“When you’re in love sometimes you react before thinking.” Wiz leaned back in his seat as if speaking from experience. “I’m sure at the time she thought she was doing what she had to. She thought you were in danger and nothing else mattered.”
Quinn released a deep sigh and sank into the chair across from Alandra. For the last few days he’d racked his brain trying to understand why she sought him out in Tzbekystan and how she survived a bullet to the chest. He shook his head. If it weren’t for actually being there when she was gunned down and seeing the scar on her chest the other night, he wouldn’t have believed it. She was a walking miracle.
“Whoever is behind this went to great lengths to get her to Tzbekystan.” Malik continued pacing, repeating bits and pieces of Alandra’s story aloud. “They had to know where she was in Miami in order to leave a plane ticket.”
“But how?” Wiz chimed in.
Quinn rubbed his eyes. “Someone had to be tracking her.”
“The caller told her Quinn risked his life for her,” Malik said but stopped and turned to Quinn, and then Cameron as realization dawned on him. “…by going to Guerrero.”
“Wouldn’t you do the same for him, if he were in trouble….” Quinn’s voice trailed off after repeating the words Alandra told them the caller said. He leaned forward in his seat, his hands over his face.
“Oh crap,” Wiz stood and planted his hands palm down on his desk. “There are only a handful of people who knew you went to Mexico to get her.”
“Our hit list just got shorter.” Malik perched on the corner of the desk, his muscular arms folded across his chest. “The person who called has connections to one of us, the CIA, or Guerrero. And since we know none of us said anything to anyone—”
Quinn stood slowly. “That leaves someone connected to the CIA or worse…Guerrero.”
Chapter Eleven
Quinn ran his hands down his face. The CIA, they could handle, but anything involving Guerrero only reminded him of how many possible loose ends were left dangling when he rescued Alandra years ago. Sure, Orlando Medina was dead, as well as his key people, but Los Hermanos ran deep. Who knew how many more players were involved or how many more shops were set up. He’d been careful getting in and out of Coyuca de Catalan, but it was possible he hadn’t been careful enough.
“This shit might not be about Alandra,” Quinn whispered. “What if someone was trying to get to me?”
“And what better way? Take away the one thing you love most,” Wiz mumbled. He ran his fingers across his computer keyboard, typing faster than Quinn could think.
When Quinn heard Alandra was dead, it was as if someone had reached into his chest, latched on to his heart and ripped it out. Whoever was behind this knew how to get to him, knew he and Alandra were involved, and knew how to tear his world apart.
“Never leave loose ends,” Malik muttered the mantra they often used on their missions. He roamed around the large space rubbing his head. “Never leave frickin’ loose ends!”
“Man chill,” Wiz barked, but lowered his voice when Alandra stirred. “I doubt Los Hermanos is behind this. Their organization took a nose-dive after the senior Medina was killed, and when Q took out Orlando, it knocked their legs from under them. It’s not them.”
“I don’t think so either.” Quinn walked over to a narrow window and looked out into the dark. “Whoever orchestrated this mess had crazy power, deep pockets—”
“And government connections,” Malik added. “How else would they know about the op in Tzbekystan? But with that said, I don’t think we should rule out Los Hermanos.”
“I’m telling you, Malik,” Wiz walked around his desk. “They never fully recovered after Q blew up that warehouse in Coyuca de Catalan. And the nail that sealed the coffin was when authorities connected the group to several states from Ohio to Texas, shutting them all down. So if the person responsible for all of this is connected to Los Hermanos they’re probably dead or behind bars.”
“Nah, that would be too damn easy,” Malik grumbled and pushed away from the desk. “I’m going to take a leak.”
Malik walked out of the office and Quinn moved back to the sofa where Alandra slept. He stood over her wondering if she had gone through hell these past few years because of him, because of something he did, or someone he pissed off. He would never forgive himself if he brought this on her.
Anger gripped him like a vice-grip securing two pieces of metal together. “I want the bastards who took her from me.” He moved closer to the desk. “I don’t care what it takes, how much money it costs, I want to bring down every motherfucker who had a hand in this, and I want them to pay with their life.”
“We’ll find them.” Wiz nudged him in the shoulder. “But, man, you gotta keep your head. You losing control and going half-cocked after these SOBs ain’t gonna help nobody.”
Wiz’s hand dropped to the desk and several items fell to the carpet. “Well, I’ll be damn.” He lifted Sarah’s book from the floor and removed a brown paper pouch that was sticking out of the top of the binding. He pulled it all the way out and a key with a key tag fell into his hand.
A small smile lifted Quinn’s lips. “That’s probably the best news I’ve gotten all day.” Wiz handed him the key and he turned it over in his hands a few times, looking for any additional clues. Public Stor. - S. Capitol St. 25476 #322 was the only thing written on the tag.
“Why is this good news? You don’t even know where the unit is located.”
Quinn gave the key back. “No, but you didn’t get the nickname Wiz for nothing. I have no doubt you’ll find it.”
Wiz chuckled. “I appreciate the confidence, my brotha.”
“I just thought of something.” Malik said without preamble when he strolled back into the office with a bag of peanuts. “I propose you two come out of the closet,”
“What?” Quinn glared at him.
