Hard Run (Delta Force Brotherhood)

by Sheryl Nantus

  Dylan grinned. “Let’s see if we can avoid that. There’s only so much we can ask Mac for, and clearing up assault charges might be pushing our luck.”

  Finn pulled her close, into a tight hug. “That’s my girl.”

  …

  She retreated to the kitchen, finishing off her coffee as she watched the three men talk, the verbal shorthand still impossible to comprehend. Jessie brought them coffee before settling into the chair to add her voice to the discussion. A glance at the clock showed it’d be cutting it close, but she could get a visit in to Robby at the hospital before heading out to the truck stop.

  The Rest ‘n’ Relax was opening on time, no matter what.

  …

  “I don’t have to tell you to be careful.” Dylan raised one eyebrow. Trey, sitting beside him, nodded.

  They’d driven in as soon as Finn confirmed he was taking on the job.

  “You’re out of our reach for a good part of this operation. We have some connections in Mexico except they’d take some time to get to you if something goes south. Wyatt and Ace will stay at the hospital in case Robby wakes up or if Skye needs help.”

  “Good.” Finn rubbed the back of his neck, wincing at the tight muscles. “Are things set up on your end?”

  “Pristine,” Dylan said. “Mac’s in the loop. Just received an email from him confirming he’ll be ready when we need him.”

  Finn smiled, recognizing the name of one of their federal contacts. “He’s going to enjoy this.”

  “You bet. We’re handing him a nice fat juicy one, all gift wrapped and ready to go. We’ll make sure everyone goes down hard. No exceptions, no deals. At least, not from our end.” He paused. “Trust me—looking over what we’ll be giving them I doubt Mick Smith is going to see daylight until we’re all old and gray.”

  Finn glanced over to see Skye picking up her purse and heading for the door. She’d been quiet, staying in the background.

  “Hold on.” Finn stood up.

  He stopped her at the front door. “Were you going to leave without saying good-bye?” When she turned, he almost took a step back, her teary gaze startling him.

  “I didn’t want to interrupt your briefing. It’s important.”

  “Not as important to me as you are.”

  Skye nodded, sniffling as she bit down on her lower lip. “Please be careful.”

  Finn pulled her into a tight hug. “I will.” He leaned back and crossed his heart with an index finger, hoping to draw a smile out of her. “You going to be okay?”

  “No. Not a chance.” She sniffled. “When I came to see you in Las Vegas, I wanted Mick Smith dead and the gang gone. Now I don’t care about them. I don’t care if they live or die. I care about you.”

  “I’ll be fine. This is what I do, and I’m pretty damned good at it,” Finn said. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’ll come back to you. Promise.”

  Skye moved in and put her hands behind his neck. She pulled his head down and pressed her forehead to his. “Just remember I’ll be here waiting for you.”

  The kiss was soft and simple, a bittersweet reminder of what he was risking.

  She opened the door and glanced back. Her smile was forced. “Give them hell.”

  Then she was gone.

  Finn returned to the sofa and sat down.

  “Shut up,” he snapped. “Don’t even ask.”

  Dylan shrugged. “I said nothing.”

  Trey looked up from his keyboard, the laptop precariously balanced on his knees. “What? Did I miss something?”

  “You cowards.” Jessie shook her head. “I’ll say it. Break her heart, and I’ll break your balls, Finn. You hear me?” She picked up her mug. “You haul ass, you get the job done, and you get back here to her. Understood?”

  Finn laughed despite the tension in the room. “I hear you.”

  “Go rest up.” Dylan nodded. “We’ll check in with Wyatt and Ace, give them a break. They’re probably sick of each other by this point.” He took a sip of coffee and winced. “And maybe we’ll find that diner you’ve been bragging about. Get a decent cup of coffee for once.”

  “What?” Jessie asked.

  Finn retreated to the bedroom, curling up in the warm space Skye had so recently vacated. If he was going to drive almost non-stop for a full twenty-four hours, he’d need his rest.

