“Did you know you wanted that with Spencer right away?” I missed most of their falling in love, being abducted and all.
“Aside from the brief period when I suspected he was a serial killer, yeah. He made me feel the way I imagine you’re feeling right now, and it didn’t take me long to know that I could love him and build a future with him. But every love story is unique, Em, and what’s true for me may not be true for you.”
“So, I’m not crazy.”
“Well . . . I didn’t say that.” We chuckled and finished dinner, which we ate out on the back deck with the guys. Camden’s eyes found mine several times. I offered him a small smile so he would see I wasn’t mad, even though I still was a little. I just wasn’t so mad that I didn’t still want things to be okay between us. I wanted him to know that when all this was over, I was going to be waiting for him so we could talk. Or not talk, depending on how quickly I could get him out of his clothes.
After dinner, he disappeared again, taking Cash with him. Nora and I settled in the living room with a chick flick on the TV. When the first one ended, another one was starting and so we stayed where we were, until eventually we were both struggling to keep our eyes open. Spencer appeared to drag Nora up to bed. I told myself I’d just finish the movie and then go too.
I awoke sometime later when Spencer came back downstairs. I was curled up on the sofa, covered by the soft throw that had been laid over the back of the couch. The movie that had been playing was over and an old re-run of a cop show was on. The house was dark and quiet.
“You should get some sleep,” Spencer said softly as he passed through the living room. I sat up, shrugging off the blanket, and looked around. I reached for my phone on the coffee table to check the time. It was nearly one-thirty. Nora had gone up to bed just after eleven. I didn’t know where the other guys were, but I imagined lurking around the house, taking turns catching a few hours’ rest.
I was tired and the big, soft bed upstairs was calling to me, but sleeping in it without Camden wouldn’t be the same. He had to come in for sleep sometime. I’d just rest a few more minutes on the couch. I curled up on my side, pulling the blanket over me and closed my eyes.
Twenty-Five
Camden
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could avoid going inside. Stiffness was creeping into my body from lack of movement. I’d been bunched up in this chair for nearly an hour. Hadn’t even made the rounds. All was quiet, Cash and Kota lay at my feet, at least until two minutes ago. Even they got fed up and went back inside. My watch was almost over. Spencer would be relieving me any time, and then what reason would I have to put off going inside? I was avoiding the girl sleeping on the couch. I knew I’d be too tempted to drag her upstairs to my bed.
On my last bathroom break I hadn’t been able to stay away from the living room. I’d wanted to carry her up to bed then, instead I’d simply covered her and left her there, curled on the couch. But I knew I wouldn’t leave her there all night.
“Man, you need to get some sleep or you’ll be worthless to everyone, including Emily.” Spencer stepped outside, dragging me from my thoughts. Hopefully he’d rested some in the few hours since he’d gone upstairs with Nora. With the two of them it was doubtful.
“I’m not tired,” I muttered.
“Bullshit, if I had waited another ten minutes to come out here, you’d be passed out in that chair.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not, but I get it.” He dropped into another chair. “I lived through not knowing if Nora was alive or dead, if I’d get her back. Not knowing what that sick bastard was doing to her. It was hell.”
“Then you understand why I won’t risk it.”
“Brother, the house is covered. Every inch of this place is wired up. Nikoli, James and I have your back, and there are two agents parked up the road.” I hadn’t capitulated on the safe-house, but after the pictures, I wanted more assurance for Emily’s sake. A call to Captain Richards and he’d set up with the feds to have two of theirs sitting on the place as well. “We’ll get them. You should take your girl upstairs and catch at least an hour or two of sleep.”
Before I could tell him that wasn’t going to happen, smoke rose over the trees in the distance, the smell of it already reaching us on the back porch.
“What the –”
“That’s the Fields’ place.” I jumped up the same time Spencer unclipped the radio from his belt – we were geared up all official – and called to James and Nikoli, who appeared only moments later. Even though it was clear they’d been pulled from sleep, they were both dressed and alert.
“Two of us need to go check out the fire and see if anyone needs help. Two should stay, and also, call in the agents down the road, get them up here to the house,” Spencer took command and barked the same orders I would have given. “Nikoli, you and I will go check it out. That leaves you two here.”
The door to the deck slid open and a sleepy Emily stuck her head out, Cash and Kota on her heels, whining. “What’s going on? Is that smoke?”
Before I could reassure her that everything was going to be fine, Spencer placed his hand on her shoulder. “Em, I need you to upstairs and wake Nora. The two of you stay up there until one of us comes to get you. Could be nothing, but we don’t know that.”
Wide eyed, she jerked her head toward me. I nodded that she should listen to Spencer and then she spun around and hurried back inside.
“Everyone good?” Spencer asked.
James and I nodded. I was already putting the call into Agents Deugan and Cooley. My brother and Markov took off cautiously toward the Fields property.
“I’ll sweep the front and keep an eye on things out there until your feds show up.” He had a piece strapped to his hip and over his shoulder hung a long black case.
“Take Kota,” I indicated. “They’ve both been through the police K-9 training.”
