Collision Force

by C. A. Szarek

  Pete’s brother Nate was the assistant district attorney assigned to the Gains and Reese murders, and knew nothing new either. Texas still waited for its turn with Maldonado.

  Wouldn’t Cole or Lee let them know they’d got him? Were their ties that severed? Andi worried her bottom lip, teeth sinking in with a sting she ignored.

  As soon as she’d made it back to her desk, Pete’s gaze was appraising. She glanced around the room. Damn good thing everyone was out. He would be blunt, and it would be now, at work or not.

  “Sorry. I think I’m coming down with something.” Her breath released on a sigh as soon as her butt hit the chair.

  Pete leaned on the edge of her desk, crossing his arms over his chest. She disregarded the memories of Cole in that same spot, same posture. Hell, even with the same look on his face.

  “I’ll say,” he said, his green gaze sharp.

  Well, it was worth a shot. Andi tried for a quick subject change. “Want me to get you some coffee? Mine’s cold.” Grabbing her cup and peering inside, she swirled around the brown contents.

  Her partner threw his palm up. “Uh-uh.”

  “No coffee? Well, I’m gonna get some.” She shot to her feet.

  “I think not. Park it. My bullshit meter is screaming. You and I both know what’s ailing you, Andi MacLaren.”

  “We do?” she croaked.

  Pete gave her a long look. “What did Cole say?”

  “About?”

  “Andi.” Pete glared.

  She sighed.

  “What’d your man say?” he prompted.

  “He’s not my man,” Andi said, frowning. She bit her lip when tears threatened and swallowed against the lump in her throat. She would not cry at work.

  “The man has a right to know he’s going to be a father.”

  She closed her eyes, but tears leaked then poured.

  He tried to pull her into his arms, but she pushed him away. It wasn’t her partner’s comfort she wanted.

  “He left. I know he had to go, but…” Her voice broke on a sob, and she allowed Pete to wrap her into an embrace.

  “I think he loves you,” Pete whispered against her hair. “And sure as shit you love him.”

  She would have denied it, but he’d see right through her anyway. Her partner always did. “I do. I love him.” Pain hit square in the chest and Andi closed her eyes against Pete’s shoulder, inhaling his woodsy cologne. It was a pleasant scent, but it wasn’t Cole’s.

  “Look, I’ll be here for you no matter what, you know that. But you need to tell Cole Lucas what he’s left behind.”

  “I can’t. He’s needed in New York. He…has his case. It’s what he cares about most.”

  Pete scowled, but wiped her tears away with gentle hands when she pulled out of his arms. “Don’t think for the man.”

  “He made no promises. Cole’s not coming back.” She sank into her chair, gut twisting. Besides, Andi didn’t want him if he was obligated to come back for her…them. Cole had to want her like she wanted him.

  “You never gave him a reason to stay, Andi.”

  Anger flared and she glared at him. “Should I have had to? If you’re so sure he loves me, why the hell didn’t he say that?” She sniffled, but took the tissue he yanked from the box on her desk when he offered it to her.

  Sighing, Pete shook his head.

  Andi was dying inside without Cole. How would she ever get over him? So far, the time apart from him had only served to make her miserable. He haunted her thoughts, dreams and days. But she wasn’t sorry she was having his child. Andi would have a piece of him to hold in her arms.

  “Are you surprised?” she asked, studying Pete’s disapproving expression.

  “That you love Cole, no. That you got knocked up, hell yeah. There are tons of contraceptives available these days, partner.” One corner of his mouth shot up.

  Heat rushed her cheeks. “Yeah, well…”

  Pete snorted and she looked away. “Are you happy?” he whispered when her eyes welled with tears again.

  She snatched another tissue. “About the baby?”

  “That too, but I meant in general. Are. You. Happy?” He dragged out the words and she nodded, wiping her eyes. He tweaked her nose. “Liar,” he said softly.

  “I’ll live.”

