Chapter Seven
“Report,” Ben ordered Liam as soon as he walked through his front door. He marched up to Liam and glared at him. He thought he had left things in good hands leaving for only a few days, obviously, he had been wrong. Cora’s window had been broken, Commander Brady had been murdered along with his guards. Things hadn’t gone smoothly for him either. Hannah had almost been kidnappedagain in Portland and they discovered a trafficking ring. Hannah hadn’t been the first or the last victim but now it was shut down for good.
Liam turned away from talking to Hound in the living room and stood up to face Ben. “Hound is looking into the plate number I gave him from the car that was watching Cora’s house. It was to a rental company under a false name.
“And the window?” Benraised a skeptical brow.
“She thinks it’s a teen playing a prank, but the images on Hound’s cameras and what I saw I know to be different. It’s Alejandro’s men.”
Ben cursed and spun away rubbing a hand over his face. He took a calming breath before turning back and facing Liam. “Why make her a target?”
Liam looked away uncomfortably to Hound but the man just sat on the couch ignoring themas he worked on his computers. If Liam had been hoping the man would save him he had been sadly mistaken. “Cora set up security to protect Alejandro’s accounts.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?” Ben roared, the urge to smash something was strong but he didn’t want to ruin his stuff. Knocking Liam around however wasn’t a bad thought. Ben had always liked Cora; she didn’t have a mean bonein her body. She left Liam for her reasons and he respected that. She was as dedicated to her work as they were to their team. Something felt off. He had to get to the bottom of it.
“I’ve been trying to deal with it while you’ve been gone.” It was hardly an excuse. Liam just didn’t like an arguing woman. Put him in a firefight and he fought to the bitter end. Get a woman arguing with him andhe jumped ship every time.
“And how’s that working out for you?” Ben asked, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at his friend.
“She keeps kicking me out of her house every time I try to talk to her about it.”
Hound whispered something behind them never looking up from his computer but they chose to ignore him. This was between Ben and Liam. If Ben hoped to leave Liam in chargefor short periods when he was gone the man had to learn to step up.
“You need to try harder. So, she works for Alejandro and he broke her window. That doesn’t sound like a happy customer.”
“I may have something to do with that.” Hound said, finally looking up from his computer. “I’ve been tracking the money through the accounts that I found on the flash drive. It was how I discovered her involvement.I’ve been trying to hack her systems and I temporarily got in before she blocked me. I think he knows he was hacked and was sending her a message.”
“She’s been compromised you need to get her out,” Ben ordered Liam.
“It’s not that simple.”
“With a woman it never is.” A hint of a smile began to form.
If Cora was involved with Alejandro none of them were safe. And if someone was watchingher house they knew of her connection to them. Cora was in danger. She needed to be moved somewhere else. Same with Hannah. He had a feeling asking Hannah to hide would be easier than asking Cora.
“Especially with Cora. She’s stubborn and refuses to leave her house.”
“Use that charm you keep telling us you have. Make her if you must. If Alejandro gets his hands on her I don’t have to tellyou what would happen to her.” He didn’t want to scare Liam but they had all seen what happens to Alejandro’s victims. Cora needed to go somewhere safe now.
Liam nodded his headed. “Where’s Hannah?”
“She’s talking to Cora right now. Hopefully, she has better luck convincing your woman to leave.”
“She’s not mine,” Liam said absently, but they all ignored him. Cora was his no matter what hesaid. Liam didn’t want anyone but Cora. It was only a matter of time before they were back together.
“Are you bringing Hannah back here or somewhere else?” Hound asked Ben.
“I don’t feel it’s safe enough for her to be here right now. I tried leaving her at her parents but she refused. Said she wanted to see this thing through to the end. I was hoping we would stay at your place.”
“You don’teven have to ask.” Hound’s house was more of a fortress. It sat on several acres with high fences and more cameras and security than the Pentagon. He had one cluster of trees on the side of the property otherwise it was completely exposed. It made it harder for someone to sneak up on him. One would think he was protecting state secrets but he just liked security. Retinal and hand scanners wereneeded to enter any part of the property. It was the one place Ben knew Hannah would feel safest. If the security wasn't enough the armory with more weapons than any person needed would do the trick. It was almost scary the number of weapons he had.
"Good, once Hannah finishes with her visit with Cora we'll head your way."
"I'll head home now and get things ready." Hound rarely had guestsas he lived outside of town.
Ben waited for Hound to leave before turning his attention back on Liam. "I'm not kidding with Cora. She needs to either come to Hound’s or somewhere on base where Alejandro can't reach her."
"I'm working on it."
