Page 34

Chapter 33

Jude

I t was a foggy Sunday morning, and I was more comfortable than I’d ever been. We’d passed out after another round and leftover late-night pizza, and I’d slept like the dead.

When Ripley nudged me with her cold nose, urging me to let her out, for the third time, I rolled over, being careful not to disturb Mila, who was curled around me, naked, and checked my watch.

I blinked down at the digital display once, then again. Shit, it was already eight.

I was an early riser by nature, but the comfort of my bed and the delicious warmth of this woman had knocked me out cold.

I got up, snagged my boxer briefs from the floor, and took Ripley to the door. While I waited for her to do her business, I turned on the coffee pot and stretched. Something had shifted between Mila and me yesterday. We’d been growing closer for a while, but if I wasn’t mistaken, she was finally beginning to trust me.

It felt good to have earned such a hard-won prize.

Full pot in hand, I was pouring the first cup when she screamed. My heart lurched out of my chest and I damn near dropped the scalding carafe at the sound. Without a second of hesitation, I took off, running. I found her still in bed, naked and crying and clutching her phone.

“What happened?” I whipped my head one way, then the other, searching for danger. “Are you hurt?”

She looked up at me with tears shining in her eyes. “What did you do?”

Frowning, I took a step closer.

“I logged into WhatsApp so I could let my mom know I’m okay. I check in with her every Sunday.”

I dipped my chin. Okay. She’d mentioned they used the app to keep in touch without being traced.

“She told me that Hugo has increased neural activity.”

A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding whooshed out of me, and my chest expanded. “That’s amazing.”

“But that’s not all.”

She stood and walked toward me in all her naked glory, making my brain momentarily forget about comas and hospitals.

“She says that last week, Hugo was approved for transport to Mass General for care under their experimental neurology team.”

I fisted my hands at my sides to keep from reaching for her. “That’s great news.”

Brow cocked, she studied my face for a moment. “There’s more.” She held up one finger and looked down at the phone. “Turns out a generous benefactor has lent my mother a penthouse apartment down the street from the hospital so she can be with Hugo every day.”

My chest expanded farther, my heart thumping against my sternum. “Wonderful.”

“And this generous person, want to know what his name is?” She didn’t wait for me to respond before continuing. “His name is Owen Hebert.” That cocked brow jumped even higher on her forehead. “Do you know him?”

My brain shorted out. She was naked, yet I was being interrogated. It made it difficult to string words together.

Head tilted, she waited, her focus remaining fixed on me. “What did you and your brother do?”

I ran my hand through my hair, collecting my thoughts. My hope had been that she wouldn’t find out about this until everything was over and dealt with. But now that she knew, I’d have to fill her in.

“Owen is kind of a big deal in Boston.” I sighed. “He’s connected. Like hangs-out-with-billionaires-regularly connected. Some of whom sit on the board of that hospital.”

“What did you tell him?” she gritted out. “We don’t want charity—”

I grabbed her shoulder gently. “It’s not charity. If not for my dad, Hugo wouldn’t have been hurt. So when I told Owen, he jumped at the chance to help.”

She responded by letting out a heaving sob and collapsing into my arms.

I pulled her close, conscious of her still naked state and willing my cock to behave.

“I wish I could see them,” she said, her tears running down my chest. “Hug my mom and tell both of them how sorry I am. How I fucked up.”

My stomach twisted. “You didn’t fuck up.”

“My mom gave up her life to be by his side every day. She speaks to him in French and reads novels for hours on end to stimulate his brain. She’s incredible.”

“You gave up your life too. And you’ve made big sacrifices. We’re so close to finishing this. You will see them soon.”

She clung to me, and I rubbed circles on her back, wishing I had the power to do more, to fix every one of her problems, to ensure that she and her family never had to worry again.

After a few moments, she took a step back. “I can’t believe I’m standing here naked and sobbing on you. I’m sorry.”

Affection bloomed inside me. “I don’t mind.”

“I’m so happy and sad at the same time. And also a little annoyed at you.”

I wrapped her in my arms, resting my chin on her head. “Let’s focus on the happy part. He’s doing well, and he’s got the best care team in the world. You single-handedly broke Dickie Perkins yesterday and have him on record admitting to a criminal conspiracy.”

She looked up at me, her teary eyes shining with victory. “And Maine is a one-party consent state.”

I swiped at her damp cheeks with my thumbs. “That’s my girl.”

After coffee, omelets, and a joint shower that went on until the water ran cold, we set up in the spare room, listening to the conversation with Dickie. Mila uploaded it to the cloud folder where she kept the research she’d share with law enforcement, and I studied the photos and maps, trying to make sense of what we’d learned. A multi-million-dollar opioid industry was dependent on the status of a bat species?

I shook my head. Only in Maine.

