Zero Hour: Brotherhood Protectors World

by Holt, Desiree

  “How often has he brought a group out here over the past year?” Terry asked.

  “I’d say about every three months. He flies them in by helicopter, and they keep to themselves. They aren’t what you’d call sociable.”

  “I wouldn’t expect them to be. Morgan is probably continuing to indoctrinate them into his militia philosophy and hatred for the government that he feels has wronged him. I’m telling you guys, these people are insane fanatics. They’ll do anything to destroy this country and make a political statement.”

  “I have to find a way to get in there,” Terry insisted. “It is critical I know what they have planned.”

  “Then let’s figure out how to do it,” Alex told her. “I’m sure the fence around the place is electrified, and they’ve got a high-end security system to protect them from intruders.” He looked at Jesse. “Here’s where that SEAL training comes in. Plus, I’m not too crazy about Terry running around out there by herself.”

  “Damn it, Alex.” She smacked a hand on the arm of her chair. “What’s with all you testosterone-filled men? I’m a crack shot, and I’ve had every bit of the same training the other agents got. You and my boss think I can’t blow my nose by myself.”

  “That’s not it. If you were a man, I’d say the same thing. You know how dangerous these guys are, and I’ve heard plenty of rumors. I wouldn’t want anyone going in there alone to scope it out. Put your ego aside and use your brain.”

  Terry bit her lip to keep from saying something stupid. Alex was right, just as Max had been. Doing this by herself was sheer stupidity. Why had she ever thought otherwise?

  “He called you,” she said. “Max Jaeger.”

  “Of course he did. I’d do the same thing. He has all the confidence in the world in you, but you have to have backup. Period.”

  “I’d like to lay this all out and go over things with you,” she told Alex.

  “Good. You only gave me sketchy details, so start from the beginning.”

  * * *

  How am I going to handle this?

  While they took a short break, Jesse refilled his coffee mug and stood at the kitchen counter, taking a slow sip. The last person he had ever expected to see when he hit the road for Montana was Terry Fordice. The universe was definitely playing jokes on him because no matter how he tried, he hadn’t been able to get the woman out of his mind. Or out of his dreams. He couldn’t count the nights he’d gone to bed dreaming of her naked in his arms, his lips closed around one taut nipple. Or his tongue stroking the wet slit of her sex, or his teeth biting her swollen clit. Or his cock sliding into the hot clasp of her body. At night, lying in whatever bed he occupied, his dick would be so hard he became addicted to cold showers and an expert at jerking off.

  Not to mention the memory of the most erotic motorcycle ride of his life.

  But it wasn’t just the sex. She was smart and bright and funny. He could talk to her about anything. Well, almost anything, he corrected himself. There was that ruined piece of himself that he chose not to share with anyone, certainly not with Terry. He didn’t think he could stand for her to think of him as damaged goods. She deserved so much better. So, like a coward, he’d run and tried to wipe her out of his mind.

  But the joke was on him, because no matter how hard he tried he could not seem to get her out of his mind. Or eliminate the longing for her that ate at his gut every day. Now he was going to be sharing this house with her, a really nice house, older but well-maintained. The kind of house that would make a nice place for a couple. Only in his shape he’d probably never be a couple with anyone, especially ATFE agent Teresa Fordice.

  “I’m a fucked-up mess,” he muttered. “Who the hell would want me, anyway?”

  “Do you spend a lot of time talking to yourself?”

  Terry’s voice startled him, and he nearly dropped his mug. As it was, hot coffee splashed on his hand.

  “Shit.”

  He set the mug on the counter, shaking the liquid from his hand into the sink then running it under cold water.”

  “Sorry.” Terry moved to stand beside him. “Didn’t mean to startle you, but I wanted more coffee. Didn’t know you were deep in self-discussion.”

  Jesse cursed silently. Now, on top of thinking he was an uncaring shithead, she’d get the idea he was a nutcase. Great. And he was supposed to work with her, back her up on this. He’d be lucky if she trusted him to open a car door for her.

