by Sue Brown
“Poker.”
Josh didn’t even know the man played cards. “You’ve got a gambling problem? But Lisa—?”
Landry sucked in a breath as if the mere mention of her name hurt him. “She left me months ago.”
“But you talk to her all the time.” Josh tried to remember the last time he’d seen Lisa. Landry had talked about Lisa, sure, but Josh hadn’t actually seen her for over six months. “Why did you two split?”
“I was never around. I was either working or playing poker, trying to get back the money I’d lost.”
“Did you tell Gil about it?”
“I said she was busy. He didn’t notice. He was too busy chasing any ho that crossed his path.”
Gil loved women, but he loved his brother more. Josh found it hard to believe Gil didn’t know Landry was in so much trouble. But then, Josh berated himself, wasn’t it his job to know about his team? And he’d fucked that one up six ways to Sunday.
“Landry,” Josh nodded at Mrs. Jones, who was still semi-conscious in the chair. “Let her go. We’ll talk to Cal and Dominic together, you and me. Sort things out.”
Landry shook his head. “You’re not that naïve, Josh, even if you do pretend to be blond. Cal’s dead or dying and once Dominic finds out I’m holding you, I’m a dead man. He won’t rest until he hunts me down.”
“Cal barely knows me,” Josh pointed out.
Landry rolled his eyes. “Josh, don’t play dumb.”
“We only met three days ago. Why the hell would he care?”
“You really don’t know, do you? I thought you had brains, but you’re really just stupid.”
“Know what?” Josh yelled in exasperation and then wished he hadn’t as pain shot through his head.
“He’s your Charlie. Cal—CDR—Charlie.”
“How do you know about Charlie?” Josh wasn’t about to admit he knew Charlie’s real identity.
“Oh Josh.” Landry smiled patronizingly. “You really are fucking stupid sometimes.”
“You said you didn’t know about him!”
“I lied. I lie real well.” Landry looked almost sad about it as he pointed the gun at Josh—then shot him.
The bullet thumped into the door behind Josh with a hollow thud.
Josh stared at the spreading red stain on his bicep. “You shot me!” The bastard had shot him and fuck, it hurt!
“It’s a through and through. You’ll be fine,” Landry said dismissively. “I didn’t hit an artery or a bone. I know where to aim.”
““Jesus Christ, it hurts.” Josh couldn’t even clutch at it to stem the flow of blood. “You punched a fucking hole in my arm. What the fuck did you do that for?”
“To show you I mean business.”
Josh scowled at him. “You couldn’t have done that without shooting me? Where the hell did you get the gun?”
“It’s not difficult if you know who to talk to.” Landry shrugged indifferently.
“You didn’t need to shoot me!”
“Shut up or the next bullet will be between your eyes.”
Josh wanted to laugh at the melodramatic words but the way he unwaveringly trained the gun, and the fanatical light in his eyes, the Landry Josh knew was subsumed in a layer of madness.
“What happens now? Cal and Jesse know I was headed here,” Josh pointed out.
“My partner’s taken care of Cal. You left a dead man on the platform.” He looked smug and Josh wanted to knock the smugness off his face.
“You murdered him?”
Landry shook his head. “I needed to be here, so Jon said he’d take care of it. You’d both be dead if I’d shot you. Brits are useless.”
“All this time” Josh suddenly realized what he’d said. Jon? “Jonathan Michaels? He’s your partner? You’re the other man with Adlington? How the fuck did you meet them?”
Landry laughed as if Josh was playing stupid again. “It’s been real fun watching you chase your tails.” He seemed either unaware of, or simply chose to ignore, Josh’s growing rage.
“You’ve been involved all along.” Josh wanted to punch Landry in the face. The man he’d called friend for so long was almost unrecognizable as he sneered at him.
“We needed someone on the inside. No one suspected me.”
“What about Gil. Is he involved?”
“I already told you, he’s clean. He has no idea about me and he’ll never know. Once I’ve dealt with you I’m gonna kill him.”
“He’s your brother, your twin. Why would you do this to him?” Josh repeated it again unable to believe Landry was willing to sacrifice his brother.
