HOT Angel: Hostile Operations Team - Book 12 Read online

  “You okay?”

  She gritted her teeth and then turned to Cade with as sunny a smile as she could muster. “Of course.”

  He flexed his fingers on the wheel, and she knew he didn’t believe her. Cade knew her pretty well for someone who’d only been in her life a short time.

  “Not really,” she admitted. “I’ve fought myself for so long, rejecting the term rape because it seemed too strong. Like it made me a crybaby when other women have gone through worse. I’m mad at myself for it and mad I didn’t tell Dr. Higgs. Maybe I could have avoided wallowing in self-pity for so long if I had.”

  “Angel, self-pity is allowed when you’ve gone through something traumatic. Nobody gets to tell you how to feel.”

  She stared at him in amazement. “Why do you make me feel so normal?”

  He glanced at her. “Because you are. If you were locked up in your house, refusing to leave, not eating or showering or taking your dog out for a walk—well, then I’d say you weren’t normal. But you are. This is life, angel. It’s what we do.”

  They turned into the parking garage of her building and drove to her guest spot. Cade grabbed his backpack and waited for her to precede him into the building. She swiped her key card at the entry and the door opened.

  “Do you need a card for entry everywhere?” he asked from behind her.

  “This is the only other entry, besides the lobby, but that’s staffed twenty-four hours a day. You need a card to get into the building from the garage.”

  “But you can walk into the front entry without one.”

  “Yes, but visitors are supposed to check in.”

  “Supposed to. Presumably they don’t have to.”

  “No, I guess they don’t. But if a guard didn’t recognize someone, he would ask for identification.”

  Cade looked thoughtful. “What about service entrances? What are the procedures there?”

  Brooke frowned. She hadn’t considered that. What if Scott’s killer hadn’t passed the front desk after all? Could he have just entered the building through one of the delivery entrances? “I don’t know. Do you think that’s how the man came in?”

  “It’s possible. Or it’s possible he didn’t use his real name when he checked in.”

  “You mean he had a false name and Scott either knew it was fake or only knew him by that name?”

  “Either one. But the service entrance seems the more likely route if he didn’t want to be seen.”

  They reached the elevator and stepped in. Max sat quietly as Cade punched the button for her floor.

  “But wouldn’t there be some sort of security procedure for the service entrance?”

  “Should be. But maybe he paid somebody off.”

  “You make it all sound like cloak-and-dagger stuff.”

  His eyes were troubled. “It’s my job to think that way. But angel, you don’t really think it was a random event, do you? Scott Lloyd was involved in something or knew something he shouldn’t. It’s the most logical explanation.”

  Brooke put her hand on Max’s head for comfort. “I know. But that doesn’t mean I like it. What if I’d been with him? What if that man had shown up the night Scott wanted me to have dinner with him?”

  “But he didn’t. Don’t dwell on the what-ifs.”

  She knew he was right, though the thought lived in the back of her mind. Part of the reason she didn’t want to be alone just yet. But Cade had a life, and he wasn’t staying forever. She would have to get her shit together soon if she was going to face the nights alone.

  “I know you’re right. I just get a little paranoid, I guess.”

  “Understandable. But don’t let it eat you up inside. Besides, I’m here. Nobody’s getting through me, Brooke.”

  The steel in his words made her shiver. “You’ll have to go home soon. Back to your life.”

  “I’m right where I need to be. Where I want to be. And I’m staying as long as you need me.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t say that to me, Cade. I’ll ask you to stay for much longer than I should. Just because I hate being alone.”

  *

  They ordered takeout, then settled in to watch a movie together. They sat on Brooke’s couch while Max lay on the floor nearby. When Cade lifted his arm and put it on the back of the couch, he gave Brooke a significant look. It was up to her whether or not to sit next to him. When she scooted into the circle of his embrace, he was both pleased and stunned.

