“He has a long reach,” Travis replied resolutely. “It was a shit plan but fortunately not one that’ll happen, since I don’t have what you want.”
The silence stretched, growing thick with tension as the inevitable conclusion to Richards’s plan became clear. He wasn’t going to get what he came for. Something told me he wasn’t going to pick up and leave.
My heart hammered in my ears as my frightened gaze volleyed between the two men waiting for a conclusion I knew with a sinking feeling could mean the end of me or my brother.
Richards shrugged before his gaze turned toward me. “I hadn’t planned on you. I regret that,” he admitted, his eyes expressionless as he lifted his gun.
In a movement so swift I barely saw it, Travis’s hands shot out toward Richards, forcing his gun downward as a shot rang through the air with a deafening boom.
A burst of red appeared on Richards’s chest as he looked at me with wide-eyed shock. I realized I didn’t even know the man’s first name, and yet I was watching him die. He reached out to me as though I’d break his fall. I leaned back, watching with shock as he crumpled to the ground.
Travis kicked his gun away as the agent lay motionless on the ground. Sid raced toward us, gathering me up in his arms. “Christ, baby.” He panted with adrenaline and anguish. He pulled back when I didn’t respond, stooping low to look me in the eye. “Sam?” his voice was muffled through the ringing in my ears.
I looked back at him and through barely moving lips said the words that despite the terror still percolating in my veins would set us free.
“Now. Now it’s over.”
CHAPTER 23
In the chaotic aftermath that followed when law enforcement swarmed into Talon armed to the teeth, Sid didn’t leave my side. Even when the feds forced him into handcuffs—as a precaution, they said—he kneeled by my side with a growled, “I’m not leaving her.”
Theo and Declan had flanked us protectively, demanding repeatedly for the feds to check the Talon security footage. That’s all they needed to see to get the story straight, they’d lamented.
Finally, someone listened.
The moment he was released, Sid jumped to his feet, wrapping a muscular arm around me. Tension radiated from his body as he glared out at the chaos surrounding us.
Government-issued sedans and SUVs filled the Talon lot as suit-clad officials swarmed around us like angry bees.
“We’ll need your gun, Masters,” one of the agents ordered.
Sid glared at him. “Figured that. I left it on my desk,” he answered brusquely as his grip tightened around me. “We’ve been here an hour already. I want to know when I can take her home,” he demanded, his head cocked toward me. “My girl just had a fucking gun pointed at her head by one ofyourfucking agents. Not to mention the fact that you cuffed me. Wouldn’t have pissed me off much except it forced me to let go of her.” He seethed as he continued to glare at the man in silent challenge.
I’d never seen him so angry.
The agent swallowed hard against his wrath as Travis stalked over with a scowl on his face.
“Get your man under control, McAllister,” the agent tried to order my brother, though it came out more as a request.
Travis scoffed. “She’s his woman. She’s also my fucking sister.” He pointed a finger at me. The agent swallowed visibly again, an obvious tell that he was uncomfortable. Travis looked like he had a hell of a lot more to say, but another agent walked over.
“McAllister, Masters.” The man nodded toward Travis and Sid. He was older than the majority of the other agents, with gray hair cropped close to his head and a gaze that held years of experience. His dark eyes roved over me briefly before returning to Travis. He emanated a sense of authority and none of the nerves the agent we’d been speaking to betrayed. “Agent Peters is just doing his job. If you have a complaint, take it up with me.”
Travis’s expression hardened to stone. “A complaint?” he growled incredulously. “Yeah, Adams, I have a fucking complaint. I’ve been telling you for months that something wasn’t right with Richards. He was underyourcommand. All my guys felt it—that he was off. You chose to ignore that and it nearly got my sister killed.”
I noticed he didn’t mention how his own life had been on the line.
“My team has provided you with valuable intel and backup over the years. Until you can convince me you don’t have any more rats in your organization, that ends as of now. You’re also done questioning my men. Especially Masters. He’s got my sister to look after.”
Something passed between Travis and Sid then. I knew Travis had already given his blessing, but saying in so many words that I was Sid’s to care for when for so many years that was something Travis had done—well it meant a hell of a lot. That fact wasn’t lost on Sid as he offered my brother a chin lift, his eyes glittering with emotion.
Adams eyed Travis speculatively and I thought I saw respect glimmering in his dark eyes. I doubted the man was used to being stood up to. “All right, McAllister. I got you.” He nodded before his eyes turned to Sid and me. “I apologize on behalf of the Bureau. I can guarantee this will never happen again. Get her on home,” he told Sid, his eyes momentarily softening as he took in my exhausted posture as I sagged almost entirely into Sid.
Sid barely took a moment to nod before he was taking me by the arm and gently leading me toward his truck. “Come on, babe,” he coaxed.
I looked back over my shoulder at Travis, desperate to meet his gaze. He looked up at me, his familiar brown eyes meeting mine. He gave me a half smile and a wink that nearly broke me. It was the same look he’d given me when he’d been deployed the first time. When I was terrified of never seeing him again.
I’d thought him a hero then, as I had every day since.
