Jeb

Chapter 22

Exhaustion cloaked Skylar even though she’d slept in the helicopter. She felt sure the other Keepers and the FBI agent probably cared little about her life with Montague Industries. Yet they’d given her the grace to explain how she got to where she was and why. The elusive and complex reasons that were hard to define mattered deeply to her. It wasn’t just about distancing herself from the villainous exploits of Alistair Montague. She wanted to be seen as what she truly was—someone who had striven for excellence only to be ensnared in a web of deceit. By the time she understood how deeply she had uncovered the descent into illegal activities, it wasn’t safe to crawl back up to the light.

And now, Carson had asked about the island. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to decide how to explain where she’d landed. It had been easier to explain the bizarre situation to Jeb. Here, she was ensconced in a sea of unfamiliar faces. They were friends and coworkers of Jeb’s, but only Natalie, Abbie, and Tricia were fleeting acquaintances she met when Rachel took her to a women’s locker room to freshen up. They’d shared a few moments explaining that they knew what it was like to sit with a testosterone group and be outnumbered. Tricia had offered a hug, whispering, “You’ll be fine. You can hold your own with all of them.”

But those words of encouragement were put to the test when she’d walked into the room and observed it was filled with a collection of men who, at first glance, could all be male models. Tall and broad, some with friendly smiles, but she knew they could react with deadly force if needed. Others had a harder look, a glint in their eye, or a tight jaw that gave evidence that they’d seen their share of battles fought and won.

As Skylar’s gaze flitted around the table, a quiet sense of fortune settled inside her. None of the Keepers held a hostile expression. While not all overtly warm, their faces were devoid of animosity.

A hand on her shoulder startled her, and she glanced to the side to see Jeb calmly offering his support. She let out a long breath, and her lips curved slightly at the encouraging feel of his hand on her. An anchor in a tempest sea. Nodding, she continued.

“It isn’t surprising to imagine that I was also being monitored. So what I was finding out about Montague Industries, and particularly Alastair Montague, wasn’t a secret. They still wanted me to continue doing my job, but I suppose I was a loose end for them. There was no family for them to threaten to keep me in line. I had no social life or good friends either. For that matter, I didn’t even have a pet. Saying that now sounds rather pathetic, but that was how my life had become. I suppose my freedom was the only thing they could truly hold over me.”

She snorted and shook her head. “Well, that and my life. Anyway, they told me they were moving me again. Only the accommodations would be much nicer this time than in a basement office. I would go to an outdoor resort, living in a reclaimed lighthouse on a beautiful island with lush forests and beaches. All my needs would be taken care of. And they would need me to do this for a couple of months as they were working on a particularly sensitive business deal. I wasn”t afraid when Gerald explained this, but I also didn’t want to go. Of course, he appealed to the one important thing I should be embarrassed about. Money. Growing up without it, he knew it was hard for me to turn down what they were offering. I would receive a full year”s salary for just the two months at the resort location. So I decided to do this for them, and then I would resign. I had already signed an NDA and a non-compete, but I could live for a while just on my savings.”

“And when you got there?” Natalie asked. “Surely you protested.”

A bark of rueful laughter sounded out. “The refurbished lighthouse was both true and an exaggeration. As I’m sure the others told you, it was a somewhat crumbling building, the bathroom was rudimentary, at best, and the beautiful island with beaches could not be enjoyed. I had all the necessary computer equipment and generators to keep everything running. I was taken by boat and shown that the place had all the food and basic requirements. I protested, but they told me to at least check out the second-floor computer equipment.”

She hung her head and blinked back tears. “While I was there, the two men who dropped me off left in a hurry. Why didn’t I run after them and jump back on the boat? I tried, but the boat was already in the water when I followed them. A storm was coming, and I barely made it back to the lighthouse before it hit. I got ahold of Gerald, and he acted shocked that the place wasn’t as he described. He promised that it would only be for a short while and he’d get me out. I was too shocked even to be able to respond normally.”

Landon spoke again. “What did they have you working on when you got there?”

“This is where we get to the crux of what you need to know. I appreciate you allowing me to explain how I got here because otherwise, I’m sure you would consider me quite unstable.”

The other Keepers quickly shook their heads. “Life kicks us in the ass more times than most of us like to remember,” one of the Keepers said. He grinned. “I’m Dolby.”

She smiled her acknowledgment, and then another more grim Keeper said, “Sometimes life just keeps kicking in the ass. You can’t feel bad about that. You figured out a way to get out of there, and that’s all that counts. Well, and the fact that you’re willing to take down an asshole like Alistair Montague. And by the way, I’m Bennett.”

