Hard As Ice (Fortis Series 1)

by Raven Scott

  Eventually, they were sitting in front of the fireplace, on the thick blanket naked with Nia nestled between his legs, her back against his chest. She was lightly stroking his skin and eventually traced around the puckered spot just a couple of inches above his left knee.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you about this,” she admitted in a soft voice. “Someone mentioned you’d been injured recently? At the charity event, I think?”

  Evan remembered the conversation with Mikayla’s mom, Elaine.

  “Yeah, it was last September,” he confirmed.

  “What happened?”

  “I was shot,” Evan simply stated.

  “What?” She turned a little to look up at him. “How?”

  “Just at the wrong place at the wrong time, really.”

  “Where?”

  Evan stuck to the official story since the mission in Azerbaijan was still classified.

  “In Saudia Arabia. We were negotiating some work in the region. There was a small attack to a government building nearby, and I got hit in the cross fire.”

  “My God, Evan! You could have been killed!” she gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief.

  “Maybe. But it was just one of those fluke things, really. I’ve been all over Europe and the Middle East, and I have never been in any danger before.”

  He was tempted to cross his fingers as he told the lie. For ten years in the CIA, danger had been the first line in his job description. He did everything from infiltrating the most dangerous and deadly criminal organizations to protecting VIPs under every imaginable kind of physical threat. All while the safety of lives, regions, and countries were dependent on his every decision and action.

  “Well, thank God you’re not in that role anymore, right? Now you’re just a boring executive chained to a desk,” she teased, relaxing back against him again.

  “Interim boring executive,” he corrected. She giggled.

  Chapter 18

  They flew back to Boston on Wednesday afternoon.

  Evan looked over at Nia as they drove to her place from the airport. She looked tense and preoccupied.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” she stated, always honest. “It feels weird to be back. It was nice to be away from the office, just working on your collection.”

  “You’re worried about the audit.”

  She sighed. They hadn’t spoken about it again since she first opened up on Friday night.

  “A little. But I thought about what you said. I have to tell what I know, even if no one believes me. I’ve been a scapegoat for other people before, and I refuse to allow it to happen again.”

  She spoke in a low tone, looking down at her hands. Something in her words tugged at his heart.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Nothing. It was a long time ago.”

  “Something that happened in Detroit?” he risked asking.

  She gave him a sharp, guarded look but Evan kept his expression neutral, demonstrating only mild curiosity. Nia looked out the passenger window without responding.

  “Is it something to do with your family? Why you’re not close to them?” he continued softly.

  “Yeah,” she finally replied. “But it’s not important.”

  He shrugged.

  “You’re going to tell the auditors what you know?” Evan asked, needing to confirm her intention.

  “No, I don’t think they’ll be believe anything I say. But I’ll tell my boss, Edward. He can decide what to do with the information.”

  “Good,” he replied with encouragement. “I’m sure you’ll feel better after.”

  They drove the rest of the way to her place in silence.

  At her apartment, Evan waited until later in the evening while Nia was in the shower to call in to give the team an update. Raymond put him on speakerphone.

  “She’s ready to talk,” he said simply. “But only to Worthington.”

  “Makes sense, Ice,” Raymond replied. “She sent him a text message while you guys were at the airport. Edward’s flying in to meet with her tomorrow for lunch, at a restaurant a couple of blocks from the office.”

  “Good. She doesn’t want to do it in the office,” concluded Evan. “I’ll stay with her here tonight, then I’ll be back at the hotel after I drop her at work in the morning. Tony, I want you on site at Worthington before she arrives, then stuck to her all day. She’s back in town and meeting her boss out of the office. If anyone in the office is watching her, they’re going to be worried about this meeting.”

  With an initial plan in place, they disconnected the call. For extra precaution, Evan left the voice and video surveillance running in her apartment. Then, he joined Nia in her bedroom. She still seemed preoccupied and withdrawn, making it natural for them to simply fall asleep with Evan spooning her body against his.

  Thursday morning, he dropped her off at the gallery as planned, then went back to the control center at the Harbor Hotel. Tony reported back from his spot in a surveillance car behind the gallery, while the rest of the team spent another morning still combing through information and systematically listening to the taps they’d acquired over the last week of voice surveillance.

  “Maybe we’re going about this all wrong,” Michael finally said a few hours later.

  Evan walked over to where the young agent was sitting behind a computer screen.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re listening to find something incriminating, a clue, some evidence. But only someone who doesn’t know they’re being bugged would say anything of value, right? Nia was smart enough not to use her work phone, but it never occurred to her that her cell phone conversations would matter because she didn’t consider that she might be bugged. Why would she?”

  Evan nodded, slapping the agents back.

  “We need to look at the person who’s doing the least talking,” added Evan, getting the meaning right away. “That’s the person who’s aware of the security cameras. And since he’s added his own listening device, he’d never say anything of value in the building.”

