Shift

by Sidney Bristol

  He doubted Matvei had much of a digital footprint. The man was of an older era. Everything from how he operated to his complete loyalty screamed archaic in the ever-changing world of crime. His younger companions, they were expendable. According to a list of known associates, Matvei’s companions didn’t last more than five years before ending up dead, or disappearing, which meant his current team was a hodgepodge of younger men. People dependent on the Internet and all its conveniences.

  It took some creative digging and a few unlikely leaps to connect several accounts to the three younger companions, but Emery did it. The names associated to the accounts differed, no doubt in a weak attempt to hide their identities, but it was almost impossible to remain completely anonymous online these days. Things like ISPs didn’t lie. At least not without a lot of technical ability these street toughs didn’t have. Plus, so many social media sites tagged posts with location data, it did the work for Emery. He had a real-time way to track the team’s movements, and judging by the lack of activity and a check-in at a coffee chain in the Atlanta airport, they were probably in the air right now. Headed for Florida.

  He checked the time—creeping past seven thirty. With most of the crew taking off for Orlando in a few hours, the garage would probably be open late. He brought up the security feeds to verify that Classic Rides was still closed.

  Emery’s knee-jerk reaction was to drive straight to Tori’s house, bundle her up, and hit one of the safe houses. Proper procedure dictated that he speak to CJ first. As the case agent, he took lead on any threat to the team.

  What was in Tori’s best interest?

  If there was a threat to their crew, CJ might override the Orlando trip. With everyone in Miami at the twins’ back, maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to bolt and go it alone. Besides, Tori wouldn’t be up anytime soon after being out late with Roni. He’d seen their departure and arrival at their apartment.

  Emery grabbed his cell phone and punched CJ’s speed dial. It rang twice.

  “What’s on fire?” CJ’s voice was gravelly, a little rough first thing in the morning.

  “Nothing. Yet.”

  “Hit me.”

  “I have reason to suspect a Russian hit man is coming to Miami and the twins might be his primary target.” Emery paused, holding his breath.

  “Yeah, and?”

  “And what should we do?”

  “Nothing.”

  Had he heard CJ correctly?

  “Excuse me?” CJ might be Emery’s direct superior, but in the scheme of things, that didn’t matter. They were not going to gamble with Tori’s life.

  “I thought this would have happened sooner, but I guess the Russian organization was busy. Don’t do anything, and sure as hell don’t tell Roni or Tori.”

  “Is that really the best plan?”

  “Don’t repeat this, but they haven’t been the most reliable assets in the past. I’d like to keep us doing business as usual right now, at least until we know what’s coming at us.” The whole crew was in agreement something was up, but Emery didn’t like the idea that Tori’s life might be in danger to satisfy the status quo. “Got to go.”

  CJ hung up without bothering to get Emery’s verbal compliance.

  An uneasy sensation settled in Emery’s stomach.

  Julian was already headed out of town.

  CJ and Kathy were pretty well insulated from the rest of the crew when they weren’t on-site at Classic Rides. What if CJ were involved with whatever the FBI wasn’t telling them? Emery had no illusion that the FBI would tell him the same things they told CJ. Though he’d worked for the FBI for years, he’d always had probationary standing because of his record. His black-sheep status didn’t bother him usually, but now his lack of information might put Tori’s life at risk, and that was unacceptable.

  He punched in her number before he could think better of it. The line rang and rang. Did Tori keep her cell phone close to her at night? Or was she one of those who turned it off?

  “Damn it, pick up,” he muttered.

  “What?” Tori grumbled into the phone.

  He closed his eyes, relief flooding him as a plan took root.

  “Meet me for breakfast.”

  Silence.

  Shit. Maybe he should have asked? He wasn’t good at conversation.

  “Okay,” she said slowly. “Where?”

  “The IHOP by Classic Rides.”

  “When?”

  “Twenty minutes?”

  “If I’m late, don’t shoot me.”

