CHAPTER 5
RHIANNON
“So, how are you feeling?”
It’s an innocent question, one I’d ask any of my teammates if they were nearly blown up in an explosion the night before. Honestly, I’d be surprised if I wasn’t asked at some point during our meeting.
And it’s not that I mind it exactly.
It’s just that there’s a lull in conversation right as Erik asks, so his deep voice carries easily throughout the conference room. A moment later, all heads swivel towards me, my teammates wearing matching expressions of concern.
“How’s your arm?” Xavier asks as his gaze drifts to my bare arm I’m now wishing I’d thought to cover before coming here. “Did you take anything for it?”
Before I can respond, Niall jumps in. “I’m sure she didn’t.” From across the table, he frowns at the blindingly white gauze. Then he looks at me and adds, “Jade wants you to stop by so she can take a look at the stitches. She said some of those ER doctors do a crap job, especially on the overnight shift, and she wants to make sure they did it right.”
Jade’s a physician assistant, so I don’t doubt her skills, but the last thing I want to ask of a woman who only gave birth a few weeks ago is for a second opinion. Especially for something as simple as some stitches. I’m about to politely decline when Matt interjects, “You know, I was reading about suturing techniques not that long ago. And there’s a method that’s supposed to be better for reducing scarring. Do you know if the doctor who stitched your arm used the horizontal or vertical mattress sutures?”
“I’m not sure,” I start, but I’m interrupted once again, this time by Dante.
“I can take a look after the meeting, Rhi,” he offers. “Not that I don’t think you’re capable of checking yourself, but sometimes it’s easier if someone else does it.”
“She said she’s planning to workout after the meeting,” traitorous Hawk throws in. “Is that really a good idea? I thought it was better to avoid strenuous activity after getting stitches.” He glances at me, his gaze lingering on the cut on my cheek for a second. “And she did hit her head last night,” he adds ominously, like I have a major brain injury instead of a small lump on the back of my head.
Seated beside me, Erik looks at me with alarm. “Head injuries are nothing to mess around with, you know. Maybe you should go back to your apartment and get some rest. Are you feeling dizzy? Nauseous?”
I can feel my shoulders rising and my smile getting tight.
“I’m fine,” I reply, casting my gaze around the long wooden table. “Really. I have a few stitches?—”
“Ten,” Hawk cuts in. “Ten stitches.”
“Ten stitches is nothing,” I retort. “We’ve all had way more than that. And the doctor at the ER cleared me. I’m fine. Ten tiny stitches and some bruises. That’s all. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Of course we’re worried about you.” Xavier’s features soften. “Just like you’d be worried about me if I was hurt. Or Erik. Or?—”
“Like when I was in the accident with Sarah,” Dante adds. “I seem to recall you coming by to check on both of us. Even when I told you I was fine.”
“And the time I broke my toes.” Niall gives me an affectionate smile. “Someone”—he emphasizes the word—“practically locked me in my apartment to keep me from going to PT the next morning.”
I know they all mean well. But I’ve never liked being the center of attention. Not when my parents’ roped me into being in one of their movies when I was ten, or the times they’d drag me to a red carpet event, or the rare occasion when paparazzi would try to get a photo of me back when I lived in L.A., just because of who my parents were.
It’s kind of ironic in hindsight, considering my choice to become a Green Beret.
I didn’t think it was at the time. Back when I decided to start the Special Forces qualification course eight years ago, I was so excited to have the opportunity, I never considered becoming a Green Beret would make me a target. I just wanted to be the best, to join an elite team that would travel around the world defending our country.
In an odd stroke of coincidence, Nora was actually the one who convinced me to do it. She was already a Green Beret, one of the very first women to achieve it. And I remember watching her train on base and thinking how incredible she was. How strong. Dedicated. Confident.
So I worked my ass off to get in the best shape of my life. I asked Nora a million questions about how to prepare for the course. I ignored the men who scoffed at me, claiming Special Forces was no place for a woman. And after more than a year of rigorous training, I finally achieved my goal.
I thought I knew what to expect after that. Hours of grueling PT. Trips to the Middle East on dangerous ops. Weeks spent living in treacherous conditions, never fully falling asleep in the interest of safety.
Then there were the truly great parts of it—making a difference, proving I was just as capable as the men I served with, and finding a family in my new team.
What I didn’t think about? How many people would be interested in my story. I wasn’t just a regular enlisted soldier joining the Green Berets, but a woman, and an attractive one at that. I was Rhiannon Harris, daughter of Stephen Harris, the famous director. Daughter of Simone Stevenson, the Oscar-nominated actress.
