Best Served Cold

by Rebecca Deel

  “What can you tell me?” Nate asked, navigating the morning traffic headed into Nashville.

  “Luke blew the whistle on a money launderer. Now he has a price on his head and his girlfriend’s been forced into WITSEC after an attempted grab-and-go.”

  “The leak?”

  “He must have passed Luke’s information to someone connected to the Manetti family.”

  Nate whistled. “The Manettis are bad news. How safe is the girlfriend?”

  “As safe as her boyfriend.”

  “How can I help?”

  “I need a safe place to stash two people with impenetrable security.”

  “I can arrange that. How do we get to the girlfriend without tipping off the leak? We have to snatch her before the leak realizes we know she’s in danger. Otherwise, we risk losing innocent marshals caught in the crossfire.”

  Though she hated to thrust Deke in the middle of this firestorm, she didn’t trust anyone else. She hoped the other marshals were unaware Deke had been suspended with Stella’s arrest. They needed to hustle Natalie to safety before someone used her as leverage and killed her. A ruthless Manetti never left witnesses behind, the reason he’d never been convicted before now. Luke Dyson was the only witness who stood his ground and helped put a dangerous criminal behind bars.

  She pulled out her cell phone, punched in Deke’s number, and hit the speaker button.

  “What’s up, Stel?”

  “Luke Dyson called. Someone tried to kill him. Do you know which safe house Natalie’s in?”

  “The place in Smyrna.”

  She calculated the distance and drive time in her head. “We have to move her. The marshals protecting her are targets and they won’t know to defend themselves against one of our own. They’re sitting ducks, Deke.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Take one of Durango with you,” Nate said. “You might need backup.”

  “I’ll ask Quinn to go with me. Where do I take Natalie?”

  “The safest place is Fortress headquarters. I’ll tell Maddox we’re bringing in two protected witnesses. No one will touch them. He won’t allow anyone on the premises unless it’s a Fortress operative or you and Stella.”

  “We’ll bring heat down on Fortress.”

  Nate chuckled. “Maddox stays in hot water with several government agencies. Might as well add the U.S. marshals to the list.”

  “How does he keep Fortress’s doors open?” Stella couldn’t imagine having that much latitude with her employers.

  “We do dirty work the government can’t or won’t do, provided the mission fits with Maddox’s personal code.”

  “I’m assuming following the law isn’t one of his priorities?” Deke asked, his tone dry.

  “Do you really want me to answer that question as he’s the safe haven for your witnesses?”

  “No,” came the curt reply. “Natalie and Luke are good people. He did what was right and is now paying a heavy price for it. Natalie is an innocent bystander who loves a man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I want them to have a long, safe life together.”

  “Do the marshals still need him to testify or is the trial over?”

  “Manetti is in prison for a long time,” Stella said.

  “Do you want Fortress to set up new identities for Luke and Natalie and relocate them?”

  Stella twisted in her seat. “Maddox would do that?”

  “He’s done it before. We’re a security firm, baby, and very good at what we do.”

  “I thought you rescued hostages and tracked down terrorists.”

  “Along with bodyguard duty and helping innocent people disappear.”

  A whistle from Deke. “Has your security ever been breached?”

  “Not that I know. Luke and Natalie will be safe. We’ll relocate them and set up a safety network.”

  “Who foots the bill?”

  “Let Maddox worry about that. He has ties to various organizations, including the government. He’ll find the money.”

  “Call him and set up the security. Stel, we’ll talk to Luke and Natalie when they’re together and present their options.”

  “Be careful, Deke. This might be a trap.”

  “Ditto, Stel. Nate, keep her safe.”

  “Copy that.”

  Stella stole a glance at her warrior. “Will Maddox go for this?”

  “He champions underdogs. Trust me, he’ll be happy to help.” He activated his Bluetooth connection and called Maddox’s personal cell.

  “Where are you and what do you need, Nate?” was Maddox’s greeting.

