Whirlwind (SAI Book 2) (30 page)

“Absolutely. I know it sounds like a lot, but it isn’t crazy. When Max started the company, he wanted to replicate what we did on the Teams in the private sector. He didn’t start the company to get rich off the work of the people he worked with. We are a company that believes in sharing the wealth and investing in the people we work with.”

“Damn. I had no idea. Don’t you want to ask me some questions before you offer me a job?”

“I worked with you, so I don’t need to ask you anything except…when would you like to start?”

“I’ve never interviewed for a job, but I’m pretty sure that there has to be more to it than that.”

“Not here. We work with Team guys and people who came from the SOF community, so questions are not really necessary.”

“I’m not sure if I want to settle in Miami. That is my only reservation.”

“Why don’t you try it for a couple of months and then see how you feel? You can stay in my house because it’s empty. I live next door with Sara, so you would have it all to yourself.”

“You’re making an offer that I can’t refuse.”

“Is it working?”

Ryan leaned forward and put out his hand. “It is. Thanks for the opportunity.”

Grady shook Ryan’s hand and grinned. “Leaving the Teams was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Working with Joel and the guys allowed me to make the transition. I hope the same is true for you.”

“Me, too,” Ryan replied. “I haven’t enjoyed the last couple of months because I couldn’t imagine finding something that I would love as much as being a SEAL. What you guys have going on here gives me hope.”

Grady knocked his fist on the desk and grinned. “Let’s hunt up Joel and get something to eat. I have a feeling that you’re going to like it here.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Tuesday

Sam watched Sara open the door and sling her hand on her hip. “Wow!”

“I told you that you wouldn’t recognize me.” Sara laughed.

“I didn’t actually think it was possible.” Sam slowly circled her and whistled. “The press is going to eat you up. You are the very picture of innocence.”

“That’s what I was going for. I think the yellow flowers on my dress really sell the whole thing. I made some new friends, and we went shopping on Sunday.” Lifting a leg, she showed off her shoes. “I’ve been introduced to the shoe department at Nieman Marcus, and I’ve fallen in love. It might end up being the most significant relationship in my life.”

Grady strolled in and snorted. “That’s all she’s been talking about since Sunday. If I wasn’t a confident man, I might have reason to worry.”

Sam laughed and studied both of them. “You clean up well. If I didn’t know better, I would think the two of you are a power couple.”

Sara straightened Grady’s tie and grinned. “I think he’s the most handsome man in the world.”

“The way you two are looking at each other is making me a little sick. It’s too gooey for my taste. I feel like I’ve walked into a Lifetime movie and I can’t find a way out.”

“Someday you are going to meet someone, and all of this mushy gushy love isn’t going to make you sick,” Sara said. “Your man-whore days are numbered. I can feel it, Sammy.”

“Bite your tongue, young lady. Those are not words that ever need to be spoken out loud,” Sam replied.

“Whatever.” Sara grabbed her purse and walked toward the door. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Sam gave Grady a longsuffering look and noticed a lack of sympathy. “At least pretend that it bothers you.”

“Sorry, man. No can do. That curvy ball of fire makes me damn happy, and I can’t pretend otherwise.”

Throwing up his hands, Sam followed Sara. “You two deserve one another.”

***

“Why do we have to go to SAI in a government car?” Sara asked, as she settled herself in the back seat.

“Because if someone takes a shot at you, then I will be held responsible. I hate the paperwork, so we’re playing by the rules.”

“Grady could’ve driven us. He’s an expert driver, and he’s been trained in… What is it called, honey?”

“It’s just some off-road driving skills that we picked up. It’s not that big of a deal.” Grady glanced at Sam and shrugged.

Sam understood that it wasn’t something that needed to be discussed further, so he changed the subject. “I have some good news for you. The man who gunned down Sal was killed in prison. So that means you will not have to be a witness in the trial. That gives the Outfit one less thing to worry about when it comes to you.”

