Protecting the Enemy

by Christy Newton

  She watched Reid rub his scruffy face. He was overdue for a shave, but he looked even sexier with the stubble. “We are on a hit ordered by B. Voss. It’s as if Boss or B. Voss invented ETE 7 by himself. I see no evidence that Washington D.C. knows anything about it. Who the hell have we been killing for?”

  “I don’t know.” A tear trickled down Julianna’s cheek. “I don’t know anything anymore.”

  “There’s another address. We’ll have to check it out.”

  “Probably just another warehouse.” She sniffled. “This feels like some sort of sick game Boss is playing.”

  “All the other members had minor criminal records except for you. You were clean and going into law enforcement, until recruited by Boss.” He eyed her as if searching for answers. “Why are you different?” His eyes scanned the papers. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “None of it does!” She made fists as a cry escaped her lips. She shook her head back and forth, trying to block out everything. She just wanted it to all go away. Maybe the truth wasn’t what she really wanted. Sometimes the truth hurt too badly. Like when she woke up and the doctors told her that she was alone, had no family that had come to look for her. She had numbed herself to dull the pain.

  Reid walked over and cupped her face with his hands. She closed her eyes before another tear could slip out. She turned her face into his strong hand. He felt so good. Like home. He was the only thing in this hot mess that made perfect sense.

  Reid moved closer, before she could open her mouth to speak, he bent down and pressed his lips to hers. A hungry kiss, like she’d never been kissed before.

  Or maybe had, she couldn’t remember.

  She matched the heat his tongue and lips created when they met with hers. Their mouths moved together in what seemed to be a never ending dance. Her heart threatened to pound out of her chest when she felt his solid need pressed against her softness. A need that surely matched her own puddling desire. Feeling starved for the man, she pulled off her shirt and went for his zipper with no shame. Her lacey bra strap slipped from her shoulder. If she didn’t have him now, she would combust.

  He grabbed her hand to stop her. The pained look in his eyes worried her that he wasn’t going to give her what she needed.

  “Not like this. I want you so much it hurts, but I want you to want me because you remember that you love me. Not just because you’re upset and want to forget.”

  Anger ripped through her. How dare him get her all scorching, then pull away? Couldn’t he see how much she needed this? She glared at him before grabbing her shirt from the floor and storming to the bathroom, breathing so heavy the inhale and exhale of air was loud even to her own ears.

  ***

  Reid turned and punched the wall. Shit! He should have just kept his heart and brain out of it. It’s obvious she wasn’t interested in either of those parts of him anyway. He shook his hand. It wasn’t broken, but it was red and aching. He sighed and sat down on the bed. The woman really didn’t comprehend how much of a hold she had on him.

  Julianna walked out of the bathroom still glaring. “I’m leaving. I’m going to find Boss. I want out of all this.”

  Reid shook his head. “It’s not as easy as turning in a resignation. You belong to ETE 7. We both do. You need me to survive.” He should have known the deal was too sweet when he’d joined. Boss had lured him in by making him out to be some sort of hero. Told him that he’d be able to take justice into his own hands in one swift action, something mere law enforcement couldn’t accomplish. He’d always struggled to be a good man, do what was right. That was his chance and he’d taken it.

  She crossed her arms. “Fine. How do we unbelong?”

  He dragged his fingers through his hair. “We make the other members our next assignment. We have to eliminate them all. That’s the only way we’ll be free.”

  She nodded, not meeting his eyes.

  He reached out and grabbed her hand. It warmed him from the inside out. Fighting the aching need to pull her close and finish what they’d started, he let go of her. “We need to talk about what just happened.”

  Her face was blank. “You mean what almost happened. There’s nothing to talk about. Emotions get in the way of the job.”

  She was right. They were breaking rules not meant to be broken. At least not until they figured out what was going on.

  Chapter 5

  Julianna reached across the table and handed Reid a fortune cookie. He crushed the yellowish-orange shell, then read the strip of white paper aloud. If you want it… get it. Reid shrugged and smiled. He walked around the table and grabbed Julianna by her legs, lifting her up over his shoulder. Her hair hung a curtain over her face. Dizzy with laughter, the blood rushed to her head.

