by Cindy Skaggs
“They’re eliminating all of us,” Ryder said. “All the more reason for Craft to sit his ass in front of a computer screen.”
“I’m going,” Craft said.
“Why you?” Ryder asked.
“If she won’t give up the information willingly, I’ll break into her office and access the files internally. None of you have that particular skillset. Plus, you three have women and Fowler’s mother is here.”
“And?”
“There has to be an ‘and?’”
Ryder nodded. “If it was just the women, you’d call us whipped and demand we all go.”
“Freaking fearless asshole.” Craft pushed away from his chair. “You forget. I’m a city boy. This entire sitting on my ass thing is eating holes in my head. We’re surrounded by dirt on all sides. I need out. I need to move before I lose my shit.”
Ryder silently tapped his fingers against the tabletop. “And Camy can really do all that you can do?”
“Hell, she can probably do more. She has no compunction about breaking into government sites. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s done it before. More than once,” Craft said. “And don’t look at me like that, Rose. Talk to her if it bugs you.”
“Okay,” Ryder said, gruffly. “If nothing comes up by the end of the week, you can pursue leads with Allyson.”
“I’d rather go now.”
Ryder twisted and turned his neck until a pop sounded. “I’m sure you would, but something came up that we need to deal with now.”
“What else is on the agenda this morning?” Stills asked. He needed coffee. And he wanted to check with Mandi. The hurt in her eyes last night when he’d told the story had kept him up most of the night. The grief was still very present for her. She could blink away the tears and do chores until her fingers bled, but nothing could hide the truth. She needed someone to talk to, and he didn’t want her talking to anyone but him.
His attitude made no damn sense. He didn’t attach to females. Knew better. He’d known Mandi a few short days, but he could not stop thinking about her. Whenever they were in the same room, usually at mealtimes, he smelled her more than food. When they were apart, he couldn’t shake the memory of her falling apart in his arms.
Ryder stood. He held a coffee cup in one hand and put the other in his front pocket. Leaned back on his heels. Full on briefing mode. They weren’t getting out any time soon.
Stills muttered, but stayed on his end of the table while Ryder started talking.
“Last night I had Craft reach out to the other team. There are a couple reasons, which we’ll get into shortly. First, Bennett made contact with them as they were headed underground. He’d picked up a tail and made sure he lost it before he answered Santiago’s SOS. He’s been with them since the shit went down in El Paso. Their location remains need to know as does ours.”
“Good.” Fowler had nearly come out of his seat when he heard they’d made contact. Stills understood his concerns. Fowler was touchy when it came to their location because he didn’t want to burn his mother’s safe house. They had thus far stayed off the company’s radar because of Fowler’s diligence. “Who did you talk to?”
“Santiago and Minton.”
Made sense, Stills thought. Minton was the other techie and Santiago was more or less in charge of the second team.
“What have they learned?” Fowler asked.
“Short answer: not much. They didn’t have a command post to fall back on. Most of them started out on the east coast, but who knows where they headed after we told them bug out. Looked like they’re in a warehouse of some kind. They’ve been gathering supplies. Computers. Same stuff Fowler and Craft already had, so they’re playing catch up. They set up a perimeter and security cameras. Craft sent them everything we’ve discovered so far. Pictures and profiles on Echo. They didn’t have much to share.”
“So why contact?” Fowler had a fierce expression on his face. He viewed everything through an OPSEC lens. He’d do anything to keep The Manor off the government’s radar.
“Because the situation has changed,” Rose said. A muscle twitched near his eye. “Echo went after Gault’s sister. None of our families are safe. I called in favors to make sure my sisters and mother are protected. Craft sent his parents on a long-assed vacation. The other team deserves the same opportunity. They needed to know Echo changed tactics.”
Ryder took a sip of coffee, waiting for the conversation to die down before he continued. “There’s a second reason I made contact. Ellie and Amanda—”
“Mandi,” Stills corrected.