“We’ve found the route from the border at Sainte-Louise,” she said. Spinning in her ergonomic chair. “And we know how they’re cutting through the forest. They’ve got almost a hundred miles of abandoned road at their disposal. But there has to be a pickup point, right?”

I nodded.

“So the protected area ends here.” She pointed to the region on the map. “That’s still miles from any main road. How are they getting out of the forest and onto the highways to distribute?”

“Probably on ATVs or snow machines,” I suggested.

“But wouldn’t that make them obvious?”

“Yes and no. Depends on the season and the location. Some of the public trails are pretty busy.”

She spun around again and straightened in the chair. “Could we go see?”

I frowned at her. “See what?”

“This area.” She pointed to a piece of our territory that was northwest of town.

“Why?”

“I’m trying to understand how it all works.”

I shook my head. “No. Too dangerous.”

“I’m just saying drive around, get a sense. I’m not suggesting we even get out of the car.”

“There’s not much out there. forest and a couple of farms.”

She stood and grabbed a fistful of my T-shirt. “Let’s drive by and take a look at the roads and the forest, see if anything feels off.”

“Feels off?”

The way her eyes danced told me she wouldn’t back down. I might as well give in now, despite how boneheaded and dangerous it could be.

“Humor me. It can’t be more than thirty minutes from here, can it?”

I nodded.

She bounced on her toes. “I’ll go get changed. We need warm clothes.”

“Why?” Unease rolled in my gut at the calculation in her eyes. “My truck has heat.”

She shook her head. “Oh no, we’re taking the ATV.”

Fifteen minutes later, we stood in my garage, both dressed in layers, while I filled the gas tank. This was a terrible plan.

“Are you sure you can hold on tight enough?”

The last thing I needed was to hurt her.

“Yes.” She nodded like a bobblehead. “Willa says I can take breaks from the sling. And I have one good arm. How fast are you planning to drive this thing?”

“Not that fast, but there are bumps. Tree roots and stuff.” Jaw tense, I pulled my glasses off and dug for the hem of one of my layers. “It’s too soon. It’ll be too painful for you.”

She shook her head. “We’re too close. And we can take it easy. Just check things out. We’ve got to put the missing pieces together. You said yourself—some of these are public trails. We’re a couple enjoying our outdoor motorsports together.” She gave me a big, cheesy smile.

I handed her a helmet. “These have microphones so we can speak to each other,” I explained, pulling batteries from my pocket.

Once the batteries in both mic packs had been replaced, I pulled my own helmet on.

“You look pretty hot like this,” she said, licking her lips.

“No flirting, Trouble,” I said, thankful the face mask hid my smile.

“Put this on.” I tapped her helmet, then swung a leg over the seat. “And hold on tight. First sign of any problems, we’re out of there.”

I put the coordinates into the GPS module and got her situated behind me while I waited for the route to appear. I never went up here. Near that part of our forest, there was some public land and then endless highway. I wasn’t sure there was anything worth seeing. But we were too damn close to give up now.

I revved the engine and took off, keeping my speed slow and the machine as steady as I could as I steered toward the trail system. It would be a bit of a ride, but it felt good to be out in the forest, feeling the breeze, inhaling the earthy scents.

The way Mila clung to me also felt good. If I was being honest with myself, everything that involved her felt good.

When my GPS pinged, I glanced at the map. “We’re approaching our area,” I said. Slowing, I turned onto a dirt path only as wide as the wheelbase of the ATV. “Hang on. It might be bumpy.”

The forest was thick, but the new clear signs made navigation easy. The scenery was beautiful. It brought with it a sense of vitality. We skirted a large pond, and as I sped up a little, Mila adjusted her hold on me.

“Where does this come out on the other side?” she asked through her mic.

“Let’s find out.”

I kicked the speed up a little more, following the GPS toward what looked like a road.

As we emerged from the forest, we found a field of baled hay and an old wooden fence with several missing posts.

A massive grain silo sat in the distance, along with several outbuildings.

“Farm,” I explained.

She peered around me. “They grow grain here?”

“Yup. During World War II, Maine was called the breadbasket of New England because of all the grain it grew for the war effort. Most of these farms grow barley. It’s good for livestock feed, and the really good stuff gets sold to craft brewers.”

We zipped around the edges of the property toward where the trail signs pointed back to the forest. So far we’d seen nothing out of the ordinary.

But when Mila squeezed my thigh hard, my hackles rose.

“Jude, look at all those trucks.”

As I turned back to the farm, several black SUVs pulled up in front of one of the old buildings.

“Just cars, Trouble,” I said, shaking off the strange sensation.

“So hordes of blacked-out luxury SUVs usually congregate at rural barley farms?” she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Get closer. I wanna take a look.”

“No.”

She punched my shoulder hard enough to have me lurching forward. “We came all the way out here. Stay in the forest, but go around the other way. I just want to see.”

Grumbling, I pulled into the forest and found a path deeper through the trees. I kept my speed slow to keep the sound of the engine subdued and so she could get a good look.

