Chapter 8 Julia
Julia
The morning sun burned through the fog like it was in a hurry to make trouble.
I parked outside the sheriff’s department, sat for a second, and told myself to breathe.
Four former Delta-Force operators had decided to “help” me take down a Colombian cartel in a town with one traffic light and a population under five thousand.
What could possibly go wrong?
I stepped out, coffee in hand, and almost tripped over a pair of boots propped against my bumper.
“Morning, Detective,” Hawk said, sunglasses sliding down his nose. “You sleep at all?”
“Barely.” I gave him a look. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Because if you go anywhere near that mine again, I’m coming with you.”
I sipped my coffee and tried not to look at the way the early light hit his shoulders. “You planning on following me everywhere now?”
“Only when you look like you’re about to do something reckless.”
“Then you’ll be busy,” I muttered.
Behind him, Logan, Boone, and Russ were checking gear in the back of a black SUV. They looked more like a special ops unit than tourists on vacation. There was no way they would blend in.
Logan gave a two-finger salute. “Detective Marlow. Don’t worry, we’ll behave.”
Boone smirked. “Mostly.”
Russ didn’t even look up. “No promises.”
I rubbed my temples. “This is exactly why I work alone.”
“Not anymore,” Hawk said, opening the passenger door of my truck. “You and I are going undercover.”
“How can we be undercover with everyone in town knowing us?” I asked.
You’ll see,” he smirked.
We parked two miles from the mine and walked the rest of the way through dense trees, the ground soft with last night’s rain. Hawk carried a duffel bag that looked too heavy for one person, and I carried my Glock and a knot of nerves.
“Explain again why I agreed to this,” I said.
“Because you like danger.”
“I like justice. There’s a big difference.”
“Sure, there is.” He smiled that slow, crooked grin that always made my pulse trip.
We reached the edge of a clearing. Through the trees, I could see movement—two men guarding a side entrance, a semi-truck half hidden under camouflage netting.
“Looks like supply day,” Hawk murmured, crouching beside me. “If we can get close enough to see what’s in that truck, we’ll know what kind of operation they’re running.”
I nodded, pulling my ball cap lower. “Let’s move.”
“Stay behind me,” Hawk said. I rolled my eyes.
We slipped through the brush, silent and quick. I could hear the low hum of generators now, smell the sharp mix of diesel and chemicals.
Then one of the guards shouted.
“Down!” Hawk hissed, grabbing me and pulling me behind a fallen log. A bullet sliced through a branch inches from my head.
“Guess they’re not in the mood to talk,” I whispered. “Why do they think they can just shoot at someone? Is it because they come from a country that allows that?”
“Stay here.” He started to rise, but I caught his sleeve.
“Don’t you dare.”
He looked down at my hand, then at me, eyes burning. “You planning on giving me orders now?”
“Just be careful.”
His grin flashed even in the shadow. “That’s my girl.”
Before I could argue, he rolled out, firing low and clean. One guard went down. I fired at the other, hitting the metal post beside him and sending him diving for cover.
Silence fell again—except for our ragged breathing.
Hawk moved to the truck, checked the back, then waved me over. “You need to see this.”
I climbed up, peered inside, and felt my stomach drop. The crates were packed tight—not with drugs this time, but guns. Military grade. Enough to arm a small army.
“This isn’t just a drug operation,” I whispered. “They’re building something bigger.”
Hawk’s jaw tightened. “And they’re doing it right under our noses.”
Before I could answer, his comm crackled softly—Logan’s voice.
“You’ve got company, Hawk. Four vehicles heading your way. Get out, now.”
Hawk grabbed my hand. “Time to go, sweetheart.”
We ran through the woods, dodging branches and roots, our fingers still locked together. I could hear engines in the distance, tires grinding over gravel.
When we finally reached the SUV where Logan waited, I doubled over, catching my breath.
Boone slammed the door behind us. “What did you find?”
“Guns,” I said. “Hundreds of them.”
Russ cursed under his breath. “Then it’s not just the Cali Cartel. Someone stateside is backing this.”
Logan’s gaze flicked between us. “And they knew you’d be there. Which means our leak just became a full-blown traitor.”
I met Hawk’s eyes. “Then we find them. Before they find us.”
That night, long after the team set up a base at the old cabin on Hawk’s dad’s property. Even though they stayed at his dad’s at night, they made their plans here. I stood on the porch, staring at the dark outline of the woods. Hawk joined me, quiet for once.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I will be. If we live through this week.”
He smiled faintly. “Then I guess we'd better make it one hell of a week.”
I laughed softly, and before I knew it, his hand brushed mine. Warm. Steady.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t pull away.