Kick A** Heroines Box Set: The UltimatumFatal AffairAfter the DarkBulletproof SEAL (The Guardian)

by Karen Robards

  She tapped the print key and heard the printer in the other room gear up. “That car may be sturdier than it looks, but I know it doesn’t have a GPS.”

  “I’ll use my phone’s GPS, but we need a plan beyond showing up on her doorstep, especially if you’re not going to out yourself.”

  “We have ten hours to think up a plan.” Rikki hopped off the stool and circled into the kitchen. “Besides, we need to get out of New Orleans. You just disabled those two guys. You didn’t eliminate them.”

  “Yeah, can you imagine me explaining two dead bodies in my hometown?”

  “At least those two dead bodies aren’t ours.” She grabbed the coffeepot and raised it. “Eggs or pancakes?”

  Two hours later, Quinn aimed his little junker car across the Pontchartrain bridge and they headed out of New Orleans.

  Rikki dozed while Quinn drove the first few hours, and she woke up trying to hold on to the last wisps of dreams about Bella. Her heart ached, and she wanted nothing more than to call Mom in Jamaica and hear her daughter’s coos and babbles.

  She slid a sidelong glance at Quinn. He’d probably want to hear his daughter, too. She had to tell him, sooner rather than later. If she waited for the perfect time, she’d never tell him. There would never be a perfect time to tell him that she’d discovered her pregnancy while on assignment in South Korea and had spent the next few months of that pregnancy locked up in a North Korean labor camp, and then believing the father of her child had tried to assassinate her. Yeah, never a perfect time for that.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Sure, why?”

  “You sighed like you meant it. Are you having second thoughts?”

  “About this trip?” About telling him about his child? “No. I know this is the right thing to do.”

  He cocked an eyebrow while drilling the road ahead with his gaze. “The right thing to do? You make it sound like a moral decision. It’s just a chance we’re taking that Belinda knows something about David’s activities before his death.”

  “I know that.” She covered his hand clenching the steering wheel with her own. “It’s nice being on the road with you. Do you want me to drive for a while?”

  “I can go for another few hours. Then we’ll stop for gas, get something to eat, and you can take the wheel.”

  “Just let me know.” She stretched her arms to the roof of the car and wiggled her fingers. “A big guy like you needs a bigger car than this.”

  “Not the best for long trips, but when I’m home I don’t drive it much. I stick with my bike.”

  “How much more leave do you have?”

  “Less than a month, and I intend to help you wrap this up before my next deployment.”

  “I appreciate it, but that’s not why I contacted you.”

  “I know.” He turned up the air. “You looked me up to find out if I was really going to kill you. How did you find out it was me behind that sniper rifle?”

  “Not telling.” She clapped a hand over her mouth.

  “Ariel. It had to be Ariel. What can you tell me about her? Are you close to her?”

  With her hand still over her mouth, Rikki shook her head.

  Quinn puffed out a breath. “Whatever. I know you female spies stick together. She’s risking a lot by keeping your secret and giving you classified information.”

  “David’s emails aren’t classified, and Ariel doesn’t work for the CIA. She’s Prospero and doesn’t report to anyone.”

  “Yeah, Jack Coburn’s black ops agency, but I didn’t realize she had such free reign.”

  “Oops, then I guess I did reveal something about her. See how that works?” She snapped her fingers. “That’s why we’re paying a visit to David’s widow.”

  “About that, now that you’ve had a nap, let’s brainstorm. Who are we and why are we there?”

  Rikki drummed her fingers on the dashboard. “We’re with the Agency. If she tried to check up on our story, she won’t be surprised if the CIA denies our existence. She and David had been married for twenty years. She knows the drill.”

  “Okay, we’re with the Agency. How about from human resources? We’re following up on some benefits? Or we’re collecting some equipment.”

  “The second scenario is more likely, since HR would just call or send an email. If we were checking up on equipment, that would explain our in-person visit.”

  Quinn skimmed his hands over the steering wheel, warming to the task. “Maybe someone already confirmed that she had David’s equipment for pickup. The fact that she doesn’t know what we’re talking about can be written off as bureaucratic red tape.”

  “Plenty of that, and your story might give us an excuse to look around.”

  He let out a short laugh and hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. “Would you let two goons from the CIA search your place?”

  “After what they did to me?” She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t let them set foot on my porch.”

  Quinn took a swig from the bottle of water in the cup holder. “I thought that was the point of this whole exercise. I thought you wanted back in at the Agency.”

  “I want my life back, my reputation. I want to be able to return to the States as Rikki Taylor without getting taken down at gunpoint.”

  “And you wouldn’t go back to the CIA if they’d have you? Does that mean you’re done with the spy business?”

  “I don’t know.” She flicked the air vent away from her and rubbed the goose bumps from her arms.

  They’d veered onto dangerous ground here. She didn’t want to talk to Quinn about the future—hers, theirs. Right now she just wanted to clear her name and be with Bella without worry. And Quinn? She’d never wanted him more, but she had to tell him about Bella.

  “Kids?”

  She choked on the water she’d just sipped. “What?”

  “Kids. Do David and Belinda have children?”

