by Rachel Cade
She was so glad to be home, in her own familiar space.
Jack had stayed out of her sight for the rest of the trip and she stayed cordial with Marcus up until she boarded her plane.
They were on separate flights returning to D.C. and she had no plans to catch up with him anytime soon.
She needed to get her head on straight and focus on setting some new goals in her life.
“Ciara?”
Her eyes rolled upward at the sound of her father’s voice.
She walked to the top landing of her stairs to see him standing in her foyer in predictable golf gear. “You could have come to the main house to let us know you’d returned.”
“Sorry. I was exhausted from the plane. I wanted to come here and freshen up, then see what you guys were doing for dinner.
All lies. She had no such plans, but it sounded polite and reasonable.
“How was the trip?”
“It was fine, Dad.”
“Just fine?”
“Why don’t you speak to Marcus about it and get his opinion.”
His face changed, and she didn’t like it. Instead of giving her a response, he turned around and left.
*
“What happened?” Dennis questioned sharply from his guest bedroom.
“Nothing.” Marcus said on the other end. His voice sounded as dry as Ciara’s.
“You didn’t take advantage of her, did you?”
Marcus’ sigh was short. “Wouldn’t that be our business? You did agree to let me invite her.”
“I said court her.”
“Sex isn’t courting?”
This little bastard was getting brazen.
“Our arrangement was for you to date her.” Dennis snapped. “She doesn’t even want to discuss you so I want to know what happened?”
“Mr. Kimball. I didn’t sleep with Ciara. I took her to the casino and out on a yacht ride. That’s it. She wanted to come home early. I don’t know, there was a bad storm while we were down there. I don’t think she liked it.”
“Den, are you downstairs?” Dawn’s voice made him promptly end the call.
This situation was supposed to be in his control. But now he was wondering if he’d made a huge mistake.
“I’m glad you’re back.” Ciara sat back on her friend’s couch as she offered her a glass of wine.
“Thanks,” Ciara said for both the comment and the wine, taking a generous sip as her friend joined her on the couch. “How was work today?”
“Tiring. The jury’s in deliberation. Hopefully they’ll come to a verdict tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
“Thanks for asking. Now spill about this trip.”
“No one died.”
“Ci.” Kim stared down the bridge of her nose at her.
“Marcus was okay. Like I said, he’s just not my cup of tea. Nassau was gorgeous though. I might go back in a few months on my own.”
“Sounds uneventful.”
“Jack was there.”
“What? The woods guy?”
“Mm hmm.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I slept with him.”
Kim’s mouth snapped shut and she set her wine glass on the coffee table in front of them, “I’m not about to stain my couch.”
Ciara took another long drink of her wine.
“Ci.” Kim stared at her. “Did you really? You did. What the fuck.”
Ciara finished the glass of wine.
“Swallow quick. How was it?”
“You know I’m not a fan of red wine but I’m sure I’ll get a buzz.”
“I’m not talking about the wine!”
Ciara would have laughed if she wasn’t remembering Jack’s body on top of her in that small bed.
“Shit I know that face. He was good. The crazy ones with the drama can always fuck.”
Ciara pressed back hard into her friend’s couch, holding her glass tightly. “Girl, I’m pretty sure I saw the Milky Way.”
“Mars, Neptune, Saturn, all of them, huh?” Kim’s brows raised with her voice. “Then it was fruitful trip. Let’s toast to Jack giving you amazing D.”
Even though her glass was empty, she clinked it against Kim’s.
“What do you know about the CIA?”
Kim promptly choked on her wine.
“I need a vacation from this vacation.”
Sam offered Jack a piece of gum at the airport curb, which he gladly accepted before tossing his bag into the Yukon’s back seat.
“So you can give me the rundown now that I don’t have to worry about shitty cell service.”
“Ipad under your seat.”
“I want you to tell me how you get a hold of this shit one day.” Jack sat after retrieving the tablet and turning it on, knowing the files he was looking at were classified.
“You wanna listen to a bunch of tech lingo you won’t understand?”
“I don’t recognize these guys.” Jack swiped at the photographs after examining each one.
“Don’t worry about that part, man. We need to figure out how they know you.”
“You hungry?” Sam asked as they entered the warehouse. It was a new location. There was no telling how many of them he had. This one doubled as an apartment and was on the outskirts of Silver Spring, not far from D.C.
“Always,” Jack answered.
“I’ve got some KFC on the counter, but you might have to reheat it.”
“Beer?”
“In the fridge.”
“My man.”
“Did you go and see your old man? Or did you chicken out?”
Jack took a deep breath. His brain had planned out the next couple of hours as chicken, beer, then files.
“I went to see him. Aside from gaining weight, he’s still the same bastard teaching pissed off boys about military combat.”
Sam was the only other person in the business Jack had talked to about his father, though there were others that knew he was his son. John Turner had a long, wild history working for a government he now detested.
“Were you guys able to get along?”
“Before or after he stuck attack dogs on me?”
