Fearless For Love (Lovelly #3) (32 page)

I stop struggling against the guy who holds me and glare at Tony. “Keep laughing, Tony. Because the next time you come face to face with Killshot, you won’t get away with only a broken jaw,” I promise him.

“I guess he’d have to be alive long enough to make good on that, wouldn’t he?” He jerks his chin toward the men behind me and the next thing I know, something soft covers my nose and mouth, and a sweet smell takes over my senses. I faintly remember hearing Cat sobbing and calling my name as my body goes numb and I fall into oblivion.

“SO, WHAT’S THE plan?” Fisher asks, looking at me expectantly. We’re parked in front of Stamos’s favorite club in Jacksonville, the one he’s brought me to every time I’ve been summoned to his “office.” The one where we have no fucking idea what’s waiting for us inside. Well, aside from the electric eel, that is.

“I go in, find out what the hell is going on, and get the hell out,” I reply, turning to look at him.

“Is that all?” He raises an eyebrow.

“If everything goes according to the plan, yeah.”

“
Rrrright
. And when it doesn’t?”

I grin at him. “Plan B.” I pull out a laptop from the back and turn it on. Once I login, I open the program that Neil set up for me before I left the warehouse yesterday. “You get to record how awesome I truly am and use it to call in the cavalry.”

I pull out a small box from the glove compartment. In it is a chip, about half the size of a dime. I hold it up. “And this, my friend, is the latest FBI invention. Don’t ask me how it’s built, because even though Neil’s explained it to me about a thousand times, I still don’t understand all that nerdy jargon.”

“How do you . . . get this kind of stuff?”

I grin up at him. “Because people think I’m awesome and they want to give me cool toys?”

He shakes his head. “All right, how do I use it?”

I click a few buttons to get it started. I then stick the chip just inside my shirt collar. An image of the car starts to appear on the laptop—two bodies that somewhat look like us with red heat signatures in the middle.

“Is that . . . ?” Fisher asks, waving his hand. On the screen, the body in the passenger side does too. “Holy shit.”

“Yup. Pretty awesome, right?”

“Hell yeah it is.” He waves his hand again, but outside of the car. His on-screen replica does the same. “This is awesome. Why haven’t these been handed out to agents in the field?”

“Something about cost and being in testing phase or something.” I shrug. “Anyway, this thing gets about a two-mile radius.” Just then, my phone rings. I pull it out and see it’s Neil.

“Hell—”

“I dug a little deeper, and you were right, Agent Lovelly,” Neil cuts me off, very much not his usual cool self.

“Hello to you too, Harris.”

“Something is off about this meeting. The other bosses, the ones who are supposed to be traveling in from all over the world, haven’t moved from their locations in days. And from what I’ve heard from Interpol and our agents on the ground, they’re in a holding pattern. All indications point to the meeting either being canceled or a hoax.”

“Hmm . . . okay.” I look to the side and see Fisher digging out his phone, a goofy look on his face. “Have you told Wilson?”

“Yes. And he strongly suggests that you not meet with Stamos tonight. He thinks it might be a trap, that your cover’s been blown somehow.”

“What?” I hear Fisher yell. “What happened? Are you okay?”

That doesn
’
t sound good
.

“Okay. Thanks, Harris.”

“Agent—”

I don’t wait for him to say anything else, hanging up and turning to Fisher just as he does the same.

“What’s wrong?” I demand.

“I’ll kill the bastard. How fucking dare he—”

“Fisher! What the
hell
is going on?” I’m yelling now.

He gives me a look that’s pure anger. One I haven’t seen in a very, very long time. Panic shoots through me. Without even realizing it, I’m calling Jess, but it goes to voicemail.

Shit
.
Shit
.
Shit
.

My stomach plummets. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.

“What did Neil say about going inside?” Fisher asks.

I look at him, incredulous. “What the fuck does that matter?”

“Because, well, I’m pretty sure it’s a trap, man.”

I feel my blood rush through my body as my adrenaline spikes. My hands shake as I ask, “Why?”

“Because . . .” He looks at me like he knows he’s about to blow my world to pieces, and I know even before he says it. “Tony has Jess, and he’s bringing her here.”

I KNOW WILSON won’t be happy. But I have no choice. I told Fisher to call Neil back as soon as I got into the building, to tell him the developments and get him to relay a message to Wilson. And, just like Harris had, he warned me that I’ve probably been made, and that I’m a dead man if I step inside that building. I know that, but really, what are my options? I have to go in there. I have to keep my promise to keep Jess safe.

Funny, when I said that to her earlier, I didn’t know this was how things were going to unfold. But it turns out fate is a crazy bitch, and she has wicked sense of humor.

If I’m lucky, I’ll have backup here in less than two hours. And if I’m not, well, at least I went down swinging. But I sure as hell am not going to wait in the parking lot, sitting on my ass while Stamos pulls all the strings.

