Chapter 21
Helena needed to talk to Quinn, but first she had to finish this meeting with Greer and the Bluegrass Ops team. Helena had gone into much greater depth in explaining all the estate work and the entire file to Greer than she had with Nolan.
“Do you think Lamya and Abu knew why they were going to the Swiss embassy every year?” Greer asked after Helena had presented everything to Greer and the team.
“We can ask them today, but I don’t think so. Proof of life was then sent to the board of directors by an embassy staffer,” Helena responded. “I believe we should tell them the truth and get permission for the DNA collection.”
“Agreed,” Greer replied instantly. “You are going to do that. Jace can collect it and hand it off to our lab. He can also handle any medical exams they need.” Greer looked at her notes and then back to Helena.
“This is good work, especially about the board. I think you’re right.
Someone has to be working with Garang. We had assumed Garang found out about the will on his own, but it could have been an inside job.
” Greer got to work giving out orders to her team.
“Do you need anything else?” Helena asked.
“Not right now. Good work, Helena. Remember, your witnesses aren’t to know who we are. All they need to think is we are part of the Rahmi security team.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need any more help.” Helena moved the file across the table, handing it back to Greer.
The second she was outside, she texted Quinn.
Her phone dinged immediately with a reply.
Quinn would meet her for lunch at the café.
Helena looked up from the text and gasped.
A scary-looking bald man was leaning against Nolan’s pickup truck.
She’d borrowed it after swearing she’d go straight to Greer’s and then back to the fire station.
She had pretended she hadn’t noticed a Keeneston deputy following her, but it had made her smile that Nolan made sure she was safe even while giving her a little taste of freedom.
“Can I help you?” Helena asked, holding her ground. Her voice didn’t waver and it wasn’t friendly. It clearly demonstrated what she thought about a strange man leaning against the truck.
“I’m Cy Davies. I’m catching a ride back to town with you.”
“Like hell you are. I don’t know you.”
“Text Nolan. He’s the one who sent me. My brothers and I have been watching the bed and breakfast at night.
” Cy didn’t uncross his arms and Helena sent the text.
She was pretty sure he was legit. She kind of remembered him from Quinn’s wedding, but if she wasn’t a hundred percent sure about something right now, she was going to check it out.
Remember, I pointed him out the other night? Take him with you. We’ve had some strange calls to 911 in the last hour. It’ll just make me feel better.
Helena frowned and looked up at Cy. “Do you know about the strange 911 calls?”
“Get in and I’ll tell you about it.” Cy held out his hand for the keys and Helena reluctantly handed them over.
Cy walked around the truck and opened the door for her before getting in and starting it up.
“It was smart of you to check with Nolan. I saw you at Quinn’s wedding, but we never actually met,” Cy told her in a very fatherly way. Well, if your father was an ex-CIA operative. Helena remembered him now. “Keeneston 911 got a call right after you left. It was for a woman stuck in a tree.”
“I’ve learned that’s normal. Whose daughter or granddaughter was it this time?”
“That’s the thing. It wasn’t. There wasn’t anyone there.
They drove almost to the county line before they realized it.
Then a second call came in reporting a broken-down tractor blocking traffic.
Again, pretty normal. The Sheriff’s office dispatched to that while the fire department turned around and headed there to help.
Except that there was no tractor. Call after call was coming in reporting something that was sending emergency services scrambling in different directions.
However, you can’t fail to show up to an emergency call, so fire and police kept going out. ”
“Could someone be targeting them for an ambush?” Helena asked worriedly, because that’s what it sounded like to her.
Cy gave a grunt that sounded like approval as he began to drive out of the training complex.
“Ambush them or isolate you. If anyone has been monitoring the town, they know you’re with Nolan.
Get Nolan and the sheriff’s department away from you and it makes you an easier target.
They don’t know about Kori and that group and they don’t know about us.
They can try to isolate you, but it won’t work. ”
Cy turned out of the training center grounds and grunted again.
“What?”
“It’s an ambush alright, but we’re the target. Not Nolan.” Cy dialed a number on his phone and it rang on speaker.
“Yeah,” a male voice answered. Helena looked at the phone and saw the name Miles on it.
“We have company. One in front and two behind. They’re going to box us in.”
“And you’re going to let them?” Miles replied.
“Plan alpha.” Cy hung up after relaying his plan. “Backup will be here in a moment. Hang on.” He nodded at the oh shit handle above her seat.
Helena had just grabbed onto it when Cy yanked the wheel hard to the right. They drove off the road and onto the grass. The truck bounced and Helena held on tight. Her jaw cracked her teeth together and her whole body felt every bump as the truck flew over the ground.
“Good thing Nolan has a brush guard on the front of his truck,” Cy muttered a second before he rammed the truck straight into a metal gate that was only closed with a bit of chain and a lock.
The gate gave way immediately and the chain popped free under the truck.
The gate flung open and then Cy was flooring it across an open field.
