Worth the Risk (COBRA Securities Book 21) Read online

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  “Hi, honey.” Traci stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. After a quick peck, he stepped back. She looked confused but turned her attention to Kilo and dug a treat from her pocket. Kilo gently took it from her hands and chewed. She smiled up at Quinn, but it wavered when she realized he didn’t smile back. “What’s wrong, honey? Did something happen at work? Is it Hillary?”

  “We need to talk, Traci.”

  Her eyes widened, and she backed up, pointing an accusing finger at him. “No. No way. We are not talking. We’re going to dinner.” Hurrying for her purse, she avoided looking at him.

  This sucked so hard. He didn’t want to hurt her. She was a nice woman, and he truly cared about her. She would make an excellent partner to some lucky man, just not him.

  She stood by the door. “Let’s go.”

  “Traci…”

  “You are not breaking up with me.” When he stayed quiet, tears flooded her eyes, and her voice was a mere whisper. “Is there someone else?”

  He took an involuntary step forward. “No. Never. I’ve been faithful to you the entire time we’ve been together.”

  “Then why? We make a great couple. We have the same interests, and we have so much fun. The best part of my day is knowing I get to see you. I love you, Quinn.”

  Knife to the heart. He hated this. Hated. It. Sensing his misery, Kilo leaned against his leg, providing needed comfort. He absently reached down to pet him. “I care for you, Traci. And we do have fun together. But I can’t give you what you need.”

  “All I need is you,” she pleaded.

  Kill him now. “I’m sorry.”

  “Get out.”

  With a nod, he stepped around her and grabbed the knob. He glanced back at her, but she wouldn’t look at him. “I am sorry.”

  He led Kilo outside and closed the door, wincing when something crashed against the wood and shattered. He never should’ve gotten involved with her. He’d definitely have to find a new vet now.

  With a sigh, he opened the door of his Escalade and stood back so Kilo could leap inside. He climbed behind the wheel and started the engine. He glanced at Traci’s house to find her watching him from the window with a hand over her mouth. Guilt was his copilot all the way home.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, Quinn plopped in his office chair, wishing he could’ve stayed in bed. All he wanted to do was curl up on the couch against the wall and catch some sleep. It’d been a rough night with precious little shut-eye. He couldn’t erase the image of Traci’s crushed expression from his mind. He let the relationship drag on too long, and he’d ended up hurting her. He was an ass.

  The sounds of feet slapping on the tile in the hall drew his head up in time to see Kai Costa slide to a stop at his door with Kilo playfully plowing into him and knocking him over. Kid and dog rolled around gleefully, making Quinn smile. Kai had that effect on him.

  “Uncle,” Kai cried and pushed himself up. Kilo trotted happily inside Quinn’s office and lapped at his water bowl.

  “Hey, Quinn,” Kai greeted affably. “You look like crap.”

  He shot Kai a sardonic look. “Gee, thanks, Little C.”

  Kai plopped in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “What’s up, Q? Lay your probs out for me, bro.” He patted his chest twice. “You can talk to the Kai-ster.”

  A laugh burst from Quinn. “Kai-ster?” Kai’s broad grin made Quinn smile in return. Kai was the ten, almost eleven-year-old son of Dante, the man in charge of all the other COBRA Securities employees’ physical conditioning and weapons expertise. Kai was everyone’s favorite agent-in-training.

  “If you must know, Kai-ster, I didn’t sleep well last night.”

  Kai nodded sagely. “Woman troubles.”

  Quinn’s lips twitched. “Something like that.”

  “Let me give you some advice that I’ve picked up over the years, Q. Love is a battlefield.”

  Now he was full-blown smiling again. “Has your mom been listening to eighties music again? Do you even know who Pat Benatar is?”

  “Possibly, and no. My point is you can’t hurry love.”

  Laughter burst from him again. “Nice job working The Supremes into the conversation. Since we’re talking in song titles, let me throw one out there. What’s love got to do with it? That would be Tina Turner if you were wondering.”

  “I wasn’t. Is this about Dr. Traci? I like her. She gives me grape suckers when Midas goes in for a check-up.”

