Imminent Danger (A Counterstrike Novel Book 3)

by Jannine Gallant

  “I thought maybe you and Brody . . .”

  That was the problem. Each time he looked at her with love in his eyes, or touched her cheek, or spoke in that low, intimate tone he seemed to reserve especially for her, she wanted to forget all her heartache and throw herself into his arms. Holding back was a constant battle that was wearing her out.

  “We have feelings for each other. I can’t deny that, but I’m not staying in Marblehead.”

  “Why not? If you still love him—”

  “I love peanut butter, too, but if I eat it, I’ll likely die. Sometimes the things we love aren’t good for us.”

  Nicole’s brows shot up. “You’re comparing Brody to a food allergy?”

  “I think it illustrates the situation pretty well.”

  “I suppose so, although I don’t see—” She held up a hand. “I guess that’s the point. None of us really knows what goes on between two people in the privacy of their home. We all have our own issues to deal with.”

  “That’s certainly true. Remember when Sabrina announced she and her ex were getting a divorce? Brody and I had only been married a couple of years, and I thought the Perraults were the definition of a happily married couple. But she was fighting her own demons while she put on a public smile.”

  “I always suspected an affair was involved. I’m just not sure who was cheating on whom.”

  Arden couldn’t hold back a hint of a smile. “Watch those claws, Nic.”

  Her friend laughed. “I can be a bitch when I want to be.” The amusement in her eyes faded. “The current situation isn’t the least bit funny, however. I’m worried about you.”

  “Don’t be. Brody will make sure nothing happens to me.”

  “I’m glad. He’s not a man anyone would want to mess with, that’s for sure.”

  Arden nodded. Her ex-husband might look intimidating, but she’d never met anyone as gentle. The care he took when he touched her—

  She shook off the thought and straightened in her chair as Nicole rose to her feet.

  “I need to head home and start dinner before baseball practice ends. My day for car pool.”

  When Arden stood, both dogs opened their eyes and raised their heads.

  “Thanks for coming over. We’ll have to do it again if I’m here long enough.”

  “Maybe over the weekend. Tim and the boys are going camping with friends. It’s a guy thing.”

  “I’ll be in New Hampshire at a wedding. At least I think I will be.” She squinted into the sun as the rumble of an engine caught her ear. “Unless Brody finds that cretin first. If so, I’m heading straight to Vermont.”

  “One of Brody’s friends is getting married? Anyone I know?”

  She shook her head. “Someone he works with.” When a car door shut with a solid click, she turned toward the front of the house. “I think he’s home.”

  “I’m out of here.” Nic reached over to hug her. “We’ll talk soon.”

  “Of course. Tell Tim I said hello.”

  “Will do.” With a little wave, she jogged across the lawn past the pool to disappear down the steps to the beach.

  Arden took another swallow of her iced tea and headed inside carrying both glasses. She set them on the kitchen counter and nodded to Bernice who was making some sort of marinade for the package of chicken breasts thawing on the counter.

  “Did Mrs. Welch leave?”

  “Yes. Brody just got home.” When the front door shut and a voice called out, she yelled, “In the kitchen.”

  “Go out and greet him properly since I’m sure he expects it.” Bernice’s lips firmed. “Dinner will be ready at six-thirty sharp.”

  “We’ll be here.” Resisting the urge to click her heels and salute, Arden left the kitchen, wondering what, exactly, Bernice thought he would expect.

  The dutiful little woman flying into his arms, wearing nothing but a pair of heels and a smile to meet him with a passionate kiss?

  Not likely. She was pretty sure Bernice’s idea of a proper greeting was closer to something G rated straight out of Leave it to Beaver.

  “You’re smiling.” Brody approached her and stopped a couple of feet away.

  “Bernice just commanded me to greet you the way a proper ex-wife should.”

  “How would that be? Offering up a vodka tonic laced with arsenic?”

  She covered her lips to keep from laughing out loud. “That’s a new twist. I was debating between something out of Fifty Shades of Grey or I Love Lucy.”

  Heat flared in his eyes. “I know what I vote for.”

