Chapter 20
The warehouse groaned and cracked in the heat—an old, corrugated number that smelled like rust, oil, and stagnant water.
Cross stood at the second-story office window, arms crossed, watching the light fade across the parking lot outside.
The sun hadn’t dipped below the horizon yet, but shadows were already elongating.
It would soon be dark. It couldn’t come soon enough for him.
Below, the team moved with quiet efficiency.
Patch and Savvy were setting up the surveillance gear and backup weapons cache near the loading docks.
Frankie and Riven were looking at a map someone had pinned up on the wall.
Stone was beside them. Tessa sat at a long folding table, burner phones lined up like dominos in front of her, ready to call the three ATF agents she suspected.
McGuire leaned in the doorway behind Cross, sipping from a can of cold coffee like it was the only thing holding him together.
“They should be here in the next fifteen,” McGuire said, nodding toward the outside lot. “Billy and Wallace have the truck. No issues on the road so far.”
Cross nodded, his eyes locked on the darkening street. His body still ached from the infection, and the antibiotics made his stomach churn like he’d swallowed fire. But none of that mattered. Not compared to what was waiting for them tonight.
Not compared to getting Drew back.
“At least we know she’s alive,” McGuire said.
“She was alive,” Cross corrected. “We know she was alive last night when Dunlop saw her and told Billy. Anything could have happened between then and now.”
“You can’t think like that. Not if you want to get through this. Going down that road will only screw with your head.”
Cross exhaled hard and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I can’t stop thinking about her.”
McGuire didn’t say anything at first, just leaned against the door frame and waited.
“I thought she was dead,” Cross said quietly. “When I saw her taken and then… when I hit the water—” He broke off, jaw tightening. “I thought that was it. That I lost her. And I never got to tell her how goddamn sorry I am.”
McGuire shifted, his eyes narrowing. “Now that you know she’s alive, are you gonna do it? Tell her?”
“Yeah,” Cross said, his voice thick. “I have to. I should’ve done it a long time ago. Hell, I never should’ve walked away in the first place.”
McGuire’s brow ticked up. “Then why did you?”
Cross glanced at the window, resting both hands on the metal ledge in front of him, his reflection staring back at him in the glass.
“Because I am a coward. I told myself I was protecting her—that I couldn’t risk her getting hurt because of me.
But the truth is, I didn’t think I could deal with it if she got hurt.
It drove me crazy that she was out there dealing with all kinds of lowlifes, putting herself at risk, and I couldn’t be there to protect her.
It started to interfere with my head during our ops. ”
He glanced at McGuire. “I thought if I ended it first, it would hurt less. That I could move on from her. Find someone who was a teacher or a librarian or some kind of job that wasn’t putting her in harm’s way every day.
But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t put her behind me, and I didn’t worry any less.
It still killed me, only now I didn’t have the good times to balance it out.
Your sister drives me crazy, but every goddamn day without her is like breathing underwater. ”
McGuire studied him for a long beat. “She’s not the same girl you left, you know. You really screwed her up. She was crushed when you left.”
“I know.” Cross tapped his forehead against the glass, fighting the knot in his gut, knowing his actions had been responsible for hurting her.
“I regret it more than I can say.” He sighed.
“Yeah, she’s tougher now. More guarded. But she’s still the woman I love.
” He turned to face McGuire fully, his emotions fierce.
“And if I get the chance—if we get her out of this alive—I’m going to prove to her that I’m not the same guy either. I won’t screw it up again.”
McGuire gave him a look, skeptical but not unkind. “You sure? Because if you break her again, I’ll help her bury your body in the swamp.”
Cross cracked a ghost of a smile. “Fair enough.”
“No, really,” McGuire said, stepping closer. “She’s family, Cross. She deserves someone who doesn’t just say the right things—but backs it up.”
“I swear I will do all the right things,” Cross swore.
“I thought me being off on missions didn’t bother her so how could she possibly love me the way I loved her, because the idea of her in danger drove me crazy.
But she finally told me the truth. That me being in danger damn near killed her but she didn’t say anything because she didn’t want me to worry.
She didn’t want to put that in my head when I was overseas.
” He shook his head. “I was a fucking idiot. I promise you that once we get her back I will protect her with my life. I’ll never let her down again. ”
McGuire nodded slowly. “See that you don’t… Because I wasn’t joking about the swamp.” Then he clapped Cross on the shoulder. “Let’s get her back so you can tell her that yourself.”
