Assassin's Promise, The Red Team Series, Book 5 (14 page)

“I never knew him. He died when I was still quite young.”

Greer paused mid-stroke to look at her. “I’m sorry.”

Remi shrugged. “It wasn’t a loss for me. I never knew anything different. My mom was pretty good at wearing both pairs of shoes.”

“I can tell.”

“How?”

“She raised a strong woman.”

“I’m not strong, Greer. I’m curious, determined maybe, but not terribly brave.”

He made the last stroke against his skin, then rinsed the remaining foam from his face. He patted his face dry, then stepped between her legs.

He took hold of her hands. “You should see yourself from my eyes.”

Her gaze met his. Her lips thinned. “What do you see?”

“A warrior.”

“A warrior?” she echoed with a disbelieving huff.

“Not all warriors wield knives and guns, Remi. Sometimes, simple resistance makes a person a fighter. Refusing to cave to wrongful domination or bullying is the bravest act of all.”

She frowned and tilted her head, wary suddenly. She blinked and pushed him back, then hopped off the counter and left the bathroom. He watched her go, wondering what it was he’d said that hit wrong.

He finished gearing up, then went to the living room. She was sitting on the sofa, leaning over her laptop on the coffee table. She didn’t look up when he joined her.
 

“Hungry?”
 

Her gaze took in his Beretta holstered at his waist, then slipped away as if she hadn’t noticed it. She nodded. “Where do you want to eat? There’s nothing here.”

“We’ll go to my friend’s house. He has plenty of food.”

She collected her purse and put her laptop in its bag. “You’re going to raid your friend’s fridge?”

“Why not? He keeps it stocked.” Greer grinned. “We’ll go in quietly. He won’t know we’ve been there.” He walked to the door and held it open for her.

“Until his eggs are gone…”

Greer lifted his brows as she walked past him. “Geez. How many eggs do you eat?”
 

She sent him a glare over her shoulder. “The phone book showed a diner in town. We could go there.”

Greer went to open the passenger door for her. “Maybe tomorrow.”

She stepped around the SUV, then paused, her attention snagged by the black ravine where Mandy’s riding center had been. She walked slowly to the edge. Greer knew it had been too dark to see last night, but the sunlight couldn’t hide the stark devastation below. The new construction crew had already started cleaning up the site, but the huge piles of rubble did little to improve the site’s curb appeal.

“This wasn’t an accident, was it?”

He shook his head.

“Who did it?”
 

“The people we’re after. The ones who have Sally. This is why we’re taking your safety pretty seriously.”

She looked up at him, her eyes weary, green, and friendless. She crossed her arms. “I was hoping the last few days weren’t real.”

He didn’t look away. Honesty was best served fast, cold, and straight up. “It happened. Your world’s sitting on its head. It’s possible, though, that we can put it back to rights.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Greer took two long breaths. His nostrils flared as he answered. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because the bad guys don’t get to fuck with the good guys.”
 

The sigh she made relaxed her shoulders. She nodded at him. “Where’s my car?” she asked.

“It’s at my friend’s house.”
 

She got in the SUV. Greer shut her door, then went around to the driver’s side and got in.
 

She leaned back in her seat as she snapped the seatbelt. “I’m going on blind faith right now, you know.”

He put his shades on. “Yeah. I get the feeling it ain’t your first time on that ride.”

* * *

They rolled down the driveway and turned in a direction leading away from town. Before she could ask him where they were headed, he turned onto another driveway. She sent a questioning look his way, but his hard profile revealed nothing. There was no point asking him anything. She wouldn’t understand his cryptic answer anyhow.
 

She faced forward as they crested a hill. A huge, sprawling mansion came into view. A couple more SUVs were parked in front, along with her car. “This is your friend’s place?”

Greer pulled around to the garage. “We’ll take the back way in.”

“Are we allowed to be here?”

Greer grinned at her. “Try being anywhere else.” He parked off to the side. She got out, clutching her purse and laptop bag.
 

“I don’t have a good feeling about this.” She sent Greer a worried look, then caught his arm. “Let’s not do this.”

He pushed his shades to the top of his head. His cinnamon eyes reflected the light from the concrete drive, making them eerily bright. “I know there’s nothing I can say or do that will make you feel more comfortable.”
 