“I’m not talking about you two fool. I’m talking about you and Alandra. Let people know that not only is she alive, but that you guys are married.”
Quinn and Wiz stared at him.
“Wiz has already found proof that someone is digging into Alandra’s background. That means someone else, besides us, knows she’s alive or at least thinks she’s alive. I say let’s dangle you and your woman out there, shake a few trees and see who bites.”
“Hell no,” Quinn said without thinking about it.
“Q, I know you’re more of the sneak and attack kind of guy, but I think if we play a little defense and block what comes our way, your enemies will come out swinging.”
“You know, Quinn, he might be on to something albeit in a twisted stupid kind of way,” Wiz smirked. “We already know we’re making a trip to the east coast to rattle some cages. Why not see what happens when certain people find out you’re married.”
“Besides us, who knows you and Alandra are married?” Malik asked. He sat in one of the upholstered chairs in front of Cameron’s desk.
“Tyler and Dallas know.” Quinn wandered around the room, rubbing his chin. “Natasha, Alandra’s sister knows.”
Malik’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What? She has a sister? Is she as hot as your wife?”
Quinn granted him an irritated look and ignored the question. “As far as I know, those are the only people who know.” He grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it. “I’m going to have to think about all of this.”
“Well, think fast because I might still be able to secure tickets to the President’s campaign fundraiser dinner. It might be the perfect place for the big reveal.”
Quinn knew they were on to something, but he didn’t like the idea. He’d walked away from the world of covert operations years ago remembering how it felt to go into situations partially blind. Doing it now, after being out of the game for years and not knowing who your enemies were, was suicidal. On the other hand, the sooner their adversaries came out of hiding, the sooner he and Alandra could move on with their lives.
; “I’ll talk to you guys in the morning. I know I’m going to pay Harry a visit in Langley, Virginia, but I’m going to have to think about everything else we talked about tonight.”
Instead of waking Alandra, Quinn lifted her in his arms. She snuggled closer, bringing back memories of the numerous times he carried her to bed. His heart swelled with the love he felt, and he knew at that moment he would never be able to live without her again.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when the all mighty Quinn Hamilton succumb to a woman, a pint size one at that,” Malik joked, following them out of the office and to the side entrance.
Quinn rolled his eyes. “Man, shut up and open the damn door. Your day is coming, just wait. There is a woman out there who is going to bring your crazy butt to your knees.”
Malik laughed. “Hell, she might bring me to my knees, but it’ll be for some freaky shit, not a marriage proposal.”
Quinn shook his head and couldn’t help but chuckle. Malik drove him nuts sometimes, but he had a heart of gold and was one of the most dependable people he’d ever known.
“Unlike you, I’m too smart to let a woman wrap me around her finger the way this one has apparently done to you.”
“Yeah, just keep talking.” Quinn walked outside. “Your day is coming.”
****
It was snowing in Langley, Virginia, a cold dreary night that matched Harry O’Brien’s abysmal mood. At one o’clock in the morning, he was still trying to decide what to do about Alandra. Each time he called her, his call went straight to voice mail, and he still hadn’t heard from his private investigator. He hoped she was hiding out somewhere avoiding him, and not lying dead in some bottomless pit. But if she was avoiding him, why?
He reached into his top desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of pills. The headache that had lingered all day was getting worse by the minute, and the wall of stress from juggling lies for the past few years was closing in around him like a dark, six-by-eight padded room. He had to find her. She had no idea what he’d gone through to keep her hidden and alive. All he’d done to help her could be ruined, never to be salvaged and could put both their lives in jeopardy. The longer she stayed out of contact the less likely he’d be able to keep her safe.
I’m too old for this crap.
His cell phone rang. Harry glanced at it wondering who would be calling this late at night.
“O’Brien,” he answered.
“Alandra Pargas is alive. I just want to know what was in it for you, to make everyone believe she was dead.”
Harry stood slowly. “Who is this?”
“Someone who doesn’t like being toyed with. Since you’ve gone to great lengths to keep her dead, I suggest you do what you have to do to make her disappear again…or else I will.”
****
Alandra opened her eyes and squinted against the sunlight filtering through the blinds. She rose up on her elbows and glanced around the massive space, signs of Quinn’s personality everywhere. The luxurious bedroom could hold her whole apartment. A decorator had clearly captured the essence of Quinn. The sturdy, king-sized bed she’d slept in with its black leather headboard against a dark gray accent wall added a masculine feel to the room. The white and pale gray color scheme with abstract wall art provided a softer, yet exciting flair to the overall space. A wistful sigh slipped through her lips when she zoned in on the sitting area, across from the bed. It featured two black upholstered chairs facing a marble fireplace and the whole room looked like something straight out of House Beautiful magazine.
Alandra fell back against the pillows and stared at the multi-color tray ceiling over the bed. She vaguely remembered the ride from Cameron’s house, dozing off and on, but had no recollection of arriving at Quinn’s house, let alone getting into his bed. Turning her head to the left, it didn’t look as if he had slept there, but she didn’t miss the woodsy smell of his enticing scent permeating the covers and pillows.