  “Stella and I are en route to rescue a protected witness whose security has been breached. Deke, Stella’s partner, is heading for the girlfriend, another protected witness. They’re innocents, Brent. They need a safe haven. I don’t know a safer place than Fortress headquarters.”

  “This is connected to Stella’s case?”

  “We believe so. She’s already lost three other witnesses because of this leak.”

  “We’ll be ready. Where are you?”

  “Headed to Nolensville. Deke’s on the way to Smyrna.”

  “Estimated time?”

  “Forty-five minutes for us. An hour for Deke.”

  “Roger that. Contact me if you need backup. Call when you’re five minutes out. We’ll be waiting.”

  “What does that mean?” Stella asked after Maddox ended the call.

  “He’ll have extra security in place with high-powered weapons ready if we come in hot.” He glanced at Stella. “Do you have a weapon on you?”

  Her hands clenched into fists. “The feds have my service weapon and my backup.”

  “Under your seat on the right hand side is a Sig plus two magazines.”

  She shouldn’t be surprised. Knowing Nate and his teammates, the Sig wasn’t the only weapon stored in his SUV. She grabbed the weapon and magazines, the weight and grip like her own. For the first time since the assault, she felt normal. Without her weapons, she’d felt stripped of security and helpless. Nate would take a bullet for her, but she wanted to protect herself as well as her boyfriend. “Can I hang on to this?”

  “I have several others.”

  She grinned. “Of course.”

  Nate turned onto Nolensville Road and drove to Lennox Village where Luke Dyson waited for rescue. “Where is Luke hiding?”

  “A bookstore. Mysteries and More. The owners are former military. He’s safe enough for the moment. Luke’s in the back of the store, book browsing.”

  “Does he like to read?”

  “Loves Vince Flynn and Dale Brown books. He’s probably stocking up while he waits for us.”

  Nate slowed for the turn into Lennox Village. “Where to?”

  “Straight until you can’t go any farther, then right.”

  “Text him. Tell him to move as soon as we stop.”

  Stella sent Luke the message. As they drove through the village, she scanned the surroundings, looking for anyone or anything out of place. Tension tightened her muscles. Somewhere in this area, a gunman waited to take another shot at Luke.

  Nate turned right. A quarter mile on their left, a dark-colored car with heavily tinted windows drove slowly in their direction.

  “Down, Stella.”

  Without question, she bent over at the waist, clutching the Sig in her hand. “Tell me when they pass. The bookstore is on the right, a quarter mile from our location.”

  Seconds later, he said, “They passed us.” He shifted his gaze between the rearview mirror and the front windshield. “Bookstore is five hundred feet ahead.”

  Stella sat up. “The car?”

  Another glance in the mirror and he growled. “Turning around. Get ready. This is going to be close.”

  As soon as Nate stopped the curb in front of the store, Stella threw open her passenger door. A man in his early thirties barreled out the front door of Mysteries and More, a bag filled with books in his hand. She yanked open the bac
k door. “On the floor and stay down. We have company.”

  Luke dived into the SUV just as bullets whizzed by his head.

  Stella returned fire and jumped into the passenger seat. “Go!”

  Nate floored the accelerator, leaving behind twin strips of rubber. He weaved in and out of the neighborhoods, all the while heading for Nolensville Road.

  “Thanks for coming to get me,” came the muffled voice from the floorboard.

  “That’s my job,” Stella said, eyes trained through the back window. “Luke, this is my boyfriend, Nate. Nate, Luke Dyson.”

  “Nice to meet you, Nate,” Luke said. “Stella, what happened to your face? No offense, but you look bad.”

  “I was ambushed at my apartment.”

  “Did you arrest him?”

  “Not yet. We will.” Her stomach knotted as the car moved closer. “They’re gaining on us, Nate.”

  “Too many cars, people, and narrow streets through here.”

  “Is your SUV tricked out like Alex’s?”

