“Nothing. I haven’t known her long enough for her to be anything.”
Although while that was technically true, he felt a connection with her that he hadn’t with anyone else. From the second she’d looked at him in the FUBAR three days ago, like he scared her to death, he’d been determined to prove her wrong.
She was his. He hadn’t even given her a choice in the matter. He’d claimed her, and that was pretty much all there was to it.
And he wasn’t about to let anyone take her away from him now.
“You’re Russian,” Commander Baker said, “aren’t you?”
Max nodded. “What gave it away?”
“I hope that was an attempt at humor,” Baker told him, “because I’d hate to think you were rude to a superior officer.”
Max sighed. “Sorry, sir. Yes, I’m Russian. Born in a small town south of St. Petersburg. Grew up in Brighton Beach.”
“You’d know a little about the Russian mob, then.”
“More than I care to,” Max said. “After my mother died, my sister went to work for our local pakhan. I wouldn’t be here right now if she hadn’t saved my ass.”
Baker didn’t ask him to elaborate. “We can’t have Russian mobsters with federal judges in their pockets.”
Max shook his head. No. They couldn’t.
But he also couldn’t let anything happen to Gabrielle.
“Requesting permission to go to Washington,” he said to Baker.
“Of course,” the commander answered. “We’re not sending her there on her own.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me,” Baker said. “It’ll be your job to talk her into it.”
Of course it would. Max turned to the door with a sigh.
10
An hour later, Andy Lee had gotten everything out of Gabrielle that she’d ever known about Alex Volkov’s organization, and Commander Baker had coordinated with local FBI and the Norfolk PD about an op to take down—or out—Sergei and Yuri.
Once that was done—and the two henchmen were safely put away, somewhere where they couldn’t call Alex Volkov and tell him what was going on—phase two of the plan could be put into action.
Gabrielle didn’t know about phase two yet. All Max had told her, was what would happen tonight.
One trauma at a time.
It was scary enough for her to put herself out there to lure Sergei and Yuri to their doom—not bait; hah!—and once she’d had success at that, he would tell her that she’d have to face Alex next. But he’d give her a taste of success first, before he sprung that on her.
She was back at work at the FUBAR. He was back on guard. It looked like every other night. She was smiling and serving beer and collecting tips, and there was no sign of Sergei or Yuri.
In a few minutes, Max would get a call, though, and he’d have to leave and go to the military base.
And just in case Sergei or Yuri were following, that’s what he’d have to do. Go to the military base. And trust that the others had Gabrielle’s back.
Jim would drive her to JB’s place, which was Ground Zero for this op. She’d let herself in. Jim would leave once she was safely inside, and they’d all wait for Sergei and Yuri to make their move. Sergei and Yuri would see nothing, and suspect nothing, because Max’s team was just that good.
Once the two Russians were inside the townhouse, the SEALs would move in. And if Sergei or Yuri happened to meet with a fatal accident in the few seconds after that, Max wouldn’t shed any tears.
The FBI would take the Russians off, to sweat them in a box somewhere. The other SEALs would go home, and Max and Gabrielle would be alone.
And that was when he’d have to tell her what she’d be doing tomorrow.
No, much as he’d like to think so, his chances of getting her naked tonight were slim to none. Not after he dropped that bombshell on her.
Maybe he’d just seduce her first. And then tell her about Alex when she was all relaxed and basking in the afterglow.
Yeah, that’d go over well.
His phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the display. And put it to his ear. “Yes, sir.”
“You’re a go,” Commander Baker said. “It’s all set up.”
“Now?”
“Now,” Baker confirmed. “Get in your truck and start driving. Does Jim know what to do?”
Max glanced at the bartender, who gave him a casual nod. “Yes, sir.”
“Then I’ll expect to see you shortly,” Baker said. “Base out.”
He hung up in Max’s ear. Max made a face and dropped the phone back in his pocket before pushing his half-full bottle of beer in Jim’s direction. “Gotta go.”
“Everything OK?”
“Duty calls.” Max slid off the stool. “Do me a favor. That was the commander. I’m wanted at the base. If I don’t get back before you close, can you take Gabrielle home at the end of the night?”
“Sure,” Jim said, as if they hadn’t already worked all this out earlier. But while Max didn’t think Alex had any spies in the FUBAR right now, he wasn’t taking any chances. They’d go through the motions, all nice and neat, so nobody’d get suspicious.
“We’re staying at Walton’s place. He and the heiress are living it up in her penthouse on the beach. And somebody tried to burn my house down yesterday.”
He pulled a napkin to him and scribbled JB’s address on it. “This is it. It’s over by the hospital.”
Jim glanced at it and nodded. “I know where it is. I’ll get her there. And make sure she’s inside before I leave.”
“Thanks, man.” Max looked over his shoulder for Gabrielle. “I guess I oughta tell her I’m leaving.”
“That’d be a good idea,” Jim agreed, and walked off to take an order down the bar. Just like any other night.
Max headed for the door, and waited for Gabrielle to notice him. When she did, he could see the quick flash of fear in her eyes. Not fear of him this time. Fear for him, maybe. Or probably more like fear that he wouldn’t be there to protect her later.