  “I’m pretty sure Bernice’s heart couldn’t take walking in on that scene. Gene’s, either, for that matter.”

  She turned sharply and strode into the living room. Another minute of staring into his smoldering eyes and she might ignite. Instead, she changed the subject to one guaranteed to cool her internal temperature.

  “You’re home earlier than I expected. I take it you didn’t locate Thanos.”

  Brody flopped down on the end of the couch and regarded her for several seconds before responding. “We believe he’ll be at a burial in Queens tomorrow morning. I’ll leave here before dawn, and with any luck, the situation will be resolved by noon.”

  “If that’s the case, I should have simply stayed home.”

  “Believe is the operative word. We don’t know anything for certain.” He leaned forward and planted his elbows on his knees. “I’ll feel better having you here with Silas on guard duty, just in case we’re wrong.”

  “I hope not. I pray this whole damn nightmare will be over soon.”

  “About that. Before you pack your bags, I heard from Jeanne, the woman who was going to fill in for Scarlet while she’s on her honeymoon. Unfortunately, something came up, and she can’t.”

  “Oh.” Arden walked to the front window and stared across the empty lawn toward the street. “When I offered to help, I figured I’d be here anyway with nothing much to do. But if you turn Thanos over to the police tomorrow . . .” She took a moment to consider the rest of her response, wondering why she’d made the overture in the first place. She hadn’t planned to get involved with Counterstrike in any context, yet the words had tumbled from her mouth.

  “I understand if you don’t want to do it. Scarlet works from her home on the Cape more often than not. Contact with a victim’s family is generally by phone since they don’t often live in the Boston area.”

  She turned to face him. “The reception at my cabin sucks so phone communication isn’t possible from there.”

  “Which is why I won’t blame you for backing out. We’ll make any new missions work without a liaison. Sometimes we go a week or two without a call, so it may not be a huge problem.”

  “No, I’ll help. I can hang out at Ellie’s place in Stowe. There’s nothing wrong with her phone service.”

  “Better there than here, I take it?” His tone cooled. “Let’s see what happens with Thanos before you make any plans.”

  She had no reason to feel guilty. None at all. Yet she felt like she’d just kicked Brody when he was already down.

  He rose to his feet. “I need to call Sparrow and update him on the situation so he can have the chopper ready in the morning.”

  “All right.” She swallowed. “Bernice mentioned dinner will be ready at six-thirty.”

  He glanced at the mantle clock over the fireplace and seemed to shake off his hurt or anger or whatever emotion he hid behind a cool expression. “Plenty of time. I’ll be down shortly. Thanks for offering to help, Arden. I do appreciate it.”

  When he disappeared up the stairs, she pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window and fought tears. After a minute, she pulled herself together and wiped the smudge from the glass with her sleeve, not sure why she was feeling so damn sensitive.

  “Get a grip,” she muttered as she left the room. “There’s nothing wrong with protecting your heart.”

  “Did you say something?” Gene held the door open f
or Hero and Heidi, and the pair scampered across the entry to greet her.

  “I was talking to myself. One of the hazards of living alone.” She gave him a rueful smile. “Thanks for bringing the dogs inside. It’s past their dinnertime.”

  “I figured when I noticed them staring at the door, looking pretty darn pathetic.”

  “They’ve mastered that skill. They want me to feel guilty so I’ll give them whatever they want.”

  “Shows keen intelligence on their part.”

  She wondered briefly if that was Brody’s tactic, then dismissed the thought. He didn’t play games. If he wanted something from her, he would spell it out.

  Maybe that’s what she was afraid of.

  * * * *

  Brody stopped outside the door to Arden’s room and dropped the bag he carried. The door was closed tight, but he couldn’t resist opening it. With the blind raised, moonlight streamed through the window, casting shadows across the figure in the bed. One of the dogs raised its head and gave a low woof.

  Arden stirred and sat up. “Brody?”

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t have wakened you.” He stepped farther into the room. “I’m taking off in a few minutes.”

  “I wasn’t asleep. I generally get up around six.”

  He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. The numbers glowed five thirty-three. In order to stay on schedule, he needed to leave now to reach the hanger where they stored the chopper. Instead, he took a few more steps and sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Silas will be sticking close to you until I get back. Just in case.”