  Even more so because Finn suspected they were in for a hell of fight on the other end of this.

  And he wouldn’t mind getting a chance to get a little payback for Robby.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Skye settled behind the counter.

  In approximately twelve hours, Finn would be here in the dark, launching himself on a dangerous mission to help clean up her town and avenge her brother.

  And she couldn’t do anything about it other than offer her support and prayers.

  She rocked back and forth on the stool and waited.

  This is what you’re going to get if things work out for you with him, her inner demon whined. Days and nights of worry.

  Skye pushed herself off the stool and paced the length of the store.

  Don’t get attached to him. He’ll leave you even if he does come back in one piece. He’s not going to stay in Whispering Willows and set up house with you.

  She picked up a clipboard and continued the inventory she’d abandoned a few days ago, trying to shush the harsh truth echoing around her mind.

  He will, she snapped back at her invisible demon, but at least he’ll be alive.

  …

  Finn slept only a few hours before his internal clock woke him. He’d had the same problem when he’d gone on previous operations. Since he knew it was pointless to try and go back to sleep, he got up and came out of the bedroom to find Jessie doing up the dishes.

  “They went to spell Ace and Wyatt.” She studied him. “You look like crap.”

  “Thanks.” He leaned back on the counter. “Guess I’m a little nervous.”

  “You’d be stupid if you weren’t.” She grabbed a towel to dry the plates. “It’s a good sign.” She grinned. “Don’t worry; I didn’t make the coffee. Dylan took over for this batch.”

  Finn smiled as he pulled a mug out of the cupboard.

  “You going to see Skye before you head out?”

  “No.” He busied himself with making his coffee, the routine keeping him busy. “I can’t say good-bye to her again. Too hard on both of us, and if something goes wrong…”

  “Don’t go there,” she warned. “And don’t mistake Skye’s silence for weakness. I’ve seen her type before. Might have started her life off as coal, but she took the pressure and turned herself into a diamond. She’s pretty taken with you,” Jessie said. “No, she didn’t say anything to me—I can see it in her eyes, the way she looks at you. I’m almost jealous.”

  “Don’t let Dylan hear you.”

  She chuckled. “I can handle him. What will you do when this is over?”

  “Depends on Robby. She won’t leave him, and I can’t ask her to. Doctor says if he doesn’t come out of the coma, he’ll have to be moved elsewhere. Maybe Los Angeles, depending on what she can afford.”

  “We could move him to Vegas,” Jessie offered. “We’ve got friends who could help out.”

  “That’d have to be her decision. I’m not going to push her to do anything.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She’d have to find some work as well. Can’t just hang out at the club waiting for me to get off shift.”

  Jessie cupped her own mug in both hands. “You’re uncomfortable as hell about this.”

  “Yeah.” He stared out the window, trying to ignore the twisting in his gut. “I don’t know if this is real. I mean…” He gestured at the living room with his coffee. “What we have is good, but I don’t know if it’s going to last.”

  She frowned. “No one knows if anything’s going to last. That shouldn’t stop us from taking the chance. Dylan and I had no idea, but that didn’t keep us from trying.
”

  He swallowed hard. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

  “She’s been hurt,” Jessie said. “Question is, do you want to help her finish healing?” She put her coffee down. “You know how Vegas works. You can’t win if you don’t play.”

  “I don’t mind taking the risks,” Finn replied. “I just wish I could bear them alone.”

  “Welcome to the club.” Jessie patted his shoulder.

  …

  A few hours later, Finn sat in the parking lot of the Broken Spoke, wondering if he’d been found out.

  The instructions had come through loud and clear in a text message from Jake. Go to the bar at two in the morning and stay in the parking lot. Stay inside the truck. Don’t call Jake back. Don’t do anything other than sit until Jake made contact.

  It was now quarter after three, but Finn wasn’t moving. He’d stay until the sun rose and/or the police came to throw him out.

  Some people didn’t run on exact time.