She made her way over to him. And because he wanted to make it sound good for anyone within hearing distance, he went over the whole scenario again. “The commander called. He wants me on base ten minutes ago.”
She blinked. “So you’re just going to leave?”
“I can’t not go when the commander calls, sweetheart. Hopefully we’re not going wheels up or anything like that tonight.”
She bit her lip. “Wheels up?”
He hummed a few bars of Leaving, On a Jet Plane. “That happens sometimes. We get a call and we gotta go. He didn’t say that was it, though, so maybe he just wants to talk. Maybe one of my men got themselves in trouble, or something.”
A ghost of a smile drifted across her mouth. “That’s right. You’re the lieutenant.”
“And he’s the commander. And when he calls, I go.” He glanced around. Nobody was paying them any attention except for a couple of Marines sitting at a table next to the door. He turned back to her and lowered his voice. “Jim’s gonna drive you home at the end of the night. Don’t leave with anyone but Jim.”
Gabrielle nodded.
“Promise me.”
“I won’t leave with anyone but Jim.”
He could tell from her expression that she was nervous. She’d sunk her teeth into her bottom lip, and when he reached out and took her hand, her fingers were shaking.
“I’ll get back as quick as I can, OK?”
She nodded.
“Jim’ll make sure you get home safe. Just stay there and wait for me.”
She nodded.
Max looked at her. And although he knew it was all an act—all but the fear in her eyes—he couldn’t leave her like this. “It’s gonna be all right.” He leaned in and kissed her. Softly, lingering for a second, for two, before straightening. “I’ll see you later.”
“Later,” Gabrielle said. When he let go of her hand, she lifted it to her lips. And th
at was when he turned and walked out the door, because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to do anything but pull her into his arms and kiss her the way he wanted to. The way he’d done yesterday, before everything had happened to screw things up between them.
The way he’d—maybe—be able to do again later. If they made it through the night in one piece, and nothing went wrong, and she didn’t have a nervous breakdown when he told her what they’d be doing tomorrow.
Maybe.
* * *
Gabrielle watched the door close behind Max, and felt more alone that she had since this whole thing started.
He wasn’t abandoning her. She knew that. He’d be right next to her if he could. But as he’d explained, the only way Sergei and Yuri would make their move, was if they thought she was alone. As long as Max was around, they wouldn’t risk going near her. So Max had to make himself scarce, and Gabrielle had to look like she was unprotected.
And she had to trust his friends—his team—to take care of her, even if Max himself wasn’t there to lead them.
She glanced at her watch.
Two hours to closing.
Three hours—maybe—until Sergei and Yuri were in custody and she could breathe again.
They’d implicate Alex, and the DC police would pick him up, and then she’d be free. Trent wouldn’t come after her. He’d probably be in custody, too. Or if not—if they couldn’t find anything to charge him with—at least he’d be too scared to come anywhere near her. He wouldn’t want to get any more mixed up in this than he was already.
And after that, maybe she and Max would have a chance. If he wanted her. If he could get over the things she’d done.
A Marine over in the corner lifted his empty bottle to get her attention, and Gabrielle abandoned the door, and her thoughts of Max, and went back to work.
* * *
Max kept an eye on the rearview mirror on his way from the FUBAR to the Navy base, and wasn’t surprised when he noticed a black sedan on his tail no more than a minute into the drive. They’d been waiting for him outside the FUBAR, obviously, and were following him to see where he was going.
Good thing Commander Baker had insisted Max follow through with the plan and actually go to the base. The bad guys were following him to make sure.
The car stayed two or three car lengths behind the whole way there. Too far for him to make out who was driving, or whether there was more than one person in the car, but persistent enough that there was no question they were actually tailing him.
Max drove sedately, like he had no idea he was being followed. He could have lost them easily, but that wasn’t the purpose of this exercise. Lead them to the base. Let them see him go in. Let them see him not come out, because after this he couldn’t. He’d had a little fantasy about hiding under a tarp in the back of someone’s truck and getting to JB’s apartment that way, but after this, he’d have to stay at the base and make sure he was visible.
The one good thing about this was that maybe the bad guys were dividing their forces. If someone was sticking with him, maybe that meant only one man would be going after Gabrielle. Less chance that she’d get hurt.
Not that she’d get hurt at all, since he’d kill any of his men who dropped the ball on this one and let anything happen to her. He’d made that clear during the briefing this afternoon. They’d all nodded solemnly and exchanged glances afterwards. Mad Max got it bad for this girl.
Max didn’t care. Or so he told himself. As long as they made sure Gabrielle came through the ordeal in one piece, they could think whatever the hell they wanted.
Two cars behind, the black sedan kept pace as Max turned the corner. He slowed down a little, just to make sure they could keep up, and saw them come around the corner fifteen seconds behind him.
What were the chances Alex had sent reinforcements to Virginia?
Max had gotten the drop on both Sergei and Yuri last night. Maybe they’d contacted Alex and asked for help after they woke up.
If that were so, they hadn’t divided their forces at all. Maybe it was Sergei and Yuri in the sedan. Maybe someone else was going after Gabrielle.
