“You going with us, man?” Joe asked, looking at Rick.
“Guess that’s up to the boss,” Rick said, leaning against the doorjamb, looking casually at Midnight.
Midnight looked sharply at Rick for a long moment, her eyes narrowed at him. Then she looked over at Joe. “What do you think? You’ve seen him in action …” Her voice trailed off as she looked back over at Rick, challenging him to say something.
Rick only shook his head, and looked over at Joe. Randy was watching the scene from behind Midnight’s desk. It was obvious things were now strained between them. Randy was beginning to realize how quickly relationships could become complicated.
Joe looked between Midnight and Rick, trying to figure out what had happened. He knew he was going to have to ask Rick, if he wanted answers. He looked at Midnight directly then and nodded.
“Night the guy was my second, remember? He can hold his own and then some,” he said. It was clear from his tone he thought she was involving her personal feelings too much in the decision.
Midnight caught the inflection in his voice and nodded in agreement, pressing her lips together in self-agitation. Usually she didn’t involve her personal feelings in business decisions and it bothered her that yet again Rick was the exception to that rule. She picked up the warrants, doing her best to avoid eye contact with everyone in the room.
She walked to the door. “I’ll, uh, go run these by Judge Connolly. I’ll meet you out there,” she said, moving deftly past Rick, who still leaned against the doorjamb, as if loathe to touch him.
Rick and Joe looked at each other. Joe shrugged and shook his head.
“I’ll meet you out front in a minute,” Rick told Joe.
Rick went to catch up to Midnight in the elevator. He caught her as the elevator door was closing and squeezed in just in time. Midnight looked irritated. He moved to within inches of her, resting his arm on the wall just over her head.
“So what the fuck was that all about?” he asked, his voice irritated.
“That,” Midnight said, her voice perfectly calm and businesslike, “was inappropriate of me. I shouldn’t have questioned your ability, I’m sorry.”
Rick looked at her for a second then he gave a short laugh shaking his head. “I see, you’re sorry about your lack of professionalism, but you’re not sorry about the other night, right?”
“Look, I don’t want to go into that right now. Let’s keep our private lives out of the office okay?” Her voice was still cool.
He reached over and pushed the emergency stop on the elevator, and moved even closer to her.
“And what if I don’t want to do that?” His deep blue eyes challenged her. “What’re you going to do?”
He watched her closely as the anger built up inside her. He knew he was pushing her, but something about her made him want to push her, to make her lose it, one way or the other. She was too damned controlled, that was her problem. He put his hand behind her neck and pulled her toward him, pressing his lips to hers in deeply passionate kiss.
He was shocked when, a couple of seconds later, she shoved him away forcefully. He was even more shocked when she slapped him. When he looked down at her again she was shaking from her anger, her eyes were blazing.
“You do that again,” Midnight threatened, “and your ass is out of here.”
With that, she reached over and pulled the emergency stop button back and the elevator lurched back into motion. Rick leaned against the opposite wall from her, looking totally defeated, his fingers working in agitation. He realized he had just pushed it too far. When the elevator stopped, she walked out without a backward glance. After a few seconds hesitation Rick pushed off the wall, shaking his head, and left the elevator. He waited for Joe in front of the building.
A little while later in the car on the way to the raid, Joe looked over at Rick. “So what’s going on with you and Midnight?” he asked, keeping his tone casual.
Rick shrugged. “I don’t know, man. You were right, she is fucking impossible to read.” His voice belied his irritation.
“That she is. Did something happen this weekend?” Joe asked.
Rick didn’t answer. Joe waited a few minutes, but Rick still didn’t say anything. Joe realized then that something had to have happened, and Rick didn’t want to tell him about it.
“Hey, man, I know it’s none of my business, but she is my partner. She did not look very pleased with you this morning. So if something happened that’s going to affect her, I want to know what it is.” Joe’s voice was serious.
Rick looked over at the man who had been his best friend for twenty-two years, and he knew that he was playing a dangerous game. He was messing with someone that Joe cared about very much and that was going to become a problem.