“Right. What we’re involved in is messy and dangerous. This is not the place for civilians. Ellie and Mandi are noncombatants—”
“So are Lauren and Debi,” Craft said.
“Where I go Lauren goes,” Ryder answered. “I left her after Madigan’s death and that nearly got her killed. She stays.”
Rose agreed. “Same with Debi. Plus she has the background to help. She confirmed that the chemical in Gault’s tox screen is the same as what Echo gave Ryder and me. We’ll have plenty of evidence when the time comes. Like it or not, she is part of this operation.”
Stills didn’t like where this conversation was headed. He pushed his chair back from the table and cross his arms over his chest. “What about Mandi and Ellie?”
Ryder met his gaze head on. “Given the rash of activity and number of hostiles in the local area, it looks like we are in the hot seat at the moment. As such, it’s not a safe place for a kid. We owe Gault to protect his little girl with everything we have. Right now, that means getting her somewhere safer.”
“Bullshit.” Stills pushed out of his seat. “You’re talking about sending them away. The other team is in disarray. You said yourself they were scrambling to get a safe base.”
“Santiago assured me they are secure. He’s never lied to me.”
“No. You are not sending Mandi and Ellie away.” His chest hurt. Anger burned its way through his system, eating up common sense faster than any fuel. “The Manor is safe. Where we are is safer than site B.”
“It’s not your call.”
“The hell it isn’t,” Stills insisted.
“And why do you think that is, Stills? What gives you the right to keep them in a hot zone? Mandi came to me and asked for help. Not you. Ellie is her sole concern. If getting her away from Echo means sending her across the country, so be it.”
Mandi asked to leave? The words ricocheted through him like a bullet, causing damage on the way. After everything they’d gone through together, she didn’t talk to him? Didn’t ask his opinion? He said the first thing that came to mind. “What about Rose’s sister? She’s a noncombatant.”
“She stays.” Rose stood now, so they were squared off in a triangle. Each man exhibiting signs of anger. Increased breathing pattern. Flushed skin. “My sister stays. We need her on the computer.”
The threads to Stills’ temper rapidly unraveled. “Oh, now Camy can do illegal shit on the computer. Now that it’s for your benefit. You can’t have it both ways.” Stills couldn’t keep the words from spewing out of his mouth. Panic threatened to send his blood pressure into triple digits. It wasn’t fear but the idea of Mandi going God knew where—without him—tore him up. “I’m not having it. Mandi stays.”
“Who the fuck are you—” Rose started.
“Knock it off,” Ryder interrupted. “Both of you. Mandi’s leaving. End of discussion.”
Stills strode around the table to get up in Ryder’s space at the head of the room. He shoved him against the whiteboard. “Quit fucking with my life.”
“Your life? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you want to go at it...” Ryder shrugged out of his jacket. “I’m happy to beat your ass.”
“Take it to the gym,” Fowler insisted. “Don’t tear up my command post.”
“Chill,” Rose said at the same time. “Stills, ask yourself why you’re pissed. This has nothing to do with us.”
&n
bsp; Ryder nodded. “Mandi asked to leave. We are not in the business of kidnapping women and children.”
“And if I convince her to stay?”
Ryder flicked his hand in a dismissive gesture. “Have at it, but know this. The other team is on the move and headed for an agreed-upon location. We are fast approaching the bailout point.”
Chapter Twenty
Stills didn’t wait around but headed straight for the tunnel leading back to the main house. The low, dark tiled walls screwed with his vision. He was seeing spots and the lights blurred under his angry gaze. He heard the women before he saw them. Lauren and Debi passed; both wearing cuts and bruises from previous altercations with Echo. Seeing them—the pain Echo had already caused—ramped his temper higher. Mandi had already endured enough abuse. She wasn’t leaving, going out into the open where something worse might happen to her.
Next came Janet and Ellie. The little girl saw him first and ran full out toward him. When she was within a few steps of him, she dive-bombed. Not for one second did she hesitate. She trusted him to catch her. She giggled as he scooped her up and wrapped his arms around her.
