Chapter 14
Rolling his shoulders in weariness,Davis got out of his car, a dull headache pulling at the backs of his eyes. After hours of staring at a computer screen and another couple hours debriefing his boss, and the intensity of this case for the past three days, he was so damned tired he could barely see straight. Grabbing the sunflowers he’d picked up on a whim when he stopped for some food at the commissary, he hefted the bags and headed for the small beach house.
There were no lights on inside and he frowned, then realized that there was a figure on the beach.
Kai.
He left her to her downtime, entered the residence, and started on dinner. He wasn’t a slouch when it came to cooking. His mom had taught him the basics and he’d gone on to learn even more as a bachelor. He’d picked up some penne pasta, chicken breasts, butter, garlic, flour, milk, and Parmesan.
He consumed his time cooking, the act of preparing something distracting him from that silent woman on the beach. When it was done, he walked down to where she was sitting and crouched next to her.
“You hungry babe?”
She turned to look at him and he saw that she was as weary as he was. More so. She’d been through a gun battle for her life, surrounded by Los Esmeraldas intent on eliminating her and Amber. But Kai had persevered. She was also damp from the incoming tide.
“Starving.”
“Why don’t you change into some dry clothes, and I’ll get everything ready.”
She nodded and accepted his hand. He pulled her up, giving in to the need to hold her for a moment—a definite response to the thought of her in danger. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him back.
They walked to the house with his arm around her, and her head on his shoulder. Once inside, she headed toward the bedroom, and he heard the shower come on, while he tossed a spinach salad and assembled the dishes. He set the table, uncorking a bottle of white wine. She came out of the bedroom dressed in a sleeveless khaki knitted top and black, soft cotton shorts, her feet bare. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a topknot, her face devoid of makeup. She was simply stunning.
She pulled out a chair and settled in it. “This looks fabulous.” She smiled at him, but it was a little distant. It was either fatigue or her own thoughts and emotions were tangling her up again. He wanted to help her, but he had to let her work through it on her own. Comfort was what he could offer and counsel for sure if she asked.
“How did it go with Commander Phillips?”
“Routine. He had a lot of questions and commended us on our conduct in Ecuador. I told him we would have been toast if it wasn’t for those two Shadowguard.”
She looked up from her meal, her eyes serious. “You always give credit where credit is due,” she murmured. “You are a good, good man, Davis.”
He waggled his brows, trying to keep it light in the face of her obvious disquiet. “In more ways than one,” he said.
She laughed softly, the sound warming him and bringing color to her cheeks.
“Jason wasn’t too keen on hearing what we went through and that we still had a target on our backs.”
Her mouth tightened after she took a sip of her wine. “It’s temporary. Once we get Freddy and that shipment, the heat will die down.” She released a sigh, lifting one shoulder in a semblance of a shrug. “That cartel will have other things to worry about, and it’ll be a moot point in silencing us. We already know everything except who they are.”
He remembered how close they had come to death…at least in his mind since he didn’t know about the Shadowguard following them into the jungle. Getting a grip on his own emotions, he kept her gaze. “We will get Freddy and that shipment. We’ll sweat her until she gives us the information we want.”
“Yeah, through some deal-making. I’m sure the justice department will authorize Leigh to make a deal. They want that cartel in the worst way. They gave the US a black eye by targeting the OCDETF Task Force. We need to send a message that this type of attack won’t be tolerated.”
He nodded. “Of course. The cartel did make a fatal mistake in attacking military personnel and murdering so many members of the DoD and JD. The attorney general and the joint chiefs are going to make sure that the cartel is dismantled, and anyone involved with the decision-making will either end up in handcuffs or a body bag.”
She smiled softly. “I know Leigh is going to be right at the tip of that spear, and I bet she’ll be prosecuting anyone who’s left standing.”
Davis smiled back. “That’s a given. That woman was born with attitude.”
Kai rose and started to clean. Davis helped her. She ran the water in the sink while he continued to clear the rest of the dishes.
As she rinsed the dishes, pots, and pan he used for preparation, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Experiencing a heady rush from the way she pressed her body into him, he closed his eyes, his pulse accelerating. He peered over her shoulder as she continued the task, until he reached out and snagged one of her hands. “You have nice hands,” he said gruffly.
She inhaled softly, sliding her wet palm against his. He took a deep breath and kissed her fingertips, and Kai turned into his shoulder. Heartened by the intensity of her reaction, he laced his fingers through hers, needing time to get himself together.
“Why don’t you get ready for bed,” he said softly, knowing that neither one of them had much more energy left to deal with anything more tonight. After a fresh night’s sleep, they would be hitting the ground running. That shipment was coming in tomorrow, and they were going to make sure it didn’t complete its journey to the street.
She nodded, wiped her hands on the towel by the sink, and he finished up the last of the clean-up, then started the dishwasher.
