Ride the Fire (22 page)

“If your story about Rose and his activities is proven true, you’ve helped weed out a traitor. You’re already being hailed as a hero for saving Connors’ life when Rose drew on him. Several of the men witnessed the incident.”

Incident.
Such a nice, pleasant word for an event that had just changed life as he knew it.

“I don
’
t feel like a hero, sir. I feel sick.”

“That’s to be expected,” he said, not without sympathy. “But it’s done, and you did the right thing by coming to me. Turning in a comrade is never easy, especially when you’re as close as brothers. If the other men had done the same the moment they heard the rumors, this might not have happened.”

True, but that applied to Sean as well. He still felt guilty.

The colonel considered him for a long moment. “You’ve learned a valuable lesson in what happens when our humanity must make war with our duty. This will make you a better soldier.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Carry on, Sergeant.”

He left, unsure how he’d finish this tour of duty. He’d much rather save lives than take them.

But when he did finish, in a few months, he was out of the military for good.

“Here we are.”

Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, he walked her into the one-story office building and down a hallway to a glass door marked with the name of her ob-gyn. After she signed in, she and Sean sat in the waiting area for about twenty minutes, making small talk about everything under the sun, mostly to ease anxiety.

“Eve? Come on back.”

She followed the perky nurse to an alcove where another nurse weighed her and took her blood pressure. Then she was handed a cup.

“Write your name on it and leave us a urine sample in the little window.” The girl beamed at her like this was the most fun thing in the world.

“I know the drill, thanks.” But never for a pregnancy test. Brand-new, frightening territory.

She did the deed, which always required a certain amount of acrobatics, and left the sample. After washing her hands, she emerged from the restroom and was directed to sit in a chair near the alcove where a couple of nurses were bent over the sample, perhaps anticipating telling her joyous news.

Her breakfast threatened to rebel.

The nurse who’d brought her back there stopped and addressed her, still smiling. “The test will only take a minute. They’re pretty fast these days. If it’s positive, the doctor will see you to discuss basic health and scheduling your checkups.”

“Okay.”

When the nurses turned to her and approached wearing pleasant but neutral expressions, she wasn’t sure what to think.

“Miss Marshall? The test came back negative.”

“I—oh. Wow. I wasn’t sure—I mean the home test was positive and those things are usually accurate.” She stared at the nurses, feeling strangely bereft.

“That happens sometimes,” she said, voice sympathetic. “I saw your gorgeous man out there, being so sweet to you. Are you two trying for a baby?”

“No, the positive test took us by surprise.” Boy, there was the understatement of the century. She rose to leave. “But I’d kind of gotten used to the idea.”

The nurse gave her a quick hug. “Don’t worry. There will be another time.”

“Thanks.”

One showed her the way out even though she didn’t need directions, and she checked out, retrieving the billing slip without really being aware of what the lady said. Something about insurance, like she cared at the moment.

Sean rose when she walked into the waiting room, his eyes anxious. But full of love. When she shook her head, he opened his arms and she walked straight into them, burrowing close.

“You’re disappointed,” he said into her hair, kissing her.

“Yeah, I am. But I didn’t know I would be until about two minutes ago.”

“We’ll try again.”

“One day. I know we weren’t ready, but still.”

“I know, baby.” Pulling back, he tipped her chin up. “Why don’t I treat us to dinner and a movie? Let’s enjoy our day together and forget all our troubles for a while.”

“Sounds like the perfect plan.”

Hammer was unperturbed, and chuckled. “Friends in the right places, ones who are sympathetic to our cause.”

“You’ve got that half right. Not friends,” he said coldly. “We’ve got people we use and people who use us. Never friends.”

“Right. Figure of speech, that’s all.”

He eyed the big man. “You’d sell me out for the right price, wouldn’t you?”

“Sure. Price has never been high enough.”

Taken aback for a second, Jesse stared. And then laughed. Big bastard had probably been offered plenty to nail Jesse’s hide to the wall. “I doubt it ever will be. But if it is? You’ve only got one shot.” He patted the man’s cheek, hard. “Make it count.”

As the man ambled away, Jesse considered his own advice. That was how enemies were defeated—they failed to make the most of their shot when they had it. They allowed their emotions, other tangled-up shit in their heads, to fuck with their perception.

Failed to make the kill.

And then the prey became the predator, ripped out the enemy’s throat.

“I’m coming for you, Tanner. Can you feel me? Real soon, you can join your precious little family in their dirt nap.”