“I’ll miss him,” Landry admitted nonchalantly. “But I’d have lost him anyway if they’d caught up with me. This way he’ll be dead and I’ll survive.” He smiled happily and Josh realized Landry was bordering on the edge of psychosis. Hell, there was no bordering about it. The man had tipped right over into psychotic madman.
“What about Jonathan Michaels? They know he’s involved.”
“Yeah, he’ll have to die too.”
“Wow, there really is no fuckin’ honor among thieves,” Josh snapped. “And Mrs. Jones? What about her?”
She’d slumped in her seat, still showing no signs of consciousness. Josh wished he could join her. His arm hurt like a bitch and he could feel the fabric of his shirt sticking to the entrance and exit wounds.
Landry shrugged dismissively. “She’s collateral damage.”
Josh stared at him, unable to believe what he was hearing. Landry was the kind one, the sweet one. He sighed heavily. “You’re not the Landry I know.”
Landry shook his head and gave Josh a sorrowful look. “I don’t think you ever knew me.”
That shook Josh to the core because he’d been convinced he knew his team inside and out.
A noise in the hallway took both their attention, and Landry looked at Josh. He aimed the gun at him again and placed a finger over his mouth. The message was clear. He tiptoed to the door, ready to shoot if necessary.
“Landry, where the hell are you?”
Josh didn’t know the harsh voice but Landry did. “Jon? You got here quick.”
The infamous Jonathan Michaels. Josh was anxious to meet the man who’d killed his lover so he could tear his fucking head off.
“I dispatched Cal at the station and caught the next train.”
Even in his semi-concussed state, Josh wondered how Jon had gotten in. Evidently the same thing occurred to Landry because suspicion was written all over his face.
“I’m in the kitchen.” Landry stood behind the door, his gun ready.
Josh sent up a quick prayer to Farrah and yelled, “Original pose, original pose.”
It would mean nothing except to one person and he prayed that man was coming through the door to save him.
“Shut the fuck up,” Landry snarled.
Jon Michaels appeared in the doorway then the kitchen door slammed, catching Landry in the face. Landry shrieked and almost dropped his weapon, but he had quick reflexes and recovered his balance, despite the blood trickling down his face, his gun still trained on Josh. But Jesse had managed to come in the back door in the confusion and his gun was pointed at Landry.
“Drop your weapon, Landry,” Cal said, standing behind Michaels.
In Josh’s admittedly woozy state Cal was Charlie, every one of his Angels and Bosley himself all rolled into one bloody shirt. He was alive and, judging from the expression on his face, resolutely determined to kill Landry.
Cal had a gun pushed into Jon Michaels’ back. He didn’t look at Josh as he asked, “You okay, my Angel?”
“Yeah, good to see you, Charlie.” Josh tried to keep his voice calm in spite of the weapon aimed right between his eyes. “You look better than you did.”
“Jon’s a useless fucking shot, it was just a glancing blow. Hurts like a bitch though.”
“I’m not, boss,” Landry snorted derisively. “I can kill your angel before you blink.”
> “And Jesse can kill you and I can kill Jon in the next heartbeat,” Cal replied conversationally. Michaels squeaked but everyone ignored him. “Josh is your friend. Why do you want to kill him?”
“I don’t want to kill him. He’s been good to me.” Landry smiled at Josh. “You’ve been the best ops guy I’ve ever worked with.” Josh wondered if anyone else thought that paying a compliment to the man you’re about to kill was bizarre. “I didn’t want to kill Adlington either but he knew too much and he was weak. If you’d caught him he’d have told you everything.”
“Who killed Barton?”
“I ki-killed Philip,” Michaels gasped out. For a killer, Josh thought he looked as though he were about to pee his pants, he was so terrified. “He found out I was still alive and realized it was me who stole the money.”
“What did you do with it?” Cal asked.
“You’ll never find it.” Landry giggled. Actually fucking giggled. It was an unnatural sound from such a big man.
Josh didn’t care about the money. They’d completed their mission. They’d found Michaels, Jesse’s team had found the mole. Dirk Brenner could spend the next fifty years tracing the money for all he cared. All he wanted was to get out of this alive, fuck Cal senseless and make him change the stupid rulebook.
