The Defender

by Donna Grant

  It defied the odds. But it also meant that they were supposed to be together. She wouldn’t have made it this far alone. And neither would he have. However, as a team, they had managed to evade capture again and again. Hopefully, their luck would hold once they reached the States.

  Reyna had no idea how long it would take them to find Mia and Cullen. Despite the excitement of knowing that she and Lev wouldn’t be alone in Dover, she agreed with him. The Loughmans should’ve remained in Texas.

  But the fact that Mia and Cullen had gone to Sergei’s memorial said a lot about what the family thought of the Russian.

  “Tell me about Yuri,” she urged Lev.

  He shrugged at the mention of the Russian general. “He killed Orrin’s team after they stole the bioweapon from Russia. And he kidnapped and tortured Orrin for weeks.”

  “Yet they’re working together now?”

  “Orrin’s entire team worked for the Saints. Yuri thought Orrin did, as well. He was looking for the bioweapon to destroy it.”

  Reyna nodded, understanding. “That’s when they began working together.”

  “They’ve actually known each other for years. They worked closely together back when Orrin was still in the military.”

  “It’s lucky that Yuri is on our side.”

  Lev met her gaze. “Absolutely. But it’s hard to trust anyone.”

  “Because you’re always wondering if they’re really working for the Saints,” she said with a nod. “I understand. I hope to one day discover who it was that leaked me the information to get into the headquarters building. I’d like them on our side.”

  He grunted and finished off his soda. “You’ll probably never know.”

  “But anyone willing to take that kind of chance against the Saints is exactly who we need on our side. I bet there are more of them out there. We have to find them.”

  “If we survive this, then we will.”

  31

  “I don’t like this,” Cullen said, his voice carrying into the ear COMs his father, Mia, and Yuri wore.

  A chuckle came through the COM before Yuri said in his thick Russian accent, “Still upset that your woman won?”

  “He knows better,” Orrin replied.

  Mia sighed loudly. “I’m fairly certain Cullen is referring to the number of people we’ve determined are Saints.”

  Cullen was high up on a crane that unloaded the containers from the ships. It gave him the perfect vantage point to Sergei’s office and anyone coming and going. “We have no idea when Lev and Reyna will get here. It could be two days or five. It’d make life a hell of a lot easier if I could start removing some of the Saints now.”

  “I agree, son,” Orrin replied. “Right now, they believe we’re in Texas. It’s going to give us the element of surprise.”

  Mia said, “And by the ten I count on my side, we’re going to need every bit of that surprise.”

  “Do not forget the ones we haven’t picked out yet,” Yuri cautioned.

  In other words, they were fucked. Cullen was happier than ever that he and Mia had come to Dover. Not just because of Sergei, but because Lev and Reyna wouldn’t stand a chance without them.

  “They’re setting up, just like we are,” Orrin said. “No doubt many are at the Canadian border just in case Lev and Reyna take that route. As soon as one group lets everyone know they’ve seen the couple, the others will come this way.”

  Cullen adjusted his rifle and peered through the scope. “It’s going to be a bloodbath.”

  “Da,” Yuri replied.

  Mia grunted. “I don’t regret being here, but we need to come up with a better plan than just picking off the Saints one at a time. They’ll find us.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Orrin said.

  Cullen watched as a car drove up to Sergei’s office. “Me, too.”

  “It’s four—well, six if you count Lev and the woman—against dozens. It will have to be one hell of a plan.”

  Orrin laughed. “With our four brains, we’ll come up with something.”

  “We are not making use of Mia’s skills,” Yuri stated.

  Before Cullen could balk, Mia hastily said, “I agree. Choppers fly around the docks all the time.”

  “But, honey, they aren’t equipped to fire weapons,” Cullen added.

  “Unless you’re the weapon,” Orrin said.

  Cullen pulled his eye from the scope. “I thought you wanted me in a sniper position?”

  “No, no, no.” Yuri blew out a long breath. “Orrin, you get in the chopper with Mia. Cullen, you take position near the office where the majority of the Saints are congregating. I will take your sniper position.”

  “Huh. I actually like that,” Mia said.

  Cullen had to admit that it put everyone in the best positions. He’d taken the crane spot so he could get a view of a large portion of the docks. All of them had locations around the port to pinpoint the Saints.

  “I agree with Mia. We need to hire a helicopter now,” Orrin replied.

  Cullen laughed and peered back through the scope. “One phone call to Callie should get that taken care of.”

  “You’re right,” his father said with a chuckle.

  “I’m calling her now,” Mia told them.

  While she took care of that, Cullen asked the other two, “What are the odds that Lev even reaches the docks?”

  “Slim,” Yuri said.

  Orrin made a sound at the back of his throat. “I’m more worried about once he and Reyna get here.”

  “We’re going to need a place to hide,” Cullen said.

  Yuri made a sound of disagreement. “That would be foolish.”

  “So would trying to get back to the ranch right away.”

  Orrin cut in before the argument could escalate. “Both of you have a point. We’ve all been in tricky situations before. We’ll come up with several plans tonight. It may come down to us splitting up.”

