Chapter 9
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BOONE FROWNED AS THE back door opened and Radley rushed in, her backpack slung over one shoulder. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. Whereas twenty minutes ago, she’d been perfectly fine, her face was pale now, her gaze scanning the empty warehouse.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice gruff.
Her gaze sliced to his. “I got more texts.”
“Just now? How many more?” he asked, moving toward her.
“Four. No, make that five,” she said as her phone buzzed again. Boone’s focus narrowed as he looked down to the phone clutched in her hands.
You’ll pay dearly for your betrayal.
Fury washed over him as he read the texts above it, his anger hot and stabbing in his chest. “What the fuck? How do they know what you’re wearing?”
“They saw me,” she said, her voice thin.
“We’ve taken evasive measures all day. I’m positive we weren’t being followed. Whoever is watching you was either at your condo this morning or watching from afar at Shadow Security, correctly assuming that you work there.”
Radley’s expression grew thoughtful. “I hadn’t considered that angle,” she mused.
Boone’s gaze went to Knox, who was now listening in. “Call Holt and have IT access the security cameras. They’ll be able to see if anyone was lurking around the perimeter.”
“But my condo...,” Radley said, worrying her lip. “They weren’t in the hallway. The garage is a possibility, but if they were down there watching me when I was completely alone, that would’ve been an opportune moment to approach me.”
“Unless they’re getting a feel for things,” Boone said, his voice grim. “Maybe they wanted to suss it out and see how you’d react. Discover your patterns. They were following you yesterday. I’m sure they would’ve today as well, but you made sure you didn’t have a tail.”
Knox finished speaking quietly to Holt and ended the call.
“IT will check the camera feed. Holt said he could have them hack into your condo’s surveillance system.
Those guys are good. They’ll be able to see if anyone else snuck in through the back door, so to speak.
It’s possible they accessed the feeds and were watching you that way. ”
“You think they were watching me on surveillance in my own building?” she asked in disbelief.
“Anything’s possible,” Boone said. “You know that as well as me.”
“Jesus. Nothing like starting a new job with some assholes from my old job after me,” she muttered. “Like we don’t have enough on our plates trying to stop this homegrown terror cell.”
“Don’t worry,” Boone said, catching her eye. “We’ll find out who’s threatening you. In the meantime, maybe you should get a new cell number.”
“Agreed. I can block the number they’re texting me from, but no doubt they’ll just mask the number or use another way to reach me. Damn it,” she muttered.
“What’s wrong?” Cooper asked as he strode inside, seeing them standing together talking. He grew agitated as well as he scanned over the messages. Radley scrolled up, showing the men the ones she’d received yesterday.
“They haven’t been following you today,” Boone pointed out. “There’s no mention of your whereabouts like yesterday, which means these locations haven’t been compromised.”
“Yeah. I’m sure they’d love to fuck up our investigation here just to mess with me. I wish I knew which one of Schultz’s asshole friends was texting me. I’d love to give him a piece of my mind.”
“It’s best not to respond,” Boone said.
“I’m going to head back out to keep watch,” Cooper said, glancing to the door. “Fill me in later.”
“Will do.” Boone met Radley’s gaze. “Don’t reply to them,” he stressed. “They’ll know they’re getting to you, which is likely their intention. It’s best to get a new number for now.”
She huffed out a breath. “I’m sick of dealing with dicks like them.”
“Good thing you’re with us now,” Boone quipped.
She shot him a withering look.
“Just trying to lighten the mood. You’re safe here with us, but there’s no telling when the terror cell crew might return. We need to finish setting up surveillance so we can monitor from afar.”
“I have a feeling they’ll be back soon,” Knox said, eyeing the stack of crates against the far wall.
“Same here,” Radley agreed. “Let’s finish what we need to do and get the heck out of this warehouse.”
***
BOONE MUTTERED A CURSE as he headed back to his apartment that night. He’d wanted to escort Radley to her place, but she’d insisted on going alone. The woman was stubborn, he’d give her that. And while she had gotten the jump on him this morning, he’d easily overpowered her. Damn it all to hell.
They’d finished placing hidden cameras around the warehouse, and the IT staff at Shadow Security would monitor the feeds.
Fortunately, no one had shown up while Boone and his teammates had been there, but now that things were in place to track and monitor the terror cell from that location, they wanted to see some action.
