18. Chapter 17
I’m not as mean as I could be—and I think people should acknowledge that.
Bradford paused at the bottom of the stairs at the sound of two distinct voices coming from the kitchen the next morning. Frowning, he hurried, only to find Hope pouring a mug of coffee for Berlin.
Who looked quite smug.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Well, good morning to you too. I was just telling your wife about what we found yesterday—and what I’ve found in the last few hours while you slackers were sleeping. Not you,” she added, looking at Hope. “This is mostly reserved for Bradford.”
He liked the whole “wife” thing. It had taken an act of will not to go to her bedroom last night. “Why are you picking on me?” he muttered as he stalked to grab his own mug of coffee. “And how did you get in here without alerting me?”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask the second question.” She sniffed slightly but then her expression turned feral. “And I’m just messing with you… But I found something and figured I’d stop by and meet Hope properly. Also, I’d like to install some cameras inside here before we head ou t.”
“Wait, what?” Hope blinked, clearly still waking up as she looked at Berlin.
“Killeen’s guy is going to make a move sometime this afternoon,” Bradford said, because he’d already planned to install cameras as well.
He and his people needed more information—like the names and faces of whoever Killeen was sending after Hope—because they were walking dead men.
“It sounded like they’re going to target you in town, blame it on that guy Ned Hall.
But when you don’t show up to your lawyer’s office, they’ll likely send guys here. They’ll have to change their plan.”
And again, it was taking everything in him not to just hunt Killeen down and end him.
But that would only solve part of the problem.
They needed to find out if Edward Killeen himself had a boss, how deep this threat ran, and who else he worked with.
It sounded like it was Killeen running his operation through his farm, but there could be more to this.
And Bradford wanted all the details before they moved on the guy.
Otherwise there could be blowback on Hope and that was the last thing he wanted.
“Exactly, and we’re going to try to catch whoever is after her on video. Get proof,” Berlin said. “That’s why we need cameras inside your place.”
Hope nodded slowly. “Yeah, that makes sense. I keep wondering if we should tell the sheriff—”
“No,” Bradford and Berlin said at the same time.
Hope held her palms up. “I get it. It’s not my instinct to call the cops either, but Crow was friends with my dad.” She paused. “Of course, he hinted he wanted me to drop the charges against the son. Fine, yeah, okay.”
“If we do bring anyone in, it’ll be a couple Feds we know,” Berlin added as Bradford pulled out a stool and sat next to her. “Anyway, I know where Edward Killeen is going to be today, and I figured you’d want to tail him. You guys can do it while we put cameras up here. ”
“Who’s this we ?” Hope murmured.
“Friends just waiting for me to give the go-ahead,” Berlin said. “Basically everyone who showed up to your dad’s funeral.”
Hope nodded, looking a little surprised.
Bradford got up and pulled out eggs and sausage from the fridge as Berlin continued. “Last night Killeen made a few phone calls, and has lunch plans a couple towns over. I don’t know if it’s part of his own alibi or what, but I don’t think it’ll hurt for you guys to tail him.”
“He’ll recognize me.” Hope poured another cup of coffee, then topped off his, which made him smile. “I want lots of cheese in my eggs,” she whispered to him.
At least she didn’t seem angry at him for his comments last night. To be fair, he wasn’t sorry and he stood by them. But still, he didn’t want friction between them—not that kind anyway. Aaaand he had to cut those thoughts off. Now definitely wasn’t the time for that.
“Nah, you can wear a wig and you’ll be fine. He’s not going to be looking for you anyway,” Berlin said.
And she wasn’t wrong. In his experience, people saw what they wanted to. “Killeen might be more aware than most people though.”
“I know, but wigs and a few other little changes should make a big difference. And it’s not like you’ll be driving one of your own vehicles. Look, if you don’t want to go—”
“No,” Hope said quickly. “I want to follow him.”
Berlin gave Bradford a smug look because of course she did. He didn’t want Hope going, but he also knew he couldn’t stop her. Something Berlin had obnoxiously pointed out.
