by Rebecca Deel
Cade could picture the most likely scenario too easily. Sasha would have operated by rote and left the house by the front door. She’d have taken a bullet as soon as she stepped foot on the porch. The shooter had tried to shoot her as they ran for the trees, but didn’t have a good line of sight. That was the reason they had escaped the yard without a bullet in the back.
“The person who wants me dead is persistent. What if he’d shot Cade or Matt?”
“It’s a hazard of the job.” The police chief folded his arms across his chest. “One you’ll come to terms with if you and Cade have a chance of making your relationship work.” He turned to Matt. “Get a look at the shooter?”
“Not enough to matter. A male, dressed in black, about six feet, maybe 225 pounds. He wore a skull cap so I can’t tell you the color of his hair. He’s Caucasian, though. He’s also trained. The angle was crap and he still almost nailed us. A bullet missed Cade by inches.”
“Rifle, then.”
“Too far for a handgun to be accurate,” Matt confirmed.
“Show me where the shooter stood, then take Sasha away from here. You should have enough room to drive by the fire truck.”
As Matt walked with Ethan, Cade threaded the fingers of one hand through Sasha’s hair and cupped the back of her head. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m not falling apart. I’ll take that as a win. What will I do, Cade? I don’t know why someone is fixated on me. How will I survive if I don’t know who to watch for?”
“You won’t do anything alone. We will find out who’s doing this together and stop them.”
“Maybe you should rethink dating a woman with a bull’s-eye on her back.”
He kissed her, the caress full of heat though brief. “Not a chance. I finally figured out how to talk to you. I’m not backing away now. Besides, I have a target on my back every day.”
Sasha raised her head to stare at him. “Are you serious?”
“Fortress makes enemies. Although we do our best to keep our identities a secret, there’s always a chance of a security breach.” Not much of one, he admitted to himself. Zane kept a close watch on Fortress’s cybersecurity and over its operatives. If he’d detected a problem, Z would have let him know. Still, he’d have his friend double check, especially now that he knew about Dean Ingram’s connection to Sasha.
Would his former friend do anything that to harm his sister? Not based on his past knowledge of Dean. Now, however, Cade couldn’t say for sure. Dean had always been tough. These days, he surrounded himself with an impenetrable obsidian shield. This Dean might be capable of things the old one would never do.
“Ethan’s right.”
She smiled. “He’s right about many things. Which one are you referring to?”
“Not many women can handle the hazards of an operative’s job.”
“Ah. Keep in mind while you were working up the courage to say more than one sentence at a time to me, I made friends with the wives of Fortress operatives. I was part of the team keeping them occupied while their husbands deployed. I also read everything I could find to help me understand the difficulties of being a military wife.”
“Both good things, Sassy. It’s not the same as caring for a man who walks into a hail of bullets when others run the other way. You won’t know when I’ll be sent on a mission or when I’ll return. I won’t be able to tell you what I’m doing or where. I may come home injured. The absences are hard on the operatives. They’re worse on those left behind, waiting and wondering. You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for, Sasha.”
“I’m strong, and I’ll grow stronger. I’ll find ways to cope with the uncertainty. I have a business to run, and if you have your way, a new one to plan. I want to be with you.”
“Are you sure?” Hope kindled in his heart. He’d laid out the stark reality of his life, and she hadn’t run. Cade believed Sasha could handle the stress of his work. She had to believe he was worth the effort of making a relationship work.
“Trust me.”
Before he could respond, Matt and Ethan returned.
“I think the firefighters have almost knocked down the blaze, Sasha,” Ethan said. “The site will be too hot to look at the damage, and the crew will stay for a while to douse hotspots. Go with Cade and Matt. Let the arson investigator look around tomorrow. I’ll be in touch as soon as I know it’s safe for you inspect your house. Cade, send me a text with the information about Sasha’s location. In the meantime, rest while you can.” His expression darkened. “This is only the beginning.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Sasha scrunched the pillow and rolled to her side. No position seemed comfortable. How long had she been trying to sleep? She squinted at the clock on the nightstand, and groaned. Two hours moving from one position to another, trying to find a spot to lull her back to dreamland with no luck.
