The Last Detail

by Melissa Schroeder

  Just saying those words had fresh tears pouring over onto her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry all over you.”

  She tried to turn away from him, but he wouldn’t allow it. “No. Don’t turn away from me, never again.”

  She stopped and watched him warily.

  “Don’t ever be ashamed to show what you are feeling to me. Never. I don’t expect you not to be human.” He couldn’t stop the anger that welled up inside him. “I don’t love you because you’re a tough agent. I love that despite everything, the way you had to survive on the street, the way you had to fight to live all those years ago, you are a tough agent. It isn’t because of what you are, but how you became that way.”

  Her eyes softened even more as she leaned forward to brush her mouth over his. “I never knew.”

  “You didn’t want to know.”

  She smiled. “But I do now.”

  “Yeah, I’d worry if you didn’t figure it out after today.”

  Her smile faded. “Do you have a problem with Sam?”

  He knew what she was asking and he should have an issue with it, but for some reason he didn’t. When they were together just that one time felt more special than all the women who had come before.

  “No. Do you have an issue with us?”

  The tension drained from her features as she shook her head. “No. Truthfully, I find it kind of hot.”

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “Where’s he at?”

  “He was doing some research.”

  “Why don’t we get something to eat? I am starving.”

  The moment that she stepped into the hallway, it felt wrong. She didn’t know exactly what it was, but there was something that gnawed at her stomach. Her instinct had kept her alive more than once. She stopped and grabbed a weapon.

  “What?”

  “There’s something wrong. It’s really quiet.”

  Jared nodded. “Yeah.” They both walked down the hallway keeping their backs against the wall. She was sure no one was in the house. They wouldn’t have left the two of them alone. The other possibility had her heart hurting. They crept up the stairs, trying their best not to allow any sound to carry. When they stepped into the office, her worst fears were confirmed. The office was empty, but there was a note on the desk. Jared walked over and held it up.

  “I’ll fix everything, S.”

  Then she saw the screen. The picture was a leader in the Zenich Industries. He was standing next to one of the two women who had been at the bar with Sam.

  “Who is that?”

  Jared read the name. “Dennis Ventor. His brother.”

  She read the passage. “He’s a vice president at the corporation? And wait, Sam Dawson isn’t a Dawson right?”

  Jared nodded. “Fuck. We’re going to have to go after the ass. He can’t go in there alone. His brother set this up to get back at him.”

  “Why?”

  Jared looked at her. “For being the one who walked away. Dennis never had the balls to do it. Sam did, made his own way. His brothers blew the fortune, and had to go out and work. It would make sense Dennis would start selling secrets. He’s used to a lot of money. And it sounds like him to set Sam up to take the fall. He’s always been like that.”

  Anger boiled in her gut. “The woman. She was with him in the bar. He said she was an agent.”

  He slipped into the chair and widened the screen for them both to read. “And here it seems like she works for Dennis. Shit.”

  She huffed out a breath. “He went to confront them.”

  “Yeah, of course he did. I shouldn’t have told him there was a hit put out on us.”

  She stared at Jared. “Why did you do that?”

  He grimaced. “Because I was pissed at him. He put you in danger.”

  She rolled her eyes, agitation filling her stomach. She didn’t have time for precious male egos. “Yeah, and you helped by putting me on his trail. You both suck.”

  He didn’t say anything and she looked over to find him staring at her with a small smile playing about his lips.

  “What?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  It settled her nerves just a bit. She knew Sam had walked into the den of the lion ready to sacrifice himself. She might have just met him, but it was something he would do. “You know, when we find him, I’m going to kill him.”

  Chapter Nine

  Sam crept down the hallway to his brother’s office, ever vigilant for any followers. He should have known that his family would come back to bite him in the ass later in life. Seriously, they had never been much to be happy about. They had money and they felt the world owed them everything. Dennis was even worse than the father who was probably responsible for more deaths than even the most proficient assassin.

  It was his fault Jared and Lou were all in the situation. His fault by association. Damned family would be the death of him. But if he had his choice, he would take his bastard brother down with him.

  With surprising ease, he worked out the code to his brother’s office. He knew it was too easy, but it didn’t seem he had a choice but to walk through the door.

  He stepped into the plush well-appointed room and found his brother looking out on the night.

  “So nice of you to join us, Samuel.”

  Years apart didn’t matter. The bastard’s voice still sent a cold ball of anger to Sam’s belly. He noticed Reid sitting on a chaise smiling at him. He said nothing to her, gave her no emotion.

  “Hey, Denny.”

  His brother glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve always told you I don’t like that name.”

  He smiled, allowing his brother to see just what he felt. “I’ve always told you I don’t give a flying fuck what you think.”

  His brother turned to face him and Sam was struck by just how much older he looked. Dennis was only a couple years older, but he was already soft in the middle. Even with all the laser surgery, he looked at least ten years older than Sam. But what struck him most was the coldness in his eyes. There was not an ounce of emotion in Dennis’s eyes.

  “So you want to tell me why you decided to set me up? I mean, I know you don’t like me—the feeling is mutual by the way—but setting your own brother up to take the fall, kind of damns you to hell, right?”