He turned back to the stove. “So we’ll follow him, and you guys will plant cameras here. We’re also going to drop our bags off at the rental.” He looked at Hope, who nodded .
“I’m going to go pack some of my toiletries,” she said, stepping away from the island top. “But I’ll be back down to eat.”
He nodded, smiling until he heard her upstairs. Then he swiveled on Berlin, who’d added rainbow highlights to her hair sometime in the last twelve hours. He was pretty sure they were clip-ins or something.
“What are you really doing here?” he whispered. Because they hadn’t talked about this at all. She was supposed to come later once he and Hope were gone.
Berlin shrugged. “I wanted to talk to her, meet her in person. I’m the only one who doesn’t really know her. She likes you, I can tell.”
She’d better more than just like him; she’d freaking married him and never filed for divorce. “I’m not having this conversation.”
“Fine, but you asked and I’m being honest. You’re my friend so I want to get to know her. Also, the others wanted me to come in first and see what the reception would be like, if she’d be okay with planting cameras.”
“And they figured you would be the least threatening option?” They weren’t wrong. He adored her, but still, he had to give her a little grief.
“Hey!” She was indignant. “I am a freaking delight and people love me.”
“Fair enough. So you find anything else?”
“Eh, sort of. Mostly Hailey and I are still combing through his financials. Oh, Gage is pitching in too since he has some down time.”
“Oh.” That was unexpected. And nice. Gage was one of the founders of Redemption Harbor Security, based out of their original office, and a scary genius. Bradford was pretty sure the NSA had tried to recruit him.
“Mostly I think he’s going a little stir-crazy at home.”
Yeah, Bradford could see that. His wife had given birth recently, so he’d been spending all his time at home supporting her.
Considering the man was obsessed with his wife and new baby, Bradford doubted he hated being home.
But their friends and family had been a huge help as well, so yeah, Gage probably had some down time and needed to be doing something to keep his brain stimulated.
“Whatever the reason, I’ll take all the help we can get.
And in case I haven’t said it, thank you for this. ”
She shot him a hard look. “Please don’t ever thank me again for helping you. You’re my family in every way that counts.”
He cracked another egg. “Never going to stop thanking you.” She’d been an unexpected friend later in his life, an absolute weirdo who he was grateful to call his family.
“So…did anything happen between you two?” she whispered.
“Again, I’m not having this conversation.” Mostly because nothing had happened. “Freaking nosy.”
“Fine, but you’re no fun.”
“You know, I can’t hear that enough.” He glanced at his cell, saw another text from Rowan.
Are you cooking? We’re starving. Can we come in? Adalyn is hangry.
“Wait, are the others here here?” he asked Berlin. He’d assumed they were still back at the rental waiting for her to give the go-ahead.
“Oh, like a mile down the road. I just told them you were cooking if they were hungry.”
Snorting, he texted Rowan back. Come on over.
He really hoped that Hope didn’t mind the intrusion, but at the same time he was grateful to have his people here.
It meant she was that much more protected.
And fine, they could act as a temporary buffer while Hope digested everything he’d said last night.
He knew her, knew she was mulling over his words.
By the time he finished cooking everything, everyone had crowded into the kitchen. Hope finally returned, her eyes a little wide as she took in all the people and the food.
“I owe you more groceries. And…” He slid a plate over to her with the om elet he’d made just for her. “Extra cheese.”
She took the plate with a soft smile. “You don’t owe me anything. Besides, I think I have like twenty gifted casseroles in the freezer anyway. I just remembered them. We should bring some with us when we drop off our bags. I can share them with everyone.”
He nodded, wishing he had the right to kiss her. Hoping he would again soon. And he loved that she was sharing with his friends—and knew that if she just opened herself up, she would fit right into his world and make it their world. “Good idea.”
***
Hope watched in fascination as Adalyn, a gorgeous redhead married to Rowan, ordered everyone around with a familiarity that said she was definitely the boss.