“Keep going.”

The trail ended near the road fifty yards or so from the parking lot. I stopped inside the tree line, hopefully out of sight.

“They’re all wearing sunglasses.” Mila huffed out a laugh. “And one is wearing a suit. Loop back around. I wanna take photos of the license plates.”

“You will not,” I hissed. “They’ll hear us snooping around. This thing is not quiet.”

“Just one more loop,” she pleaded. “Go really slow. If I see anything fishy, head to the forest and drive like hell.”

“Fine.”

Despite my better judgment, I headed back in for another loop. At the entrance, I zeroed in on a posted sign, studying the marked paths. “Let’s take this blue trail, see if we can find a better angle.”

I took a hard left and drove up a small hill that gave us a better vantage point while still possessing enough tree cover to provide protection.

With a gentle squeeze, she said, “Slow down.”

Once I’d hit flat ground again, I reduced the speed and focused on keeping steady while she inspected the goings-on.

“I see motorcycles,” she hissed. “Looks like the assholes from the Ape Hanger.” Her body shifted behind me. “Hold on. Can you pull up behind that bunch of trees and stop?”

Following her orders, I pulled behind a wide oak, but kept the engine running.

She hopped off the back and crept toward the edge of the trees, easing her phone from her pocket as she went. For several seconds, she stood still, snapping photos.

As she mounted the ATV again, she said, “I zoomed in. The black Tahoe has government plates.”

“Fed?”

“I think so. And isn’t it strange that small-town biker criminals and federal agents are hanging out at a random out-of-the-way farm?”

Without responding, I headed back to the main trail. When we were far enough away that I was certain they wouldn’t hear the motor, I gunned it, speeding out of there like a bat out of hell. I wanted no part in whatever was happening on that farm. The ride home was bumpy, cold, and terrifying. My sole focus was getting Mila back into the safety of my house.

When the ATV was parked and we’d dismounted, I grasped the back of her jacket and shut the door, trapping her inside.

“Ow. Jude, relax.”

“I will not relax,” I growled, backing her against the wall. “This is officially insane. We’ve got the evidence, Mila. You’ve done an amazing job. It’s over now. We call Parker and hand it all over. She’s qualified to go get the bad guys.”

She stomped her foot. “But we now know the feds are in on it!”

“Maybe. Even more reason to get her involved. Or maybe they’re investigating.”

She shot me a glare. “Don’t be na?ve. I knew they were dirty.”

Fuck. Annoyance flared to life in my veins. I’d been in over my head since the night she walked into my house bleeding, but this was getting too close for comfort.

“Mila, I need to say something and you’re gonna listen.”

She was holding her helmet to her chest, her face burning with anger, her eyes murderous.

“You are reckless and impetuous and fucking incredible. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t let you put yourself in danger. You may not like it, but I’m in this with you now.”

She nodded, her jaw still clenched tight.

“The thought of you getting hurt or being in danger is so crushing I feel like I can’t breathe. Maybe this is a danger bang to you. Maybe that’s all I am in your eyes.” My heart clenched at the thought, but I had to say it. “But you mean something to me. You are important to me.”

“Jude.”

I held up a hand. “Let me finish. You owe me nothing. But like it or not, you’re mine to protect.”

She gasped, her eyes widening.

“And I will protect you.”

She pulled her arm back and threw her helmet at me. “I don’t belong to anyone. There is one thing I care about, and it’s getting justice for Hugo.”

Her words stung, and I took a step back, reeling from the rejection. I couldn’t be the only one feeling this way. And yet…

Her eyes flared with anger. “I owe you for all you’ve done. And I’m so grateful, but we’ve got to end this.”

“Stop,” I said, holding up a hand. “We need to be strategic.”

She put her hands on her hips, glaring at me. “You need to stop being so bossy.” She was shouting now, and I couldn’t stop myself from shouting back.

“Then stop almost getting yourself killed ,” I replied as I straightened again. “I need you. Your mom needs you. Hugo needs you. Stop punishing yourself and think about this. What you’ve done is remarkable. Let’s take the next logical step.”

I braced for her to find another object to hurtle at me. To yell or stomp off.

The last thing I expected was for her to burst into tears.

“Okay,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

This was the second time she had cried today, and it was just as painful for me as the first. Like my heart was being ripped apart. All I wanted to do was make this woman smile and laugh, and yet I caused her constant tears.

I pulled her into my body, reveling in the feeling of her being safely tucked in my arms.

“You’re right,” she said. “I’m so scared and so tired.”

I held her tightly. “Tomorrow,” I said into her hair. “I’ll call Parker and set up a meeting. You can share everything, show her the maps. She’ll make a plan. There’s enough here for several warrants at the very least.”

She nodded into my chest. “Do you really think this could be over soon?”

My heart tightened painfully. “Yes, Trouble. I know it.”