When he entered the room, she was already in bed. He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and relieved himself. Shucking off his clothes, he slipped into bed next to her.
She immediately turned into his arms, and he was thankful to have her smooth, supple body pressed against his. He’d discovered over his relationship with Kai that admitting to himself that there were issues between them they had to overcome set him on this path to being the man she wanted in her life. It was painful connecting with messy emotions, but it was imperative to face them. The act of taking them head-on tended to diffuse them. He embraced differences of opinions, conflicts, and tension because going through all of that had definite value. Once that line was crossed, it would give him and the other person new insights and revelations that usually resolved the conflict.
Kai was going to come to her own conclusions, and once she did, they would pull past this situation and land in a different place in their relationship. A stronger, more grounded place. He was sure of it.
Neither of them spoke for several moments, content with gentle stroking and even gentler kisses.
Finally, Kai released a reluctant sigh, easing her upper body away from him. Kai smoothed her hands up the contours of his biceps, her voice husky as she whispered. “I think once all this is over, I’m going to need some time…alone.”
His voice quiet, he said, “I said I would be okay with whatever you needed to do. I’m still okay with it. You can’t be happy or fully commit to me until you work out your own stuff. I get it. I understand.”
Cupping his jaw, she stroked the curve of his cheekbone with her thumb. It was clear she was struggling with what to say.
“Again. You don’t have to say anything.” His fingers snagging in her hair, Davis pulled her head down, distracting her with a long, sensual kiss. “You’ll talk to me when you have your answers,” he murmured. “Nothing will be resolved tonight. Get some sleep. We need to be rested for tomorrow.”
She nodded and snuggled down into his arms. He worked at not letting that little voice of doubt trouble him. Nothing was one hundred percent, not even his need for her to be fully his. He would have to curb that for now.
Ever since Davis had found Kai sitting on the beach, it was clear to him that she was struggling with some powerful emotions and life-changing events. He didn’t know what she’d been thinking about. He didn’t want to push her. But from the beginning, he’d been passive when it came to Kai because he sensed she was fragile. But he now knew, deep down, this woman wasn’t fragile. She was far from it, and because he was aware of her strengths, something he wasn’t sure she was even aware of herself, he was invested for the long haul.
He wasn’t going to get all twisted up about her mood or worry that this was the beginning of the end for them. If she needed space, he would give that to her for as long as she needed to gain the insight that would alleviate all the pain and loss she’d experienced in her life.
He loved her, and that meant something. Love wasn’t convenient. It just was.
The Portof San Diego was massive, managing thirty-four miles of the Bay and spanning five cities: Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego, and was broken down into three terminals, one for cruise ships, one for vehicles, and one for cargo.
They gathered at the entrance to the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal since the Freedom part of the message pertained to fresh-cut roses, and that was the terminal that handled inbound cargo for fresh commodities requiring refrigeration. Kai had contacted the San Diego Unified Port District, the authority that ran the docks, the harbor police, US Customs and Border Patrol, and the DEA. Davis had alerted the Coast Guard, and they would detain anyone trying to escape by sea.
A man came out as Kai donned her vest, securing the Velcro straps for a snug fit. The DEA Special Response Team was also there to provide tactical support, decked out in camouflage uniforms and toting automatic weapons.
The man looked around at all the law enforcement personnel and spoke to someone. He pointed at her. He walked over and held out his hand. “I’m Hal Thomas, the maritime manager of this terminal. I got word that you suspect one of the shipments coming in today is part of a drug smuggling ring here at the port. Do you have any more information?”
“Does the name Fernanda Delgado mean anything to you?”
His brows rose and he sighed. “She’s one of my managers. Handles the loading and unloading of shipments. She’s on the docks right now.”
Kai nodded. “We have a warrant for her arrest. We want to keep our presence quiet for the time being, but we’ll need access to the terminal.”
He nodded. “I can take care of that. I’ll stay with you until you’ve finished your bust.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry about all of this.”
“It’s a part of doing business. The cartels are flush with cash and people are susceptible to bribes.”
“It goes farther than that. Freddy, as she goes by, is the head of a gang who works for the cartel bringing in the drugs. We suspect it’s cocaine. She’s wanted for several murders, including Senator Finch’s death.”
“What?” His face paled, and he looked nervous. “Gosh, that’s terrible. I saw that on the news.”
“She’s very dangerous, so let us handle her.”
He nodded. “What ship is suspected of smuggling?”
“The Summer Sky, IMO number 3865707.”
He looked down at the tablet he carried and tapped the screen a couple of times. “It’s just about to dock.” He looked toward the terminal. “We have four berths, and that ship is going to be in berth number one.”
“If you could speak with the DEA tactical commander, he wants to set up snipers around the terminal.”
