Attempted Assassination(15)

Joe slipped his piece out of his coat pocket and laid it on his lap, the barrel facing Jordan.

These men hadn't threatened him, so he didn't feel any fear. He understood they simply wanted to make sure he played by their rules, and for now, he would.

"Mr. Callahan, I'm going to tell you a little story about yourself. I'm going to assume you'll find it difficult to believe, but in the end of all this, I hope that you'll see it as your truth, your history."

Curiosity brewed within him. No, he didn't remember anything before the accident, but Group Nine had filled him in on the details-only child, both parents dead, no marriage, no kids, and a member of one of the most clandestine parts of the government.

"Currently, you work for Group Nine. That wasn't always the case."

He stared at Joe, keeping his features impassive.

"You, and all of these men in this room, were in the military. The marines, to be exact. They were part of your unit, the Recon Division. You were sent to Guatemala to gather intelligence on a drug cartel. There, you were in a terrible accident, an explosion."

Despite his calm, his heart ticked up a beat. He'd been told that he'd been in an explosion in Afghanistan, not Guatemala, carrying out orders from Group Nine.

Joe eyed him carefully over the rim of his glasses. Jordan wasn't sure what reaction he looked for, but whatever it was, he wouldn't find it in him. His face would remain as smooth as a glassy lake on a calm day.

When Joe didn't get a response, he continued. "The explosion seems to have left your whole unit with supernatural abilities."

Okay, he couldn't hold back on that one, and he burst out laughing.

A moment later when he glanced around the room, he saw that no one else had found that funny.

"I know it sounds as if I've lost my mind, but you can count on me to only tell you the truth. Brody has an intricate relationship with sea. Lucas sees people die before they actually do. Garrett can turn into a bear. You'll meet Zachary and Ruben soon, and they each have their own gifts, as well."



       
         
       
        

He sighed and rolled his eyes. What a load of crap. This guy was fucking crazy. Glancing over at Lucas, he grinned. "Have you seen yourself dying yet? If not, I'm sure you will soon, because when I get the chance, I'm going to kill you all."

"Mind your manners, Jordan," Brody growled as he smacked his head from behind.

Lucas glared at him, but said nothing.

Joe tilted his head, then continued. "I'm still trying to determine if you were given a special ability, or if the memory loss is how the explosion affected you."

He gazed back at Joe, his smile now gone. He wouldn't even try to compete with the guy's special kind of lunacy.

The room stood dead quiet for a few moments, making Joe's voice all the louder when he finally did speak.

"Well, in a little while, Ava will be coming in to see you. I'm sure you remember her-the attractive blonde woman. I understand that you're a very efficient killer, Jordan, but I'm assuming you still have some decency. Therefore, let me make this clear  …  If you so much as look at her the wrong way, I will take out your kneecap, and feel good about doing it."

Jordan said nothing. Instead, he imagined standing behind Joe and pulling a trigger, then watching the guy's brain spatter all over the floor.

"You are to treat that lady with nothing but respect. She loved you before the accident, and she loved you when she thought you were dead. The past year has been absolute hell for her, and I won't allow you to make it worse. I understand that you can't possibly comprehend the pain you and Group Nine have caused this woman, but I won't allow her to be damaged any further. We will also restrain your hands so that you don't find the urge to try to escape. I'm sure she wouldn't enjoy watching me put a bullet in your knee, if necessary. Am I making myself clear?"

He furrowed his brow. Joe obviously thought this woman would be significant to him. Perhaps they had the wrong man.

But even that didn't make any sense. His reaction to her had been visceral, something he couldn't control. And frankly, he had to admit, a small part of him looked forward to seeing her sky blue eyes once again.

"Yes."

The word escaped him without any thought. He knew in his soul he'd never hurt that woman, although he didn't understand why.

However, the rest of them were fair game.





20





Ava sat on the beached driftwood, watching Grunt chase seagulls and sniff at who knew what on the shore.