  “I know. You’re a survivor. You’ll have this baby and raise him or her with Ethan. I’m not worried about that. What’s bugging me is that you’ll be unhappy about it for the rest of your life. Cole Lucas changed you for the better. You changed him, too. I saw it with my own eyes. And I don’t think he’d be all that upset about the baby. Even if he would—I’ll kick his ass, worry not—he has a right to know.”

  What could she say to that? She agreed, but hated he was right. Guilt slowly rose from the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t hide behind the he’s busy with his case thing forever. He might not love her, but Cole was a good guy. He might offer to come back.

  Andi couldn’t do that to him. A ready-made family was a trap for a guy like him. He’d said on day one he didn’t do small towns.

  Was she afraid Cole would reject her, Ethan and their child? Or was she trying to punish him for leaving? Ignoring her. Getting back to his case—his life—with a new female partner and no contact. Was he busy with Lee? Was that the real reason he hadn’t called?

  Her chest tightened, and it hurt to breathe. She couldn’t speak.

  “Heartache sucks ass, I know,” Pete said. “But regret is even worse. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t tell Cole about his kid. And what you’ll regret even more than that is not telling him you love him. I know you too well, partner.”

  “I just can’t, Pete,” Andi whispered.

  “It’s not worth the risk, then?” His eyes bored into her. His logic burned.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re miserable now. He’s there, you’re here. Fifteen plus hundred miles away. He has no idea how you feel, or that he’s left something so important behind—and I don’t just mean the baby. What’s a phone call going to hurt?”

  “I couldn’t tell him over the phone, anyway,” Andi protested.

  “Obviously you’re not willing to see if you’re the only one hurting. Don’t you want to know how he feels about you?”

  “I just can’t. Not right now anyway. Drop it, okay? We have work to do. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Coward,” Pete muttered.

  Bingo. Andi scowled. She didn’t need to hear it from him.

  Her partner glared right back. “It doesn’t matter if I drop it now or later. It doesn’t change the fact that Cole has the right to know about his kid, bottom line. I’ve never had a problem telling you how I really feel and I’m not gonna start now. I’ll continue to bring it up until you change your mind.”

  “Dammit, Pete,” she said, crossing her arms. “He told Ethan he loved him.” It was supposed to be a retort, but it had come out choked, pained.

  Pete closed his eyes for a moment, his expression sympathetic. “Wow, sounds like a real asshole to me.”

  She forced a breath. No more tears at work. “I didn’t say that. We didn’t get along at first, but…that changed. We…worked well together.”

  “Working well together must have extended outside of work, or you wouldn’t have fallen in love with him.”

  “Will you stop saying that?”

  “Why? It’s true. Only, I wasn’t the one who needed to hear it.”

  “I just want to work, Pete. We have a case.”

  “The case can wait. Our meeting with the new CI isn’t until one anyway. This issue isn’t going to go away.”

  “I don’t have an issue.”

  “God, you’re so fricking stubborn.” Pete dragged his hand down his handsome face. “If you want to be miserable for the rest of your life, so be it.”

  Andi sighed. The last thing she needed was a pissed off partner. “Just let it go for now. Please.”

  �
�Fine,” Pete said.

  “I know you don’t like it, but it’s my life,” Andi whispered.

  “Damn right I don’t like it. If it was my kid, I’d want to know.”

  Glaring, she leant forward. “So much for dropping it.”

  “I will. For now. But your belly in a few months won’t. There’re gonna be questions around here. You prepared to answer them?” Fair brow raised, her partner studied her.

  She groaned and closed her eyes. Maybe no answer at all would shut him the hell up.

  The phone rang. They both jumped and Andi grabbed it.

  Thank God it was regarding the burglary case they’d just picked up.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Even if they caught Maldonado tomorrow, this case was going to kill Cole. The slimy bastard had been just out of reach several times. Two attempted raids. No juice. Lost a few more contacts. An arrest by accident that hadn’t appeased him in the least.

  Cole had always loved his job. But right now, he’d gladly change careers. Bag boy at the grocery store might work.

  Stupid fucker Maldonado. He’d blame it all on the weasel.