  Julianna bolted upright in bed and rubbed her eyes. Had the dream been just a dream or was it a memory? Her life was like a yard sale puzzle missing most of its pieces.

  Reid sat on the edge of the mattress. “Hey, sleeping beauty. You were laughing in your sleep.”

  She felt her face heat up. “I was?”

  He touched the tip of her nose as if nothing had happened between them.

  “Yeah, it was kind of cute.”

  Julianna forced herself to roll her eyes instead of smile. She wouldn’t tell him about her silly dream which is probably all it was. “Great, why were you watching me sleep?”

  “I wasn’t, but I did come over here when you started laughing. It was quite entertaining.”

  She tossed the covers aside and got up. “I’m so glad I could amuse you.” Exasperated, but also captivated with the man, she stomped into the bathroom to take a shower. As she took off her clothes she closed her eyes. She ached to feel the way she had in her dream. She wanted Reid. God help her she wanted him bad.

  ***

  Reid pulled the car up to 535 Union Ave, the address they’d found inside the file from the warehouse. High-power official types lived in the area. The magnificent brick home was nestled on a lush green lawn. The back was surrounded by a six-foot iron security fence. He turned the car around and parked down the street, a dozen houses down, just to be safe. The last thing they wanted was for Boss to spot them before they could get to him.

  Julianna narrowed her eyes. “You really think Boss is inside?”

  Reid gripped the steering wheel. “Let’s go find out.” He opened the car door. Julianna’s blood pressure had to be sky high. Never did she think she would confront Boss with anything. Now that the time had come she remembered that the man was scary. And he was an expert at erasing people. She followed Reid around the back of the property where a row of mature oaks with leaves just beginning to change orangish-red, provided privacy. The trees would serve as their way inside.

  “The fence isn’t electric. We can climb over easy enough.” He grabbed a hold of the lowest branch and hoisted himself up. He offered a hand to her, but she shook her head. She was used to working alone. They all were. She’d never met the other members of ETE 7. Only Reid because he’d been her handler.

  Julianna wrapped herself around the rough trunk and ascended into the mighty tree. When they were level with the top of the fence, Reid paused.

  Hugging a tree wasn’t the most comfortable thing to do. She started to slide so reached up and tightened her grip on the limb. Her hands were sure to have blisters. She grew impatient. “What are you waiting for?”

  He strained his neck from side to side. “Do you see any dogs?”

  Julianna crinkled her forehead and smirked. “You’re afraid of a little pooch?”

  “No,” he snapped. “I’m afraid of their little sharp teeth.”

  She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the big bad assassin afraid of Fido. “No, I don’t see any dogs.”

  Reid turned to her. “He doesn’t have much security outside. I just don’t want to be surprised. We need to be the only ones doing the surprising.”

  “Oh, I think he’ll be surprised. He would never expect a vis
it from us in broad daylight.”

  He mounted the roof of the potting shed. “Cocky SOB probably thinks he’s safe.”

  “I doubt it. He has to know that we’ll come after him.”

  They both jumped off the small structure onto the grass behind. The back of the house had a large wooden deck with gazebo attached. A flag pole stood tall and proud waving red, white and blue in the middle of the trimmed lawn. Clumps of red mums circled the base of the pole. Julianna followed close behind Reid. She didn’t mind letting him take the lead if this really was Boss’ residence.

  When they reached the house, the ruffled curtains were open giving them a view of the inside. The polished oak floors gleamed in the sunlight. The homes décor was Americana. A plaid blue sofa with a red and white quilt folded over the back faced the window they were looking through. In front of the sofa was a coffee table holding an oval candy dish. The place hardly fit the place Julianna had envisioned a man like Boss would live. Bat cave would have been closer to what she imagined. Something was off. The place read like a married couple lived there.