“For starters, we could not sneak into your friend’s house.”

A corner of his mouth lifted in a slight curl. “Maybe we’ll grow on you.”

And that made about as much sense as anything else he’d ever said. She followed him through the garage, where three more SUVs were parked. At the door to the house, he turned on the top step and put a finger to his lips, motioning her to silence. His eyes laughed, though, ruining his warning.
 

She followed him in, sticking closely behind him. As soon as the door opened, sound flooded them. Women and children and men and dishes clattering. And oh, the delicious scent of breakfast.
 

“Is this a restaurant?” she asked.

He looked back and smiled. “You’d think so.”
 

A middle-aged woman came into the kitchen with an empty serving dish. “Greer—you’re back.”

“Hi, Kathy,” he greeted her. “This is Dr. Remington Chase. She’s gonna be with us for a while.” He looked at Remi. “Kathy’s responsible for that wonderful smell you’re enjoying.”

Kathy smiled. “Dr. Chase. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, please, you can call me Remi.”

“Kathy’s our housekeeper, cook, and jack of all trades. We’d be lost without her and her husband.” Greer sent the older woman a smile, then glanced at Remi. “If you like, you can leave your things in here.” He nodded, indicating her purse and laptop case.

“No. I’ll bring them.”

A swinging door separated the kitchen from the next room. He held it open for her. She stepped out into the dining room, which went silent as those assembled noticed her. Five women, seven men, and two children. The gathering looked familial. What the hell was going on here?
 

Greer slipped past her. He lifted his hand to indicate the group. “Everyone, this Dr. Remington Chase. Doc, this is everyone. Max isn’t here, but you met him last night.”

A redheaded lady who was helping a little boy straightened and held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Mandy. I’m with Rocco.” She pointed to one of the dark-haired men she met last night. “This is his son, Zavi. We heard you were helping the guys.”

She nodded at Rocco and smiled at his boy. “I hope I can help them, but I’m afraid it may be an unequal exchange.”

“Don’t know if Greer told you, but the house you’re staying at is where I live. Well, where I used to live.” She flashed Rocco a look. “It was my grandparents’.”

“Thanks for letting me stay there. It’s very comfortable.” Remi didn’t bring up the huge black crater next to Mandy’s house—she supposed it might be a sensitive subject in this group.

Another woman came over to them. Dark-haired with midnight blue eyes. “Hope you’re hungry! Grab a plate and help yourself.” She held out a hand. “I’m Ivy.”

“Nice to meet you,” Remi said.

“You’ve probably met my husband, Kit. That’s our daughter, Casey.”

Remi glanced across the table to Greer’s team leader, who was regarding her with a measuring look. She nodded at him, then looked around the table. She’d met all the men, but none of the women—until now. Three more introduced themselves. Hope, Eden, and Selena, who was dressed like Greer in a black tee and cargo pants with a pistol strapped to her thigh. She had to be another mercenary.
 

Remi was curious about the group. They all seemed healthy and happy and vibrantly alive…but happiness could be faked and fear hidden under masks of complacency—as she well knew.

Greer led her around the table to two open chairs. Once she’d put her things down, he gestured toward the long buffet overflowing with breakfast choices, hot and cold. “See why I wanted to come here?”

“You had me thinking we were sneaking into your friend’s house.”

“This
is
my friend’s house.” Greer nodded toward one of the guys. “Blade owns this fortress.”

“It’s a lovely home…Blade.” She scoured her mind, trying to remember if the brown-haired, gray-eyed man had been introduced to her by his name or his nickname.

Remi filled her plate with eggs and fruit, then returned to her seat. There was a lot of movement in the room. People came and went.
 

Greer sipped his coffee as she finished the last bite of her fruit. The few remaining people in the room were having quiet conversations.
 

Out of the blue, Kit nodded and said, “Great. We’re heading down now.” He got to his feet and kissed his wife’s forehead. “Lion’s here. We gotta go.”

She caught his sleeve. “Kit, let the boy eat first. Please.”

Kit stared at his wife a long minute, then scowled. Looking into the middle distance, he issued an order. “Max, bring him up. Ivy wants him fed.”

