by Anna Blakely
“Where the hell have you been?” Mike shot out of his chair.
“Relax.” Lopez walked over to him. Pulling a set of keys from his jacket pocket, he tucked the folder under one arm and motioned for Mike’s hands. “Let’s get those off of you.”
“Don’t tell me to fucking relax. I’ve been sitting in here for over an hour.” He lifted his bound wrists toward the other man. “Where’s Jules?”
Releasing the cuffs, Lopez pocketed both them and the keys before giving Mike the shirt. “Juliet Farrow has been taken into federal custody.”
“Why?” Mike put his arms through the sleeves and pulled the shirt over his head. “I told you a thousand times, she’s not part of her father’s business.”
“Maybe not, but she knows several players who are. Both brothers, included.”
“Bullshit.”
Lopez handed him the folder. “This is a list of names associated with Alexandar Volkov’s illegal dealings. The Feds have reason to believe your girlfriend possesses intel on at least one of the names on that list. Possibly more.”
“Jules isn’t my girlfriend.” Mike flipped opened the folder and began scanning the list of names. Having worked the Volkov case for nearly a year, now, he recognized most of them immediately.
“Of course, she isn’t. She’s Jay Reynolds’ girlfriend, and you and I both know he doesn’t actually exist. But you know who does?” Lopez, the fucker, paused for dramatic effect. “Special Agent Michael Bradshaw. You happen to see him around? Tall guy, shaggy beard, tats that probably drive all the girls wild...”
Asshole.
“You should get your eyes checked, then, because I’ve been here the whole time.”
“Have you? Because lately, I feel like I’ve been dealing with an angry, overprotective boyfriend rather than an undercover agent in charge of bringing down the leader of the worst Russian mob syndicate to ever hit the U.S.”
“I’ve done my job, Ben.” Mike shut the folder and slapped it against the man’s chest. “I’ve gotten you closer to Volkov than any other agent to date.”
“Closer, yes. But the man’s not behind bars just yet.”
“You said Mikhail agreed to talk.”
“He did.”
“Then what do you need Jules for?”
“Corroboration.”
“For what? Jesus, man. I’ve told you, she—”
“Knows more than she’s led you to believe.”
“Bullshit. Her mother left Volkov when Jules was still a teenager. They moved to a small town just outside Kansas City. She told me all about it.”
“Yeah? Did Jules also happen to mention the secret trips she took to Vegas without her mother’s knowledge?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“According to her brother, after Juliet graduated high school, she started visiting Alexandar. She knew her mother would never allow it, so she lied. Claimed to go away for a school function or a girls’ weekend away. The story was always different, but there was at least one trip to Vegas every summer. And, according to Mikhail, each of those trips were spent with her father. Not with a bunch of sorority sisters, like Juliet told her mother.”
“Mikhail’s probably just saying that shit so he’s not alone in the Let’s Bring Daddy Down plan.” Chickenshit bastard.
“Possible, but unlikely.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because when Mikhail told us about his sister coming to visit, he did so as a bargaining chip.”
A what? “You’re not making any sense, Ben. So she lied to her mom about going to see her dad. Even if that’s true, it was a long damn time ago. And it’s only natural for a daughter to want to spend time with her father.”
Especially if that daughter didn’t understand the kind of man her father truly was.
“Mikhail agreed to turn state’s evidence against his father and older brother, but only if we could guarantee his sister’s safety.”
“Why does he think Jules wouldn’t be safe?”
“Same reason you were able to convince him to keep you close to her in the first place. To protect her from possible backlash by her father or Ivan. Or both.”
Mike ran a hand over his beard. Three months ago, he’d been with Mikhail, still trying to turn him, when his sister had stopped by unexpectedly.
At the time, Mikhail was still wavering on whether or not to testify against their father. Mike, along with the other agents on the joint task force trying to bring Volkov down, had worked too damn long and too damn hard to risk losing this one. For him, Juliet was another way in.
