“Yep.” Sean rested one gun on his lap and put the shotgun on the floor. “I don’t know nothin’ about you, but if I need to shoot them, I will. Stay out of my way.”
Raider swallowed. “Stay out of mine, Sean. I’ll get Brigid back.” He’d brought her on this assignment, and he was her handler. No way in hell was he going to lose another agent. Especially this one. He had no problem dropping the entire op to save her.
The car fought him over the bumpy road as he increased his speed and followed Sean’s directions, but they burst out onto the runway just as a small plane lifted into the lightening sky.
“No!” Sean jumped out of the car, already firing his gun.
“Stop it.” Raider flung himself over the console, out of the car, and tackled the older man to the muddy ground, spinning the gun out of his hand. “You could hit Brigid or the fuel tank.”
Sean punched him, and that was the end for Raider. He flipped the ex-mobster onto his stomach and secured his hands at the back of his waist in a classic police takedown move.
“Let me go,” Sean said, struggling. “They’re getting away.”
Raider hung his head and let his neck relax. “I have friends coming. We’ll get her back.” He didn’t loosen his hold. “Trust me, Sean.” The man continued to struggle but finally subsided, blood flowing more freely from the wound in his arm.
“Why should I trust you?” Sean snapped, his face pressed against the dirt.
Raider sighed. “Because I’m HDD. I have the entire federal government on my side in this.” Well, sort of.
Sean stilled. “Ah, shit.”
Chapter Fourteen
The private plane that picked them up was owned by some buddy of Force’s, and the pilots weren’t happy about having to work on what should’ve been their week off, apparently. They’d frisked them both and tossed all weapons out in the brush, probably on orders from Force, actually. Once Raider and Sean had boarded and taken their seats, the pilots shut the cockpit door and didn’t emerge once for the rather short flight.
Sean didn’t utter a word, either. Instead, he closed his eyes and slept the entire time.
Raider sat across from him, a table between them. When they were close to DC, he tried again. “Sean. I’m telling you the truth. I’m with Homeland Defense, and you need to tell me what your job is with the Coonans.”
Sean’s green eyes slowly opened, already clear and focused. “I don’t work for the Coonans.”
Since Jonny P had just blown up Sean’s barn, that was probably the truth. “You did,” Raider said softly.
Sean didn’t even blink.
Fine. Raider ignored the constant worry that Brigid had been taken. She’d be safe for the twenty-four hours Jonny P had promised. “What do you have that they want?” It was a simple question, and Raider would get an answer. Period.
Sean just stared at him.
Raider slapped his badge and ID down on the table between them. “I already told you who I work for.”
“Those can be faked. Easily,” Sean said, crossing his arms across his still bare chest. Dried blood crusted the bandana now. “My girl wouldn’t be caught dead with a Fed.” Regret flashed for the briefest moment across his blunt features. “Unfortunately.”
“You think the government wouldn’t use her skills?” Raider countered. “She’s invaluable.”
Sean finally blinked.
“Yeah.” Raider pressed his point. “She got in a little trouble—doing a good thing, by the way—and the Feds made her a deal. She hacks and does a lot of good now. She’s helped more people than I can count, and I’ve only been her handler for a month.”
Sean’s chin lifted. “Her handler?”
Okay. That did sound wrong. “We’re not really engaged. It was a cover to get to you, because we thought you were working with the Coonans.” Raider watched Sean carefully for any tells. He still wasn’t sure the guy was out of the business, notwithstanding the burning barn. Was it possible that Jonny P and Josh were making a move against the Coonans? Unlikely, but he’d seen odder situations in the mob. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
“Brigid’s,” Sean said, his arms flexing. “My girl is in the arms of mobsters because you tried to use her for a mission. I’m going to kill you when this is done.”
Raider forced a smile. “Your girl is in the arms of mobsters because you used to be one, maybe still are, and they want something from you that you won’t hand over. Jonny called it a journal.” Of course, that was code for something. A ledger, perhaps? After all this time, what info would still matter? “And better men than you have tried to kill me. Good luck.”
Sean’s cheekbone twitched in what appeared to be a muscle spasm. “Brigid wouldn’t have been at the farm to get caught if you hadn’t brought her, asshole. This is on you.”