  “Oh, yeah. None of us take our safety lightly.”

  “We can take a hit?”

  “As long as they don’t shoot out a tire or use an RPG, we’ll be fine for a while.”

  “If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer not to be shot at again,” Luke said.

  Nate pulled to a stop at the intersection, glanced back, and gunned the engine. The SUV darted into traffic to the cacophony of blaring horns. He weaved through traffic on Nolensville Road and took a right on Harding.

  “Turn left at the next intersection,” Stella said. “Several subdivisions are back there. We need to lose these guys. I know the security is excellent, but I don’t want Manetti’s people to connect Fortress to Luke if I can help it.”

  Nate shot through a yellow light onto the road Stella indicated. Behind them, tires squealed as their pursuers barreled through a red light. He growled. “Sticking to us like a burr.”

  “Take a right.” Stella unbuckled her seatbelt and lowered the window. “Get us five car lengths ahead of these guys, then take a quick right. I’m going to slow them down.”

  “Copy that.” Slowly, Nate pulled away from their pursuers.

  When Stella gauged the distance to be correct, she said, “Next right.” Nate swung hard to the right. Stella fired off round after round at the black vehicle following them. Her bullets shattered the passenger window and the front windshield. The other driver swerved, ran over the curb and struck a fire hydrant. A geyser of water shot up in the air. She dropped back into her seat, satisfaction blooming in her gut.

  “Perfect.” Nate floored the accelerator again, returned to Harding and drove to the industrial section of Donelson Pike, where Fortress headquarters was located.

  “Nice,” Stella said as the building came into view. Sunlight reflected off the darkened glass of the windows. She suspected the building’s cinder blocks were reinforced.

  Nate punched the remote attached to his sun visor. The steel gates looming in front of them swung open and closed immediately as soon as they passed through. Several armed men and women waited for them.

  A man, six four with buzz-cut blond hair, strode toward their SUV, AR-15 strapped over his chest, Ka-Bar in a sheath on his thigh, and no telling how many other weapons besides the handgun on this other thigh. “Nate, everybody okay?”

  “Yes, sir. Stella shot out their windshield and slowed them down. Looks like we got away clean.” He turned glanced at Stella. “This is Brent Maddox, sweetheart. Brent, Stella Grayson. The guy on the floor is Luke Dyson.”

  “Nice to meet you, Marshal Grayson.”

  She flinched. Not a marshal at the moment. “Please, call me Stella.”

  “Quinn’s on the way in. He’s trying to shake a tail.”

  “Is it safe to sit up now?” Luke asked.

  “Hold position for another minute,” Nate said as Maddox motioned over several of his operatives.

  “Is Natalie safe?” came a second muffled question.

  Stella glanced over the seat. “She’ll be here soon. Deke’s with her and one of Nate’s friends. Quinn is very well trained. They’ll get her here.”

  One of the operatives handed Maddox a bullet-proof vest. Maddox opened the back door of the SUV. “Luke, I want you to stay on the floor, but sit up as much as you can. Wear the vest until we’re inside.”

  Brent activated the mic on his comm system as he helped the other man into the protective gear. “We clear?”

  The reply must have been affirmative because he motioned for Luke to climb from the vehicle. When he stepped onto the asphalt, four big men surrounded him and hustled him inside the building.

  Tension wracked her muscles. “How long before Quinn and Deke arrive?”

  “Ten miles out,” was Brent’s reply. “Gallagher needs to lose the tail if he can before he heads here.”

  “Inside, baby.” Nate unlatched his seatbelt and circled the hood to open Stella’s door.

  “I want to wait for Deke and Natalie.”

  “Your job is to protect Luke. My job is to protect you. You need a vest. I don’t have an extra with me.”

  Stella swallowed the argument on the tip of her tongue. If she refused to cooperate, Nate would strap his vest on her, leaving him vulnerable to a bullet to the torso. She slid from the vehicle, purse strapped across her chest, the Sig and two magazines in her hands. Inside the lobby, a female operative handed her a bullet-proof vest.