  Who was he kidding? He was stuck. He loathed his new normal.

  He couldn’t get back into his routine and couldn’t blame it on the investigation, let alone being under. The transition had never bothered him before. Granted, he’d never been undercover for as long as he’d spent with Caselli’s organisation, but working wasn’t what was killing him. It was the two sets of big blue eyes haunting him.

  Cole hadn’t been able to sleep worth a shit in the three months he’d been home. The bags under his eyes were a new constant, as well as odd looks from people who’d known him for years—Olivia included. She’d even pulled him into her office to see if something was wrong. Well yes, but hell no, he didn’t need a shrink.

  Dex had looked at him like he’d grown a second head when he’d declined going to the strip club they’d always frequented. It’d only taken his buddy two seconds to figure out what was up with Cole. He’d walked away shaking his head, muttering something about a new best friend.

  Working with Lee was all right. She was passionate, hard-working and cared about the case. But her hair was too dark, she was too short and her eyes weren’t blue.

  “Fuck,” Cole muttered, shoving his hand through his hair. He needed to get it cut, but he didn’t give a shit about much.

  He watched the FBI logo flip around the screen of his computer.

  When he couldn’t take it anymore, he moved the mouse and his desktop appeared. What had he been doing, anyway?

  The red flashing light on his phone caught his eye, indicating that he had a voicemail message on his direct line. Cole hit the speaker button.

  “Enter your password, followed by pound,” the female voice said.

  He sighed as he did so, and pressed one for new messages when she specified.

  “Cole…” Her voice caused his heart to go into overdrive. He swallowed hard. “Listen, we need to talk. Uh…call me.” Click. Dial tone.

  It took all he was made of to not replay it…a hundred times.

  Andi…her sweet, even tone rang in his ears, in his heart.

  Was something wrong? No clues in her voice, despite her pause after his name. God, he missed her.

  “To save message, press two. To delete, press three,” the voice prompted. Forcing his finger down on the number three was accompanied by a deep breath and closed eyes.

  He’d call her later. Maybe.

  “Gonna call her?” Lee’s voice made him jump.

  “Jesus,” Cole cursed. He swivelled his chair around. She had two Starbucks cups in a drink crate, one corner of her full mouth raised.

  “Woulda never pegged you for the jumpy type.”

  “Only when my partner is eavesdropping,” he muttered.

  She laughed, handing him one of the cups. He thanked her and hung up the phone. “Done checking up on me?” Cole glared as she slipped into the chair between their two desks.

  Lee shrugged. “I’m just observant. And you like your speakerphone.” Unapologetic, she studied him. He wanted to squirm. “I know it’s none of my business and all, but—”

  “You’re right. None of your business. End of.”

  She sighed, but her dark gaze was keen, reminding him of Pete. “You know Texas wants to sink their claws into Maldonado. You’ll end up back there for the trial when we get him,” Lee said, sipping from her cup.

  He wanted to snap at her that it didn’t matter. But it did. Cole said nothing. Even though he’d have to go back to Texas to testify, it was too late for him and Andi. He ignored the voice that asked was it really?

  “I talked to the ADA that’ll be handling the case. Nice guy. Nate Crane.” She grinned. “I think you know his brother.”

  “Ah, yeah.” Pete’s brother was an assistant district attorney? News to him. But he’d heard of the guy only one time, when he’d been eavesdropping on a phone call himself. Shaking his head, his stomach tightened.

  When was he going to stop thinking about her? Never, a voice whispered.

  “Bruno Gallo’s safely in protective custody, by the way.” Lee’s voice grounded him. “They got him in his own cell. The warden is investigating because it took too long for the guards to break it up. Someone was probably paid off.”

  Cole banished his thoughts about what could never be and focused on the case that was far from over. “After the attack the other day, I’m actually glad to hear it. Did you get the full medical report? He’s okay?”

  “He was beaten pretty bad, but he’ll be fine. Still agreeing to testify against Caselli.” Her slight Texas accent headed his thoughts back in the wrong direction.

