Operation Unleashed

by Justine Davis

  “That blows bluffing,” Quinn said. “He’ll be too paranoid now.”

  Then the dog’s obvious urgency got through to her. “Luke,” she exclaimed. “Do you think he’s in there right now?”

  “I can’t think of another reason why he’d do this,” Hayley said, her voice reflecting that urgency for the first time.

  “Let me go,” Alyssa said suddenly. “If Baird sees me he’ll be so startled, it will take him off guard.”

  “Lyss,” Drew protested, clearly not liking that idea.

  “She has a point,” Quinn said.

  “And if Oliver’s armed, she could get herself shot,” Drew said.

  “That’s my decision,” Alyssa said. “My risk to take.”

  “No,” Drew said, his voice tight. “It’s not just you you’re risking. It’s Luke, too. He can’t lose his mother. I’ll go.”

  “Baird will be afraid of you,” she said. “So he might do something stupid.”

  “He’s got my son, why would he be afraid of me?”

  “Because people like Baird are always afraid of men like you.”

  “Truer words never spoken,” Hayley said.

  Quinn glanced at her, then back at Cutter. Then he spoke to the team. “Liam, Rafe, hold. I’m going to work around to where Cutter is.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “Drew, no,” Alyssa said.

  “All due respect, you should stay here,” Quinn said.

  “I’m not standing here on the sidelines.”

  Quinn studied him for a moment.

  “This is my son we’re talking about.”

  “And he can’t lose his father, either,” Alyssa said.

  For a moment Drew just looked at her, an odd sort of light in his eyes.

  “Trust me,” he said softly.

  “I always trust you,” she answered. And realized it was nothing less than the truth. She trusted this man, with her life and more, with Luke’s.

  Quinn, sounding regretful, ended the conversation. “We need to move. If we can get Luke out, maybe we can just leave Oliver to the hopefully not tender mercies of the sheriff.”

  “Not sure I want to be that merciful,” Drew said grimly. But he was glad Quinn had decided not to fight him.

  “I get that,” Quinn said. Then, to Hayley, “I’ll let you know. Both of you stay put unless you have to move.”

  She nodded, and Quinn turned and started through the trees. Drew followed. For a couple of big men, Alyssa thought, they moved with amazing quiet. But Quinn was trained, and Drew had grown up here. The branches they brushed past went back into place and they were gone, invisible even though they could only be a few feet away.

  “I should be there,” Alyssa said, staring at the shed where Cutter was twisted awkwardly, still digging, clearly trying to make room to wiggle through. She wondered what good getting underneath the shed would do, but if Luke was in there, maybe he just wanted to get closer.

  “I understand,” Hayley said, “But it’s the nature of a warrior. They’ll worry about you when they should be focused solely on Luke.”

  She looked at the other woman. She saw the sense of her words, but couldn’t help saying, “Warrior? Quinn, yes, and Rafe obviously, but Drew?”

  Hayley met her gaze levelly. “Right now? Yes. Or Quinn wouldn’t have let him go at all.”

  It seemed like eons, but Alyssa was sure it was probably only moments before Hayley put her hand up to her ear, then looked at them. “Quinn says Cutter found a rotted section of the shed floor. He might actually be able to get in. He’ll help keep Luke calm. They’re going to try and help him wiggle through without making so much noise it alerts Oliver.”

  Alyssa’s breath stopped in her throat. The thought of Baird discovering them when they were this close to finding Luke terrified her. What would he do? He had to know he needed Luke alive to get paid, but if something went wrong...

  She watched as a figure emerged from the trees and headed for Cutter. Her breath stopped yet again as she realized it wasn’t Quinn, but Drew. Then Quinn emerged, and walked to the corner of the shed away from the house, weapon drawn and clearly ready to cover both Drew and Cutter.

  Drew knelt beside the dog, who didn’t even spare him a glance. He laid a hand on the dog’s back, and Alyssa saw that he said something. Cutter backed out of the hole he’d made, but didn’t look happy about it. Drew reached down into the hole the dog had dug, then laid down so he could reach further. Quinn leaned around the corner of the shed to look at the house, blocking her view of Drew and Cutter.