I turn down the hall to Stamos’s office and shove open the double doors as I make my grand entrance. The usual bodyguards waiting just inside draw their guns and point them at me. “Take it easy, boys. No need for such a warm welcome.”

“Harrington Lovelly,” Stamos’s cool, composed voice greets me. He sitting in his throne behind the desk, like always.

My step falters a little, but I pull myself together before it becomes noticeable. Fuck. He fucking knows who I am.

Well . . .

Shit. Fisher and Harris were right.

“Kaboom goes the dynamite.” I extend my hands, drawing them out from the middle to mime an explosion. “So, what gave it away?”

“Please, Mr. Lovelly.” He gestures to the chair in front of him and I take it. There’s no point in fighting it. Stamos’s guys are good. I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t absolutely sure. The question now is, how much of my real identity does he know? “Actually, it was your generosity. Remember the friend you tried to save? Krish?”

I take a deep breath. He was supposed to be in WITSEC by now.

“Well, color me surprised, but he came to me with an offer. Your life for his and his grandmother’s.”

Little fucker
.

“See, the thing is, I didn’t believe him at first, with his tall tales about magical FBI transports and WITSEC offers. I thought he was high on pain medication from his unfortunate . . . accident. But then I had him do some more digging, deep down in that brain of his, until he found something that convinced me. He was quite eager to please me, you see.”

I curl my hands into tight fists. “Where is he now?”

Stamos laughs. “If you wish to seek revenge, I’m afraid you can’t. My techniques of persuasion can be . . .” He waves his hands around, looking up toward the ceiling like he’s searching for the right word. Then he looks pointedly at me. “A little overwhelming, shall we say, for the weak. So I had to send him packed in ice to his sweet grandmother. I must say, she’s a lovely lady.”

“You’re a sick son-of-bitch, you know that?”

He ignores me, continuing his monologue like he’s a villain in some Shakespearian play. “I’ve had my guys look into you since then, Mr. Lovelly, and I must say, you’ve got some powerful friends. So, which are they? The FBI, the CIA . . . ?”

I laugh. So the Big Bad Wolf knows I’m a mole, but not who I belong to. I can work with that. “You wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you.”

He looks at his goons, who still have their guns trained on me, and starts to laugh. “Is that right?”

I nod, crossing my left leg over my right knee.

“Try me.”

“All right. I’m doing a college research project on how fucked-up kids will be if they drop out of school and join gangs. And I thought, hey, who better to write about than Stamos and his dumbfucks.”

“I gotta say, Mr. Lovelly,” he says, chuckling with ease, “your wit has always amazed me.”

“Glad to be of service.”

“But, since we’re being honest and all, how about we talk about that girl you’ve become quite chummy with . . .” He snaps his fingers, like he’s trying to remember her name.

My hands curl into tight fists and I fight to keep my emotions in check. I don’t know where this is going yet, and I need to buy time for the strike team to arrive. I can’t lose my cool just yet. No matter how much I want to smash his face into that fancy oak-wood desk.

“Jessica,” one of the douchey bodyguards offers.

Stamos jerks his chin toward Goon #2 and he disappears out the still-open office doors.

“Ah. Yes. Jessica Owens. That’s it.” Stamos gets to his feet and walks around until he’s standing behind me.

“Get your hands off me!” I hear Jessica yell. The sounds of struggle and someone being dragged into the room echo around me.

My fingers curl around the handle of the chair. I fight the urge to turn around and look at her. I refuse. I can’t see her like that, can’t see what I’ve done to her. This is my fault. All my fault.

“How are you, darling?” Stamos says, “Hope your shagging over the weekend was enjoyable.”

I’m on my feet then, spinning around, this close to pouncing on him. But two of his men hook their arms under my armpits and pull me back. “You—”

My heart stops and my vision blurs as I see Jessica, her hands tied behind her back, standing between two more of Stamos’s thugs, looking small and terrified as she tugs feebly at her restraints.

No! Nononono!

I jerk, trying to get free from guys holding me. Jessica stills, her eyes wide as she locks her gaze with mine. “Harr—”

She catches herself before blowing my cover, not realizing that it’s already been shattered, and I realize she’s protecting me. Me. When it should be the other way around. After everything—

Stamos coos. “Aww, young love.”

I grunt, jerking my body to the left, then right.

“Ah. There it is.” Stamos’s smug face appears, blocking my view of Jess. God I’d love to see his face at the end of my boot.

I jerk hard, using my full body weight this time, and the guy to my left is thrown off balance. I use that chance to drop to my knee and punch the other guy in the ribs. He stumbles backward, toppling over. I hear guns clicking and feet shuffling to surround me. But I’m too pissed to care. I see the gun in Goon #1’s hand and I react lightning fast. Shoving his hand to the side, I grab his gun and punch him on the inside of his bicep, elbowing him in the face when he jerks forward. He lets go of the gun and falls into a heap on the floor, groaning, blood spewing from his mouth.

