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  “How many men are we talking and for how long?”

  “I’m not sure I’m even going to take this case yet. There is nothing in the information I was provided to show anything other than what the Corps provided the family. But the sister is . . . not going to quit until she hears what she wants.”

  They weren’t in the business of catering to private clients. They dealt in rescues and extractions of people who might otherwise be lost or killed. He was more puzzled now about what Bennett needed. “If you don’t think it’s worth your time, tell her no.” They both had denied clients who didn’t need their specialty.

  “That’s the problem. The facts say no, but my gut . . . says there might be something to it.”

  “So tell me what you know,” Renzo said and leaned back in his chair, waiting.

  “We have a missing Marine, age twenty-five. He was scheduled to board a transport and be relocated. He never showed. The last place he was seen was in a bar, out of uniform. The bartender remembered him from a fight that broke out between a couple. Our guy got up and intervened.”

  “Not uncommon.”

  “No, but I guess the woman who the asshole had been fighting with didn’t appreciate anyone coming to her aid. The bartender said she removed her belt and smacked the Marine up against the side of his head. She did some damage because he was still bleeding when he left the bar.”

  “Are you saying he got his ass kicked by a gir—?”

  “No. I’m saying I don’t believe the report. It doesn’t make sense. There are no names for the assailant or the woman.”

  “Why lie?” Renzo asked. “Do you think they’re involved in foul play?”

  Bennett shook his head. “The Corps would’ve raked them over the coals if they thought they’d murdered a fellow Marine.”

  “So you want me to check it out? Do some digging myself?”

  “Look at it. Tell me what you think.” Bennett slid the file across the desk to Renzo.

  He picked it up and saw the young man’s picture standing proudly in his dress uniform. Gunny Sergeant Vose. It’s a last name he hadn’t heard in years. He couldn’t help but think of the one woman who used to have him in knots. She hadn’t slipped away as much as he’d driven her. Renzo could be an ass when he wanted which apparently was often. Even when he announced he was leaving the LAPD four years ago, he’d seen in Hydria’s eyes that she still held resentment over the way he’d ended things. But Renzo had done what he’d thought was best and would do the same again if he had too. That’s all in the past and thought’s of her should stay there as well.

  Renzo quickly scanned Vose’s background and noticed he might be young, but he was highly decorated. This guy’s seen some serious action. No barroom brawl was taking him out.

  “I see what you mean. It looks like Vose was tagged as AWOL without anything substantial to back it.” Of course, not being military, how would I know? “I don’t understand why they aren’t looking for Vose.” If for nothing else than to throw him in prison.

  “Guess that’s what his sister thought as well, because she isn’t buying it either.”

  Renzo arched a brow. He hadn’t asked who had hired Stone. “So you’re taking the client on. Good.”

  “Actually, I think you could be an asset in dealing with her.”

  He chuckled. “I’m good in negotiations, not diplomacy.”

  Stone nodded. “Is there a difference?”

  “On my SWAT team, I tried talking the asshole down, knowing damn well I’d take him out if he didn’t comply. That doesn’t work well with clients.”

  “Ya think?” Bennett replied sarcastically. “Somehow I have a feeling this client won’t be so easily dismissed.”

  Renzo really didn’t care what the client thought. That was Bennett’s issue because she’d hired him. That last thing Turchetta’s Promise needs is another impossible-to-please client. “Then I guess you need to think long and hard before accepting this job.” Renzo got up to leave, but Bennett waved him to sit. “I don’t know what else you want, Stone. We agree this looks suspicious.”

  “This has your name written all over it, Renzo.”

  You mean sucker? I don’t think so. “We’ve got our hands full already.” That wasn’t a lie. The world was going to shit, and it seemed more and more people were getting caught in the crossfire. More than we can save. None of them focused on that for long. It would prohibit them from being able to function in their everyday lives. Not that I have a life outside of work. It was how he liked it, and no way in hell was he going to change.

