Page 17

CHAPTER 16

Nova took a deep breath, shoving any doubts so far down she’d need a map to find them, then she inched forward, sticking to the deep shadows lining the factory’s main floor. The sun had already set, just a hint of moonlight shining through the windows along with a single bank of lights they’d hooked up to a generator. It cast a circle of light in the center of the room, leaving enough darkness both teams could skulk around. Hunt really. Because that was Cooper’s team’s objective. Eliminate Simmons’ backup until it was just her and him.

Blue lights reflected in the glass, cutting off a moment later as doors slammed shut just outside the entrance, followed by heavy tapping that got steadily louder. The door creaked open and Simmons walked in. No fear. No clearing the area with one of the weapons she knew he was packing. He just opened the door and stepped inside.

Nova took his unspoken challenge and moved into the light, arms crossed over her chest. Her M9 clearly visible in the holster by her left hip. The ledger was in a bag on her other side. The outline through the leather impossible to miss.

Simmons glanced around, looking way too cocky and she knew the bastard thought he had the upper hand. That the sheer number of men he’d brought along would outmaneuver anyone she’d convinced to back her up. And that one assumption would be his undoing.

Nova held up her hand, stopping him a good twenty feet away. “That’s close enough.”

Simmons laughed. “What’s wrong, Martin? Afraid I might not miss this time?”

“You didn’t miss last time. You’re just a lousy shot.”

“Maybe I wasn’t trying to kill you.”

“Or maybe Paulin set such a low bar of what to expect from a DEA agent, you underestimated my resolve. I promise you. I’m nothing like him.”

“Good because he was a whiny suck up who thought he was irreplaceable.”

“Well, I guess you showed him.”

Simmons laughed, again, scanning the room. “If you think you’re going to trick me into saying I killed the guy, you might not be as different as you think.”

“I don’t care who killed Paulin. What I care about is being framed for it.” She held up her hand when he snarled. “I know. You’re not going to comment. But that misunderstanding was the catalyst that brought us here. Because you want to deal, right?”

“Assuming you have something that interests me.”

“I’m betting I do. I’m reaching for one of the ledgers. So, don’t get twitchy.” She opened the flap and removed the book then tossed it over. “Go on. I won’t shoot you while you’re bent over. You’re no use to me dead.”

He scanned the area again, tilting his head for a moment as if listening to someone talk in his ear. Which, he was. No doubt the guy was wired, just like her.

Simmons nodded, then covered the short distance to the ledger, flipping through the pages once he’d retrieved it. “It’s coded.”

“Paulin might have been subpar, but he wasn’t an idiot.”

“Which means, you’ve got nothing.”

Nova braced herself. This was it. Either Bellamy and Waylen had decoded enough of the material that her theories were pretty accurate and she could bluff her way through, or she was about to go up in flames. “June seventh. That’s when your official partnership with Paulin began.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Go to the first page. That column on the left represents all the dates when he met with everyone involved in this scheme. And those initials beside it are shorthand for you, Simmons.” Which made sense because Paulin had needed the Russo family’s last connection to have even a hope of pulling his scheme off.

Simmons flipped to the front, scowling. “It’s barely legible. Hell, most of it’s stained.”

“Well, you did shoot me.”

“There’s no way you cracked it.”

“I didn’t. But I have friends who can do that in their sleep. Do you want to hear my theory?”

Simmons smirked. “Please, enlighten me.”

“This all started after those assholes who thought they could double cross the Russo cartel were arrested by Detective McClane. When all the other loyalists inside your department were exposed… Except you. The problem was, the Marshal Service was putting a lot of pressure on the Russos, and Paulin knew, if he kept working with them, it was only a matter of time before his involvement surfaced. So, he contacted the only other person who had just as much to lose as him and outlined a plan where the two of you become the ruling drug cartel on the islands.”

“You’re insane, Martin.”

“Maybe, but I’m also right.”

Simmons held up the book. “Let’s say you really did crack Paulin’s code. All this would prove is that we met. That’s not illegal.”

“No, but the other ledger…” She whistled, banking that she’d nailed it because the guy was sweating. Not a lot but the right side of his forehead gleamed in that glaring light and his left eye occasionally twitched. “That one details every deal you made from where Paulin acquired the drugs to how much fentanyl you added. You know, so you could ensure every dealer between here and the mainland lost confidence in the current supplier. And it was working until Paulin was stupid enough to steal the drugs I’d collected. As soon as you saw me find that tape, you knew I was on to you.”

