Chapter 25
25
“ K night, I didn’t know you could cook,” Iker announced. He pushed his plate away from him and leaned back in his chair. His green eyes twinkled as he turned to Jordan. He had volunteered to stay at the farm tonight.
Jordan reached for her drink and took a sip. She shook her head and set the glass down on the table. They were taking dinner out on the patio and enjoying the evening weather. Jordan had tried to fight having one of the guys there, but no one would listen.
“And how do you think I have been surviving all of these years?” She arched an eyebrow. She was no high-class French cuisine chef or anything but she had a few specialties up her sleeve. Grilled salmon was one of them. She loved making a marinade for the fish and then throwing it on the grill. A few sides and one would think they were eating a gourmet dish.
“There are plenty of good restaurants here in Columbia.” Iker shrugged. He leaned forward and glanced over at Rhys. “Speaking of surviving. How are you putting up with this one?”
“Hey!” Jordan balled up her napkin and tossed it at Iker who batted it away.
He and Rhys shared a laugh. Jordan glared at Rhys who ignored her. He took a sip from his longneck bottle and sat back.
“Who, her? She’s all bark,” he replied.
Iker’s laughter grew. He slapped his knee and ran a hand through his hair to push it out of his eyes. Rhys winked at her. She stuck her tongue out at him. It was childish, she knew, but dammit, he was not going to sit there and act like she wasn’t tough.
She scowled at them both. How dare Rhys. He was supposed to be on her side. Now her secret would be out and she’d have to whoop all of the SWAT team’s ass just to remind them she was tough.
Maybe not for Rhys, because let’s be real.
Her knees got weak the second he glanced at her.
But anyone else, she’d dare them to test her.
She folded her arms and rested back.
“Whatever,” she muttered. She ignored the flutter in her belly from his gaze landing on her. She was not going to give in at the moment. Maybe later, but not right now.
“How was the ride along with Mac?” Iker asked once he’d calm down from laughing.
It was good to see him smiling like his old goofy self. He’d been through some shit with Jessica. Jordan had never truly known the story of what had happened with him and Jessica when they had broken up some years ago. Apparently, he’d spiraled out of control and finally realized that he needed Jessica in his life and fought to get her back.
Jordan tried not to think of the day she’d walked into Jessica’s hospital room. The woman had been poisoned by some unknown agent and had almost died. Jordan had found Jessica’s ex-boyfriend with his hands around her throat. Thank goodness Jordan had arrived when she had; there was no telling if he would have gone all the way and killed her.
Now Bradley was sitting in a nice jail cell with the charge of attempted murder hanging over him.
“You know how Mac is. One look from him and the perps just fall to the ground and put their arms behind their backs,” Jordan joked. Their shift had been a smooth one where the time had flown by. Before she had known it, it was time for them to return to the precinct where they could clock out. For it to be her first day back, she didn’t have one complaint.
“So what you are saying is that you didn’t get to shoot anyone.” Iker snorted.
It was Rhys’s turn to eye her. He gave her the all-knowing look that Nova had termed his ‘dad look.’ She shrugged at him and threw him a wink.
Iker knew her well.
Her work day just wasn’t complete unless she got to toss a bad guy down on the ground and put a knee in his back.
“I don’t even want to think of the paperwork that comes along with shooting a suspect.” Rhys visibly shuddered. He pushed back from the table and snagged Iker’s empty beer bottle. “I’m going to start clearing up.”
Rhys took the bottles and headed into the house. Nova was staying at her mother’s tonight. Since Nova was leaving soon, Sara Beth had guilt tripped her into staying with her so they could spend some time together before the trip.
Honor came over to Jordan and rested her head on her lap. Jordan immediately rubbed the pup’s head. Honor gave her the big ‘puppy dog eye’ look.
“What is it, girl? You ate already,” Jordan murmured.
Honor whined and put her head farther onto Jordan’s lap. She sniffed Jordan who laughed. She playfully pushed the dog away. Jordan gave her another firm rubdown on the head before Honor dropped to lay near Jordan’s feet.
“You happy, Knight?” Iker asked, his smile gone.
It wasn’t that often that Iker was serious. He was a laid-back guy who Jordan had befriended almost immediately when she’d joined SWAT. Him and Zain were the first to open up and make her feel a part of the team. She was making history by not only being the first woman on the SWAT team but she was the first Black woman. It was a little intimidating to join a team who were already close as a family.
Jordan had never felt like an outsider. She was brought in immediately and treated as an equal.