  “You really don’t think I brought you in so you could tell me I’m right, do you?”

  “What I think is you’re wasting my time.” Renzo was growing tired. They were back to square one.

  Stone’s phone rang, and he picked it up. “That’s okay. Send her up.” Then he turned his attention back to Renzo. “That’s the client. You’re going to want to stay for this.”

  I highly doubt that. Renzo would sit through the meeting for one reason only, Stone and the Turchettas fought for the same cause. But once the client left, Renzo wasn’t going to stick around a moment longer than necessary.

  There was a soft knock on the door and Renzo thought for sure Stone would get up to answer. You’ve got to fucking be kidding. Renzo shook his head and opened the door. It was like being thrown back in time to a place he wanted to forget. Hydria. “What are you doing here?” Renzo snapped.

  She looked equally as stunned to see him. “I have an appointment, and I could ask you the same question.”

  Just as sassy as always. Renzo opened the door wider so she could pass. “Stone, your client is here.”

  As Hydria brushed past Renzo, she said softly so Stone couldn’t hear, “Don’t tell me you’re moonlighting as his secretary.”

  It had been over four years since he’d seen her, and she was as beautiful as ever. The fact that Hydria never gave her looks a second thought only made her more attractive. Renzo hadn’t let his attraction to her interfere with his judgment back then, and he sure as hell wasn’t about to now. Renzo slammed the door behind them and with gritted teeth said, “Seems like nothing has changed.” He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “You’re still looking for trouble.”

  Hydria took the seat Renzo had been occupying across from Bennett before responding, “Actually, it’s my brother I’m looking for.” She turned toward Stone and said, “You came highly recommended, Mr. Stone, but the company you keep is a bit . . . questionable.”

  Renzo watched as Stone leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his head, watching the two of them. This isn’t a damn show, Stone. He wasn’t about to stand the entire time, but no matter what, Renzo was a gentleman, to some point, and wasn’t about to kick Hydria out of the only other chair.

  He walked to the desk and leaned against the edge, giving Bennett his back. Renzo had a hell of a lot he wanted to say to Hydria, but the file he’d just reviewed flashed back at him. There’s a missing Marine who needs to be located first. “Steve’s your brother?” Renzo asked, using the same tone he would’ve used when he was on the force. Cold and to the point.

  Hydria glared at him then actually cocked her head to look past him and over to Bennett. “Is there a reason why Ren . . . Mr. Turchetta is here?”

  Renzo didn’t bother looking over his shoulder to Bennett. He worked for the Henderson family, which meant Bennett wasn’t a pushover. Marrying a Henderson makes Stone crazy.

  “Miss Vose, I assure you Renzo is here in a professional capacity, nothing more.”

  Hydria snorted. “I didn’t realize he worked for you.”

  “I don’t,” Renzo answered.

  “Then exactly why are you here?” Hydria demanded.

  “Our agencies utilize each other for certain . . . skills.”

  “I hope you’re not planning on shooting Steve when you find him, because that’s all Ren . . . Mr. Turchetta is good for,” Hydria said, crossing her arms.
r />   Renzo knew that was a dig from when she’d applied to the SWAT team, and he’d denied her request. He’d told her the day she could outshoot him, she should try again. Since he was a top marksman, that was never going to happen, and they both knew it.

  He was tempted to walk out of Stone’s office and let him deal with Hydria. She was a handful, and there was no way in hell she was going to let Stone or anyone else do their job effectively. Looking at her now confirmed she was as unmanageable and unreasonable as ever. Hell, maybe even more, if that’s possible.

  “Why don’t you give Stone the information, and you can take the next flight back to Los Angeles.”

  “This is my brother we’re talking about. I’m not going anywhere,” Hydria stated angrily.

  Whether she was on leave or vacation, Renzo still had enough pull on the force to get it retracted in a blink of an eye. “Go do your job, and let us do ours. Or maybe I should call Commander Diaz to help you see you’re not needed here,” Renzo barked at her.

