Page 53

M addox

“You should have seen the look on your face,” Charmaine said from beside me.

By the time I’d mended the fence, darkness had fallen. Doing so by headlights had been interesting. At least only one cow had ventured out. I chuckled as I rolled up the hill leading to the house. “I should spank you just for teasing me.”

She slipped her hand over my groin, wrapping her long fingers around my cock. “Are you sure about that? How about round two instead?”

“Now who’s the insatiable one?” The headlights caught something in the distance and I immediately slowed, peering out the windshield.

“What is it?”

I rolled forward, craning my neck. “I don’t know for certain.” Within a few yards, the headlights captured what I’d thought I’d seen. There was a dark van partially hidden in the trees just beyond the house. From what I could tell, the cargo van was windowless past the cab.

“Wait here,” I told her as I unholstered my weapon, pulling it into my hands.

Charmaine eased back, staring out the windshield. “Were you expecting company?”

“Not this soon.” Leaning over, I opened the glovebox, pulling out a second weapon. “Keep this. You know what to do if anything happens.”

She was hesitant before taking it in her hand. “I should go with you.”

I gave her a look and killed the headlights. “Keep the engine running. After I get out, lock the doors and slide into the driver’s seat. If you hear gunshots, get the hell out of here.”

“I’m not going to leave you alone. That’s crazy.”

“You will do as I say.” I cupped her chin, giving her a side-eye. “Do what I say this time. If everything is okay, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Nodding once more, I opened the door, sliding out carefully. We were far enough away from the house and with the angle of the windows, I doubted the headlights had been noticed from inside. Whoever had paid a visit certainly didn’t want their vehicle to be seen right away.

The van didn’t appear to have anyone waiting inside.

I headed toward it, placing my hand on the engine.

It was cool to the touch, which meant they’d been here for a little while.

None of this made any sense. There was nothing glaring in the cab that could easily be seen so I concentrated my efforts on the house.

I moved around the front, crouching lower and keeping the weapon in both hands.

There were lights on inside the house. What the hell?

I had a thief stupid enough to turn on lights while determined to discover something worthwhile to steal?

Hell, even the single television I owned was old.

At least they couldn’t get to the weapons. Those were safely locked away.

I moved to the side of the house, peering in and seeing nothing. By the time I made it to the front porch, I heard a sound. Spinning to face the noise, I pointed my weapon in the direction.

“It’s just me.” Charmaine was standing only a few feet away from me.

There was no time to argue with her. “Stay back. Just do it.”

She nodded, but I had a feeling she wasn’t going to follow my orders. I placed my hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath before opening it slowly.

The moment I walked in I caught movement and immediately pointed the barrel of my weapon toward the source.

“What the fuck?” I barked out.

The man sitting on my couch grinned and took another pull of the beer in his hand. My beer.

“Well, if it isn’t Bonnie and Clyde or should I say Nancy Drew and one of the Hardy Boys?” It had been a long time since I’d seen Kage, so long it took my brain a few seconds to kick in that’s who was sitting on my couch with his feet propped up.

Charmaine flanked my side and I offered her a single look of frustration before returning my attention to Kage. When an unknown man walked in from the kitchen with a partially eaten sandwich in his hand, I took another deep breath to keep from overreacting.

“What in God’s name are you doing in my house?” I slipped the weapon back into the holster and closed the door.

“You did invite me. Remember?” Kage finally stood, placing his beer on the table as he slowly headed in our direction. He nodded to Charmaine, but his eyes were studying mine, searching for a different reaction than merely surprise.

“I thought you’d call first.”

He shrugged and glanced at whoever his buddy was. “Hey, Chuck. This is the man I’ve been telling you about. Maddox Grant. Chuck Wallace. He’s the guy I was telling you about. If anyone can crack this code you mentioned, he can. He might not look it, but he’s trustworthy.”

“Fuck you, Kage,” Chuck said. “Sorry. We just made ourselves at home. I hope you don’t mind.”

I scratched my head, cooling my heels. “Nah, that’s fine. Charmaine Douglas, but you won’t breathe a word of her name or that she’s staying here. Not to anyone.”

Kage threw up his hands. “Not a word, buddy. How’ve you been?” He was still searching, concerned at what my reaction would be.

At this point, I had no idea what to say to him. All the old emotions rushed into me, images of past fights keeping me on edge. “Fine. You look good.”

