Yes.
And you overheard them making a threat against me?
Not by name.
Then how do you know?
They called you Bombshell Barbie.
She arched an eyebrow at him. And that told you it was me?
No. What told me it was you was that one of them said you were dangerous as hell and wouldnt go down without a fight. The combination of the twothe nickname and the statement about your fighting spiritthats what told me it was you.
She stifled a smile, not sure she should feel quite as complimented as she did. Bombshell Barbie, huh?
He held up his hands. I didnt come up with it.
I know. Im pretty sure a guy named Marty Tucker did. He was up to his nasty eyeballs in the BRI until he shot himself trying to escape a colony of bats.
Bats?
Long story. He lived. Now hes in state prison, serving time for kidnapping and other assorted crimes. Sadly, hes chosen to keep all his secrets about the BRI to himself, so were not any closer to bringing them down than we were before. She frowned. Matter of fact, theyve been really quiet recently. No chatter coming out of there at all that weve heard.
Until now.
Until now. She cocked her head. How long have you known about this target on my back?
Two days.
And you didnt think to call and warn me?
He slanted a look at her. Youd have believed it was me on the other line?
Probably not, she admitted.
I knew youd need proof.
What kind of proof?
An audio recording of the BRIs plans.
An electric pulse of excitement zinged through her. You have that?
He shook his head. Not on me. I didnt want to risk getting caught with it. I put it in a safe place.
Where?
I cant tell you that. Not yet.
Her spine stiffened, and angry heat warmed her face. You cant tell me? Im the one in danger and you cant tell me?
His gaze flicked around the cozy room. How do you know this place isnt wired for sound?
I check it periodically for bugs, she said flatly, trying to control her frustration.
Using what equipment? Something you got from work?
Yes. She met his questioning look without flinching, even though she knew where he was going with the question. And yes, I realize Quinn probably has a way to get around a bug detector he himself supplied. But I trust him with my life.
Landrys eyes narrowed and he pulled back. Really? Well, I dont.
She bit back a protest and counted to ten. Landry had no reason to trust Quinn, after all. Or anyone else, she supposed, considering what he claimed hed been through over the past few months. Fair enough.
Its safe for now.
But the BRI is still after me?
He nodded, easing forward again. I dont know the timing of what they have in the works. I know only what theyre planning to do. What you need to look for.
Another chill washed through her, raising goose bumps on her arms and legs. Do you mean to keep that a secret, too?
A small flicker in the corner of his eye was his only reaction to her blunt question. No, of course not.
So what do I look for?
First, its not going to be your standard hit. No sniper shot, nothing like that.
She had an unsettling sense of unreality, listening to Landry speak of her impending death as if it was just another case to be investigated. Is that good news or bad news?
His gaze snapped up to meet hers. None of this is good news.
Right.
He suddenly reached across the space between them, closing his hand over hers. As if hed read her earlier thoughts, in an urgent tone he added, This is not just another case for me, Livvie. No matter what happened between us two years ago, you will never, ever be just another case for me.
As she stared at him, heat spreading through her from the point where his fingers had closed around hers, he let go and sat back, clearly struggling to regain his cool composure.
Im sorry, she murmured. Go on.
Theyre going to take you when youre alone. So you need to make sure youre never alone.
Thats impossible.
Look, I know your boss offered you the chance to stay at the office with some of the other agents. Maybe you should do that.
She looked at the whiteout conditions outside the cabin window. Too late for that.
He followed her gaze. Im sure your boss could come up with some way to get you out of here.
She shook her head quickly. Landry, Im safe enough here. For now, anyway. Im armed and its not easy to get here in the snow. And youre here, right?
He nodded toward the rolltop desk. But Im unarmed.
She met his warm gaze, trying to be objective, to put everything from their past, good or bad, out of her mind and just assess the situation as an agent.
Hed shown up unannounced, after having disappeared for nearly a year, and told her that hed been working with the same dangerous militia group he now said had made her a target for assassination. But hed come alone and warned her of the danger against her. Hed had the opportunity to hurt her earlier, when hed got the drop on her with her Mossberg shotgun, but hed done nothing to hurt her.
Was he trying to pull some sort of scam? Was this story about hillbilly assassins part of some bigger plan the BRI had hatched?
Or was he telling her the truth?
Why? she asked finally.
His eyebrows twitched upward. Why did I come? I told you
She shook her head. Nowhy has BRI targeted me specifically? Do you know?
They didnt say. At least, not the part of their discussion I was able to overhear.
What about your friend? The kid whose uncle is a BRI member. Would he be able to find out why theyve targeted me?
If I could get in touch with him, yes. But thats very dangerous. Even more so for him than for me. He took a big chance letting me sneak in to eavesdrop on the meeting. If either of us had been caught...
She quelled a shudder as her mind finished the sentence for him, in vivid, brutal images. Shed seen the lengths to which the BRI would go to carry out a plan. I get it.
After the snow thaws, Ill see if I can reach him. But Ill have to be very careful.
She pushed to her feet, nervous energy getting the better of her. There has to be something I can do while were waiting. Research or something
He stood and crossed to her, closing his hands around her arms and pulling her to face him. His expression was fierce at first, but it softened when she met his gaze.
Ill tell you everything I can remember from what I overheard, he said in a tone so earnest, so familiar, it made her heart ache. This all has to be confusing and disturbing
Dont do that, she murmured. Dont handle me.
Slowly, he dropped his hands away from her arms, but the sensation of his touch lingered, making her feel jittery and unsettled. Lets sit down, okay? Take a second and breathe.
He was still handling her, but at least he wasnt touching her. She returned to the armchair, and he sat on the coffee table in front of her.
So close. So palpable a temptation.