  Dennis gave him a smile that reminded him of all the times he had tortured Sam before Sam got too big for Dennis to hurt. It was pure evil.

  “Side benefit.” He shrugged as if discussing why he’d picked a certain tie to wear for the day, not the fact that he had set up his brother for sure death. “I had to blame someone for the treason and you seemed to be perfect.”

  It shouldn’t bother Sam. They had never been what anyone would call close. Every memory he had of Dennis was filled with fear and then derision. His older brother had never worked for anything, expected everything, and seemed to blame Sam when things never seemed to work out for him. But there was still a little bit that bothered Sam. This was his flesh and blood. They shared the same parents, had grown up in the same house, but it didn’t seem to matter to Dennis.

  “Ah, so once again I have to clean up your mess. Just like when we were kids, right, Denny? I mean, it wasn’t like you could ever make the grade without your little brother helping you.”

  It was an arrow that struck the middle of his cold heart. “Shut the fuck up, Samuel.”

  “What? You don’t want your whore to know exactly how you gained all those awards?” He tossed Reid a look. “He can barely read and write. If it wasn’t for me, he would have never made it through school.”

  His brother came flying around the desk at him. This was exactly what Sam wanted, what he needed. Dennis tried to hit him on the nose, but Sam blocked it with his arm. Jared had already broken his nose. He didn’t need any more pain. Sam hit his brother in the gut, then jaw. Dennis fell back against his desk. Sam started to approach him but he felt the smart spark of a zapper. His head exploded, his body went hot and then h
is world went black.

  “This was fucking stupid of him,” Lou said.

  Jared agreed, but he could understand why Sam had done it. Family could make you do some dumbass stuff, especially when trying to protect a woman.

  “And if he thinks he isn’t going to hear about this when I get a hold of him, he has another think coming. Damn fool man.”

  “Lou,” he said.

  She turned to face him.

  “We’ll save him.”

  She hesitated, then nodded. They worked their way a few feet more before they heard the insidious voice of Sam’s brother. “But I don’t understand why we just don’t leave him. We can leave him with all the info around him. They will lock him away.”

  “Jesus, Dennis, are you that stupid? They might not believe Jared and his agent at first, but even Jared Flores apparently didn’t believe the hit put out on him. The man has too many friends in high places. He will convince them it was you and not him.”

  “Not for this, not treason. The Alliance doesn’t take kindly to a man who would sell secrets and allow people to die for the almighty buck.” His voice dripped with condemnation and scorn. Jared knew Dennis always thought he was better than most people, than everyone. He thought money and power made him somehow superior. It always disgusted Jared how much his outlaw brothers and Sam’s barely legal family thought they were better than hard-working people.

  Jared had been surprised when they’d found the door open. Of course, he shouldn’t be, because Dennis wasn’t all that bright. Never had been. There was that string of arrogance that Sam had but with Dennis, there was a tinge of evil that dripped from his personality.

  He saw the female agent pacing back and forth. She had to have been the one who’d come up with the plan of selling secrets. Dennis wasn’t smart enough for something like that.

  “Let it go. He’ll take the fall, and we’ll have the money.” From her movements to her tone, anyone could tell she was agitated. It flowed off her in waves. She was a small woman, but there was no question she could and would kill without a problem. Dennis apparently did not see the danger in dealing with the woman. He was a means to an end.

  When Dennis moved, Jared saw Sam. He was lying on his back on the floor, his eyes closed. Ice filled his veins and everything in Jared turned cold with rage. Then he noticed Sam’s chest move. He let loose a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

  He slipped back and faced Lou. Her eyes told him how she felt. Anyone would look at her and think nothing was bothering her. But he could see by the way her brows knitted above her eyes that she was worried.

  He leaned close, pressing his lips against one of her ears. “The woman is with Dennis. Sam is on the floor, out cold but he’s breathing.”

  He heard the catch in her breath and he felt it in his soul. While he had been pissed about finding her with Sam, and at first didn’t like the idea of sharing her, Jared knew now that it was the three of them together that made them whole. She might not understand it, and maybe Sam wasn’t too sure, but Jared knew. Only one time with all three of them in bed and it had been clear to him. They were meant to all be together.

  “We need to take her out first. She’s the dangerous one.”

  Lou nodded, but he could feel the tension coil inside of her. Lou was a first-rate agent, and he trusted her with his life. Still, she was not in a good place. Hell, neither of them were. To save Sam one of them would need to keep their head fastened on straight even if they had to fight back burning rage to do it.

  “I’ll take the lead.”

  She stiffened and he could feel defiance rise in her.

  “I will be the first through the door.” He ground out every word to let her know that he wasn’t kidding.

  She sighed, then nodded.

  They both turned when a laser went off in the office.

  “You fucking bitch.”

  They rushed to the door, Lou for once letting him take the lead. Dennis and the woman were facing off over the desk. Dennis’s suit was singed from the laser hit and there was a splatter of blood seeping from beneath the fabric. His gaze darted around the room as if seeking out help. They might both be armed, but he was at a definite disadvantage.

  Dennis noticed them. “What the fuck?”

