by Jamie Begley
“Senior Agent Collins.” Agent Flores looked as if he would rather jump off a cliff than make the admission.
“My name is Gavin James. And you are?”
“I know who you are … I am Agent Flores.”
Gavin dismissed the young agent as if he was an irritating fly. “Which one of you is Collins?”
“He’s in the restroom. He became airsick during the flight,” Agent Garcia reluctantly admitted.
“Then I guess we’re waiting for him before going on to Sherguevil Island,” Gavin said firmly.
“How did you …? You’re not going.” Agent Flores shook his head.
“Are you denying me the right to accompany my wife?” Gavin tilted his head, as if to make sure he was hearing Agent Flores correctly.
“Ye … No. I mean, yes.”
Ginny had to bite her lip to keep herself from bursting into nervous laughter at the agent’s confusion.
“My wife is not leaving this airport without me at her side. Isn’t that right, wife?”
Ginny’s amusement vanished as she nodded her head, too scared not to.
“Miss Bellamy isn’t married.”
“We were keeping it a secret, on a need to know basis. The FBI didn’t need to know before. Now you do.”
“You can take it up with my superior.” Agent Flores’s voice found firmer ground.
Gavin eyed him disdainfully. “Which is what I just said.”
“Oh … right.”
Ginny would have had some sympathy for the agent, but she was too busy being concerned for her own welfare. Waves of fury were rolling off Gavin, as if he was carefully holding himself in check. She was regretting not telling him this morning about the deal she made with the FBI.
Gavin turned his back on the agents, propelling her toward a cluster of chairs in the middle of the room, making sure to keep a distance from other passengers waiting for their flights. Train moved to stand behind them, and Ginny saw Train whisper something in Gavin’s ear before going out the glass door to the airfield. Killyama’s husband was dressed in a tan flight suit that had several military insignias prominently displayed. She wasn’t able to take her eyes away from his authoritative stride until he disappeared out of sight.
“We are going back to the plane,” Agent Flores stated.
Ginny found herself pushed down farther on the plastic chair with Gavin’s arm placed snugly over her shoulders. Hammer took the other seat next to her, firmly blocking her in between the two large men.
The three agents stared at each other, as if perplexed at what to do.
Gavin stared at Agent Flores unsympathetically. “How long have you been on the force?”
“I have been in training for four months.”
Gavin appeared disgusted as he motioned at the other agents. “How about them?”
“The same time. We were in the same training class at Quantico.”
Ginny saw Gavin and Hammer share the same dark look before Gavin shot out another question. “How long has the agent in charge been on the force?”
“Agent Collins has served with the FBI for eighteen years. He’s due to retire after this assignment.”
“Well, isn’t that a fucking coincidence?” Gavin’s exasperation was evident.
The agents stiffened at Gavin’s insinuation.
“What does that mean?”
“You’re the FBI; you figure it out.”
“If you’re insinuating that Miss Bellamy will come under any harm with us assisting her on her journey to Clindale because of our lack of experience, then you’re mistaken. She is under our protection—”
“What did you do before joining the FBI?” Gavin interjected.
“I was an attorney.”
Ginny could tell from the flush rising in his cheeks Gavin’s eye language wasn’t complimentary.
“How about them?”
“I’m sure that Agent Flores is very good at his job—” Ginny broke off when Gavin’s laser-like glare settled on her. Lowering her eyes, she mumbled under her breath, “Never mind.”
“Agent Garcia was a network administrator. Agent Clark was a lab supervisor.”
“None of you have law enforcement or military background?” Gavin asked harshly.
“We were given extensive training in the academy, and all of us have passed the requirements needed.”
“Except graduating.”
The agents couldn’t deny that truth and began looking over their shoulders toward the bathroom. Their relief became palpable when their supervisor exited the restroom.
Mopping his brow with a damp paper towel, his eyes widened when he saw his men gathered in the seating area of the terminal.