“I am,” she replied without hesitation. Her eyes strayed toward the door that Rhys had entered. She didn’t even have to think hard about her happiness. That man was her everything, and she would do what she needed to ensure she and he had a future. She wanted it all. Marriage. Babies. Growing old with Rhys. “Once we get Bravon and take care of him, I’ll be even happier.”
“Don’t worry. We are going to get the son of a bitch.” Iker raked his hands through his hair again.
Jordan could see something was bothering him. “Out with it, Baldwin,” she muttered.
She leaned her arms on the table and stared at the man. He blew out a deep breath, his shoulders drooping slightly.
“If you think he’s the one then don’t wait. Don’t fuck it up like I did with Jess. We missed out on years that we can’t get back, and it’s all my fault,” Iker said. The pain of whatever happened in the past still haunted him. It was evident in the expression of his eyes and the hitch in his voice.
Jordan reached out and rested a hand on his.
“You got her back, Iker,” she murmured.
Iker and Jessica made a beautiful couple. Anyone with eyes could see how much in love they were. Iker turned his hand slightly and captured hers. A small smile played on his lips. He looked down at their hands before glancing up to her.
“And you are getting your happy ever after.”
Jordan gave him a little squeeze before letting go. She sat back, and her heart skipped a beat at the thought of having a future with Rhys. That was what she truly wanted.
“I’m glad you have Rhys. I was afraid you’d be leaving broken hearts over this damn city that we’d have to clean up.” Iker grinned.
Jordan laughed. For a long time she, Iker, and Zain had a pact of staying single. While the other members of SWAT were out falling in love and getting married, they had agreed the single life was for them.
Now Iker was with Jessica, Zain with Omara, and Jordan was with Rhys. They had fallen in line with their brothers in blue and found the love of their lives.
“I’m afraid there is only one heart I’m interested in,” Jordan admitted honestly. She’d had her share of flings once she’d been in Columbia. None of the other men could hold a candle to Rhys. She’d found her match and was not going anywhere. Jordan pushed back from the table stood. “I better help him.”
“Here, I can help.” Iker stood, but Jordan held up a hand.
“Oh, no. You are a guest.” She grinned. She took his plate and stacked it on top of hers along with Rhys’s.
Her smile slipped from her lips at the sound of Honor’s low growl. The German Shepherd stood and crept to the stairs. Jordan scanned the yard, and even in the low light, she didn’t see anything, but that meant nothing.
If something was making Honor growl, then something or someone was out there.
“In the house, Knight,” Iker said. He whipped out a weapon from the back of his jeans. He walked over to where Honor stood.
“Like hell I am.” Jordan slammed the plates down on the table.
“I’m here to protect your ass, Knight. Now get in the house. I’m going to go check it out,” Iker said.
Jordan grabbed the plates and stomped to the house. She slid the door open and put the dishes on the counter near the sink. Anger boiled inside her. She wasn’t one to run from a fight.
Rhys came from down the hall and appeared in the doorway. He immediately zoned in on her.
“What is it?” he asked. He made his way to her.
She gripped the counter and pointed toward the door.
“Honor picked up on something out there, and Iker is checking it out,” she bit out through clenched teeth.
Rhys moved over to a drawer in the island and pulled out a Glock.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
She walked around the island back toward the door. Rhys paused and glanced over his shoulder.
He narrowed his gaze on her. “Stay away from the doors and windows.”
He disappeared through the door and shut it behind him. Jordan looked around for something she could throw, but nothing in the kitchen deserved to be broken. Her hands balled into fists as she paced back and forth. This was not her. She didn’t hide. If Bravon wanted her, then he needed to grow balls and face her like a man instead of sending his lackeys.
Jordan rushed into the living room where she’d hidden her own gun. Rhys wasn’t the only one who had weapons placed around the house. She skidded to a halt in front of the television stand. She reached behind it and knelt on the floor. There was a hidden drawer where she had stashed a gun. She opened the drawer and pulled out her nine millimeter G2C. She gripped it tight. There was nothing better than holding a hard steel weapon in her hands. She pushed off the floor and stood.
A calmness settled in her as she marched back through the house. Her body was on alert while she listened to any noises that came from the house. With Nova gone and Rhys and Honor outside, there shouldn’t be any. She paused at the back door and glanced out the window.
Stay away from the doors and windows.
Jordan grumbled and slid the door part of the way open. She leaned out and peeked into the yard. She was met with the sounds of the night that was upon them. Jordan blew out a deep breath and flipped the safety off. She raised the gun and stepped out onto the patio. Her heart beat a steady pace. She scanned the yard. Low voices came from the small thicket of woods that was behind the house. Jordan made her way to the stairs and walked down them. The voices had to be Rhys and Iker.