  “Sorry.” He dried his hand on a dish towel. “I probably spend too much time alone.”

  “I guess you must enjoy your own company more than anyone else’s.”

  He knew she meant it as a joke, but there was a bitter edge to her words that cut into him.

  I am the stupidest fucker in the world.

  “Not really.” He forced a smile. “Let’s get back to business.”

  He followed her back to the dining room where Alex Rossi sat looking at the diagrams they had drawn. He looked up at them.

  “You guys having a problem or something?”

  Jesse shook his head. “Not at all. I was a little clumsy with my coffee, is all. Okay, let’s look at this thing again.”

  Just as Alex had said earlier, Reed Morgan’s property was cut like a rectangle from a much larger ranch. Alex had brought his laptop and used it to access aerial photos of the area.

  Terry studied them. “I’m surprised you got to take shots of the place.”

  “The U S Forest Service has helicopters. They map the areas so they have parameters if a fire breaks out. Couple of years ago we had a bad one in the Crazies and had to evacuate some of the ranchers and their people. The Forest Service likes to keep things updated just in case.”

  “Good idea,” Jesse approved.

  “You can see Morgan’s place right here.” Alex tapped the tip of a pen on one photo.

  “This gives us a chance to see the entire layout.” Terry traced her finger along a fence line. “I’m guessing, like we said earlier, this whole fence is electrified.”

  Alex agreed. “Plus, a high-tech security system.”

  “So how do we get onto the property without being seen and without being electrocuted?”

  “Okay, we have an option. Morgan orders his food supplies from a store in Eagle Rock. I’ll contact them in the morning because if he’s bringing in a bunch of people he’ll have to feed them.”

  “Wouldn’t he order from Bozeman or Billings?” Terry asked.

  Alex shook his head. “Not anymore. He pays the price because he thinks it gives him more control.”

  “So how does that help us?”

  “Because we can hide in the truck.” Jesse was the one who answered. “It’s the best way onto the property.”

  “We have to figure out what to do from there,” Terry reminded him.

  “Then let’s start throwing ideas out there and see what we come up with.”

  It was the first time Jesse had been in a work situation with Terry, and he was impressed with her laser-like focus. She knew what her goal was, and she was damned well going to find a way to get to it. And fast. But working with her was going to be a test of his inner strength. He had no idea how she felt about it. Or him. She had been coldly polite on the highway, at first even trying to refuse his help. Well, not that he could blame her.

  It was apparent this was a critical situation for her and that was a priority. But how was he going to spend however much time with her and not remember both the time they’d been together and the coward’s way out he took? The question was, could he get past the barriers she’d obviously thrown up?

  He was on what had to be his fifth cup of coffee when there was a knock on the front door. It opened, and Zane Halstead walked in. Jesse stood and, when Zane walked over to him, the two exchanged a man hug. Jesse took a step back and studied his friend, and for the first time in forever thought there just might be a chance for him to be whole again. Or at least whole enough to make a life for himself.

  Zane smiled
. “Good to see you. Glad you made it here.”

  “Back atcha.” He indicated Terry. “Meet Terry Fordice, an, uh, old friend.”

  Zane glanced from Jesse to Terry and back again, curiosity stamped on his face.. “So you two know each other?”

  Jesse tried to shrug off his discomfort. “Neither of us expected the other to be here. Talk about coincidence.”

  One corner of Zane’s mouth tipped up in a grin. “I think that’s the story of life. Nice to meet you, Terry. Hope we can help you with your situation.”

  “Me, too, because otherwise I think we’re in for a whole world of trouble.” He glanced at Alex. “How far did you all get?”

  “Just to how we’ll get on the property and manage to sniff around.” He cast an eye at his watch. “Might think about some dinner, though. I didn’t realize it was this late. Let me call Micki and see what she’s arranged.”