“Jack, what the fuck?”
The chicken was lukewarm; good enough. Jack grabbed a drumstick and tore into it.
“It wasn’t a big deal. I shot ‘em with tranquilizers.”
Sam just shook his head.
“You know, when he first spotted me, he didn’t know who I was.”
“And you’re lucky he didn’t try to blow your head off for trespassing.”
“He’s careful, he would have hit the leg as a warning first. But he thought I was FBI.”
“They make regular trips to your dad’s property or was it just paranoid ramblings?”
Jack finished the drumstick, tossing the bone into a nearby wastebasket. “One thing it’s not wise to do is underestimate my old man.”
“Sounds like something I should check into?”
“I’d be much obliged.”
Sam headed to his computer. “Damn, I forget you’re a redneck sometimes.”
Jack chuckled.
“Wait. Something’s off about you.” Sam paused before sitting in his computer chair. It was in the center of two desks pushed together that contained four large computer monitors.
“What?”
“Even with all this shit going on you seem… I don’t even know how to say it. Happier?”
Jack ignored him, reaching into the bucket for a wing. “Mashed potatoes.” He spotted the familiar container next to the bucket.
“You got laid.”
“FBI, remember?”
“I wish I could thank the woman that took your edge off.”
“Sam. I just want chicken, these mashed potatoes, and my beer.”
“She must have been bad if she snagged your attention.”
Even damp with rain, her skin tasted like perfume. All of it. She was perfect to see in the light and felt perfect in t
he dark.
It was crazy what they’d done. And if he had the chance, he’d do it again.
“I made a lot of money from an easy job. That’s all.”
“Sure.” Sam knew he was full of shit, and if his tone didn’t convey it, his friend’s double middle fingers did.
Jack grabbed a beer out of the fridge before looking through the tablet again. “Are these addresses up to date?”
“Was wondering when you’d ask.”
“Since they wanted to be unexpected guests, the least I could do is return the favor.”
*
“Why would you want to know about the CIA?” Kim asked, setting her drink down before getting up in search of a napkin for her fingers.
Ciara wasn’t expecting that question. She just needed an answer.
“That’s government, Ci.”
“I know, but we live in D.C. You know a lot of people. I thought maybe you had some connections or something.”
“Connections for what? Is this about your woodsman or Marcus?”
“You’re asking more questions than I am,” Ciara huffed, wishing she hadn’t asked. “Forget about it. It’s fine.”
“It’s about the woodsman, isn’t it? Don’t get yourself tied up in anything crazy with that guy. You had an amazing night with him. Leave it at that.”
“Weren’t you the one egging me on to look into him?
“Yeah. But I didn’t even think it would be… You’re talking about the CIA. They’re no joke.”
“I’m not getting into anything, all right? He wouldn’t tell me who he was, so I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity.”
“Exactly what does the CIA have to do with it?”
Ciara knew it wasn’t fair to ask her friend questions then withhold information, but she couldn’t tell her about Jack’s confession. “I’m not even going to think about it anymore. I have enough of my own problems. My dad’s not speaking to me.”
“What? It can’t be over Marcus.”
Just then, Ciara’s phone rang. “Speak of the devil.” She promptly let it go to voicemail.
*
A random stuffed bunny was on the kitchen floor.
Jack’s line of work forced him to take in the scope of an entire room in the space of a few breaths. Sometimes that was all he had before shit went haywire. Though he hadn’t done it in a while, it was still instinct, drilled in him from at the time he learned to tie his shoes.
It was a nice house in a small Pennsylvania town. Maybe that was why the security was so pathetic.
Jack had his gun out, firm in his grip as he moved through the kitchen, stepping around the bunny.
The wife and kids were gone; he’d watched them pull out of the garage ten minutes earlier.
Jack turned just in time to see the hatchet flying toward his face. He jerked to the side, attempting to escape the blow but the handle clipped his shoulder hard before imbedding into the wall. Jack hadn’t planned on shooting, but didn’t have a choice as his target snatched a butcher knife off the island counter.
Jack shot at his thighs, right above his kneecaps, making sure to stay clear of the artery vein. He didn’t need the asshole bleeding out before he got his intel.
“Fuck!” With a bullet in each leg, Elwin collapsed to the floor. But he still threw the knife. It sliced by Jack’s ear so close he half expected to see it land on the ground by his boot.
Holding the gun on him, Jack used his opposite hand to check his ear and was shocked not to feel blood.
“I guess you’re your own security, huh?” Jack kept his face hard and he closed the distance to stand a few feet away from the bleeding merc.
“The fuck do you want?” he breathed, holding his legs.
“You and a few of your friends paid me a visit in the woods a couple months ago. Who sent you there?”
“Shit. You’re Turner.” Elwin breathed deeply, his face contorting as he pressed down further on his legs.
Jack held the gun on him, giving him a chance to continue before he found another place to aim.
“It’s the job. You know that.” Elwin groaned hard.
“Keep talkin’ before I start movin’ up.”
