Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

TEAGAN ACCOMPANIED SETH to the machinist's shop after delivering Ivan's coffee. As they walked through the camp, her nape prickled. Word was spreading about the new team who joined the militia. Wonder how soon someone would test their team. Wouldn't be long.

She frowned. Perhaps not as a unit, though. Smarter to take them on one at a time. Sneak attack was a better bet. Taking them on as a team was a fool's game, one the attacker would regret. Didn't mean they wouldn't try. Some kids couldn't resist bullying everyone in the schoolyard to prove themselves. Those same kids grew up to be bullying adults. She'd met plenty of them in her work in the military and now with Fortress.

When they entered the shop, Ryan rose. "Just finished the keys," he said, his voice a deep rumble. The machinist handed an envelope to Seth. "The original key's in there, too."

Seth shook Ryan's hand. "We appreciate this."

A shrug. "It's my job."

"You like the job?"

Another shrug but his lips turned down.

Teagan's eyebrows rose. Another discontented militia member. Why hadn't Peters and Richardson assigned a task suited to each member's strength? Fortress spent a lot of time and money testing and training to each operative's strengths. "What would you rather be doing than machinist work, Ryan?"

"Enforcer or camp guard."

"Why?"

"It's what I'm trained to do."

Seth tilted his head. "What kind of training?"

"Military police. I used to be in the Army."

"How long have you been out?" Teagan asked.

"Five years." He grimaced and rubbed a hand over his belly. "I'm a little out of shape," he muttered. "That's why Mr. Richardson won't give me a chance."

"I might do something about that. Are you willing to work hard?" Seth asked.

Ryan straightened. "Yes, sir."

"Will you follow my orders and those of my team?"

"Yes, sir."

"All the enforcers and guards not on duty will meet after lunch today in the training center. New schedule, new training regimen." He smiled. "New trainers. You want in?"

"Yes, sir!"

"You'll have to work as a machinist until you're in shape, Ryan. Shouldn't take long if you work hard. Can you live with that?"

"Absolutely."

"Good. Teagan and I must work an enforcement shift so you'll be with my teammates this afternoon." Seth held out his hand. "Good luck, my friend."

"I won't let you down, sir."

"I'm counting on it, Ryan." He slid the envelope into his pocket and walked out with Teagan.

Outside, Teagan glanced at Seth. "Are you planning to change the assignments for every enforcer and guard?"

"If that's what it takes to create an enthusiastic, cohesive unit. No one should work a job they're not qualified for or hate."

"Tell the Army that."

He smiled. "You chose the job you wanted."

"Yeah, and the military trained me for it. Richardson isn't giving his people a chance to do what interests them. This is a prime setup for discontentment and disloyalty."

"That's why we'll attend the beginning of the meeting before we take over bodyguard duty. I'm going to lay down the ground rules."

She could imagine how that would go over. "And if they don't follow your rules?"

"They're gone. No discussion, no appeal."

"You won't make friends that way."

"Not my intention. They either do what they're told or they're done. Period."

"Richardson will protest."

"He'll lose the appeal. Richardson agreed to give me the job as a trainer. I'll do the job in a way that suits my leadership style the best."

"I hope Richardson and Peters understand that. So, fearless leader, what's next?"

Seth glanced at his watch. "We have enough time to check our quarters to see if we had a visitor after we left this morning. Once we clear our space, we'll check in with my boss and yours. After that, we'll create a training schedule. Following lunch and the welcome to real training speech with the enforcers and guards, we'll switch out with Knight and Marsh."

Minutes later, Seth entered the team's quarters with Teagan on his heels. She removed the electronic signal detector from her pocket and, after Seth cleared each room with his weapon in hand, scanned it. By the time they finished checking their quarters, she and Seth had collected ten more bugs and cameras.

Muscles in his jaw ticking, Seth took the electronics outside to the porch and ground each one under his boot heel. That done, he scooped the remnants into two plastic bags he found in the kitchen and sealed them.

"What will you do with that?" Teagan eyed the jumbled mess.

"Show it to Peters and Richardson."

"Think you'll get a response?"

"Whether or not I do, I'll make my position on electronic surveillance clear." His lips curved. "They won't like it."

"Should be fun. Ready for those phone calls?"

"Yep. Let's go."

They returned to the house and locked themselves in. Teagan called first.