So, yeah. I got a lot of attention. Some of it good, like the women who told me I inspired them to strive for jobs once limited only to men. But more of it bad—the soldiers who would catcall and make lewd comments right to my face, and the officers who liked to insinuate I slept my way into the position.
And then there was Colonel Allen. The worst of them all.
Maybe it was stupid to think I could be normal. Maybe I should have known better.
“Rhi?” Hawk turns to me again, his forehead creasing as he inspects my face. Comprehension dawns in his eyes, quickly followed by a look of unspoken apology. “Sorry,” he murmurs so only I can hear. Then more loudly, he says, “So. I’ve met Sarah and Lucy. When do I get to meet Isla and Jade? And the little ones? I want to know if they’re as cute as the pictures you’ve sent.”
I flash him a small smile of thanks at the change of topic, and he returns it with a quick one of his own.
Matt’s expression brightens. “You can come over any time,” he replies. “I can’t wait for you to meet Isla and Dove. They’re both just…” His eyes soften. “Amazing. Just amazing.”
“Declan has been sleeping in the morning,” Niall says, “But Jade will feed him around noon and keep him up for about an hour afterwards. So that might be a good time to stop by. Or around four-ish. That’s when he wakes up from his afternoon nap. But any time is good, really.”
“Sarah mentioned cooking dinner for everyone tonight,” Dante adds. “We can set up some pack-and-plays in our guest room for the babies.” To Hawk, he explains, “Sarah loves to cook. Probably even more than me. And she’s really good.”
Xavier pats his stomach as he leans back in his chair. “Sarah’s cooking is incredible. You don’t want to miss it.”
Now that the attention is off me, some of the tension seeps from my body. I roll my neck, feeling the pop of my stiff muscles. A dull throb pulses in my arm and from the smaller cut on my back. As I shift in my chair, my bruises protest at the movement.
Fine. I’m not feeling quite as great as I claimed. But that doesn’t mean I still can’t get in a good workout. Or be present at our meeting instead of lazing around on the couch back at my apartment. I might be relegated to HQ duty, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be an active member of the team.
Still talking, Dante asks the group, “So, what do you think? Dinner at my place? Around six? That’ll give Xav, Erik, and me plenty of time to get to Austin and back.”
Matt flips over his phone and taps out a quick message. A beat later, it dings in response. Glancing at the screen, he replies, “Isla says it sounds good.”
“I know Lucy will want to go.” Xavier grins. “I think she loves Sarah’s cooking even more than me.”
Once everyone else adds their approval, Dante gives a quick nod. “Great. I’ll let Sarah know.”
“Can I bring anything?” I ask. “Dessert? Wine? I could run to the store and?—”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Dante’s face pinches. “The store, I mean. Given what happened last night…”
Reality comes crashing back in.
I don’t have a car anymore. Because someone blew it up. And presumably, I was supposed to be inside it when the explosion happened. So I guess spontaneous trips to the grocery store aren’t an option for now.
“Sorry, Rhi,” Dante continues. “Hopefully we’ll get this?—”
His phone chimes, and he cuts himself off to look at it. Then he says, “It’s Ace. He’s just pulling up to the ranch.” He taps the screen before adding, “I let him through the main gate. I’ll go to the door to let him in. And once he’s here, we can get started.”
Right. The reason we’re actually here.
Not to quiz me about my stitches or talk about dinner plans, but to discuss our strategy for my case.
My case. That doesn’t sound right. I’m supposed to be helping solve the cases, not the one whose safety is in question.
Although we don’t really know I was the target. Yes, my SUV had the bomb attached to it, but the threat could extend to any of us. It could have as easily been Xavier’s car. Or any of ours, really.
A little shudder runs down my back at the thought. What if Xavier had been injured instead? He just got married and has a baby on the way. If something happened to him, Lucy would be devastated. And what about Niall? Matt? Dante? Erik?
Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m glad it was me. Just like I would have given my life for my teammates back when I was in the Army, I’d do the same now. Especially when my friends—my brothers—have so much to live for.
Hawk touches my arm lightly, and I startle from my thoughts. “Shit,” he says quietly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
“You’re fine,” I assure him. And I sternly command myself to get my head back on straight. To focus on the task at hand, which is putting together a plan for catching whoever’s behind this.
“Are you sure? Because?—”
Dante walks back into the conference room, announcing with a smile, “Look what the cat dragged in.”
A few feet behind him, Ace lifts his chin and smiles. “Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late. Traffic in Austin was a nightmare. I think every road in the city is under construction.”
“No worries.” Dante retakes his seat at the head of the table. “We really appreciate you coming on such short notice.”