“Joe,” Rick said hesitantly. “It’s something that Midnight and I need to work out, but I think our time together is about over. I just don’t want her hating me, you know?”
“She won’t hate you, if you don’t push her,” Joe said, and Rick wondered if Midnight had already told him what had happened.
“I think I’ve been doing a little bit too much of that lately. I’m just going to back off,” Rick said.
He knew that’s what he needed to do, or else he was going to get burned, and he might lose Joe’s friendship in the process. Midnight would just be the first woman that had been too much for him, and he wouldn’t let himself get that close again. He could think clearly when he was away from her, he could see her as she was: a lot like him. She wanted to be in control, and if she wasn’t, she wasn’t happy.
“Best thing, Rick,” Joe said and Rick knew that Joe’s statement had a double edge to it.
Rick couldn’t believe that Joe was actually threatening him. Midnight was obviously deeper in Joe’s heart than he’d ever imagined. He figured it was for the best that he stay away from her. The last thing he wanted was to have a confrontation with Joe over her; he wasn’t sure how he’d come out of it, but he knew he’d lose them both in the end.
****
Rick and Joe met with Spider, Tiny, Kana, and Dibbins in a parking lot not far from the house they were going to hit. Dibbins had turned out to be a very fierce ally for all his usually stoned looking appearance led one to believe. Joe and Dibbins had worked together a couple of times and Dibbins had been very quick and very smart. Joe had been pleasantly surprised. Dibbins was currently partnered with Spider, and they seemed to do all right together.
“Okay,” Joe said, pulling out the operational plan that he and Midnight had worked out that morning. “Here’s the plan. Midnight should be here any minute with the warrants. We’re going to hit them here and here,” he said, pointing to the front door and back doors. “I want everybody sharp, this group seems to be playing for keeps and I don’t want anybody forgetting that.” He looked sharply at the people he’d worked with for the last three years. Then he turned to Spider. “You have the shotguns?”
“Yep,” Spider said. He walked back to his car, opened the trunk, and handed Joe a Benelli shotgun, leaving two more in the trunk.
“Tiny, you, Rick, and Dave are going to carry these. Dave you back Spider up, Tiny you back Kana, and Rick you’re going to backup Midnight.” He saw Rick’s sharp look, and he shook his head at him. “Leave your personal feelings out of it, Rick. This is business now, and I’ve got the front door. I want you to cover Midnight, I’m counting on you.” Joe’s look told Rick that he was indirectly apologizing for the veiled threat of a few minutes ago.
Rick nodded, but said, “And how do I know she won’t shoot me?” under his breath.
Only Joe heard him and he laughed. “You don’t.”
Midnight pulled up to the scene and got out of the car. She was wearing her usual jeans and boots, and a black tank top. She had a jean jacket in her hands as well as her holstered gun, and the search and arrest warrants.
“No problems on the warrants,” she said looking directly at Joe and right past Rick. “Have you b
riefed everyone?” Joe nodded. “Good, okay ladies and gentlemen, let’s lock and load.”
Spider handed out the shotguns; everyone checked their magazines to make sure they were loaded, and their backup clips. Rick was watching Midnight out of the corner of his eye as he slid the shotgun’s clip back into place. She was putting her clip back into her gun, and when she pulled back on the slide with her injured arm, he saw her wince. He had a feeling she’d still be feeling the effects from the damage she had obviously done the night before, and he felt responsible. She looked up as she was holstering the gun and caught him watching her. Rick just shook his head, knowing she probably shouldn’t even be here, but he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his place to.
Ten minutes later, everyone was in place. Tiny and Kana were at the back door, with Spider and Dibbins right behind them. Joe, Midnight, and Rick were at the front door. Joe was the entry man so he stood by the front door, but off to the side. He looked at Rick and Midnight. Midnight had her gun in one hand and a radio in the other. Keying the radio, she said two words, “Hit it.”
