That was his last thought when sleep overtook him.
Chapter Twenty
Myles jerked his eyes open, and his gaze went immediately to the bed. He thought Geneva had been the one to wake him. Instead, it was his cell phone vibrating in his front pants pocket.
Standing and heading to the bedroom door, he dug the device out and saw Laz’s name on the screen. His friend wouldn’t call that time of night—or in this case, morning—if it wasn’t important.
Maybe he has news.
Laz was the most resourceful person he knew. If anyone could get Myles answers, it was him.
“Yeah,” Myles answered once he was in the hallway.
“I got something,” Laz said by way of greeting. “Well, actually, I know someone who knows something, but he’s only willing to talk to you.”
“Who is it?”
“Can’t tell you. Otherwise, you might not show up.”
Myles frowned. “Show up where?”
“Supreme.”
“So, let me get this right,” Myles said as he strolled to the kitchen, suddenly thirsty. He grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “You found someone who might have a lead on the asshole who might be hunting Geneva or me, but you’re not gonna give me a name? What type of bullshit is this?”
Laz chuckled. “It’s straight up. These are his terms. Not sure what that’s about, but I’d trust the information.”
His specific words didn’t go unnoticed. I’d trust the information. In this context, that was code for the info was probably solid, but he didn’t necessarily trust the person. It also probably meant the person was nearby. Meaning they were already at Supreme’s offices, since Laz was on duty tonight.
Egypt, under orders from Mason, had worked out a schedule that had at least a few security specialists at the office 24/7. People needing protection called on their services all times of the day or night, and the executive office wanted to make sure staffing was always covered.
“Whose idea was it to meet at Supreme?” Myles asked and took a huge swig of water.
“Mine. How fast can you get here?”
“Give me forty-five minutes,” Myles said. He probably could’ve shaved ten or fifteen minutes off of the time, but he needed to get someone from his team to ride with him.
When Mason insisted that Myles, Geneva, and Collin stay on his property, he also said he didn’t want Myles traveling around town alone.
It wasn’t about control or favoritism. Mason would do that for any one of his people. Atlanta’s Finest was more than just a team of security specialists. They were family. Myles had witnessed over and over how everyone looked out for each other, which was why he had joined Supreme full-time a few years ago.
Like most of the people he worked with, he started off doing a few jobs here and there for the company. It was a chance for Mason to see how he operated and an opportunity for Myles to determine what type of company Supreme really was. Signing on full-time had been one of his best decisions, and that was proven every day that he was employed.
“I’ll see you in a few.”
*
Myles rode in the back seat of one of Supreme Security’s SUVs. He hated leaving Geneva and Collin at the house in the middle of the night, even if they weren’t alone. There were security specialists posted at both entrances of the guest house, and the property was secure. Yet, Myles worried about the two most important people in his life.
He shook his head as he stared out into the night. How had he let this happen? What had he been thinking by allowing Geneva into his solitary life?
“So, who’s the person you’re meeting with?” Angelo asked from the driver’s seat.
Angelo González, one of Myles’s best friends, had been on an assignment for the past couple of weeks. Myles hadn’t seen him and hadn’t known that he was on duty tonight. Not until Kenton told him that he and Angelo was Myles’s shadow until further notice. According to them, Mason wanted at least two people with Myles at all times, and he wanted him to be treated like a client.
Myles was used to operating alone. He didn’t like drawing attention to himself, and he definitely didn’t want any special treatment. They all were coworkers and friends, and that’s how he wanted to be treated.
“Laz didn’t say,” he finally answered. “I’m assuming it’s one of his old CIs.”
When Laz was a detective with the Atlanta Police Department, he’d had quite the reputation. He was one of the best in his field, always solving his cases and catching the perp. From what Myles had heard, some of his friend’s methods had been questionable. Considering some of his assignments with the CIA, Myles would be the last person to judge anyone on how they got their job done.
Angelo turned onto the dark street in Midtown where Supreme was located. The huge converted warehouse was nondescript and took up most of the block. He drove around to the back of the building, where the employees parked. As he pulled up to the ten-foot-tall security fence, the heavy gate eased opened for them to enter.
“Just let me out at the door,” Myles said as he unfastened his seatbelt. Angelo did, but before Myles could open the back door, Kenton had it open.
Myles glared at him, not missing the way the big man’s lips twitched. They knew Myles hated the extra attention.
“Don’t even think about walking me inside,” Myles grumbled and shoved past him.
“No need. Parker and Laz will be shadowing you while you’re inside. Just holler when you’re ready to head home,” Kenton said, closing the back door and climbing back in the passenger seat.
Myles was still grumbling when he entered his security code. After he placed his thumb on the clear panel, an extra security measure, the door unlocked. He strolled into the building, and sure enough, Parker was right there.
“How’s it going, man?” Parker asked and fell in step with Myles.
“I’d be doing better if I didn’t have you knuckleheads following me everywhere I go.”
Parker chuckled. “It’s for your own good.”
“I’m perfectly safe here. Go back and do whatever it is you were doing, but first, where’s Laz?”