Hope knew she shouldn’t be surprised—none of the guys had ever been sexist assholes, a rarity in her experience—but she still kind of was.
Rowan had been the team leader back when she’d been assigned to the group, but Hailey had…
Well, she’d sort of bossed them around too.
But that had been different because she’d been in Intelligence and had mostly ordered them to “be safe” and “stay alive” over the comm lines.
“Okay,” Adalyn said, looking at Hope and Bradford.
“Rowan and I will be driving separately, but we’ll head out about ten minutes before you in case anyone is watching the main road.
You’re sure you’re good with this?” She motioned to the others, who were laying out little cameras and random tools all over Hope’s now Lysol clean island countertop.
“I mean, please don’t put cameras in my shower or anything, but yeah, this is good. ”
The woman blinked, then let out a surprised laugh. “Definitely not. Okay, we’ll be heading out now.” She nodded once at Bradford. “Keep your comms on and let me know when you’ve parked.”
“Will do. See you soon.”
“So…do I get to put my wig on now?” His friends had come with a bag of disguises, and while this whole thing had anxiety stirring inside her, she liked the idea of going incognito.
With a half smile that hit her square in the heart, Bradford nodded. “Come on. We’ll let them do their thing and get ready upstairs.”
She’d already brought her bags downstairs, so she followed after him.
It didn’t take long for her to put on a short wavy blond wig, a red Nike sports visor and Jackie O-style sunglasses that wouldn’t look a bit out of place in this weather.
She just appeared to be a woman running errands in athletic gear.
“If I didn’t know it was me, I wouldn’t glance at me twice,” she murmured at her reflection.
Bradford had on a similar visor, his with a local sports team logo.
His clothes were the same style as hers, as if he was going to play a round of golf somewhere.
And he’d dusted something in his hair that had given it a salt-and-pepper look with lots of salt.
It was like looking into his future in another decade or so, and he was just as hot as a more mature version of himself.
You won’t be with him then , a nasty voice whispered at the back of her mind. God, she hated herself. The idea of not being in his life sliced deep but… She really was a coward. Why couldn’t she just take the risk? It was so much easier to write other people’s stories than actually live her own.
He nodded once at their reflection as he pulled out his own sunglasses. “We’ll blend just fine.”
Once they were on their way, in a Jeep they were borrowing from one of his crew as another layer to keep them from being noticed, she said, “I like your friends. I like that you’ve found a real family.
” She wasn’t sure if she should say anything, but whatever, she was glad he had such a solid group of people around him when he’d had no one he could depend on growing up.
“Thank you,” he murmured. He started to say more, then his phone rang. Berlin’s name was on the screen. “Hey, you’re on speaker.”
“Found something interesting. Didn’t pop up the first go-around, but Killeen’s wife owns the coffee shop he’s going to be at today.
As well as most of the shops on that same strip.
It’s buried pretty deep and I have a feeling that Killeen is the one who set it up, but she’s the actual owner.
I don’t know if it means anything yet, but wanted to let you know. ”
“Thanks.”
“That’s interesting,” Hope murmured after he’d hung up the phone.
“I’m getting the feeling that there’s a bigger puzzle we’re not seeing.
These are shops that they own, towns over from here.
So they, or he, owns these huge chunks of real estate.
” And she could feel that familiar buzz start up that this could be a great story—without the part where someone wanted to kill her.
“Though I still don’t understand why Killeen wants to kill me. ”
“Sometimes people don’t need a deep reason.” Bradford’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles going white. “But yeah, I agree.”
On instinct, she reached out a hand and squeezed his forearm.
His muscles relaxed under her touch and she might have trailed her fingers along his forearm as she dropped her hand. She liked touching him, missed him in a way she didn’t want to fully accept.
“I like when you touch me,” he rasped out, taking her by surprise.
“I like touching you,” she admitted, the words just falling out.
And now he was gripping the steering wheel even tighter.
What was wrong with her? She shouldn’t be telling him that. Shouldn’t be admitting anything when it came to him. But she’d sensed from day one that Bradford would be her greatest weakness.