A quick “10-4” came back from Tiny, and Midnight put the radio back on her belt nodding to Joe at the same time.
Joe pounded on the door and said, “Police! Search warrant!”
Stepping back, Joe kicked the front door open. As he did he heard back door crash open as Tiny kicked it in. Tiny was a little late was all Joe had time to think before he heard gunfire at the back of the house. Drawing his weapon, Joe waited a beat and entered the house. The gunfire was coming from the back of the house. Obviously, someone had noticed Tiny and his group at the back, and hadn’t thought about the front door. Joe moved forward and Midnight followed right behind with Rick covering their backs. He swept the stairs to make sure no one was coming down them, but he didn’t see anyone.
When Joe reached the back of the house, he saw mayhem. Spider was lying on the floor. Kana and Dave were trying to cover Tiny long enough for him to pull Spider out of the line of fire but they were in a bad place. They were still squatting in the doorway they had come through. The Scorpions had all the cover; they had the wall that separated the kitchen from the other rooms as well as the refrigerator and the stove.
“Midnight,” Joe yelled back to her, “Spider’s down! Rick, see if you can get around and lay down some cover for them!” Rick nodded moving off down the side hallway.
Midnight had come to kneel just below Joe. She looked at the scene, her heart beating a mile a minute; she saw a doorway about ten feet away and only a couple of feet from where Spider lay bleeding. They exchanged glances Joe knew what she was going to attempt. They both took a deep breath and Midnight dove forward, shooting in the direction the enemy fire was coming from. She landed very near to where Spider lay still shooting, all the while gritting her teeth because her arm felt like it was breaking apart.
She grabbed Spider by a handful of shirt and dragged him through the doorway. She propped him up against the wall and looked quickly around her. She was in some sort of laundry room, but there were no other entries, no one could sneak up behind her.
“Spider!” Midnight yelled, checking for a pulse. At first, she couldn’t find one. “God no!” she yelled with tears coming to her eyes. But then she found a pulse.
She breathed a heavy sigh of relief; he was alive, at least for now. Then she checked her gun hastily. As she did she noticed that her arm was bleeding again, the blood soaking through the bandage. She shook her head; she didn’t have time to deal with that now.
“Midnight!” she heard Joe yell over the gunfire that continued.
“He’s alive!” she yelled back.
Then, taking a deep breath, she moved out from behind the cover, squeezing off a few shots, then pulled back quickly. She heard the shotgun behind the Scorpions and prayed to God it was Rick. Taking a cautious look, she saw his head duck out of sight into a doorway. She knew that the Scorpions would close in on a lone gunman in no time.
“Joe! Cover Rick!” she yelled and pointed toward the back hallway.
Joe was gone an instant later. Most of the gunfire had been rerouted and was now going at Rick. Midnight was worried that they’d get to him before Joe did.
“Kana! Tiny!” she yelled. “Cover me, I’m going straight through!” She pointed toward the wall that the Scorpions were using for cover.
She heard the concussions of the shotgun that Tiny held and Kana’s accompanying gunfire. Midnight took a deep breath, waited two beats and moved from behind the wall. She managed to get to the other side of the refrigerator in the kitchen, the bullets narrowly missing her. She knew that one of the Scorpions was right on the other side. She waited, breathing deep. Her arm was killing her, but she couldn’t stop now. She waited a beat and then, moving with the lightning speed she was known for, stood and shot the guy on the other side of the refrigerator. As she did, she saw the other guy behind the stove as he turned his gun on her, but Kana shot him dead before he could react.
Midnight moved off down the hall then, determined to get to Rick. She could tell that he was pinned down; he was in the last room down the hallway, and the Scorpions were moving in on him. She moved stealthily, and almost jumped out of her skin when Joe touched her on the shoulder. Fortunately, years of training kept her from crying out. As one, Midnight and Joe moved down the hall, behind the Scorpions. They were almost to the room Rick was in and Midnight could still hear him shooting, trying to keep his assailants back. Two of the Scorpions backed up, and found themselves backed up against two guns. Midnight and Joe both lifted their weapons bringing them down on the heads of the two Scorpions, who fell to the floor without a sound.
