Page 8 of Burn Bag (Owens Protective Services #31)

KNIGHT

I got out of the car, wincing as I stretched my sore body. The recovery time from this particular gunshot wound was taking longer than when I was stabbed in the fucking chest, and that grated on my nerves.

No, I was not as young as I’d been back then, but I took pride in keeping my body honed as a fighting machine. How else would I protect my family?

Kate walked around to my side, her face pinched in concern, as it had been ever since I woke up with her by my side, pissed as hell that I’d allowed something like this to happen. And things had only gotten worse from there.

“We should get you out of the open,” she said, glancing around like she was the protective agent.

I grunted in agreement, more concerned about her being in the open than myself.

I was technically dead. However, she could still very much be a target.

I took her hand in mine, striding toward the doors of OPS.

Lock was already there to greet me, his eyes taking in every staggered movement of my body.

Shaking his head, he ushered me inside. “You should have fucking stayed home. ”

“We both know this thing is coming to a head.”

He glanced at Kate, not wanting to say too much in front of her, for which I was grateful. “He’s waiting for you downstairs.”

I nodded and followed him over to the elevator, sweat beading along my forehead with every step I took.

Even counting the weeks of healing, my body wasn’t adjusting as well this time around.

That could be because of the fact that I just couldn’t let shit with Cash go.

I hadn’t stopped working even though I’d been laid up.

I couldn’t. Not when he was out there. There was still so much to take care of, so much that I couldn’t rely on anyone else for.

We stepped off the elevator and Fox grinned at me, holding his arms wide.

“There he is! Man, The Kamau in the flesh! I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this. Seriously, man. Bring it in.”

Before I could step away, he wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me tight. I gritted my teeth and took the hug for what it was. Just weeks ago, this man threatened to kill my brother. Now he was hugging me as if nothing had happened.

He stepped back, slapping me on the arm. “I’ve made the very best shawarma for you. I know how much you love it. And Kate, Anna’s dying to fill you in on her latest news!”

Kate glanced at me, shooting me a knowing look before smiling at Fox. “Sure. Is she at the house?”

“She is. I have an escort ready for you. Can’t risk my man’s woman,” he grinned.

Kate turned to me again, her eyes narrowing. “If I come back here and you have any more cuts, bruises, or gunshots, I will divorce you.”

“Understood.” I was on shaky ground with Kate, and if I didn’t watch my step, she’d leave me. Not that I would allow that, but I didn’t want the hassle of chasing her down and stalking her to the ends of the earth just to get her back in my bed. As it was, she was holding out on me.

As soon as she was gone, the smile slipped from Fox’s face. “Cash is about to make a move.”

“You’re sure? ”

“Positive. He’s fucking crazy if he thinks he can take them out with only Shadow.”

He turned and headed into the office, which Lock immediately closed off, pulling the blackout shades and engaging the soundproof system.

Fox pulled up a screen, pointing out a location along the Canadian border. “This is his last known location, but I’ve been studying what players you could identify from the Shadow Government. These fuckers have eyes everywhere.”

“Why hasn’t he just taken them out?” Lock asked, his arms crossed as he studied the map.

“It’s not that simple. You can’t take out just one player.

Bring them all down at the same time or risk everything,” Fox said.

He pulled up one image, pointing at the screen.

“This fucker, he’s got his fingers in all the pies.

We’re talking international government shit.

He controls financial markets, medication distribution, international security…

you name it, this guy influences it. Other nations don’t dare fuck with him. ”

“Not just him. He can’t have that much influence,” I said, thinking about how that would all play out. “He’s got to have others working alongside him. A single bullet could take this guy out.”

Fox nodded. “I’m sure he does, but until we can identify the other members of the Shadow Government, we can’t make a move.”

“We can’t make a move anyway,” Lock grunted. “There’s a reason Cash fucked us all over when he left. He’s obsessed with taking down these guys. Look at all he’s sacrificed already,” he said, nodding to me. “Do you honestly think he wouldn’t do the same to all of us if we got in his way?”

“We can’t leave him out there all alone,” Fox argued.

“He’s not alone. He has his father with him,” Lock snapped. “He chose this. He walked away on his own. He left his family. He fucking shot Knight, and if I’m understanding this right, he also shot Kavanaugh. Who else would he sacrifice for revenge?”

“Revenge or justice?” I asked, my eyes flicking to Lock. “Tell me you wouldn’t do the same. ”

“At the cost of everyone around me?” He shook his head. “What good did it do to abandon his whole family? How can you even defend him after he shot you? All to join this fucking elite group of men who want to rule the world.”

“I have my reasons,” I gritted out.

“Ones that Kate would understand?” he asked.