Frustrated, Sasha threw off the covers and swung her legs to the side of the bed. This was hopeless. She might as well make herself useful. She hoped Cade’s kitchen was fully stocked. When she was stressed or worried, she cooked. Sasha figured someone trying to kill her counted as a serious source of stress and worry, hence the driving need to cook. At least Cade and Matt would eat well.
Dressing in jeans and a sweatshirt borrowed from Grace, Sasha tied on her tennis shoes and made her way to the kitchen. A dim light glowed in the living room. The operative on night watch was sure to investigate when she began making noise in here.
She opened cabinets and drawers, then scanned the contents of the refrigerator and freezer. Her eyebrows soared when she spotted the familiar storage containers Serena Blackhawk used to freeze meals for her Home Runs, Inc., customers. The police chief’s wife owned a personal chef business. Made sense for Cade to hire Serena to cook for him. Cooking for one person was tough, if Cade cooked at all. He had never mentioned doing much in a kitchen. A smile curved her mouth. Then again, he hadn’t said much at all to her before the night he and Bravo team rescued her.
Sasha considered the ingredients she’d found in the kitchen and weighed her options. Scones, she decided, along with a breakfast casserole and fruit. A hearty meal for men who trained for hours every day. Cade and Matt had to be at work by six. They should have enough time to finish their breakfast and commute to work without a problem.
Sasha pulled out the ingredients for scones and went to work. Within five minutes, Cade walked into the room.
“You okay?” he asked, voice soft.
“Can’t sleep, so I thought I’d make breakfast for you and Matt.”
“You don’t have to cook.” His hands settled on her waist and squeezed gently. “Matt can give you something to help you sleep.”
And be totally out of it if something else happened? No, thanks. Being unable to defend herself or help Cade and Matt was unacceptable and the stuff of more nightmares. “I’ll be fine. Remember, I slept most of yesterday. Thank you for letting me stay in your home, Cade.”
Another squeeze, then he kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad to have you here. How can I help with breakfast?”
They worked together to prepare the meal, then sat at the four top and sipped coffee while they waited for the scones and breakfast casserole to bake.
“I wonder how long the arson investigation will take,” Sasha said as she refilled their mugs with the steaming brew.
“Ethan thinks we should have some answers this afternoon.”
She had been afraid the process would take longer. “What will I be allowed to do today while you and Matt are at work?” She envisioned a quiet day watching daytime television and cringed. Not happening. That left scouring Cade’s bookshelves for something to read. Safe bet he wasn’t a romance reader.
What did he read? She didn’t remember seeing any bookshelves when they had arrived earlier in the morning. If Cade told her she couldn’t leave the house, Sasha might have to call Del Cahill, the owner of Otter Creek Books, to deliver books by her favorite authors.
Cade’s lips curved. “You think I’m going to leave you alone today?”
“You have to train. I don’t want you or Matt to miss work.” She couldn’t protect Cade and his teammates better than to encourage them to train. She refused to be the reason they skipped training and opened themselves to injury.
“We won’t skip work. You’re going with us.”
Sasha set her mug down with a dull thud. “I’m going to PSI?”
“You said you wanted a tour, and I can’t think of a safer place for you than in the middle of one hundred bodyguard trainees and Fortress operatives. When I can’t be by your side, at least one of the others will be.”
“Will I be able to watch you train?”
“Sure. We have an infirmary, too. You can take a nap if you grow tired. We also have a fully stocked kitchen. While Nate Armstrong is out of the country on a mission with his team, one of the trainees is filling in as chef. I’m sure Molly would be happy to have help if you want to lend her a hand.”