  She’d been through a lot, more than she’d told anyone else, and he was well aware how traumatic it had been for her. He was still pissed that some asshole motherfucker had violated her body. He’d been thinking hard about how he was going to approach the two of them getting physical, and he finally decided that the way to do it was to make his intentions known and then let her make the final decision.

  She snuggled against his side as a romantic comedy began to play. Not his typical type of thing, but he’d let her choose it. He regretted it the instant the sexy scenes started. They weren’t porn or anything, but they featured a naked actress with bouncing boobs pretending to fuck a guy silly.

  He wouldn’t mind being fucked silly right about now. Except this was Brooke, and she wasn’t likely to consider such a proposition just yet. Hell, maybe not ever. Which was a depressing thought if he let himself dwell on it.

  “Sorry,” she said after the second scene of people pretending to fuck. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

  “It’s giving me ideas, but I can handle it,” he told her gruffly.

  She pushed herself upright and looked at him. “I’m not sure I can.”

  Jesus, he wanted to kiss her. But he wouldn’t. Let her make the first move. “Then let’s find something else.”

  “How about Doctor Who? That’s pretty unsexy.”

  “Never seen it,” he admitted.

  Her eyes widened. “Never seen Doctor Who? Seriously? Oh my God, Cade! You have no idea what you’re missing!”

  She was so excited that he began to get curious. He’d heard of Doctor Who. Of course he had. He’d just never watched it.

  “We have to start with season one of the reboot, which is the ninth doctor—” She waved a hand before he could ask what the hell she meant. “Never mind, don’t worry about it. You’ll catch on soon enough. But it’s cheesy at first, okay? Production values get much better as the series goes on. It’s like the BBC sent up a test balloon, the cheapest one they could find, and when it did well, they suddenly threw a massive budget behind it. Anyway, Doctor Who is amazing. You’ll love it, I promise.”

  He didn’t know if he would, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. “Then I guess I have to see it.”

  She grabbed the remote and started scrolling through her programs. “You really do. But if you don’t love it, just tell me, okay? We can find something else.”

  He loved that she cared whether or not he liked her show. And there was no fucking way, even if he hated the damned thing, he’d ever tell her differently. Not when it made her sparkle with happiness like this.

  “I’m all in, babe. Let’s do this.”

  Somewhere around the fifth episode, she fell asleep. He could tell because of the way her body went limp against his. She’d been right though—the show was interesting as hell. The Doctor had his hands full with Rose and all the adventures they went on. Cade finished the episode, then turned everything off and gently picked up Brooke. She put her arms around his neck and curled herself into him as he carried her to bed. He wanted nothing more than to climb in there with her, but that wasn’t the best idea because he’d want to do more than lie next to her. So he put her down and pulled up the covers.

  She mumbled something but didn’t wake. He left her there and went out to clip on Max’s leash and take him out one more time. Bert was at the desk and they chatted a bit. Cade asked about procedures for the service entrance. Bert was happy to fill him in. There was a list of the contractors who were allowed daily access. They didn’t have key c
ards, but they had identification credentials that allowed them inside once they were checked against the list. Which meant that the man who’d killed Scott Lloyd had either had connections that’d gotten him on the list or he’d bribed someone.

  Max did his business and Cade took him upstairs, waving Brooke’s key card over the door to get inside. His phone rang a few seconds later. It was Hacker.

  “Been doing some digging,” Hacker said. “You aren’t going to believe this shit.”

  Cade’s gut tightened. “What?”

  “Black Eagle Firearms is being investigated for possible weapons sales to drug cartels in South America. Entire caches of weapons missing from the shipping manifests—and Scott Lloyd just returned from South America a couple of days ago.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah. The ATF and DEA were working this one together. Ivy McGill Erikson is lead on the DEA side.”

  Ivy was married to Dane “Viking” Erikson, the leader of the first SEAL team to join HOT. Which meant cooperation was presumably easier to come by than if they went in cold. That was a plus at least.

  “Any idea who bought the weapons? Or where they are?”