  Her suspicions proved correct when a short woman walked into the room and took a seat in the rocking chair next to the fireplace. The woman appeared to be in her late fifties, about the age she’d guessed Boss could be. Her white hair was cut into a short bob and she wore a wool sweater paired with unflattering blue pants. The woman took a thick book from the edge of the fireplace stoop and began reading. Julianna couldn’t make out the title. From the looks of the prude, it wasn’t a romance.

  Reid sighed and looked and Julianna. “This complicates things.”

  She nodded. “What are we going to do?”

  They pressed themselves against the brick facade. “We still have to get inside.”

  Julianna nodded. They were about to break another rule. Never go after your mark if a civilian could get hurt in the process. But what choice did they have? Their lives were on the line. Anyway the rules went out the window the moment Boss sent them to erase each other.

  Reid motioned her around to the side of the house. She sighed, hoping the woman’s book was so good she wouldn’t hear them breaking in. It was no surprise that all the windows were locked and armed with an alarm. If it was Boss’ alarm it would be impenetrable.

  Time for plan B.

  Julianna held up her hand, before Reid broke the glass. “I’ll provide a distraction, you get inside. I’ll ring the doorbell and make up something.”

  “No. That’s too dangerous, what if Boss is inside?”

  “I can manage just as well as you can.”

  He pressed his lips together. “I don’t like it.”

  “We don’t have a choice. If you break a window, she’ll hear. Then we have to deal with her, something I’m not comfortable with.”

  For a second he said nothing, then before she knew what was happening his lips were over hers. Almost visible sparks flew between their bodies. There was that feeling of home again, of belonging.

  He pulled away. “Be careful.”

  She brought her fingers to her lips and nodded, unable to speak. Reid disappeared around the side of the house, bringing her back to reality. She ran her fingers though her hair as she walked to the front of the house and onto the porch. Without knowing what she was going to say, she rang the doorbell. A few seconds later the curtain moved over a crack.

  “Yes?” the woman asked through the door.

  “Hi, have you seen a dog? Poochie got away from me and I thought I saw him in your yard.” Julianna pretended to look around.

  The woman opened the door. “I’ve been inside. I haven’t seen any dog.” She looked down on Julianna as if she were a homeless person. Julianna remembered what she must look like, no makeup, dressed in second-hand clothing.

  She did the one thing that might make the woman trust her or at least feel sorry for her. As if her life depended on it, Julianna started sobbing. “He’s all I have left.”

  A flash of annoyance lit up the woman’s eyes, before her face softened. “I’m sure you’ll find him.”

  Julianna sat down the porch and wrapped her arms around her middle, crying hysterically.

  The woman looked around as if she were afraid one of the neighbors may see the spectacle. “Come inside to calm down.” She tilted her head and studied Julianna’s face. “I’ll get you something hot to drink.”

  Julianna didn’t ease her crying, but she nodded and followed the woman inside.

  The house looked inviting from the outside, but the moment she stepped inside, she got a bad vibe she couldn’t put her finger on. She followed the lady back to the modern kitchen decorated in the same motif… red, white and blue.

  “Calm down, I’ll just put on some tea.” The woman turned her back to her and reached into the oak cabinet.

  “Thank you.”

  “Do you live in the area? I don’t remember seeing you before.”

  “No, I was visiting an old friend,” Julianna answered between fake sobs. The tea kettle whistled. As the woman was pouring their drinks into mugs, Julianna’s gut told her it was time to go.

  ***

  Julianna had the poor woman so worked up she hadn’t even locked the door behind them which allowed Reid to enter through the front door. Jewels had given an award-winning performance. He could still hear her faux crying in the kitchen.

  He rushed through the hallway with his gun cocked. The rooms were empty. His heart thumped harder inside his chest when he found a stairway that led to a basement. An office. The large area was just a nice as the rest of the house with high ceilings and recessed lighting. After he was sure the room was clear, he went to the desk and started yanking on drawers. Pens, pencils, notepads, paperclips—things one would expect to find in a typical office. The only thing that seemed odd was the travel-sized, rose scented hand lotion. Could be the wife’s or that the man just liked soft hands. Somehow he didn’t think Boss’ hands were smooth or smelled of flowers. He looked around for a file cabinet and saw none.