"Yeah, Maddox."

"It's Teagan. You're on speaker with Seth."

"Sit rep."

She summarized the events of the past twelve hours, ending with, "We're guarding Peters and training enforcers and guards for the camp."

A slight pause. "You sure that's wise?"

"It's the best way to gain access to the inner circle as fast as possible, sir."

"You're playing a very dangerous game, and your lives aren't the only ones on the line. You're responsible for your teammates' lives as well."

"We're aware, sir," Seth said.

"Feds know all this?"

"No, sir. Our next call is to Burnett."

"I suspect he won't be any happier about your tactics than I am."

"After taking down the enforcer team before driving to Haven, we had Richardson's targets on our backs. The enforcers and camp guards are his responsibility, and he's doing a poor job training them. We embarrassed him, and he won't forget it."

Maddox snorted. "Richardson wouldn't be the first officer who climbed the ranks without learning true leadership skills."

"No, sir. When Peters pitted our team against fourteen enforcers and we defeated them, he ordered us to kill the losers and take over as his personal bodyguards. We refused to kill the men. To reduce suspicion, we volunteered to train the protection teams."

"I understand but I don't like it. Do you have a plan?"

"Turn them into a cohesive unit fast." He laid out the plan he'd cobbled together while carrying out other tasks.

"It's a good plan," Maddox admitted. "Don't train them too well, Dixon, or you'll make your own task inside the compound harder."

"Copy that, sir."

"Teagan, what do you need?"

She scowled. How did he always know? She closed her eyes and sighed. "A session with Lang."

"What happened?"

"Nothing yet."

"But you think it will."

"The threat is there." Heat burned her cheeks. "Peters and Richardson want to punish us for infractions. Based on my observations, I'll draw the short straw. They'll use the threat of disciplining me to control Seth. I need a brief session with Lang, sir. A mental reinforcement." A reminder she could protect herself, that she wasn't trapped with no way out.

"I'll call Marcus. When can you talk?"

"As soon as Seth reports to his boss. Fifteen minutes."

"He'll be ready. Watch your back, sugar. If you're right, those men will do their best to hurt you. Don't let them do it. You hear me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Dixon?"

"Sir?"

"I expect you to watch your back as well. Don't give them an excuse to go after you or use any of your team members against you."

"Copy that."

"Report again in six hours."

"Need to make it eight hours, sir. We're working a shift after lunch."

"Eight hours, then. Report in on time or you'll find Fortress operatives on your doorstep." And Maddox was gone.

Seth cupped Teagan's chin in the palm of his hand and tipped her face up to his. "Who is Lang?"

He would ask a question she didn't want to answer. Bad enough that Seth knew about her horrid past. This was almost too much. She wasn't a weak woman. She wasn't. So why did she need to talk to the counselor now?

She'd been called cold and hard by people in her life before she joined Fortress. Where was her steel spine and frozen tundra personality when she needed them the most?

"Talk to me, babe," he murmured. "Who is he?"

"A counselor from Fortress."

"Why do you need a quick session with him?"

"You know why."

"I'll protect you no matter what happens. Believe what I'm telling you, and in me."

"All we can do is our best. Sometimes it's not enough despite our best intentions." She cupped his face between her palms. "This has nothing to do with your abilities. I trust you, Seth. The session with Lang is how I can best handle what may happen before this mission ends."

She lowered her hands and made herself ask the question causing her stomach to knot. "Do you view me as weak now?" she murmured.

"A powerful person knows when to ask for help. You're doing what you should for your mental health. I've lost brothers-in-arms who didn't reach out for help when they should have." Seth brushed her mouth with his in a light kiss. "I'm proud of you for taking care of yourself."

The tension in her body disappeared. Thank God. "Call your boss, then I'll talk to Lang before we go to lunch."

The report to Burnett went along the same lines as the one to Maddox. The LT's response was more volatile. "Are you out of your mind, Dixon?"

"Got a better idea, LT?"

His boss cursed. "If I had more than a few seconds to come up with something, I'd give you a better idea."

"Peters and Richardson didn't give me time to brainstorm with my team, sir."

"I hope you don't regret this. How are the rest of your teammates?"

"We're holding our own, sir."

"Not good enough," he snapped. "I know you, Dixon. What did you leave out?"