  He wouldn’t be late.

  Emery grabbed his emergency bags and powered down his station, putting it in lock-down mode. It would be a while before he came back here, because like it or not, he wasn’t about to let anything happen to Tori.

  Chapter Four

  God, I’m pathetic.

  Tori peered at her reflection in her car’s visor vanity mirror. At least she didn’t look too sleep-deprived for her breakfast not-date with Emery. She hardly knew what to think about it, but she wasn’t going to miss it. Yes, it made her more than a little sad that she jumped at the slightest invitation from her crush, but she was beyond caring about her pride, so long as he was there.

  She took a deep breath and got out of her Lancer, glancing around out of habit, taking stock of the cars, people, entry and exit points. Though the area around Classic Rides wasn’t as heavy on crime as some areas in Miami, the IHOP was squarely located in a not-so-great armpit of the city, but she got along well enough.

  Emery’s Tesla was parked in front of the restaurant. A couple of tree trimmers stood on the sidewalk, eyeing the car.

  Good luck, guys.

  The Tesla was a piece of fascinating work. Emery had let her kick the tires a bit a time or two, probably to get rid of her. Her fingers itched to lift the hood and get her hands dirty. Sure, it wasn’t exactly a sexy obsession, but she’d long since accepted that what made her heart beat faster was far more important than who liked her.

  She stepped inside the IHOP, visually scanning the premises. Emery sat in a corner booth, a baseball cap pulled low over his face, but not so low that she couldn’t see his mouth. She’d had another dream about his lips, and the things he could do with them. Today’s pearl-snap shirt was a light blue, white-and-maroon plaid pattern. She liked how it hugged his shoulders, the way the snaps seemed to strain just a bit. Her mind kept going back to what was underneath the shirt. She couldn’t get the glimpse of him shirtless out of her mind. Yeah, she was obsessed.

  Tori tried to mute her smile, but she was having breakfast with Emery. About the only thing better in her world would be waking up with Emery. Fat chance that would happen, so she’d settle for what she got.

  Tori dropped into the booth, finally noticing the two travel cups of coffee with creamer and sugar. She’d been so fixed on him that she hadn’t paid attention to the table. Stupid. So stupid.

  Warning bells rang in her head.

  Was it too much to hope the guy she had a crush on might actually want to hang out with her? That danger might not be involved?

  Apparently so.

  “What’s up?” she asked, instead of bolting for the door.

  “Morning,” Emery said.

  She lifted her gaze to his face. “What’s going on?”

  Why was it just the two of them? Where was everyone else?

  “I’d intend—”

  “I don’t care what you intended. What is going on, Emery?” She enunciated each word carefully, every fiber of her body vibrating with the urge to duck and run. There’d been a number of close calls in her life and she’d rather not have another anytime soon.

  He sipped from one of the cups. The silence punctuated by the waitstaff calling to each other in Spanish only unnerved her further.

  “Is your sister still at your apartment?” he asked.

  “She shouldn’t be.”

  “Good.” He took a deep breath and stared straight at her. “I think Roni is safer in Orlando than we ar
e here.”

  “Why?” Her pulse beat faster at the thought of her sister in danger so far away.

  “I have reason to believe a hit team is on their way to Miami.”

  Those words, those concise, circumspect words terrified her.

  “Tori.” Emery reached across the table and wrapped his hand around hers. The contact shocked her almost as much as his statement. “I’m on your side in this.”

  She wanted to sprint out of the restaurant, get in her car and just go. Emery was right, Roni would be well protected with the crew in Orlando. It was her hide she needed to worry about.

  “I have a safe house prepped. I’d like to take you there and set up a remote—”

  “Yes. Let’s go. Now.” She stood, almost knocking over a teenage waitress. Tori rushed to steady the girl while Emery lifted two to-go boxes out of her hands.

  “Keep the change.” He pressed a few bills into the waitress’s hands and passed Tori coffee and one box.