  “They don’t.”

  “Good. I mean, that makes things a little easier, and it makes sense.”

  “Does it?”

  “Why would someone in David’s line of work…or yours…want children? Just a complication.”

  Rikki stuffed her hands beneath her thighs. From the frying pan to the fire. “People do.”

  “Selfish people.”

  She reached forward and twisted the knob for the air. “It’s cold in here. So, we’re CIA paper pushers looking for government equipment. I’m going to use a different name from the one on my current ID. No need for anyone to link up April Thompson from Canada with a CIA agent. Who are you?”

  “I’ll think about it, but we’ll probably need some badges in case she asks for ID.”

  “You’re right.” She pressed her fist against her forehead. “I’m sure David taught her to be cautious.”

  “Do you think you could have someone re-create that badge?”

  “To pass someone’s brief glance? Sure. Do you know Savannah? I don’t. Where would we get these badges?”

  “You know as well as I do, there are people in every city across the country who provide these services—for a price.”

  She patted her purse, thinking about Baily in Jamaica. “I sure do, but we’re not going to have much time.”

  “Since you can’t exactly call one of your former contacts, I can ask one of my teammates to look up something in Savannah for us.”

  “Your Navy SEAL teammates? Would they know?”

  “You’d be surprised what they know about covert operations, especially now. Your BFF, Ariel, has been dragging them in from deployment to do her bidding.”

  “Really?” Rikki folded her arms across her stomach. Had Ariel had an ulterior motive in directing her to stop in on Quinn when she arrived stateside? She hadn’t needed much encouragement, as she’d wanted to square things with Quinn firs
t…and tell him about Bella, but Ariel had initiated the idea.

  “Why is Ariel using your sniper teammates for these assignments?”

  “Because of Vlad. Because we know him. Because he knows us.”

  She whipped her head to the side. “Vlad knows you?”

  “Who do you think nicknamed him Vlad?” He jabbed a thumb against his chest. “That was us, or more specifically I think it was my teammate Alexei Ivanov, the moody Russian.”

  “Why Vlad? He’s not Russian, is he?”

  “We don’t know what he is. He’s a man of many disguises. Just when we think we know what he looks like, he appears as someone else.”

  “So if he’s not Russian, that you know of, why’d Alexei start calling him Vlad?”

  “Because of his Russian sniper rifle—the Dragunov. Alexei uses the same rifle. Vlad was a sniper for the opposition forces, any opposition forces, before he started amassing his terrorist network. We came up against him many times. Sometimes we bested him, sometimes he bested us, but we never killed each other. Make no mistake about it, Vlad knows my entire team. I think he even reached out to the Russian mobster who killed Alexei’s father just for that reason.”

  A chill claimed her body, and she’d turned off the air conditioner ten miles ago. “That’s scary.”

  “Yeah, it’s personal, so Ariel fights fire with fire. She’s involved us in the battle to bring him down. I think I’m the only one who’s escaped—and here I am.”

  “Yeah, here you are.” Rikki nibbled on the end of her finger.

  Quinn glanced her way and flexed his fingers on the steering wheel “What are you saying? Are you telling me it wasn’t your idea to look me up?”

  “It was my idea, but…”

  “But Ariel was on board.” Quinn twisted his head to the side and pinned her with a questioning gaze. “Ariel knows about us?”

  Rikki dipped her chin to her chest. “She does. Sh-she knew before, before I even went on that assignment in Korea with David.”

  Quinn whistled. “I wonder if she knew you were my target before I did.”

  “I don’t know why she would.” Rikki traced the pattern on her skirt with her fingertip. “She’s not CIA. Why would the Agency give Prospero a heads-up on their…assassinations? Especially of one of their own.”

  “C’mon. Prospero has ways of discovering things, even about other intelligence agencies. They’re the best in the business.”

  He picked up his bottle and swirled the water inside.

  “I can’t believe Ariel knew about our relationship and knew about your assignment and did nothing to warn you.”

  “She did.” Quinn slammed the bottle back in the cup holder. “She did, damn it.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “After the Navy revealed my target to me, along with the evidence of your betrayal, I was sick. I didn’t think I could go through with it.”

  “But the evidence was irrefutable.” She twirled her finger in the air. “I believe you.”

  “When I was already in South Korea preparing for the assignment, I received an anonymous text on my secure phone. Just two words—she’s innocent.”

  Rikki gasped and smacked her hand against her chest. “Ariel?”

  “Who else? Of course, the text sent me into a tailspin, planted doubts in my head. I couldn’t call off the mission based on an anonymous text. It could’ve been from the enemy. But it was enough. When I saw those soldiers marching you along, guns at your back, and saw your last, desperate attempt to get away from the very people you were supposed to be conspiring with, I knew the truth.”

  “You’re here because Ariel wanted you here with me—looking into who set me up, looking into Vlad.”

  “Since it wasn’t your own idea to contact me, I’m grateful to Ariel for intervening.” His lips twisted into a bitter smile.

  “She didn’t have to do much convincing, Quinn. I wanted to see you. After the initial shock and anger and much reflection, I knew you’d changed your mind about that mission, about me.” She rubbed her hand down his bare thigh.