Simmons glared at her, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Looking as if he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. “You’re guessing.”

“Am I? Because you don’t look like someone who thinks I’m jerking them around.”

“Show me the other ledger.”

She chuckled. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to bring them both here? I told you. I’m nothing like Paulin.”

“How do I know you even have it. That you’re not making all that shit up?”

“Because I know you tore Paulin’s office apart and didn’t find it. And if you thought there was only one, you would have blown up that cabin instead of sending in all those men.” She grinned. “And because I knew Paulin and the guy was an overconfident, arrogant bastard who likely flaunted it in your face in the hopes of keeping you in check. But if you think I’m bluffing… Go ahead and draw. Though, that might not work out in your favor since I’m not preoccupied this time. And seeing as I’m already wanted for murder…”

Simmons muttered a few obscenities under his breath, taking a couple heavy steps away. He mumbled something that sounded like him asking if everyone was in position before he turned — met her gaze. “Where is it?”

“Safe. And once I know you’re going to uphold your end of the bargain, I’ll text you where to find it.”

“That’s not part of the agreement.”

“We don’t have an agreement… yet. That first book was to show you I’m not lying. The second is to ensure you’re not. Which brings me to my demands. I want safe passage off this island to the Philippines.” She held up her hand. “For two.”

Cooper mumbled something in her ear. Though she wasn’t sure if it was meant for her or his team because she’d distinctively altered her tone enough he’d realize she was only a couple of minutes away from ending this meeting, one way or another.

“Two? You got a partner?”

“Something like that.”

“You actually think Harris will leave his buddies behind for you? That’s ballsy.”

She didn’t react at the mention of Cooper’s name, aware Simmons was testing her. “I never said it was for Harris.”

“You don’t have to. I know all about you and him and that Brotherhood organization. You never should have brought him to that crime scene if you wanted to keep your relationship secret.” Simmons waved at the shadows. “I assume he’s around here, somewhere.”

“Just like all the men you brought along. I’ll admit. I’m curious how many you thought you needed to handle me? Three? Five?” She snorted when his eye twitched again. “More than five? Wow, I’m flattered.”

Simmons shook his head. “You weren’t lying. You’re nothing like Paulin.”

“I just hope these guys are better than the last because…” She cringed. “That didn’t end well for them.”

The cocky smile slipped slightly from his lips. “I doubt you’ll have a chopper handy to rescue your ass, this go ‘round. Though, I suppose I should have seen that one coming.”

And just like that, she had him.

Nova shrugged. “I don’t need one.”

“Right, you’ve got Harris. What is he, ex-Coast Guard? Does he even know how to hold a gun?”

Nova paused, praying Cooper was in position because this was it. “It’s not Harris you need to be worried about. It’s my other backup.”

Simmons glanced at the shadows over her shoulder then scanned the room, frowning. “Okay, Martin. I’ll bite. Who should I be worried about?”

“ Whiskey .”

One word. And everything happened at once.

Cooper stepped out of the darkness off to her right, ghosting into view like a phantom. Nothing one second, then him moving forward, rifle notched in his shoulder, looking every inch the warrior he was. Not that Simmons had time to react because Whiskey was out in front. Eating up that distance as if she’d been sent from heaven. Had some kind of turbo pack strapped onto her back because less than two seconds and she was already leaping at the bastard — grabbing his arm as she bowled him over. All but knocked him through the floor from the force.

Simmons screamed, writhing on the ground as the dog shook its head, flicking Simmons’ pistol across the floor. Then she started dragging the man sideways, keeping him off-kilter.

Nova had her gun in her hand, was heading for Simmons, when Cooper barreled into her, taking her both to the floor then rolling behind an overturned table as the room erupted with bullets — Simmons’ other backup racing out from opposite sides. Shell casings hit the ground like rain, bouncing in every direction as bullets ricocheted off the walls.

Whiskey yelped, rolling across the floor a second later, making Nova’s heart stop cold. Because if anything happened to Cooper’s partner…

She gave Cooper a shove, yelling above the noise. “Go. I can handle myself.”