Someone they didn’t know, and wouldn’t recognize if they saw him.
He might already be inside the FUBAR, keeping an eye on her. Waiting to get her alone.
Max’s foot got heavier on the gas pedal, and the truck picked up speed. He had to force himself to ease off. She’d be fine. Jim would take her to John-Boy’s place. The others were already in position. They wouldn’t let anyone near her, whether it was Sergei or Yuri or someone none of them had ever seen before. She was safe.
He had to believe that, or he wouldn’t be able to make it through the next few hours.
The fence and gates into the base came into view, and Max slowed down as he pulled up to the guardhouse. “Evening, Leroy.”
“Lieutenant.” The guard nodded. “You’re coming in late.”
“The commander called.” Max glanced over his shoulder. “You see that sedan just pulling into the parking lot across the street?”
“Nothing wrong with my eyesight,” Leroy informed him, with a very casual glance in that direction.
“Let me know if it moves.”
Leroy nodded. “Something going on? Something I need to know about?”
“Not here. Not as far as I know.” He looked into the rearview mirror again. Across the street, the sedan made itself comfortable in a parking spot and shut its headlights off. “I don’t know how long they’ll stay. Maybe just long enough to make sure I’m not coming back out. Or maybe for the duration. I’ll be here a couple hours. Let me know if they move.”
“Will do.” Leroy opened the gate and Max drove through. He headed for a parking spot as the gates closed again behind him.
Getting out of the car made the hairs at the back of his neck prickle. He didn’t think it was likely that they had a rifle with a scope and would try to pick him off at this distance, but you never knew. The tension didn’t leave his shoulders until he was inside the building and away from the hypothetical gun.
Sure, he was willing to risk his life every day in the service of freedom and honor. That didn’t mean he wanted to bleed out from a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the base.
And for tonight, at least, he wouldn’t have to. He headed down the hall toward the commander’s office.
11
After the FUBAR closed, Jim took the trash out to the dumpster while he kept Gabrielle and Misty inside, and then he made sure Misty was safely in her car and on her way home before he bundled Gabrielle into the truck and climbed in after her. “You ready?”
He glanced at her across the cab as he turned the key in the ignition.
She shook her head. “No.” Might as well be honest. “But I don’t think I’ll be any more ready in twenty minutes, so we might as well get it done.”
He nodded, and put the truck in gear. They rolled out of the parking lot. “You’ll be fine. Max has a good team. They won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I’m really more worried about Max,” Gabrielle said. It wasn’t entirely true—she was worried about herself, too—but Max had left several hours ago and she hadn’t heard from him. For all she knew, he might be dead in a ditch somewhere between the FUBAR and the Navy base.
“He’s fine.” Jim accelerated down the street. “He called after he got there. He picked up a tail pretty much as soon as he left the parking lot, so he wanted to let me know about it. They must still be sitting on him, because he hasn’t gotten back to me to let me know they’ve gone off.”
“But he’s all right?”
Jim nodded. “He’s sitting tight at the Navy base, keeping an eye on the sedan across the street. The rest of his team are in place around Walton’s townhouse. You’ll be covered as soon as you walk in the door.”
Good. “Thanks,” Gabrielle said.
Jim shook his head. “Don’t thank me. Max set it all up. I’m not sure what he sees in you, Bree…” H
is sideways glance at her was sly, as if he could guess exactly what Max saw in her, and Gabrielle made a face. Jim chuckled and added, “But now that you’ve got him, I’d advise you to hang on. He’s a good guy. Even if he is a squid.”
He looked up at the rearview mirror, thus saving her from having to answer. “There they are.”
Gabrielle glanced in the mirror on her side of the truck. “Are you sure?”
All she could see was a pair of headlights. They could have belonged to anyone. Including some random Marine on his way home after a night on the town.
Jim nodded. “They were parked half a block from the bar. They waited until we passed before they pulled out, and they didn’t turn their lights on for a couple of seconds so we wouldn’t notice. If you keep an eye on the mirror, you’ll see that they’ll stick with us the whole way there.”
Gabrielle was willing to take his word for it, but she kept an eye on the mirror anyway. And saw that yes, the car behind them matched them turn for turn. “Did you get a look at the driver?”
Jim shook his head. “Until they pulled out, I didn’t know anyone was inside. And the windows are tinted.”
They were. As the car passed under a street light, she saw that it was the same type of black sedan that Alex drove. The same kind that Sergei and Yuri had been driving last night.
Not much question who was back there. She might not know their names, but she knew they were associated with Alex.
* * *
The trip to John Walton’s apartment didn’t take long at all. A few minutes after they’d picked up their tail, Jim pulled up in front of the row of townhouses.
Gabrielle looked around. Everything was quiet, the way it ought to be at close to three in the morning. There was no sign of life. “You’re sure there here, right?”
“Max said they’d be here,” Jim said. “If he said so, they’re here.”
Half a block behind, the black sedan crawled to a stop at the curb. The headlights went out.
“Any chance they’ll shoot you when you get out of the car?” Jim wanted to know.
The Stripper and the SEAL Page 10