41. Im not throwing away my shot
Chapter 41
I'm not throwing away my shot
TOMER
M y head barely hits the pillow when I’m startled alert by the blaring of my Redleg phone. I glance at the screen. It’s Big Al.
Oh fuck. How does he know?
Shaking it off, because him knowing about Lettie is impossible, I sit up and grab my cell.
After what she and I discussed this evening—her meeting him as soon as I can arrange it—I suppose it’s no wonder my first thought is related to guilt and dread. The ticking clock of reckoning is getting louder.
“Hey, Boss,” I answer.
“Hospital. Now. Arm yourself and be fucking careful. Watch your back. Bring your laptop, tablet, and anything you need to work remotely.” He stops his uncharacteristic rambling, releasing a shuddering breath. “I need you.” His voice cracks, so he attempts it again, “I need you, son.”
“I’m on my way.”
Not bothering to ask questions. He’ll fill me in when I get there. The tone of his voice alone is unlike anything I’ve ever heard from him. He’s a rock. Always.
Even when . . .
No . Not thinking about that night.
Jumping out of bed, I’m dressed, strapped, and loading up the car three minutes later.
As soon as I walk into the hospital, I see Sawyer and Sammy in the corner of the lobby. She’s got her face buried into his chest, and he’s wrapped his arms around her, keeping her close. I know it’s Sammy because her body type differs from Lettie’s, especially with the pregnancy. Yet her similar-length blond hair fucks with me all the same.
When Sawyer sees me, he waves at me from over her head, motioning me toward them. My legs eat up the tile floor between us.
“Hey, man,” Sawyer says, no levity in his tone or expression.
Sammy sniffles and turns to face me. “Hi, Tomer,” she chokes out, wiping her cheeks. Her face is bright red and tear-streaked, and her chin wobbles.
“What’s happening?” I ask, my line of sight darting between them.
Sawyer answers me with a question of his own. “What do you know already?”
“Not a goddamn thing. Boss called, saying to get my shit and head over here immediately. I didn’t ask questions.”
Sammy tosses her hair back, running her fingers through it from the crown of her head down to the back. “You’re probably the only human who could get a call like that in the middle of the night and not demand answers.” She sniffles through a morose laugh.
He never asked me to explain when I needed him. Big Al fucking shows up. Period. No bitching or demanding answers. This is my way of returning that trust and loyalty in kind.
Sawyer recaptures my focus, finally explaining what’s happened. “Madeline was shot tonight outside a restaurant. Hit in the arm. Not life-threatening. She’ll be treated and released tonight.” He tips his head toward the hallway leading to the other part of the hospital. “Leo and Sue are back there with her now.”
My spine goes ramrod straight, adrenaline surging through my body and activating my fight-or-flight response. “Where’s Boss?”
“At the police station,” Sawyer responds.
“Why?”
“He returned fire, killing the shooter.”
“Holy fuck.”
I blink away the shock and attempt to focus on the most pressing questions. Big Al needed me here for a reason. Most likely, it’s because he knows I can stay calm under this type of pressure. Not to say my peers can’t, but this is quite personal for all of them. Madeline is Sammy and Leo’s mother. And mother-in-law to Sawyer and Sue. Plus, Madeline is Big Al’s... person. They’re all emotionally compromised. That’s why he needs me.
It’s my moment to protect my Redleg family. And I damn sure won’t let him down.
“Who was the shooter?”
Sawyer strokes Sammy’s hair and kisses her forehead. “Boss says Lenkov ordered a hit on him. Madeline was caught in the crossfire.”
“Is he certain, or do we need to compile proof?”
“He’s certain. Shooter had Big Al’s photo on him. He was the fucker with the metal-tipped cowboy boots.”
Yep. Confirmed.
That Russian cowboy—or so we’ve come to call him—was there the night Valerie Franco’s parents were murdered. And he was also one of the men who abducted Kri and Valerie a few weeks later. He’s one of Lenkov’s enforcers.
Well... he was. Until Boss took care of that.
If he was involved, then it can only mean one thing. The war with Lenkov has reached our backyard. Our role in removing their control of Franco Financial pissed them off, but rescuing Lettie and taking a chunk out of their trafficking operation must have been the last straw. And now they’re coming for us.
Everyone is in danger.
Lettie.
Stella and Freya. Shep, Kri, and Valerie.
Mia. Jonesy, Aaron, and the others from the rescue are especially at risk. Good thing Boss has had everyone involved in that op doubled up and on high alert. But we’ll have to kick it up a few notches.
I need to protect them all.
And I fucking will.
I’ll be damned if I miss my shot. Not this time.
“We need to lock down Redleg,” I announce. “If they have a hit on Big Al, they could have a hit on any of us. Especially those of us involved in Lettie’s rescue. And since the hit failed, Lenkov will be even angrier and could escalate. Was Boss arrested or just detained for questioning?”
I pull out my phone and call the head of security at the women’s shelter where Lettie is staying to put them on alert.
While it’s ringing, Sawyer answers, “Far as we know, Boss is only being questioned.”
“Good. But we can’t wait for him to finish with that before we put shit in motion to protect our people. Get your phone out, man. We’ve got work to do.” I look at Sammy. “Can you help with calls? If not, can you take Leo’s place and send him out here to help?”