Seth flinched. "Peters is hitting on the women in camp."

Silence, then, "And you just brought two exquisite women into that compound."

"True, but that's not what triggered Marsh. One woman Peters wants looks like she's underage."

"That's not good on both counts. Do I need to pull him?"

"Not yet."

"Don't wait too late, Seth. If he can't control his drive to protect the girl, he could blow the entire operation. I don't want to lose any of you. I want all of my detectives back. You hear me?"

"I understand, sir."

"Keep me updated. When's the next check-in with Teagan's boss?"

"In eight hours."

"I better be your second call."

"Yes, sir."

"Uncover the information we need and get out of there, Seth. Sooner is better. The feds are pushing hard. The Internet is heating up with hints of something big happening soon, and the feds want results before we lose innocent civilians. Step it up. We have to stop their plan."

"Yes, sir."

"Burnett out."

Seth slid his phone away. "Call the counselor, Teagan. Want me to wait for you on the porch?"

"Do you mind?"

"No." Seth pressed a hard kiss to her mouth and left their quarters, closing the door behind him.

Through the window, Teagan saw Seth leaning one shoulder against the porch post, keeping watch to make sure no one interrupted her and to give her privacy.

She dragged in a shuddering breath. Seth Dixon was flat out amazing. How she got lucky enough to be in his life was a miracle. She could have chosen anywhere in Ardmore to run. Instead, she'd chosen the trail Seth used and met him.

She smiled. They'd gone on a coffee date the first time they ran together, and every time thereafter. What a sweet memory. And she was wasting time because she didn't want to bare her soul to Marcus Lang.

Teagan squared her shoulders and made the video call she dreaded with every beat of her heart.

Seconds later, Marcus Lang's handsome face appeared on the screen. The pastor of Cornerstone Church in Otter Creek, Tennessee smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Teagan, it's been a while, my friend. How are you?"

"Not bad. How's Paige?"

"My wife is fabulous. Thanks for asking. Brent told me you were on a short clock today. What can I do for you?"

"I need a refresher." Teagan summarized the situation she and her teammates found themselves in on this mission.

"You're afraid," Marcus said simply.

She gave a slight nod, her cheeks burning. How embarrassing to admit.

"What you're feeling is understandable, Teagan. You were traumatized as a teenager in a situation similar to this one."

"Marcus, I've been undercover on missions before where the situation was similar and the possibility of discovery was high. Why am I having trouble now?" Her eyes stung. Oh, man. This wasn't good. She couldn't break now.

"I'm going to ask you a question, and I need you to be honest with me. Will you do that?"

"Of course." He might be the only person she'd come clean with except Seth and Brent. Her Artemis teammates didn't know everything that happened to her as a teen. No point in traumatizing them, too. They knew enough to help, just not the reason for the problem. Her friends were smart and had an idea what she'd endured.

"Do you care for Seth Dixon?"

She froze. Her heart leaped against her chest wall although she controlled her external physical reaction. "How did you know?" Was what she felt written all over her face?

"How much, Teagan? Be honest."

One minute slid into two as she wrestled with her inner demons before she locked gazes with the pastor and leaped into unfamiliar territory. "I love him."

"Does he know how you feel?"

Teagan shook her head.

"Does he know about your background?"

"Yes."

"He's promised to keep you safe, hasn't he?"

"Yes, sir," she whispered.

"That's your answer."

She blinked. "Sir?"

"You know he'll make good on his promise. If Peters and Richardson target you, you know in your gut that Seth will step in as team leader and as a man who cares about you to take whatever punishment they dish out." Marcus leaned closer to the screen. "You're not afraid to be hurt yourself, Teagan. You're afraid Seth will be hurt shielding you."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I can't live with that, Marcus," she murmured. "I can't accept Seth sacrificing himself for me."

"You must. To men like Seth, protecting those they care about is second nature. He'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Teagan. It's how he's built. You can't change his protective drive. Either you accept it or you walk away from your relationship with him. Stifling his natural protector instincts would gut him and make both of you miserable. If you love Seth, you must let him shield you."

She scowled. "But it's not right. I can protect myself."

"Yes, you can. I wondered when you'd remember that." He smiled. "You can also protect him while he's safeguarding you. Equal balance of power, Teagan."

Marcus tilted his head. "Is he in love with you?"