There were only two left and they were headed full throttle for Rick. He saw them enter the room where he was crouched beside a bed. He squeezed the trigger but the shotgun jammed. He looked up, knowing he was about to die, when suddenly the two guys stopped dead and dropped to the ground. Rick thought he’d pass out from relief, as he saw Midnight and Joe standing in the doorway, weapons still smoking.
“You okay?” Joe asked, looking at Rick, but already turning to head back down the hall.
“Yeah,” Rick said, weakly, his breath coming in heavy gasps. Joe nodded, looking at Midnight. “I’ll go and help secure the rest of the house and get some paramedics out here for Spider. You check him and secure this area.” Midnight nodded and Joe moved off back down the hallway.
Midnight stood, holding her arm and looking at Rick. “You sure you’re okay?”
Rick straightened from the crouch he had been in and she saw that he was bleeding at his side.
She stepped toward him. “You’re bleeding,” she said, reaching for his side.
“So are you,” he said, smiling down at her. She unbuttoned his shirt so she could see the entry point in his side. He was surprised by her concern, but he was glad she even cared.
She straightened up then, looking relieved. “It looks like a graze, you should be okay,” she said, smiling up at him.
“And what about you?” he said, gesturing to her arm.
She looked down and it and shrugged. “I’m alright, been in worse shape after a gunfight like this.”
“I’ll bet you have,” he said, but his voice held no sarcasm.
“Come on,” she said, starting to head back toward the kitchen. “Spider was hit. I want to make sure he’s okay and that the paramedics are on their way. He looked bad.”
It was clear she was more worried than her calm voice was telling. It was another facet to Midnight’s personality. As he followed her back through the house, part of him sincerely hoped that they could at least be friends, if they couldn’t make it as lovers.
Chapter 7
Spider was sent to the hospital via the Life Flight helicopter. Midnight was like ice as she brushed off the paramedics trying to look at her arm. She just held onto Spider’s hand as long as she could. Rick finally had to pull her back so the paramedics could move him to the waiting helicopter. Joe came out of t
he house, asking her if she was going to the hospital. She didn’t say anything for a minute, but finally she shook her head her eyes looking past him.
“No, I’ll wrap things up here. Will you go get Tammy though?” she asked, looking at Joe. He couldn’t read anything in her eyes.
Joe nodded. “Yeah, of course.”
Midnight nodded and started walking back toward the house, looking like she was in a daze.
Joe walked over to Rick who was being checked out by one of the paramedics still onsite. “You okay?”
“Looks like it, yeah,” Rick said, nodding.
Joe nodded, his eyes trailing back over to the front door the house. “Keep an eye on her, will ya?”
“Why?” Rick asked, not sure why Joe was worried.
“’Cause I can’t see what’s going on in her head, and that’s usually a bad sign with her,” Joe said, grimacing. “And if she breaks down, I want someone here that’ll see it. Okay?”
Rick nodded, but seriously doubted that if Midnight did break down, she would do it in front of him or let her help.
****
A half an hour later Joe stood at Tammy and Spider’s front door. They were renting a place together and everyone was really pleased for them. Tammy answered the door smiling at Joe, but then she saw the look on his face and her smile faded. She started to shake her head. Joe reached out and took her by the shoulders. “Tammy, he’s at the hospital.” She was still shaking her head, and had started crying. “Tammy!” Joe yelled, shaking her a little. He couldn’t have her going hysterical on him now. “You have to come with me, Spider’s at the hospital and he’s going to want you around when he comes to. Now come on!” She nodded, picked up her purse and absently locking the door behind her.
He put his arm around her as he walked her to the car, and she leaned on him heavily. When they got to the car, she paused, putting off getting in.
Building Empires (MidKnight Blue Book 1) Page 15