22. Reath
22
REATH
I stared at the guy from the park through the glass. He was cuffed and sitting at an empty table in the interrogation room, and he certainly didn’t look happy.
The man across the table from him stirred.
Detective Simon Broussard was a good friend and a good cop. He was tall, with shaggy, brown hair shot through with gold. His badge was clipped to his belt.
He walked out of the room.
“Fury, you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” His accent was pure Cajun.
I nodded. “This guy came into town with a team. They’re here to steal a top-secret military project that’s being run at Tulane.”
Simon sighed. “It can never be simple with you.”
“The lead scientist is my best friend’s sister. I promised I’d keep an eye on her.”
Simon nodded. “Francesca Parker. She all right?”
I slid my hands into my pockets. “A few bruises.” I glared through the glass. “She risked herself to save the life of one of my guys.”
“Brave.” Simon paused. “Sorry, my friend, I can’t let you kill him. He didn’t say much.”
“My guess is that he’s too scared of his boss.”
Simon cocked his head. “Who is…?”
“Frenchman by the name of Hugh Auclair.”
“I’m guessing that if I run him, I’ll find out more things I don’t like.”
“The guy is ruthless, Simon. Nothing stops him. He likes to play games, and he’ll kill women and kids, if he has to.”
My friend’s face hardened. “A sociopath?”
“Probably. I’ve crossed paths with him before. I stopped an operation of his when I was with the CIA. Bombing of the US Embassy in Germany. Some of his team died.”
Simon scraped a hand through his hair. “You know where he is?”
I shook my head. “I was hoping our friend here would share.”
“I’ll let you question him, but no touching. Reath, you’re planning to stop Auclair?”
“Yes. He won’t quit coming after Frankie. She’s the key to the project.”
Simon nodded. “Don’t do anything I’ll have to arrest you for.”
I just raised a brow.
He shook his head. “Fine. Don’t let me catch you doing something I need to arrest you for.”
“Auclair is bad news. We need him stopped and out of New Orleans.”
“That, we can agree on.” Simon waved a hand at the interrogation room.
I opened the door and walked in.
The man saw me and his pale eyes widened slightly. I took my jacket off and hung it on the back of the chair.
“Time for us to have a little chat.”
“Got nothing to say.”
I pressed my hands on the table and lowered my voice. “You hit my woman.”
Now the thug blanched.
“Let’s start with where I can find Auclair.”
I pulled up to my warehouse and scanned the surroundings. There was a staff parking lot at the back of Ember, and it was nearly empty. I drove into my garage, parked, and turned off the Eletre’s engine…and then just sat there.
I had nothing.
The man in custody had talked. He’d given us a different address for a house that Auclair and his team were using.
I’d taken out a small team of my PSS men.
Only to find the house abandoned. I clenched my jaw, then worked it to loosen the tension.
Auclair wasn’t stupid. He would’ve cleared out after his man had been caught. He probably had several locations around the city.
The rest of the intel wasn’t worth much. Auclair had a taste for the finer things. He’d apparently gotten his hands on a couple of bottles of Sazerac Rye 18-year-old whiskey. Stuff was pricey and hard to find. It appeared Auclair wasn’t one to share, which his men didn’t appreciate.
“I will find you,” I whispered fiercely.
My team was working on it. They’d identified several of Auclair’s team. All of them were ex-military from different countries. Most of them dishonorably discharged.
None of them were laying a finger on Frankie.
Suddenly, I felt filled with relentless energy. I slammed my way out of the car. The worst news was that Donlon had called. Auclair was still shopping the project around.
He wasn’t giving up.
I entered the code on the door lock and headed upstairs. Music was playing, and then I heard Frankie’s low laugh.
On the staircase, I stopped to listen to it, and closed my eyes. Such happiness, joy. Even at the worst of times. That sound filled spaces inside me. Spaces that were often empty, except when I was with my brothers. I knew my childhood had created them. The dark scars of loneliness, and being abandoned.
But I’d overcome them. My fingers curled into my palm. I wouldn’t let them be a weakness.
Frankie’s laugh touched things it shouldn’t.
I shook my head and continued up the stairs.
Colt sat on a stool at the kitchen island, while Frankie was on the other side. There were several brown paper bags on the countertop, and she was unpacking them.
“Hey.” She smiled when she saw me. “Are you all right?”
Again, she was worried about me. It was so foreign. “I’m good.”
Her smile flitted away. “Auclair?”
I shook my head. “We got a location, but he wasn’t there.”
Colt nodded thoughtfully. “He would’ve moved the minute his guy was taken in. I’ll talk with your guys and get the details. I’ll see if any of my local contacts can help.”
Colt was damn good at finding people. “Thanks.”
“I ordered groceries to get delivered,” Frankie said. “I’m going to cook dinner.” She said that with a fierce look.
“Okay.”
Her shoulders sagged. “I’m crap at it, remember?”
“I’m sure you won’t kill us.” I looked at my brother. I knew he’d be eager to get back to Macy and Daisy. “Thanks, Colt.”
My brother headed for the stairs. “Anytime.” He glanced at the kitchen and lowered his voice. “I like your girl. She’s fun and funny, not to mention smart. Just what you need.”
I rolled my eyes. “Go find your woman.”
He smiled and raised his voice. “Bye, Frankie.”
“Bye, Colt. Thanks for being my bodyguard.”
“Anytime.”
As Colt headed down the stairs I looked back. Frankie was dancing a little as she pulled vegetables out of the bags.
I felt that sensation again, a warm, full feeling.
I gritted my teeth. We agreed to no-strings sex. Warm sensations and weird feelings were not allowed.