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “So you’re leaving?” Renzo asked.

  Hydria shook her head. “I resigned yesterday.”

  Renzo couldn’t believe what he heard. Hydria had sworn she’d never leave the LAPD. When he was there, she’d been offered jobs in several other cities, and she always declined their offer. She was a fucking exceptional police officer . . . most of the time. Never understood what made her stay all those years. But now she resigned? What the hell happened?

  “You can’t be serious, Hydria. LA is your life.”

  He saw a glimmer of pain fill her eyes before they hardened to him once again. “That changed the day Steve’s CO said the Marine Corps couldn’t, wouldn’t, help me find Steve.”

  It was a feeling Renzo knew too damn well. Phoebe had been taken captive, and the government sat on their asses, trying diplomacy as the best way to save her and the others. The politicians had spent so much timetalking that by the time a rescue plan was in place, all the prisoners, including his sister, had been murdered.

  Stone had no idea what he was getting himself into by taking Hydria on as a client. It would’ve been one thing if she was leaving, but she was a loose cannon. If Stone wasn’t careful, Hydria would get herself, Stone, and his men killed. Walking away now wasn’t an option.

  I know I’m going to regret this. “Stone asked me to take on this assignment.”

  Hydria arched a brow and looked at both men. “You can’t be serious. I’m not going to be bounced around without any say.”

  “If you want to find your brother, I suggest you accept my assistance. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to hire whatever second-rate agency you can find.” Renzo knew he was acting a tad cocky, but there were only a handful of people who had the combination of skill and resources to make things happen. Without getting Hydria hurt or in trouble.

  That was the key, after all. What Stone and the Turchettas did for a living wasn’t always legal. Ninety percent of the time it was done outside of the United States. No one was going to come looking for extradition back to the country of origin, but if you were caught there, you were fucked. No one would to be able to save your ass. And all you can hope for is a quick death.

  It wasn’t something he had to worry about when he was on his SWAT team. But leaving the force four years ago and teaming up with his brothers changed the way he did a lot of things. He wasn’t only utilized for his skills with a variety of weapons, he also had trained in disarming bombs while in SWAT. It was an unfortunate truth you didn’t always have time for the bomb squad to make it to the scene. And more psychopaths were slithering out from under their rocks with their homemade devices all the time. The war had been coming close to home even back then.

  It had been a hard decision to leave the force. Like Hydria, the department had become his world. Damn it, Hydria. Renzo was a realist. If Steve actually was AWOL, and they located him, Steve wasn’t going home with Hydria. Instead, he’d be spending time in the brig and very likely get a dishonorable discharge from the Corps. If he wasn’t hiding from the Marines, the question was what happened to him. Is he still alive?

  Taking this assignment from Stone wasn’t about Renzo believing Stone couldn’t handle it. Damn the guy was as good as the Turchettas in most areas. But this was personal. She might not realize it, but he owed it to Hydria. Renzo was far from friendly to her when they’d crossed paths, and more times than not, he’d called her out in front of the other officers. Not that she hadn’t earned every harsh word I said. I was what I always am, an asshole. If he could help her now, maybe he wouldn’t feel guilty for his mistreatment.

  Watching Hydria in her seat, her foot tapping on the floor, Renzo knew she wasn’t going to make this easy. She never did. It’s what scared him when he was on the force. No matter what the logical thing to do was, Hydria did it her way. She was unpredictable and in most cases dangerous as fuck. She was lucky she’d never been wounded or worse, killed. It wasn’t only her who had been at risk, but any partner assigned to her, never mind everyone around her. Thankfully no one had ever been hurt. There was no doubt if Hydria agreed to Renzo taking over for Stone, she would demand being involved every step of the way. I’m really going to have to be an ass to keep her in line, or our chances of finding Steve will be slim.