James didn’t hesitate to call Kota to his side and the two of them slipped quietly through the dark around the house. Cash was alert and pacing the deck.
“What is it boy?” I scanned the back of the property, at least what was illuminated by the single light mounted on the back of the house. I unclipped the holster at my side and listened for my brother’s voice to come over the radio once they’d made it to the source of the smoke still billowing up over the trees.
Five minutes that felt like ten passed before the report of a barn fire came over the radio. The fire department was on their way but Spencer and Nikoli were attempting to help get the horses out. At this point it wasn’t clear what, or who, started the fire. My gut said the blaze was set intentionally. With Cash on my heels, I crept quietly off the deck. All of my senses were on high alert. Keeping my voice low, I relayed my movements to James so I wouldn’t get shot for creeping up on him.
When I rounded the front of the house from the opposite direction he’d gone in, he was there waiting.
“I’m going to take a perch on top of the barn.” He patted the rifle case still hanging over his shoulder.
“I’ll continue to sweep down here.” I kept both dogs at my side while James hurried off to take up his new position. I hoped it was all for nothing and that we would all laugh about our midnight G.I. Joe operation in the morning. Barns caught fire sometimes. As hot and dry as it had been all summer, it was entirely likely that’s all this was, but the unsettled feeling churning in my gut wouldn’t abate.
I kept to the shadows while I waited for the sound of tires on gravel to signal the arrival of the feds, but it never came. When I tried to put another call in, it went unanswered. Next call I placed was to the department. They’d already been alerted to the fire, but I let them know it might be more than that and got a couple cars on their way out here.
“Look alert James,” I spoke into the radio after I’d hung up. “Seems something’s happened to the good agents. Can’t reach them. Alternate backup is en-route, but a good fifteen minutes out.”
�
�That’s a big ten-four on that,” came through a moment later. “In position, locked and loaded, itching for a little target practice.”
“Fire will be on the scene any time here and then we’ll be headed back your way little brother, hang tight,” the radio crackled with Spencer’s voice.
Thinking of the girls inside, probably anxious as hell, not knowing what was going on, I brought the radio to my mouth. “Going to do a check inside on the girls.”
Leaving Kota and Cash to stand watch downstairs, I took the steps two at a time and found the door to Spence and Nora’s room shut. I rapped my knuckles against the wood, knowing full well Nora was probably armed in there. “Just me coming in,” I said before I pushed the door open.
At first glance the dark room appeared empty. Both girls were crouched on one side of the room, in front of the closet. Like I’d suspected, Nora had a small handgun in full line of sight of the door.
“Don’t shoot,” I raised my hands in the air.
Nora let out a shaky chuckle and lowered the weapon to the floor.
“You two holding up alright?” I walked over to the window and drew back the curtain, taking a quick look outside. There was nothing to see, at least not that my eyes picked up in the dark.
“What’s going on Camden, where’s Spencer?” Nora’s voice was strained with worry.
“Neighbor’s barn caught fire. He and Nikoli are assisting until the fire department shows up, which should be soon.”
“A fire? Accidental?”
“Don’t know yet,” I told her truthfully. “Maybe not, which is why I need you two stay in here, stay down and stay quiet.”
“Spencer said there were two agents watching the place, are they here?”
I shook my head and left it at that. I didn’t want them panicking any more than I could already see they were. “It’s going to be fine, but if it’s not, don’t hesitate to pull that trigger Nora, anyone you don’t recognize comes through that door without identifying themselves.”
Nora acknowledged my order with a nod, and I knew she wouldn’t hesitate. Like Emily, she’d been through a lot and had come out stronger. Unlike Emily though, she knew the strength was there. Emily was still finding hers, but I’d seen it the last few days and I could see it in her eyes now when I let myself steal a long look.
She was scared, but she wasn’t falling apart. I knelt down and withdrew the pistol from my ankle holster. “Here, you should take this,” I held it out to her.
At first, she shook her head. “No, you should have it.”
“It’s only a backup piece, Em. I’ve still got two on me. You take it, and like I told Nora, don’t be afraid to shoot if it comes down to it.”
She reluctantly took the small weapon from me and knowledgeably clicked the safety off.
I wanted to say something else to take some of that fear out of her eyes. Maybe even steal a kiss and take her in my arms for a minute. Make sure she knew I would never let anything happen to her, but before I got the chance, Cash and Kota started howling downstairs.
In the next instant I was on my feet again and on the radio. “You got anything out there James? Cash and Kota just started going nuts in here.”
“Yeah, I can hear them. Might have been movement in the trees on the east side of the house, but I can’t be sure. I’ve got nothing in my sights now with the house blocking that side. Want me to check it out?” That was the kitchen side, opposite side the barn sat on.
“No, you stay where you are. I’ll check, but be ready.”
“On our way to you guys now,” came my brother’s voice next. “I’ll approach from the north and Nikoli from the south.”
“I’ll just be up here waiting for an invitation to join the party on the ground,” James responded, inflecting a bit of resentment at being left out into his voice.