“Rafael. That was the name I heard. He said you owe him money. That you were hiding. That’s all I know. WAIT!”
Jack pulled another gun from his back and shot the man twice over his scream as he tried to slide away.
The tranquilizers hit his stomach and the man’s head smacked hard against the tile as he passed out.
He could have killed him. In fact that had been the plan but he changed his mind when he saw him playing with his kids in the front yard before they got in the car with his wife. It was the weekend and he didn’t want them to return just to discover their dad dead. There was a time when he wouldn’t have considered them at all.
The last of his mercy was grabbing some duct tape to seal his wounds so he didn’t bleed out before he was discovered.
Jack stood in the merc’s kitchen.
Getting out of the house was a priority but he needed a moment to seethe.
Fucking Gonzalez.
Chapter Fourteen:
Get the Girl
“Gonzalez!” Jack pulled away from the curb hard as Elwin’s house faded in the background behind him. Jack had duct taped his legs so he wouldn’t bleed out. The only reason he didn’t take him out was because he didn’t want to terrorize his kids when his family returned home.
“’Scuse me?” Sam was on speakerphone. “Mexican Dictator that vanished into thin air and was presumed dead Rafael Gonzalez?”
“Fuck yes, and I never thought he was dead.”
“What the hell does he want with you?”
“He thinks I fucking stole from him,” Jack growled. His foot twitched to run the red light he was stuck at, but there was too much traffic.
Sam was quiet.
“I didn’t,” Jack frowned. “He was gonna try to stiff me and disappear. When we got to his safehouse, I took the balance I was owed and left the rest. I never thought he’d show up again. He’s got too many enemies.”
“God damn, this is bullshit. I’m going to see what I can find out on my end. In the mean time, get your ass back here.”
Jack disconnected the call.
*
“Are you really not talking to me because of Marcus?” Ciara asked her father in the family living room.
Dennis was dressed in a suit he usually only wore when he had business meetings for his charity. “I don’t want to be late. We can discuss this later.”
Ciara had ignored Marcus’s calls. She didn’t want to deal with him yet, but she planned to have her say with her father. “You seem more worried about some stranger’s feelings than mine and I want to know why.”
Dennis took a breath. “I have important business with Marcus. He’s involved in my charity and he took a liking to you. We’ve spoken, he’s accomplished, and he has good intentions toward you.”
“I’m not dating him anymore.” Ciara tried to stay calm.
“I just needed you to do a favor for me, for my business. And this is what I get?” His teeth flashed while he spoke. It had been a while since she’d seen him this angry.
“Why is your business hinging on whether or not I date this guy? I don’t understand.”
“You’re not meant to, okay?” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Dad-” He slammed the door, leaving her there in silence.
She ran to the door and opened it. “We’re not done.”
Dennis scanned around. “Ciara go back inside.”
“No. We aren’t done. You aren’t being fair. You can’t hold my past over my head to make me do things for you. I didn’t want to go to Nassau with Marcus and you knew it. You’re taking advantage of me and I’m not allowing it anymore.”
Dennis spoke through his teeth. “I told you to go back inside.”
“No!” she said again, her voice getting higher. “I don’t care who hears. The
whole neighborhood can. You used me. Anything could have happened to me down there. What if Marcus didn’t take no for answer. Would you even care?”
His eyes widened. “Honey I-”
“You think the only way I can contribute to this family is getting married and having kids. I don’t know when that’s going to happen. But it will be when I’m ready. I’m not a perfect person. I’m still trying to figure it out and that’s okay. But you aren’t going to use me anymore. And you and mom are not going to dictate how I live my life.”
Despite her rapid heartbeat Ciara felt relief saying what she truly felt.
Dennis stared at her and closed his mouth over any words he may have said, before rounding his car to leave.
“Dad,” she said as he opened the Mercedes’ door. “You heard me.”
“Loud and clear,” he answered tightly before getting inside.
She was proud of herself.
It was something she should have done a long time ago. But it wasn’t an entirely happy moment. Why her father was involved with Marcus and was willing to use her as a pawn still nagged at her.
He could keep walking away, but Ciara couldn’t let this go. Something was going on with her dad, and she was going to find out exactly what it was.
*
Jack’s phone rang.
A number he didn’t recognize.
“Yeah,” he answered as he sped down the highway.
“Hey Jack.” Ciara’s voice filled his truck. It was softer than a kitten’s ear.
Two simple words had him almost forgetting about Gonzalez.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Are you okay?”
He didn’t like the silence on the other line.
“I’m tired of people using me.”
His brows lowered as he listened.
“I know how people are but – it’s not supposed to happen with people that say they care about you.”
“Heels, what happened?”
“You were right in Nassau. About my dad. I was just too scared to admit it. He wants me to be with Marcus because of a fucking business deal.” She laughed. “He cares more about money than he does about me.”
“Ciara…” Shit. He didn’t know what to say. He was already on edge and the pain in her voice had him clenching the steering wheel.