  “Where did you do all this reflecting? You haven’t even told me where you were after the escape from North Korea.”

  She owed him. “Jamaica.”

  “Jamaica?” His thigh muscles tensed beneath her touch. “What’s there?”

  “My mother and stepfather.”

  “Ah, the former hippie, right?”

  “They’ve been there for years. My stepfather runs the rental shop out of one of the resorts there—snorkeling equipment, skimboards, parasails. My mother met him there and stayed, which is no surprise. She’d follow any man anywhere, always did.”

  “I’m assuming the Agency knows about them?”

  “Of course, but the CIA thinks I’m dead. No reason to question my mom. I felt safe there.”

  “If Ariel knew about us, knew you were alive and knew I hadn’t gone through with the assassination, why didn’t she tell me about you?” Quinn clenched his hands on the wheel, his knuckles turning white.

  “She didn’t know if she could trust you, Quinn. I didn’t know if I could trust you.” She ran her fingers over the ridges of his knuckles. “Someone had been actively working against me, planting false evidence. I didn’t know how much of that you believed.”

  “I suppose I don’t have room to complain. I was stationed on that hillside, ready to take you out.” He rolled his shoulders. “I wish it had been someone else.”

  “I don’t.”

  “You’re happy a former lover had you in his crosshairs?”

  “If it had been anyone else, I’d be dead.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  When they reached the outskirts of Montgomery, Quinn eased off the gas pedal. “Keep an eye out for a gas station and a few fast-food joints.”

  Rikki jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “I saw a sign back there listing a bunch of places. Should be right off the highway, convenient for travelers.”

  “We’re making good time and should be in Savannah before eleven o’clock if we keep moving.”

  She eyed him up and down, and he felt the familiar ache under her gaze, even after five hours of driving, cramped in the same position. His attraction to Rikki knew no bounds.

  “Are you sure you don’t need to get out and walk around? We can wait for a rest stop.”

  “I’m used to hunching in the same position for long periods of time. Doesn’t bother me.”

  “I’m still taking the wheel. You can nap, if you like. Your phone’s GPS has gotten us this far, so I’m sure I’ll be okay.”

  “I can sleep anytime, anywhere, even standing up.”

  “Like a horse.” She rapped one knuckle on the window. “Two miles until services.”

  Two miles later, Quinn took an exit toward a clump of gas stations and restaurants. “Do you have a preference for food?”

  “Chicken.”

  “I think we’ll be able to find chicken in Georgia.” He made a hard right turn into a gas station. “Let’s fill up first. Bathroom?”

  “I’d rather wait and use the restroom in one of the restaurants. I don’t trust these gas station restrooms.”

  Quinn filled the tank while Rikki walked around the car with a squeegee, washing splattered bugs from the windows.

  “Ugh, these bugs in the south are supersize.”

  “That’s right. You’ve never spent much time down here, have you?”

  “Back in Dubai, you promised to show me around New Orleans sometime.” She dropped the squeegee in the soapy water and grabbed a couple of paper towels.

  “What do you mean? I showed you a good time on Bourbon Street and we had a helluva cemetery tour.”

  She bunched the paper towels into a ball and threw it at his head. “You’ve got a sick sense of humor, McBride.”<
br />
  The nozzle clicked, and he pulled it from the gas tank. “Let’s get you some chicken and get back on the road.”

  Rikki opted for a crispy chicken sandwich so she could eat and drive at the same time.

  Quinn lowered the back of his seat and stretched his legs as far as they would go. He grabbed a sweatshirt from the backseat and bunched it between his head and the window. “I’m gonna catch a few hours of shut-eye if you think you’ll be okay. You’re going to head toward Atlanta and then veer east.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m good at directions, especially when the nice computer lady spits them out.”

  “I trust you. You made it out of North Korea.” Quinn adjusted his seat again and closed his eyes. At least he trusted her to get them to Savannah in one piece, but he didn’t quite trust her to leave his heart in one piece.

  Rikki woke him up twice along the way to pull into a rest area to use the bathroom. After the second time, he stayed awake for their arrival into Savannah. He pointed out a small motel outside the historic district where Belinda Dawson had a house. “Looks like there’s a vacancy here.”

  “We should pay cash.”

  “Nobody’s tracking me. I’m on leave, and I can do what I damn well please.”

  “But you’re here under an assumed name, which you haven’t chosen, by the way. What if Belinda checks you out?”

  “You really think she’s going to ask us where we’re staying and call to confirm our names?”

  “Humor me.” She jerked her head toward her purse in the backseat. “I have enough cash in there to cover it.”

  “I’ll humor you, and I’ve got it.”

  If the motel clerk thought it was strange that they paid for two nights up front with cash, her bored face didn’t show it.

  When they got to the room, Quinn picked up a card on the desk. “Free Wi-Fi. Can you get on my laptop and re-create a CIA badge? That’ll make it easier when we ask someone to produce a badge for us.”

  “Did you hear from your friends yet?”

  He held up his phone. “Two suggestions from two different sources. It’s gonna mean a trip to one of the seedier areas of Savannah.”