He nodded, then said, “Absolutely.” He walked to the commander, and they started talking.
She looked over at her agents. Derrick, Austin, Amber, and Lucy were all kitted up and ready for deployment, as were Davis and Jason. She was a few yards away from him, thinking she liked that dust of stubble on his face. He drew her eye, not only because of his good looks, but the way he handled himself, with an easy grace that fascinated her.
She couldn’t forget how she had told him last night that she needed time alone, especially when her heart screamed against being separated from him. But true to form, Davis hadn’t missed a beat, and she had to admit that she was a little disappointed that he hadn’t put up more of a fight.
Still, Davis was as sexy as ever, and her blood ran a little hotter at the memory of his nakedness this morning. He never seemed to lose that self-assured edge that made her feel incredibly safe and protected—and, yeah, loved. It was his trust and confidence she wanted, a life with him. Are you going to be able to get it? a voice asked, sounding so tentative. She didn’t know, but she was going to give everything she had to finding out.
The DEA team leader looked over at her. “We’re ready to move if you are,” he said, breaking her away from Davis and her thoughts.
This was the moment they would bring to justice the woman who had murdered Mayta Mosquera, setting everything in motion. The thought of justice gave her great satisfaction. Freddy had also been the person who carried out the bombing of the OCDETF Task Force and would face charges for that, including Nate and Carter’s deaths.
She nodded as they all started toward the terminal. Hal got them through security. “Fan out but keep out of sight. We’ll call it over the radio when it’s time to move in.”
Kai emerged on the other side of the dock terminal, noticing there were three ships already berthed and cargo was being offloaded. The morning dew sparkled on metal surfaces. Trucks and forklifts were in constant motion all around her, and the smell of oil and fuel blended in the air with the scent of coffee. Workers didn’t pay them any attention as they hurried toward the terminal. The area was lined with different company logos and cargoes.
She looked at Davis, and he smiled at her. “See you on the other side.” He took off with Jason and Derrick. They were going to handle the trucks to keep them from leaving the terminal.
“Stay safe,” she whispered.
She looked toward the first berth and saw a huge ship maneuvering into position to line up with the dock—the Summer Sky. The crewmen caught lines from the deck, lashing the ship securely to the cylindrical metal cleats for a secure mooring.
As she moved across the open area, she found some cover from where they could watch the unloading without spooking Freddy. She wanted that cargo as much as she wanted the fugitive. Once it was unloaded and trucked out of here, Freddy would pull a disappearing act. Kai was sure she had her own escape route figured out now that she’d played her hand and sent her gang members to take out Kai and Amber at her home. She would already be on guard, but Kai guessed she had no choice in going forward with offloading the drugs. Her boss wouldn’t be too happy if the shipment fell into their hands.
She and her boss were in for a rude awakening.
Kai moved to the front of the huge cargo container to get a better look at the people surrounding the area. Austin was busy taking pictures for evidence.
The crew was focused on getting the cargo truck into place for the large container to be loaded onto the bed with two more trucks lining up for the next two crates. A crane on the Summer Sky’s deck started moving as soon as the huge ship was tied down.
At this distance, Kai could see a woman talking into a radio. She had dark hair beneath the white hard hat she wore and was dressed in a navy-blue suit and slacks with low boots on her feet. She had delicate features and no way did she look like a cold-blooded killer, but she was and Kai was going to do everything in her power to see the woman got what she deserved.
Freddy stoodat a safe distance away from the unloading of the first container, watching as the crane lifted the rust-colored object from the deck of the Summer Sky. She took a step toward it as it was gently lowered to the truck’s empty bed, and once the crane released, it was secured by her people. She let out a breath she wasn’t aware she held, then lifted the radio to her lips. “Head out. You know the destination. Start the unloading process and I’ll be there shortly.”
The driver waved from the open window. “Got it,” he said. “See you soon.”
She trusted each of these men and had handpicked them herself. They jumped at her orders, not because they respected her, but because they were afraid of her. She was okay with that.
She hadn’t expected the Navy cops to figure out she was involved. She had no idea how they had done it. She’d been very careful, but with modern technology, and determined people, it had happened.
Her home had been invaded and her people taken. Her palms grew moist at the thought that this shipment was compromised, but she had no choice. She had to see it through. If she had balked, Angel would have had her executed. This way she would either be taken into custody, which would give her options, or she’d get away with the whole thing and make her exit to Ecuador, or even Colombia to assist Angel with whatever position the organization had available for an enterprising gal.
She had a private jet already fueled and ready to fly her out of the country the moment this production was over.
“Truck heading your way,”came through Davis’s earpiece even as he heard the grinding of the gears of the vehicle. It was lumbering at a good pace on the dock as it rumbled toward them. He stood out in the open with Jason on one side and Derrick on the other. Part of the DEA SRT fanned out behind him.