“You’re all scratchy.” She patted her hands on his cheeks. “We had to leave ‘cause Aunt Manny hasn’t had coffee. We’re going to work,” she said with great joy and gusto. “Janet says I can work with the big boys as long as I’m good.”
She didn’t whisper. Didn’t hesitate.
“What kind of work are you doing?” he asked.
“I have a spes.... spes...”
“Special?”
She nodded. “My own ‘puter. Traft made me a chair so I can sit tall like you. Will you sit next to me? I won’t ask for stories. Promise.” She chewed a fingernail as she gazed expectantly up at him.
Stills closed his eyes. He was a goner. No way this kid was going back into the world until they had Echo on a leash. “I’ll sit next to you, but I have to go back to the house for a minute. I’ll be there in a little bit.”
“Okay.” She wiggled to get down. Once he set her on the ground, she skipped ahead. “I’ll save you a seat.”
Janet reached out a hand to stop him before he resumed his search. “You need to quit playing games with that little girl.”
Confused, Stills responded, “I’m not playing games with Ellie.”
“That’s not the little girl I’m talking about.” Janet glared up at him. “She’s had enough pain and stress in life already, don’t you think? A single mother’s not the kind of girl you use up and throw away.”
Stills actually staggered back as if she hit him. “I haven’t thrown Mandi away.”
“Haven’t you?”
“No. It’s not like that.”
“She watches you with hungry eyes. Hell, she watches all of us and there’s so much pain and longing it’s hard to look at.”
Stills acknowledged Janet’s words with a nod. Mandi had erected a barrier since they’d come to The Manor. She kept herself apart. Alone because that’s all she’d known. “It’s hard to look at,” he agreed.
“Looking away doesn’t mean her pain goes away. So put up or shut up, Stills.”
How the hell did he argue with the tough woman before him? “I’m beginning to see why Fowler is such a hard-ass.”
“I raised him that way. Life’s hard. Doing it without the help of others is harder. From what Mandi told me, she’s been alone most of her adult life. I don’t fault Gault. I didn’t know the man, but it sounds like he sacrificed for them. But it wasn’t enough. Mandi deserves more.”
Sacrifice. Isn’t that what Stills thought he was doing when he cut Shelley loose? He thought he’d made some terrible sacrifice, but it hadn’t cost him a damn thing. “Are you telling me to cut Mandi loose?”
“I’m telling you to fish or cut bait.” The or-else was implied. Janet started down the tunnel toward the command post. “I have more than ghosts in my arsenal.”
Stills stumbled the rest of the way to the house. He felt shredded. These damn women were killing him. Give him five minutes in a ring with Echo over this any day.
He found Mandi parked by the coffee machine, gulping the thick brew like water. She put a hand up without saying a word. Finished her insulated cup before refilling it from the carafe. “No conversation. I need another cup.”
“Too bad,” Stills answered. The last few minutes had chewed him up. It was his turn to talk, which was rare indeed. He typically did his job and went home. Talking wasn’t his forte, but he spoke with Mandi more than anyone. Told her shit he didn’t even realize until the words came out of his damn mouth. He’s become attached and overprotective. “You’re not leaving this compound.”
“Excuse me? Who died and crowned you king?”
“Your brother.”
Mandi spun away from him. Made slow, precise work of filling the coffee maker. Her hand shook when she eventually pressed the start button. She bent over the machine until the brew hit the halfway mark, and then turned to face him. She had to look up, exposing a long neck and a rapid pulse. A flush rose from the collar of her shirt to her cheeks. Fire lit her eyes. “What is it, exactly, that you want from me?”
“Stay. Tell Ryder you changed your mind.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Use your words,” she said, repeating something she frequently said to Ellie. “Why should I stay?”
“Danny asked me to watch over you—”
“No. You don’t get to play that card, not after what you did. And I’m not talking the sex. That was consensual, you big moronic ass. But after? You told them nothing happened between us and then ignored me for days. Now you expect me to stick around? I won’t live that way again.”
