“You bitch,” he said menacingly as he drew his hand back to hit her again. She cringed, anticipating the blow when a gunshot stopped him in his tracks. She watched the blood blossom and seep from his stomach as his hand covered the fatal wound. He glanced at her, as if expecting her to save him. Rebecca never moved. As a CIA agent, she vowed to bring people to justice and uphold the law. As a woman hurt, punished, and kept in a cage, she felt he deserved a higher judgment than man’s and watched him die, hoping he burned in hell.
It seemed like hours as mere minutes passed. Small fires seemed to burn everywhere, and Rebecca’s body refused to move. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she saw Julio striding toward her. His expression turned dark as his gaze locked on hers.
Through the coms, she heard Leo echo the all clear, and the men rushed to the women’s aid. Ragu removed the drywall and chunks of wood off Mac’s legs and helped the dazed man to his feet.
Rebecca’s body hummed and she felt her blood pumping throughout her body. Voices grew muted as Julio walked acrossthe pile of wreckage to reach her, appearing like a warrior. The empty gun fell from her hand, and her face crumbled as he reached her. The arms she dreamed of nightly wrapped around her, giving her the security she craved as she buried her head into his shoulder and cried.
Julio carriedRebecca outside to place her by the tree. Leo caught his gaze and jerked his head, telling him to get out of there. Maybe this was what Leo meant when he said to keep his job and personal life separate. They subdued the bad guys, and now he needed to handle his shit.
Glancing around, he spied the barn and headed toward it. He set Rebecca on a bale of hay, sent a text, and saddled Satan. All the jumbled doubts over the last few weeks disappeared as his mind cleared and the woman who represented his life watched him, not knowing what to do.
Taking Satan from the stall, he lifted Rebecca onto the saddle and mounted behind her. As before, he moved carefully to avoid triggering her, but Rebecca lay back against him of her own accord. He directed the horse onto a small path which led down to the creek. When he stopped, she pushed away from him and jumped from the horse.
Julio tied Satan to a tree and warily watched her.
Rebecca’s fists clenched and unclenched as she paced back and forth. When he approached her, she turned and snarled, “You left me.”
“We got intel at the last minute. I needed you safe,” he argued.
“We’re partners,” she said, shoving him. “You didn’t fill me in. Do you think I felt safe when I found out the trafficking ring sent men here to retrieve us?”
“We didn’t discover they turned the trackers off until we apprehended the suspects. I called as soon as we learned about it,” Julio explained calmly.
“Rachel took a knife to my head,” she shouted. “You don’t even want to know how I feel about that.”
“Maybe I do,” Julio said patiently. “It’s been four weeks, Becca, and you avoid me at every turn. I don’t expect you to feel better about everything, but we can’t avoid it either.”
Rebecca gazed at the landscape as she shook her head. “I’m not ready to talk about it. I’m sorry. Before you say I need counseling, let me stop you. I’m angry I put myself in this position. My own partner betrayed me and I’m so stupid I didn’t see the signs. It seems like I’ve done everything perfectly all my life, and when I needed it the most, I fucked up.”
“Wait. What did you say?” Julio stared at her with wide eyes.
“I fucked up when?—”
“No,” he interrupted her, before that. “What about your partner?” he asked.
Rebecca’s eyes filled with tears. “I should’ve noticed it when you mentioned the mole at your office. We worked together and both of our offices signed off on the deal. Harrison betrayed me and blackmailed Director Jackson. They sent me on a wild goose chase to find Avie’s whereabouts. They pretended to kidnap all three of us and took us to a cabin, hoping I’d divulge the location of Avie and Deni. When they realized I wouldn’t give up her location, the men shut me in a room and led me to believe they tortured Jackson and Harrison. I escaped and nearly froze to death in the woods. I called for backup and they shot good men. I’m not sure who ordered the hits. My partner and one of thedirectors, besides Deputy Director Jackson, is involved within the CIA.”
Julio rubbed his forehead, piecing together the new intel. “I decided to surprise you on Christmas Day. When you didn’t text me back or answer my calls, I went to your apartment. I found it in shambles. Whoever tossed it, searched for something. After I cleared the apartment, your partner, Agent Harrison, showed up. He claimed you went missing after you reported for work. Two men entered with guns and we ended up in a shootout. Harrison informed me that the men were part of your team.”
She shook her head. “He couldn’t have shown up at my apartment. At the time we flew into Berlin, New Hampshire. They knew Avie lived close to there, but I always flew into different airports and drove the rest of the way.”
“Do you have a photo of him?” Julio asked.
“No. Leo gave me a new phone at the hospital. I left mine at the office and took the burner phone with me,” she explained. “I buried it after calling you on Christmas night.”
“We need to get back to the farmhouse. Matthew can help us identify who showed up at your apartment. How do you feel about flying to New York? It’s time you reported to work, and we sniff out the rat in your office. We caught one of the ringleaders for the Southeast quadrant. He’s singing like a canary, hoping to get a lesser sentence,” Julio informed her.
Rebecca swallowed. “We’ll have to go to my apartment first. On the plane home, I mapped out the stings when Rahimi escaped, and the last time I moved Avie. I suspected something, but didn’t get a chance to piece it all together. Rahimi escaped prison and fled the US. Then, he entered through Vermont. It seemed an odd guess, considering they didn’t know Avie’s whereabouts. I need to see the drive again and I can tell who ordered the hits in my office. Harrison didn’t act alone. Someone higher called the shots.”
Julio walked toward Satan and waited for her to make a choice. Her chin lifted as she approached and a spark of anger flashed in her eyes. Rebecca may have unresolved emotions about what happened to her, but fury topped her list. Making the man pay for killing part of her team and kidnapping her seemed more critical. Julio lifted her on Satan, and they headed back to the farmhouse. The hands and the team already started removing debris. A large hole appeared where the front door used to be, and the porch no longer existed. In the back, another gap took out the corner of the house.
They entered the front, finding Matthew packing his equipment and ordering his hands to take it to the truck. Annabelle and Ragu took the remaining women and children back to the cabins. Rachel ordered men to pack items into crates and stow them in the barn for the time being.
Seeing them approach, Leo strode toward them. “Ivan and his men will be here shortly. We can’t use this place, it’s not structurally sound. We’ll meet over at the in-law cottage next door. It seems Mr. Baskins has named Senator Williams and Congressman Hursh. They’re getting warrants for their arrests as we speak.”
Four black SUVs turned into the driveway, and Ivan’s men piled out. Without hesitating, they went to work with the hands, clearing the area. Ivan walked toward Leo, who pointed toward the cottage.
Leo’s team followed and the men went to work pulling chairs from different areas of the small house and gathered in the living room.
