Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Buck leaned against the wall, praying the ache behind his eyes didn’t spread, as he listened to Nick and Bodie walk through the night’s events for the twentieth time.
Not that Buck didn’t appreciate their attention to detail, but if he had to describe the orange pants or barcode on the man’s shirt one more time, he might scream.
He glanced at Tierney. She’d been quiet since they’d joined the rest of his team in their main office, contributing only when asked.
She spent the rest of the time nursing the cup of coffee Wade had handed her before he’d headed home, constantly scanning the windows and doors as if she expected those men to come barging in.
Not that Buck wasn’t looking, too, but she took it to a whole other level, her hand hovering over the Beretta she’d strapped onto her hip, her body positioned where it guaranteed the best sight lines.
Unease skittered down his spine, the remembered echo of her screaming churning his gut.
He’d aged five years in the thirty seconds it had taken him to run down the hallway, bust into the guest room then into the bathroom, barreling through the door half-expecting to see her dead on the floor, some asshole dressed in black tactical gear looming over her.
Finding her standing in the shower, obviously lost to her own demons…
It had given him a new perspective of what ghosts still haunted her. That the relentless pursuit tonight had obviously surfaced some unwanted baggage.
He sighed, watching her scan the room again, her gaze taking in every detail.
He’d been moments away from shuffling her into the bathroom, stripping her down and jumping into the shower with her, maybe holding her against the wall, finally acting on all the love he’d been shoving down for far too long.
And she’d been right there with him, fisting his hoodie, claiming his mouth whenever he paused for half a heartbeat to drag in some air. If Nick hadn’t shown up…
The evening would have gone differently.
Not that she wouldn’t still be distant. She hadn’t quite made peace with being in a room with more than just him and letting her guard completely down.
But she wouldn’t be standing several feet away, brow furrowed, deep circles beneath her eyes, every muscle strung so tight she looked as if she might crack.
“Buck.”
Buck snapped back, focusing on Nick. “Yeah?”
Nick glanced at Tierney, then over to him. “I asked if either of you noticed this etching on the back of the radio.”
“What etching?”
Nick flipped the unit over, then held it out. “On the clip. Looks like an axe or a scythe. It’s pretty weathered so it’s hard to tell.”
Buck took the radio, squinted a bit. “I hadn’t. Maybe…”
He paused when Tierney shouldered up to him, eyes wide, lips pursed tight. She didn’t speak, just stared at the engraving, her pulse thrashing wildly beneath her skin.
He offered it to her. “Does that mean something to you?”
She reached out, traced the delicate line with her fingertip before snatching her hand back as if touching the engraving had hurt. She swallowed, coughing a few times before shrugging. “Lots of mercenaries choose grim reaper symbols for their organization. It’s not proprietary.”
“Agreed, but it could help us narrow down the possible PMCs that might lean that way. Have you run across something like this before? Maybe with MI6?”
Her chin quivered, the color draining from her face before she placed the mug on the table and crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s popular with cartels. I saw similar etchings in Colombia.”
Shit.
He looked at Nick, noted the man’s furrowed brows and narrowed eyes. “Did you see something like this on your last mission?”
Tierney inhaled, wrapping her arms tighter around her waist before stepping back. “I… It’s hard to say.” She turned to Sloane. “Any luck with the body cam footage?”
Sloane stopped typing, making eye contact with Nick before nodding. “I’ve recovered a partial video from tonight’s cache, but I’ll need a moment to clean it up.”
Nick walked closer. “Which will give you a chance to tell us where you’ve seen that mark because that was definitely a yes to Buck’s question.”
Tierney squared her shoulders, back rigid, looking ready to strike. “This thing’s barely visible. I can’t be sure if it’s the same.”
“But it reminds you of something.” He inched closer. “Or someone.”
“I—”
“Video’s ready.”
Tierney jumped when Sloane’s voice cut her off, her hands shaking to the point she shoved them into the pocket of her hoodie. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing still erratic when she nodded at Sloane, gestured to the screen. “Play it.”
Nick glanced at Buck, then back to Tierney before nodding at Sloane. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Sloane tapped on the keyboard as Bodie and Dalton gathered around the monitor.
The video flickered a few times, shades of black and white playing across the screen before the view stabilized, a grainy image bleeding through.
Ferns and salal moved past the camera, a hint of light brightening the distance.
Footsteps broke the silence, what sounded like a wild animal charging through the forest. Twigs snapped, branches rustled, a fleeting shadow moving off to the left. The merc turned, narrowing in on the figure racing ahead, a guy’s face caught for a split second in the eerie glow.
Buck clenched his teeth. He recognized the man’s jaw. The wild hair and bizarre clothing as the guy wearing the body cam darted ahead, tracking the runner as he crashed through the brush. A brilliant light exploded up ahead, an ear-piercing pop bouncing through the understory.
The merc tripped a step, the sudden flash burning the entire video into a wash of white before it cleared and he picked up speed, stopping at the edge of the clearing.
He panned the site, zeroed in on the center just in time to see Buck tackle Tierney behind the log, the glow from the fire winking out as Buck kicked dirt over the flames.
A voice told them to run, then a suppressed thud, as the guy fired, dropping the man in a billow of dirt and pine needles.
Everything paused, the lingering echo of the shots still ringing in the air when a crackle sounded over the audio, another voice interrupting the scene.
“Containment breached. Eliminate the witnesses.”
The video kept playing, shots chewing up the dirt, Buck and Tierney returning fire, but Buck barely registered it, his attention focused on Tierney. Eyes overly wide, breath held, she looked ready to drop.
“Stop.” She lunged forward, already breathless as she pointed to the screen. “Play that again. The part where the guy talks.”
