HOT Justice: A Hostile Operations Team - Book 14

by Lynn Raye Harris

  She heard the key in the lock and had a moment of panic. What should she do? Stand at the door and throw her arms around him when he came inside? Or sit on the couch and try to look dignified? Or maybe she should go to the fridge and pretend she was getting a drink.

  She did none of those things. She stood at the window, her heart hammering, and waited for the door to swing open. When it did, he searched the room, his gaze landing on her almost immediately. A grin broke out on his face, and the tap dancing inside her got a whole lot faster.

  “Hey,” he said, closing the door behind him and swiping the cap from his head.

  “Hey yourself,” she replied, feet glued to the floor for some inexplicable reason.

  He strolled toward her, dropping the cap on the coffee table, his eyes filled with wicked intent. “You’re still here.”

  She tipped her head back to gaze up at him. “Of course I am.”

  “Wasn’t sure you’d stay,” he told her, frowning a little bit as he said it.

  “I said I would.”

  “Would you if Tony’d insisted on one o’clock?”

  She pursed her lips. All she could do was answer him honestly. “I’m not sure. You know how much I want to get this story.”

  He curled his fingers around the back of her neck, tugged her with the barest pressure toward him. Of course she didn’t need much encouraging. She took the step, her palms going to his chest.

  “Thanks for being honest,” he said. And then he dipped his head and kissed her. Haylee’s insides melted. Liquid heat pooled between her legs. Her pussy throbbed. She stepped into him again, bringing their bodies together. He groaned as she came in contact with his cock. He was hard and ready.

  Mercy.

  He broke the kiss by stepping backward. “As much as I want to be inside you right now, I think we’d better get over to your place.”

  “We have a few minutes.”

  He shook his head. “No, not really. I want to get there before Tony does. Check things out. Be prepared.”

  She was stupid right now. Horny and stupid. She couldn’t think. Thank God he could. “Prepared for what?”

  “Anything. These aren’t nice people you’re dealing with, Haylee.”

  The fog of desire started to fade as she took the hint. He was talking about violence. “Tony isn’t part of that. He’s a good guy.”

  “Maybe so, but I don’t know him and therefore don’t trust him.”

  She understood. “Okay. I’m ready when you are.”

  “Gotta change out of the uniform,” he told her, fingers already working the buttons of his camouflage shirt.

  Her mouth started to water. “You might want to do that behind a closed door,” she told him as she watched his fingers make the trip downward. Thank God he had a T-shirt underneath.

  “Why?”

  She looked up, met his gaze. His eyes sparked with humor. He knew what he did to her, damn him. “Because we can’t be late and I’m weak when you start stripping.”

  He laughed as he started walking backward, away from her. “I’ll be done in a few seconds.”

  Haylee put a hand to her heart after he’d disappeared down the hallway. “Easy, girl,” she muttered. Wolf was turning her into a sex maniac.

  True to his word, he was back quickly, wearing a dark blue henley and a pair of faded jeans with scuffed boots. Too sexy for words.

  “Let’s get moving,” he said, leading the way to his truck. He opened her door, waited for her to climb inside, then went around and got in beside her. It was twenty minutes to her place, longer in traffic, but it was a good time of day and they weren’t held up anywhere. When he turned onto her street, he slowed.

  “I’m going to drive by first. Tell me if anything looks strange.”

  He made a slow roll past the townhouse she’d shared with Nicole, past her car that still sat where she’d left it, while she scrutinized her front walk and the door and windows.

  “Looks normal.”

  “Good.” He turned onto the next street and pulled into a parking place. “We’re going in the back door instead of the front. In case anyone is watching.”

  Haylee dug out her keys and stepped from his truck. He locked it with the press of a button, dropped his keys in his pocket, and came around to take her hand in his. Excitement zipped through her.