  “This isn’t a battle we’re planning. This is an all-out war,” Cullen said. “This kind of operation would be planned for months, not days.”

  “This is all we have. Deal with it,” Yuri stated.

  Cullen ignored the hard bite to the Russian’s words. “My point is that we have a lot of work to do in order for this to succeed.”

  “What we need is more people,” Orrin said.

  “No.” Cullen wasn’t going to call his brothers in. They were already pushing things with the four of them there.

  Yuri said, “I agree with your son.”

  Cullen looked to his right where he saw activity near him. “I’ve got to move. Sunset isn’t far off. I’ll get Mia, and we can meet back at the house to plan.”

  “Be careful,” his father said.

  Cullen pocketed his scope in the backpack and slung it over his shoulder as he began to climb down the crane. He kept an eye on the individuals coming toward him. He got away just before they got to the crane.

  He found Mia at the back of one of the warehouses that had a view of the gate into and out of the port. She held up a finger when she saw him to let him know that she was still on the phone. A moment later, she ended the call.

  “Callie called Lev while I was on the phone.”

  That piqued Cullen’s interest. “Does he have any idea when they’ll be here?”

  “Two days. He said they’ll come in at night. Apparently, there is a place where he can get in and out of the port without anyone seeing him.”

  “Great. Where is it so we can get to him?”

  Her lips twisted as she shrugged. “He wouldn’t tell us.”

  “He’s afraid it’ll get to the Saints. I can’t blame him for keeping it secret.”

  “I told him our plan, and he liked it. He said he’d find you at the offices.”

  Cullen sighed as he thought over everything. “I was hoping he’d let us take him straight to Texas.”

  “He can’t. And neither would you,” she said.

  He nodded. “Did you te
ll him how many Saints were here?”

  “I did.”

  “This is something Lev has to do.” Even if it put the rest of them at risk. “Mia, I have a favor.”

  She shook her head and wagged a finger at him. “Oh, no you don’t.”

  “What?” he asked with a frown.

  “You want me to take Reyna and leave.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “That’s going to be a might bit difficult if I’m flying the chopper.”

  “Well, I actually have another plan.”

  “Do you?” she asked and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m one of the best pilots around. Why not use me?”

  “Because that’s what they expect. The Saints know we’re here. Even though we led them to believe we returned to Texas, they’ll hedge their bets. I guarantee they’ll have helicopters of their own.”

  Mia dropped her arms, defeated. “So, I can’t fly?”

  “Not this time, sweetheart. We’re going to hire a chopper, but we’re also hiring a pilot. Let them lead the Saints on a merry chase.”

  “While we get away,” she said with a grin.

  “In another chopper.”

  Her smile widened. “Now you’re talking.”

  “Come on. We’re meeting Dad and Yuri at the rental house. We’ve got a lot to discuss tonight.”

  “Please tell me you’re cooking pancakes. I’m famished and craving them.”

  He wound his arm around her shoulders. “For you? Anything.”

  They made their way back to the motorcycle they’d hidden and put on their helmets. Cullen revved the engine and drove them out of the docks.

  The door to the plane opened after it had come to a stop on the tarmac. Lorraine was the first to exit. It had been over ten years since she had been to the States, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled to be back now.

  “Happy to be home?” Anatoli asked from behind her.

  She ignored him and proceeded down the steps of the plane. A black Suburban awaited them. She climbed in with Anatoli right behind her.

  “Ma’am.” A young, blond woman in a navy pantsuit turned from the front passenger seat and handed her a file.

  “Thank you.” Lorraine opened it and read the reports from the soldiers combing through the docks.

  Anatoli asked the blonde, “Has there been any trouble?”

  “A few made a ruckus about our numbers, but we quieted them soon enough,” she replied with a smile.

  Lorraine caught the woman’s eyes. “What’s your name?”

  “Monica.”

  “Well, Monica, how about you tell me if any of the Loughmans have been seen.”

  Monica shook her head. “Nothing, ma’am. We had eyes on Cullen and Mia when they came for Sergei’s funeral.”

  “As I expected.”

  “But they went home that same day before we could get close enough to them.”

  Lorraine rolled her eyes. “Your orders were to grab them.”

  Monica exchanged a look with the male driver who had remained silent. “Mia and Cullen were never far from Sergei’s men.”

  “We have members embedded in the mob.”

  “And they tried to get to the couple,” Monica said. “There just wasn’t a right moment.”

  Anatoli didn’t hide his smile, which infuriated Lorraine. She blew out a frustrated breath. “It shouldn’t be that difficult to take down two people.”

  “They’ve been trying for some time,” Anatoli stated.

  Monica jerked her chin to the file in Lorraine’s hands. “In the back, you’ll find a detailed account of each encounter with the Loughmans, as well as Natalie Dixon—now Loughman—Mia Carter, and Callie Reed.”

  “You forgot Major General Yuri Markovic.”

  “No, ma’am,” Monica said and handed her another file. “He has his own.”

  “I’ve read everything about this family and those who have joined forces with them. It doesn’t explain why none of them have been taken down.”