  “You mean in case Thanos isn’t at that burial.”

  “Yes. I want you to stay alert.”

  “I will.” She reached out and laid a hand it on his arm. “Be careful, okay? I know how much you want to stop this man, but . . .” She tightened her grip. “I don’t want to lose you because of him.”

  “You won’t.” He slid closer and cupped the side of her face in his palm. “Once this situation is resolved, I want to have a serious conversation about us.”

  “Brody . . .” Her voice cracked. “We’ve been over this.”

  “Not now.” He dipped his head and kissed her. His gut tightened at the softness of her lips, and he deepened the contact. Finally, he jerked away. “Later. I’ll call you when it’s over.”

  Without waiting for a response, he stepped over the dog sprawled beside the bed and hurried to the door. Softly, he closed it behind him and picked up the small duffle bag. He had a job to do, and he couldn’t get distracted from his purpose with thoughts of Arden. Not until he looked Thanos in the eyes and learned the truth about River. The need to know if the bastard had murdered his son consumed him. Once he had a confession, he’d kill him. Slowly. Showing no mercy.

  Downstairs, Silas sat on the couch with his legs stretched out across the coffee table, his attention focused on the laptop open on his thighs. When the rubber sole of Brody’s shoe squeaked against the wood floor, he was on his feet in a heartbeat.

  “Just me.” He stepped into the pool of illumination cast by the single table lamp.

  His buddy smiled. “I was afraid Bernice had caught me with my feet on her table.”

  Brody grinned back at him. “I’d rather face Thanos than Bernice in a huff.”

  “Are you heading out?”

  “Yeah. I hope to be back by mid-afternoon at the latest.”

  “Whenever. I’ll be here.” Silas sat back down and picked up the laptop he’d dropped on the cushion beside him. “But maybe I’ll keep my feet on the floor this time.”

  “Smart choice. I’ll see you later.” He left the house and ran through the dark, hitting the remote to unlock his car. After he set the bag containing his weapons and gear on the passenger seat, he started the engine and backed down the driveway. A hint of rose colored the horizon to the east as he stepped on the gas. He had a twenty-minute drive to the municipal airport, and he needed to shave off a few minutes.

  The chopper was waiting on the tarmac when he rolled to a stop near the hanger. He joined Patch just as Luna arrived. A loud whine drowned out any attempt at conversation as Sparrow set the rotor in motion. There was no need for talk, anyway. Each member of the team knew his or her role.

  Less than an hour later, Sparrow set down at the site of the abandoned Flushing Airport. The blades blew the marsh grasses in all directions as they disembarked and ran toward the nearby industrial complex where GQ had left a rented SUV. Sparrow lifted off moments later, and the chopper disappeared behind the tall buildings cluttering the Manhattan skyline.

  “This must be it.” Brody felt beneath the back bumper of a dark gray Yukon. “Got it.” He removed the key from the magnetic box and unlocked the doors.

  “Just like clockwork.” Patch tossed his bag onto the rear seat and laid the bouquet of flowers he’d brought on top of it. “How’d you get permission for that landing?”

  “I called in a favor from someone who called in a few favors.” Brody slid onto the driver’s seat as Luna climbed in the passenger side. “It wasn’t easy.”

  “I bet, but we’re here with plenty of time to get into position. Let’s hope Thanos shows and makes this all worthwhile.”

  Luna was already tapping the keys of her laptop. “GQ’s cameras are in place, and I have eyes on the cemetery. Only a few stragglers walking among the stones. Workers are preparing the burial site with an awning and a few chairs. They must not be expecting a large crowd.” She glanced up. “Unfortunate. It’ll make it harder for me to blend in, and the awning will block our remote view of anyone beneath it.”

  “We’ll closely monitor all arrivals before they get to the grave.” Brody drove out of the parking lot and turned onto the street. “If you slip in after the service has started and stay in the back, dressed the way you are, no one will question you.”

