Chapter 13 #2
“Now you’re beginning to understand. Mikhail has gone soft, hiding in the shadows while the world changes.
There’s money to be made, governments to disrupt.
But only for those who are bold enough to step into the spotlight and seize it.
” He slipped the pen into his pocket and smiled.
“And when the dust settles, no one will remember Mikhail. They’ll remember me. ”
◆◆◆
Grant tapped the button of the burner phone to end the call, Andrei Andropov’s smarmy voice echoing through his mind.
He wished they had authorization to shoot the bastard who’d terrorized Everly, instead of arresting him.
But they couldn’t go against orders. Just like he wouldn’t be able to go against the colonel’s order not to contact Everly after tomorrow afternoon.
“That was perfect, babe,” he told her, brushing his lips across her cheek.
“Thanks,” she said, huffing a shaky breath. “I’m so ready for this to be over. What a week.”
Evan and Noah exchanged a glance from across the table, but wisely said nothing. “You did great, Everly,” Noah said. “Tomorrow, I’ll give you the USB drive loaded with decoys. Should be enough to convince him.”
Everly nodded, and Evan slid her phone, now encased in sleek black, across the tablecloth. “I rigged your phone up with a tracker. Hope you don’t mind.”
She took it and smiled. “Not at all. How does it work?”
“Push the buttons like this—” he demonstrated a quick sequence— “and your phone will send an emergency beacon from anywhere. Even if it’s dead.”
Everly pantomimed the sequence herself. “Wow. I didn’t even know such a thing was possible.”
“STAG magic,” Lawson smiled.
“Rest up tonight,” Noah said. “You’ll need it.” He nodded to her, then pushed back from the table, Evan following suit, and jerked his head toward the door.
Grant followed them outside. The safe house was nestled on a quiet street in Marietta, and there weren’t many people around this time of day.
It was the best way to have a private conversation with Everly still in the tiny house.
He had a feeling that Taylor was about to hand him his ass—and Grant didn’t want her hearing any of it.
Noah crossed his arms and fixed Grant with a look that would have had most men withering. “What are you doing?”
Grant crossed his own arms, refusing to make this easy. “What do you mean?”
“You know damn well what I mean. Are you…are you fucking Everly Holland? Because kissing a woman you’re supposed to be protecting isn’t exactly a good look.”
Evan turned away, suddenly extremely fascinated with the hydrangea bushes blooming in front of the house.
“Would you believe me if I told you it’s not what you think?” Grant asked Noah, keeping his voice low. “Look, I promised Everly I wouldn’t go around spreading her business, and I’m holding to that. But trust me. There’s a lot you don’t know.”
Noah shook his head. “What I do know is that if Lockhart gets wind of this, he’ll have your ass on a platter. For fuck’s sake, McDowell. All the women in the world and you have to get involved with—with Holland’s widow?”
“Are you going to tell me to stop? Order me to stay away from her?” Grant asked him, ice edging his words. Noah might have been Grant’s friend, but he was also his captain. And if he wanted them in separate houses for the night, he could make it happen.
“Dammit, McDowell.” Noah finally relented, shaking his head. “No. You know I wouldn’t. Just do me a favor—don’t hurt her any more than she’s already been hurt. Be careful.”
“You know I will,” Grant replied.
Noah extended his hand, and Grant shook it, understanding passing between them that they both cared about Everly in some way. Then he spun on his heel and headed for the sidewalk. “Lawson! Quit mooning over those flowers and get in the car. We’ve gotta go,” he barked.
Grant slipped back inside to find Everly resting on the couch, practicing the button sequence that Lawson had shown her.
It had been a long day, and a busy one. They’d packed up in a hurry after the video call, only pausing to tell Abel that they were leaving.
Everly had made quick arrangements with a friend from the animal shelter to care for Posie for a few days, claiming her townhouse was being sprayed.
After a quick dropoff, they’d met Evan and Noah at the safe house and made the call to Andropov.
The trap was set, and now all they could do was wait.
Tomorrow at noon, Everly would meet Andropov at an outdoor cafe in Little Five Points and provide him with the fake schematics that STAG had drawn up. After that…she’d be taken in and grilled over something she hadn’t done. Alone.
He settled next to her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Is it crazy that I already miss the mountains?”
“Absolutely not. That place gets in your blood.” He toyed with her hair, the thick strands slipping through his fingers like water. “I’m going to take you back someday. I promise.”
Everly looked up at him, her green eyes shimmering. “I hope Lockhart is right and the investigation is brief. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, but I’m nervous. And I’ll miss talking to you.”
“I’ll find a way, Ev. STAG can do anything. I’ll find a way to communicate—”
She shushed him with a finger to his lips. “No. Please, don’t. Don’t risk your career.” She traced his lips, her feathery touch sapping his focus. “Don’t throw STAG away over a few days of no contact.”
Grant pulled her onto his lap, her legs straddling him, his heart straining with emotions he didn’t feel capable of putting into words. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered before crushing his lips to hers.