  Apparently, his partner wasn’t buying it. “I won’t fall for that shit, Dennis.”

  His attention on them, he wasn’t paying attention to the woman bent on killing him. She shot off her laser gun, slamming him in the chest. He screamed, the force of the blast throwing him back against the wall. Both he and Lou were rushing the woman as she turned around. Right before Jared reached her, Sam rose up in front of her, clipping her against the jaw. She stumbled back, falling onto the floor, and her weapon went off, the shot glancing off Sam’s shoulder. He fell again, and blood started pouring from the wound.

  “Sam,” Lou yelled, ignoring the danger of the situation.

  Jared wasn’t though. The female agent rose up a bit, but he took his booted foot and pressed it down on her wrist, causing her to drop her weapon. He kicked it away, then grabbed her by the injured wrist. After securing her in restraints, he hurried over to Sam and Lou.

  “He’s breathing,” Lou said, her voice trembling. “Just barely.”

  Sirens started to ring as boots sounded down the hall. The first face Jared saw was the chief of security for Zenich, Martin Smith. When they discovered that Sam had left, Jared had briefed Smith and forwarded all the info about Dennis. Smith rushed through the door and then came to an abrupt stop. He held up his hands.

  “Hold up. Get those medics here now,” Smith ordered as he walked over to them. “We have it all on the record but were a few kilometers away or we would have been here sooner to stop it.”

  Lou looked up at Jared, her eyes narrowing. “You will explain.”

  He sighed. “Of course.”

  She looked back down at Sam as Jared squatted beside the two of them. He noticed her hand trembling as she pressed a cloth to Sam’s wound. He slipped his hand over hers as she lifted her face to him. The tears in her eyes scared him more than anything.

  “He’ll be okay.”

  “You promise?”

  “Yes.” He said it with more confidence than he had, but when he saw her breathe a sigh of relief, he didn’t feel that guilty about the lie.

  The strong scent of antiseptic telling him he was in a hospital was the first thing Sam noticed. Then he lifted his lids. Bright, stabbing pain lanced Sam’s eyes the moment he opened them. He slammed them shut with a groan.

  “Sam?” Lou nearly shouted so loud he grimaced as the sound bounced off the walls.

  “Lou,” Jared said, his voice calm. “Not so loud.”

  Her fingers slipped between his. “He’s lucky I don’t have my fingers wrapped around his throat.”

  Her caressing hand was at odds with her words, but he heard the fear and pain beneath the words. She was pissed at him?

  “You shouldn’t have come.” His statement filled the room with silence.

  Her hand paused and then she moved it away from his. “I guess we should have left you there to die?” she asked, her voice deceptively calm. Lou was like him. When she seemed calm, she was her most dangerous.

  “I had it under control.”

  “Really? That’s funny,” Jared said. He didn’t sound as upset as Lou, but there was a thread of anger beneath his tone. “I thought you were the one unconscious when we got there. I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but if we hadn’t gotten there I am pretty sure Reid would have killed you on the spot.”

  “I had it under control,” he repeated. “All you did was cause problems. I thought you would at least keep Lou under control.”

  Retreating footsteps sounded and then the door opened and closed. He opened his eyes to find Jared staring down at him.

  “What the fuck were you thinking, man? You don’t berate a woman who came to save you. Jesus. Are you that stupid?”

  “I said I had it
under control.”

  “Yeah, I heard you. Truth is, you don’t have a leg to stand on in that argument. Reid would have killed you. Your brother was going to frame you, but that bitch wanted you dead. She seemed particularly interested in hurting you. Is there a reason for that?”

  “We did have a thing a while back, but she called it off. It was years ago, but then I also reported her ass for dereliction of duty a year ago. She didn’t show up at a drop. The company docked her credits.”

  Jared shook his head. “You’re going to lose her.”

  “Reid? I don’t want her.”

  Jared rolled his eyes. “No. Lou. Don’t tell me you don’t want her to stick around. I know you too well.”

  He shrugged, causing Jared to chuckle.

  “Yeah, I know you. You might fool around with another agent, but you would have never gone to bed with Lou if you hadn’t wanted her so badly. And you sure as hell wouldn’t have allowed me to touch her if you didn’t sense something was there. That isn’t like you, Sam.”

  Sam looked away. “Just another fun weekend.”

  Jared scoffed. “Listen, jackass.”

  Sam turned back to face his old friend. “I’m not giving her up. I want her. But I know that what we have works even better with you there now. But after that little show you just did, Lou isn’t going to stick around.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can guarantee she is looking for a transport right now. She doesn’t like being hurt. The first thing she does is run the other direction when it happens.”

  Pain seared Sam’s chest, but he ignored it. “Better off if you ask me.”

  Jared cocked his head and studied him. His speculative gaze made Sam want to shift around.

  “Why?” Jared asked.

  “Why what?”

  “Why is she better off?” Jared asked.

  “Jesus, do I need to explain it to you?”

  Jared said nothing, but crossed his arms over his chest.

  The pain and anger that had been burning in his gut for the last few hours exploded. “Fine. I’m bad luck. Everyone around me ends up hurt in some way.”