  Luna wore a black suit with a thickly padded jacket to make her look heavier and hid the revolver she carried. A pair of sensible black shoes completed the ensemble. She’d put some sort of wash on her normally shiny black hair to give it a gray cast and added a pair of glasses. The little hat with a short veil sitting on the seat beside her would further disguise her youth. Brody was pretty certain Thanos wouldn’t give the aging matron a second glance. If he got close enough to notice her among the mourners.

  Luna nodded. “My guess is Thanos won’t dare show up at the service, but I’ll make sure I’m in position if he does.”

  Patch met Brody’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “I’ll stroll through the nearby graves with flowers in hand and keep an eye on anyone else who appears to be doing the same. Thanos could be in disguise if he expects the cops will be looking for him.”

  He returned his focus to the morning traffic. “Good point. I’ll patrol the perimeter. If the bastard feels uncomfortable, he might not even leave his vehicle.”

  “We’ll get him, Wolf.” Patch spoke with confidence. “It’s just a matter of time.”

  He didn’t respond. As far as he was concerned, time was running out. Arden wouldn’t agree to stay away from her home for long, and the stress and uncertainty they were living under only added to the tension between them.

  After cruising the neighborhood around the cemetery and not spotting anything out of the ordinary, he parked reasonably close to the site of the burial and turned off the engine. Engaging his earpiece, he spoke into the transceiver, “We’re here, GQ. Any movement yet?”

  “A handful of people are milling around in the vicinity of Niko Resta’s freshly dug grave. I didn’t expect anyone this soon.”

  Brody frowned. “That is odd.”

  “I set up camp in an apartment with a decent view of the burial site. We got lucky they didn’t pick a location in the middle of the damn graveyard. The place covers a lot of ground.”

  “Maybe Thanos didn’t want to get stuck inside with no easy escape route.”

  “Probably. At any rate, Luna’s research was spot on, as always. After the tenant who
lives in this unit left for work, I jimmied the lock on the apartment door in a matter of seconds. I should have a clear shot if Thanos shows up for the service.”

  “Only as a last resort. No reason to cause mass panic if we can do this quietly.” Brody turned in his seat as a police cruiser rolled by, the second one he’d noticed since they arrived. “The cops are patrolling the area. I hope they don’t scare away our target.”

  “I haven’t seen any officers inside the cemetery, but an older couple just took two of the graveside chairs. The mourners are definitely arriving early.”

  “Maybe they changed the time to throw off anyone hunting for Thanos. It’s not even eight yet.”

  “Good thing we got here early, then.” Patch opened the car door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Always be prepared, right?”

  Brody narrowed his eyes, searching for a familiar face as he studied the few pedestrians hurrying across the street at the intersection up ahead. “You bet. Let’s go find this asshole.”

  * * * *

  Demetri Thanos sat in the non-descript white compact, a Mets cap pulled low over his brow, keeping close watch on Niko’s friends and family as they entered the graveyard across the street. A patrol unit had driven by a couple of minutes after he arrived, but neither officer in the vehicle took any undue interest in the cemetery. Maybe he’d be able to risk paying his respects to his cousin. Moving the time of the service up had been smart. Only a close-knit group was expected, and he’d notice any strangers. More than likely, undercover cops casing the burial in hopes of making a high-profile arrest.

  The service would be starting any minute, but standing beside the grave would be just plain stupid, no matter how much he owed Niko. The least he could do, however, was find a decent vantage point. Leaving the car, he kept his head down as he walked along the residential street. On the access road leading into the cemetery, an older woman in a black suit got out of a gray SUV and headed toward the burial site. Niko’s Aunt Angelica? He wasn’t sure since he hadn’t seen her in twenty years, but she’d been on the list of attendees.

  He continued south down Auburndale. After a quick look around, he hopped the fence into the cemetery. If he circled wide, he could find a vantage point in the clump of trees west of the burial site. From behind dark glasses, he assessed each person he encountered. Mothers pushing toddlers in baby joggers. A pair of old geezers arguing about baseball. A middle-aged woman kneeling beside a grave, eyes closed and face in repose. Maybe fifty yards away, a man dressed in Dockers and a sports coat carried a bouquet of flowers through the rows of headstones. He stopped every now and then, apparently looking for the grave he sought.