The barb struck deep, but he didn’t want to get drawn into that quagmire. Rehashing his mistakes was a tactical error, so he pressed on with his primary goal. “I don’t trust the other team to protect you.”
“Danny has—had—other teammates. Other men who can protect Ellie and me. What makes you better than any one of them?”
“Fuck if I know.” He marched across the kitchen to the long table on the other side. Tension clawed at him until he wanted to crawl out of his skin. He didn’t know what he wanted, except he didn’t want her to leave. Yes, it was messed up, but there were no words for what was going on in his head. No precedent for what he felt. “Tell me you can walk away after what happened the other morning.”
It sounded like an accusation. He heard his mistake the second the words left his mouth, but he couldn’t take them back. He wanted to know how she could throw away the intimacy they’d shared, and it wasn’t just about the sex. Damnit.
She crossed her arms over her chest and did that head bob thing that said more than words how angry she was. “So you want me to stay because of one stolen moment of adequate sex?”
The words hit him and he hit back. “Sugar, it was more than adequate. You screamed my name so many times I lost count.”
“Enough.” She raised a hand. Tightened it into a fist when she saw it shaking. “I appreciate your input. Scratch that. I don’t appreciate your input.” She swiped her hand through the air as if to erase what she’d said. “I had an overbearing brother. I don’t need this ... this... shit.” Her face reddened at the curse. “I’m my own boss. I had an overprotective brother—”
“Danny wasn’t overbearing. He was protecting you. Now that’s my job.” One that Stills took dead serious.
“I think we established the first day that you’re not my brother.”
“Thank God you noticed.” He stalked across the kitchen, braced his hands on either side of her until she was pressed against him.
Words weren’t working. He kissed her like they were the last two people on earth. He plundered her mouth, putting everything he couldn’t say into a kiss that lit him on fire. She gave as good as she got; wrapped her arms around him and nearly climbed him to get that much closer. She moaned into his mouth. He stole her breath in response. He needed
to feel her, to be inside her so he’d know if his memory was real or simply heightened because of the danger. He slipped a hand under the waistband of her jeans to rest his palm over the globe of her sweet ass.
The moment was sweet perfection until she pushed away from him.
“Put me down,” she insisted.
He gradually lowered her.
When he feet were planted on the ground, she turned and grabbed the coffee carafe. “All that proves is a chemical reaction, but my libido doesn’t control me. If that’s why you want me to stay, you lose.”
The day from hell never ended. Stills scrubbed a hand over his tired eyes. Mandi sat on the opposite end of the computer bank, looking through what little evidence they had collected. At the moment, she was comparing Madigan and Gault’s autopsy reports. Beside him, Ellie had crashed out and now leaned into him. On the other side, Fowler was typing faster than he could think. Craft and Ryder were mission planning in the adjacent meeting room.
The tap-tap-tap of the keys was like a woodpecker drilling holes in his head. He’d had the same freaking headache for days. “Give it a rest for a minute.”
Fowler stopped typing. He busted Stills looking at Mandi. “I take it you crashed and burned with her this morning.”
“Keep your voice down.” Stills leaned back to stretch, but not enough to wiggle the sleeping little girl at his side. She’d been the best part of his day. She wouldn’t leave his side, not even for meals. Craft had found a secure site with kid’s games and Ellie went to town. Sounded like they didn’t have a computer setup at home, so she was having the time of her life. Working on ‘puters, she said, like the team. She wore a green military-grade headset about five sizes too big for her head. Each time she got into the music from the game and started bouncing and bopping, the weight of the headset nearly flipped her off the chair. She was the cutest damn thing.
Come dinnertime, she ate a sandwich at the computer like the big boys did, and then crawled into Stills’ lap and crashed. He had removed the headset so she didn’t get a crick in her neck, and then let her sleep. She’d been like that for over an hour. His left arm was numb, but he didn’t want to wake her.