So, after she left Mikhail’s place that day, Mike had gotten him to believe his sister needed protection.
It hadn’t taken much coaxing to get the other man to agree, and once they came up with a plausible story about one of their father’s enemies making threats, Mikhail had convinced Juliet to let Mike hang out with her. Just as a bodyguard of sorts.
The plan was a win-win for Mike and had made the higher-ups extremely happy. Mikhail was even more convinced than ever that Mike was on his side, and he also had an in that allowed him to determine whether or not Juliet was more than the sweet, innocent sister Mikhail claimed her to be.
It took less than a day for Mike to realize she was nothing like her father. Or her brothers.
“I pulled that shit about Alexandar and Ivan going after Jules out of my ass, and you know it,” Mike reminded Lopez. “I only said that to get close to her. See if she knew anything...which, as I’ve been pretty clear about, she doesn’t.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Lopez shrugged. “She lived in the same house as the man until she was fifteen. She could’ve learned a hell of a lot in that time. Add to that, Juliet’s secret visits to her dad when she got older, all taking place during the time in which his business took off, by the way, all bring me back to this.” Lopez held up the folder.
Fuck. “You think she may have seen or overheard something during her visits to her father. Something involving one of the men on that list?” Mike shook his head. “If Jules had witnessed her father or brother participating in anything nefarious, she would’ve said something.”
“Jesus Christ, Bradshaw.” The guy looked at him as if he’d lost his damn mind. “Stop thinking with your dick for two seconds. The woman’s father is a big dog with the Russian mob, for Christ’s sake. You think she’s just gonna pick up the phone and spill her guts to a random nine-one-one operator?”
“No, asshole. But she would’ve told me.”
“Why? Because you’re banging her? Give me a fucking break.” Lopez tossed the folder onto the table. “You said she hasn’t seen or spoken to her father in years. Why do you think that is?”
Bastard.
“I’m not saying she’s not aware of what Volkov does for a living, Ben. What I’m saying is, she wanted no part of that life. That’s why she cut herself off from him.”
Lopez refused to back down. “Question is, did she cut herself off because she finally understood what her father was and what he did for a living, or because she witnessed something horrific and couldn’t stand the thought of being around him anymore after that?”
“She said they grew apart. And I believe her.”
“Because, and I return to my earlier assessment, you’re thinking with the little head in your pants instead of the one on your neck.”
“I’ve stuck this neck out for you and your agency for ten fucking years, Ben. I’ve given my life to the CIA, and to you. You’ve trusted me on every op, and I’ve come through for you every single time, so why the hell can’t you trust me, now?”
“Because you’ve made this one personal.” The agent got up in his face. “I’m not stupid, Mike. You love this woman. I can see it in your eyes every goddamn time you say her name.”
He didn’t deny it. “She. Doesn’t. Know. Anything.”
Taking a deep breath and a step back, Lopez ran his fingers through his hair before resting both of his han
ds on his hips. “Do you remember what you said when you called to tell me about your little bodyguard assignment idea?” When Mike didn’t respond, the agent proceeded. “I do. You told me she might be a way in. That there was a good chance she knew all about her father’s dealings. That she may even be able to give up some names. Your words, Mike. Remember?”
Yeah, he fucking remembered. “So?”
“So it was a good call. One the prosecutors want to pursue in a more formal capacity.”
Sonofabitch. “You do realize now that you’ve brought both Juliet and her brother in, it’s only a matter of time before her father finds out. What do you think Volkov will do when that happens, Ben?”
“I imagine he’s going to assume they’re both giving him up. Hence the protection part I tried explaining earlier. If you’re right about Juliet and she knows nothing about her father’s illegal business, then great. We can use Mikhail’s testimony, along with information you’ve gathered, to put Volkov away for good. After that, your girlfriend will be free and clear to go on as if nothing ever happened.”