  Alyssa waited, tension building until gritting her teeth was the only thing that kept her from screaming out her dread. Drew would keep him safe, she told herself. He would do whatever it took to keep Luke safe. He always had. He always would.

  Then three things happened simultaneously.

  Hayley touched her ear and said, “Cutter’s in.”

  The back door of the house opened and Baird stepped out.

  And she realized with a jolt that she loved her husband.

  Chapter 31

  He looked scruffy. Baird had never been the snappy dresser Doug had been, but then, he’d never had his charm and good looks to emphasize either. His jeans were ragged and droopy, his shirt looked dirty, and the green jacket was torn. Alyssa remembered the piece of fabric they’d found near Drew’s office, and guessed they had the proof now it had been Baird that day.

  He still had his hair buzzed, and it showed the oddly bumpy contours of his head. She’d told him once he should let it grow a little, it would be more attractive, and he’d made such a crude joke she’d barely spoken to him from then on.

  He said she’s the whiny, good-girl type. Good for sex, but not much else. He said I could do her, if I wanted.

  The image of that video, the one that had shifted her perceptions of Doug so completely, hammered at her as she watched the man walk across the backyard of the house. Alone.

  Toward the shed.

  Toward Luke.

  She was sure of it now. She wasn’t certain when she’d come to trust Cutter’s instincts so much, but she did. It was the only thing that made sense. Luke had to be in there, to make the dog so crazy. She looked at Hayley, who was listening intently.

  “Rafe has him,” she assured Alyssa. “He won’t get to Luke.”

  “Will he shoot him?” To her surprise, she was almost hoping he would. Amazing how her aversion to violence vanished when her son was in danger.

  “Not unless he has to.” Hayley smiled encouragingly. “Rafe says he stays with Foxworth because we’re so good he rarely has to.” She stopped, clearly listening. “Quinn says Drew confirms someone’s in the shed,” she relayed. “He wants to go around to the door and break it down.”

  “But Baird would see him,” Alyssa said.

  “That’s why Quinn said no. And don’t forget, Cutter’s inside,” she reminded them. “Oliver’s going to get a shock if he gets that far.”

  Baird stopped. He looked around. For an instant Alyssa was afraid to breathe again, afraid he’d heard them, or somehow sensed they were here. But he was looking up more than anything, and when he took a cell phone out of his jacket pocket, looked at it, then moved a few feet, she realized he must be looking for a spot with a stronger signal. Unfortunately, that put him even closer to them, and they froze in place. He was barely fifteen feet away now. Alyssa stared at him through the screen of branches as he tapped on the phone, then put it to his ear.

  Her cell phone rang.

  For an instant nothing happened. All four of them seemed frozen in shock. Then again, three things happened simultaneously.

  She grabbed for her phone to silence it, even knowing it was too late.

  Baird turned toward them, eliminating any h
ope he hadn’t heard.

  Alyssa did the only thing she could think of. She answered the phone.

  “Baird?” she said.

  His head snapped back around, as if he were totally confused. He’d never been the brightest bulb, so she pressed her advantage.

  “I’ve been waiting for your call. I’ve got your money.”

  “What?”

  He was looking around now, as if he was wondering if he’d imagined hearing that ring. Hayley had turned away, was whispering rapidly, clearly telling Quinn what had happened.

  Telling him their client was an idiot who didn’t even think to silence her phone when her own son’s life was at stake.

  “Your money,” she said. “All one million of it.”

  That stopped him. She saw a tight little smile cross his face. “Good,” he said, apparently distracted now.

  “It’s heavy, though, you’re going to have to help me with it.”

  “Where are you?” He looked back toward the trees, as if he’d just remembered.

  “I’m at Drew’s office,” she improvised. “You know where that is, don’t you? You were there, after all.”

  “What the— Don’t bullshit me, woman. You’re here, aren’t you? I heard a phone ring, right here.”