“Conference room B,” Parker said of one of the smaller meeting rooms.
Myles headed down the long hallway toward the front of the building, the soft soles of his Timberlands quiet against the travertine floor. He stopped at the second door on the right and walked in, but froze when he saw the person sitting at the long conference table.
“What the hell is he doing here?” he growled, his gaze shifting from Reuben to Laz.
Laz was leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. He looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but Myles knew better. His friend might appear cool and disinterested, but the former detective was always alert, ready for anything that might happen. Across from him, sitting at the long table, Reuben appeared just as uninterested.
“What’s going on here?” Myles asked Laz and didn’t bother addressing Reuben.
Laz pushed away from the wall. “I knew you wouldn’t show up or listen if I told you who the source was.” He pulled out the chair in front of him. “Hear the guy out.”
Myles remained near the door. “Why? Why the heck should I listen to anything he has to say? It’s not like I’m going to believe him.”
“Fine by me. I’m out.” Reuben stood but stopped when Laz lifted a hand.
“You’re going to want to hear what he has to say.”
Myles huffed out a breath. Laz had never steered him wrong, and if he believed the guy, that meant Myles would, too. He just didn’t like it.
He strolled to the table. Reuben reclaimed his seat, and Laz dropped down in the chair that he had pulled out. Myles sat next to him, which put him directly across from Reuben.
“What was so important that you’re here in the middle of the night insisting we meet in person?” Myles asked.
Reuben tapped his fingers against the mahogany table, then frowned. “If
it weren’t for Geneva, my ass wouldn’t be here trying to give you a heads-up.”
Myles stiffened, and his anger simmered just below the surface at the mention of Geneva. Usually, he didn’t get riled that quickly, but he wasn’t his usual self when it came to her. It didn’t help that he knew Reuben had a thing for her, something the man hadn’t kept a secret. It was in his eyes each time he looked at her, and that just pissed Myles off even more.
“Don’t let her name come out of your mouth when I’m around,” he said, his tone deadly. “You either tell me what this is all about, or I’m out.”
“Fine. Go. I don’t give a damn about you. I’m only here because I don’t want her to get killed while someone is hunting for you. You know what?” He stood suddenly, practically knocking the chair over. “Maybe I should just keep the information to myself.”
“Dammit, Reuben. Sit your ass down and tell him,” Laz snapped.
Reuben dropped back into the chair. “Word on the street is that you pissed the wrong person off.”
“Who? Just tell me who.”
“Some military dude out for revenge. He’s the one that shot up your car and tried to kill you and Gen.” He glared at Myles as if he wanted to rip his heart out. “She could’ve died. You try to act all big and bad. Yet, my girl got hurt on your watch. Just know, if she’d been with me, she wouldn’t have gotten a scratch on her, and the son of a bitch who ran you guys down would be dead.”
Myles tried to remain calm. On the outside, he might’ve looked as if he was in control, but on the inside, that anger from earlier was veering into rage territory. He hated this man. The reasons were many, but hearing him call Geneva his girl had Myles seeing red.
It didn’t help that Reuben had hit a nerve. Myles should’ve protected her better. He shouldn’t have let her out of his sight in the first place. But the fact that Reuben thought he could take care of her better than he did made Myles want to strangle him. Even if he decided to leave town…leave Geneva, he’d be damned if she ended up with this asshole.
Laz bumped his leg, bringing Myles back to the conversation at hand.
“Does this military guy have a name?” Myles asked, trying to control the frustration in his voice. Was Reuben setting him up? Or was he really doing this to help protect Geneva?
“Cyrus. His name is Cyrus, but I don’t have a last name. All I know is he’s taking out people who know you, and he started with that CIA lady. You know the one. Your baby’s momma.”
Myles stilled. His pulse amped up as unease clawed through his veins. Nothing about Whitney was in the news, nor was it public knowledge. And there sure as hell wasn’t anything out there about Collin. At least that’s what Myles thought. They’d been so careful at shielding him.
Apparently, not careful enough.
Reuben chuckled and leaned back in his seat with his arms folded across his chest. “Don’t look so surprised. I know people. My reach is long and wide, and when you started hanging with Gen, I had you checked out. Don’t worry, though. Your secrets are safe with me, at least most of them.”
Myles lunged out of his seat and slid across the table with such force, he knocked Reuben out of his seat. Myles’s hands were around his neck when they thudded to the floor. If the former gangbanger’s wide eyes were any indication, Myles had totally caught him off guard.
“Dammit, Myles! Let him go,” Laz ground out as he tried pulling Myles off of the man.
“If you ever come near my family, and that includes Geneva, I will kill you with my bare hands,” he snarled in a low, threatening tone and tightened his grip. Reuben clawed at Myles’s hands, then went for his face, but Myles dodged his jab.
“Let him go!” Laz roared.
The conference room door flew open, and Myles heard Parker curse before he felt several hands on him. He gave the man’s neck one more squeeze before releasing him.
Myles backed away and cringed as his shoulder wound throbbed like it had a damn heartbeat. Yet, the pain was no comparison to the anger roaring inside of him. He hated this man more than he hated anyone, and it was taking all of his restraint not to go after him again.