“Flores, why haven’t you escorted Miss Bellamy back to the plane as you were ordered to do?”
The three agents stepped to the side, exposing Gavin’s presence.
“I’m Gavin.”
“I know who you are.”
Gavin gave the men a lethal stare. “Seems like a fucking lot of you know who I am.”
As Agent Collins wiped his brow again, Ginny noticed his hand was shaking, despite his demeanor being more assured than the younger agents.
“Escort Miss Bella—”
“Mrs. James,” Gavin corrected.
Agent Collins’ assurance dropped a notch, yet he continued with his order. “It has no bearing with the job we have been assigned to carry out.” Agent Collins used his hand to motion toward the doors. “The pilot texted me that the winds have let up and it’s safe for us to fly. Mr. James, your wife may call you once we reach Sherguevil Island.”
“My wife isn’t going anywhere without me.”
“That isn’t possible. Miss Be—Mrs. James chose Hammer as her escort. We have no room for more passengers.”
“Reaper can take my place,” Hammer stated.
Agent Collins narrowed his eyes in anger. “Mr. James doesn’t have the required paperwork to travel to Sherguevil Island.”
Gavin opened his duffel bag to remove a yellow envelope. “Which paperwork do you need? I have two forms of ID, one of which is a passport; I have our marriage certificate, my health records and inoculations, which are current.”
“The owner of the island requires anyone traveling there to have been quarantined for the last ten days.” Agent Collins seemed more confident this would stymie Gavin.
Gavin shut it down. “Considering I’m married to Ginny and the intimate nature of our relationship, if she has the virus, so do I.”
“I need to call my director.” Agent Collins’ frustration became more apparent as Gavin threw his objections aside.
“Do that. And if he denies Ginny’s and my request, then he can forget any deal she made with the FBI. Believe me; that’s what I would rather she do. I have my lawyer on speed dial, and dude, the last fucking thing you want to do is get her involved. Dealing with Diamond will be like poking a hornet’s nest—and she won’t leave the FBI unscathed.”
“The FBI has nothing to hide.”
Ginny thought his denial would sound better if Collins would stop wiping his sweaty brow.
“We’ll find out, shall we? I find it extremely concerning that the agents sent to Treepoint to keep Ginny’s sister and me sidelined in the courthouse were the more experienced agents, while the ones sent with Ginny haven’t even graduated from Quantico. Don’t you find that unusual, Hammer?” Gavin asked mockingly.
Agent Collins gave the younger agents a disgusted look at the knowledge they’d shared with Gavin. “If you’re trying to say there are any irregularities—”
“I’m not trying to fucking say it. It’s a fucking fact,” Gavin spat.
“Agent Garcia, Clark, and Flores are embarking on their fieldwork, as every new agent does. They are at the top of their class, and the director approved their part in this assignment, as the situation with the virus has diminished our numbers. Escorting Miss Bell—” Collins corrected himself. “—Mrs. James is a low risk operation, and it was
deemed advantageous to use trainees rather than seasoned agents, as they are needed elsewhere.”
“I bet it is more advantageous,” Gavin agreed snidely. “Hammer, I can’t believe you haven’t already pulled the plug on this shit show.”
Hammer leaned forward so he could talk to Gavin without her blocking him from sight. “I would have—if Ginny hadn’t told me she would go alone without me.”
Ginny squirmed in her plastic chair. “I’m going.” She mutinously lifted her chin at Gavin’s glare.
“I’d like a word with my wife alone.”
Ginny was prepared to tell the agents that she didn’t want to be left alone with Gavin. Truthfully, she was suffering her own misgivings about what she had agreed to do and was frightened Gavin would talk her out of the plan.
“I’ll give you five minutes,” Agent Collins warned as he moved away. “If Mrs. James doesn’t continue on to Sherguevil Island, our agreement with her will become null and void.”