Everything was accounted for, the last of the charges loaded and ready to be placed. But they weren’t loaded in
this
van. This one would serve as the decoy. Disappear, and reappear at a very different destination.

It would carry Sean to meet his fate.

And then his former best friend would scream in terror as the town he loved came crashing down. With Sean buried underneath.

“Let’s fucking hope so, and before he gets his ass killed like our last man.”

“God, I don’t know how you guys do that undercover shit, especially a gig that lasts years. If I was Hammer, I’d go nuts hanging out with those slime-balls twenty-four-seven.”

“Some do. And some eventually buy into their role, become what they hated most.” It was why Nick had gotten out of deep undercover work. Too many monsters.

People had absolutely no idea how real they were.

“Better them than me. I just record the shit.”

“I’ll bet you’ve seen and heard a lot.”

The techie snorted. “Stuff that would turn your hair white. I’ve got a ringside seat.” He shrugged. “But you’ve seen more than me, and up close.”

You have no clue.

He shook himself back to the present, swiped a hand down his face in frustration. “We need to find out where he’s going with that last load of C-4. Dammit!”

“Hammer doesn’t know?”

“Rose is keeping his side project close to the vest. He’s going for Tanner, but we don’t know where or how.”

“All we can do is keep watching and listening. Hope we get something, or Hammer does. Why don’t they just put this Tanner guy into protective custody?”

“Come on, you know better.” He gave the techie an arch stare.

“Oh, right. He’s the bait. You need Rose to come out and play.”

“Exactly. Every criminal has an Achilles’ heel, and Tanner is his.”

And when Rose showed his face, Nick hoped like hell they got to the bait on time.

“I think I’m getting a chest cold.” Another cough shook him, and he shuddered.

She leaned over the table and felt his forehead, his cheeks. “You’re really warm. Want to skip the movie?”

“No way. I want to show my girl a good time, and that’s what I’m going to do.” He smiled at her to cover the fact that he’d been feeling worse by the hour all day. But he wasn’t down yet and certainly not out. His baby deserved to be spoiled.

She didn’t look convinced. “Okay, but if you feel any worse, I’m taking you home and putting you straight to bed.”

“Oh, promise?”

“Pervert.”

“You love me that way.”

“True.”

They finished their dinner, chatting about work and their friends. Balancing their lives together, becoming them. The perfect opening presented itself and he sat back in his chair, regarding her, hope blooming in his chest.

“I was thinking. . . . Remember when I said I might sell my place, buy something else?”

“Sure. That sounds like a great idea. New start and all that.” She took a sip of her iced tea.

“I know this is soon, but what would you say if I suggested we look for a new place together? One that’s ours?” Her blue eyes widened and her lips parted in surprise. Was that good or bad?

“Is
that what you’re suggesting? You want us to make a home, you and me?”

“That’s exactly what I want. I love you,” he said quietly, heart pounding. Reaching across the table, he took her hand. “I want a total second chance, with you. Love, marriage, children. The whole deal. What do you say? Or do you need more time to decide?”

“Y-you want to marry me?” she squeaked.

“Smooth how I sort of slid that in there, don’t you think?” He chuckled. “You know me, Eve. I’m not a man who wants or needs a lot of fanfare.”

“Well, perhaps
I’d
like a little bit of fuss,” she said, nearly bouncing in her chair. “At least a small party horn or a sprinkle of confetti.”

“Forgive me. I’m an idiot.” Smiling, he rose from his chair and walked around to her side of the table. Got down on one knee next to her.

“What are you doing?” With a muffled laugh, she glanced around at the other diners, who were starting to take notice.

He cleared his throat. This was the last time he’d ever do this, so he’d better get it right. Loudly, for all in the vicinity to hear, he said, “Eve, I can be a bastard. I’ll probably fight against the bottle all my life. I’m hardheaded, arrogant, and I like to have my way. I like to get dirty, and then leave my muddy boots and clothes all over the floor. I snore. In fact, I don’t have much to recommend me at all. Hell, you’d be better off getting a dog.”

This earned a few laughs from the delighted diners. Eve was beaming like the center of the sun.

“The only thing going for me is that I love you more than my own life, and that won’t ever change. Eve Marshall, will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes!”

She threw herself into his outstretched arms and he caught her, standing and kissing her senseless to a round of applause. So much for taking things slowly.