  Now wasn’t the time, but she couldn’t help it. Touching Wolf made her nerves sing. She led them to the back gate of the townhouse and then up and onto the rear porch. Wolf took the key from her hand and inserted it into the lock. He swung the door inward, reaching beneath his shirt at his back as he did so. When he brought out a pistol, she had to bite back a gasp.

  “Stay inside the door while I clear the house, okay? If you hear anything unusual, get outside.” He reached into his pocket and fished out his truck keys. “Go to my truck and get to the police station. And before you ask, I’ll be fine. Just do what I tell you.”

  She took the keys, nodding because her throat was suddenly too tight to speak. She stood in place while he slipped into her kitchen, through the door to the living room, and disappeared. Haylee waited, straining to hear any sounds, but the only thing she heard was the occasional creak of the floors as he moved. He was back within minutes. The pistol was gone, tucked away again.

  “You’re clear. But you need a security system in here. The locks are laughable, and the windows could be breached by a determined toddler.”

  Haylee made a face even though her heart pounded in her ears. “Really? A toddler?”

  He shrugged. “Hey, you’d be surprised what a toddler can do. Leave them alone for a minute and you never know what’ll happen.”

  “And how do you know this?”

  “Church youth group. Let one toddler out of your sight, let that kid climb up into the baptismal font and decide to take an impromptu bath, and you’ll never forget it. Or live it down.”

  She’d thought he was just making it up to ease the tension. Apparently not. “Oh wow. That could have been bad.”

  He nodded. “Yep, I was lucky the kid didn’t drown himself. But I never got tasked with watching the toddlers again, which was a good thing.”

  Haylee moved away from the back door and he went over to lock it behind her.

  “All doors locked, Haylee. Always.”

  “I usually do. But I have to admit you’re scaring me just a little bit.”

  He put his hands on her upper arms, squeezed reassuringly. “This is what I do. I’m always going to be a bit intense about personal safety. Not trying to scare you.”

  “I know. And I appreciate it.”

  He looked up, taking in the kitchen and the small sitting room it opened onto as if really seeing it for the first time. It was decorated warmly, she thought. She and Nicole had loved to make their space homey and comfortable. There were things missing now, things her parents had taken when they’d come for Nicole’s belongings. But it was still pretty. She liked pretty.

  “I like it,” he said, and warmth filled her. “Looks inviting.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Huh, maybe I do need to fire my interior decorator,” he teased. “Maybe yours is available?”

  “She might be,” Haylee said. “For a price.”

  “What kind of price?”

  She liked this silly back and forth with him. It made sparks fly in her belly in a way that surprised her. “The kind you can pay with your body.”

  He laughed. Ran a hand over his chest. “That’s why I work out.” He shook himself a moment later. “Okay, we need to get serious, babe. You’ve got ten minutes until he shows, so where do you intend to talk to him?”

  “Living room.”

  “Great. Let’s go.” They headed for the living room at the front of the house. He studied the room and she knew he was cataloging everything about it. Not because he liked it, but because he wanted to know how to fight and how to escape if it became necessary.

  “So what’s the plan?” she asked.


  He swung his gaze to hers. “I’m sitting over there,” he said, nodding toward the chair beside the opening that led to the kitchen.

  “You can’t stay in the same room when he arrives,” she said in a rush. “He might not talk if he knows you’re here.”

  Wolf frowned. “Do you really think he has something, or is he just trying to get close to you?”

  Haylee felt the first stirrings of doubt. “Honestly, I don’t know. He sounded pretty serious, and I have to believe he’s not wasting my time when he knows how important this is to me. Tony and I have been friends for months now. He knows what it means to me to get justice for Nicole.”

  “If he cared for Nicole like you say—and if he cares for you—then he should tell you what he came to say whether I’m here or not.”