Coughing and gagging, Reuben stumbled to his feet with his hand on his throat. His watery eyes glared at Myles. “You know what?” he wheezed. “I was trying to help your crazy ass because of Geneva, but I hope the guy blows your brains out. Know why? Because when you’re gone, Gen will be all mine, and you better believe that I’m going to tap that—”
“Enough!” Laz roared and got in the man’s face. “Let’s go. You’re out of here.” Laz shoved him toward the door
“All right. Okay. I’m going,” Reuben said and glanced over his shoulder at Myles. “Watch your back, CIA man. Watch your back.”
When they left the room, Myles gently rubbed his shoulder, trying to work out the ache without touching the wound. He reclaimed his seat at the conference table while his mind raced frantically, going over and over all that Reuben had said.
It was already disturbing knowing there was some guy out there, possibly named Cyrus, who could’ve been responsible for Whitney’s death and the shooting. But what bothered Myles just as much was how much Reuben knew about his personal life. He didn’t give a damn how long the man’s reach was in that city. He didn’t like anyone knowing his business unless he shared it himself.
Laz sauntered back into the conference room, carrying two cups of coffee. He set one of the mugs in front of Myles, then took the seat that Reuben had vacated.
“I figured you’d probably want all of your brain cells intact and wouldn’t want alcohol. So, I opted for coffee instead.”
“Thanks.” Myles brought the large mug to his mouth and took a careful sip of the steaming brew. He studied his friend across the table before asking, “How did Reuben know so much about me?”
“I have no idea, but like he said, dude is well connected. The gang he used to be a member of—”
“Used to be?” Myles ground out, getting pissed all over again. “You’re telling me that you don’t think that bastard is still running with the Devils?”
Laz sighed heavily. “As far as I know, he’s no longer affiliated with them, but some of his boys are still part of the crew. Minauros Devils operate more like organized crime than just a neighborhood gang. Not only are they one of the most dangerous gangs in the city, but they have their hands in a little bit of everything. It’s possible he got his information from them.”
“How’d you and Reuben hook up today? Did he come to you, or did you go to him?”
Laz took a long time to respond. So long, in fact, Myles thought he wouldn’t answer the questions.
His friend huffed out a long breath before saying, “Reuben used to be one of my informants…off the books. He helped me with a lot of cases, and after he got out of the joint, I kept up with him.”
Myles wouldn’t be surprised if Laz were the reason Reuben was still alive. Loyalty was big for gang members. If the Devils knew one of their own was a snitch, they would’ve handled Reuben. Whether behind bars or on the street, they would’ve killed him and then fed him to the sharks years ago.
“You think he’s reformed?” Myles asked.
“I think he wants to be, but that life is not easy to walk away from.”
“Damn. What’s this world coming to?” Myles asked. “A gang member who is also a CI, and his ass is a snitch. That’s a dangerous combination.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Laz slouched in his seat and put his hands behind his head. “Let’s talk about this Cyrus dude. Does the name ring a bell? Any idea who he might be?”
“No clue. I’m not even sure I believe Reuben. For all we know, he could’ve been the one shooting at us that night.”
“He wasn’t,” Laz said confidently. “He knows Geneva is family, and he knows what I would do to him if he even acted like he wanted to hurt her. Like I said before, I trust the information. If he says the man’s name is Cyrus, then I believe him.”
Myles didn’t speak
for a long time. He brought the coffee mug up to his mouth and glanced over the rim of it at Laz. Most of the guys at Supreme Security had a story. Most had been through crap that they preferred not to discuss, especially Laz. The man was complex and dangerous, but what he lacked in morals, he made up for in loyalty.
“If Reuben’s right about the man—this Cyrus—we should be able to cross-reference his name with the list of tenant names we received earlier.”
“Yeah, but that’s going to take forever.”
Myles felt a burst of renewed energy. “Well, I guess we should get started.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Geneva ignored the warmth from the sun peeking through the blinds and heating her face. She also tried to block out the smell of breakfast food, specifically bacon, that teased her nostrils. Instead, she nestled deeper into the most comfortable pillow she’d ever laid on. That is until she opened her eyes and realized she had an audience.
Collin and Coco were sitting on Myles’s side of the bed, staring at her.
What the heck?
Geneva lifted her head slightly and squinted at them. Collin looked as if he’d been up for hours. With his face washed and hair brushed, he was dressed in a football jersey and blue jeans. She must’ve been more tired than she realized. She hadn’t even heard them enter the room, let alone climb onto the bed.
Her attention went to her fur baby. “Down, Coco,” she said groggily, feeling as if she could use a couple of more hours of sleep. “You know you’re not supposed to be on the bed. Get down. Now.”
The dog whimpered, then scooted closer, snuggling up to her while giving her those puppy-dog eyes, the ones she couldn’t resist. The damn dog had too much sense. Sometimes she wondered if the animal wasn’t part human.
Geneva couldn’t help putting her arm around Coco and scratching behind her puppy’s ear. “You’re not slick. You know you’re not supposed to be on the bed.”
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