What did she mean by that comment? God. Maybe Harper had her own nightmares. He’d never even considered the possibility. The thought of her going through any kind of mental torment burned his gut. If she needed him, he couldn’t turn his back. He could let her vent and be her friend…for God sakes, he at least owed her that. Could he be that person in her life…her friend without becoming her lover? After what just happened, he couldn’t deny the fire between them still raged…and he would face the flames of hell to keep her from suffering a moment of the torment he battled.
Chapter Nine
Within forty-five minutes, the NCIS Citation took fl
ight, carrying Harper’s mission-readied rogue team to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Two hours later, Wyatt and Harper met Emily and Ash at The Frog and Peach Southern Buffet, while Parker, Brad, Vic, and Stephanie set up the equipment in a rented van.
After serving herself, Harper chose a corner table. The acoustics and rushing airport patrons concealed their covert conversation. When the other three sat and began eating, Harper shoved her food aside and leaned forward, peppering them with a flurry of questions. “You two are sure about this?” She angled her head.
They nodded in unison.
“Damn, Ash.” Wyatt leaned forward. “I don’t doubt your detective instincts” ––he shifted his gaze toward Emily–– “or your investigative skills, sis, but how in the hell did you two discover AquaStar in the few hours you’ve been in Savannah?”
Ash tapped his fingers on the table then turned toward Emily.
“Uh…we didn’t exactly stumble upon it.” She reached across the table and clenched Wyatt’s wrist. “Alyssa told me she saw an AquaStar container on a cargo ship headed inland, so she followed the carrier to the Port of Savannah.”
Wyatt’s jaw dropped and his questioning gaze bore into Emily.
“Way to go, Alyssa.” Harper leaned back in her seat. I’m glad she didn’t vanish after saving Emily’s life.”
Emily sighed. “Apparently, the effort of saving my life drained her energy and from what I deduced, time and space are kind of nebulous in the spirit world. Anyway, the point is, she’s back and I’m totally thrilled she’s here.”
“So, she told you where to find an AquaStar container?” Wyatt leaned forward on his forearm.
Harper wondered why Wyatt’s tone was tinged with emotion. Could he be jealous of Emily’s connection with Alyssa?
“She didn’t just speak to me. She materialized right in front of me.”
“You saw her, too, Ash?” Wyatt’s gaze stabbed daggers. He snatched his water glass and took a long swig.
“Nah, I hit the head the moment the hostess seated us at the Pirate’s House. By the time I returned, Alyssa had vanished.”
“Wyatt, are you angry Alyssa contacted me?” Emily’s brow wrinkled.
Eyeing him, Harper addressed the question. “I think what has your brother’s shorts in a wad comes from his lack of connecting with Alyssa. Not your success.”
He slumped his shoulders. “That obvious, eh? Sorry. I don’t mean to belittle your extra-sensory ability…I just miss her.”
Emily squinted. “I’m sorry, Wyatt. I get it. For what it’s worth, she misses you, too, and she watches over you.”
The corners of his lips curled into a slight smile.
Harper cleared her throat and nudged Wyatt. “Can we get back to AquaStar?”
“Yeah.” Ash nodded. “After we ate a quick bite, we headed to the Port of Savannah and looked for a decent vantage point to watch the container ships unload. But the place was too damn big. So, Em arranged an interview with the Ports Authority Executive Director, Griff Lynch.”
“Right. I told him I was doing a piece on trade shipping and he let me tag along as he drove the grounds. Ash nosed around in the shadows. I had no idea container docks were so massive. The Port of Savannah is the fourth-largest shipping facility in North America by volume, but it’s the largest by acreage. Needless to say, tracking down AquaStar took a while. Lyssa told me the container arrived on a COSCO vessel. You couldn’t miss it.” Her eye widened. “That COSCO ship is the largest cargo carrier in the world.”
Ash broke in. “To put the ships size in perspective, imagine about four football fields long and, I’d say roughly 50 yards wide.” He snagged a bite of sandwich then sloshed it down with his drink.
“Damn.” Wyatt leaned back in his chair.
Still chewing her last forkful, Emily placed a hand on Ash’s wrist. “The containers look small from the shoreline, compared to the ship. But each one is essentially an eighteen-wheeler truck. That’s a lot of cargo and an easy vessel to smuggle contraband. Anyway, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted”—she nudged Ash— “COSCO’s containers were unloaded before we arrived. Huge cranes pick up the containers then set them on wheels to specific lots where they stack them until rigs come to pick them up.”
“She kept an eye out for AquaStar during the tour, but even if she’d seen the container, the storage and pick-up lot is like a huge maze and crazy busy so, finding it again would have taken forever. Especially since you can’t just walk around the lot.”