  “I like her, too, just not enough.”

  “Don’t be upset, Q. You can’t help how you feel. Do you know why the lion broke up with his girlfriend?”

  Oh, damn, the kid was trying to cheer him up. He’d already done that just by being himself. “No, why did he break up with her?”

  Kai started laughing so hard, he couldn’t get the punch line out. Lured by the giggles, Kilo hopped up from his bed and placed his paws on the arm of the chair, trying to lick Kai’s face.

  “Kilo, down. I need to know why the lion dumped his bae.”

  Kilo plunked his butt down but kept his rapt gaze fastened on Kai.

  Kai wiped tears from his eyes. “He broke up with her because she was a cheetah!” Then he doubled over again, falling to the floor when Kilo decided they were playing again and pounced.

  Quinn laughed along with them.

  Kai’s watch beeped. His was a scaled-down version of the one the agents used, complete with a panic button and GPS tracker. His dad made him wear it twenty-four/seven after Kai had gone missing three times now—all attempts to rescue someone in danger. He succeeded each time, but not before panicking every person in the compound, especially his father. To call Kai a hero was a colossal understatement.

  He checked the display and then jumped to his feet. “I’ve got to go meet my dad. We’ll continue this therapy session later. I’ll bring the cookies.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  “One last thing…what did one pig say to the other?”

  Quinn shook his head, amazed at how happy he felt after a long, miserable night.

  “Don’t go bacon my heart! Bacon, pigs…get it? Ha-ha! Laters! Bye, Kilo!”

  Kilo barked his goodbye. Quinn’s smile lasted long after Kai disappeared. He still felt terrible about Traci—he’d even sent a bouquet of flowers to her clinic to apologize again—but he’d done the right thing. Time to move on.

  Quinn squinted at the screen when the cell phone on his desk buzzed an unfamiliar ringtone. His smile evaporated faster than a drop of water in the Sahara, and his spine instantly stiffened to attention. It was his former commanding officer, Colonel Morton Lacroix. Quinn hadn’t spoken to him since he left the military, though they had exchanged several emails.

  “Colonel Lacroix. It’s good to hear from you, sir.”

  “Thanks, Billings. And it’s just Mort now. I’m not your superior officer anymore.”

  “How are you, sir…er, Mort.” Quinn cringed. He didn’t think he’d ever be comfortable calling the man by his given name.

  “I’ve been better. My daughter is trying to kill her old man—well, not literally. But she’s stirring up trouble, and it’s got me worried.”

  Quinn remembered Mort’s daughter well. He’d met Vanessa once years ago when Mort tried to recruit him to join the Army after his senior year of high school. Mort and Quinn’s father served together, and Mort had kept an eye on Quinn and Hillary after his death. Quinn wanted to earn his degree before joining the service. Though he had offers from Division One colleges across the country to play basketball, he chose one close to home to take care of Hillary and keep her in the same school. She didn’t need to be uprooted after her life had been upended.

  Two years younger than him, Vanessa’s beauty was already evident at sixteen. Blessed with a mixture of her father’s African American genes and her mother’s Norwegian ones, she was stunning with brown hair, tan skin and blue, almost violet eyes. She was also bold and outspoken. She’d come after Quinn
so hard, he’d been forced to run away. He didn’t want to end up in jail—or worse, Mort’s doghouse—for messing with the man’s underage daughter.

  Bringing his thoughts back to the present, he asked, “Isn’t she a veterinarian now, sir?” Screw it. He’d never be able to quit calling the man who guided his career and life choices sir. It was a title of respect. And he knew about her vet practice because Mort bragged about her constantly.

  “She is, but she’s got a side business going. She steals dogs.”

  “What?” Quinn’s brows narrowed. Why would a vet need to steal dogs?

  He must’ve said the words out loud because Mort answered. “She abducts dogs that are abused or mistreated. She liberates them from their captors and provides them with a safe, stable environment. Her words.”

  Huh. That sounded pretty damn noble to Quinn. Anyone who mistreated a pet deserved to have the animal removed—at the very least. He could think of a dozen other punishments to go along with it. Most unethical and very, very painful. “I see nothing wrong with that, sir.”

