Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
McGuire surfaced to the glare of fluorescent lights, the sharp punch of antiseptic cleaner burning a line down his throat. Monitors beeped in the background and what sounded like a cart bumping its way along the corridor. White-hot pain lanced his side, each breath lacing fire through his lungs.
A hand pressed over his, the familiar weight drawing his gaze. He turned his head, froze. She sat beside the bed, hair shoved up into a messy bun, clothes wrinkled and creased. Bandages pushed at her shirt, a line of sterie strips down the side of her face.
He frowned, tried to nod at the injuries but failed. “You’re hurt.”
She laughed, the easy sound lifting some of the weight from his chest. “Says the guy who courted death. And I’m fine. Aces, compared to you.”
He wet his lips, accepted the sip of water she offered, then sighed. “Langley? Keane? Is it even safe—”
She shushed him with a soft finger over his mouth.
“We’ll talk about that once you’re stronger.
All you need to do is rest. Patch has everything under control.
And before you decide to roll your naked ass out of the bed because you think I’m underselling it, as far as anyone’s concerned, you’re a federal agent who was deep undercover and got caught in a cartel grudge match.
They’ve got you isolated with roving patrols. No one’s getting in.”
He eased back on the mattress. “Who’s got your back?”
“Your team. So, sleep. We’ll talk later.”
Her words followed him into the darkness, lingering in the back of his mind until he finally came out of the shadows, did more than stare at her face for five minutes before passing out.
It took a while to shed the groggy feeling in his head, but by the third night, the room had stopped shifting, the lights no longer starting a chain reaction.
Riven leaned against the far wall, eyes wary, gaze making the rounds — door, hallway, window, him, repeat. A couple of Herrera’s men had been tipped off, had tried to muscle their way in. They’d gotten as far as the hallway before Stone and Cross had taken them out. But she’d been jumpy ever since.
Not for her own safety.
For his.
He sighed. He didn’t care about Herrera or if the man’s entire cartel came knocking. McGuire would have her back. Permanently if he had any say in it.
And damn it, he wanted a say. Wanted to tell her he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it. That he’d been falling in love with her since she’d told him to haul ass that night in Colombia.
That she was the future he’d never thought he’d have.
A huff, then she stepped up to the bed, shook her head. “Someone’s deep in thought.”
He frowned. “Was I?”
“That, or I need to get the doctor in here. I called your name.” She leaned in. “Twice.”
“I was just thinking.”
“That you’re a sitting duck in here despite all the security? Yeah, me too. I should have had Patch break you out — absconded with you back to that cabin even Herrera’s men couldn’t find.”
“Riven…” He grabbed her hand, tugged her close. “I’m fine, and everything else can be sorted out. Sure, there might be the odd asshole who thinks they can get to you through me, but they’ll be dead before they get off a shot, so… Stop worrying. We’ll be out of here by tomorrow. Promise.”
She inched closer, mouth hovering an inch from his. “You obviously haven’t seen your chest. You look like someone took a sledgehammer to you. Not to mention, you also promised not to die on me, and we both know how that worked out.”
“Still breathing.”
“Only because Patch is a god damn miracle worker.” She sighed, rested her forehead on his. “I just don’t want to be the reason you get hurt. Again.”
“This wasn’t just your fight. Besides, it all worked out for the best.”
She snorted like she didn’t quite believe him as the door creaked, Patch ambling in carrying a couple brown bags.
He eyed their position, grunted. “You know if you try to seduce her, you’ll pull out your stitches, right?”
McGuire flipped him off. “We were talking.”
“Right. Just like you were talking in the cabin.” Patch shivered. “I’m still having nightmares about that, by the way.”
“You’ll get over it.” He waved his fingers at his best friend. “You did get fries, didn’t you?”
“With extra ketchup, which is the real travesty. You need help, brother.”
McGuire ignored the comment, chewed on a fry as the room fell into an easy silence. The clock on the wall ticked in the background, everything waiting until he pushed away the bag, blew out a long rasp. “Okay, something’s going on. So, spill.”
Patch glanced at Riven, then over to him. “We’ll talk once—”
“Already strong enough to kick your ass. Now, what’s going on with Langley? Keane? Did they find the body? Lock Keane in a cell and throw away the key? What the hell are the feds doing about the cartel?”