Ace sinks into the empty chair across the table from me. “It was no problem. I’m just glad to help.” His attention shifts from Dante to me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good.” Surreptitiously, I move my arm under the table, hiding the bandage from his gaze. “Just some bruises. No big deal.”
He doesn’t look any more convinced than my teammates, but thankfully, he just says in a pleasant tone, “Well. I’m glad to hear that.”
Dante flips the cover of his tablet open and glances down at it. Then he looks back at Ace. “I know we could have done this virtually, but given the serious nature of the situation, I thought it would be better discussed in person.”
“I agree.” Ace runs his hand through his dark hair. “And honestly, I’ve been meaning to come visit you guys, anyway. With work… it’s been crazy. But I’m sorry it took something like this to finally get here.”
Matt looks up from his laptop to give Ace a quick chin lift. “No worries. We understand. Things have been pretty busy here, too.”
“Well, now that we’re all here, let’s get started.” Dante picks up his stylus and taps the screen of his tablet, then scribbles for a moment before looking up again. “First up. Ace, could you let us know what you’ve found out so far?”
Ace straightens in his chair, and his smile sobers. “Well. Fortunately, I’m friends with some of the guys in the Austin PD, and they let me get in early this morning to look at the remnants of Rhiannon’s SUV.”
An icy hand grabs hold of my chest. Remnants . Not even an actual vehicle anymore, but scraps of metal and glass. And if I hadn’t spotted those smudges on the door, I would have been in it.
“Obviously, the majority of the bomb was decimated in the explosion,” Ace continues. “But we got lucky.”
Hawk coughs. His brow furrows. “I’d hardly call Rhi’s car being blown up lucky .”
Ace grimaces. “Sorry. Bad choice of word.”
“No, it’s okay,” I interject. “Really, it was lucky. If it had rained recently, I wouldn’t have seen the marks in the dust on my car door. Or if I’d parked further away from the lights. Or if I’d?—”
“Rhi.” Hawk’s voice is strained. “Could you please not talk about all the different ways you could have died last night?”
Glancing over at him, I notice a muscle in his jaw twitching. “Sorry,” I murmur.
“Anyway.” Dante looks down the table at Ace. “When you called earlier, you said you found some evidence?”
Ace lifts his chin. “Yes. So, I found evidence of a timer. There wasn’t a lot to examine, but enough to know the bomb was activated remotely.”
“Someone was there?” Xavier asks. “In the parking garage? But we secured all the entrances and exits. No one should have been able to get onto the property without us knowing.”
“I checked the cameras,” Matt adds with a frown. “No one went near Rhi’s SUV. Not even close.”
“It could have been put there at any time.” Ace turns to me. “How many places have you driven over the last few days?”
I make a little face. “Lots. The grocery store in Seguin, the community center, the coffee shop, the doctor’s office… And yesterday, I stopped for gas on the way to Austin. And to grab something to eat. I was in a hurry to get there, so I’m not sure if I did a full scan…”
Trailing off, I realize the other reason I might have missed something. Because I was thinking about seeing Hawk again.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Dante says. “There are times I forget to check, and of any of us, I’m the one who should be most vigilant.”
Considering Dante was almost killed not that long ago when his own car was hacked, I can’t disagree with his statement. But still, I should have known better.
“Dante’s right.” Hawk pats my shoulder, letting his hand linger there for a second. “You had no reason to suspect you were a target.”
But I should have. Given what Blade and Arrow does, and the enemies we make, I should have been more careful.
“So how was it triggered, then?” Erik asks.
“The key fob.” Ace glances first at Erik, then at me. “A tech guy at the Austin PD discovered it. Apparently, car thieves can use something called a transponder to capture the keyless entry code from the fob. So all the person would have to do is to be somewhere nearby when you unlock the car.”
“So when I hit the fob, it didn’t just unlock the car, but start the timer, too?”
Ace nods. “Yeah. That’s what it looks like.” He pauses. Frowns again. “It used to just be the ignition that people would target. But now?—”
“Now they’re coming up with new ways to hurt people.” Dante scowls, shadows darkening his gaze. “So we have some asshole who hacked Rhi’s key fob and attached a bomb to her car, and set it to go off shortly after she unlocked the door.”
“About thirty seconds,” Hawk adds, frowning. “That’s how long it was between the car unlocking and the explosion. Long enough to make sure Rhi was inside.”
“So we know how it happened.” Niall leans forward and rests his elbows on the table. “But the bigger question is who?”
“And why,” Matt adds. His eyes flicker towards me. “You know the drill, Rhi. I need a list of everyone you can think of. I’ll go through all our old cases, of course. We have to consider this could be an attack on B and A and you were just the first target.”
