Page 24 of Raider Unleashed

Lane whistled. “I’ve heard rumors. No one says too much, and when they crack open their yaps about it, they only whisper it when no one is around. Whoever is behind it has serious high up government pull. Think top-level decision-makers. Thisis not the stuff you want to get involved in. Retired means not getting involved.”

Raider grinned. “And what are you doin’ right now? I saw how you shot out of the room when that woman was on the screen. You lit up like a Christmas tree. Dude, retired means choosingwhento get involved.”

“Christmas tree?” Lane snorted. “Asshole.”

Raider’s grin broadened. “So, do you know anything helpful?”

“Yeah, stay out of the way and don’t get shot.”

“Right. I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks.” Raider chuckled. “Seriously though, you know anything?”

“Nothing concrete other than their complete lack of fear or hesitation over taking out anyone who creates problems for them. Just be careful. It’s a big network. My best advice; trust no one”

“Thanks, Lane. I hope Christmas comes early for you.” Lane hung up swearing.

Raider smiled. Calling the guys always helped him. Even if they had no new information, just touching base made him feel like he was in control, whether that was the truth or not.

He looked around the sparsely furnished office. There was nothing in it. Just an old desk and a chair. He sat and took stock of his attitude. He was a mess, no question. Seeing Piper had thrust him back a few steps, but holding her and kissing her had rocked his world. The path ahead would be long and dark if he let himself go down that particular rabbit hole again. He’d be better served to cut off one of his own limbs than to try to chase that dream again. God knew he’d tried to move on. There’d been other women. But none had measured up to Piper. He’d never seen a future with anyone else. Only Piper. And look where that landed him: right in the middle of a goddamn shit show.

Swearing, he leaped up from the desk. Focus on getting the job done and then getting the hell away from Piper was the name of the game. He wouldn’t let her go in alone because chances were excellent that Denlo would kill her but the second this was over, he would get his answer and then he’d get as far from Piper as he could. Answers would give him closure, and the ability to get on with his life.

Twenty minutes later he joined Piper, Wells, and Baker in the van. Piper was driving with Raider in the passenger seat. He looked at his watch. Two a.m. The job wouldn’t happen tonight which was a good thing because the delay gave Chambers a chance to properly set up for the coming op. He seemed to have no issue with resources now that Fielding was on site.

“So, are you two okay with everything?” Piper asked.

“Okay?” Baker asked. “No, not even close but what choice do we have?”

Raider grimaced. This was less than ideal circumstances, to say the least. “Look at it this way, you weren’t comfortable with the job in the first place. Now you have the support and protection of the ATF. Denlo isn’t going to be able to kill you. You just have to go through the motions on this job and then you’ll be good to go.”

Wells grunted. “Good to go until the ATF shows up and arrests us out of the blue. I don’t trust you guys. You’ll screw us eventually.”

Piper glanced in the rearview mirror. “I won’t let that happen. I promise I’ll do my best to protect you and get you out once this is over.”

God, he wished she’d stop over-promising. At delivery time, it could get hairy.

She continued, “Then my best advice is run far and run fast. The ATF won’t bother to follow you right off. You can get away and just disappear.”

Raider glanced over his shoulder at Baker and Wells who were exchanging looks. “She’s telling you the truth. Denlo was always going to kill us once the job was done. He doesn’t have a choice. We can all identify him and this job isn’t what he’s saying it is, so we’re loose ends. The people in charge aren’t going to want us around.” Raider wondered if whoever was in charge would want Denlo around. Would be easy to kill him too. Then the trail stops cold if anyone looked into the bank robbery.

“So, what’s the plan?” Baker asked, sounding resigned.

Raider shrugged. “We’re gonna go back to the house we broke into. It’s been a few hours since we left Denlo. I’m guessing we should make it back there before him but not by much.”

Wells huffed, “Why would he go back there?”

“Because it’s the last place we were all together and his ass is on the line. Remember that he has to go through with this job. He needs to know if we really all ran off or did something else happened. Chances are good he will be totally freaking out by the time we meet up. He needs us way more than we need him, but he doesn’t want us to realize that.”

The smell of the burgers they’d stopped to pick up at the all-night drive-through had Raider’s stomach growling. They’d bought one for Denlo not that anyone had seen him eat anything, but they thought it would help sell their story. Piper turned onto the street they’d been on earlier but no sign of Denlo. He was probably working his way through the woods. Piper turned up the drive and came to a stop outside the front door. The guys all got out and she lined the van up with the garage door. Raider sent Wells around to open it for her, while he and Baker set up the food on the dining room table.

Raider was jonesing to search the house, but there was a niggling worry that if he looked too professional Denlo would getsuspicious. Instead, he got the food sorted and they all started eating.

Maybe twenty minutes into their mostly silent meal, a sharp knock sounded on the sliding glass doors to the backyard. Startled, Wells swore and then blanched.

Denlo was on the patio, gun drawn and looking wild as he shifted from one foot to the other like he needed to piss like a racehorse.

Raider felt rather than saw that Baker and Wells had tensed up.

“Okay,” he said in a quiet voice. “You can do this. Our lives depend on it.” He sauntered over and slid the door open. Denlo came flying into the room.

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