Cooper grunted, then he was up and firing. Taking out two of the men before he turned and raced over to Whiskey, covering like he had Nova. Trusting his crew to eliminate the remaining threats. Taking a graze along his biceps before his team downed the last guy. Not that he was safe when Simmons staggered to his feet, blood eating up his shredded sleeve as he raised his gun. Not quite at Cooper but Nova had no doubts the bastard would zero in if given the chance.

That was all the moral high ground Nova needed. She simply rolled to her feet and fired. Hit Simmons in the hand and thigh, dropping him to the ground. She kept her weapon trained on him as sirens blared in the distance before the door burst open, cops swarming inside.

Nova let her pistol swivel on her finger before placing it on the ground, hoping the officers didn’t kill her on sight. What was libel to happen with the tension practically suffocating the room. Making it hard to breathe, let alone think.

Simmons was screaming, telling everyone to shoot. Ranting about drugs and cartel, as if he hadn’t just confessed he’d ordered the hit on her. That comment about the chopper he’d let slip. A handful of officers stormed her way and she went to her stomach without being asked. The only way she knew this would go down until the situation got sorted out.

One of the officers had his knee on her back as he grabbed her arms before he was yanked off. She wasn’t sure if it was Bellamy or Rusty or Ethan, only that it was one of Cooper’s team. Yelling at the cop. Ordering him to get Emery.

That tension thickened, what sounded like threats passing between all the men before Emery was there, shouting at them all to stand down. Some comment about testosterone and how they all needed to shut the hell up and listen.

Nova stayed down, two other cops racing over to cuff her. They yanked her to her feet, when Cooper marched over, looking as if he was ready to brawl, Whiskey limping at his side. No blood, which meant she’d probably taken a hit or two in her vest. Still, thinking the canine had been hit had made her acutely aware that Cooper wasn’t the only one Nova had fallen in love with.

Nova shook her head, stopping him before he ended up beside her in a cruiser. She’d known this was how it would have to go down until Emery and Milligan were able to straighten things out.

She didn’t resist when the officers repeatedly shoved her across the room, manhandling her into the back of an SUV parked off to one side — out of the way of the other emergency vehicles arriving and leaving in a steady stream. What she assumed was Milligan’s Chevy. They shut the door, talking for a few moments before one of them headed back in, the other standing watch. A clear indication she wasn’t off of anyone’s shit list, yet.

She relaxed against the seat, her muscles still tense from the takedown, when a black Suburban rolled in from the rear, parking behind them. She stared at it in the rearview mirror, the hairs on her neck prickling, when the door opened and a man stepped out — the light from the police cruisers making the letters DEA stamped across his jacket glow.

Cartwright.

Nova wasn’t sure if her boss had been on the island since he’d issued the federal warrant for her arrest or if Milligan had contacted him once they’d put their sting operation into motion. Either way, the guy looked pissed.

He stopped next to car, bending down to look at her through the opposite window as he shook his head, then walked over to the officer who was standing watch. He showed his badge, motioning to Nova. The officer glanced at the factory, then huffed and stepped over to her door.

The hinges creaked as he opened it, waving at her to turn around. “Apparently your boss wants to talk.”

Nova rubbed her wrists once the cop had released the cuffs, twisting back around when the officer jerked then pitched forward, bouncing off the door frame before crumpling to the ground. Blood spreading across the back of his uniform.

She inhaled, lunging for him when Cartwright tsked, aiming his gun at her head as he sighed. As if shooting the officer had been an inconvenience for him. A complication she’d driven him to.

“Do you see what you’ve made me do, Martin? Forcing my hand?” Cartwright waved her out with his weapon, the silencer on the end gleaming red then blue in the rotating police lights. “Get out. And I swear, you so much as blink, and I’ll just kill you.”

Nova scanned the area, but it was too far removed for anyone to notice them unless they were specifically looking that way. Which, why would they when all the action had been inside the factory?

She eased out, side-stepping the officer as she kept her back to the vehicle. “I knew Paulin wasn’t smart enough to pull this off. But I have to say, I never imagined you were dirty.”

“Save me the guilt trip. This isn’t personal. It’s business. Now get in the driver’s seat of the Suburban. It’s about time you and me took a drive.”