She calmly crossed the yard and arrived at the thicket of trees. She glanced behind her to ensure no one or nothing had crept behind her. Again, she saw nothing. The sounds of nighttime grew louder. Usually they calmed any anxiety she had and helped her relax.
She pushed forward and walked into the woods, following the voices. The closer she got, she recognized Rhys’s and Iker’s.
“What the fuck?” Iker swung around with his gun raised.
“It’s me,” Jordan announced. She dropped her weapon to her side. She didn’t know what they were looking at, but they both had grim expressions.
Honor barked and got to her feet.
“Honor. Heel,” Rhys said.
The dog sat back down. She wasn’t happy about it, but she obeyed.
“What is going on out here?” Jordan asked. She ambled over to them, her body now relaxed slightly. She paused next to Rhys, and her stomach lurched. The contents were attempting to make their way back up.
A large deer lay on the ground with its neck severely cut. Some bastard had slit the animal’s throat to the point where they had almost decapitated it. Jordan looked away and fought to keep from vomiting.
“Who the hell would do something like that?” She gasped. She had to take a few steps away and inhaled sharply. The stench of blood that filled the air and was making her sick to her stomach. Jordan closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
“A sick fuck,” Iker replied.
“It’s a message,” Rhys murmured.
Jordan inhaled through her nose and blew out of her mouth. She was thinking the same as Rhys. Bravon was messing with her. He loved to play games with those he had his sights on. But unlike his usual targets, she had skillfully trained men on her side. Warm arms wrapped around her waist and brought her back to a solid muscular body. Jordan recognized the feeling of Rhys and leaned back into him.
“Are you all right?” Rhys asked.
Jordan nodded. She didn’t know why, but the sight of the poor deer and all of that fresh blood just hit her in an odd way. The way its head was barely connected to its body and its eyes. They were still open, dull and lifeless.
“I will be,” she breathed. She turned around and rested her forehead on his chest.
He rubbed small circles on her back. Honor whined and pushed her head against Jordan’s leg. Jordan inhaled and took in Rhys’s familiar scent. She stepped back from Rhys looked toward where Iker stood.
“Did you see anyone?” she asked. She tried to think of anything but the sight of the deer. She refused to stare down at its body again.
“I didn’t.” Iker shook his head and didn’t seem too happy about it.
“Neither did I,” Rhys growled. “And I thought I told you to stay in the house.”
Jordan eyed him. Did he seriously think she was going to let him and Iker go out here and get hurt? He had to know her better than that. Rhys shook his head at her, apparently reading her response in her eyes.
How the hell did someone come onto the property and kill a deer of this size and almost disconnect its head from its body without them knowing it? Then dump the body not too far from where they had been having their meal.
“Iker, mind giving me a hand? We can drag it out farther away from the house to keep the hungry animals from getting close. Honor will be barking her head off all night at them,” Rhys grumbled.
“Yeah, sure.” Iker grimaced.
“I’m going to walk around the house and make sure everything is good,” Jordan said. She backed away from the bloody scene then spun on her heels.
“Take Honor with you,” Rhys said.
“Honor. Come.” Jordan tapped on her leg.
The dog didn’t hesitate to race to her side. They walked through the small wooded area before exiting into the yard. Jordan inhaled and breathed in the fresh air that wasn’t tinged with a strong copper scent.
She rested both hands on her weapon. The sun was setting, and darkness was upon them. She relaxed her muscles that had grown tense. Honor’s ears were erect as they made their way to the house. They silently crept along the side of it and headed toward the front.
This can’t be my life.
Home was supposed to be a place of safety. Where one could lay their head down at night and not have any fear. Jordan’s hands tightened around the steel. She arrived at the edge of the house. Honor paused at her side and waited. Jordan peeked around the corner and didn’t see anything. Her car was parked in the driveway.
Nothing but the sounds of nature greeted her here.
“Come on, girl,” Jordan murmured. She casually walked around the front and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Her car was untouched. She half expected the tires to be slashed. Iker’s truck was hidden behind the barn. They hadn’t wanted to advertise that they had company.
Her gaze landed on the boarded-up front window. She grimaced at the proof of chaos that she had brought to Rhys’s home. She had offered to pay for it, but Rhys refused. His home owner’s insurance would pick up the tab. She looked away and continued on. She and Honor walked the full perimeter and found nothing.
Not that Jordan would be able to rest. Someone had already been out there in the back, and they hadn’t even known it until Honor had alerted them. That left a bad taste in Jordan’s mouth. She would have to be on alert from now on. They were growing bolder with their antics.
It was time to end these little games.
She would go to Bravon and settle this once and for all.