I turn and point the gun at Stamos. My breath is coming in heavy pants. “Let her go, Stamos, or I put a bullet through your head.”

He smirks and crosses his arms, defiant. “Interesting, isn’t it? You see, finding the right kind of motivation has never been a problem for me.”

“I’m not asking again, Stamos. Let her go, or I—”

He laughs, clapping his hands. He looks at something behind me and waves his hand. I adjust my gun and my footing, but refuse to take my eyes off him. He’s bluffing. The two goons I took out haven’t recovered that quickly.

“Don’t be silly, Mr. Lovelly. If I really wanted her dead, I’d have killed her already. I simply brought her here so we could talk.”

The gun in my hand feels heavy. I crab-walk around so I’m now perpendicular to Stamos, the gun pressing into his temple. I grind my teeth. I want to kill him. Just kill this asshole and make it all go away. I could do it. I could totally put a bullet through his head and take out the guy that’s holding Jess before he pulls the trigger. But a part of me still struggles, pointing out that I’d be no better than Stamos if I did.

“Let her go,” I snarl.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll promise that she won’t be harmed while we wrap up our business, and you tell me what I want to know. After that, I’ll let her go.”  

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?”

He laughs. “Promises are all that I have in this business.” He looks at me, not a fleck of fear in his eyes. “Now, put down the gun, Mr. Lovelly.”

I hesitate, staring at him. But then my eyes focus on Jess; I can see her just over his shoulder, this girl who showed me not to be afraid of loving again. To be fearless when it comes to fighting for love. She looks at me, determined, silently encouraging me to shoot the bastard, and my heart clenches. The girl who was so afraid of anger and fighting is now encouraging me to be what she feared. And I can’t do it. I don’t want to be that man. So I drop my aim, putting both my hands up in the air.

Stamos smiles victoriously. “See, that wasn’t so bad.” Then he snaps his fingers and the two assholes guarding Jess drag her from the room. I cringe as her protests ring through the air and pray this all works out in my favor.

Hold on
,
sweetheart
.
It
’
ll all be over soon
.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Stamos returns to his throne behind the desk and sits.

“I prefer you buy me dinner before you screw me,” I reply, studying the room.

He points his finger and shakes it. “See, this is what I’m talking about.” He leans forward, his arms on the table, chuckling. “Your sense of humor—hmm. It gets me every time.”

One of the white-suited guards—the one I tagged in the gut earlier—pours two glasses of brandy, handing one to Stamos and the other to me. I half expected him to spit in mine.

Stamos watches me as he takes a sip. “You know what men like you are for, Mr. Lovelly?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“They’re used for tasks that other men are too important to partake in. Men like you are easily disposed of, and not a single person cares what happens to them. In other words, you’re nothing but a bottom feeder.”

I feign disinterest.

“But you see, in my opinion, someone with talents like yours should never be at the bottom of the food chain. You need to be up at the center of everything.”

“You know, I’m so glad you get it. I’ve been trying to tell everyone since I was yea high”—I place my hand flat at about my shoulder—“that I’m too good for this world, but nobody would listen.”

“Well, I’ll see to it that you’re never at the bottom of the food chain again. By all rights, I should kill you. I don’t take kindly to a mole in my midst, as you very well know. But there’s something about you, Mr. Lovelly, that brings out my generosity, and I’ve decided to let you live.”

“And I’m certain you expect nothing in return.”

He places his whiskey on the table and smiles. “I am a businessman, Mr. Lovelly, and I’d hate to waste a talent such as yours just because we couldn’t come to terms. I want you to work for me.”

I arch an eyebrow, confused. “I don’t follow. I already work for you, and I’m not exactly Employee of the Month. ”

He laughs. “No, you most certainly are not.” He locks his fingers together, leaning forward. “I want you to keep your current job—your
other
current job—and do for me what they wanted you to do for them. I want you to be a double agent, a spy loyal to me instead of whatever halfcocked government agency you represent.”

Interesting. Can’t say that I saw that one coming. But I keep my face carefully composed and take a sip of my drink while I contemplate how to respond. “I’ve been told that my ability to be highly adaptable is one of my best qualities. But to be a watchdog . . . ? I honestly feel a little insulted.”

“Call it whatever you like. But you watch my back, and you’ll never have to worry about money or keeping that pretty girl of yours safe again.”

My composure falters as rage floods my system at the mention of Jess, but I pull it back, masking it behind another sip of brandy. It really is good brandy.

“Think about all the things you could do at my side,” Stamos continues, not noticing my sudden change in demeanor.

My bones and muscles tighten up as I listen to him drone on. I feel like I’ve been injected with adrenaline. And it’s telling my body to find a way out and get this shit taken care of. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. I slam my glass down on the desk and smile sweetly at his startled expression.

“That sounds like a wonderful plan, really. And I’m honored that you’d think of me. However, I’m going to have to decline your offer and ask you shove it up your ass. If you can’t do that, I’m more than happy to shove it for you, because I too am feeling generous right now.”