Riven laughed, shook her head. “It’s like you’re one of those eight balls and we shook you too hard. Started spewing out questions instead of answers.”
She rested her hip on the bed. “First, Savvy’s team recovered Langley’s body late last night. They’re spinning it as a marine training mission gone horribly wrong. He won’t get the scarlet letter we’d hoped he’d be branded with, but he’s permanently out of the picture.”
McGuire nodded. “And Keane?”
“Black site. Apparently, the CIA has a lot of questions they want answered. Not sure how it will eventually play out, but Savvy promised she’d keep an eye on it. Use some leverage if they even think of letting Keane off.”
“And the cartel?”
Riven’s face paled, all the light leaving her eyes.
She broke eye contact, took a few shaky breaths, then sighed.
“Capturing Martillo, dismantling his supply chains and exposing Herrera’s shipping routes has definitely put a giant hole in his operation.
It’s uncertain if he’ll be able to recover or if another cartel will eventually take his place. But for now, it’s a win.”
McGuire reached for her, the jumpy feeling in his gut easing when she slipped her palm over his. “Then, why do you look like we just lost the war?” He urged her closer. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Riven stared into McGuire’s eyes, thought her damn heart would pound right out of her chest. He wasn’t holding anything back — had all his intensity centered on her.
McGuire held out his hand. “I need my cell.”
Riven glanced at Patch. “This isn’t about Savvy—”
“It’s always about Savvy. Or, at least, it always involves her.” McGuire arched a brow. “I can just use the regular phone if I need to, but…”
Riven huffed, dug into the bag she’d kept on her chair, then handed him the phone. He hit the number, staring at her as it rang twice before the line connected.
“McGuire? Is everything okay? Are there more men—”
McGuire coughed, the rough sound effectively cutting off his sister. “What aren’t you and Riven telling me?”
Savvy grunted. “I see the meds have worn off.”
“Start talking about why she looks like that night back in the bar, and don’t stop until we’re all on the same page.”
Silence stretched over the line for a few moments before she sighed. “Unlike your team, I wasn’t able to ghost Riven. There were too many agencies involved, and we’d always hoped that eventually, she’d track down the proof she needed to take down Langley and topple the Herrera cartel.”
McGuire eyed Riven, and she knew he was puzzling it all out. “So, she’s been what? MIA for the past six months?”
“In a nutshell, yes. Though, now that her boss knows she’s alive, that she was instrumental in crippling the cartel…”
His jaw clenched, the muscle in his temple jumping as he hissed out a breath. “He wants her back.”
“Yes, but it’s not quite that simple. Riven’s the connection between Langley and the Herrera cartel.
Not just the intel she smuggled back, but everything she witnessed, heard — hell, lived, while undercover.
And it’s started a wildfire that’s quickly burning through parts of the DoJ.
They need to debrief her, follow the digital trail she established — see if there are any other moles in their operation. ”
“So, that’s it? She goes back to Virginia without anyone watching her six? Because we both know there’re definitely more moles.”
Savvy huffed. “Did I say I was allowing them to collect her without backup? Hale’s gonna be her wingman for the next few weeks while the DEA brings her back from the dead.”
His gaze stayed locked on her, as if he thought she’d bolt if he wasn’t actively watching her. “And once that’s done?”
The question hung in the air, the weight of it making it hard for Riven to breathe. To do anything other than stare at him.
He tilted his head, looked as if he was reading her through her silence as he directed the question at her. “I imagine they’d give you options?”
“They should, except…”
He waited, then grunted when she didn’t answer. “Except what?”
Riven squeezed his hand. “Like I said. We crippled Herrera’s operation, but…”
McGuire mumbled under his breath. “But we didn’t stop him. He’s still on the board.”
“They’ll try to bring him in, but it’s complicated. And considering it’s likely we didn’t round up every member of his cartel who’s loyal to him…”
“You’ll always have a bullseye on your back if you take a job at the New Orlean’s office. Hell, anywhere south.”