“It’s not often someone being killed is good news,” Sara responded.

“Yeah, but in this case, it is. The hit man was a nasty piece of work, and nobody is going to miss him. Let’s talk about what happens today. You have three interviews scheduled. One with a local station and two with national coverage. We’ve provided the graphics and background, and we’re hoping they are going to air in the next couple of days. We also have been talking to a network about more extensive coverage. That won’t happen right away, but it could provide the right amount of pressure down the road.”

“What would the timing be for a trip to Chicago for a meeting with the Outfit?” Sara asked.

Sam looked out the window and thought about what it would take. “Today is Tuesday, so the soonest we would see it would be tomorrow. But I’m guessing Thursday. If we asked for a meeting, it could happen as soon as Friday or Saturday.”

“Hank is on standby,” Grady said. “He has researched a couple of locations, and the team is putting together a plan. We’re assuming that they would ask for it at one of their regular hangouts. Lucky has pulled all the info, and they are making tentative tac plans as we speak.” Grady smiled. “We’ll be covered from the moment we land in Chicago. Dane’s going to fly us in the SAI plane, and we’ll be met by Hank and a couple of men.”

“Did you think of letting me know what your plans were?” Sammy asked with more patience than he thought possible. “The FBI has some skin in the game, and they’re going to want to have some say in how it all goes down.”

“Understood. But all security measures will be handled by men I know. The FBI can do whatever they want as long as Sara’s safety is in my hands and the Team’s.”

“Boys, don’t get into a pissing contest,” Sara said. “We need everyone at the party for this thing to work.”

“Damn SEALs,” Sam muttered.

“Damn Delta operators,” Grady responded.

“Let’s talk about where we’re going to lunch after all of this is over,” Sara suggested. “I think we should go to Versailles. I’m in the mood for Cuban food, and Agnes and Gladys said they would meet us for lunch, so I have to tell them where to go.”

“You choose. This is your day, and it’s the first step in your road to freedom,” Grady said.

“I could go for some Cuban food,” Sam announced from the front seat.

“It’s settled, then. I think we should invite everyone from SAI as well. Since they’re letting us have the interviews at the office.”

“Good idea, honey.”

Sam glanced into the mirror and watched them look at each other with sweet, mushy expressions. Jeez, they had it bad. Not that he wasn’t happy that Sara had found happiness. The kid deserved it after the year she’d had. But seeing it up close made him feel a little uncomfortable. It was an intimate view that he wasn’t interested in seeing. He slid his eyes back to the road and concentrated on the plans for the next couple of days. This thing was a long shot, but it was the only shot they had.

***

Sam stood in the back of the conference room and watched Sara answer the reporter’s questions with ease. Grady stood behind her with his arms crossed and appeared exactly like who he was. An SOF operator who meant business. Between the two of them, they were hitting it out of the park. He didn’t expect Sara to be as comfortable as she was or as well-spoken. He figured the kidnapping would’ve robbed her of her poise. But it hadn’t. Or she was holding it together really well until she had the time to fall apart later.

The reporter asked her last few questions and then closed the interview. All in all, he couldn’t have asked for more. He watched Sara stand and shake everyone’s hand and then walk out of the room with Grady. She had one more interview, and she probably needed a break.

Joel came up next to him and clapped him on the back. “How’s it going?”

“Great. She has one more and then we’re done. The final one should be short, since it’s with the local news station.”

“One of the reporters asked to interview a couple of the men, and we refused. This is not about the company, and we don’t need our faces splashed across the news. We like to operate anonymously.”

“Understood.” Sam stepped away. “Let me make sure that they haven’t grabbed any footage that we don’t want them to have.”

“Thanks, man.”