  “Well?” Renzo asked as his patience had vanished long ago. He wished he didn’t care what she chose to do, but that wasn’t the case. It never was. That’s why you could never work with me. He cared too fucking much about her. That was what really made her dangerous. He couldn’t be looking over his shoulder to make sure she was safe all the time. I won’t allow you to fuck with my focus. For both of our sakes, we need to keep our distance.

  Hydria uncrossed her arms and reached inside her purse. She pulled out a check and slid it across the desk toward Stone. “I’m hiring you, Mr. Stone. If you choose to subcontract to Mr. Turchetta, I will respect your decision. However, please keep in mind I never have and never will answer to him.” She got up and walked to the door. “You have my number. Let me know when we start looking for my brother.”

  Once Hydria shut the door Renzo sat down in the chair and looked at Stone. “You don’t have to say it.”

  “Oh, but I want to,” Bennett said with a huge grin. “She really detests you.” Bennett laughed. “Shocking with how fucking nice you were. She’s a client or did you forget that?”

  She once was more than that. “Trust me, if I do, she’ll remind me.” Renzo reached over and grabbed Steve’s file again. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to borrow this tonight. Probably going to pull Gabe in too.”

  “Sounds like you’re taking the job.”

  Like I have a choice. “I’ll let you know what we find out, and I’ll send you my bill.”

  He left Stone’s office, but his mind wasn’t on Steve. He was going to be working very closely with Hydria. It wasn’t the first time work required him to push his wants aside.

  Renzo never would’ve asked her out years ago if he’d known she was applying for the police academy. Hydria had told him she was attending college and waitressing to support herself and her kid brother. It might have only been a few months of dating, but he could picture it going further than making out in the back seat of his car before he put an end to it. Once he understood the truth, he had no choice but to cut things off. Neither ever spoke about it, or saw each other socially again. He’d been at LAPD for six years by that point and was determined to focus on his career on the SWAT team and save lives. She’d have been a distraction to him then, and even though he’d watched over her for many years, he’d been careful to never be alone with her. She was intelligent, driven, feisty, and fucking beautiful. In other words, dangerous. There was a wall between them that would never come down. And the fact that she left the force doesn’t change anything.

  Chapter Two

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  Hydria was suffering from jet lag, but not sleeping all night brought that to a whole new l
evel. She might be the only cop who didn’t drink coffee, at least not on a regular basis. She was already on her third cup, and her eyes were still burning, her brain seemed to be in a fog.

  If she were back in LA, this would be resolved with an early morning run to rejuvenate her. But the temperature, although nice for Boston, was too cold for her taste. Everyone was running around in shorts and sundresses. Hydria, on the other hand, wished she’d packed warmer clothes. There’s a lot of things I wish. What good does wishing do?

  She had what she’d thought was a perfect life before her parents died. She had vacationed and spent holidays with them, even as an adult. And her parents insisted dinner time was family time. Hydria remembered Steve complaining he wasn’t hungry, but in truth, he didn’t want to stop playing his video game. She wasn’t any better. She’d ducked out of several dinners with her own lame excuses too, whether it was chatting on the phone with some guy she’d met or making plans with her girlfriends to go meet new guys. It all seems so stupid now. We couldn’t see how lucky we were then. Our parents didn’t spoil us, but they made sure we understood what a strong family unit was—what unconditional love was—and I wish I had them to rally with me.

  Most of her life since her parents had died encompassed a large amount of wishing and wanting, usually followed by disappointment. It was as though she was being punished for not appreciating all the good things she had been given when she was younger. She’d been so immature, a foolish daydreamer. The day the police informed her of the accident, Hydria knew she’d never be that again.

  Many people blamed their misfortune on others. Not Hydria. She carried the weight on her own shoulders. She didn’t believe in luck. In this life, you get what you deserve. But her brother had been a kid. He didn’t deserve such hard knocks. She tried the best she could to ensure he had the best of everything, but it was hard enough just giving him a place to call home.