by Kaylea Cross
It was an impressive chateau, but not as nice as Laidlaw Hall she thought with a mental sniff. Dubois had bought this place with dirty money. Whereas Marcus had inherited his ancestral home, and worked damn hard to maintain it with the money he carefully managed.
They headed straight for the side entrance where the hired help came and went, as it had the best entry point for their purposes. Megan stepped up to the door and used her little electronic gadget to unscramble the key code, then punched it in.
Click.
“We’re in,” she whispered and eased the door open an inch, pistol up and ready, Chloe and the guys stacked up behind her. The mudroom was empty, the house quiet.
“Two heat signatures, but they’re faint. One downstairs near the kitchen, the other upstairs near the master suite,” Amber reported.
So Dubois might still be in Belgium. Perfect. “Copy. Moving in now.” This was a simple get in, steal what they needed, and get out mission. To maintain the air of secrecy they had to avoid all contact with the guards, or it would tip Dubois off that he was no longer safe here and the women would likely be lost forever.
She led the way through to the lower hallway, then stopped to let Chloe take point. They’d gone over the floor plan until Megan had it memorized, but Chloe was the expert here.
They snuck down the hall, moving toward Dubois’ office. According to Chloe the man had backups of his backups at all his places, so if they were going to find what they needed, it would be in there.
“I got movement,” Amber said. “Guy on upper floor’s headed downstairs.”
Chloe gestured behind her and the team ducked out of sight into the butler’s pantry. Megan waited at the door, curbing her impatience. She wanted to get this done and get out of here without any hiccups.
It felt like half an hour before Amber spoke again. “He’s still in the kitchen. Midnight snack time, I guess.”
Megan stifled a groan and waited with the others until Amber gave them the all clear, then crept out of the pantry. This time Chloe made a beeline for the office. Megan stayed hot on her heels, lock pick kit in hand.
While the others kept watch she picked the lock on Dubois’ office door and snuck inside with Chloe, while Ty and Heath remained outside to guard them. “How’s our window looking now?” Megan asked Amber. That idiot security guard had just deleted a serious chunk of their time.
“You’re gonna have to work fast. You’ve got T-minus eleven minutes.”
Well, crap.
She and Chloe spread out and began their search. While Amber walked Chloe through hacking Dubois’ password on his desktop computer, Megan looked around for more enticing things. The custom-built cabinets held financial files they might find useful later. She kept going, searching for a thumb drive or something like that hidden away where no one was likely to look.
The massive antique desk had no false bottom on the underside or in any of its drawers. She checked the art next, pushing aside the corner of each painting on the wall. “Bingo.” A safe.
She removed the painting, propping it against the wall to get a closer look at what she was dealing with. Electronic keypad. Fingerprint biometric scanner. She sighed in disappointment and disapproval. All this money, and this was the level of security Dubois used to keep his private stuff safe?
Well, bonus for her. “Let’s see how thorough his cleaning service is,” she murmured, taking out a few items from her pocket. She sprayed a fine layer of dust onto the tiny screen, then put a piece of tape over it to preserve any print there. Shining her penlight on it, she smiled. “Not that thorough.”
With the print intact, she used her electronic scrambler to get the code to the keypad, then pressed her thumb over the print. “Et voilà,” she whispered as the door opened.
“Anything good inside?” Chloe whispered, still at Dubois’ computer. Amber was remotely copying the files on it now, and would then use Lady Ada to scan them for relevant information.
“Yep. Jewels, cash, and a couple of these little gems.” She pulled out the two flash drives, then swept the interior to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. “Sending you the files now,” she told Amber, and plugged the flash drives into a transmitter her evil genius sister had given her earlier.
As soon as she was done, she carefully checked the rest of the room while Chloe finished at the computer, making sure they’d found everything of use in here. “How are we doing on time?”
“Three minutes. Shut everything down and start exfil.”