He shrugged and took another step closer, finally holding out his hand. “It’s amazing what the love of a good woman will do for you.” The moment he shifted his gaze toward Charmaine, I chuckled.

“Don’t go playing matchmaker. How long have you been here and how the hell did you get in my house?”

“Your security isn’t that tight, buddy. Besides, you know I always had an affinity for cracking safes. Locks are merely an unwanted formality. Been here about an hour and a half.”

I glanced down at his hand, my palm already sweating. I’d had no idea how I’d feel if and when I saw Kage again. I’d expected rage. Instead, I felt remorse. I shook his hand and he did something that surprised me.

He pulled me into a bear hug, clapping his hand on my back. There was tension between us, but slowly, my muscles started to relax. “It’s good to see you, man. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”

As he pulled back, he gave me one of the same looks he used to. “We both had a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. I’ve been working through mine with some help. I should say with a woman chiding me the entire time. But you’d like Juliette. She’s a pistol.”

“I know the type.” I glanced over my shoulder.

“Don’t talk about me that way while I’m in the room. You know what I’ll say.” Charmaine acted indignant, but I could tell she was teasing.

“The van outside?” I motioned toward the door.

“State of the art equipment. I didn’t know what you had so I brought my own,” Chuck answered.

Nodding, I glanced at Charmaine, finally taking the weapon from her hands. “I don’t know what we’re dealing with, but I do believe there’s a code hidden in a statement I managed to unlock. Just a feeling.”

“What kind of feeling?” Kage asked.

“That whoever created the system is someone we’ve had at least one experience with before. Maybe an old enemy.” Although that wasn’t what I was thinking.

A smile crossed Kage’s face. “That’s interesting. I’ll be eager to see what we’re dealing with.”

“Did you tell Chuck the story?”

“Enough. Don’t worry. He’s not a big talker.”

As if proving a point, Chuck zipped his lips with two fingers.

“You think Alfaro is behind this?” Kage continued.

“He’s definitely involved. Maybe determined to get into the pharmaceutical arena.”

Something lit up in Chuck’s eyes. “Two CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies lost their lives recently in what were called freak accidents.”

“You mean unexplained explosives,” I corrected.

“Two CEOs,” she repeated. “I think we’re right in our assumptions.”

If we were, the shit was about to get real.

“Maybe we should get started. I know you don’t want us in your hair very long.”

I glanced at Kage, finally able to grin. “You’re right. Thanks for dropping everything and heading out here.”

“Not a big deal. Juliette has every employee at the sanctuary wrapped around her little finger. Chuck was in the area, so I figured what the hell.”

Juliette. The woman who’d managed to steal his heart. I’d thought that impossible.

“Kage,” Charmaine said as she looked into his eyes. “What about my parents?”

He nodded. “Don’t worry. They are very safe. I’ve developed a close relationship with several folks in town. They are enjoying a quiet respite in a protected area with people watching them.”

“Are they aware of what’s going on?”

“If you’re asking if they are worried about you, absolutely. But they know what you’re doing is important.”

Kage turned his attention my way as if trying to reassure me he’d taken great precautions. I offered a nod of respect in appreciation.

“It’ll be good working with you. First things first,” I told him.

“I could use another beer,” Kage said, eyeing me warily.

Maybe he knew me too well. When I hauled off and issued a brutal punch, he wasn’t shocked, even as his body was pitched backward, crashing into the coffee table.

“What are you doing?” Charmaine threw out.

“What I promised I’d do.” I grinned as I peered down at him. The memories were bittersweet, yet they were also comforting. Maybe very little had changed between us after all.

Chuck stood stoically with an amused look on his face, still chomping on the sandwich.

Charmaine moved closer, crouching down beside Kage. “Don’t mind him,” she said, indicating she was talking about me. “He’s been a little grumpy lately.”

“I have not been grumpy.”

“Oh, yes, you have.” She tried to help him up and Kage glared at me while he rubbed his jaw.

“Don’t worry, Charmaine. I deserved that. But only once.” As he stood, we stared each other in the eyes.

At least we had an understanding.

In truth? It was good to have my buddy by my side, if only for an extended mission that I still didn’t want.

“This might take a little while,” Chuck said as he shifted his gaze from one screen to the other.