  Frustrated, he walked back over to the oak desk. There was a framed picture on top next to the computer. A man standing next to the woman upstairs. He looked familiar, but no way was he Boss. His eyes were a deep blue and Boss’ were hazel, also this man was thinner. The man’s image nagged at him. He’d seen his face before, but couldn’t place when or where.

  Reid sat down in the comfortable, brown leather chair. He opened the drawer again and ran his fingers underneath the wood, then along the back. Something was taped to the backside of the drawer. He removed the folded paper and opened it to reveal nothing more than phone number written in black ink. Excited, he jotted the number down. Then carefully replaced the paper exactly as he’d found it.

  Reid’s instinct told him to pick up the phone and dial the number, so he did. After two rings, Boss picked up. He’d recognize that rough voice anywhere. Without hesitation, Reid disconnected. Got you, you son of a bitch. He removed the cloth from his pocket. After he wiped away his prints from anything he’d touched, Reid made his way back upstairs.

  Too late. Julianna was already thanking the woman for her kindness. Before the woman could turn around, Reid headed toward the back door and made his quick exit.

  Julianna was waiting for him in the car. “It’s about time you joined me.”

  “Sorry, some of us didn’t get to waltz out of the front door. I had to climb over the fence.”

  She tossed her hair over her shoulder and grinned. “I was only joking. Did you find any black masks lying around?”

  “This isn’t Boss’ place if that’s what you are asking.”

  “I didn’t think so. What did you find?”

  Reid smirked and put the sedan in drive. He glanced at her. “We have Boss’ personal phone number.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “And what are we supposed to do with that? Call him and ask for a meeting, so he can finish what he started?”

  “No, but we are going to get his location.” He couldn’t wait to confron
t the SOB. He’d taken so much from him. It was payback time.

  “How?”

  He shrugged. “Weasel can track him for us.”

  Julianna frowned. “Isn’t his debt paid now? He may refuse to help you.”

  “Yes, but if I come bearing gifts, I’m sure he wouldn’t turn me away.” He put his arm around her. “Especially, if I show up with a hot chick.”

  ***

  Julianna stood behind Reid as Weasel opened the basement apartment door wearing dark jeans and a black ctrl+alt+delete T-shirt. His shaggy hair didn’t look any more combed than that last time. Then again, hers probably didn’t either. She really needed to get her hands on a brush.

  Reid held up the extra large meat lovers’ pizza a cold six pack of Mountain Dew. “Hungry?”

  Weasel looked from the pizza box to Julianna and grinned like he’d just won the Maryland Lotto. “Always.” He stepped aside and motioned them in. The laundry pile was smaller this time, but empty food containers still littered the room. The kid took his arm and swiped away the trash and then pulled out a chair for Julianna. “I didn’t expect to ever see you two again.”

  Reid opened the box and helped himself to a slice. “We need your help. Eat, then we’ll talk.”

  The kid grabbed a piece of pizza and nodded. From the look on his face, one would think the kid didn’t have any friends. But she didn’t either. She had more in common with this computer geek than she would have guessed.

  Julianna picked up her dinner and took a cautious bite. There was enough processed meat and greasy cheese on one slice to give someone a heart attack, but darn if it didn’t taste good. She leaned back in her chair and took in her surroundings. The colorful posters of make believe heroes did brighten the otherwise glum walls. Her eyes darted to the floor. Something was different that last time she’d been here. “I see you cleaned up.” She motioned to the small mound of laundry.

  Weasel swallowed and nodded. “My mom.” He grinned and took another huge bite.

  Julianna started to open her mouth to speak, but Reid gave her a warning look. They were here asking for help. She had to be nice. The kid was kind of growing on her anyway. He was harmless really, at least physically. She was a little frightened of the damage he could do with his mind.