My gaze slid to Fox. He got it. I knew he did. After what happened to him as a kid, I knew there was no fucking way he’d walk away after someone hurt a member of his family. Hell would rain down on anyone who dared to come near anyone he loved.

“What the fuck are we doing here?” Lock asked. “You’ve gotta level with me. If there’s something else going on, then I need to fucking know.”

“You just said there are some things you wouldn’t sacrifice. I think this is one of those times you really don’t want to know.”

“Knight!” he called out as I turned my back on him. “Is this a game we can win? Or are you just refusing to let this go?”

I thought of Kate, of our kids, and all I stood to lose. All Cash stood to lose. There was so much at stake. But failure wasn’t an option. It would destroy us all.

“It’s a game we can’t afford to lose.”

I waited for the door to unlock and pushed through it. In another two days, there would be a funeral for Cash, one that I couldn’t attend. But I could go to Eva now and be there for her in the only way I knew how. This would hurt her more than anyone, but it was a risk we all had to take.

The moment the door swung open, I knew something was wrong. Eva smiled at me and pulled me in for a hug. It wasn’t exactly the reaction I was expecting. Nor did I think she would welcome me with open arms.

“Kate already came by,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at me as she walked back toward the kitchen .

Closing the door behind me, I narrowly avoided one of her kids running into me as he zoomed through the house. I couldn’t remember their names, and now wasn’t the time to stop and talk. I had to find out what was going on with Eva.

I followed her into the kitchen where Kate and Izzy were sipping wine, of all things. “Everything okay?”

Kate shook her head slightly, but Eva turned to me with a smile. “Everything’s great. Wine?”

“No thanks.”

I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest as I took in the sight.

“So, what are your plans for after the funeral?” Kate asked delicately.

“Oh, I’m sure the guys will put something together. I’m not worried about it.”

“But what about the kids?” Izzy asked. “Are they going to be there?”

“Well, I suppose they should be, but does it really matter?”

It was like she didn’t even care that he was dead. Either that or Cash had pushed too far and she no longer cared, which I just couldn’t see happening.

“Eva, can I talk to you privately?”

“Sure,” she said, smiling at me as she picked up her glass of wine. Carrying it to the back door, she opened the slider and stepped out onto the three-season porch, taking a seat in one of the rockers. “So, I assume you want to discuss the funeral.”

With the snick of the door, I sat across from her, wondering how the hell to do this. “Eva, are you okay?”

“Of course I am.”

“No, I mean, are you really okay? You don’t seem to understand what’s going on here.”

Quirking an eyebrow at me, she laughed. “What? You mean this whole show we’re putting on?”

“Eva— ”

“Don’t.” She pushed to her feet, all humor gone from her face. “I know exactly what’s going on here. Don’t fucking lie to me.”

Leaning back, I studied her. “What exactly do you think is going on here?”

“Do you really expect me to believe that Fox killed Cash? I wouldn’t believe that if I saw it.”

“He shot Kavanaugh.”

“There’s a reason for that.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” she practically shouted. “I have no idea why he would do that. But I’m telling you, there’s a reason.”

“And me?” I snarled. “Is there a reason he shot me point blank?” Her mouth gaped, but she said nothing. “Eva, he stood right in front of me. He had a choice, and he made it.”

“Yes, and I’m sure you know why he made that choice. Don’t pretend you’re mad at him. I know Cash too well to believe any of the bullshit you’re throwing at me.”

“Then explain it to me,” I snapped.

“Explain what? That you’re on some mission with Cash?” She strode up to me and got in my face. “I know you were on a job with him. I know that there is no way he would pull that trigger unless there was no other way. And I also know that you’re crazy enough to go along with it.”

“And Fox?”

She tossed her head back and laughed. “Don’t even get me started on Fox.

There are two men in this world that I know for certain he would do anything for.

And for some reason, all three of you think you need to keep me in the dark.

What is it you’re afraid I’ll do? Not cry enough at the funeral?

Don’t worry, I’ve got this under control.

I can put on a good show and make sure nothing gets blown. ”

I shook my head on a sigh. “This is bigger than us, Eva.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” she yelled, spreading her arms wide.

“Ever since Rafe got taken, my husband hasn’t been himself.

And then he had to pull the trigger and kill his own brother.

Believe me, I have dealt with a lot of shit since this started, but I’m not giving up now.

We have come too far for me to walk away, and if you think for one second you can leave me behind as the incapable wife who can’t help, you’ve got another think coming. ”

I honestly didn’t know what to say. If Cash had been hoping to push her away for good, it didn’t work. But hopefully, not everyone would see through the front he’d been putting on since he walked out on Eva. He did a damn good job of pushing her away, and still, she wouldn’t give up on him.

“Make sure you cry at his funeral, Eva. And bring the kids. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

“Trust me. I’m well aware.”