She was afraid, he realized. Afraid that he’d wind up a drunk like her father or killing himself one day like Robby just had. He shook his head slowly. “I’m not them,” he said simply, his voice rough. “And you know it.”
Something ignited in her eyes. Anger, yes, but also conviction. “You’re exactly like them. You’re trained to think and react the same way they were. I’ve lived my whole life around SF soldiers, so don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. You’ve dealt with everything you’ve been through unbelievably well so far, but I know how you guys think. And I know you wouldn’t hesitate to give up your life for one of your teammates during an operation, just like I know you wouldn’t hesitate to take a dangerous job if Pam or one of the others asked you to. It’s part of who you are and nothing can change that.” She stopped and took a breath, folded her arms across her breasts.“But?” he heard himself croak. There had to be a but in there somew
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Risen To The Top CHAPTER 98
Four hours later Claire pushed her laptop away from her on the kitchen table in the safe house where the team was staying and leaned back into her chair to rub at her eyes. After such a great start and a promising breakthrough with Marshall, the day had suddenly turned to shit and wasn’t nearly over yet.Not only had the threat level gone up substantially in the past few hours, she and Marshall had been too busy working with the rest of the team to even begin an attempt at ironing out the remaining issues that had split them in the first place. Her parents both wanted her to meet them at Robby’s place to go through his things before her mother left town but with this new threat Claire couldn’t come and go as she pleased. And she didn’t dare tell her parents what was going on.Her father knew something was up though, she could tell from the things he’d asked her over the phone. But as long as she was with Marshall and the others, she felt safe.
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 99
Seating herself at the kitchen table, she raised an eyebrow at Aliyah, who studiously ignored her as she forked up a bite of her lunch and shoved it in her mouth. Claire cleared her throat for emphasis.Aliyah’s eyes darted up to hers, expression all innocent. “What?” she demanded around a mouthful of noodles.“Exactly,” Claire countered. “You got something going on with Duke that I don’t know about?”She snorted and forked up some veggies. “He wishes.”Okay then. Claire hid a smile, enjoying the opportunity to rib Aliyah and glad to be talking about something so normal for once. “Just checking, because I seem to recall you saying something about swearing off men for cats for the next six months. Of course this just means I like you even more.”Aliyah paused and gave her that cool look Claire had no trouble seeing through now. “What are you talking about?”Claire knew her co-worker wasn’t used to dea
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 100
They all made it through the meeting without falling asleep, though Claire looked ready to pitch face first onto the boardroom table at any moment. Marshall shifted and leaned back farther into his seat, trying to mask his annoyance for her sake.The meeting he’d thought would be so pivotal to this entire investigation had unfortunately turned out to be a total fucking waste of everyone’s time. Acting on an anonymous tip that had precipitated Luke’s previous meeting with all the agency higher-ups in the first place, the FBI team on scene had reported that the man they’d found was not Paulo.After two hours of useless effort, no one was any closer to knowing the bastard’s whereabouts or plans, nor could they find any further trace of him via cell phone towers or credit card info. So far he’d been smart enough to use cash and stay below the radar. For now the investigation was at a standstill and both Luke and Alex were just as frustrated abo
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 101
Something was up and it was making her damned nervous. They should’ve all been inside by now, relaxing. Instead Alex had her well back from the safe house and Marshall and Sean hadn’t given the all clear yet. And despite his calm exterior, Claire knew Alex was on full alert. His posture was tense, his eyes watchful. Her nape tingled in warning.“What’s going on?” she demanded, half turned in her seat so she could see the safe house behind them a block and a half down the street. The neighbors had been talking to Marshall and Sean a minute ago, then they’d bolted back into their garage and closed the door like a rabid animal was chasing them. Marshall and Sean had disappeared into the backyard. Now Marshall had come back around the front of the house, only this time she could tell from the position of his arms that he was holding a pistol in his hands.What the hell? “Did they find something?” Her heart rate accelerated. If Marshall was in any danger, she
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 102
Marshall was doggedly up on one knee now, still sucking in air. He was bleeding from dozens of little gashes across his chest, probably from flying glass and other debris, and she could already see bruises forming beneath his skin. God, he was a total mess. The burns on his face looked painful and had to hurt like hell. Why wouldn’t he just lie down? He managed to get both feet underneath him, though he wobbled a bit. Claire automatically shot out a hand to grab his upper arm and for a moment she was sure he would shake her off like an angry dog but instead he turned his head and looked straight into her eyes.“I’m all right,” he gasped out, loudly, though the effort of speaking clearly cost him. He was pale, way too pale for her liking.“You’re not all right,” she snapped, on the verge of tears again. “Your fucking ears are bleeding.”He frowned and stared at her mouth and she realized he couldn’t understand her because he couldn’t hear her
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 103
Sean and Alex were across the street directing the crowd back from the safe house and doing an initial sweep of the property when the first responders finally arrived. Police cruisers roared up and cops swarmed the area. One officer came over to her and Marshall to help and she filled him in on what had happened and explained that they were working for the L.J Corp, while others talked with Alex and Sean and worked to get all the bystanders back to a safe distance in case another device went off. Marshall’s ID was in his wallet but hers was back in her purse, on the floorboard of the SUV she’d been in with Alex.When the ambulance arrived Marshall was none too pleased about being herded toward it but she and the cop assisting her gave him no choice. He flat out refused to get on a gurney though, and stubbornly sat on the tailgate while the paramedics checked him over. She stood back a ways with the officer and overheard one of the medics say something about a chest tub
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 104
The cops swarmed the yard. Alex let out a vicious curse and kept going for another few seconds before Sean reached out and stopped him. Alex snarled in disgust and stood up, running a bloody hand through his hair. “Fuck, we needed him for questioning. God dammit.”Marshall walked over and pointed to the remote. Alex’s gaze shifted up from the device into Marshall’s face. He shook his head in disbelief. “How the hell’d you get here, anyway?”“Piggybacked,” he gasped out, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the cop who’d helped him. The rest of them were securing the scene, taking possession of the body and questioning Sean. Alex would be next, but at Marshall’s wisecrack the team leader’s harsh features transformed into a broad grin.“Hardcore, man.”“Yeah.” Shit, he barely had the strength to stay upright now. “Give me…a ride back …so I can…see Claire?” He paused to wheeze in another breath, clammy all over and shaky as hell.
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 107
Marshall glowered at her, like a kid pouting because he didn’t get his way. “This is fucking stupid.”Stupid? Really? Sighing, she stood and walked to the window that overlooked the parking lot to get a grip on her emotions. It was dark out now, a bright half moon hanging in the clear night sky. Everything was so calm out there. Made it twice as surreal considering the hell they’d been through today. She’d come so close to losing him forever. So close. Her throat tightened.“Claire.”Schooling her features into a calm mask, she turned her head to look at him. “What?”He reached out a hand, his expression contrite. “Come here.” He said it so softly, his deep voice holding that intimate tone she couldn’t refuse, let alone ignore.Crossing to him, she sank down carefully onto the edge of the mattress close to his hip and slid her hand into his. Marshall closed his fingers around hers and stroked his thumb over the ba