They managed to get someone inside The GatesMarty Tucker, I presumebut he was inside before you got there. They dont assume their limited success with Tucker can be repeated, especially since youre still there, sniffing out any possible traitors in your midst.
How do they know that?
They said Quinns not trying to hide that information. In fact, he made sure it got out through some of the information channels the BRI already knows are compromised.
Olivia straightened, alarmed. Quinn put information about me and my role at The Gates out there for the BRI to hear? Deliberately?
You didnt know?
She shook her head.
See why Im not sure we can trust your boss? he asked softly.
She pressed her lips to a thin line, not ready to speak ill of Quinn to anyone, especially Cade Landry. But Quinn should have warned her, damn it! Hed deliberately made her a target by putting the information out there about her role at The Gates.
Was her life a bargaining chip in his plan to take down the BRI?
He set you up as bait. Landrys voice was a soft growl.
If youre telling me the truth.
I am.
She wished she could say she didnt believe him. But the truth was, setting her up as bait without warning her was exactly the kind of thing Alexander Quinn would do. He was always, always about the bottom line. Get the job done whatever it took.
Even if what it took was putting one of his employees in the line of fire to set a trap.
So theyre targeting me? Do they think he wont find someone else to do what Im doing?
Theyre not going to kill you.
But you said I was a target.
You are. But remember when I said they were going to take you? I really meant take you. Theyre looking to take you captive.
Why?
They seem to think they can use you to break someone.
She frowned. Someone? Who?
Landry dropped his gaze, his expression enigmatic as he silently studied his hands for a long moment. When he finally looked up again, an unspoken question darkened his green eyes. After listening in to Quinns conversation with you this afternoon, I think theyre planning to use you to get to him.
Why? Why do they think that would get them anything?
He held her gaze, the questions in his eyes multiplying. You tell me. I asked you this before, but you didnt really answer. Is something going on between you and Quinn? Are you lovers?
No, she answered bluntly. I mean
His eyebrows quirked. You mean?
Were not lovers. But there have been times She swallowed with difficulty, suddenly overcome by the acute awareness that Alexander Quinn might have her cabin wired for sound. She took a bracing breath and continued. There have been times I thought he wanted to be.
Hes in love with you?
I dont think Quinn has ever loved anyone that way, she said with a soft laugh. But hes a man.
And youre a beautiful woman. Who seems very alone.
She looked up at him. I choose to be alone.
Why? He shook his head. Youre not a loner, Livvie. You enjoy being around other people. You like companionship.
That was two years ago. My life is very different now. For one thing, Im too busy for relationships. My job is dangerous and thankless, and I dont want to inflict that kind of stress on someone else.
Even one of your fellow agents at The Gates? Theyre working the same stressful job. They understand the long hours, being on call
Why are you pressing this issue? Do you want me to tell you Ive moved on from you? I have. It was two years ago. Her voice rose with emotion. When I left the FBI, I didnt look back. Are you happy?
No. He stared back at her, his nostrils flaring. No, Im not happy.
She snapped her mouth shut and looked away.
I know I drove you away. To this day, I dont know how to trust you again, but I have missed you every single moment. The smell of you haunts my dreams. I can close my eyes and conjure up a vivid memory of the sun glinting off your hair that long weekend we spent on Assateague Island. I can feel the thunder of horse hooves beneath my feet when that wild herd ran past us on the beach. I can remember the way your laugh rang in my ears like music.
He hadnt moved an inch closer, hadnt reached out across the distance between them, but his voice caressed her, seduced her, until she felt a throb of desire pulsing low in her belly.
I didnt come here to get you back. Or ask for another chance, he said in a deep growl that made her think of long, hot summer nights naked in his arms. But I dont know if I could keep on living if you werent.
He moved then, rising to his feet and pacing across the room to the window. Outside, the snowfall continued, barely visible in the deepening dusk. Soon night would fall, silent and deep in the snowbound woods.
And she would be alone with the only man shed ever let herself love.
She couldnt stop herself from rising to join him at the window. He turned slowly to face her, his face half in shadow.
Theyre wrong, she said. The BRI, I mean.
About what?
Alexander Quinn might very well want to sleep with me. He might even feel some level of affection for me. But he wouldnt hesitate to sacrifice my life if he believed it would serve justice in some way. Thats the sort of man he is. So if your friends in the Blue Ridge Infantry believe they can use me to control him in any way, they are sadly mistaken.
That wont stop them from trying.
She lifted her chin. Let them try.
His eyes narrowed as he held her gaze, studying her as if hed never seen her before. Youre different, he murmured finally, reaching up to brush a piece of hair away from her cheek. His fingers lingered a moment, and she felt how work-roughened theyd become since the last time hed touched her that way.
He dropped his hand to his side. Do you trust me enough to give me back my weapon?
Trust might not be the right word, she thought, but she was willing to take the risk. Yes.
He moved away from her to the rolltop desk and retrieved his pistol, reloading it with both speed and skill. Any chance you have more 9 mm ammo around?
Of course.
His gaze lifted to meet hers, a slow smile spreading over his face, carving dimples into his cheeks and taking a decade off his appearance. Shouldve known.
As she started toward the hall closet where she kept her extra weapons and ammunition, the lights went off, plunging the cabin into gloom relieved only by the dying fireplace embers.
There goes the power, she said with a sigh, detouring toward the hearth to coax the fire back to life.
Wait, he murmured as she reached for the poker. He was much closer than shed expected; she hadnt heard his approach.
What? she asked, her voice dropping to a near whisper.
How sure are you that the snow caused the power to go out?
Its not unusual during a snowstorm
He tugged her away from the window. Or during a siege.
Chapter Five