“What happened to Gil?” Landry asked suspiciously.
“I’m here, brother.” Gil walked through the back door into the kitchen to stand beside Jesse. Josh knew him well enough to know he was holding himself together by sheer will.
Landry looked surprised but he smiled at his brother, although his smile made Josh’s blood run cold. “Hey Gil.”
“Why did you do this, Landry?” In contrast to Landry’s happy mania, Gil looked desperately sad. “You’re a good man.”
“Desperate times, bro.” Landry shook his head. “I needed the money. Lisa left me. It was me or them, ya know?”
“And me? What about me? We’re inseparable, remember?”
“I know,” Landry agreed. “But I can live without you. I’ll be sad but it’s not the end of the world.”
“You know you’re not walking away home free from this, Landry,” Gil assured him softly. “It’s either a bullet or handcuffs.”
Josh had watched the red dot that wavered over Landry’s heart since Cal walked in, but Landry hadn’t seen it. A similar one fixated on Michaels’ front and he was fully aware of it. Now Landry seemed to appreciate for the first time the situation he was in but he just shrugged.
“You’re not taking me into custody. If it has to end here, then it does.”
“You can’t mean that,” Gil said. “You, me and Josh, we’re a team.”
“We were. A great team.” Landry’s smile made Josh’s blood run cold.
“The very best,” Cal interjected. “Even if you did drive Dominic insane.”
Josh felt he ought to add something to the conversation but all that came out of his mouth was, “What the fuck?” They all turned to scowl at him. “Why are we playing nice with the madman? I don’t care if he’s your twin, my friend, and the best employee to ever kiss your ass, Callum David Ross. He’s got a fucking gun on me!”
“Trust you, Josh,” Landry snorted. “Everyone is trying to make me put down the gun and you want me to catch a bullet.”
“You shot me,” Josh said flatly. “My sympathy is limited, fucking asshole.”
“You’re not helping, Josh,” Cal ground out.
“Blow me.”
Cal’s mouth quirked. “Later, Angel.”
“Yeah, later Angel.” Landry’s focus returned to Josh. If anyone knew Landry’s tells it would be his twin. Gil shot him at the same time as Landry squeezed the trigger. The shot Landry fired went wide. At least Josh hoped it had. He didn’t feel the sort of pain that had ripped through his arm earlier. Is that a bad thing? Landry toppled, landing on Josh and knocking him to the floor. To add insult to injury Josh’s head hit the floor with a resounding thwack.
Landry lay next to Josh on the tiled floor, his shallow breaths slowing down. Gil knelt next to him, tears rolling down his face. Josh wondered if he’d fully comprehended what just happened.
“Christ, Josh, talk to me, tell me you’re all right!” Cal’s voice was edged with panic. “Where’s the fucking keys?” Out of Josh’s line of sight someone threw a set of keys to Cal who released Josh from the chair. Cal leaned over him, panic in his eyes as he ran his hands over Josh in a practiced motion. “Fuck, you’re bleeding.”
Josh tried to tell him he was all right, that the bullet in his arm was a through and through. It hurt like fuck, but he was fine. Only the breath had been knocked out of him, but his diaphragm didn’t seem to cooperate and he couldn’t formulate the words.
“Get the medics!” Cal yelled.
“Don’t. Need. Them.” Josh managed, although each word was a struggle to enunciate. He wanted to ask about Jonathan Michaels but didn’t have the energy. “Mrs. Jones?”
“She’s alive,” Jesse said.
Cal growled at Josh to save his strength. If Josh could have replied, he’d have snarled right the fuck back because what the fucking hell was Cal thinking playing nice with a madman with a gun? But all he could do was lie on the cold ground, desperately needing a smoke. His arm ached and his head. Josh listened to the slowing drag of Landry’s dying breaths and Gil’s sobs, and wondered when it all went so fucking wrong.
Chapter 20
Tuesday 29th November
Voices talking over his head disturbed Josh from the light doze he’d been in for hours, and he opened his eyes to glare at the offenders. The last thing he remembered was being in the safe house, now he was in a hospital room connected up to machines.
