Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(14)

“I won’t apologize for what I’ve done. For what needed to be done. Ultimately, I couldn’t save Zariya, but I could save others like her. Children were reunited with their parents, wives were returned to their husbands and families, people were given peace from the nightmares that plagued them. I can do the same for you, Felicity. I’ve got the resources and friends who do what I do, who will help me. But here’s the truth . . . I’m done being a mercenary. I’ve served my country, in public and private ways, but I’m a liability now.”

Her eyes came to him at that. “A liability?”

“Yeah. The last thing I want is for someone to use my family against me—I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. When it was just me and my mom, I could keep that relationship on the down low, but my circle is bigger now. Way bigger. And that circle now includes you. The last thing I want is to make you safe only to expose you to additional danger because of my job.”

“Can you . . .” Her voice petered out.

“What, love? I’m an open book to you. I’ve told you things I’ve never revealed to another soul. You can ask me anything.”

“Can you just . . . quit? I mean . . . it doesn’t seem like that’s something you could just decide to walk away from.”

“I can. And I will. This isn’t the Mafia, Felicity. Everyone on the team knows at any time they can be done with it. It’s one of the reasons we all agreed in the first place. The bottom line is that once I rid you of whoever is putting that petrified look in your eyes, whoever broke you, I’m done with that life. I know this is hard for you. You’ve been on your own for a long time. Held everything inside a long time. All I need is his name. I’ll take it from there. After that, anything you want to tell me comes at your own speed. I’ll never pressure you for information . . . unless it’s absolutely necessary to protect you.”

Felicity moved then. Not away from him, as Ryder thought, but toward him. She simply leaned over and fell into him. His arms came up and caught her. She rested her head on his shoulder and put her face against his neck and sat there, her arms at her sides. Not hugging him, not saying a word.

The only movement Ryder made was to encircle her with his arms. He’d sit there for days if that was what she needed.

It was an hour before either of them spoke again. He’d leaned back against the cushions of the couch, making them both as comfortable as possible. He’d thought Felicity had fallen asleep, as her steady, warm breaths against his skin had been rhythmic and even for the last thirty minutes.

But she wasn’t.

It was only two words.

Two words that would change both their lives.

“Joseph Waters,” Felicity whispered into the quiet of the room.





Chapter Five The next day, Ryder made a phone call.

“Hey, Gray, it’s Ace.”

“Ace! Where’d you run off to? Haven’t seen you around The Pit in a while. Black and Arrow are jonesin’ to challenge you to a game of pool too.”

Ryder smiled. It was nice to be missed. They’d seen too many instances in their line of work of people disappearing who weren’t missed until months had gone by. He wasn’t the most social of men, but even though he’d only been gone for a little more than a week, Gray and the others had noticed. “I had something to do up in Castle Rock. Listen, I need a favor.”

“Anything.” Gray’s answer was immediate and heartfelt.

They were a ragtag group, but they could trust and rely on each other with no questions asked. They’d had each other’s backs more than once. They weren’t a sanctioned special forces team, but they sure acted like it when they were on a mission. “I need as much information as you can find on a Joseph Waters. I don’t know where he’s from, what he does, or even what he looks like.”

“Shit, man, I thought you were going to give me a challenge.”

Ryder couldn’t help but grin at Gray’s sarcasm. He could imagine the tall man leaning on his cue in the pool hall with a disgruntled look on his face. For a man who was six-five, and whom everyone gave a wide berth because of his perpetual scowl and very muscular physique, he had a knack for becoming invisible while on jobs. It was weird, but no one ever seemed to see him when he was in stealth mode. But he was no computer genius—that would be Meat.

“Talk to Meat. He loves this shit. If I get more info, I’ll get it to you guys.”

“You got anything else?” Gray asked.

“My woman is scared to death of him. If I had to guess, he’s stalking her. She’s been on the run for years. Changed her appearance, operates with only cash, and is willing to give up being a godmother to adorable twin boys to bolt once more. Inquiry needs to be discreet,” Ryder warned. “By the way she’s acting, I’m guessing the asshole already knows where she is, but I’m not willing to risk her life in order to get more information.”

“Your woman?” Gray asked.

“My woman,” Ryder confirmed firmly.

“She’s been on the run for years?” Gray asked.

And this was why Ryder called Gray instead of any of the others. He had a soft spot for women. Rex knew this and frequently assigned the large man to jobs where a woman or child was in danger. It motivated him to get the job done as fast as possible. Ryder didn’t know Gray’s history, but had no doubt it involved a woman.