Hell. Megan replaced the painting, checked the alignment, then headed for the door. Chloe finished shutting down the computer and joined her. “Coming out,” Chloe whispered, then quietly opened the door where the guys waited.
“Guys, you’re cutting it close,” Amber warned. “You’ve got forty-two seconds to get over that wall before the system is up and you set it off. Haul ass.”
Megan followed close behind Chloe as they rushed back to the side entrance, their rubber-soled boots quiet on the rug lining the hallway.
“Guard number two is headed downstairs,” Amber said.
“First guard’s outside on the east lawn,” Jesse added. “Better make it quick.”
The door squeaked when Chloe opened it. Everyone froze, checking behind them, then they stepped out, shut the door and raced for the wall.
“Seven. Six. Five,” Amber counted down.
Megan ran for the wall and jumped, catching the top of it. Strong hands boosted her up. She hopped off and landed in a crouch on the other side, drawing her weapon to scan while the others landed behind her. “Clear?” she murmured.
“Negative. Hold your positions,” Jesse answered.
Megan immediately shifted back into the shadows cast by the wall. “Sitrep.”
“Car approaching the south end of the driveway,” Jesse said.
Beside her, Chloe went completely rigid. “Is it Dubois?”
Hell. Megan automatically reached out to grab Chloe’s upper arm. “Stand down, Twitch.”
Chloe shook her hand off and eased forward a step, the predatory energy coming from her palpable. “Is. It. Dubois.”
“Stand by,” Jesse answered.
Heath intervened, grabbing her shoulder. “Chloe. No,” he said in a hard whisper.
Chloe didn’t move, her gaze trained on the driveway, every muscle drawn taut as she waited for word from Jesse.
Megan’s insides pulled tight. Shit. Despite the cadre’s attempts to curb it, Chloe was still impulsive. If it was Dubois and Chloe went after him, their plan was shot to hell. The entire team would be exposed, with Dubois’ security team hot on their trail.
Megan watched her friend closely as the tense seconds ticked past. If Chloe tried to pull this, it was up to Megan and the others to stop her. Her stomach muscles tightened, that familiar, hot burn starting up in the pit of her belly. She didn’t want to hurt Chloe, but if it came down to hurting her versus risking the safety of the entire team, Megan wouldn’t hesitate. She couldn’t.
“It’s Dubois’ wife,” Jesse reported finally. “Daughters in back, and a security guy driving.”
Chloe made a frustrated sound as Megan breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. Crisis averted. “Let us know when it’s safe to move,” she told Jesse.
They watched the vehicle come up the driveway, the beam of its headlights cutting through the night. “Wonder why they’re arriving here at this time of night?” Megan murmured.
“Because Dubois’ got dirty work to do tomorrow, and he doesn’t want his precious family around to find out what he’s been hiding,” Chloe muttered, buried rage in her voice.
The car passed by, plunging them once again into darkness.
“You’re clear,” Jesse said.
They hurried back to the van, which Trinity had moved to a predetermined location. Everyone hopped in the back and Ty slammed the door shut behind them as Trinity started the engine. “Think you got what we need?” she asked.
“Let’s ho
pe,” Megan replied, tugging off her mask.
Chloe peeled hers off and tossed it aside, the dimly lit interior allowing Megan to see her friend’s face. Chloe’s was not happy. “Hey.” Megan nudged Chloe with her knee. “We’ll get him. But not without planning everything first. There’s too much at stake to risk everything with a knee-jerk, emotional reaction.”
Chloe shot her a dark look, but Megan shrugged. “You know I’m right.” Chloe went back to staring straight ahead, and Megan shared a look with Heath. She hoped Chloe cooled off by the time they got back to their hotels because they needed to regroup and start planning for tomorrow if Amber found anything useful in the files they’d sent.
Chloe stewed for a while on the drive back to the coast, but things improved a little when Heath got up and crossed to the other side to sling an arm around Chloe’s shoulders. Her friend shot him a quelling look but didn’t push him away, then leaned into him.