Remi leaned over and asked Greer in a whisper, “Who’s he talking to? How?”

Greer pointed to his ear. “We wear a communication device. I’ll have to join them in a meeting. I imagine you have some work you can do for a little while?”

She nodded and set her fork down.
 

“You can stay in here and do it, or use the living room, or park yourself on the patio. Please don’t leave the grounds. If there’s anything you’d like to eat or drink, help yourself from the kitchen.” He gave her the wireless info she would need to connect.

Max came in with a young man close on his heels.
 

“Lion!” Hope hurried over to hug him, then led him over to the buffet table. The boy was nearly a man. He was almost as tall as Kit, with broad shoulders his lanky build didn’t yet support. He wasn’t dressed as any kid she knew; he wore a rustic and simple outfit of tan homespun pants and top.

The fabric looked terribly familiar. And his animal name…

She leaned over to whisper to Greer, “Is he a watcher?”

“You know about the watchers?”

“I know
of
them. I’ve never met one before.”

The boy filled his plate then faced the table again as Casey came back into the room. She stopped next to her dad. “Lion! Hi.” She smiled at the kid.

The boy’s lean face remained stoic. The only movement was the color rising on his cheeks. He looked at Kit, then dropped his gaze to his plate. “Casey,” he said, as if even that was somehow trespassing.
 

Remi looked at Kit, caught his rigid expression. Ivy apparently did as well, for she tilted her head and widened her eyes, giving her husband the classic and silent order to stand down.

Kit’s nostrils flared. He looked at his daughter. “Go about your business, Case.”

“But Lion’s here—” His daughter looked at her dad’s imperious brow, then complied without further comment.
 

Kit nodded at Lion. “Greer, bring him with you when you come down,” he said, then left the room.
 

Greer leaned back in his seat and grinned. “Roger that, boss.”

Remi curiously tucked away that little exchange. She glanced over at Greer, who shook his head and mouthed, “Later.”

Ivy reached over and gripped the boy’s wrist. He’d quit eating and was about to rise. “Stay and finish. No harm will come to you here.”

Max folded his arms. “Provided you stay away from the boss’ daughter.”

Lion looked up at the imposing man. “Casey is a child. Why would I be interested in her?”

Hope frowned at Max. “Don’t you have someplace you need to be?” she asked. Max’s gaze shifted to her. Whatever passed in their silent exchange had the woman coloring up—fast. Max pushed off the wall and started out of the room. “I’ll see you in a few, Lion. Eat your fill. Ivy and your sister will protect you.”

Lion set his fork down loudly. He looked over at the blond woman, his sister, apparently. “I don’t need women to protect me.”

“Of course you don’t. Max is just pulling your chain.”

“Lion,” Greer said, redirecting the kid’s focus. “I’d like you to meet my friend.” He gestured her way. “This is Dr. Chase. She’s a professor at the university in Laramie. You may address her as Dr. Chase, doctor, or professor.”

Remi smiled at the boy, who looked about as far out of water as a fish could go. “Or you can call me Remi. It’s nice to meet you.”

He nodded at her, then returned his attention to his plate. In about thirty seconds flat, he cleared his plate, shoveling the food into his mouth with his fisted fork, then washed the meal down with a tall glass of juice. He wiped his mouth and stood.
 

Greer got up. “Call me if you need anything,” he told Remi.

“I’ll be fine. Like Lion, I don’t need a babysitter.”

Greer smiled and nodded toward Selena, who was coming in from the living room. “Well, you got one anyway.”
 

“Fuck you, Greer. I’m not a babysitter,” the woman snarled. “I’m coming down to the meeting.”

Remi grinned, liking her instantly.
 

Greer laughed. “For real, Selena’s kick-ass. She’ll make short work of your baddies if they come here.”

Chapter Thirteen

Lion followed Greer and the lady warrior downstairs to the big conference room in the bunker. All the guys were seated at the long conference table—even Owen, who stood as they came into the room. He gestured toward the empty seat at the far end of the table. “Lion, please have a seat.”

The boy did as requested. To his immediate left sat Kit, then Max. Greer took the open spot to Lion’s right. Owen nodded at Kit.