  She gave the best laugh she could. “Phones have changed a lot since you were in prison, Baird. Didn’t you know you can hear the other person’s ring on your speaker now?”

  It was lame, but the best she could do.

  “Keep him talking,” Hayley whispered. “They’re going in.”

  “Just listen, Baird,” Alyssa said, trying to keep her voice level. “I’ve got the money, now you have to tell me where to bring it.”

  “Aren’t you even gonna ask about your kid?” He sounded suspicious. It took everything she had to keep from screaming at him. The man was still looking in their direction, scanning the trees, clearly not convinced. She was grateful, now, because it meant he wasn’t looking at the shed. But she was, and she saw Drew and Quinn at the door working at opening it.

  She felt a surge of confidence. She looked back at the man who had gotten Doug killed, and who now was threatening to destroy her life all over again. He was not going to win. She wouldn’t let him.

  “Come on, Baird,” she said. “I know you, remember? You’re not stupid enough to hurt him. Or are you?” His intelligence—or lack thereof—had always been a sore spot with Baird, and if it would keep him diverted she had no aversion to jabbing at it.

  Hayley touched her arm. Gestured toward the shed. They were in. They’d somehow managed to do it without drawing Baird’s attention. Or she’d kept him just distracted enough.

  “I’m not stupid,” Baird said sharply, just as she’d expected.

  “That’s what I just said, isn’t it?”

  “Don’t you forget it, either.”

  “You just want what’s coming to you, right?” Alyssa said into the phone.

  “All I ever wanted,” he said, his voice taking on the self-righteous tone she remembered.

  Hayley grabbed her arm. Alyssa looked at her. She was smiling. Widely. Nodding. Giving a delighted thumbs-up.

  They had Luke.

  Relief flooded her, making her weak in the knees.

  “Baird,” she said into the phone, “that’s what you’re going to get. Exactly what’s coming to you.”

  Something in her voice must have warned him, because he looked over his shoulder at the shed. Just in time to see Drew stepping out, covered by Quinn, Cutter dancing at their side, looking up at the blanket-wrapped shape Drew held.

  Held. Was Luke hurt? Worse? Her relief vanished, replaced by an impossible dread, which vanished when she saw Luke move, wiggling to look down at the delighted Cutter.

  Her head snapped back around as Baird swore. He dropped the phone and reaching toward the small of his back with his left hand. Tugged at something, shoving his ripped green jacket out of the way until she saw what he was going for.

  A gun.

  Time stopped for an instant as she stared. The two people she loved most were out in the open, clear targets. She was the closest to the threat. Then he freed the weapon and she knew she had to do something. She was only vaguely aware of Hayley behind her, calling out “Gun!” to the others over the comlink.

  Baird aimed the pistol toward the shed. Heedless of the danger Alyssa ran. She cleared the trees in the split-second before he fired. Terror filled her as, out of the corner of her eye she saw Drew hit the ground. The shot was still echoing as she shouted.

  “Baird!”

  The man turned, startled. And his hand, holding the small, black automatic, moved with him. In that split-second another shot rang out. Baird screamed. Dropped the gun. Grabbed at his left shoulder as he staggered back.

  Alyssa heard a trumpeting bark she recognized, but she didn’t look away from Baird, whose expression of surprise was now shifting to a contorted mask of pain and fury. He was clutching his shoulder, blood already dripping through his fingers.

  Then, in an instant, everything changed. The fury in the man’s face became fear. Alyssa turned her head.

  Cutter.

  The big dog was coming at a dead run, no longer barking. If she’d ever seen an animal intent on mayhem, this was him. He barreled into Baird before the man could move, knocking him down and snarling into his face with a ferocity that astonished Alyssa from the usually quiet or playful Cutter. She was so startled she barely thought to kick the weapon he’d dropped out of his reach.

  “Don’t move,” Hayley said to Baird from behind her. “He’ll rip your throat out. And I’ll let him.”

  And then Quinn was there, bending to pick up the weapon Alyssa had kicked aside. “And if he doesn’t, I may just shoot you for the sheer pleasure of it,” he said.