He pulled back, grinning. “Is that enough confetti for you?”

“Until the wedding, yes. Oh my God, Mama’s going to be thrilled! She’ll invite half the countryside, her friends at church, and then there’s all of the fire department—”

He faked a put-upon groan and she giggled.

God, he was happy. At last.

“Whatever you want, baby, that’s what you’ll have.”

“See, you don’t always have to have things your way,” she teased. “You’re a softer touch than you like for people to know.”

He actually felt his face heat. “Nah, I’m a porcupine.”

The waiter came by and handed him their bill. After he’d paid, the movie theater was next. Outside, the weather had turned cold and drizzly, the sort of dampness that made his lungs ache. Determined not to complain, he drove them into Nashville for a change of scenery, stretching out the evening.

The movie Eve picked was one of those tragic romances, the snively girl crap he usually avoided like the plague because just being in its vicinity might make his balls blacken and fall off. But Eve sniffed and dabbed all the way to the bitter end, heaving a sigh as the houselights went up.

“That was so sad. They were doomed never to be together.”

“What a melodramatic piece of crap,” he grumbled. “I prefer happy endings, thank you very much.”

“Aww, you softy. Prefer the hero alive at the end, do you?”

“If I was the hero? Not much of a contest.”

“You’re
my
hero.”

“And you’re good for my ego, you know that, lady?”

“I try.”

Laughing, he hooked his arm through hers and they headed out into the rain. When she jumped with both feet into a puddle and doused their jeans on purpose, he mock-growled, “You are so going to pay for that.”

Around the side of the building and through the back parking lot, a game of puddle wars ensued, the two of them getting nice and soaked. Which was going to help his cold immensely, but screw it. He was having fun.

“Isn’t that fucking cute? So precious I could hurl.”

Snapping his head up, he stopped dead in his tracks. Leaning casually against the side of his Tahoe in the lamplight, legs crossed at the ankles and hands in his pockets, was Jesse.

Pushing Eve behind him, Sean approached slowly, taking in the sight of the man who was once like a brother to him. The years had not been kind to his natural good looks.

Jesse’s square face was lined with every one of his years and then some, his blond hair long and stringy. It was pulled into a ponytail, revealing the rose tattoo they’d gotten him in Thailand, in a lifetime he’d rather forget.

“Why a rose, man? They’ve got all sorts of cool designs. Celtic, dragons, whatever.”

“Besides my name? So my enemies will remember that if they touch me, I’ll make them bleed.”

“Jesse.” He was shocked he had a voice, and that it sounded even. Calm.

“Sean.” His name came out almost like a taunt. Jesse pushed his lean body from the SUV, strolled forward, his gait unhurried. “Good to see you, old friend.”

“We haven’t been friends since the day you tried to murder one of our own men in cold blood.” Anger began to take over from shock.

“He was going to rat me out, but you did that for him, didn’t you?” His eyes glittered like onyx. “But that’s ancient history.”

“Why are you here, Jesse?” His muscles tensed, ready for a fight. He hadn’t had to engage an opponent hand to hand in almost twenty years. Some lessons, he hoped, were ingrained too deeply to forget.

“You mean, other than to fuck your wife?” he asked pleasantly. “Blair sure was a wildcat in bed, but you know how it is with bored, unsatisfied wives.”

“Did she know who you were?” He kept his anger in check, because he had to know for sure whether Blair had full knowledge that George Sparks and Jesse Rose were the same person. Blair had heard him talk about Jesse before and after their marriage, but she’d never met him—that he knew of. After Jesse’s court-martial, Sean had told her what happened and they’d never mentioned it again.

“What if she did? Whoo-boy, that would be a real kicker, huh? To know your fancy wife threw in with me? That her knowledge got her killed?”

A sudden surety settled over him, and gave him peace in this, if nothing else. “Blair might’ve slept with George Sparks, but she would never have knowingly put our children in danger.”

“Know about George, do you? Guess you found the e-mails. Knew you would, eventually. That was part of the fun.”

“I’ll repeat, what do you want?”

“How’re those adorable kids, too?” Then he snapped his fingers as though just remembering. “Oh, my bad. I think I read somewhere they were toasted like marsh-mallows, along with your wife. Damned shame.”

Did you ever ask yourself . . . what if it wasn’t an accident?

The anger he’d tried so hard to keep in check flared into rage. With an inhuman roar, he charged, barreled into Jesse with all his strength. Dimly, he heard Eve shouting for help, asking someone to send the police. He didn’t care. All that mattered was tearing this bastard apart.