The question set off a bomber squadron of butterflies in her stomach. Was he? She was afraid to hope and risk having her heart broken. But, oh my, if he loved her? Teagan couldn't have asked for a greater gift. "He hasn't said."

"But?"

Suck it up, Teagan , she admonished herself. "Seth cares about me a great deal," she said in a compromise.

A slight nod. "Then let him protect you while you watch his back."

Protect him while he kept her safe? That she could do. As Marcus said, it was an equal balance of power. She was also a trained protector. Where before she'd focused on protecting her teammates and Fortress coworkers, now she could protect the man she adored. No matter what she had to endure, she'd handle it to keep Seth safe.

"Believe his promise, Teagan, and shield him as he shields you."

The ball of ice in her stomach melted. "The answer is so simple. Why didn't I see this for myself?"

"You're too close to the problem. If this had been a similar operation without Seth's life being on the line, you wouldn't have an issue. Cut yourself some slack. You've come a long way in a remarkably short time. Some people never get over childhood trauma. You're handling it with grace, my friend."

"Thanks, Marcus. I owe you."

"No problem. Do what's necessary to protect yourself and Seth. You're no longer an unskilled and untrained teenage victim. You're a capable operative who easily kicks backsides and takes names. Trust yourself and the man you love, Teagan."

Marcus smiled. "When you return to Otter Creek to refresh your training at PSI, bring Seth with you. Paige and I would love to have dinner with you both and get to know your man."

"I'll see what I can work out. Hug Paige for me."

"That will be my pleasure." His smile faded. "Call me anytime, Teagan. Day or night. I'm here if you need me. Be safe, my friend." And he was gone.

Teagan dashed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Hopefully, her crying jag wouldn't show. Hard to be taken as a tough-as-nails sharpshooter with tear tracks on her cheeks.

After drying her face, she retraced her steps to the living room, drew in a deep breath, and twisted the doorknob.

Seth turned, studying her face. "Everything okay?"

She nodded. "Let's go eat. We have trainees to intimidate after lunch."

"Second best part of my day."

Her eyebrow rose. "What's the best part?"

"Kissing you." He cupped her nape and brushed her lips with his. "I'm addicted to your kisses, Teagan. I could spend hours doing just that."

"What a coincidence, Seth. I'm addicted to your kisses."

"I knew it. We're a matched pair." Seth threaded his fingers through hers.

Together, they stepped off the porch and walked across the compound. When they walked into the large dining hall, conversations at the tables dropped to nothing.

Seth stood at the door, straight and tall, as his gaze swept over the room's occupants. Little by little, conversation picked up again as people broke eye contact with Seth and leaned in to talk to their table mates about the newcomers.

Teagan had to hand it to the man she adored. He did intimidation extremely well.

When only a handful of people continued to stare, Seth glanced at Teagan. "Guess we're creating waves around camp," he murmured.

"We'll make more before we're finished." She headed for the food line and stood behind Ryan. "How's it going, Ryan?"

"Good, ma'am."

"It's Teagan."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Still planning to join us after lunch?" Seth asked the machinist.

"I am, sir."

"Good. I'm looking forward to working with you. See you in an hour."

He and Teagan filled their plates, grabbed bottles of water to drink, and headed for the table in the back corner occupied by their teammates.

"You know how to make an entrance," Noah muttered. "They didn't do that when the rest of us arrived."

"We have more charisma than the rest of you," Teagan said.

Their teammates laughed.

"Everything go all right with Peters?" Seth asked Knight and Marsh in a low voice.

The two detectives exchanged grim glances. "He's in back-to-back meetings unless he's making moves on the closest woman at hand," Marsh murmured. "The man has an ego the size of the continental US."

"Anything else?"

"Peters is cagey and suspicious of everyone in his vicinity," Knight said. "All his meetings are in his office with the door shut. We can see him but can't hear a word."

Teagan grimaced. She'd been afraid of that. For all Peters' enthusiasm at having a Special Forces team at his disposal, he didn't trust his new bodyguards as far as he could throw them.

Made their jobs harder. The feds were pushing hard for more information to thwart The Brotherhood's plot. If Peters refused to take them into his confidence soon, she and Seth would have to create a plan to find the information and pass it on to Fortress and the feds. The last thing she wanted was to get caught in a firefight between the good guys and the bad.