  “It is when she puts herself in danger,” Mort grumbled. “She’s been shot at and threatened with a knife. I didn’t find out about those close calls until after they happened. But now, her assistant called to tell me she’s planning on hiking to a remote cabin to rescue a dog. He said there are all kinds of violent militias and anti-government crazies that live in the woods.”

  He agreed that it sounded dangerous, but why was Mort telling him this?

  “The reason I called is that I want you to go there and make sure she doesn’t follow through. She won’t listen to me. I wouldn’t have even known about it if Todd hadn’t called. She’s not planning on going until tomorrow night, so that gives you plenty of time to get there and stop her.”

  Quinn closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Mort wanted him to try to talk his daughter out of doing something stupid. Hell, he hadn’t been able to do that years ago. That’s why he beat feet and left her standing alone in the moonlight. “I’m not sure I’m the one—”

  “I’m counting on you, Billings. You’re the man for the job. I know it’s late notice, but I figured you’re the boss, so you give yourself weekends off, right?” Actually, he didn’t. “I’ll text you the number for her assistant Todd. Give him a call when you get there, and he’ll provide you with the information you need. Keep me posted.”

  “But I—” He sighed. Mort had hung up already. He wanted to call him back and insist he find someone else to take the job. But he knew he wasn’t going to let his commanding officer down. Mort knew it, too. Dammit.

  Quinn checked the schedule on his desk. Nothing pressing the next couple of days that Morgana Irvin, his second in command, couldn’t handle. And as Mort said, it was the weekend. He had no excuses.

  He calculated the distance to Vanessa’s home in southern Minnesota on his computer. Though it’d be faster to fly, he planned to take Kilo, and he didn’t want him to travel in the cargo hold. He wasn’t about to request the company jet since the trip was a personal favor for a friend. Besides, if he drove, he’d be able to take an arsenal of weapons that wouldn’t be allowed on a commercial flight. If he could talk Vanessa out of the trip, he’d go himself. If he couldn’t, he planned on accompanying her.

  Kilo jumped to his feet and followed Quinn to the arena where his handlers were putting dogs through their paces. The training center featured both indoor and outdoor facilities. The weather forecast called for rain today, so they were working on skills inside.

  He called Morgana over and gave her a list of instructions, telling her that he’d be gone for a couple of days and to call if any issues arose. She assured him that she could handle things while he was away. He and Kilo assisted on a couple of missions in the past, so it wasn’t like this was a novelty. Morgana was eminently capable, and he trusted her.

  Next, he loaded Kilo in his golf cart and motored to his house. He wouldn’t need many clothes since he didn’t plan on being gone long. He kept a go bag packed for emergencies. It included all the basics, including a toothbrush and paste, razor and other toiletries.

  Though they weren’t his bosses, he’d let Luke Colton and Logan Bradley know about his unexpected trip. When he’d established his dog training center inside the compound, the three of them worked out terms and conditions. His business was autonomous, but they unanimously agreed that the people he hired would need to pass the same grueling physical, mental and shooting tests as any prospective employee, therefore making them COBRA Securities agents who answered to him. They might be requested on a mission if specialized dogs were required. Besides the cases he’d worked, he’d sent Morgana and Justin Atwell out as well.

  Luke and Logan told him to take any equipment he needed and to call if he required backup. He’d stop by the supply room and gear up before leaving. All he knew was that the dog Vanessa was searching for was somewhere in the woods. He’d prepare a pack with items needed for overnight camping in case he couldn’t find her right away or there were any issues.

  Before leaving his house, he called Hillary to let her know he’d be out of town. She didn’t answer her phone, so he left a message. That was probably for the best. She’d worry, and he didn’t want anything upsetting her in her condition.