Down below, Tessa picked up the first burner and looked up at the two men as Cross and McGuire headed down the stairs. Savvy and Patch came over, as did Frankie and Stone. Riven moved in next to McGuire.
Tessa asked, “Is everyone ready? Because I’m about to poke a stick into a hornet’s nest.”
Cross arched a brow. “You sure you want to make those calls here?”
Tessa nodded. “Yeah. If one of them is the mole, we’ll know soon enough.
I’ll be listening for their reactions. Voice.
Hesitation. Tone. But if they haven’t been found so far, then they have to be damned good actors.
Good thing I am, too. I’ll make them believe I have the shipment and that I need their help.
Then all we have to do is have eyes on every one of those locations and wait to see where Rodriguez turns up. ”
“It sounds so simple,” Riven pointed out. “Why do I get the feeling it’s not going to be that easy?”
Cross didn’t say anything, but he felt the same way. None of this had gone according to plan so far. Why should this be any different? “We just have to be prepared for anything.”
Tessa exhaled and dialed the first number.
She turned her back to them as it rang. Cross watched her shoulders stiffen as she launched into her story.
“Don? It’s Tessa.” Silence. “I know, I know. Listen, I don’t have time to explain, but I can’t reach Sanchez, and I need help.
” More silence. “He’s where? D.C.? Of all the times to leave town.
Whatever. I need your help. I know where Rodriguez’s shipment is.
Yeah. The exchange is going down tonight.
Midnight.” Tessa made her voice sound tight, like she was scared.
She probably was, so maybe it wasn’t a stretch.
She turned toward them. She had her game face on now—calm, sharp, calculating. But there was something raw under the surface. There was a tightness in her jaw that wasn’t there before. She was just as worried that this wouldn’t work as they all were.
“I’ll text you the address. Can you bring backup so we can get these bastards? But keep it on the down low. Only people you really trust. I don’t want this bastard to get away.” Silence for one, two, three beats. “I can’t go into it all now. I just need help. Are you coming or not?”
A minute later, she hung up. “He’s in.”
Stone turned to Frankie and Riven. “He’s yours. Here’s the address. Park down the street where I showed you earlier, and you’ll have a clear view to see who shows up.”
McGuire was clenching his fists and his jaw, but he knew they all had to be where the drugs actually were, just in case Rodriguez found out earlier than they planned.
Tessa seemed to sense his and Stone’s growing stress level.
“Don’t worry,” she said to both women, but glanced in the direction of the two men, “Don Ripply is a good guy. I only put him on the list because he technically could have had access to the intel I supplied. I’ve trusted Ripply with my life before, and he’s always come through with flying colors. ”
“Okay then,” Riven said. She gave McGuire a quick kiss and then started toward the door. Stone walked Frankie and Riven out.
Tessa picked up the next phone and started the process all over again.
“It’s Billy,” Cross said. His phone had dinged with a text announcing their arrival right before Tessa began the second call.
Billy pulled the eighteen-wheeler into the warehouse and closed the door after him. He and Wallace climbed down from the cab.
“No issues?” McGuire asked.
“None,” Billy confirmed.
“I hate to send you out again so fast, but I need you two at this address. Keep a low profile. Let us know who turns up.” McGuire sent a text to Billy’s phone.
Tessa pulled a picture up on her phone. “This is the cop we’re looking for. Let us know if he shows up. His name is Oscar Fuentas.”
Billy nodded. Then he turned to Cross. “We’re gonna get our girl back and when we do you and I are gonna have a little chat.
” He quickly shot a glance at McGuire. “No offense, man, but you seem to be caught with divided loyalties in this situation. I don’t have that issue, so Cross and I are gonna settle a few things. ”
Cross nodded but remained silent. There was no point in engaging now.
Billy was Drew’s best friend, and Cross didn’t blame him one bit for being pissed.
He would take whatever Billy wanted to dish out, but he wasn’t looking forward to it.
Billy made Dwayne Johnson look small. The two men left through a small side door, and Cross turned back to Tessa.
She made the last call and then turned to Patch and Savvy. “I’ve sent you a picture of the last cop. Craig Winslow. And I sent the address. You know what to do.”
“Yep,” Patch said, and the pair headed out.
Cross glanced at his watch. Time had slowed to a crawl.
He wanted Drew back safe in his arms. Rodriguez had messed with all of them.
He’d taken Drew. Shot Stone. Hunted them like animals.
And now, after all that, the bastard was planning to flip the script.
Cross was not going to let that happen. This was their one shot to get Drew back. And he wasn’t going to waste it.
Midnight was coming.
So was war.