She rolls her shoulders back and lifts her chin. “I’m only crying this much because of fucking pregnancy hormones. But I’m good. I can do it. Besides, Big Al doesn’t want Leo to leave Mom’s side. What do you need?”
“First, I need a place to set up my laptop.” My eyes sweep the lobby, not finding a good space. “I need to get online immediately.”
Sammy points toward a hallway. “There’s a little coffee place back there. It’s closed, but the tables and chairs are out. I saw it when we left the ER to come wait for you.”
Moving quickly, the three of us head to the coffee shop. It’s empty and quiet, just as she said.
“Sammy, text your brother or Sue to give them our twenty,” I order. “He might come out, looking for us in the lobby.”
She pulls out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen. “On it.”
“Sawyer, call Shep or Kri. Put them on high alert.” I glance at him, worrying my lower lip. “Don’t tell them Madeline was shot. Boss might not want that out yet. Just tell them we’ve got a credible threat. More info forthcoming tomorrow or something like that.”
Sawyer nods, pulling out his phone. “Why not send a message through the app?”
“I’ll do that for the rest of Redleg. But for the people involved in the trafficking raid and Franco case, I want immediate confirmation that they’re safe. Additionally, ask them if they’ve noticed anything unusual tonight. No matter how big or small. I want all the intel I can get.”
Sawyer lowers his head, eyes locking on his cell. “Got it.”
I have to call the third person on my contact list for the Langley shelter security team before I get a live body. That’ll need to fucking change. Same as I told Sawyer to do, I don’t give the details, simply explaining that there is a credible threat involving the women at their facility. Let’s face it. Lettie is a primary target for Lenkov, no doubt. But the other women who were rescued are also at risk.
Sammy joins in, helping make phone calls to the individuals who were part of the mission to rescue Lettie from the trafficking house. Fortunately, they’re the same ones who helped rescue Kri and Valerie a few months ago. More than likely, we’re the ones Lenkov wants to punish the most.
Josh is on duty tonight for Freya and Stella’s detail, so he gets a call from me. I send Henderson to back him up. Better safe than sorry.
Although I’m in action mode, I can’t help but notice how giving Sammy these tasks helped her gather her composure. Distraction is a beautiful thing.
When all key individuals are notified, I shift into the next phase.
While dialing Detective Patterson, I pull up the plan Big Al and I worked on a few years ago on my laptop, detailing the actions for a worst-case scenario. I hope I don’t have to put all these measures in place. It’s extreme.
Patterson doesn’t answer my call, so I try Detective Salgado. When she answers on the second ring, she secures her place as my favorite person at CPD.
“Yes, your boss is here,” she says in lieu of a greeting. Right to the point. Definitely top of my list.
“Are you arresting him?”
“No. He’ll be out within the hour, I’d wager.”
“Good. Let me know what you need to ensure he stays out of trouble.”
“That sounds shady, Stillman.” She tuts into the receiver. “But listen,” she pauses, the background sounds around her changing, telling me she’s walking into a different room or area. “Listen, you need to move your guy and his girlfriend.”
My mind races, trying to process her warning. “Pardon?”
“The ones you’re protecting. The uh... informants we don’t know about.”
“Shit. Okay.”
I pause for two seconds, debating how to ask her to elaborate when it’s clear she’s trying to stay out of it.
While I’m searching for the words, she answers my unspoken question. “On the shooter’s person, there were two photos. One of your Boss, and the other was a photo of a man your boss called Savin. You follow?”
Terrific. Lenkov has a hit out on Boss and Savin. Fucking wonderful news.
“Got it. Understood. Thank you, Daisy.”
“Always happy to serve the good citizens of Clearwater,” she quips, a hint of teasing in her tone.
We say our goodbyes, and I instantly start searching for a new location for Savin and Tasha. Two minutes later, I’m back on the phone. This time, I’m speaking with the Redleg guard assigned to protect Savin, walking him through a quick safe house transfer.
Ninety minutes later, Boss arrives at the hospital, moving swiftly through the halls as if he were powered with jet fuel. “Where is she?” he barks out in our direction as he sails by the coffee shop.
Sawyer jerks to his feet. “I’ll show you, Boss.” To Sammy, he orders, “Princess, stay here with Tomer. Do not leave his side.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she sasses with a big roll of her eyes.
Brat.
I miss Lettie.
Oh fuck. Lettie. No, no, no.
She wants to meet her father tomorrow.
That’ll have to wait. I can’t tell him about her now. No fucking way.
Lettie was insistent that meeting Big Al was the first part of her healing journey. Said she couldn’t focus on doing anything else until we made that right.
How the hell am I supposed to do that?
Truth is, I can’t.
This time, it has nothing to do with my desire to delay coming clean. Fucking hell.
She’ll be livid since I won’t be able to explain the reason. Last thing I want to do is tell her an attempt was made on her father’s life, and we’re all in danger. And I refuse to lie, giving her some bullshit excuse. Shit, shit, shit.
I should’ve told Big Al the other night after we saved Mia.
No. Fuck that. I should have told him eight damn years ago.
It’s almost as if this whole shitstorm is yet another example of how there’s never been a good time to tell him. In a way, it validates my excuse.
That doesn’t make it any easier.
Taking two seconds, I fire off a quick text to her, then get back to work.
Me:
I’m not going to be able to introduce you now. It’s not a good time. Just stay at the facility where you’re safe until you hear from me.