  He tossed his go bag in his Cadillac Escalade and drove to the offices. Kilo hopped out and followed him inside, stopping to stare at the massive aquarium in the lobby. He loved watching the assortment of exotic fish swim among the colorful coral and water plants. Quinn did, too, but he didn’t have time today. Calling for Kilo, they navigated the hallway to the supply room. Tank Hale sat at his desk with a goofy grin on his face. Quinn couldn’t recall the man smiling BBB. Before BeBe. He was a battle-hardened warrior who gave his leg for his country. Now he was in charge of the weapons and supplies, and he’d coordinated everything in one massive area. Gearing up was a smooth and easy process.

  “Morning, Tank. How’s married life?”

  “Incredible. I highly recommend it.”

  BeBe Davis, the office manager, was the reason for Tank’s ear-to-ear grin. They just tied the knot after BeBe was kidnapped and almost killed. Tank saved her life and took a bullet for her. Though they hadn’t even dated before the harrowing ordeal, they loved each other from afar. The danger drew them together, and they’d been inseparable ever since.

  “Anything I can help you with, Quinn? I’ve only seen you go out on one or two assignments.”

  “My former commanding officer asked me to help his daughter out with a situation. I need gear for hiking and a possible overnight in the woods.”

  “Aisle seven should have most of what you need. Are you taking Kilo with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You know where we keep the pet supplies. Let me know if you can’t find anything.”

  “Thanks. I will.”

  His first stop was to find a pack to carry all the equipment. He wanted one big enough to add the items from the go bag along with camping gear. He planned on taking his laptop, but he’d lock that inside the Escalade. He chose an Osprey Aether 85L in Adirondack green. He reached for an olive-green Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL two-person tent and changed his mind, opting for the three-person model instead. He’d need the extra space for Kilo, and at only three and a half pounds, it wouldn’t add much weight. He tossed in anything he might need for a stay in the woods. Next, he hit up the pet aisle and found collapsible bowls, dog food and snacks. He added protein bars and trail mix for his sustenance, along with a few bottles of water.

  Tank only stocked the best items. In the clothing aisle, he selected tactical pants in both khaki and black. They included a built-in SOB holster, or small of the back, to carry a concealed weapon. He shouldn’t need more than three lightweight short sleeve polos. Since he’d be in the woods, he grabbed an Orvis Bush shirt in light blue to wear over them. For footwear, he chose Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTXZ waterproof hiking boots. No trip would be complete without a Shelta Seahawk Boonie
hat to battle the sun and repel ticks.

  His last stop was the munitions aisle. Erring on the side of caution, he chose various weapons and guessed at Vanessa’s size for a Kevlar vest.

  Once he had everything he needed, he waited for Tank to scan the items into the system and then signed his name on the receipt.

  “Stay safe,” Tank said as he left.

  “Roger that.”

  Chapter Three

  Vanessa was tired of Todd railing on her about all the things that could go wrong with her current plans to save an abused animal. He’d been at her pretty much nonstop for days. It wasn’t like this was her first rescue. She’d been doing it for years now. Why he chose this particular mission to lay into her, she didn’t know…well, that wasn’t exactly true. She wasn’t stupid. She realized scary groups had set up camp in the woods surrounding their community, but she didn’t plan on doing anything to antagonize any of them—unless they were the abusers. She would be a hiker enjoying nature until she found the dog. Then she’d wait for the perfect opportunity to snatch him.

  Derek Newman’s Safe Haven Shelter was less than a mile from where she planned to park for her hike. After she rescued the pup, she’d drive straight there unless he or she was in bad shape and needed immediate care. Then she’d head to her clinic.

  She was glad she’d met Derek three years ago when he constructed the shelter. As a veterinarian, she’d been invited to his open house. The event provided the community with a first look at the modern facility. With Derek’s friendly, outgoing personality and commitment to saving animals from being euthanized, he’d landed donations from most major Southern Minnesota businesses. When she approached him about bringing pets she’d rescued to him, he readily agreed to help and even offered to squire them out of town so their abusive owners wouldn’t find them. It was the perfect working relationship.

  Since they didn’t want any of his employees or volunteers knowing what they were doing, they created a system where she would send him a text before her arrival. He’d built a kennel in the back of the shelter so she could bypass going inside to drop off the dog. He would text her back to let her know the delivery had been received. What happened next, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that he arranged for them to be moved along to another shelter for adoption.