  “Andreas Lopez is the man Lloyd met in Bogota. He’s with the Espinoza Cartel. But so far as we know, the cartel hasn’t received any new weapon shipments lately.”

  “Any ID on the man in the security footage from Brooke’s building?”

  Hacker hesitated a moment. “That’s the funny part, Saint. There is no man in the footage. It’s been erased in two spots, presumably his entrance and exit. There’s nothing to tie him to Lloyd’s murder.”

  “Nothing except Brooke Sullivan.”

  “Pretty much.”

  Cade didn’t like the way his stomach twisted at the news. “So how was it done? Somebody hack in? Or an inside job?”

  Hacker sighed. “That I don’t know yet. But I do know this. You better watch out for Brooke. Right now she’s the only person who can ID the man who shot Scott Lloyd.”

  Chapter 13

  Brooke watched as Cade unhooked his jeans and slid them down his thighs. His cock sprang free, hard and big, and she moaned at the sight of it. Her heart raced and sweat prickled her skin, but she was far more interested than she was frightened. This was Cade, and he wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Yes,” she said as he moved toward her. “Please, yes.”

  He sank down on top of her, and she opened her arms and legs, welcoming him. She wanted the press of him inside her body, the sensation of fullness that would come with it. She hadn’t had sex in so long and she missed it. There was a moment of panic, and then it was gone.

  Because she trusted him. Because Cade wouldn’t hurt her.

  He lay on top of her, not inside her yet, but she could feel the tip of him at her entrance.

  “Brooke,” he said. “Brooke.”

  “Oh yes, baby. Yes,” she urged.

  “Brooke. Wake up.”

  Wake up? What?

  Brooke’s eyes snapped open. Cade hovered over her, but he wasn’t lying on top of her. He also wasn’t naked.

  Heat flooded her. And confusion. “Cade?”

  “Yes, angel. You need to get up.”

  She wasn’t quite processing what he was saying. The dream was fading but not easily. “Up? Why?”

  “Trust me, angel. I need you awake, okay? We’re leaving.”

  That got her attention. Ice rolled down her spine and into her toes. “Leaving? Why?”

  “I’ll tell you on the way. But we need to get out of here.”

  Brooke sat up and rubbed her eyes. Just a short while ago, they’d been eating takeout and watching television. What the hell?

  “You’re scaring me, Cade.”

  He looked apologetic as he loomed over her, holding her jacket in his hands. “I’m sorry about that. But we’ve got to go.”

  Fear perched on her shoulder like an icy cloud. She shoved the covers back and sat on the side of the bed. She was still in her yoga pants and T-shirt, so at least she was mostly covered. Her shoes were beside the bed and she slipped them on, tying them as she looked up at him.

  “I need to get some clothes.”

  “No time. I put some stuff in a bag. Max is ready. I packed food and his bowl.”

  “What’s going on, Cade?”

  “I’ll tell you when we’re clear. Right now we need to go.”

  Brooke got to her feet, but her legs wouldn’t obey the command to move.

  “Now, angel.”

  “I-I can’t move, Cade. I’m scared.” She hated saying it. Hated sounding so damned pitiful, but all she could do was remember that night when she’d been dragged from her bed and forced into a van. The nightmare had only been beginning then.

  Cade came to her side and put an arm around her shoulders. “I’ve got you, angel. I’ve got you, and nobody’s going to hurt you. But I won’t lie to you. It turns out that Scott Lloyd was associated with some bad shit. I think it’s best if we get away from here while his killer is still on the loose.”

  “But I don’t know anything about what Scott was doing. I’m not involved in any way.”

  “I know. But it’ll be safer if we go. We don’t know who’ll come looking for information about Scott, so it’s best if you aren’t here.”

  “Okay,” she said, her body shaking with fear. She told herself this was nothing like the night she’d been ripped from her bed, but the urgency in Cade’s tone didn’t help. Still, she sucked down the terror and went with Cade to the living room. He had a couple of bags sitting by the door.