“I’ll be glad to pitch in.” Nothing made her happier than feeding people. Perhaps Cade was right about opening a restaurant. She’d have to come up with enough money and create another business plan. Definitely not a quick proposition and not something she’d be pursuing in the next year or two. She doubted the bank or Small Business Administration would be enthusiastic about backing another business venture for her this soon. Though her track record was impressive, she’d only been in business for a year.
“You gave a party and forgot to invite me?” Matt walked to the counter, grabbed an empty mug, and poured coffee for himself.
“No party,” Sasha said. “I couldn’t sleep so I made breakfast.”
His eyes brightened. “Yeah? I’m starving.”
She grinned. “Can’t say I’m surprised to hear that. Sit down while I check the casserole.” A moment later, she pulled the casserole from the oven and set it beside the plate of cooling scones.
Cade rose. “Sit down, Sasha. You cooked. I’ll fill the plates and bring one to you.”
“I don’t need much.”
Matt’s eyes narrowed. “First, you can’t sleep, and now you don’t want much food. You feel all right, Sasha?”
“I’m fine. I just don’t eat nearly as much as you and Cade. You’re much more physically active than I am.”
When they had almost finished the meal, Cade’s cell phone chirped with a text. He checked the screen. “It’s Trent, wanting to know if we’re coming in today.”
“Are we?” Matt finished the last of his coffee.
“Sasha’s been wanting to see PSI and watch Trent run us through our paces. I thought we’d take her with us.”
“It will be fun,” Sasha said.
The medic grimaced. “For you, maybe. Not so much for the rest of us. Trent’s training regimen is tough.”
“It works, though,” Cade pointed out. “We’re in top physical form.”
“True,” Matt admitted.
“Cade said all of you were injured on your last mission. You’re recovering well?”
“Hey, I’m the medic here. Focus on your own recovery.”
“In other words, he’s fine,” Cade said. He shot off a text to Trent, then both men helped store the food in the refrigerator and cleaned up the kitchen.
Within minutes, Sasha rode in Cade’s SUV while Matt followed behind them in his own. “I really like your vehicle. Why do you and the others from PSI all drive the same kind?”
“Corporate discount if Fortress buys in bulk. A black SUV also blends in better if we have an operation on US soil.” He slid her a look. “Do you think you’d mind driving one like this?”
“I’d love it, but I can’t afford to trade my car in right now. I assume this one has upgrades.”
He chuckled. “Several. The glass is bullet resistant and the vehicle has armor plating and heavy-duty suspension. If we have any mechanical problems, we take the SUVs to Bear. He’s magic with machines.”
“Bear?”
“That’s what he goes by. Fortress employees have the option of ordering the upgraded SUVs for their families and close friends. We protect those we care about, Sasha. In fact, we probably go overboard with the protection, but that’s how we’re able to focus on our jobs. If things progress between us like I think they will, I’ll want you to have to extra protection.”
Sasha’s heart skipped a beat, then surged ahead at a mad pace. “What do you mean by progress?”
He slid her another look. “You know exactly what I mean. The heat between us is off the charts, and I haven’t really kissed you yet. That’s only the smallest part of this relationship. I believe we have something special, and I want the chance to find out where this will go. Will you take a chance on me, despite what your brother insinuated?”
“I’m not inclined to take Dean’s advice on anything. I make my own choices, Cade, and I choose to go on this journey with you. I can say with certainty the journey won’t be dull.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “You won’t regret it, I promise.” Cade swung up to the gated entrance to PSI and swiped his card across the scanner. The metal gate opened, and he drove around to the back of the main building.
Sasha wrinkled her nose. The building wasn’t attractive. It was a single-story structure without landscaping. Outside the SUV, she glanced around at the shadowed area behind the parking lot.
Sasha frowned. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear that was a town.
Cade noticed where she was staring. “That’s Crime Town, our urban warfare training facility. When the sun comes up, you’ll be able to see better.” He pointed to the left of the town. “The obstacle course. To the right is a training field surrounded by a track where Trent runs us into the ground at every opportunity.”