Ginny heard the deep breath Gavin took as he prepared to talk to her when the men moved away.
“Hear me out, Gavin.” Bracing herself, she turned in her seat to face him. “I want you to go back to Treepoint and take Hammer with you. I’ll be fine. I’ve given this some serious thought, and this is for the best—”
Gavin moved his face within centimeters from hers. “Then you’ve got the brain of duck if you think I’d go along with this for a fucking second. All four of us are going back to Treepoint. Diamond can handle any charges brought against me or The Last Riders.”
“I’m not only doing this for you or The Last Riders. Helping you and them is a benefit, not the whole reason.” Ginny raised truth-filled eyes to his.
“Then what is the other fucking reason are you doing this?”
“For Trudy, Will, and Hammer.”
Chapter Seven
“I can’t keep running to make everyone safe. How would you like living every single minute of each day hiding who you are and if you make a mistake those people you love could pay the consequences?” Ginny placed a hand over his on the arm of the chair. “Since I was three years old, I’ve been living with the fact that Hammer, Papa Will, and Trudy’s life were in danger because they were protecting me. One hint that I was still alive, and their lives could be forfeited to get to me. It’s why I was never able to see my grandmother before she died, why I couldn’t let anyone know Trudy was my sister, why I maintained my distance from my brothers, why any time something happens, I have to separate myself so no hint of my past can come to light. I either face Allerton or I’ll have to add my niece or nephew to that list. I won’t live like that anymore. I won’t ask anyone else to pay the price of loving me costs.”
“You could have told me.”
Ginny heard the slight tinge of hurt and mistrust in his voice.
“When was I supposed to tell you? Last night?” Ginny felt a blush rushing to her cheeks as she shook her head. “If you’re completely honest, you don’t know what you feel about me. You couldn’t even tell me about seeing Taylor this morning, and yet you sit here, angry at me for keeping a secret from you that could get Trudy, Will, and Hammer hurt.”
“I’m not angry you kept your identity from me; I’m angry because even though you say it was to protect T.A., Will, and Hammer I know the main reason you exposed yourself is because of me.” He wrapped his free hand around her neck. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
Ginny tried to look away from him, but he wouldn’t allow it. She knew then she couldn’t lie to him. “I can’t,” she whispered. “It’s too late. Allerton knows I’m alive now. There’s no going back. I’m going to see this through; take Hammer and leave. Please, Gavin.” She fervently tried to get across to him how important this was to her. “I have to do this. I can’t live with myself if something happens. Trudy and Hammer have families now, and I can’t be their obligation any more. I have to stand on my own two feet. I should have done this a long time ago, but I wasn’t brave enough.”
“What makes you so sure that you are now?”
“I’m not sure I am. I just can’t live with the consequences any longer if I don’t.”
He tightened his hand on her neck like he wanted to shake some sense into her. Instead, he pulled her closer.
“I’m not going to let you do this alone,” he said.
Her protective instincts for Gavin warred with her determination to return to Clindale Island and accomplish what needed to be done. She didn’t want to lead him into danger. He deserved more than losing his life trying to keep her safe.
“Why are you here?” She futilely fought herself to remain in his hold. Gathering her self-control, she moved her hands to his chest to push him back. “Taylor is waiting. Go,” she gasped out, finally getting some breathing room.
“Either I go with you, or you’re not going.”
Ginny saw the tendons in his jaw lock in determination and she hated herself for the relief that flooded through her. Before she could stop from exposing the fear she kept hidden when she saw he was scrutinizing her expression, Gavin gave her an abrupt nod. She didn’t like the message she read in his eyes.
“Wait.” Ginny tried to pull him back down when he started to rise. It was a wasted effort.
Reaching down for her, he tugged her to her feet then went to stand in front of Hammer. “Go home. I’ve got this.”
Hammer stood, his hard features remaining stoic at Gavin’s announcement. “I’m trusting you with her. Don’t let me down,” he finally said before pulling her into his arms.