She also smiled, acknowledging him and understanding his tight-jaw expression. “As I was writing code for the encryption Gerald required, I was also writing code for my own encryption. It was blended so they had no idea what I was doing. But essentially, it allowed me to monitor their communications in a way that I could record and save them. I had no idea if anyone would care, but it felt like something I should do. At the end of one month, I was sent a message saying a helicopter would deliver supplies. I wondered where he might land but was shocked when a helicopter hovered overhead and lowered a basket. I scrambled outside to take everything out of it, and then the helicopter left. I thought, at least I only have to live this way one more month. But at the end of that month, the helicopter came again. And again. And again. I emailed, called, and begged Gerald to get me out of there. But he kept saying that it was important I stayed a little longer. When I finally worked up enough nerve to threaten to stop working, I was told that I wouldn’t receive supplies.”

“Goddamn fuckers,” Jeb growled next to her. The curses of the others around the table almost drowned out his voice.

“Did you ever threaten to expose him?” Landon asked.

A hysterical bark of laughter bubbled up from deep inside her chest. “I might be naive, but I assure you I have watched enough TV to know never to tell the bad guy what you know or what you might do with the information you have. In movies and TV, that’s always the person who gets killed. Believe me, as much as they wanted me to work for them, my life would be worthless if I threatened to expose them. I played along.”

Hop grinned. “But you played him, didn’t you? You played them all.”

A small grin slipped out in return, and she nodded. “I had determined that they didn’t deem it necessary to bug the lighthouse. No audio or video. Why they didn’t, I can’t imagine because that would seem like security 101.” She shrugged. “I suppose they assumed no one was on the island. Therefore, there was no way they had to worry about that. Of course, they monitored my computers. That was the only thing they assumed I would use to reach out to someone. And while that was what I used, they underestimated that if I had the skill to keep all of their correspondence secure, I would be able to do the same for me.”

“We understand there is a past relationship between you and Jeb. I assume that’s how you decided to… involve us.”

Carson’s question was well-meaning, but she winced nonetheless. “Sorry about the problems I caused with some of your programs. But you’re right. It was the only thing I could think to do. While Jeb and I had not seen each other in many years, I knew he’d left the Navy and worked for a security company.” She felt her cheeks heat, and while she appreciated Jeb’s hand on hers under the table, she forced her gaze to stay on Carson as she continued.

“Since part of what I was working on was hacking, I was able to get into some of your systems while building a screen so that no one else would know what I was doing. I allowed trails from your end to lead to the island location and was able to hide everything from Gerald. I wasn’t sure anyone would come looking for me, but it was the best I could do.”

“It was fuckin’ brilliant, that’s what it was!” Leo said, gaining several “hell yeah,” and “damn straight,” from the others.

She shrugged off the compliments, wanting to move on to what she was sure the FBI agent wanted to know. “Anyway, while the hate group, disinformation, conspiracy theories, political maneuvering, and all of that was alarming, it was the discovery of what was happening with the military equipment that most bothered me. The code name that was used was Alphabet. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that for all his correspondence about Alphabet, it was actually Colonel Spelling, the Army’s liaison with the tank manufacturer. He requisitions more than he needs. Part of my job was to write code to change numbers for contracts. Not being told why, I did what I was asked. Once I was on the island and determined to find out why I was being held prisoner and away from everyone else, I made the connection. My program was being used to change numbers so that more tank parts and other munitions were being ordered. Once they were loaded for transport, Colonel Spelling used more programs I had written to send some to legitimate places, and others were sold on the black market.”

“And you have proof of this?” Landon asked. His gaze never wavered, and she could feel the intensity boring into her.

“I have everything.” She turned to Jeb. “I need a secure computer.”

Jeb dropped her hand and jumped up from his chair. He stalked out of the room, and Skylar pressed her lips together while he was gone, uncertain what she should say or do.

Abbie leaned across the chair space left by Jeb. “Are you doing okay? I know this is a lot.”

During the few minutes she’d had with Abbie, Natalie, Tricia, and Rachel, she quickly realized they understood the situation, and no one seemed to judge her for who she’d worked for.

Offering a tremulous nod, she said, “It is a lot, but it’s good. I’ll just be glad when I can turn all this over to you.”

Right on cue, Jeb walked in with a special laptop. She had no doubt it contained the ultimate security program they had. And I can make it even more so. Thanking him, she took the computer and ran through programs, adding her own coding. Glancing up, she noted, not for the first time, that every eye was on her. “Um…” she mumbled. “Sorry, but I’m adding my own security.”

Carson chuckled. “No worries. We want our system to be as safe as it can be, and it seems you’re the best.”

After a few minutes, she looked up. “Okay. I’ve sent you what I managed to uncover on the tie between Montague Industries and Colonel Spelling. I’ve also sent you the black market operation run by Colonel Spelling for Montague.”

“Can you keep monitoring the situation?” Landon asked. “Tell when the next shipment will be diverted?”

Pressing her lips together, she nodded. “Yes. It will be next week.”