  “I’ll start looking at cell phone activity again over the last month or so,” Raymond stated, jumping on the line of thinking. “Whoever’s racking up the most minutes during work hours goes to the top of the list. Then we can cross-reference with all the variables.”

  “I’m going to join Tony for Nia’s meeting with Worthington,” Evan added. “Call me if you find anything.”

  The two agents got busy, moving in this new direction. Evan took out his cell phone to call Tony.

  “Is she still on with Worthington for lunch?” Evan asked right away.

  “Seems so. I confirmed with him when he landed in Boston a couple of hours ago. No change that I’m aware of,” Tony confirmed.

  “Okay, I’m heading back to you,” advised Evan. “I want to be near after the meeting in case she gives up what we need to finish this out.”

  “Sure thing, Ice.”

  “And Tony, stay close and alert. Our target may already be aware of the meeting. This will be their last chance to shut it down. I’ll be there for backup if needed.”

  “Got it.”

  Evan hung up, and went to his room to change into comfortable dark clothes and a baseball hat. He reattached his back gun holster, checked his Glock, and secured it to his back. Then he added a slim, deadly knife to a sheath around his ankle. Fifteen minutes later, Evan was in his car back to the vicinity of the gallery, parked in an underground lot a block north. According to Edward, Nia was meeting him at twelve-thirty at a deli two blocks south of the office. It was ten minutes after twelve. To Evan’s calculations, she would be getting ready to leave now, and should walk out of the building within the next five to ten minutes.

  Evan crossed the street in front of the parking lot and entered the north entrance of the alley that ran behind the gallery. He crept along the narrow pathway, passing the rear doors to the various businesses along the block, ca
utiously approaching the loading dock for Worthington. His plan was to wait there for Nia to pass. Then he would partner with Tony to provide hidden security as a backup to ensure she made it to and from the meeting without incident.

  Evan knew that he could have sent either Michael or Raymond into the field. There was always the chance that if he needed to engage with a threat, his cover could be blown. But it was a risk he was prepared to take. The alternative was unpalatable. There was no way he would stay hidden in the hotel room while Nia was at risk on the street. He was the leader of the team, but also the best-trained operative they had. If anything was going to go down, it was his responsibility to lead from the front.

  He was in front of the warehouse loading docks, hidden behind a dumpster, when something in the shadows right near the street caught his eye. Evan froze, watchful. It couldn’t be Tony, who should be trailing Nia from the other direction. This was someone else, a professional doing a pretty good job of hiding. Evan thought of the gun at his back and the knife at his ankle, ready to use either if needed. And he waited silently, breathing deep, cool as ice.

  Three minutes later, Nia entered his field of vision, heading to her destination by walking down the sidewalk and passing the entrance to the alley. Her determined gait and curvaceous figure draped in an ivory suit was easily recognizable. Evan had watched her get dressed in the outfit only a few hours earlier, and had fantasized about peeling it off later.

  The shadow moved swiftly. Evan was faster. He was running toward the potential threat, intent on taking him down, but Tony got there first. The agent grabbed Nia around the waist to pull her out of reach, farther into the alley and out of sight from the street. He then swung around in a flash to kick the stranger square in the chest. Nia screamed in surprise, breaking out of Tony’s hold and backing away from the scene. She bumped into the wall of the alley, then watched in shock as the man scrambled to his feet, knife drawn.

  Evan flattened to the wall, staying hidden to maintain the element of surprise, but close enough to step in quickly if needed. Tony faced his opponent in a wide stance, positioned in front of Nia to provide her complete protection. Evan silently prayed that she didn’t move or try to run. They had no way of knowing how many hit men had been sent or where else they were positioned.

  The attacker lunged at Tony, aiming for the gut with a wide swipe of his knife. The agent easily evaded the attack, remaining in front of Nia. She seemed frozen, with her eyes wide, trying to comprehend what was happening. Evan stayed still, biding his time, looking for the opening that Tony would give if needed.

  The two men danced around each other. The assailant attacked harder. Tony ducked, ramming his shoulder into the other man’s chest, but taking a slash in the left arm as a result. Nia screamed, pressing herself against the wall. Evan waited, unwilling to give up the element of surprise until absolutely necessary. Tony managed to throw the assailant off with enough force to create space, then rammed a right fist across the side of his face. Blood sprayed. Another fierce jab in the nose and the attacker went down, knocked out.

  “Oh my God!” Nia muttered, then covered her mouth. She looked around, clearly struggling to know what to do. Tony was still watching the assassin closely, ensuring the man didn’t move, but he reached back with his hand open, trying to keep Nia calm. She recoiled from his touch with alarm.

  “Nia. Nia, listen to me. I’m with Fortis,” Evan heard him say. “I’m here for your protection.”

  “What? What do you mean? Who is that?”

  She stepped away from Tony and started backing up, out of the alley and onto the sidewalk.

  “Nia, you need to stay here,” Tony instructed, turning his head to stop her from exposing herself to any other unknown danger.