Ginny was shocked at the gesture. Hammer had never given any indication of his feelings for her. He still didn’t … other than holding her close.
“Kid, if you get yourself hurt, I won’t be happy.”
This was the Hammer she knew and loved.
“I’m in good hands.” Ginny laid her head down on his shoulder, drawing his strength into her body. She was terrified at getting her way, terrified that she wouldn’t be the only one hurt by her actions.
Hammer must have felt her shiver in his arms because he told her, “You’re the bravest woman I know.”
“Killyama would kick you in your balls for saying that.” Ginny gave a small laugh against his shoulder.
“Prove me right.”
“I’ll try.”
Hammer released her from his hold. “Trying won’t get the job done. You’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and I held you back until I was sure you could handle this yourself. You’ve got this, kid. You do what needs to be done. Reaper will make sure you come out alive.”
Gavin didn’t acknowledge Hammer’s confidence in him, his attention on the FBI agents standing at the doors.
“I served with him on a couple of missions before he left the service. No one is better than him with his particular skill.”
Ginny gave Gavin a considering look at Hammer’s statement. “What’s his skill?” she asked quietly, not wanting to give a forewarning to anyone listening.
“Kicking ass.” Hammer held out his fist to Gavin. “Watch your back, brother.”
Gavin didn’t give him a fist bump back. “Will do. And Hammer, when I come home, we’re going to have a talk.”
“Brother, when you and Ginny make it back okay, you can have the first punch.”
It took a good fifteen minutes for Agent Collins to get the okay from his director in letting Gavin switch places with Hammer. Ginny remained a silent spectator as Gavin and Agent Collins argued back and forth. When Gavin gave the agent an envelope filled with documents, Ginny looked interestedly at the marriage certificate, amazed at the signature written on the bottom. She was going to have a long talk with Gavin about the perils of forgery. She hadn’t done the deal with the FBI to get him out of his legal problems for him to spend five to ten in prison for lying to a federal agent.
A phone call to Collins’ boss settled the matter, and Gavin was given the okay to board the plane with her. As they walked toward their plane, Ginny saw Train’s he
ad buried in the plane’s engine before he said something to the pilot before walking over to them.
“Any problems?” Gavin asked as Train neared.
“No, not as far as I can see.” Killyama’s husband shoved his hands into his flight suit. “Any chance they’ll let me tag along?”
“None.” Agent Collins motioned her toward the waiting plane. “Mrs. James.”
Ginny ignored him.
“Did you see Trudy?” she asked Train instead.
“Yes,” Train’s answer was short.
“How was she?”
“How do you think she fucking was?”
Wincing from the stinging dart of anger from Train had her going onto the plane without another word. Taking a seat at the back, Ginny stared out the window, fighting back tears. She had known Trudy would be hurt with her decision to return to Clindale Island, yet from Train’s short reply, her sister must have been more upset than she expected.
When Gavin took the seat next to hers, she refused to show him how emotional she was. With legs snuggly fit against the seat in front of him, he didn’t show any commiseration with Train’s displeasure with her.
“Buckle your seat belt.”
She numbly fastened her seat belt, keeping her eyes pointed forward. If Train was as angry as he sounded, Ginny was willing to bet it wasn’t a quarter of what Gavin was feeling.
“I should have told you,” Ginny whispered under her breath as the airplane taxied forward.
Drawing to the side of her seat, away from Gavin, Ginny clung to the armrest under the window as Gavin planted his face in front of hers, so close that she couldn’t glance away.
“That’s the understatement of the century.” His low voice had shivers going up her back.
“I was trying to help everyone.”
“You should have stayed out of it. Didn’t it fucking dawn on you that you could make it worse for us?”
Her own anger came to her rescue. “No, it didn’t,” she hissed sharply. “It was damned bad enough that all The Last Riders were about to get arrested for three deaths.”