  She glanced around, unable to shake the sudden sensation that someone was watching. Of course, people were watching the crazy white couple because she was on the verge of panic. It was in her accelerated breathing, the pounding of her heart, the fight-or-flight response kicking in.

  Emery took a single step, almost barreling over her, but he pulled up so close they were only a few inches apart.

  “They’re not here yet. I am. I’m going to keep you safe.”

  Those words were not spoken in her head, but they were the same thing her imaginary friend Emery might have said. He sounded so confident, as if he knew all the potential outcomes and one had already been decided. She just hoped it was one wherein she got to stay breathing.

  Emery stepped ahead of her, leading the way out of the restaurant. She peered through the glass windows, but nothing had changed. Not even the men around the Tesla. She eyed their tree-trimming equipment, the sharp blades. Her father had always taught her to see potential threats in everything.

  “They’re going to know what you drive. We should leave the Lancer here.” Emery paused in the foyer to the restaurant, walled on all four sides in glass.

  “What? No way. I am not leaving my baby here.” She’d poured her blood, sweat, and tears into the car. No one would ask Aiden or Roni to leave their street rides anywhere unattended.

  “It’s daylight. The morning shift of cops are going to drop in soon. CJ and Kathy take this route to the garage. The cops will make sure no one touches it for a few hours because they’ll be too busy running the tags on a car like yours. No tickets?”

  “None.”

  “Good. CJ will notice it on the drive in. When you don’t show up, he’ll know something is wrong and come check it out—with the spare set of keys. He won’t want the attention, so he’ll move it. Probably stash it somewhere.”

  “You have this all planned out. How long have you known?”

  “Since six this morning. I heard a tip yesterday and started digging.”

  That wasn’t that long ago, only a couple of hours. And he must have started digging last night, right after she brought him the necklace. Knowing the way Emery worked, he’d researched all the factors until he had stacks of information. The threat was real. Very real. And she was in it without her sister.

  Roni was safer in Orlando.

  “Won’t CJ pull the crew back when he realizes we’re missing for no reason?”

  A family of five passed through their glass fishbowl; all the while, Emery stared at her. Why was he being so strange? It wasn’t a question that needed secrecy.

  Of course he will. Damn it. Why didn’t I think about that?

  More silence.

  The real Emery didn’t echo the one in her head.

  “We should go. I’d like to be settled before they land.” He turned and pushed the door open, his head swinging from side to side, scanning the area.

  She stood rooted to the spot, sifting through the implications. What wasn’t Emery telling her? She watched him cross to the car and unlock it without a backward glance. Last night when she’d gone to him, he’d known, or had an inkling of an idea. He hadn’t told her then. Why?

  If she didn’t follow him, she’d never learn what he knew. She’d be running blind, probably get herself into trouble.

  Tori stalked after Emery. The tree trimmers strolled back to their jobs, leaving them alone.

  “I’m not getting in that car. Answer me.” She glared at him. This was her life, her safety he was toying with and she didn’t appreciate the lack of detail. What did he not want to tell her?

  Emery straightened from having deposited his coffee and food in the car. He turned to face her, his lips compressed. Emery’s expressions were a study in the tiniest variation. The difference was in how much he squinted. If one side of his mouth tilted up. Compressed lips could be him deep in thought, angry, irritated, suppressing a chuckle, any number of things.

  CJ would pull everyone back to Miami, wouldn’t he? She desperately wanted him to say yes.

  “No, he won’t. CJ wants it to be business as usual so we maintain the status quo of our operation. This hit team has nothing to do with the Evers investigation that I can tell. His objective is to keep us focused on that.”

  A phantom pain sliced her breast. She felt the stab all the way to her heart. CJ might be her handler and a Fed, but they had a friendship. He was like a father, always telling her and Roni to be careful. Kathy brought them food sometimes when things got so busy they forgot to eat. Tori’s interactions with them were different from the others, because . . . well, she didn’t know why, but Emery’s words were a betrayal of the people she knew. And yet, CJ was the kind of person to make those tough choices.