“I’ll work on it today,” I tell him. “And I’ll talk to my parents. Not to tell them about this, of course. My poor mother would have a breakdown. But I’ll find out if either of them has had any threats recently.”
It’s not a common occurrence, but both my parents have had their share of unbalanced fans. It’s why they live in a gated community in L.A. with full-time guards on staff and top-notch security. Neither of them has mentioned anything alarming, but it can’t hurt to check.
Niall catches my eye. “Have you heard anything about Allen lately?”
My stomach lurches. A band wraps around my chest and squeezes. Just hearing his name makes me feel sick, even after this many years. “No,” I reply tightly. “Nothing.”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on him,” Matt says. “He’s still out in Hopkinsville. No movement other than locally.”
“Still. I’d like to take a look at his recent activities.” Dante scribbles a note on his tablet. “Just to be sure.”
“It’s not his style.” As all eyes shift towards me, I explain, “Driving all the way here to set off a bomb? Too risky. Too many ways he could get caught.”
“Maybe so,” Xavier agrees. “But we have to look into him. Just like we have to check out all the people who made threats against you back in the Army.”
Hawk stiffens. “ All the people?”
“Just verbally,” I reply quickly. “The only person who ever—” Emotion thickens my throat, strangling my voice.
All at once, I feel close to tears again.
I should be able to handle this. Considering the things I did and saw when I was a Green Beret, talking about ancient history should be nothing.
But it’s not. It’s a hurricane of memories and regrets and wishes that things were different. It’s frustration and years of suffocating anxiety.
Dante stares at me for a second with sympathy in his gaze. Then he says, “Well. I think we know our next steps. Scour the surveillance footage, investigate any leads, talk to any potential witnesses at the event last night…” Pausing, his lips thin. “And I think we need to keep the women at the ranch. At least until we have more information.”
Xavier nods. “I definitely don’t feel comfortable with Lucy going out right now.”
“Same,” Niall says. “Not that Jade is planning to do much off the ranch, but I’ll make arrangements for her doctor to come here instead.”
Matt lifts his chin in agreement. A fierce look darkens his eyes. “I’m not taking any chances with Isla and Dove’s safety.”
“Okay.” Dante flips the lid closed on his tablet. “I’ll talk to Sarah. She’s not going to be thrilled, but she’ll understand.”
“I guess we shouldn’t go to the community center, either.” An unhappy expression crosses Erik’s features. He loves going to the center to help out the kids, teaching them yoga and meditation and self-defense. And he really loves bringing Rambo, Dante and Sarah’s therapy dog, along with him.
“Probably not.” Regret tinges Dante’s voice. “We don’t want to risk making the center a target.”
A beat later, he pushes his seat back from the table. “Unless anyone has questions or concerns, I’d like to get on the road. Hopefully hit Austin before noon.”
“Sounds good,” Erik replies. “I can be ready in five.”
“Same.” Xavier stands. “I’ll just go check in with Luce and meet you guys in the garage.”
Dante’s gaze sweeps the table. “Ace. Are you heading home? You’re welcome to stay. Check out the place. Hawk’s staying in the client apartment for now, but we have room at our apartment. And Sarah’s making dinner for everyone tonight.”
“You can stay at my place,” Erik offers. “My guest room isn’t anything fancy, but it’s clean.”
Ace hesitates before answering. “Well. I did take the day off to come here. So I could. If you’re sure I won’t be in the way. With everything going on, I mean.”
After getting up well before dawn to convince the Austin PD to let him look at their crime scene, and driving here to talk to us after, the last thing he should feel is in the way.
“Of course not.” I flash a quick smile at him. “You should stay.”
“Okay.” Ace smiles back at me. “I will, then. I’ve been wanting to see everything you guys have done here.”
A glance at Hawk shows his features set into hard lines and angles. His jaw could be cut from steel. Abruptly, he rises from his seat and says, “If we’re all set, I’m going to go for a run.” To Matt, he adds, “Once I’m done, I’ll come find you. Help go through the security footage.”
And before anyone can respond, he’s out the door, sucking all the air from the room along with him.
The cold emptiness is back in my chest again.
Part of me wants to sprint after him. Ask him why he’s not going to the gym anymore, like he said he was. Find out what put that pissed-off look on his face.
But the other part is just tired.
Tired of Hawk shutting me out.
Tired of missing my old friend so badly it aches.
Tired of feeling like a coward instead of the courageous woman everyone says I am.
And as we all leave the room, with Ace smiling brightly beside me, asking about a quick tour of the property, I realize I’m tired of wanting the one man I can never have.