“Care to go for double the miles today, Ramsey?” a deep voice said.
“No, thanks.” Cade patted his stomach as he grinned at his team leader. “I just finished a meal Sasha prepared.”
“You shouldn’t do that, Sasha.” Trent smiled. “He’ll come to expect such treatment all the time. Don’t want the Army grunt going soft on me.”
“Breakfast was a little heavier than what I make for the coffee shop, but I enjoyed the work.”
“Is your coffee shop open today?”
“Serena, Paige, and Darcy are keeping it running. I want to go back tomorrow, though. They have their own lives and responsibilities without the added burden of keeping my business open.”
“Let’s see how you feel tonight before we make that call and tell the ladies they’re off duty,” Cade murmured.
“What’s the schedule for today, Trent?” Matt asked as he walked up.
“We’re covering classes today since Durango is out. After lunch, we’ll start our own training session with PT.” He smirked. “You might want to go light on lunch, boys.”
Cade glanced at Sasha. “And you said watching us train would be fun. I hope you like to see grown men sweat because that’s what’s on the agenda this afternoon.”
“As long as you’re one of the men, you bet.” She slipped her hand into his and walked with him into the building. Cade gave her a quick tour before guiding her to the cafeteria where breakfast was in full swing. The dining facility was filled with men and women dressed much the same as Cade, Matt, and Trent. Most of them looked half asleep.
Curious about the coffee, she filled a mug for herself from the dispenser and sipped. Oh, man. No wonder the troops appeared ready for a nap. The coffee was weak. While Cade and his teammates stopped by each table to talk to the trainees, Sasha headed for the kitchen.
She found a dark-haired woman wearing a baseball hat with the PSI logo on the front up to her elbows in hot, sudsy water at the industrial-size sink, a scowl on her face. “Molly?”
The woman turned. A smile curved her lips. “You’re the coffee queen from Perk. What are you doing here?”
“Cade Ramsey brought me to work with him
today. We think someone set my house on fire overnight. Cade appointed himself my bodyguard and didn’t want me to be alone in case of more trouble. Looks like you could use some help.”
“I wouldn’t turn down an extra pair of hands. The trainees and staff eat like they’ve been on a desert island with no food for a week. I don’t know how Nate feeds these starving wolves all the time. He makes it look so easy.”
“That’s the mark of a true professional.” Sasha lifted her coffee mug. “I’d like to refresh the coffee in the dispenser.”
Molly flinched. “That bad, huh?”
“Not bad, weak.”
The other woman sighed. “I told Nate I’m terrible at making coffee. I don’t drink it.”
“Show me where he keeps the supplies and I’ll teach you a foolproof method for making the magic elixir.”
Within minutes, Sasha and Molly had dumped the weak coffee and replaced it with a fresh batch. “Let’s see how they like this.” Sasha handed a sample to Cade.
He sighed. “Perfect. Thank you.”
“Pass the word to your trainees and staff about the new coffee, and maybe you’ll have more lively students to teach.”
“No problem.” He put two fingers in his mouth and gave an ear-splitting whistle. “Coffee’s fresh. Sasha, the owner of Perk, made this batch.” He laughed as the occupants of the room rushed for the coffee dispensers. “I think you just made a lot of friends.”
She grinned. “I taught Molly how to replicate this. She’ll have it down pat for lunch, I promise. When is your first class?”
“In thirty minutes in the gym. I’m teaching the CQC class.”
“CQC?” One acronym she hadn’t run across yet.
“Close quarters combat.”
“I’ll give Molly a hand in the kitchen until it’s time for your class. I’d like to watch if it’s all right with you.”
“Sure. The gym is through those double doors.” Cade pointed to the right side of the room. “Come in when you’re ready. I’ll be in there until lunch.”
A few minutes after Cade’s class session began, Sasha slipped in the door and sat on a chair positioned against the wall. She watched him run the class through a series of exercises, each more complicated than the last.