  “He knows, doesn’t he?” She wasn’t sure what CJ knew, but it was bad enough Emery was avoiding the truth.

  “Get in the car and I’ll tell you.”

  “No, you tell me here and now. I have to know I can trust you.” Emery wasn’t her sister. He didn’t get a blanket pass. If Roni said it was time to go, Tori didn’t ask where or when. She went. No one else got her unquestioning loyalty.

  Emery stared at her, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

  “I told CJ about the threat. You were still asleep, and it was the correct escalation of the situation. If you’re threatened, so is the crew.” She sensed frustration in his voice, but only a drop. He spread his hands and his shoulders dropped. “He knew before I did. He knew and didn’t say anything.”

  CJ was willing to sacrifice her in order for the machine to keep running. But Emery wasn’t. Emery was FBI. And he was essentially going against his boss’s orders. To keep her safe. If that wasn’t a vote in his favor she didn’t know what was. It could also be a ploy to keep tabs on her, but she didn’t think Emery’s frustration was make-believe.

  “Let’s go.” She strode to the passenger side of the car and slipped into the lap of luxury. The interior was black leather, silver and tech. It was a car perfect for Emery.

  She strapped in and wrapped her hands around the coffee, soaking up its warmth while the rest of her felt numb. The safety she’d felt with the crew was gone. If CJ knew, wouldn’t Aiden and Julian?

  Emery reversed out of the parking spot and within moments they were headed toward the highway.

  “How many know?” she asked. Was Roni really safe?

  Emery glanced at her, but the voice in her head was silent. She couldn’t take false words right now. She needed the real thing.

  “CJ, probably Kathy, you and me.”

  “Not Julian or Aiden?”

  “Julian would never leave if he thought we were threatened, and Aiden wouldn’t have gone to Orlando. He’d have everyone off the grid or somewhere defensible.”

  His words comforted her, but only a little.

  It was just CJ then, and by extension Kathy. The two agents, husband and wife, did nothing without each other, though their roles were very different. CJ was ultimately in charge. Kathy was an odd mix of administ
rator, tech support, and communications hub. They’d also become family. But family didn’t turn their backs on each other.

  Tori drew in a breath and glanced at the road. The stoplight ahead of them flipped from yellow to red. It took everything inside of her to not scream at him to keep going.

  “Why are you doing this?” she asked.

  Emery was FBI. He should have stuck to CJ’s plan.

  Emery eased the Tesla to a stop and turned to face her. She shivered under his intense gaze.

  “We’re a team. Teams look after each other.”

  And I’m in love with you.

  She wished.

  “Thanks.” The light turned green. The acceleration pressed her into the leather as he shot off the line. Oh, to race the Tesla . . . wouldn’t that be fun? “Tell me about the hit team. Why me? What do they want?”

  “That is unclear.”

  “What do you know?”

  “I was undercover and received intel about Russians coming to Miami for a hit. They mentioned something about it being girls and a grudge. I’m making an educated guess based on information about Evers and the Russians. There’s no sense in putting our team in danger.”

  She wanted to lean across the console and kiss him. Sure, he might be doing this for whatever logical reason made sense to him, but to her, he was a knight in a shiny car. It was better than any fairy tale she’d ever read. Now if the hero would just like her back.

  “What next?” They needed a plan. And she needed to get her head out of the clouds.

  “Dispose of our phones. Get supplies. Lay low. I tagged the hit team so TSA will check their bags. The cops will also receive a heads-up. Hopefully they don’t like the attention and call the whole thing off.”

  “Why me?” And Roni, but for now Roni was safe.

  “I don’t know.”

  Tori had an idea, but she prayed she was wrong.

  She sucked in a deep breath, the Florida skyline blurring in her vision. How long would this go on? How could she continue to live like this?