Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(69)
“I need you to keep Congress under control. My office will be here for you and my door open to any member of Congress who has a problem. But I need you to try to pull rank against some of the people we have evidence against.”
Humphrey pulled out a packet and handed it to each of them. They opened it and started to read Thurmond’s affidavit. “Jesus,” Kirby said, looking up at them, “the secretary of state?”
“And many more. There’s your evidence. All nice and legal, wrapped in a little bow.” Birch stood as Epps shook his head.
“Branson Ames is alive?”
“He is. And he’s ready to come home and testify as soon as it’s safe. Take this information, gentlemen, and unify our country against those wanting to tear it apart.”
Birch shook their hands and wished like hell he could be with his team at that moment. But it was all in their hands now.
* * *
Lizzy hung up the phone and announced, “I’ve been reinstated, and Kirby got the DEA to hire you back, secretly of course.” Lizzy grinned at Valeria. “Kirby is coming along with a team of handpicked agents, so we’ll be ready to go shortly. Kirby is meeting us here in forty-five minutes.”
The group relaxed as Lizzy poured them a beer. Roxie was having a blast serving the patrons of Lancy’s with Alex. Dalton and Lizzy were behind the bar, standing shoulder-to-shoulder pouring beers. Valeria was sitting on a barstool resting her back against Grant, who was standing behind her with his arms around her. It was yet another calm before the storm.
Buzz and Snip happily took their seats as Crew and Flint slid into the next two spots. Crew turned to Valeria and Grant and raised his beer in silent salute.
Buzz shook his head. “It’s a sad day when a Marine’s matchmaking skills have been undercut by a pair from the Chair Force,” Buzz said teasingly, making fun of Grant and Dalton being part of the Air Force.
“What did two old jarheads expect?” Dalton grinned back.
“Two grandsons and neither could land a date,” Snip complained.
Crew and Flint rolled their eyes at each other as Grant bent his head and whispered something into Valeria’s ear. The smile she sent Grant could only be described as wicked. She slid from the chair, and the two of them hurried from the bar.
“Be back in forty minutes!” Lizzy called after them, earning the bird from Valeria and a chuckle from Grant.
“I am so jealous right now,” Dalton whispered as he pressed against Lizzy while reaching for a beer mug.
“The closet is soundproof,” Lizzy whispered back.
“Alex! Come watch the bar. We need to restock the shelves.”
Lizzy handed Roxie a tray filled with beer mugs and shot glasses as Alex walked around the bar. “I just restocked the shelves at the beginning of the week.”
“You know Buzz and Snip,” Lizzy said with a smirk. “Always drinking the stock when we’re not looking.”
Alex shrugged and Lizzy met Dalton in the storeroom. It was their secure meeting place. Thanks to Alex, it was soundproof and constantly swept for bugs, but none of that mattered as Dalton pressed her against the locked door with a ravenous kiss. This wasn’t the time for lovemaking. Knowing what they were walking into sent complex emotions flying out the door. They were operating on basal feelings, and right now seduction and gentleness weren’t on the brain. Hard, primal passion was.
They didn’t talk. They didn’t espouse words of love. Their tongues battled and their bodies took what the other was offering.
* * *
Valeria stroked her fingers in a slow circle over Grant’s chest as she lay in his arms. Grant softly ran his hand over her hair and down her bare back. She looked out the window of her small bedroom at the early night sky. Complete darkness was still hours away, but the evening held the hints of night as the shadows lengthened. Not too much longer and they’d be walking into the shadows one last time.
“I know you’ll get defensive, but I have to say it,” Grant said softly as he ran his hand over her head and down her back again. “Dalton and I are trained in combat warfare. It’s our job to fight our way into enemy territory, achieve our objective, and then fight our way out. You and Lizzy are not.”
Valeria opened her mouth to argue, but Grant used his finger to close her jaw. “Hold on, lass. Let me finish.”
Valeria let out a loud breath of annoyance but didn’t say anything.
“You know Dalton loves Lizzy. While I’m not one to talk about my feelings, you’re important to me, Valeria. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. You’ve captivated me since the moment you climbed into my helicopter under fire. I’ll do anything to get back to you. That’s the reason I’m asking you to consider staying here with Lizzy, or at least not going in to fight with us. Let us focus on the objective and getting back to the women who hold our hearts.”
Lizzy felt Grant hold his breath. Normally she would rip into him, but this time she didn’t. Why? Because she felt the same way. “I was going to ask you to stay with the helicopter and let Lizzy and me handle it.”
“You . . .” Grant stopped himself and then laughed. “What a pair we make, lass.”
Valeria smiled against his chest before swinging her leg over his and straddling him. She sat up and looked at him as his hands cupped her breasts and ran his thumbs over her beaded nipples. “Aye, we sure are,” she playfully mocked before lifting her hips and sliding him deep inside her.