Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
“You know, Flint, only you would take the perfect opportunity to charm Emery and turn it into a freaking Black Ops mission.” Quinn crossed his arms over his chest as he braced his feet apart, nodding at Carter and Bowie.
The two other men stepped up beside him, somewhat boxing Flint in.
Carter shook his head, running his hand through his hair. “All you had to do was drive her home. Chat her up along the way then ask her out for coffee. Get in some brownie points by staying in a chair beside her bed so you could wake her every few hours.”
“But instead…” Bowie leaned forward and tapped Flint on the chest. “You end up in a shootout at some abandoned factory followed by a damn high speed car chase. Where you apparently got hit! What the actual hell happened last night?”
Flint sighed. While he’d expected his buddies to grill him about why he’d arrived in Emery’s Jeep with her, two surfboards in the back, and with what Flint knew had to be some goofy love-sick grin on his face, he hadn’t counted on them already being privy to his impromptu mission. Not when he’d been instructed to keep it on the down low.
He looked over at Emery. Dahlia, Mia and Moana had circled the Jeep the moment they’d parked and whisked her away before he could do more than nod at them. Even now, they were all standing in a similar circle, surfboards lined up behind them like watch dogs, the occasional glance his way. Which meant there was little chance they’d keep their new status a secret.
Good. He didn’t want to keep it a secret — pretend they were still cruising the friend zone. In fact, not striding over to the water and shouting it to the waves was a freaking exercise in self-control.
So was not kissing her. A feat he was barely maintaining because he wanted to do that, too. Walk over, take her in his arms and claim her lips until her taste was burned into his senses.
Fingers snapped in front of his face, jerking him back from his thoughts. He tried to play it off as him scoping the area — checking for threats — but he knew none of his buddies were buying it even if there was an ounce of truth in it. That ever since leaving Emery’s place, he’d felt as if something was off.
Bowie crossed his arms over his chest, glancing at Emery then back to Flint. “You back with us or do you have to go check on Emery, first?”
“I’m right here, jackass. I’m just still wired from last night, so cut me some slack. Those bastards meant business. And for what it’s worth, it’s not like we went looking for trouble. She got a call while I was driving her home that turned into one hell of a show down. One she was prepared to tackle on her own but thankfully, accepted my help.”
He speared his fingers through his hair, some of the agitation from last night returning. He had a bad feeling it wasn’t over and not because she’d be investigating the incident. More like one of those eerie premonitions he’d gotten in battle. When he knew an ambush was waiting for them, or that their cover had been blown.
Not psychic worthy. But he couldn’t deny the scratching between his shoulder blades. Or the restless roll in the pit of his stomach. Something wicked was definitely coming their way.
He nodded at them. “How the hell do you even know about it? I was going to talk to you later… In confidence.”
Quinn snorted as he motioned to Bowie and Carter. “Because Castle called.” He leaned forward a bit. “At two this morning. Got us all on a damn video chat to fill us in. You know, in case he and some hardass police captain named Milligan have to create a joint training assignment to make your little John Wick appearance in a police matter all above board.”
Flint groaned. “I didn’t realize he’d involve the entire team.”
“Of course, he’s involving all of us. That’s how we work. And I’d be pretty damn insulted if he didn’t.”
“And when you’re forced to lie and say we’re helping out the boys in blue? That you’ve been training Emery, too?”
Quinn stared right at him. “Then, I say it with a smile on my face.”
Carter gave Flint a shove. “How long have we been teammates?”
Flint snorted. “Too long.”
“Exactly. And we’d all be giving you one hell of a beat down if you’d stood there and allowed Emery to face that threat alone because of some bureaucratic bullshit. What good is this training if we let down the people we care about?”
“You know we would have done the same thing.” Bowie shrugged. “Have, already. And you never once flinched at us operating outside the lines a bit in order to help Mia and Moana. Jumped right in, in fact. So, stop thinking we’re not a hundred percent invested on what’s going on and tell us what’s got you spooked. Because this is more than you still being wired from a firefight.”
Flint rolled his shoulders, scanning the area before checking on Emery, again. She was shimmying into a wetsuit, her hips swaying back and forth as she kept chatting to one of the other girls. The fact his damn heart kicked up just watching the way she moved was testament he’d fallen so far off the edge, there wasn’t any coming back.
He sighed, pausing to search the distant hills when that prickling feeling wove down his spine, again, before looking each of his buddies in the eyes. “It’s this weapons smuggling case. I realize we don’t work the streets and don’t have a thorough understanding of what’s out there. Not like the cops, who walk the beat every day. But these guys…”
He shook his head, trying not to snarl. “Their gear, their firepower. The sheer extent of their resources… It’s not some local gang banger branching out. Not even a semi-organized group. This was a highly executed drop, and they came prepared for every contingency.”