  “All taken care of,” Zane assured him. “She and Lainie should be here any minute with barbecue takeout.”

  Jesse was stunned at the easy relationship between the men. Alex was an unknown quantity to him, but if Zane had connected with the sheriff like this, then Jesse needed to keep an open mind about the guy and his offer. Helping Terry with her assignment would give him a first-hand opportunity to find out about the area and how Alex Rossi ran his operation.

  “That’s great,” Alex was saying, “because I’m starved. Meanwhile, how about sitting down and seeing if you can help answer some of these questions. You’ve developed a pretty good picture of the area since you’ve been here.”

  Sitting next to Terry and concentrating on the task at hand was one of the hardest things Jesse had ever done. He was hyperaware of her body, her thick brown hair that she’d pulled back into a ponytail, the very faint scent of jasmine that clung to her, probably from the shower gel she used.. How the hell was he going to share a house with her and keep his hands to himself?

  By reminding yourself what a mental and emotional wreck you are and why you shouldn’t foist yourself off onto someone.

  Besides, after the way he literally ran from her life, why the hell would she want anything to do with him, anyway?

  When the two wives arrived, they greeted everyone, shook hands with Terry and Jesse, and set about putting out the food. For the first time since he’d left the SEALs, Jesse Donovan felt as if life might have something to offer him and he could return the favor. He knew he could help Terry with this, ferret out what was going on, and bring down the bad guys. After all, that was what he’d done for a living.

  But could he resurrect what had been an electric personal relationship? He damn sure was going to try.

  Chapter 7

  It was nine o’clock by the time they called it quits. Terry had memorized every one of the photos, a benefit of a photographic memory, more technically known as an eidetic memory. She couldn’t even take credit for it. It was something she’d been born with and often as much a curse as a blessing. Both she and Alex had notes stored on their laptops, and they’d discussed the next steps until every T was crossed and every I dotted.

  “No room for mistakes here,” Alex reminded her.

  “Don’t I know that,” she agreed. “Whatever he’s planning is going to be a disaster of epic proportions if we can’t figure out what it is and stop it.”

  “I’ve been checking things out ever since you called, sniffing the scene, so to speak. The last I heard is that Morgan will be here tomorrow afternoon. People have been arriving in groups for two days, dropped off by a helicopter. I’ve had a good vantage point to watch it all without being seen.”

  “You said before that he usually orders from the local grocery store when he brings a group here, and they stock his pantry and freezer.”

  “That’s correct. Emery Belzer will customize an order for him and handle it any way he wants,” Alex explained. “And won’t be letting comments drop to people about it. The latest supplies are supposed to be delivered early in the morning and stored before the man himself arrives. His order is five times what it usually is, so your information that he’s moving his entire group there is probably correct. He’s got a caretaker on the property who handles that. If we follow our plan, it will give you a chance to get inside the house, see who’s there now, and plant your little bug. That is, if you can do it without raising any eyebrows.”

  “Oh, I can do it,” Terry assured him. “I always find a way.”

  Alex smiled. “You always did get the job done.”

  “Let’s hope this isn’t an exception. I need to get on that property and inside the house.”

  She and Jesse would arrive at the grocery in time to help load the delivery truck. The store owner, a man named Emery Belzer, owed Alex a major favor, although he’d nearly wet his pants when pressed to agree to this.

  “Although he wasn’t too happy about it,” Alex told them. “He kept repeating if Morgan found out he did this, he’d be a dead man. He kept protesting when Alex called him to double check on everything. I had to assure him that would not happen.”

  “But he might be in danger, right?” Jesse asked.

  “Anything is possible. I suggested stashing him and his family in a safe house until whatever the asshole’s got planned is over. Or stopped.”

  “What did he say?”

  “That he wanted to talk to his wife first. But in the end, he’d had no choice but to agree. He did say he and his wife were going to leave town immediately after. He wasn’t taking any chances. They’d stay away until whatever this was had blown over.”