  “Is there anything else you need?” he asked.

  “My computer?”

  “Got it.”

  She didn’t know that she’d be able to work but maybe. “Meds?”

  “Yep.”

  “I can’t think, Cade. You’re scaring me.”

  He took her in his arms, holding her close for a quick moment. “I’m sorry. I really am. If I need to come back for something, I will. But my instincts tell me we need to go, and I never ignore my instincts.”

  “I trust you.”

  He gave her a squeeze and then let her go. “I know, angel.”

  They gathered the bags, got Max, and left the building as quickly and quietly as possible. They took the elevator to the garage instead of the lobby. Cade tossed everything in his truck, put Max in the back seat and clipped him into the doggie seat belt she’d left in his truck earlier, and helped her inside. She shivered as she scanned the garage, her paranoia putting her on high alert.

  Cade jumped into the other side and started the vehicle. Soon they were slipping through the garage and down toward the exit. Brooke couldn’t find her voice as she darted her gaze around, looking for evil men lurking behind corners. When they emerged from the garage and turned onto the street, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “What time is it?” she asked, realizing she hadn’t checked the time before now. And oh hell, where was her phone?

  “It’s a little after one. Your phone is in your purse along with your charger.”

  She blinked at him. How did he know what she was thinking?

  “The last thing I remember is Rose and the Doctor battling the aliens.”

  “You fell asleep. I carried you to bed.”

  That explained the yoga pants and the fact she was still wearing her bra. She shook herself, trying to clear her brain. “How did we get from you carrying me to bed to running away in the middle of the night?”

  He glanced at her. “Information from my team. Scott was involved in weapons black marketing to drug cartels in South America. Seemed prudent to leave.”

  Brooke tried to process the anger that flared deep inside. Scott had been selling guns? All the while he’d been trying to get her into a relationship with him, he’d been doing something illegal. Even when he’d known she’d been abducted because of her relationship to Grace, he’d still thought nothing of pulling her into his life.

  She thought of him returning her bo
oks, acting so hurt that she’d told him she didn’t want to get involved, and anger scoured through her like a flame. The bastard!

  “How does any of this affect me? I only went out with Scott a few times, and we weren’t involved at all. I don’t know anything about his business.”

  Cade’s fingers flexed on the wheel, and she knew it was bad news. “The man you saw outside the elevator… he isn’t on the security feed at all.”

  Brooke’s stomach dropped. “How is that possible?”

  “I don’t know. But it’s not good.” He glanced into the rearview and frowned. “I think we might have a tail.”

  *

  Behind them, a car’s headlights shone bright. Not that it was unusual in a city this size, but whenever he turned, the car did too. Not only that, but it kept a reasonable distance, never slowing or speeding up. Cade was suspicious of shit like that, so he decided it was time to do a test.

  “Hang on, angel,” he said, whipping the wheel hard left and onto a side street.

  Brooke squeaked. Cade mashed the gas and the truck leaped into action like a raptor taking flight.

  The headlights appeared behind him, speeding toward them down the street. Someone had been watching Brooke’s building. Not only that, but they knew he was there with her. So if they were chasing him now, they’d probably been close enough to see that Brooke was with him.

  Son of a bitch, he should have made her lie down on the seat. He hadn’t considered it because he’d thought he was ahead of the curve. He should have fucking known better.

  Then again, whoever’d killed Scott Lloyd had been able to erase security footage. If they could do that, they could also watch and see when Brooke left the building.

  Shit.

  Cade stomped on the gas and hit the button on his steering wheel to activate hands-free mode. “Call Hacker,” he said, and the phone began to dial.

  “Yeah, man.” Hacker’s voice was crisp and businesslike.

  “Got a tail. Left Brooke’s building and someone was waiting for us.”

  “Where are you?”

  Cade checked the GPS and rattled off the street and cross streets as they passed each one.

  “Hang on,” Hacker said, and Cade could hear the clicking of keys on the keyboard. “Okay, see that red light up ahead?”