  He studied the row of motorcycles at the front of the bar. The chromed beasts of burden were perfectly lined up and anyone walking into the bar gave them a wide berth, obviously terrified of bumping into one and knocking them over. It would make a good comedy routine except Finn suspected you only touched those bikes once.

  A police car slowly rolled by, the officer studying the parking lot. Finn didn’t slouch down or do anything to either draw attention to himself or divert it away.

  The car moved by without incident.

  A few minutes later, a motorcycle rolled into the parking lot and came up beside his truck. The rider cut the engine and flicked out the kickstand with a quick pump of his boot.

  Jake.

  The white-haired man got off his bike. He walked over to the truck and looked at Finn. “You ready to go?”

  “Sure.” Finn turned the engine on, playing out the scenario. “Pull out, and I’ll follow you.”

  “Nope. That’s not how it’s working tonight.” Jake shook his head. “Turn it off and get out.”

  Finn frowned for a second before nodding. “Sure.”

  Jake stood there, hands on his hips, and waited.

  Finn stepped down slowly, seeing the tension in the man’s face. His neck muscles were tight, and his cold blue eyes held a steely determination Finn hadn’t seen before.

  There would be no joking around tonight.

  “Hands on the truck.” Jake made a gesture.

  Finn complied, following instructions.

  Jake patted him down, searching his leather jacket. He extracted the cell phone and tossed it into the truck through the open window. “You won’t need that.”

  Finn stayed silent. He had one of Trey’s trackers inside his boot, keeping him on the Brotherhood’s radar.

  Jake flipped through Finn’s wallet, grunting as he glanced at the falsified identification. “You’ve got twenty-three bucks in here.”

  Finn risked looking over his shoulder. “I figure you’d be buying tonight.”

  Jake grinned, breaking some of the tension. “Smart-ass. Turn around.” He tossed the wallet at Finn. “Get on the back of my bike.”

  Finn hesitated. “What?” Thanks to the video, he was aware of the routine—bringing the driver to the site, leaving him at the gang’s mercy—but he played along since, in theory, he wouldn’t know the plan.

  Jake went to his bike and straddled the machine. “Get on.” He frowned when Finn didn’t immediately move. “Am I not making myself clear?”

  “Right.” Finn settled on the leather cushion. “So, you do this a lot?” He decided to push Jake a bit, see if their friendship could work for him.

  Jake twisted to look at him. “More often than you think. Now shut up and hold on.”

  Finn tried to say something, but had his words tossed back at him as the engine noise enveloped him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jake picked the most circuitous route to the truck stop, racing through empty parking lots and dark alleys for a good fifteen minutes before heading onto the highway.

  Finn had stayed silent, playing his part.

  Jake drove around the convenience store three times, giving Finn a full view of the shuttered business.

  His thoughts flew to Skye.

  He imagined her sitting inside, shivering and terrified in the dark, waiting for Mick Smith to find her.

  Finn ground his teeth as they came to a stop.

  Not on my watch.

  Never again.

  Jake slowed and stopped the bike. He glanced back at Finn and nodded.

  Finn stepped off the bike to face Mick and a handful of gang members standing by a Ford Charger.

  The dark blue car had been sitting there when he and Jake arrived. If the gang was keeping to what Finn suspected was procedure, it’d be filled with cash in secret panels, ready to pay for the heroin at the end of Finn’s drive.

  Mick glared at Finn as if he’d stepped in something sticky and stinky. The riding crop hung from his wrist, secured by a leather strap.

  He held the keys out to Finn. “There’s a map inside the car. Lists which roads to take and when to take them. Don’t go off the map, because you’ll never find your way back, and we won’t come looking for you. Envelope has a hundred bucks for gas and food. Another hundred for your advance.” One edge of his mouth twisted up in a sneer. “We don’t do that GPS stuff so no cell phone, no computer maps. Follow the instructions, and don’t screw around. Drive down, let the garage do their thing, then return. No strip clubs, no bars.” His eyes had locked with Finn’s, dark and foreboding. “Are we clear on this?”

  “Crystal.”