After he was done checking with the reporters, Sam went in search of Sara. He walked down the hall and found her in Grady’s office. What he saw cracked his hardened heart. Sara rested her head against Grady’s chest as he held her and spoke to her. Stepping away quietly, he walked down the hall and leaned against the wall. He slipped his phone out and started to check his messages. They were close, and he had the analysts keeping a watch on the activities of the top men within the organization. The two hit men were still in Federal custody, and he didn’t see why he should let them out in the near future. There was no reason to believe that Solly D would retaliate, but he wasn’t one to take chances. As he stared down as his phone, a pair of red sandals came into view. Whoever wore those shoes had to be hotter than the sun that sat over Miami. As he lifted his eyes slowly, his gaze drifted over an amazing set of legs, nice round hips, a small waist and a smile that could change a man’s mind about a lot of things. As he locked eyes with the woman before him, he felt a small river of hope run through his veins. “Hello.”

“Darlin’, you are too good-looking to be standing out here in the hall.”

The soft cadence of a Texas drawl washed over him and settled his nerves. “I figure someone has to hold up this wall, so I volunteered for the job.”

A loud crack of laughter escaped the beauty before him, and all he could do was stare at her amazing mouth. She had what his mother called a rubber band smile. Wide, expressive, and deadly. It lit up her face like a damn firecracker. “I’m Sam Barton, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He stood up and held out his hand. When she slipped hers inside his, a feeling of happiness bloomed in his chest.
What the hell?

“It is lovely to meet you.”

Her eyes roamed over him with frank curiosity, and it wasn’t difficult to tell that she liked what she saw. “I’m working with Sara on her interviews.”

“You must be that handsome FBI agent she was talking about the other day. You are as good-looking
as she described. My goodness, you have pretty eyes.” 

“And who are you?” he asked gently.

“I’m so sorry. How rude. My mama is probably rolling her eyes all the way from Dripping Springs, I’ve clearly forgotten the good manners she drilled into me. I’m Ivy Bellows, and I’m in operations with SAI.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ivy Bellows. You must be the woman who’s responsible for Sara’s recent conversion to shoe worship.” He let his eyes move slowly down her legs and admired the red sandals she wore. “Clearly, you have good taste.”

Rotating her ankle, she nodded her head. “I do believe that the right pair of shoes has the power to change a girl’s attitude. Today mine is fierce and funny. The red fringe tells you everything you need to know about me.”

He couldn’t help but lean forward, and when he did, he heard a loud voice calling her name. Looking over his shoulder, he saw an unfamiliar man approach them. The guy looked like he wanted to cause harm to one or both of them, so Sam straightened up and gave the asshole a hard glare.

“Can I help you?” Sam barked out.

“Don’t need any. I came to find Ivy because we were supposed to have a meeting fifteen minutes ago.”

Ivy shoved her hands on her hips and sighed. “I swear, Ryan, you have the charm of an armadillo with a cracked back. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Sam noticed the hot glare that Ryan was giving Ivy and knew at once that he was attracted to her. Too bad for him. Sam shoved his hand in front of the guy’s face and plastered a big fake smile on his face. “I’m Sam Barton, and I’m here with Sara.”

“He’s a big, mean FBI agent, and he’s here to protect the nice women in this office. Unlike some people who shall go nameless, he has charm and gracious manners.”

Sam let a satisfied smile play across his face. Now that’s what a man liked to hear from a woman he was interested in. “Ivy, I hope you plan on joining us for lunch after Sara is done with her interviews.”

She let her hand fall on his chest as she blushed. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Turning on her heel, she sauntered down the hall. “You comin’, Ryan, or do I have to wait all day?”

Sam watched Ryan follow after her and laughed. Miami had suddenly gotten a lot more interesting.

***

They took up two tables at the Miami institution. Versailles was a large, informal restaurant with great food, and their group was enjoying it. Sam watched Sara relax at the other end of the table and let a moment’s relief settle in his gut. Unfortunately, the easy part was behind them. The actual sit-down with the Outfit was where the rubber was going to meet the road.