  Her belly twisted. “You say that, but not everybody thinks like you do. You’re intimidating, Wolf. And if he sees you, then he might just decide he can tell me later—and then I’m back at square one. No, I don’t know that Tony has anything worthwhile—or why he just couldn’t tell me over the phone. But I’m a reporter, and I know that people can get weird about stuff when talking to reporters. Tony knows me as a Hill correspondent, but he also knows I want to do something more important—which means I could be somewhat dangerous to his career, I guess? I don’t know, but I can’t risk him getting nervous because you’re here.”

  He blew out a breath. “Fine. I’ll stay in the kitchen. But if he threatens you at all, I’m not sitting there quietly. You feel me?”

  Haylee shivered at the intensity of his words. It was exciting to be the focus of all that determination. To know that the intimidating man with the big muscles and hard stare was so utterly dialed in on her safety. “I do,” she said. “And I’m grateful.”

  He nodded, his frown not easing. “I’ll be in there. Listening. Anything makes you uncomfortable, you say something.”

  “I will, Wolf. Promise.”

  Her phone blared just then, sending her nerves shooting skyward. Haylee scrambled for her bag. “Hey, Tony,” she said, her heart still hammering in her chest. Wolf was watching her intently.

  “Haylee,” Tony replied. The connection sounded tinny. “Run… don’t… tried… Nicole shouldn’t have…”

  “What? Tony, you’re breaking up. What did you say?”

  “Check… email… sent… Bye, Haylee.”

  “Tony? What’s going on? Tony!” The line went dead and she jerked the phone from her ear to hit the redial button. It went straight to voicemail.

  “What’s happening?” Wolf asked.

  She snapped her gaze to him. “I don’t know. It was Tony, but he sounded… scared, maybe? The signal wasn’t good and he kept breaking up. I don’t like this, Wolf. It’s all wrong.”

  His face was hard. He jerked his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. “Stand by,” he told her. “Saint, need to track someone’s cell phone.” He gestured to her and she handed him her phone. He pulled up her last call and read off Tony’s number. “No, I don’t know what’s going on, but Tony Davis just called Haylee and she said he sounded scared. He’s supposed to be meeting with her at her place, but I somehow don’t think he’s coming… Yeah, thanks. I’ll be here.”

  Wolf ended the call. “I’ve got my guys tracking him. We’ll see where he is.”

  “He’s not coming though, is he? I mean he could be, but I don’t think so. I couldn’t make out what he said, but one of the things was Nicole shouldn’t have. Shouldn’t have what? I have no idea.”

  “There’s no way to know. You just have to wait and hope he calls back. Or knocks on the door.”

  “But he’s not going to. You know it as well as I do.”

  He nodded. Her expression must have fallen because he came over and drew her into his arms. She put her arms around his waist, closing her eyes as she pressed her face to his chest and breathed him in. He was comforting. His presence was comforting.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “Something’s spooked him, probably. Doesn’t mean you won’t get the information. Just not right now.”

  “I hate this shit,” she said, her throat tight. “The cloak and dagger stuff. The secrecy and jockeying.”

  He stroked her hair. “I know. I hate it for you. But it’s what happens when you’re down in the muck with criminals.”

  She pushed away and gazed up at him. “I hope Tony’s not one of them. I really hope he’s not.”

  “He might not be. But he knows more than he’s been telling you.”

  She wanted to protest, but Wolf’s phone rang. He stepped away and took the call. “Hey, Saint. Whatchu got? … Seriously? … Okay, yeah, thanks.”

  “What?” she asked when he hung up.

  His brows were drawn low. “Last known location was in Virginia. Headed west.”

  Shock coursed through her. “But that doesn’t make any sense.”

  He grasped her shoulders. “What else did he say?”

  “I don’t… I didn’t understand most of it. Something about running. And email. I think he said to check email?” She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “Check it. See if he sent you anything.”

  She nodded shakily. Brought up her phone and hit the email app. There was nothing new. Her heart fell. And then, in an instant, there was. An email from Tony hit her inbox. With an attachment.