  Alyssa didn’t wait, she ran to Drew, who was up on one elbow now. She went to her knees beside him, trembling.

  “Drew!” She ran her hands over him, searching for blood.

  “Lyss?” His voice sounded strained as he stared at her. Was he in pain? She couldn’t find a wound. But he sounded so odd. She met his gaze then. His eyes looked strange. Different. Vulnerable.

  “Please,” she whispered. “You’re okay?”

  “Oliver?” he asked.

  Then Quinn was back, crouching beside them.

  “He’s down,” he said. “I let Rafe take the shot, he’s better even at that distance. That shot Oliver got off hit you?”

  “No. I’m fine. We need to get Luke.”

  “Luke!” Alyssa exclaimed, astonished at herself for having even momentarily let him slip out of her mind. “Where is he?”

  “I told him to run into the woods when the shooting started,” Drew said as he got to his feet.

  “After you threw yourself on him, put yourself between him and the line of fire,” Quinn said, but it was more admiring than critical.

  “You’re sure you’re all right?” Alyssa asked, still not convinced.

  “I’m fine,” he repeated. And there was still a trace of that odd expression on his face when he looked at her. She couldn’t help herself, she went to him, put her arms around him. After a second’s hesitation he returned the embrace.

  How on earth was she going to tell him? she wondered. Would he even believe, after all this time, that it was him she loved, not his brother?

  Luke first, she told herself as Hayley arrived, Liam at her heels. Once she was assured no one was hurt, she spoke rapidly. “Teague’s here. He and Cutter have Oliver.”

  “We need to find Luke. He’ll be scared by now,” Drew said. “I told him run as fast as he could, and not to come to anybody but one of us.”

  Quinn stood. Let out the piercing whistle they’d heard before. In mere seconds, they saw C
utter racing toward them from the road above the house.

  “Liam, put on that tracking hat of yours.”

  “Yes, sir,” he said as Cutter reached them. “Come on, boy. Let’s find Luke.”

  Without hesitation the dog spun on his hindquarters and headed into the trees. Alyssa looked at Drew, who shook his head wonderingly. “Exactly the spot,” he said.

  “Why am I not surprised?” Alyssa asked, feeling remarkably calm now. Cutter would find Luke, she knew it.

  And in just a couple of minutes, she was proven right. Quinn tilted his head as if listening, then smiled. “Copy that.”

  “He’s fine,” Quinn assured them. “Liam’s got him. He’s a bit dirty and hungry, but fine. Consuming sugar, no doubt. You know Liam, he’s always got a candy bar handy.”

  “I need to see him,” Alyssa said.

  “Of course,” Hayley said. “You both do. Let’s get the Kiley family back together again.”

  Chapter 32

  “He told me he was a friend of my father’s,” Luke said. Drew watched the boy look up at Alyssa. “He said you wouldn’t let him see me, even though he wanted to. That’s why he grabbed me.”

  “He knew your father,” she said, “but he wasn’t his friend.”

  Luke smiled, then said earnestly, “I didn’t believe him. He got mad, and tied me up and put me in that shed for the longest time, with tape on my mouth. I got really scared. But then Cutter was there, and I knew it would be okay,” Luke said, petting the dog who was leaning against the couch where Alyssa sat with her son on her lap.

  “You knew he’d save you, huh?” Drew asked, reaching out to scratch the dog’s ear himself.

  “No,” Luke said, lifting his gaze to meet Drew’s. “I knew you would.”

  Drew’s breath caught in his throat. He stared at the boy he loved possibly more than if he’d been his own son.

  “See,” Luke said when he didn’t speak, “I knew if Cutter was there, you were too. So I knew you’d save me.”

  “And he did,” Alyssa said softly.

  Something in her voice, in the way she raised her eyes to his made hope leap in his chest. He quashed it, fiercely. He’d had enough of this. He couldn’t take it any longer. If nothing else, this nightmare had shown that to him. He just couldn’t go on like this anymore. Hope then despair, it was more than he could take. He had to put an end to it.