She pulled one of the bed pillows into her arms and inhaled. It was hard to believe she was back in his life, and now in his bed.
The bedroom door swung opened, Alandra startled and dropped the pillow. Quinn walked in with two mugs and she knew if he couldn’t do anything else in the kitchen, he made a mean cup of coffee.
“Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty.” He ambled to the side of the bed where she lay. The man was a walking work of art. His dark, sculpted face with strong jaw lines and full lips demanded attention. Tight muscles bulged from the fitted T-shirt he sported and his worn jeans hung low on his narrow hips accentuated his buffed pecs and flat abs. Inspecting him reminded her she hadn’t worked out in awhile, but he clearly didn’t miss a day.
She sat up, but gasped when the sheet fell to her waist, revealing her skimpy black laced bra.
Quinn grinned. “Relax. I’ve already seen what you have.”
Heat rose to her cheeks and she adjusted the sheet around her before accepting the coffee mug. What was wrong with her? She’d never been shy about her body, especially not with Quinn.
He sat next to her on the edge of the bed. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Yeah, like a rock.” She inhaled the rich coffee aroma and took a timid sip of the steaming liquid.
“I don’t remember you being such a sound sleeper. You didn’t even stir when I carried you up the stairs.”
“I wasn’t always.” She blew on her coffee. “I think my body is trying to catch up on sleep. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working double shifts and when I do finally close my eyes I suffer from nightmares.”
“About that night?”
She nodded.
****
Quinn lowered his gaze to the scar on her chest. Alandra didn’t miss the shadow that clouded his features. He placed his coffee mug on the side table and took hers from her hand, sitting it next to his. He didn’t speak; but the softness she saw in his eyes when he moved closer to her was almost her undoing. Tears glistened on her eyelashes. She knew he blamed himself for what happened to her, and for a while, she blamed him too.
He traced a feathery path from her cheek down to the hollow of her neck with the back of his fingers. A shiver shook her body when they glided over her scar, the touch of his hand almost unbearable in tenderness. She loved this side of him, a side he kept hidden from most, but a side that she witnessed more often than not while they were dating. She couldn’t count the number of times she had to remind him that she wasn’t fragile, that she didn’t break easily. That didn’t stop him from treating her like a porcelain doll, fearing that if he handled her too roughly she’d crumble.
“I have nightmares about that night too,” he said as he continued to caress her scar, sending electric jolts of pleasure to every nerve ending in her body. “I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive myself for not protecting you that night.”
She cupped her hand against his cheek, his facial stubble scratching the inside of her palm. Pain and guilt surfaced in her chest making it hard to look at him. How could she have thought he was capable of causing her harm? If she hadn’t allowed Harry to plant doubt about Quinn’s character into her head, she and Quinn would have reunited years ago. And if ever Quinn found out she stayed away from him because of fearing he had something to do with the ambush in Tzbekystan, he would never forgive her.
“I don’t blame you,” she finally said. “Considering the circumstances, I know you did what you could to protect me, and I love you for that. I’m so sorry for making you vulnerable out there. Had I not showed up the way I did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
He covered her hand that was on his face with his larger one and stared into her eyes. He looked as if he were going to say something, but didn’t. Instead he turned his face slightly and placed a light kiss on the inside of her hand. He slowly pulled away from her and cleared his throat before standing. With his shoulders slumped, he moved away from the bed to the window as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
She sighed, m
issing his nearness, but wanting to break some of the tension in the room. “Sorry I fell asleep on you guys last night. What did I miss?”
Quinn turned away from the window. He lifted his long arms above his head, stretched and then yawned.
“Ah, man, excuse me,” he said and shook off the yawn before reclaiming his seat next to her. “I guess I could’ve used a few more hours of sleep myself.”
“Did you get any sleep?”
“A little. As far as what you missed. Wiz is digging deeper into Sarah and the Congressman’s background, as well as their relationship. And I’m planning a trip to the east coast, specifically Virginia and Washington to visit a few people and see what I can find.”
“You mean you’re going to see Harry.”
“I mean I’m going to see a few people, ask a few questions and get some answers.”
“I hope you’re not thinking about leaving me out of this.” She grabbed her coffee mug from the side table. “Remember, this is my fight. I was the one who almost died at the hand of some vigilante and I plan to be the one to hunt them down.”
Irritation brewed in his eyes, but Alandra didn’t care. No way was she going to let him and his SEAL buds wedge her out of this mission.
“First of all, this is our fight. And second, I lost a lot that night too, including you.” His voice rose with every word. “It took me months to recover from my injuries and I never got over losing you. So don’t think this is only about you.”
Alandra lowered her eyes, and sipped from her cup. He was right. This was their fight and she had to stop making it just about her. Something else clicked in her mind. I never got over losing you. Did that mean he was still in love with her?
Quinn released a long sigh. “Listen, I don’t want to argue with you. I just want you to understand you’re not in this alone.” He moved closer. With a finger lifting her chin he forced their gazes to meet. “And for the record, not once during the conversation last night did I think about leaving you behind. I want you wherever I am.”
Rendezvous with Danger (Reunited Series) Page 12