  Evan saw the assassin roll slightly to lift his torso, then the hint of a dark, long metal barrel. He didn’t need to think. Instinct and training had him lunging forward into a low slide.

  “Gun!” he yelled, knowing that Tony would immediately use his body to shield Nia as they were trained to do.

  Within seconds, Evan had his legs wrapped around the guy’s shoulders like a vise, trapping his arms so he was immobilized. But the guy was strong and determined. The weapon was still aimed at Nia, so Evan wrapped his forearms around the assailant’s head. A quick twist, and there was a loud snap. The unknown assassin went limp. The gun fell out of his hand to skid on the ground.

  Evan threw aside the body and stood up to find Tony and Nia staring at him. At first, there was only fear and shock on her face. Then her eyes changed. Recognition caused then to widen.

  “Evan?” She took a step toward him, then stopped as though sensing something wasn’t right. “What are you doing here? What’s going on? What did you do?”

  She looked back and forth between the dead assassin and the man she was sleeping with. Evan felt the moment Nia realized he was more than a potential client and her lover. He knew he should say something to her. Anything to explain things, assure her that she was now safe.

  But he just couldn’t lie anymore. He couldn’t look her in the face and rattle off some made-up story to explain how he just killed a man with his bare hands. Adrenaline was racing through his veins and he was on autopilot. She was an asset at risk and that needed to be secured. Evan turned away and took out his phone to call the team.

  His silence to her said everything.

  “We’ve had an attempted hit beside the gallery. I need the area locked down and a cleanup, now,” he explained to Michael abruptly.

  He then turned back to Tony, who was still covering Nia with his body. She was staring at the floor.

  “Take her back to control with my car,” Evan continued, tossing over the keys to the Bentley. “In the garage in front of the north end of the alley, level two, north-west corner. I’ll wait here for the team and the police.”

  “You got it, Ice.”

  “And get that arm taken care of as soon as possible.”

  “It’s nothing, just a scratch,” Tony dismissed, taking a moment to inspect the injury, now dripping blood down his arm.

  Nia raised her eyes at that point, looking at Evan as though she’d never seen him before. The disgust on her face was intense. But he turned away, squatting to start a search of her assailant. All that mattered now was that they get her safe and secured. That was the job.

  “Nia, you need to come with me,” urged Tony.

  “I’m not going anywhere!” she yelled.

  From the corner of his eye, Evan saw Tony try to take hold of her arm but she moved it out of his reach and backed away.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  Clenching his jaw with frustration and concern, Evan stood up and walked over to her. There wasn’t time to be subtle.

  “Nia, look at me.” She stopped moving but refused to meet his eyes. “Someone just tried to kill you. Do you understand what I’m saying? We don’t know if there are any others. You’re not safe here. Tony will take care of you. Please.”

  Her shoulders straightened and she lifted her head with that arrogant, stubborn tilt he recognized.

  “Who the hell are you?” she demanded, finally meeting his eyes again. He felt singed by their anger.

  “You know who I am, Nia. Go with Tony, now. We can talk later.”

  “We have absolutely nothing to talk about,” she whispered before stepping past him to follow Tony’s lead back through the alley up to the next block.

  Evan wished he could take the opportunity to tell Nia what she wanted to know, explain the situation. But time was essential and could not be wasted on selfish pursuits. A trained assassin just tried to kill her. There could very easily be more than one in the area. They needed to lock down the immediate area, and do a full sweep for any other threats. Until they knew differently, they had to assume that she was still in imminent danger, and millions of dollars in stolen jewels were finally in reach of the search. While the trail was still hot, every minute counted.

  After the job was
done, there would be plenty of time to explain this to Nia. And maybe, just maybe she’d understand.

  Or so Evan told himself.

  Chapter 19

  Nia followed the man named Tony through the alley and into a big underground parking lot on the other side of the street. He moved quickly, staying in front of her, occasionally stopping if something looked concerning. Once they reached Evan’s car, he drove out of the lot at a speed significantly above the limit. They went straight to the Boston Harbor Hotel. Tony drove past the main entrance and continued around to the back, stopping at the service bay.

  There, another man was waiting. He opened Nia’s passenger door to help her out. She immediately recognized him as one of the investigators.

  “Hi, Ms. James, Michael Thorpe,” he stated.

  “Of course,” she mumbled, still confused about what the hell was going on.

  Michael tossed a package into the car. It looked like a small stack of bandages.

  “Ice thought you might need them,” he told Tony.

  The car engine revved behind her, and she turned to watch as it sped away.

  “Where’s he going?”

  “To help secure the scene,” Michael explained. “Come, let’s get you upstairs and cleaned up.”

  Nia looked down at herself, noticing the dark brownish-red smears and spots across the front of her cream suit. It took several moments to realize what it was. Blood.

  “Nia.” She looked at the tall, bulky man. He still seemed so young, no more than twenty-five. Something about him reminded her of the recruitment commercials for the U.S. Marine Corps.

  “We need to get you inside,” he explained, still polite but now more insistent.

  “Okay.”