  * * *

  If you’re getting this, then something has happened and I wasn’t able to show you personally. Take them down, Haylee. Take them all down.

  * * *

  Haylee’s finger hovered over the download when another sound penetrated her ears. Car doors slamming outside. And then Wolf changed before her eyes. Went from the sexy, growly, flirty badass she knew to an utterly lethal machine. His drew his weapon, stalked to the window and peered outside. Then he turned and strode to her, grabbing her arm and propelling her back to the kitchen and the rear door.

  “What is it? What’s going on?” she asked even as she hurried to do his bidding.

  “Company,” he said. “And I’m pretty sure they aren’t here for a social call.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Wolf cursed under his breath even while he made plans and hustled Haylee toward the back door. He didn’t know who the men outside were, but he was pretty sure they weren’t here for any legitimate reason. DEA, FBI—those guys had a look that Wolf recognized. These men had a look too, and it was one Wolf usually saw from people who were up to no good. Considering that Tony Davis was supposed to be arriving for a meeting right now, Wolf would bet these guys knew something about that and were here, if not to intercept Tony, then to do something about Haylee.

  There were two men, one white and one Latino, their weapons outlined beneath the fabric of their shirts at their waistbands. They weren’t even trying to hide that they were armed. Never a good sign, especially in a state like Maryland with strict concealed carry laws. It was possible they were legit, but Wolf wasn’t taking that chance.

  Now he just had to hope they weren’t smart enough to put anyone at the back of the house. He stopped at the door, peering outside. Haylee’s doorbell rang. She turned her head to look back. Wolf scanned the rear yard and the fence, the alley beyond. There was nothing there, but that didn’t mean they weren’t blockading either end of the alley. Depended on how thorough their plan was and how much trouble they expected from their target.

  Wolf glanced down at Haylee. She looked determined, brave. His heart kicked with an emotion he didn’t recognize, but he knew he admired her. So damned much. “Here’s what we’re going to do, Haylee. We’re going out the backdoor. Me first, you behind. Follow my lead and do exactly as I tell you, okay?”

  “Yes, of course. But why can’t we stay here? Call the police?”

  “Not enough time. Those men aren’t going to wait outside for long, and we can’t take the chance that the police won’t get here in time.”

  As if on cue, the men started pounding on the door. Hay
lee’s eyes widened. Pretty soon, they’d graduate to breaking in. Her front door was recessed in an entry nook and hidden from view, except for head on. Bad in general but good for them right now because it meant these guys weren’t going around back when they had cover to break in at the front.

  “We’re heading for my truck, then we’re getting inside and getting the hell out of here.”

  “Okay, lead the way.”

  Wolf pressed a quick kiss to her lips, then opened the door and pulled Haylee behind him as they made their way across the yard and out the gate. A quick check of the alley showed no one there. Wolf put a hand beneath his shirt, wrapping it around his pistol grip as they hurried toward where he’d parked the truck. They reached it without incident and he fired it up, laying his pistol on the console between them. Haylee’s eyes met his. Her mouth was a flat line. He couldn’t tell if she was scared or angry or numb.

  “Just in case,” he said.

  “Do you really think they were here for me?”

  “I don’t know for sure, but it’s not a chance I want to take.” He reversed the truck, then shoved it into gear and shot for the main road. A quick check of the rearview showed nobody behind him.

  Haylee was on her phone, no doubt downloading whatever Tony had sent her. Then she started to play a video. “Oh wow,” she breathed.

  He couldn’t take his eyes from the road and the mirrors. “What is it?” He heard people talking in Spanish but he didn’t understand it.

  “It’s a video showing the Juarez Cartel manufacturing opioids. There’s a sweep of the pill pressing operation and oh—”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Oscar Silva. In the facility, Wolf—and oh my God, there’s John Payne and Donnie Setter too. They’re all there. There’s no doubt it’s them, no doubt what’s going on.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “This is it—this is what I needed. The missing piece tying those men to the operation.”