Squeezing his hand, she smiled. “In order to access the premises, you have to ride in specific vehicles, which Ash and I obviously couldn’t do, so…” She gulped down some water. “I called Logan and asked him to direct a satellite over the Port of Savannah, find AquaStar and track the rig that picks up the target. Then Ash and I kept watch over the two exit gates and waited. Logan gave us a heads-up as to which exit the truck headed toward, so I hopped into our rental car and met Ash. From his vantage point, he saw the AquaStar rig leave right before closing, around 6:30 p.m.”
Ash glanced toward Emily. “She’s beautiful and smart all in one package.” His gaze returning to Wyatt and Harper, he continued. “We caught up to the truck but pulled back so the driver wouldn’t get nervous about seeing headlights shadowing him. Once again, Steel proved invaluable, tracking the rig to a deserted warehouse off Old Dean Forest Rd.” Ash swiped his tongue over his teeth.
Emily picked up the thread. “When we arrived, the lot was pitch black and we couldn’t get too close without being seen.” Her gaze shifted to Harper. “Even with binoculars, we could barely make out the dark figures walking around. I wished I’d snagged a pair of those new ENVG-III night-vison binoculars you have at the compound. What we could make out seemed really sketchy. One figure got out of the truck and directed the driver as he backed into the warehouse, but they didn’t close the garage door or flip on lights. They moved in darkness…fiddling around beneath the rig. One guy rolled a dolly underneath and lowered something onto the pallet. About ten minutes later, they withdrew the cargo and took it deeper into the warehouse. They repeated that scenario several times before reconnecting what must have been a false bottom compartment.”
Eyebrow cocked, Wyatt gazed at Harper. “I’d say drugs.”
She nodded. “Or possibly guns. Either way, the cargo definitely sounds like contraband.”
Ash leaned forward, “Our thoughts precisely. That’s why we called you at the butt-crack of dawn. And as of an hour ago, the truck and cargo were still at the warehouse.”
“The operation wasn’t just offloading hidden merchandise, Wyatt.” Emily pushed away from the table. “I’m not sure why, but I got some really eerie vibes about that place. I hoped Alyssa would show up and shed some light on the covert activity. I tried to will her there, but she didn’t respond.”
Scooting her chair away from the table, Harper frowned as her thoughts churned. This wasn’t the first she’d encountered a ring importing contraband. Last year, one of her NCIS teams brought down a group of Mexican coyotes smuggling Fentanyl and trafficking women and children into the US near El Paso. A vicious, devious and deadly gang. A chill squirmed down her back as she acknowledged Ash and Emily likely uncovered a similar faction. “We need to get to that warehouse now, before those men transport their load to their final destination.”
Wyatt pushed away from the table. “She’s right. Thank God you two called us instead of handling the situation on your own.”
“No way would we ever be that stupid or reckless, Wyatt.” Emily’s face tightened. “Of course, we’d contact the team. That’s a no-brainer.”
“I know you worry about your sister, but you don’t need to.” Ash raised his brows and stood. “Em’s a pro, and her instincts are spot-on. Not only that, she’s my partner.” He tossed a quick glance toward Emily then back to Wyatt. “I’ll always have her back.”
Nodding, Wyatt agreed then faced Emily, who stared at Ash with an ad
oring gaze. He shook his head. “Okay then, let’s roll.”
Harper pressed her earbud and turned toward the exit, submitting her plan of action to the rest of the crew. She gazed over her shoulder. “You okay with moving on this intel?”
Wyatt drew in a long breath. “Damn, I wish we could call in some backup fire power. You know as well as I do, the guys who picked-up the AquaStar container are pawns. We’ve barely scratched the surface of this ring. Whoever is behind this operation has power, money and deep connections to have been on Alyssa’s list.”
“Yup. We might be walking into a firestorm, but more likely the warehouse provides a point of transition for pickup and drop-off. We could take down those perps, but in doing so we’ll lose a solid lead that could direct us to the kingpin.”
“Agreed, let’s see what’s going on before we make a decision.” The team should already be in position.” He tapped his earpiece. “Parker, you in place, yet?
“Yes, sir. We have eyes and ears inside and monitors on.”
“Good. We’re on our way. Text me with your coordinates.” Wyatt glanced at his watch. “I assume the parked rig hasn’t left the premises?”
“Affirmative. Steel already ran the plates. You’ll never believe the city of origin.”
Harper chimed in. “Let me guess…Washington DC or somewhere in northern Virginia?”
“Bingo.”
Ash opened the door and held it until the group exited. “We’re parked over there.” He jutted his chin to the right lot.
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Harper shook her head. “Have Steel research COSCO’s routes. Find out exactly where the AquaStar container originated and at what port COSCO picked up the can.” A random thought regarding an intel report she’d read flashed through her thoughts and her stomach knotted.
“What?” Wyatt craned his neck to gaze into her eyes. “I know you, Harper. Something awful just crossed your mind. Tell me.”