Hours later, after reviewing the information over and over, Skylar was almost at her exhaustion limit. Rachel ordered food for everyone, and the others worked just as hard as Skylar. The other Keepers were moving in and out of the room, and Jeb had explained that they were working in their area of the compound. She had nodded, unoffended that she was on the outside. Working with Montague Industries in various locations had taught her the importance of ensuring that employers knew who was privy to particular information.

Carson walked back into the conference room. “Okay, Skylar. I think we have passed everything we can to Landon right now. Our people are working with them, but whatever is happening is up to Landon and the FBI. What happens next is their call. What we’re concerned with are your comfort and safety.”

It didn’t escape her notice that a look passed between Carson and Jeb. Unable to understand the meaning, she glanced toward Jeb. “My safety?“

Jeb leaned closer, placing his hand over hers again. “You have to know you’re in danger.”

“Under normal circumstances, my absence from the island shouldn’t be detected for a while.” She thought back to the two men. “But you’re thinking about the men who came, aren’t you? Or the fishing boats that might not have been fishing boats that were hovering around the southern part of the island?”

Natalie returned to the room. “I’ve been following the satellite images for the past couple of hours, Skylar. We don’t know what tipped anyone off, and we jammed the security around the island before Jeb and the others arrived.”

She turned the information over in her mind, coming up with only one conclusion. “They were already after me, weren’t they? I’ve been kept there long beyond what they originally said, but they must’ve known that there was only so long I would put up with their lies. Those men were sent to kill me. If it hadn’t been for Jeb, I’d be dead.”

“You had the foresight to contact us, even surreptitiously. You had as much to do with your rescue as we did,” Jeb insisted.

“What happens now?” she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.

Carson spoke first. “We have a safe house that you can use.”

“I don’t want to put anyone here in danger.”

Carson waved away her concerns. “We live with danger every day. It’s part of the job.”

Jeb leaned over and whispered, “I want you with me.”

She swung her head around, wanting nothing more than to accept his offer, but she hesitated. Seeing a look of uncertainty move through his eyes, she whispered, “I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you because of me.”

Understanding now moved through his features, and he shook his head slowly. “Nothing will happen to me. I’ll honor your wishes, but I want you with me.”

“That’s where I want to be, too.”

“Then it settled.” Jeb looked over at Carson, and the two men offered chin lifts. Skylar hadn’t been around many alpha men in her life but was already recognizing a chin lift as a way of offering greetings, agreements, or even respect. It was also hot as hell. She pressed her lips together to quell the grin threatening to slip over her face.

“Your security will be our first priority,” Carson said.

“What will you do about the black market?”

“Not our call,” Jeb answered, drawing her attention with a brow-lowered expression of confusion.

“But—”

“Keepers might be the ones who dig up the intelligence—or rather, in this case, you did the digging. But we turn cases like this over to the proper authorities. They work it from there in a way that can result in prosecution,” Carson explained.

Jeb squeezed her hand. “We don’t do this job for the glory. It’s all about just getting the job done. However we have to make that happen.” Standing, he gently pulled her to her feet. “Now, let’s head home.”

As they said goodbye to Carson and made their way to the reception area, a group of women walked in and greeted Rachel before turning to Skylar.

Skylar stood stiffly, uncertain of what was happening. Abbie stepped forward, waved at the approaching women, and then turned to Skylar. “I took the liberty of calling some of the others to gather a few items to make your stay more enjoyable.”

“Hi! I’m Jeannie, Carson’s wife. Abbie explained what was happening.” She waved her arm to the others around her. “These are some of the other Keepers’ wives. We know you’ve arrived with none of your possessions and wanted to make sure we took care of you.”

Skylar’s gaze dropped to the shopping bags in the women’s hands, and had a flashback that she hadn’t experienced in over twenty years… standing at her first foster home with a social worker who held a shopping bag out to her saying, “I wanted to make sure you were taken care of.”

Jeb’s arm around her shoulders tightened slightly, and she blinked back into the present, focusing on the scene in front of her and the generous offering being presented. “Oh my, this is too much.”

“Nonsense,” Natalie said, waving away her protestations. “Me? I don’t like to shop, and God knows I spent too many years in fatigues to know what’s fashionable, so I just told them that you were my size and to go have fun.” She laughed and inclined her head to one of the pretty blondes in paint-splattered overalls. “Stella is an artist, and I knew she had flair.”

Stella rolled her eyes. “It’s true that I love color, but I did tone it down for you since I wasn’t sure about your choices. We have jeans, T-shirts, sweaters, intimates, pajamas… just all the basics. By the way, I’m with Chris. He met you on the island.”

“Oh, yes. I remember,” Skylar said, pushing past her nervousness and smiling.

“And we didn”t forget about the toiletries,” another woman interjected. “I’m Marcia. I’m with Dolby.”

“Nice to meet all of you. This really is too much. Truly, I’m overwhelmed.”

“We’ll let you get settled, and then we’ll get together,” Jeannie said, offering a warm hug.

Skylar thanked them again, then turned to Jeb.

“You ready?”

Laughing, she replied, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”