  Mick’s eyes narrowed, studying him.

  Finn didn’t flinch, didn’t look away from the dark stare.

  I’ll take you down, you bastard. Make you pay for Robby and all the lives you’ve ruined with your drugs.

  Mick nodded. “See you tomorrow night.”

  Finn smiled in spite of himself. “You sure as hell will.”

  …

  Skye had woken up alone in bed, automatically listening for the familiar sounds of Finn wandering through the rooms, preparing breakfast, or calling in to Dylan.

  Then memories rushed back, reminding her of the new reality around her.

  He wasn’t in the apartment.

  He was gone, putting himself in danger.

  She wished away the nervous knot curdling in her stomach. She could imagine Finn’s voice next to her ear, his body pressed against hers.

  Get up, get going. Don’t worry about me. Go take care of Robby.

  Skye threw off the sheets and forced herself upright. There was work to be done.

  After dressing, she padded out to find her kitchen occupied, Jessie loading up a plate with a stack of pancakes.

  “Can I get you a plate?” Dylan offered.

  “No, no.” She drew a deep breath. “I usually eat at the hospital with Robby before I go out to the truck stop.”

  “Okay.” Dylan smiled. “Finn’s on our radar. He’s fine.”

  For now.

  “We’ll call if anything happens. Promise.” Dylan crossed his heart.

  “Okay. I’ve got to go.” It was impossible to stay in the apartment, waiting and watching the tiny blip move on the computer screen.

  Jessie caught her before she reached the front door. “He’ll be fine. Finn’s made of steel.”

  “I know,” Skye replied. “But even steel can break under enough pressure.”

  Before Jessie replied, she was out the door.

  She pushed herself through breakfast at the hospital with Robby, then headed out to the Rest ‘n’ Relax.

  The road leading to the truck stop was quiet—deathly quiet. She shook off the sense of entering a graveyard as the Jeep bumped up onto the asphalt and into the empty parking lot.

  She imagined the car ready and waiting to go with Finn taking the wheel, the Wolf standing by and staring at him.

  Skye parked the Jeep and got out, forcing hersel
f walk to the back door.

  Enjoy your last few hours of freedom, Smith, before they drag you off and toss you in a cell so deep you’ll never see sunlight again.

  She busied herself restocking the shelves and rearranging the signs, anything to keep her mind off Finn. It was impossible—every connection she could make to him, she did.

  The cookies. The chips. The chocolate syrup.

  Her face burned, and she turned to count the packets of ramen noodles, grateful for her inability to link those to herself or Finn.

  It was late afternoon when her cell phone rang.

  It’s too early.

  Her throat closed, panic barely held at bay.

  She picked up the phone and stared at the caller ID.

  The hospital.

  She fought for air, gripping the edges of the counter so hard her nails dug into the plastic molding. Skye touched the tiny screen, mentally saying a prayer.

  “Hello?”

  Pat’s clipped words took a few seconds to sink in, and when they did, they sent her heart into overdrive.

  They needed her at the hospital.

  Robby needed her.

  She blazed through green lights and chased down yellow ones to get to the hospital.

  The Jeep had barely come to a stop in the parking lot when she bolted from it, ignoring the attendant waving a ticket at her. She charged at the automatic doors at the entrance, not slowing down as she ran around slower pedestrians in her path.

  They slid open just in time for her to twist sideways and make it through, one hand slapping the dense glass.

  She skidded to a stop in front of the elevator, almost knocking over a couple waiting patiently. One glance at the floor numbers and Skye bolted for the nearby stairwell, unwilling to wait.

  They slowed her down only enough to make her breathless and keep her from screaming as she burst through the door to Robby’s floor. Using the last of her strength, she ran down the hall, ignoring the angry looks from staff and visitors as she zigged and zagged between them.

  There was no one nearby as she reached the door to Robby’s room, pushing it open and charging through.

  She stopped at the bottom of the bed, panting for breath as she stared at her brother. His face was wet with sweat, his black hair clinging to his forehead and cheeks.