Thank you, Heath. The last thing they needed was for Chloe to go off reservation again in her vendetta to get Dubois.
About twenty minutes from their destination, Amber called. “Hey, you find anything?” Megan asked.
“Did I ever. I’ll fill you all in when you get here.”
“Looking forward to it,” Megan said with a smile.
Trinity parked behind the hotel Amber and Jesse were staying at and everyone got out.
“I hope she got something good,” Chloe muttered as they trekked inside the building, Heath holding her hand. Megan suspected to keep tabs on her as much as to be affectionate.
Amber met them at the door with a big smile. “You’re just in time. Step into my office.” She nodded behind her where she had Lady Ada and a few other computers set up on a table.
“What did you get?” Chloe asked, chomping on her gum as she impatiently scanned the various screens.
“All kinds of financial records, cash withdrawals and payments I’m guessing he didn’t want on the books. In addition to various dates, locations and ship names listed in a ledger.”
Chloe’s face brightened. “How recent?”
“Tomorrow recent enough for you?”
Chloe sucked in a breath, her gaze darting between the screens. “Show me.”
“Here.” She pointed to a line she’d isolated. “It references a shipment of jewels coming into Le Havre tomorrow aboard a boat called Le Dauphin at seventeen-hundred hours tomorrow.”
“It’s the women,” Chloe said in triumph. “Dominic used to call them his jewels.” She straightened, glanced around at everyone. “Anyone want an energy drink before we start? Because we’re gonna have a long night ahead of us.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“How are you feeling?” Heath asked Chloe, passing her a coffee he’d just picked up in town. They were alone in their room, having wrapped up yet another meeting with the team a few minutes ago.
They’d been up until four that morning laying out the basic plan and logistics for how they were going to rescue the women, then had gone to bed and crashed for a few hours. Amber was keeping an eye on things on her end to update them with any important new intel. If nothing major changed, they’d be heading for the port soon in preparation to meet Le Dauphin when it came in.
“Better now, thanks.” She took a sip, her eyes half-closing in bliss. “Oh, yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Sweet caffeine.”
Seeing that look on her face, Heath smiled. He’d put that same look on her face several times in the past few days, and not because of caffeine. He was addicted. To her wild, vibrant energy so opposite to his own. To the startling glimpses of vulnerability she’d given him.
To her intensity. Chloe didn’t do anything half-heartedly. Whether it was planning or executing an op, or coming undone beneath him, she gave everything her all.
She was the most complex woman he’d ever met, and the strongest. He respected her goals and drive, if not always her methods. Things might have gone to shit last night if it had been Dubois in that car instead of his wife and kids. Chloe had been ready to charge headlong at him for the chance to put a bullet in his skull, heedless of the danger she’d be placing herself and the rest of them in.
She could be wild and crazy and impulsive, but she was also fun with an adventurous side that was addictive. She made everything so vivid. His life was going to be even duller when he left for Syria soon.
After everything he’d discovered about her, and all they’d been through in such a short time, he couldn’t imagine walking away without the promise of a future with her. She was part of him now, and he wanted more than he’d ever let himself want before.
They were just finishing their sandwiches and veggies when Amber called. “Jesse and Trinity are down at the port,” she told them. “They said there’s heightened security around the area the ship is due to dock at. I’m monitoring the satellite feed of the area now.”
“Sounds good,” Chloe said.
“Has Rycroft verified everything on his end?” Heath asked. Rycroft had pulled some big strings for them from back in the States. Since Dubois might have local law enforcement on his payroll or blackmail list, Rycroft had secured a clean team from out of the area to secure the ship once it moored. From there, Heath and the rest of the team would handle getting the women out and to safety.
“Yep, Trinity just got off a call with him. Everything’s a go, so saddle up.”