“Hey, you’re awake.” A stranger leaned over him. Josh vaguely recognized him but the drugs weren’t helping him to connect the dots.
Josh licked his lips, willing his dry mouth to work. “Who are you?” Where the hell were Cal and Gil?
The man smiled at him, and even in Josh’s drugged up state he thought the crinkles around his eyes were as sexy as hell. “I’m Daniel Miller, Jesse’s partner.”
“What’re you doing here?”
“Cal and Jesse got called away. Jesse asked me to sit with you in case you woke up.” Dan offered him ice-chips which eased Josh’s dry mouth, although he would have preferred a strong cup of coffee.
“Is Mrs. Jones—?” Josh struggled to sit up.
Dan eased him back onto the pillows. “Stay there. Mrs. Jones is just fine. Jesse’s whisked her away somewhere hot and secret.”
Lucky her. Josh didn’t see anyone whisking him away to sun, sea, sand and hot cabana boys. “Where’s Gil?”
“The big black guy? Landry’s brother?”
“Yeah.”
Dan looked regretful and patted Josh’s hand. “Jesse and Cal let him take his brother back home this afternoon after the autopsy.”
Fuck! Landry! Josh tried to sit up again which set off alarms from the machine and a thumping headache. “How long have I been here?”
“Twenty-four hours. You lost a lot of blood and you had a concussion.” Dan pushed him back against the pillows firmly. “You had a transfusion but you didn’t need surgery. Stay where you are. You’re not going anywhere until the doctors have looked at you.”
“But—”
“Stay!”
Josh glared at him because he wasn’t a fucking dog but, when two nurses rushed in, he was overwhelmed by people poking and prodding him. Dan retreated outside the door, leaving him to their mercies. Bastard! Josh did his best to be charming but his head ached, his injured arm burned and no one was telling him what the hell was going on.
A perky nurse smiled at him. “The doctor will be in to see you soon.”
“Will he let me go?” Josh was ready to bolt.
“Wait and see.”
She left Josh alone to huff and fume. Even Dan had vanished, but a few minutes later he returned with two large takeout cups.
Josh struggled to sit up and this time no alarms sounded. “They’d better be coffee and both mine.”
“Nice try.” Dan put the cups on the nightstand, did something to the bed so Josh could sit more comfortably, then handed him one of the cups.
Josh took a long swallow and moaned in ecstasy. Manna from fucking heaven. Half the coffee was gone before he remembered to say thank you.
“You’re welcome.” Dan dimpled over the brim of his cup. For an older guy he was kinda cute. Josh would’ve still had that threesome if he hadn’t been stupid in love with Cal. “I just spoke to Jesse. They’re on their way back.”
“Why’re you here? If I’ve gotta be babysat why not one of the agency?”
Dan tilted his head. “You don’t know Cal very well, do you?”
Josh opened his mouth to argue because of course he knew him. He’d worked at CDR, they’d been flirting for two years and Cal had fucked Josh into the mattress for a week. Then he closed it again, because the truth was he knew nothing about Cal. Not a thing.
“I’ve met Cal many times and every time he talked about you,” Dan said. “Sometimes you’re all he talks about. Jesse was ready to kidnap both of you and put you in the same room just to shut him up. The last time, Cal knew there was a mole in his agency. He was scared shitless it was you. And when he realized Landry shot you it was the closest Jesse’s seen him to losing it. Jesse had to stop him from pumping Landry full of more holes. Cal’s got a reputation for being a cold-hearted bastard, except where you’re concerned. You’re his weakness.”
Josh’s heart did a flip at the thought of Cal loving him like that and him not even knowing. “I still don’t see where you come in.”
“The agency men are outside. But he wanted a friend to be with you. If he couldn’t be here—or Jesse and Gil—then it had to be a friend.”
“But you’re not my friend.” Josh felt he should point out the obvious.
Dan’s mouth quirked on one side. “But I am Cal’s and he asked for my help. Just be thankful you’ve got me and not Evan.”
Josh had no idea who Evan was, but he was too weary to question Dan further. Dan took the cup out of his hand. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you when he gets here.”