She grinned, loving the way he could be so carefree. At one time, he was the last living thing she'd had of Jordan, and the only reason she could get out of bed after she'd found out about his death. Although there were many family and friends around at that time, they couldn't be with her in her darkest hours, but Grunt had been. He'd been the one to lie next to her when she woke up from her nightmares, or when she just needed someone to cuddle her to sleep and kiss her tears away. He required her to get up and feed him, stood at the door and barked incessantly, insisting on his walk. Looking back on it now, it seemed as if he'd sensed that a part of her had died, and she needed a push to make sure the rest of her didn't. 

She loved the scruffy mutt.

Now, she had a chance to get Jordan back, and the memories of their happy times together seemed to be flooding her mind at such a high rate of speed, she didn't know how to feel about any of them. Yes, she enjoyed recalling their love, but it also hurt, as if each remembrance was a stab to her heart.



For the two weeks after their first North Carolina date, they'd talked almost every day by phone and sent countless text messages. Finally, they'd found another night where both were free and no one needed to be anywhere in the morning. This time, he picked her up and they headed to a steak house.

They talked in low tones in the quiet atmosphere as they held hands across the table. He gently rubbed the pad of his thumb over her knuckles while they discussed families.

"My parents are dead," he said. "I was one of those late in life babies-my mom was forty-seven when she had me, my dad fifty-five."

She furrowed her brow. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"What about you, Ava?"

Her family had always been everything to her. "My mom and dad have been married for almost forty years. I have an older sister, and a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins."

"And I take it holidays are always jam-packed with family events?"

She nodded and laughed. "Very much so. It's really kind of cliché. My mom's brother, Richard, is the one who drinks too much and passes out in a chair. His wife, Mary, is an incredible gossip, and always has the dirt about other family members. One of my cousins is a huge slut, another plays off the 'good boy' role to perfection, but I know he runs cocaine. Honestly, by the time January second rolls around, I'm exhausted and happy I don't have to see them again until Easter."

He chuckled. "Sounds like quite a crew."

"It is."

As he grabbed her hand across the table, his gaze never left her. "We'll have to make sure we invite them to the wedding. It'll keep things interesting."

She smiled as her heart soared. She had become completely infatuated with Jordan, and talking to him about their future wedding seemed so normal and so right, even though the word 'crazy' also filtered into her mind when she thought about it.

"That's an understatement."



She heard footsteps from behind and turned to see Zachary walking toward her, Savannah leading him. Standing, she greeted him, then guided him over to the log where he sat down.

Grunt had come over to see Savannah, and Zach let the Golden off her harness. The two dogs took off down the beach together, and she grinned as Savannah barked and Grunt tried to match her sounds, but failed miserably.

"It sounds like they're having a good time," Zach said.

She nodded. "Yes, they are. Savannah's a beautiful dog."

Zach smiled. "Yes, she is. However, Grunt has his positive points, as well."

She laughed. Grunt looked like a homeless street mutt with his scruffy clumps of hair next to the beautifully groomed Golden Retriever.

"I suppose he does."



       
         
       
        

They sat in quiet silence for a while as the dogs continued their shenanigans.

He chuckled and shook his head. "I remember when Jordan first introduced Grunt to us. We ribbed him pretty good about bringing home such an ugly dog, but he said that even the ugly ones need love."

Ava's eyes pricked with tears. "Yes, he did say that. He told me that no one in their right mind would adopt the poor little guy, and he had to be the big hero. He said he couldn't walk out of the store knowing that the dog would most likely be put to sleep if he didn't take him."

"That was Jordan, though. Always looking out for the underdog. A big, beefy marine with the heart of a teddy bear."

"Exactly."

They sat in silence for a few more minutes, then she spoke. "Ella seems nice."

A huge grin spread across his face. "Ella can be nice, but she can be meaner and tougher than any man I've ever met. She's so damn smart, and I'm the luckiest guy on the face of the planet that she's with me."