“Copy. We’ll contact you from the port,” Chloe said, then ended the call and went to change and gather her gear while Heath did the same. When she emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later dressed in tight black cargo pants and a fitted long-sleeve shirt, her hair tucked up beneath her knit cap, he couldn’t help but give her a once-over.
“Ready?” She grabbed her bag and started for the door. As she passed by him, Heath caught her arm and spun her around. Her eyebrows crashed together in an irritated frown. “What?”
He didn’t care if she was annoyed by his timing, he had to say this. He cupped her face in his hands, that little flash of vulnerability in her eyes tugging at him. “Promise me you’ll stick to the plan out there.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t scold me like I’m a misbehaving puppy.”
That’s not what this was. Not even close. He leaned in closer. “Chloe.” Her expression smoothed out, replaced by one of curiosity as he stared into her eyes. “I need to hear you say you won’t put yourself at unnecessary risk, no matter what happens tonight. Or the team.”
Her jaw tightened. “You’re not my keeper, Barrett.”
“No, but I’m going to be your guardian angel, watching over you to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“That’s romantic, but unnecessary.”
“It’s completely necessary.” One, because she wanted Dubois enough to act impulsively, and two, because if anything happened to her, he couldn’t take it.
Her lips curved in a knowing smile. “Not falling for me and my charms already, are you?” she murmured.
“And if I was?”
All traces of humor vanished as she stared up at him with those big brown eyes. “Then I’d feel compelled to warn you against it.”
Not dissuaded in the least, he stroked his thumbs over her cheekbones. “Why’s that?”
“Because life expectancy for people like me isn’t that great.”
Everything protective in him flared to sudden, sharp life. “It is when you have a guardian angel to watch over you.”
She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and lowered her gaze. “You’re getting me all tangled up inside when I need to be getting into op mode,” she complained, but there was no sting in her voice.
“Promise me. I need to hear you say the words.”
Her gaze lifted to his. “Fine. I promise not to do anything stupid.”
“Thank you.”
Her expression softened. With a half-smile she wrapped her arms around his neck for a slow, soft kiss, then pulled back just as his body started to thrum. “Hold that t
hought until later. We’ve got work to do.”
They took their own vehicle to the port at Le Havre, Ty and Megan going a different route. The entire harbor was a mass of activity, with container, tanker and cruise ships coming and going, along with other commercial vessels. They used the special IDs Amber had made them to enter. There was no sign of Dubois, and Heath was relieved. Extracting a promise from Chloe was one thing. Trusting her to stick to it when the man she wanted dead was right in front of her was another, and Heath intended to be ready for anything, just in case.
Everyone arrived on time and took up their positions around the dock, then checked in on comms. “Head’s up. Le Dauphin’s being pushed into the dock now,” Amber announced.
“What? It’s over three hours early,” Chloe said with a worried frown, peering through her binos through the window overlooking the water. Then she gasped and blurted, “Watch that bus.”
Heath kept his eyes on the luxury tour coach pulling up close to Le Dauphin. This far away from all the cruise ships, there was no reason for a tour bus to park there. Shit. “They’re going to offload the women onto it.”
“Not happening,” Chloe snapped, setting down her binos and reaching for her weapon. “We can’t wait for the cops to show. We’ve gotta handle this ourselves.” Unfortunately, right out in the open for anyone to see.
Heath was right behind her as they rushed to the door. “How many crew members do you see?” he asked the team.
“Five,” Amber answered. “Three on the bridge and two on deck. Not sure how many below.”
Christ. The last thing they needed was to engage in a firefight in broad daylight in such a busy place, but the alternative was following the bus and hoping they could intercept it in a quieter location.
“I’m alerting our police contact,” Trinity said. “But Chloe’s right—we’re on our own for now.”
Chloe immediately took charge. “Heath, you’re with me. Meg and Ty, back us up from the north side. Jesse, you back us up from the south. We’ll come in from the west and make sure that bus can’t move. Go.”