“That’s great, except, even if Jules doesn’t testify under oath, her father is still going to be suspicious. He’ll always wonder if she turned on him, too. When guys like Alexandar Volkov get suspicious...” People die. “Goddamn it!” Mike locked his hands behind his head and blew out a breath. “How long until she leaves?”
“She’s already gone, brother. Witness Protection took her twenty minutes before I got here. She’s been assigned a new name and a new city to live in. A member of the federal prosecutor’s team will question her on the plane. Determine if there’s anything there to work with. Either way, Juliet will have twenty-four-hour protection until after her father’s trial.”
“And when will that be?”
“Judge hasn’t set a date yet, but he’s expected to within the next few days. In the meantime...” Lopez pulled a white envelope from his jacket’s inner pocket and held it out.
“What’s this?”
The other man smiled. “Your walking papers. Of course, you’ll have to stay tonight and give your official statement. Plus, you’ll most likely be called to testify, although that will be behind closed doors to protect your alias, just in case. But yeah...it’s over, kid.”
Mike’s pulse spiked as he ripped open the envelope and pulled the single-page letter free. Scanning it quickly, he realized the man was telling the truth. After ten years of trudging through the shitholes of hell hidden deep in this country’s dark crevices, the CIA had declared him to be a civilian.
The letter went on to explain the backstory behind Mike’s “death” to the outside world, but none of it resonated with him because all he could think of was...
I’m free.
“See? I told you you’d be home for your sister’s wedding. Which reminds me.” Lopez handed him a second envelope. “First-class ticket to Dallas-Ft. Worth. Your flight leaves at eleven a.m. tomorrow.”
I’m going home.
Ben slapped a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “You did good, Mike. Real good. I know it’s been a long time coming. Much longer than any of us could have anticipated.” He held out that same hand. “But on behalf of the CIA, the President, and the entire country, thank you for your service.”
Mike didn’t know what to say, so he shook the man’s hand in silence. His long-term, deep cover gig was officially over, which meant he finally had his life back. A life he’d given up ten years prior in order to make the world a safer place.
A life that doesn’t include Jules.
He knew he should be happy. Ecstatic, even. But in that moment, a part of him wished he could stay Jay Reynolds forever.
****
Chapter 1
Present day...
“I’m out.” Mike tossed his cards face-down onto the table.
“Again?” Jake McQueen, Mike’s boss and brother-in-law frowned. “That’s what, four in a row you’ve folded?”
“Give or take.”
Derek, his new team’s technical analyst, collected the discarded pile and set it to the side. “Oh, I’m happy to take, brother.” The former SEAL grinned. “In fact, I’m perfectly fine takin’ your money all night long.”
“Pretty sure you’ve been taking all our money tonight, dickhead,” Coop muttered unhappily as he threw down his own hand.
Derek shrugged. “Not my fault y’all suck at Three Card.”
Staying in the game, Trevor Matthews—Alpha Team’s medic and second in command—tossed a few more chips into the growing pile in the center of the table. “Night’s still young, West. I wouldn’t go running that big mouth of yours too soon.”
“Matthews is right,” Grant Hill—the biggest and from what Mike had observed so far, the most stoic member of the team—glanced down at his hand before finally deciding to stick it out, as well. “And you’d better not be doing that counting cards bullshit you tried pulling last time.”
“I’d listen to the big guy, if I were you,” Coop recommended. “Dude’s a former SEAL and an explosives expert. You screw Grant over, he’ll probably turn that little car of yours into a fireworks display.”
“I was a SEAL, too, asshole.” Derek shot Coop a look as he dealt out the requested cards. “And any of you fuckers touch my Challenger, I’ll steal your identities and give them to some jagoff in some third-world country. I’m sure they could use the money.”
“And on that note...” Jake smirked as he stood.
Grant glanced up at their boss. “You out for good?”
“Nah.” Jake shook his head. “Just getting another beer. Anyone else need one?”