“Except a SEAL tagging along.” Bowie inched closer. “What are you thinking? Cartel?”
“I’m thinking this is bigger and far more dangerous than anyone’s expecting. And it’s only the beginning.”
Carter nodded. “You think Emery’s in trouble? Beyond what she’d normally face?”
Flint shuffled on his feet, doing his best to remember she was also highly trained. Had more than held her own, last night. “I think these are the kind of people who have no qualms about killing cops and who might take it personally and slaughter anyone who gets in their way.”
“What do you need?”
“Unsure. But maybe have Kian keep a sedative on stand-by for the next time Emery decides to go up against half a dozen armed men, and I’m not there to have her six.”
“Call me crazy, but I have a very sneaky suspicion you’ll just happen to be in my Jeep or at the coffee shop with me when I get the next call. So, you can deny you helped out. Again.” Emery moved in beside him, giving him a questionable side eye. “Seriously? We haven’t been here fifteen minutes, and you’ve already given them a play-by-play? I think that might be a new record.”
Flint smiled, snagging her hand and tugging her closer. “Very funny, and they already knew. Apparently, my CO called them in the middle of the night to discuss that possible joint training bullshit Milligan mentioned. So they’d all be onboard.”
Emery winced, glancing around at his teammates. “Great. Now I can ruin all of your careers.”
Quinn snorted. “Hardly. And Flint has a point. No one should go up against that kind of resistance, alone. You should have called in your tactical team.”
Emery didn’t even flinch at the hard edge to Quinn’s voice. “We didn’t know those assholes had body armor and AR-15s. Regardless, there were college kids inside.”
That’s all she said, but it spoke volumes. How she’d willingly go up against any odds if it meant she might save someone.
Quinn merely smiled. “Understood and respected. Do you have any additional information, yet?”
“I guess the whole, not talking about an on-going investigation is crap since you’ve all been apparently training me and know the details, already. But no. We don’t have the same resources as the larger cities, so ballistics, CSI, the autopsy on the dead guys… That’ll take longer. And I have no doubts ATF will get involved considering the sheer number of weapons we confiscated. Probably the DEA, too, because god knows you can’t have weapons without drugs being involved. Which means this entire investigation is going to turn into some kind of multi-agency jurisdictional crap shoot.”
Carter laughed. “Does that mean you’re not going to share with the others? Play nice in the sandbox?”
“I guess that depends on whether they start pissing in my sandbox.”
She smiled at Flint, and his heart stopped. Just stopped as if he’d been struck by lightning or hit with those paddles that are supposed to bring you back to life. “None of which matters, because I’ve been basically put on house arrest for twenty-four hours while my captain handles the press. Apparently, he’s afraid I might get caught in a lie or blurt out I had a Navy SEAL on my six the whole time.”
She gave Flint’s hand a squeeze then eased back. “Which brings me to why I ventured over. How long are you boys going to stand here, brooding, before you join us in the water?”
Quinn held up his hands. “I’m just waiting for Lane, Waylen, Raider and Kian to get here because my other teammates don’t like to play in the big waves.”
Carter flipped him the bird as Bowie gave Quinn a shove. “I’m still recovering from yesterday’s lesson with Mia. I know the woman seems all sweet, but she’s a drill sergeant out there on the waves. I think I tore a few things.”
Emery laughed. “She’s beyond amazing. And you’re lucky she’s teaching you. Bowie? What about you? I know you surf.”
“Of course, I do.” Bowie glared at Quinn. “And I’m not afraid of the big waves, jackass. I just prefer to scuba dive if given the choice.”
Quinn shook his head. “Forgive him. He got bitten by a shark as a teenager and doesn’t like it when he can’t see a threat coming, now.”
Emery arched a brow. “Really? You got bitten by a shark?”
“It wasn’t that bad, but…”
“You know the chances of getting bitten a second time are pretty damn slim, right?”
“Slim but not impossible.”
“Fine. It’ll be a girls only round until you big bad SEALs grow a set and get your asses in the water.”
She turned to leave when Flint snagged her hand, again, and pulled her against him — his other hand landing in her hair. He leaned in, giving her a soul-searing kiss. Sighing at how good she tasted. The sweet essence with a hint of caramel and coffee that eased some of the tension in his shoulders. That constant sensation that things were going to go off the rails at any moment.
He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, lips locked, before he finally released her — brushing his thumb across her mouth. He grinned at her wide eyes, and how her lips were still slightly parted as if she was waiting for him to kiss her, again. “That’s for luck.”