The driver slowed down when he saw them. Davis held up his badge. “Federal agents. Pull the truck over and turn off the engine. Step out with your hands up.”
For a few moments, the truck driver kept moving, then an automatic weapon emerged from the window and sprayed the area as everyone ran for cover. Davis sprinted toward the truck, pulling off a couple of shots straight into the churning engine.
When he was close enough, he jumped on the running board of the side of the big diesel. The driver adjusted his weapon toward Davis and blew out the window. Glass rained down on him as he ducked below the driver’s view, his face stinging from tiny cuts.
“Pull over!” he shouted, but the guy only triggered another burst of gunfire.
Then Davis heard more breaking glass and the truck veered toward the water. When Davis looked in through the broken window, the truck driver wasn’t moving. A hole in his forehead told him one of the snipers had met his mark. The truck was going way too fast for him to jump off. He turned to look as it neared the end of the dock.
Jason”s voice pounded in his ear. “Davis, get off that thing!”
It was too late. His heart beating like a sledgehammer, Davis braced himself for impact.
There was a jolt as the truck reached the edge of the pier, then it was airborne. The truck shuddered violently, engine revving. He held on to the side until the very last minute, then pushed away from the ten tons of careening steel, trying to get his body far away from the plunging truck.
He hit the water, the impact stunning him, pain screaming through his skin as he sank, the pressure from the displaced water churning around him, compressing his chest and forcing out precious air. His lungs strained, pinpoints of light fracturing in his eyes as the disorientation of his position left him wondering which way was up or down.
The water tumbled him around some more, and he felt himself sinking, a rush of bubbles around his head. He experienced a strange softness in his limbs, water quickly replacing his last breath. He sank deeper, his heart slowed, his vision narrowing down to a dark tunnel.
Kai nodded to Amber,Lucy, and Austin. “Let’s go.” She broke cover and fast walked toward Freddy, who was consumed with the current container lowering onto another empty truck bed. There was a commotion at the end of the dock toward where Davis and the other half of the team had headed, but Kai needed to keep her attention on Freddy. The woman was as dangerous as they came.
Freddy looked over her shoulder toward the disruption, then her radio squawked, and she stiffened. She spoke quickly into the radio, and she spied Kai and the team converging on her. Without warning, she bolted, dropping the radio and discarding her hard hat.
“Secure the shipment,” Kai ordered as the team ran toward the scattering crew. Kai rushed after Freddy, realizing that the woman knew these docks better than Kai. She was determined the woman wasn’t going to get away. Kai kept her attention on the woman’s fleeing back as she ran, waving workers back, showing her weapon when they just gawked. She rushed toward the field of containers, ducking to the side once to search for movement and continue.
While seagulls circled overhead, squawking, and crying, she lost sight of Freddy as she ducked into the maze of containers. She moved cautiously now, her eyes darting everywhere, then spotted a shadow move, and she sidled alongside the steel frames.
“Come out with your hands up. There’s nowhere to go, Freddy.”
There was no answer, no movement. The shadow was gone.
Kai stepped forward, heading for the edge of the container, but as she got to a place where she could look around the side of the crate, Freddy struck.
Kai caught the silver flicker before she swiped a blade across Kai’s wrist, forcing her to drop her weapon. She slashed viciously at Kai, who backed up until her back slammed into metal, the sound reverberating against her shoulders. Kai caught Freddy’s wrist to keep her from skewing her in the chest, grappling and pushing her away.
Kai followed, never giving Freddy a chance to strike at her. She jabbed out, hitting her once in the throat, the nose, then a hit under her arm.
Freddy folded, dropping the knife, then hit back three times in another vicious attack that took everything Kai had to fight off. Kai landed a blow under her jaw, and she staggered, collapsed. Kai lurched back, poised to strike, but Freddy recovered and swept her leg, clipping Kai behind the knees.
Kai dropped, her back smacking into the concrete, the breath knocked out of her in a painful rush of air. She tried to catch her breath and roll, but Freddy dropped her weight on Kai. Kai clapped her ears, stunning her, then rolled hard, gripping the bitch’s hair as she went. The woman barely made a sound, and Kai struck her in her carotid artery, then threw her weight on her. She slammed her arm across Freddy’s throat, digging in.
Freddy fought, but Kai didn’t let up. When Freddy went limp, Kai hurriedly rolled the woman to her stomach and handcuffed her. She pushed away and leaned her back against the side of the crate, breathing hard.
“Boss!” Amber called, then she and Lucy came around the container and stopped dead. They looked down at Freddy, then at Kai, who was holding her bloody wrist.
The look in her eyes told her she’d missed something. She had lost her earpiece during the fight.
“What is it?” she asked, struggling to her feet.
“Davis,” Amber said, her explanation making Kai go numb. Without another word, she ran.