Page 80 of Storm Warning

“Who hasn’t? The Company hates it when our operations cross paths with his.”

“Yeah? Well, he’s not a fan of the feds, either.”

Angie turned to Riley. “Are you a contract worker for Maddox’s group?”

Well, this would be interesting. Even though Angie knew Riley had been a field agent for The Company, she persisted inthinking of her as a computer nerd. “We’re members of black ops teams.”

Her friend groaned. “Oh, Riley. What have you done?”

“I’m good at my job, Angie.”

“I don’t doubt that.” She shook her head. “They never let you go. Don’t you understand that?”

Andre frowned. “Does The Company still have its hooks in you?”

“What do you think? I know where the bodies are buried. When I threatened to expose the powerhouses who would spend decades in prison, they made me swear to keep my mouth shut and threatened my family if I ever talked.”

Riley shrugged. “I don’t have a family to threaten.”

“Who matters to you most?”

Riley’s head whipped around, and she stared at Andre, horror growing inside her at the implication. Oh, no. Andre Marsh and her Artemis teammates were her family. The threats of kidnapping and death, were they part of a CIA plot to bring her back into the fold?

Andre shook his head. “Forget it, babe. I’m not budging, and neither will our team.”

“You can’t fight an organization as large and infiltrating as the CIA.”

“Watch me.”

Angie looked from one of them to another and back again. “Has Nate contacted you again? Is he threatening you or the people you love?”

Riley squeezed Andre’s hand before breaking eye contact with him and refocusing on Angie. She needed to tell Andre how she felt. It was time to speak the truth. “No. At least, I don’t think he has.”

“What does that mean?”

“Three men kidnapped me this week while we were in Mexico on a mission, then two other men attempted to abduct me in less than twelve hours here in the States but I haven’t seen Nate’s hands on this.”

“Yet.”

“I left The Company behind two years ago, Angie. They haven’t bothered me since the day I walked away. What could they want with me now?”

“Who knows?” She sounded bitter. “The power brokers are bloated with their own power. I’ll tell you this. If they are after you, there’s nowhere to hide. They’ll find you no matter how far or how fast you run.”

Nice to know they were like bloodhounds who never gave up. “They’re welcome to try.”

Andre squeezed Riley’s hand. “If they do, they’ll regret it. Riley is mine, and I protect what’s mine.”

Elias held up his hand. “She’s ours. The CIA doesn’t want to mess with us or Fortress. You aren’t the only one who knows where the bodies are buried, Mrs. Whitmore. If Berkley wants trouble, going after Brent Maddox’s company or his people will bring more than Berkley and The Company can handle.”

A door at the back of the house slammed. “Mom, what’s for dinner? I’m starving,” a youthful voice called.

“That’s my son. Please, my children don’t know I used to be a field agent. I never wanted that world to touch them.”

“They won’t hear it from us.”

She sighed, the relief clear on her face. “What will you do now, Riley?”

“Do you have any idea who might try to kidnap me?”