Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)(114)

She pretended to hobble down the porch steps, hands still raised. When she looked back, she saw Dax emerge from the house. Instantly, she hit the ground.

“Twelve o’clock,” she yelled. He wouldn’t be able to see well. She needed to give him some point of reference.

Gunfire cracked all around her. She tried to see what was happening, hoping Dax wouldn’t be mowed down in a hail fire of bullets. She couldn’t lose him. She’d been so scared of what would happen between them, but she knew that losing Dax would ruin her life. She would never love another man.

The mist of gas began to clear. Tears still poured from her eyes, the burning painful, but she had to be Dax’s eyes now.

Then the world exploded with gunfire again. Nearby, she heard a thud. Her uncle tensed and grunted. She dragged a hand across her eyes, trying to focus.

When she stared at Beau, he clutched his chest and coughed, spitting blood from his mouth as his weapon fell from his hands. He’d been shot—and it looked bad.

“You chose the wrong side, girl.”

She wasn’t listening. Despite all the terrible things he’d done, she couldn’t simply let the man who had half raised her die. She knelt and held his jacket over his open wound to stem the bleeding. “Don’t talk.”

He pushed her hand away. “Listen to me. If you ever loved me, let me die. I can’t go to prison.” He sputtered and gasped. “Hear what I’m saying while I can still talk. Stop looking for answers or they’ll take you all down. They won’t stop. This game has been going on for decades.”

Dax darted to her side, kicking Beau’s gun away. Vaguely she noted that Gemma had a weapon trained on Chad, who had fallen to his knees, hands in the air.

“What game?” She leaned over to try to hear her uncle’s words.

“Sergei’s game. That’s what the old man told me. He said Sergei will burn everything down. He’ll burn you, too.” He coughed again just before a terrible blankness entered his eyes.

Holland couldn’t spare a moment for grief now. Maybe later, but at the moment she was simply glad to be alive and have Dax beside her.

He wrapped his arms around her. “You’re safe now. Gemma is arresting Chad. Connor and I took out everyone else and he’s taking Lara and Morgan to safety now. Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

She looked down at her uncle and her tears weren’t just about chemicals now. He’d been such a big part of her childhood. He’d been the reason she’d gone into law enforcement. He’d been a lie, but she’d loved and idolized him as a girl.

“I’m sorry for all he did to you.”

“You had nothing to do with that. It’s going to be all right.” Dax held her tight.

They’d done their job. The scandal surrounding the admiral’s death had been exposed as a hoax and the investigation was over. But not only was someone still after the president, her whole world had changed. Nothing could ever be the same again.





TWENTY




Washington, D.C.

Twenty-four hours later

Dax wanted to reach for Holland, but she seemed so damn far away. From the moment they’d boarded the private jet to the White House with Lara, Connor, and Gemma, she’d been distant. She’d sat with Gemma, writing up a joint report to satisfy the White House, NCIS, and the New Orleans Police Department.

The night before she’d slept on a couch at NCIS, napping in between interview sessions.

He’d sat and stared at her and wondered if she would ever let him touch her again.

Now he walked into the residential wing of the White House, wishing he could hold her hand.

“Oh my god!” a familiar voice said. Gus was standing in the hallway, dressed to the nines in a cocktail gown and sky-high heels. They clacked along the marble as she ran toward him.

He braced himself for an armful of sister. “Hey, Gus.”

She slammed into him and that was when he noticed Roman behind her. He wore a tux, his hair slicked back. How long had Roman been shadowing his sister? Now that he thought about it, Roman had been lingering around Gus for a really long time.

“I was so worried. When Gemma called and said you were all out in the bayou about to be horribly murdered, I freaked out,” Gus said, stepping back and looking him over. “You look all right. Better than you did after New York.”

“Yeah, well, I only got gassed this time. I avoided a bullet,” he admitted. Actually, the last few months of leave had been way more dangerous to his well-being than being on his boat.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Roman held out a hand. “Sorry, we were at a party for some diplomats. Zack is on his way. You guys got here quick. I’m glad to see you’re all right. Holland, I’m so sorry about the last few years.”

Holland was dealing with Gus, who wasn’t taking no for an answer on the hugs. She’d wrapped herself around her friend. “Holland sucks. Stupid girl. You should have called me when you found out the Russian mob was after you.”

Holland smiled and squeezed her back. “They weren’t after me, silly. They were after you and Dax.”

“I still would have taken them down,” Gus promised. “I missed you, sister.”

Holland’s eyes suddenly had a sheen to them. “You have no idea how I’ve missed you, Gus. The world is not as bright without you.”