“Ah, don’t pout Raynes, I’ll buy you an ice cream when this is over and next time I’ll let you run into the burning barn.”
“Careful on your approach, Markov, I’d hate to mistake you for one of the bad guys and accidentally shoot you, but all you Russians look the same to me.”
Nikoli’s chuckle came over the radio and I gave an amused shake of my head at the girls who were listening to every word. I knelt down again in front of Emily and grabbed her arm, gently tugging her to me, so I could drop a swift kiss on her forehead.
“I’ll be right back,” I promised before hurriedly slipping from the room and making my way back downstairs. The dogs were still losing their shit in the back half of the house.
Leaving them inside with the girls, I snuck out the front door, sparing a quick glance at the barn where I could just barely make out James’ shadow on the shallower slope of the gambrel roof. Anyone who didn’t know he was up there would have a hard time picking him out under the low, almost non-existent, light of the thin moon hanging in the sky.
I gave him a wave to signal I was going around the side of the house where I would be out of his sight. With careful steps and eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, I slipped around the corner of the garage and along the side of the house toward the kitchen at the back.
The dogs had quieted inside, but instinct told me there was someone out here besides me.
“Yo, looks like you got a big Russian raccoon slinking through the trees in the back, southwest corner, and I don’t think it’s Markov,” the soft crackle of James’ voice over the radio broke the near silence.
“Not me, but I’m nearly there,” Nikoli fired back.
“I think I’ll go invite him in for coffee. Nikoli be ready in case he declines my invitation and bolts.” I raised my weapon to the ready and worked my way to the tree line so I could come at him from the southeast.
The radios were dead silent as Nikoli and I both worked our way closer. I caught the movement about six yards ahead of me when a bulky figure emerged from behind a tree, his back to my position. His eyes were on the house and he just started toward it when I took another step, opening up the shot better and then raised my gun.
“I wouldn’t take another step if I were you,” I growled.
The large figure froze and started to turn.
“Ah, ah, ah, toss that gun in your hand asshole or I’ll pull the trigger before you even get a look at my face.”
“I don’t need to see your face to know it’s you, pig,” he spat through a heavy Russian accent, but he was at least smart enough to toss the gun.
“Turn slowly.”
He did and I approached cautiously. The brush rustled and out of the corner of my eye I caught more movement coming through the trees. Before I could turn my gun on whoever it was, Nikoli announced himself.
“Did I miss all the fun?”
The Russian dirt bag I recognized as Grigory Vasili, one of Alexei’s thugs, thought I was distracted by Nikoli’s appearance and attempted to use the moment to his advantage by charging me. Instead of catching me off guard, he caught my elbow to his throat. He went down to his knees, sucking in air.
Nikoli joined me, standing over the piece of garbage with his gun trained on him. Before we could decide what to do with him, a shot rang out in the opposite direction. Nikoli reacted swiftly, slamming the butt of his gun down on Grigory’s head. He went out and crumpled.
“Go,” Nikoli insisted. “I’ll restrain this idiot and be right behind you.”
I didn’t hesitate and headed cautiously in the direction the shot had been fired, reaching for my radio. “Who was that?”
A second later Spencer responded. “Fucker almost got the drop on me, but he’s down now. Was my shot you heard. I’m almost back to the house, dragging this shithead with me.”
“Nikoli and I got one down around back too.”
“How many of these fuckers do you think there are?” came James’ question.
“Don’t know, you recognize the one you tagged Spence?”
“Negative, it’s not Lenkov or Kuznetsov.”
“I guarantee that fucker Lenkov is h
ere somewhere. Nikoli, Spence, make sure your guys are out of commission and then keep sweeping. James, keep your eyes open as well.”
“On it.”
“You got it.”
Twenty-Six
Emily
“Was that a gunshot?” I knew it was and yet I hoped Nora would tell me I was mistaken.
She didn’t. She simply nodded.
I tightened my grip on the gun in my hand and kept my eyes glued to the closed bedroom door. The dogs had stopped barking not long after Camden had gone back out. Having them still inside was only slightly reassuring. Not knowing where Camden was or who had fired a shot left me feeling sick. Every awful scenario playing out in my head only added to the twisted feeling in my gut.
A whole new kind of fear took over when a slow scraping sound followed by a soft thud came from one of the rooms across the hall. It sounded like Camden’s room. I almost hadn’t even heard it over my own breathing. Nora and I jerked our heads toward each other, her eyes flashed a reflection of my own fear.
Neither one of us dared to move or even let out a breath. We trained our guns on the door and waited. I strained my ears to hear any noise out in the hall, but the only sound I could pick up was the pounding of my own heart as it pumped blood through my body at an accelerated rate. My chest constricted and it felt like my throat was closing up. It took every ounce of strength in my body to keep the gun from shaking wildly in my hands.
Then I heard it. The brush of a door over carpet and then soft footsteps on the hardwood in the hall. Someone was upstairs and if the noises we’d heard were any indication, they’d come through the window in Camden’s bedroom. It was the one that opened up closest to the garage roof which was lower than the rest of the house.
Tears of Blue (Shades of Death Book 2) Page 21