  He cleared his throat. “Glad to hear it.”

  “Lucas, Dawson. We got a tip. We need to move. Now.”

  Heart racing for a different reason now, Cole’s eyes locked onto Special Agent Clint Downs’ hazel ones. “Maldonado?”

  “Yup. We got intel he’s brokering a deal at a snazzy five star downtown. We heard he’s even got the girls with him. Let’s go.”

  Lee was already on her feet and tossing her coffee cup in the trash can. “About damn time.”

  “I’m getting the bastard this time,” Cole growled.

  His gorgeous partner flashed a feral smile. “Hell yeah we are.”

  Downs nodded and turned on his heel. “Whole team is ready to go.”

  Cole followed his team as they rushed downstairs and into the parking garage to two black vans. During the whole ride across hectic New York City, he couldn’t sit still. Probably should have driven to keep himself busy. Lee kept shooting him looks he ignored. He adjusted his vest and tried not to think about the last time he was on his way to a raid.

  “You good?” Lee asked.

  Nodding, he looked out of the window. The nondescript, dark van was supposed to help them blend in, but Cole was more in sore-thumb territory in his head.

  “We’re doing this.” His partner’s confident tone made him nod again.

  Cole didn’t want to talk—he didn’t want her to worry about him—so he kept his mouth shut, watching their surroundings as they moved through the heart of the city.

  His original hunch that Caselli’s father, Antonio Caselli Senior, former head of the vast crime organisation, had indeed backstabbed Maldonado. From what they’d learnt, Carlo had been fixed up by the old man’s personal physician and had got out of Dodge before the son’s men had come for him. But the move hadn’t patched things up between Tony and Antonio. There’d been a shootout at Senior’s vast mansion.

  How Carlo had remained in the state and on the run was a mystery, but now he had both Casellis and the FBI on his ass. It was a race against the bad guys.

  Dead wouldn’t look bad on Carlo, but Cole would prefer a small dark room. Besides, after all the asshole had put him through, death was too easy for Maldonado. And he’d shot his woman. Minor wound or not, he had to pay for that.

 
; Wincing as Andi danced into his mind, he shook his head. He didn’t need the distraction. Again.

  “Let’s go,” Lee urged him from the van.

  His team—him, Lee and nine other agents that made up their human trafficking unit—fanned out, following their plan. Full cooperation from the place helped, and soon they were ready to apprehend Carlo and his buyer.

  The fancy suite was visible through the previously placed cameras. The agents had been able to learn the layout of the room, and could see the people inside from their own room across the hall. Carlo had three girls with him, all young, barely dressed and shivering.

  “He a mark?” Cole asked the agent manning the cameras, pointing to a skeeze in a cheap suit with slicked back, blonde hair.

  The man shook his head. “Nope. Not one of ours. You don’t know him?”

  “Not from my time under.”

  “Maybe he’s new to the life?” Lee asked. She stood next to him, staring at the screen. “Damn, those girls aren’t even fourteen.”

  “Carlo likes them young.” Cole sympathised with his partner’s shock. Human trafficking hadn’t been her speciality in Dallas. “How’d you get the cameras in?” He made eye contact with the other agent.

  “Dex did it last week. It was for a sting that’s now been postponed. We happened upon Maldonado by accident.”

  “We’re ready,” Downs said, hovering in the doorway.

  “Money changed hands,” the agent at the cameras confirmed.

  Good, now they got to arrest the skeeze, too.

  “Let’s go,” Lee said.

  Cole took some satisfaction from the look on Carlo’s face when they burst through the door of his suite. The girls screamed and two semi-automatic handguns hit the carpet at the first shout of, “Federal Agents!”

  “Fucking Lucas,” Carlo spat, not fazed in the least that Cole’s Glock was trained on him. “Thought you were in Texas?”

  “Aww, Carlo, you know I couldn’t help but follow you. You and I go way back.”

  Maldonado scowled, but his shoulders slumped.

  After chasing Maldonado for months, and all the close calls, Cole couldn’t believe it was going to be this easy.