“What is plan alpha?” Helena asked as she was bounced around in her seat. But then Cy grabbed her head and shoved her down just as bullets ripped through the back of the truck.
“Just a little fun my brothers and I have planned. But don’t tell our wives. They’ll be mad they missed out.”
Helena was going to say something snarky, but then her headrest exploded under fire from the SUVs behind them.
She shrieked and kept her head down. She turned slightly under the pressure of Cy’s hand on her hand and looked at the man she knew was a grandfather.
He was smiling. He was completely relaxed leaning back in the seat and driving with one hand.
“I’m so glad you’re having a good time,” Helena said sarcastically.
“There’s just something about a shootout that makes me happy. Now, watch this. This is going to be awesome. Lift up only enough to look out your window.”
Cy began to sing about booms. “What are you singing?”
“Boom by P.O.D.” Cy looked at her as if she were crazy for not knowing the song. “It’s very appropriate because,” Cy smiled and pointed out her window, “it’s time for the boom.”
Helena lifted her head enough to look out her window. “I don’t see—” Suddenly three rockets were launched from the field to her right. Helena screamed, ducked her head back down all the while Cy continued to sing.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The earth shook. Metal rained down around them. Smoke was in the air. Cy slowed to a stop and looked behind them. The three SUVs were obliterated. All that was left were three heaps of metal and fires.
“What? Where? I don’t understand,” Helena rambled.
“My brothers got them.” Cy nodded out her window again as three forms lifted from the ground, all covered in ghillie suits.
They waved and then walked away. “Well, I'd better get you to the café. I hear Quinn is waiting for you. Three weeks from today would be a great time to get married. You know, as a thank you for saving your life.” Cy smiled and winked and Helena had a momentary heart palpitation.
It was like when Ahmed smiled. Those smiles took your breath away when you realized how handsome they were.
Nolan would be that handsome when he was older.
“Okay, maybe two weeks,” Cy said with a knowing smirk.
Cy turned the truck around and drove by the burning SUVs before making his way back to the road. The back window was gone and there were bullet holes in the windshield. Parts of the interior were shot up as well. Nolan’s truck was ruined. Because of her.
“No, no, no, no,” Cy chided. “I see that lower lip wobbling. There will be no crying in this truck after all the fun we just had.”
“But I destroyed Nolan’s truck.”
Cy shrugged. “It happens.”
“It happens?!” Helena cried.
“Yeah. Ahmed’s lost like four or five cars. One just the other month. Pam fisted the life out of it.”
“But I don’t think Nolan’s insurance will cover replacement cost for a shootout and he doesn’t have the money Ahmed has.”
Cy smirked. “But you do. Wouldn’t a new truck make a great wedding gift?”
Helena threw up her hands. “What is it with you people and weddings?”
“Bragging rights. Duh.” Cy sobered at the worried look on her face. “Look, I’m not your father, but you’re a good kid so here’s what’s what.”
“Kid? I’m almost thirty.”
“Yeah, and my kids are in their thirties. Exactly my point. You’re a kid to me.
Now, I understand that Keeneston is completely different from New York City.
Quinn knows that. Gigi knows that, and several others have all relocated from New York City, the UK, wherever, now know that.
There’s a reason they haven’t gone back.
We might have fun blowing things up, but we take care of our own.
And if that means a bake sale to get Nolan a new truck, so be it.
You do know that a good portion of each bet placed is held onto by the Rose sisters, right?
And then they give that money to those in need.
It could be for school, a truck, clothes, to help a business, to pay off rent .
. . anything. We help each other here. Well, as long as you’re not an asshole.
And Nolan Flynn is the farthest thing from being an asshole as humanly possible.
I was teasing you about buying him a truck.
Nolan doesn’t give a damn about your money. You know that, right?”
“I thought Quinn was the only one who didn’t care about my money until I came here.
I can tell you, everyone I went to school with cares.
And everyone in my family’s social circle cared.
And everyone at all the charity events and social events I go to cares.
However, I never thought Nolan cared. Not once.
In fact, I got the impression he wished I didn’t have money. ”
“More like Nolan probably didn’t think you’d feel relatable to him,” Cy told her.
“That makes a lot of sense. You’re very wise, you know that?”
“I’ve seen a lot in my life, and that includes two people who clearly love each other. Don’t let money, or a truck, get in the way of your love.”
Helena looked over at Cy as he pulled into downtown. “You’re surprisingly easy to talk to for someone who apparently has no problems killing people.”
“Thanks. I think I’m warm and fuzzy too.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Helena said with a chuckle.
“Don’t worry about the truck. Have fun with Quinn. I’ll give Nolan an update.”
“You’re a good dad, Cy. Thanks for saving my life and for the talk.”
“So,” Cy said. “Two weeks or three?”
Helena rolled her eyes and jumped out of the destroyed truck. Some chain was hanging on the front brush guard. There were chunks of grass and dirt. And then, of course, the bullet holes. She really hoped Nolan would forgive her because Cy was right. She was completely in love with Nolan.