Plans had already been put in place to surveil the locations in New York, but no one knew how long it would be before the terror cell took their next steps.
Then there was the problem of possible U.S.
military involvement. A goddamn traitor—possibly two—was in on the plotting.
Only someone on the inside would have the details leaked on the dark web, a disturbing thought.
Boone strode into his apartment. He lifted his buzzing phone to his ear, seeing Xaden’s name flash on the screen. “What’s up?” he asked.
“Heard you fellas finished up at the warehouse. Gage and I are heading to a bar in a few. Care to join?”
Boone grunted, staring at his mostly empty apartment. “Sure thing man, I’m game. I haven’t even unpacked any boxes yet, but priorities, right?” he asked with a chuckle. “I could use a beer or two after today.”
“I’m just leaving the office now,” Xaden said, making Boone’s lips quirk.
The “office” sounded far too innocuous for the secretive black ops work that went on at Shadow Security.
Xaden and Gage had been assisting with more research, something he was sure they hated when guys like them preferred to be in on the action.
The men had been analyzing vulnerabilities in security at The Space Needle, and given the teams’ expertise, Holt wanted them looking at it as well in addition to the analysts.
“You invite the boss?” Boone asked.
“Yep, but he’s not gonna show. Holt’s catching up with Jett before he and Anna head out to their cabin. Apparently, they left all their kids at home with the nanny, so Jett is eager for some alone time with the missus,” Xaden said with a laugh.
“Damn. I can’t even imagine that—a wife, a house, kids.
Jett did okay for himself after leaving the service.
I’ve seen his place in New York, and it’s damn impressive.
Then there’s the whole security empire he started from the ground,” Boone said appreciatively.
“The guy’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“He is,” Xaden agreed. “That’s a guy you never want to get on the wrong side of. I’m going to fill in Coop about tonight,” he continued. “Text Knox and tell him to meet us there.”
“Will do,” Boone said, ending the call. He shot off a quick text to his teammate, doubting Knox would join them.
The guy generally liked to keep to himself.
At the last minute, Boone thumbed a text to Radley as well.
As the only woman currently working with the team, he didn’t want her to be unintentionally excluded.
Plus, he wanted eyes on her. Sure, she was damn pretty to look at, but he didn’t like that she was being threatened.
He’d almost considered following her back to her condo earlier, but he knew she’d be pissed at him. Odd that he felt so protective towards a woman he hardly knew.
Thirty minutes later, he was pulling up to the bar the team was meeting at. Xaden and the other men had been in Seattle longer and had already discovered their favorite local hangouts. He’d have to get the names of some other places to check out.
Boone parked his big pickup truck and sauntered inside, ignoring the appreciative looks of a few women seated at a high-top table near the bar. He wasn’t here to pick up a girl. Boone clapped Gage on the back as he strode up, gesturing to the bartender for a beer.
“You made it,” Gage said with a grin.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Boone said, looking around. The space was dimly lit with low music thumping over the speakers and a good-sized crowd for a weeknight. It had a laid back, easy vibe that he appreciated. Boone could see why his teammate liked the place.
Xaden ambled over, his arm already around a pretty brunette in a tight dress. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, his eyes heating as she snuggled closer to him. Boone and Gage exchanged a look.
“I’d love a glass of white wine.” Her hand landed on Xaden’s broad chest, and he smirked.
“Sure thing, sweetheart. Coming right up.”
A beer appeared before Boone, the bartender already moving, and he took a long pull, trying not to snicker at the woman fawning all over Xaden. He was eating that shit right up. Even Gage looked rightfully amused.
“Hell of a day,” Boone said. “And we just got started.”
“Don’t I know it. Nothing like juggling multiple problems at once,” Gage said. “Hopefully Radley’s okay at her place.”
“She’s meeting us here,” Boone told him.
Cooper walked up right then, chuckling. “No shit. And who invited her?” he asked, giving Boone a knowing look.
“We work together,” Boone pointed out. “There’s nothing else going on,” he said smoothly.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Cooper said.
Gage rolled his eyes. “You’re just jealous Boone spotted her first. You should go after the receptionist. Word on the street is she’s single.”
“Oh yeah?” Cooper asked, looking interested. “She’s pretty, and I do have a thing for blondes. She’s new in town, too. We definitely should’ve invited her to join us tonight—something I intend to rectify the next time we all go out,” he joked.