  “So, tomorrow you’ll pick up Jesse and me and take us into town and the plan will begin.”

  “That’s correct. And now we are all out of here. You guys need to get some rest. Tomorrow the countdown begins.”

  Now Terry just wanted a shower and bed. She was tired and achy and her head was full of unanswered questions. Jesse had insisted she take the master bedroom that had its own bath.

  “Ladies get privileges,” he joked. “Seriously. I’m used to roughing it.” He waved a hand around the space. “Although I don’t think I’d call this roughing it, no matter where I sleep.

  She laughed. “I hardly think having a separate bathroom falls in that category but thank you.”

  Tension still crackled in the air between them, and the pull of a sexual attraction still so powerful she could almost see it. She had no idea what was going to happen with them alone in the house, or if Jesse would even say another word about the way he’d left. She needed to put that out of her mind. If they were going to be operating as a team, which she had to agree was a good idea, the last thing she needed was a distraction. In fact, neither of them needed it.

  She was standing on the back porch, inhaling the fragrance of the night air, when she heard the door behind her open and close. The porch floorboards creaked under the weight of Jesse’s steps. He didn’t touch her, but he was so close she could feel his breath on the back of her neck.

  “I’m sorry.”

  His voice was so soft, she wasn’t sure at first if she’d heard what he said. She waited to see if he spoke again.

  “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I was a real shithead.”

  She wanted to turn to him but wasn’t ready to look at him yet.

  “Yes,” she agreed. “You were. I didn’t deserve it.”

  He rested his hands on her shoulders then turned her to face him. For a moment she resisted, then she moved so they were facing each other.

  “Terry,” he began, and stopped.

  “Why did you?” she asked. “Leave, especially the way you did? Did you think your baggage was too much for me? That I wouldn’t understand? Or want to help you?”

  “Like I told you on the highway, I was too much of a fucked-up mess. Still am, come to that.” He raked the fingers of one hand through his hair. “We had some bad shit over in Afghanistan. Really bad. I didn’t handle it too well. Actually not well at all.”

  Terry forced herself to look int
o his eyes, shocked by the pain she saw there.

  “And you didn’t think you could talk to me about it?”

  He looked away. “Terry, I didn’t think I could talk to anyone about it. I’m just glad the nights we were together I didn’t have one of those fucking nightmares.”

  She took a breath, reaching for the right words to say.

  “Jesse, it takes a lot to frighten me. And just maybe I could have helped you.”

  “I didn’t want to chase you away.”

  Her jaw dropped. “So instead you did the running? How does that make sense?”

  “I wanted to leave you with good memories.”

  She put her hands on either side of his face. “So instead you walked away from what we had and left me doubting myself?”

  “I didn’t—”

  She touched her fingers to his lips then took a step backward. “I’m too tired to do this tonight, Jesse. It’s been a long few days for me, and tomorrow is going to be even worse. We’re both professional enough we can work together. Let’s see what happens when this is over.”

  She turned and walked into the house, half expecting him to follow her. When he didn’t a heavy sadness came over her. Maybe they’d never get to work this out between them. It would help a lot if she hadn’t fallen in love with him.

  When she got to her bedroom, she called Max Jaeger and laid it all out for him. She’d been dialing him in twice a day as he’d requested. They’d spoken before she met with everyone, and he’d agreed this was the best way to proceed. She could get a good look at the setup at Morgan’s house and on his land and see if anything of interest popped up. He had checked Jesse Donovan out after the first time she’d called and told her he had excellent creds.

  “I feel better having him team up with you,” he told her. “Neither Rossi nor Zane can go in with you. They’re too well-known, and Morgan will wonder what the sheriff’s office is doing checking out his house. And I wasn’t too happy with you doing this alone or with an unknown.”

  “It’ll work, Max. I can snoop without appearing to and see if I can get a handle on what this is all about. I have a really bad feeling about it.”