  Anatoli cleared his throat. “You mean caught.”

  Lorraine jerked her gaze to him and glared. “Up until a few days ago, the elders wanted everyone dead. And as far as I know, the only ones they want brought in are Lev and Reyna.”

  Anatoli winked at Monica before he said, “Oh, I’m fairly certain the elders would be happy to talk to any of those we’re after.”

  She made her fingers loosen on the files when they started to bend. She didn’t care that Anatoli was flirting with a much younger, pretty woman. It didn’t bother Lorraine at all. And if it did a little, she wouldn’t deign to give it a second thought.

  “I want an update from those leading the men,” she ordered. “Tonight.”

  Monica gave a quick nod. “Of course.”

  With a motion from Monica, the driver pressed the accelerator.

  Lorraine wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but she was scared. Terrified actually. She’d honestly believed that she would get Lev and Reyna before they reached the coast. Then she’d believed she would get them on the water, but that had proven more difficult than she’d imagined. Even with the submarines at her disposal and many cargo vessels searching on their voyages, none of them had spotted the boat.

  The closest she came was when there was a sighting on Greenland. She’d immediately jumped on a plane for Maryland then. There was no point chasing the boat. She would be there waiting when Lev returned home.

  And she would end this nightmare she’d found herself in once and for all.

  32

  “Are you ready?” Lev asked Reyna.

  She took a deep breath and nodded as she kept her hands on the wheel of the boat.

  For the past two days, they had gone over their plan again and again. Lev had told her about the secret entrance into the docks and how she could get out if things got tricky—because things were certainly going to get very hairy.

  Reyna had wanted to pass on their plan to the Loughmans, but Lev refused. While he trusted Callie that the phones were encrypted, things still happened. He didn’t want to get this close and have everything go sideways just because the Saints happened to hear something during their phone call.

  “We’ll get a slight advantage,” Lev continued. “But it won’t be long until the Saints know we’re there.”

  “And they call in reinforcements.”

  He kept his gaze on the water. They had turned the boat’s lights off. Since Reyna was better at driving the vessel, he’d let her have the helm, directing her when and where to turn.

  “We could easily slip out,” Reyna said.

  Lev glanced her way. “I’ve thought about that option often. With all of your knowledge about the Saints, I think you should do exactly that.”

  Her head snapped to him. “Don’t.”

  “Think about it, Reyna.”

  “I am. I’m also thinking about you.”

  Lev shook his head. “I knew what I had to do the minute I learned about Sergei’s death.”

  “And you’re playing right into their hands. This is what they want you to do. To go barreling in, guns blazing so they can take you down.”

  “They won’t catch me.”

  She snorted loudly and focused on their path through the water. “You’re full of shit.”

  “Sergei needs to be avenged.”

  “I agree,” she stated, anger lacing every syllable. “Getting yourself captured or killed isn’t the way to do it. You want to hurt them, then you have to stay alive.”

  Lev put a hand to his lips as he looked at her. It was the signal for her to turn off the engine and let the boat coast with the current.

  They remained silent, passing huge cargo ships, workers on the docks, and even other boats without being seen. Reyna had to maneuver quickly to avoid hitting a vessel coming at them, but she did it with ease and finesse.

  He gave her a thumbs up and a smile to let her know he was impressed. The woman constantly amazed him. She was cool under pressure, calm when everything w
ent crazy, and a force when she needed to be.

  Lev held his breath when they came to the turn-in. He motioned with his hand, and Reyna immediately turned the wheel, steering the boat into the narrow channel.

  His hand fisted at his side when he saw the other boat docked. It was a small one, but it would still make it difficult for them to pass. Reyna saw it too and put their vessel as far to the side as she could without running into the dock.

  No matter her skill, the area was too narrow for two boats. And when they reached the other vessel, theirs scraped against it. The sound was loud to his ears, and it caused them to lose a lot of momentum. Lev looked around, waiting to see someone come running, or even a body come out of the tied craft. But there was no one.

  In order to keep moving, he had to push against the dock. There was more scraping, and even their hull bumping against the dock. But, finally, they got through.

  Lev palmed a pistol. One of the rifles was already slung across his body. The other leaned near Reyna, waiting for her to grab it.

  Lev motioned for Reyna to move the boat to the right in between two lights so they would be in shadow. There was a small alcove that appeared to dead-end. Lev kept his gaze on the area as she pulled up alongside the dock. He jumped out and grabbed one of the lines to hold the boat as Reyna gathered her guns.

  Once she was beside him, he handed her his gun as he tied off the boat. He turned back to her and took his weapon.

  “Why are you staring at me?” she whispered.

  “Because I love you. Because you’ve made my life better.”

  She smiled and touched his face. “I love you, too. Your words were moving, but I’m still not leaving without you.”

  He sighed and glanced at the ground. “Sergei wanted me to take over upon his death. I need to do that.”

  “Since you knew how to get us to the port without being seen, I’m guessing you know how to get to Sergei’s building without being seen, as well.”

  Lev nodded. “I do.”

  “That’s what I thought. Let’s go there and take care of that business. Then we can find Cullen and the others and leave.”