Sloane stopped the video, rewound, then played the section again.
Male. British, with a voice devoid of any hint of humanity.
Tierney shook her head. “Again.”
Sloane looked at them, her hand hovering of the keys before she played it again.
“No, no, no, no, no…” Tierney shook her head. “Again.”
Sloane hesitated. “Tierney, I—”
“Again.” She visibly pulled herself back. “Please, Sloane. Play it again.”
Sloane hit the key, increasing the volume until the man’s voice bounced off the walls, the words still resonating after she’d stopped it.
Tierney palmed her thigh, squeezing it as if someone had stabbed her, as her breathing increased, shallow, clipped. She placed her other hand over her mouth, as retching noises seemed to claw up her throat before turning, sprinting from the room.
Buck darted after her, motioning for his buddies to wait there, as he raced down the hallway toward the rear exit.
The door slammed shut just as he reached the end of the corridor, the rush of cool air prickling the hairs on the back of his neck.
He grabbed the handle, tossed it open before stepping into the night.
Fog curled through the lot, the exterior lights casting it in a yellow glow. Tierney had her ass braced against the wall off to his left, hands on her knees, breathing way too fast to be effective.
He moved over to her, getting close without touching her. “Tierney. Sweetheart, I need you to slow your breathing.”
She shook her head, chest heaving, a few strangled sobs breaking free. “I can’t. I can’t go back… he…”
Buck inched closer. “I know you hear voices. I know it all feels real, but it’s not. You’re here, in Raven’s Cliff, with me.”
He held out his hand. “I’m right here.”
She closed her eyes, nearly tanked onto the pavement, until he steadied her, keeping his touch as light as possible. She shied away, body shaking like a junkie needing a hit, effectively closing in on herself.
He shifted in behind her, gently easing her against his chest as he placed his palm over her heart, slowly lifting her until her head fell against his shoulder, her body encircled in his arms. “Easy, I’m right here. Now, follow me. In, hold, out.”
He exaggerated his breathing, shaking his head when she barely changed hers. “Try, again. In, hold it, now out. Again.”
He kept going, her heart hammering against his hand, hot tears falling on his knuckles. He didn’t rush, just patiently emphasized his own breathing, repeating the directions until she finally picked up his rhythm, slowing her breathing to match his.
He smiled against her hair, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “That’s it. Keep breathing, in, hold, out.” He squeezed her slightly when she sobbed. “Not going anywhere, so, just let it go. Whatever you need to do to come back to me.”
The minutes ticked by before the rear door opened and closed as Dalton stepped out, staying off to the right. He scanned the surroundings, occasionally glancing back without staring.
Buck held her close, recognizing the moment she finally came out of the episode. She half-collapsed against him, her muscles lax, a few hushed whimpers just reaching him. “Shhh, it’s okay. Still right here.”
She didn’t talk, just rested against him, eventually turning and tucking her head into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, rocking back and forth until she pushed out a slow breath, gradually lifting her gaze to his. Tears streaked her cheeks, her chin quivering.
He smiled, brushed his thumb along her face. “Hey.”
She pursed her lips, still looking as if she might puke. “Hey.”
He tucked some hair behind her ears. “Better?”
She shrugged but didn’t pull away.
He sighed. “There’s no rush. We can stay out here as long as you need. Though, you look like you’re freezing.” He shrugged out of his hoodie, helped her into it.
She scoffed. “Now I have two, and you’re in a damn tee.”
“I’m fine. Got everything I need, right here.”
That earned him a glimpse of a smile.
He drew her back into his arms. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
She shook her head. “I’m glad one of us believes that.” She shivered, and his damn heart froze.
He eased back as Dalton moved closer, holding out a cup.
Dalton sighed. “It’s hot chocolate. You need to drink something before the aftershock hits you, and you pass out.”
Tierney cringed, as if just now realizing Dalton was there before accepting the mug — taking a cautious sip. She closed her eyes, taking another before looking up at him. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “Been there a time or two myself. It’s one of the only things that helps.”
She froze, cup touching her lip as she stared at him, eyes blinking, her breath stalled before she exhaled, cocked her head to the side. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Walk out of a cage and never crack?”
He looked away, scanning the tree line and bordering road before meeting her gaze. “Who says I never crack?” He kicked at the gravel. “The truth is, I’m just one bad memory away from going nuclear.”
Tierney swept her gaze the length of him. “You never show it.”
“I’ve just had more time to put a mask on it. But I’ve come to realize, you never stop breaking. You just get really good at aiming the blast radius at the people who deserve it.” He inched closer. “So, whatever spooked you in there, whatever voices are in your head… Let’s point the bomb at them.”
She nodded, though Buck wasn’t sure if she agreed or was simply too tired to argue. “I’ll remember that.” She stared at her boots for a few moments before drawing in a deep breath, finally lifting her gaze to Buck’s.
He smiled, because even tormented, she took his breath away. “Whatever it is, you’re not alone.”
“I know, it’s just… There’s something I need to tell you, but I’m not sure I know how.”
“There’s nothing you can tell me that will change the way I feel about you. You know that, right?” He smiled. “I’ll still think you’re the bravest, craziest person I know.”
She snorted. “Takes one, I suppose.”
“Damn straight. So, whatever you need to say, I’m not gonna run.”
She glanced at Dalton, then back to him. “That voice, on the video. I’ve heard it before.”
Buck perked up, leaning a bit closer. “The guy who sounded in charge?”
Her face paled, her breathing kicking up again. “He was in Colombia.”
Dread punched him low in the gut, and he knew, everything was about to change. “On your last mission.”
Another pause, her hands nearly shaking the liquid out of the cup. “He was at the compound. He’s one of the men who held me captive.”