She moved closer. “That’s how my boss is spinning it. That I should be going somewhere new. Like Thailand or Belgium, which I told him was insane. I suspect there’ll be a lot of discussions over it.”
He didn’t react, his features locking in as if she’d placed him in front of a firing squad. “When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.” She held up her hand. “But like Savvy said. It’s only for a couple weeks. Just long enough to do all the legal stuff. I’ve already told him I need time. That I’m not even sure if I want to go back. Go undercover, again, after…”
Savvy cleared her throat. “I promise, I’ll pull whatever levers I can. But it’ll take some time.”
McGuire sat there, brooding before grabbing the blankets and heaving them aside. “Fine, then I’ll go. Be your backup.”
Riven lunged forward, stopped him from swinging his feet off the edge. “Are you insane? You’re hurt. Besides, you’re still dead, remember? You can’t go to Virginia.”
“Langley’s dead. Don’t much care, anymore.”
Riven groaned. “Savvy? A bit of help?”
Savvy snorted. “McGuire’s as stubborn as a damn mule and twice as ornery.
There’s no reasoning with him. But on the off chance you might listen, big brother, Riven’s right.
I’m still going through all the shit my task force uncovered.
We’ve got a paper trail back to Herrera that’s a mile wide.
I’m fairly confident, once I go through it, I’ll be able to prove your team was set up. Clear your names. After that…”
McGuire tried to vault out of the bed again, until Riven stepped in front. “While that sounds encouraging, it’s not helping this current situation. Not that I doubt Hale’s skill set, but I doubt he’s as motivated as I am to keep her breathing.”
“See? Stubborn. I’ll let you and Riven hammer it out, but until I know the full extent of what we’ve uncovered, your ass stays in the bayou.”
She ended the call, the sudden silence weighing heavy in the air.
Patch stood, looked between them. “And that’s my cue to do a perimeter check. Give you two some privacy, just… Don’t make me walk in on anything.”
Riven rolled her eyes. “He’s ten shades of blue. Give me a bit of credit.”
Patch chuckled. “With the way you two eye-fuck each other, anything’s possible.”
McGuire flipped off his buddy, looking over at her once Patch had left. “He’s an ass.”
She smiled, moved in close. “But he’s not wrong.” She rested her forehead on his. “You know that I’m not leaving because I want to, right? That I plan on coming back?” She eased away enough she could look him in the eyes. “If that’s what you want, too?”
McGuire took her hand in his. “Did you think I volunteered to follow you to Virginia because I miss the weather?” He tugged her back. “Perhaps I haven’t made myself clear. What I said on the barge still stands. I want a future. And I want you in it.”
The jittery feeling in her stomach settled, a soothing warmth taking its place. “Then, you’re in luck because I’m right there with you. I just need to tie up these loose ends with the DEA. Figure out if staying with them is even an option.”
“You know you have other choices, right? Not that I’d ever pressure you, but you’d make one hell of a Shadow Hound.”
She snorted, placed the back of her hand along his head. “You don’t feel hot…”
“I’m not delirious. Just, think about it.” He squeezed her hand. “You sure you’ll be okay with Hale as your backup?”
“He saved my ass back in Bogotá. He’s solid. But just so you don’t feel left out…”
She turned, reached into her bag and removed another burner cell. “There’s only one number programmed in that, so don’t lose it.”
He turned it over. “Between you and Savvy, I’m gonna need more pockets.” He blew out a rough breath, stared at her until she thought he’d passed out before he huffed — drew himself up. “Riven, I…”
“Hold that thought. Not because I don’t want to hear it, or that I don’t feel the same, but because if you say anything close to what I’m feeling…
” She paused, tried to swallow past the lump in her throat — the cost of holding back how far she’d fallen.
That she was stupid in love with him. “I won’t be able to leave, and then it won’t just be cartel assholes who are hunting me. ”
“They can all try, but the only way anyone will ever get to you, is if I’m dead.
” He slid his hand behind her head, pulled her close as he slanted his mouth over hers, savored the brief moment.
“And I’ll wait to tell you how crazy I am about you, just don’t make me wait too long.
” He brushed his thumb across her lips. “Now, kiss me, again, before Patch gets back. Then, we’re heading home. Making the most of tonight.”