  “Thanks.” With a few swift motions, Stella shrugged into the vest and tugged it into place.

  Nate handed her the Sig. “Nice shooting out there, sweetheart.” Nate leaned down and dropped a light kiss across her lips.

  “I’m not a sniper like Alex, but I can hold my own.”

  He grinned. “No one is a sniper like Alex. He’s in a class with very few others. Ready?”

  She nodded, anxious to return to the parking lot and wait for Deke. Would Quinn be able to ditch the tail? She glanced at Luke, who moved toward the door. “Stay inside. I know you haven’t seen Natalie in weeks. If Quinn doesn’t lose that tail and they see you, Manetti’s men will take another crack at killing you. This time, Natalie will have a front row seat to the action.”

  Though Luke scowled, he returned to the waiting area of the lobby.

  Stella and Nate returned to the bright sunshine. Brent turned at their approach. “Anything?”

  “Quinn hit heavy traffic on Murfreesboro Road and can’t shake the tail. He’s coming in hot.”

  “How far out?” Nate asked.

  “Five minutes.” Brent signaled the operatives in place and activated the remote in his hand to open the gate.

  To Stella, the time dragged as they waited for Deke and Quinn to arrive. At the five minute mark, a black SUV raced toward the Fortress compound.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Nate drew his own Sig and aimed at a gray car closing the gap to Quinn. Operatives on both sides of him did the same, some with AR-15s, others with handguns. His friend’s grim expression was clear through the windshield as he barreled through the opening in the security fence. The SUV slid to an abrupt stop at cement pillars which blocked anything from approaching the front of the building.

  Stella and four operatives raced to the back of the vehicle, an extra vest in the hands of one. Stella yanked open the door and dived inside with the vest. Seconds later, a barrel-chested operative practically carried a petite blond across the asphalt, surrounded by the remaining four members of the protective detail. Stella raced toward the building. Nate didn’t know if the guys in the car would target her, but he’d rather not find out.

  The car skidded to a rocking stop. The driver shifted into reverse and floored the gas pedal.

  “Shoot the tires,” Brent snapped. “I want to know who these clowns are.”

  Fortress operatives aimed at the vehicle. Shots rang out. Both front tires blew and the engine locked up. Two men bailed from the vehicle and raced away from the compound toward the i
ndustrial warehouse area. At Brent’s signal, two operatives raced after the pair. Less than a minute later, the operatives forced the men back to the compound.

  Deke bailed from the SUV along with Quinn. The two men stopped beside Nate. “Where’s Luke?” Deke asked.

  “Inside. He’s okay. His main concern was for Natalie.”

  “He had reason to be concerned. We took her out the back as these guys tried to breach the front.”

  “Do you recognize them?” Brent asked the marshal.

  Deke waited until the men drew closer. “They work for Joseph Manetti. The leak strikes again. The only reason Luke’s not dead is he’s smart and has courage in spades. Natalie wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

  Maybe it was pure luck Luke was alive. A hesitation, turning a different direction at the last second, a passing motorist, bending to pet a cat, any of those things could have kept Luke alive. “Call Cal,” Nate said. “Have him take these guys off our hands. It’s more important for us to secure the witnesses.”

  Brent glanced at Quinn. “They shoot at you?”

  “Yep. Took out the taillight.”

  “Good enough.” He handed two pairs of handcuffs to operatives who secured the thugs to the iron gate. Brent grabbed his cell phone.

  Nate clapped Quinn on the shoulder. “Good job, man.”

  “Traffic was too bad to shake them.” He grimaced. “I scared three old ladies and sideswiped a mailbox.”

  “Won’t matter in the long run. They won’t talk to Manetti or his henchmen anytime soon. Besides that, the company name isn’t on the building. They’ll have to dig hard to uncover who owns the property. By that time, Luke and Natalie will be gone.”