Too late, he knew that was just what Jesse intended.

They rolled on the asphalt, each struggling for the upper hand. Sean was losing ground, fast. Emotion clouded judgment, and his nemesis had a definite lack of feelings to get in his way. As a terrorist, he’d no doubt kept his fighting skills in prime shape, something Sean hadn’t done in years.

Firemen saved lives; they didn’t take them. The very fact that had drawn him to the fire department after he left the marines.

In brief, he had his ass handed to him. He got in a few good punches, but got back twice what he dished out. Head, back, ribs. Jabs and kicks landing with crushing force, honed by a rogue soldier who’d never given up the war.

As Sean lay panting, the bastard whispered in his ear.

“You’re going to die, soon. But it’ll be a shitload bigger than this. Nothing mundane for you, old friend.” He patted Sean’s cheek. “Until later.”

Footsteps receded and someone dropped to his side.

“Oh, God! Are you all right?” Hands skimmed his face, his torso.

Wincing, he struggled to sit up. “Bruised. I’ll live.”

“You’re bleeding!” She tried to dab his mouth, but he pushed her hand away.

“I’m fine. I just want to get out of here.”

“Um, that’s going to be put off for a while.”

“Why?”

“The police are here.”

“Dammit! This explanation is going to take too fucking long.” At her hurt look, he relented. “I’m sorry, baby. You did good, getting help. But our story is that a man fitting Jesse’s description demanded my wallet and I wouldn’t give it to him. Let me do most of the talking, okay?”

She nodded, not appearing convinced.

“Good. Soon as we get rid of them, I’ll call that FBI guy and tell him what happened.”

This seemed to relieve some of her anxiety. “All right. Can you stand?”

“Yeah.” Even with her help, it was easier said than done. He ached all over and was dizzy. Whether from his cold or the fight, he wasn’t sure. Maybe both.

A Nashville cop pulled up close to them, got out. “Evenin’, folks. Got a call about a dispute? I’m assuming you’re the ones who called.”

“I called,” Eve said. “A man jumped my fiancé and demanded his wallet.”

The cop crossed his arms over his chest. “He jumped and
then
he demanded the wallet, or the other way around?”

Eve looked to Sean, expression slightly panicked. Shit.

“I can explain,” he said with an effort. “We just left a movie and came out to my SUV. We were almost here when a man approached, holding a knife. He yelled at me to hand over my wallet, but I told him to eat shit.”

“It’s safer to just let those types of criminals have the wallet, sir,” the cop scolded. “You could have been stabbed.”

“Yes, I know. In hindsight, what I did was stupid, but at the time I saw red. I didn’t want to let him walk off with my money and credit cards. I was pissed. We fought and he took off when he realized you were coming.”

The cop sighed, as though this was the umpteenth time he’d heard a variation of this story lately. “Give me a description and I’ll file a report of the incident. If he’s picked up in the future for something else, your report could help put him away on more charges.”

Oh, I think homeland terrorism is a tad out of your league.

“Thank you, Officer.”

He gave a description, answered a few more questions that didn’t tell the policeman any more information than before, and tried a smile when the cop asked if he needed medical attention. Like he was going to call in the paramedics and risk this spreading back to his own department.

“No, thanks. It’s nothing a little rest and TLC won’t cure.” To get his point across, he put an arm around Eve’s waist and pulled her close, winking at the cop. Who finally cracked a smile.

“Right. Wouldn’t turn down a little of that brand of TLC myself. You have a nice evening.”

After the cop drove off, Sean sagged against Eve. “Would you mind driving?”

“Mind? I’m not letting you. Give me the keys.”

He handed them over and climbed into the passenger’s side, hissing in pain. The bastard had done a number on his ribs in particular. Taking out his phone, he left a message for Nick Westfall and hung up.

“He must have been following us tonight for no telling how long, waiting to confront you,” she pointed out, sounding pissed. “Otherwise, how could he have known where we were?”

“God, you’re right.” If he hadn’t been so caught up in their reunion, he would’ve noticed. “Honey, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think it would be best if you join your mother at your aunt’s house. Just until the FBI arrests Jesse.”

Her lips thinned into an angry line. “Which will be when? Next week? Next year? He’s apparently been waltzing around playing his games however he wanted for as long as you’ve known him. What makes you think he’ll get caught now?”