“I could use one, Boss.” Coop held up his near-empty bottle.
“Me, too.” Derek grabbed his and chugged what was left of his.
Trevor swished his bottle around and nodded. “Make that three.”
“I’ll go with you.” Mike stood. “Besides, I’ve lost enough money to West for one night.”
Derek held out his hands and grinned. “Don’t hate me ’cause you ain’t me, brother. Hey!” He ducked when a couple of the guys threw pretzels at the smartass.
Mike chuckled as he walked into the kitchen. Grabbing the bottle opener, he began opening the beers as Jake handed them to him. The sound of light laughter pulled his attention away.
Across the room, the women were all gathered around Lillian Rose, Mike’s six-month-old niece. Olivia—Mike’s little sister and Jake’s wife—was sitting on the rug in front of the large, stone fireplace. She was playing peek-a-boo with her young daughter, who was giggling up a storm every time her momma uncovered her eyes.
Mike’s heart swelled at the sight.
“They’re something else, aren’t they?” Jake stood beside him.
“Yeah.” Mike nodded with a smile. “They’re something, all right.”
Every time he looked at Olivia, Mike felt a mixture of guilt and gratefulness. Guilt for having let his little sister—and everyone he’d ever cared about—believe he was dead in order to go off and save the world. Grateful because, despite having done that, his sister had forgiven him, welcoming him back with open arms.
He also felt grateful as hell for the man standing next to him. If it hadn’t been for Jake, they would’ve lost Olivia two years ago to the hands of a madman. And if that had happened, little Lillian Rose wouldn’t be here, either.
The little girl giggled, causing the other women around her to follow suit, and a sudden flash of a different child entered his mind’s eye. Another young girl with jet black hair and crystal blue eyes.
Just like Juliet’s.
Somewhere along the way, intertwined with his memories and lifelong regrets, Mike’s mind had created her. She wasn’t real, but God, he wished she was.
“Knock that shit off, Bradshaw,” Jake practically growled in his ear.
“What?”
“You know what. Jesus, man. You’ve been back almost two years. Forget about that shit, already. I know she has.”
; His heart thumped hard against his chest, and it took Mike a second to realize Jake was talking about his sister and the guilt he still felt for having left her. Of course, the guy wasn’t talking about Juliet. He didn’t even know she existed.
None of them did.
There’d been a few times since he’d been back when Mike had been tempted to tell his brother-in-law about her. Times when it was just the two of them shooting the shit over a cold beer and a warm fire. But just thinking her name was hard enough.
Saying it out loud? Forget it.
She had a different life, now. One she’d never be able to share with him, because she only knew him as Jay Reynolds. An alias he’d given up the day he’d walked away.
Not that he hadn’t thought about looking her up. Just to check on her and make sure she was okay.
Mike glanced over at Derek who was giving the other guys shit while collecting his most recent winnings. If anyone could find her, it would be him. Of that, he had no doubt.
The guy was insanely smart, and when it came to computers and searching for data and intel, there was no one better for the job. Still, Mike hadn’t asked D to find Juliet. What would be the point?
According to Ben Lopez, Mike’s former handler, both her father and her older brother had been tried and convicted of sex trafficking and several other heinous crimes he’d committed during his reign with the Russian mob. All thanks to the testimony of Volkov’s youngest son.
If Juliet was smart—which she was—she would’ve kept the false identity the Feds had given to her while in their protective custody and used it to reinvent herself completely.
That’s what Mike would’ve done if he were her. Hell, he had reinvented himself...several times over. But now, even though he was back home, close to his sister and working alongside the friend he’d known since elementary school, part of him still felt...lost.
“Earth to Mike. Hey.” Jake nudged his shoulder. “You okay?”
He blinked, snapping out of the self-torturous haze. “Huh? Yeah.” Mike forced a smile. “Sorry.”
With a knowing stare, Jake asked, “Old ghosts coming back to visit?”