She coughed as she stumbled a couple steps back, looking at his buddies before grinning. She retreated a couple more paces, almost as if she didn’t trust herself not to launch into his arms, then arched a brow. “I don’t need luck.”
She waved her hand down the length of her body. “This is all experience and skill, baby.” Two more steps accompanied by a harsh rasp. As if she was having as much trouble as he was simply breathing. “You realize you just blew any chance at keeping us on the down low, right?”
He shrugged because he’d come full circle to where he wanted to shout it from the distant hills. Write their names in the sand inside a heart. “Is that a problem?”
“I just spent the past fifteen minutes over-sharing before giving you a perfect score. So not for me, it isn’t.”
“Then, carry on, detective.”
That got him a stunning smile. “Don’t keep me waiting too long, sailor.”
Emery turned then took off, kicking up sand as she ran to meet the other women. They obviously had something to say about the kiss because she gave Moana a shove as she grabbed her board, glancing back at him.
Had she blown him a kiss, or had she just tucked some hair back?
He didn’t know but thinking she had warmed the pit of his stomach. Had him watching her race into the water before someone called his name — snapped his attention back on his teammates.
Quinn looked at Emery, then back at him. “Looks as if Castle didn’t get the full story of exactly what transpired last night. Flint? Do you have something you want to share with the class?” He pointed to his vehicle. “I can get you the sharing stick if it’ll help.”
“Shut up, jackass. And unlike Emery, I’m not going to over-share with you bastards.”
Quinn inhaled, glancing at Bowie then Carter. “Wow. You really like her. As in more than just a furlough fling. You’re invested.”
Flint met Quinn’s stare. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Yeah, you did. Just not out loud.” He shook his head as he kicked at the sand. “It’s just over three weeks until our clock runs out, and we’ll have to decide one way or the other. Can we try not to muddy the waters until then?”
Flint gazed over at Emery, watching her silhouette bob above the water on top of her surfboard. And damn, it took his breath away. The strong line of her back. The way her body moved as she paddled across the surface. He’d never seen anything so striking. Other than her last night. Defying the odds and taking on armed men.
He turned back to Quinn. “Believe me. For the first time since we suspected our traitorous teammates were involved in some kind of drug scheme, I’m seeing everything crystal clear, brother.”
Quinn opened his mouth to reply when Lane shouted at him from the parking lot along with Kian, Waylen and Raider. Quinn held up one hand, then looked at Flint. “We’ll talk about this later.”
He spun then headed for the other men, shaking hands and laughing at something they said.
Carter sighed, moving in beside Flint. “Poor bugger already knows he’s out voted three to one. Because you’re staying, right?”
Flint ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll admit. I’m having a really hard time coming up with anything compelling enough to make me want to leave.”
Carter nodded. “You and me, both. I’ll head down and check on the ladies. Pray Mia doesn’t get it in her head I need to surf today. I was serious. If surfing doesn’t kill me, she might.”
“Exactly the way you’d love to go.”
Carter merely grinned then headed for the water, staring at the woman riding the massive wave. And Flint had to admit, Mia made it look easy.
Bowie moved in beside him, knocking his shoulder. “So, you and Emery…”
Flint groaned. “What about us?”
“Exactly how far gone are you?”
Flint clamped his lips together. He wouldn’t admit he thought he was in love with her. Not yet.
Bowie waited before his eyes widened as he huffed out his next breath. “That far, huh? Does she know you’re crazy in love with her?”
“How can she know what I don’t?”
“Oh, you know. You just don’t want to say it out loud because that’ll make it real. And once it’s real, you have something to lose.”
Flint scrunched up his face. “Thanks for the tip, Dr. Phil . Any other words of wisdom?”
“Just one. Don’t screw it up, because you’ll never find another woman who thinks you’re worth a perfect score.”
“She was just joking.”
Bowie gave him a pat on the back. “No, she wasn’t. Which is the real mystery, here. You’re fighting above your weight limit, you know that, right?”
“And you’re not with Moana?”
“Guess we’re both lucky bastards.” He nodded toward the water. “Looks like your girl is done waiting.”
Flint gazed over, nodding when Emery waved at him, beckoning him over. “Guess she is.”
“Wow, you didn’t even flinch at the ‘your girl’ comment. You just better hope she doesn’t dump your ass once she sees you surf, because brother, it’s not pretty.”
“Like I didn’t already make her promise she wouldn’t before I agreed to come surfing. I’m no fool.”
“You will be once you get up on that board.”
He laughed, taking a few steps toward the water. “She’s worth making a fool out of myself for. But you might want to have Kian standing by, just in case. Because I’m with Carter. If this surfing shit doesn’t kill me, Emery just might.”