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Authors: Debra Webb
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of service. Heâd made an unbearable choice with his family in mind, though they would heartily disagree. No matter the cost, men like Halloran couldnât be allowed to run roughshod over the world. Soldiers and civilians had died for the wrong reasons, thanks to Halloran and his Hellfire group, and Frank meant to right that wrong.
Early on, Frank had been so damned confident no price was too high to bring Halloran to justice. Long before the empty casket had been lowered into the ground, heâd realized his error.
Solitude had been his greatest enemy. He hadnât taken Sophia for granted in their marriage, not as a person or partner. No, but heâd drastically underestimated the strength he gained merely knowing she was on his side, available to talk or listen as needed.
Her breathing evened out and he didnât have the heart to wake her. It was too late to thank her for standing by him during the trial anyway.
The only thing he knew to do was keep pushing forward, as a team, despite the undercurrents of hurt between them. If he could bear the distraction, which was the risk of working with her, they might just reduce Hellfire to ashes.
Chapter Five
Tuesday, April 19, 8:25 a.m.
The flight was nearly into its descent before Frank relaxed. All night heâd slept with one eye open, expecting an attack on the hotel. At the airport, he kept looking over his shoulder, even past the security checkpoint, certain one of Halloranâs goons would make a grab for Sophia. Unless he was completely off his game, they were heading to DC without any Hellfire eyes on them. He wasnât sure what to think, so he tried to be grateful for the momentary reprieve.
Still, with no trouble in Chicago, spies were likely waiting for them in DC. It couldnât be helpedâSophia had to travel as herself right now. They could only move as quickly as possible and leave a trail for Halloran to get worried about. With his ball cap pulled low over his face, Frank had pretended to sleep while keeping an eye on her dark hair several rows ahead of him.
Their arrival in Dulles and the rental car pickup all went without a hitch. This much going smoothly made him wary. Hellfire was dialed in tight on Frank now that they knew he was alive, and things would only accelerate when they realized Sophia was helping him.
Following the plan he and Sophia had devised last night, he parked the car in a public garage and she took the metro to her meeting. He fell back once he was sure no one was tailing her. It bothered him to let her go alone, even knowing she could take care of herself on the busier subways. Returning to keep an eye on their primary rendezvous point, he was happy things were clear so far.
Sophia had not volunteered details about meeting her contact, only that sheâd send regular text messages and catch up with Frank in front of the Smithsonian Castle at two oâclock. Theyâd argued the point, last night and again on the way to the airport, until he was forced to concede. As sheâd told him repeatedly, he was officially dead and sheâd be walking into places where he might be recognized. If the authorities caught Frank too soon, Halloran would have a better chance of skipping the country unscathed.
Still, letting her out of his sight went against everything inside him. His instincts clamored to shelter and protect his wife and daughter, though he knew being obvious about it would push her too hard at this point. A few hours in her company after so much time apart made this necessary absence unbearably worse. He had no idea what heâd do when this was over and Halloran was in custody, no longer a threat to Frank or his family.
Frank wanted his life back; he wanted his wife and daughter.
With a few hours to kill, he ambled between museums and played the part of tourist as memories of Leone family vacations rolled through his mind. He was strolling along, desperate to sink his teeth into some
Early on, Frank had been so damned confident no price was too high to bring Halloran to justice. Long before the empty casket had been lowered into the ground, heâd realized his error.
Solitude had been his greatest enemy. He hadnât taken Sophia for granted in their marriage, not as a person or partner. No, but heâd drastically underestimated the strength he gained merely knowing she was on his side, available to talk or listen as needed.
Her breathing evened out and he didnât have the heart to wake her. It was too late to thank her for standing by him during the trial anyway.
The only thing he knew to do was keep pushing forward, as a team, despite the undercurrents of hurt between them. If he could bear the distraction, which was the risk of working with her, they might just reduce Hellfire to ashes.
Chapter Five
Tuesday, April 19, 8:25 a.m.
The flight was nearly into its descent before Frank relaxed. All night heâd slept with one eye open, expecting an attack on the hotel. At the airport, he kept looking over his shoulder, even past the security checkpoint, certain one of Halloranâs goons would make a grab for Sophia. Unless he was completely off his game, they were heading to DC without any Hellfire eyes on them. He wasnât sure what to think, so he tried to be grateful for the momentary reprieve.
Still, with no trouble in Chicago, spies were likely waiting for them in DC. It couldnât be helpedâSophia had to travel as herself right now. They could only move as quickly as possible and leave a trail for Halloran to get worried about. With his ball cap pulled low over his face, Frank had pretended to sleep while keeping an eye on her dark hair several rows ahead of him.
Their arrival in Dulles and the rental car pickup all went without a hitch. This much going smoothly made him wary. Hellfire was dialed in tight on Frank now that they knew he was alive, and things would only accelerate when they realized Sophia was helping him.
Following the plan he and Sophia had devised last night, he parked the car in a public garage and she took the metro to her meeting. He fell back once he was sure no one was tailing her. It bothered him to let her go alone, even knowing she could take care of herself on the busier subways. Returning to keep an eye on their primary rendezvous point, he was happy things were clear so far.
Sophia had not volunteered details about meeting her contact, only that sheâd send regular text messages and catch up with Frank in front of the Smithsonian Castle at two oâclock. Theyâd argued the point, last night and again on the way to the airport, until he was forced to concede. As sheâd told him repeatedly, he was officially dead and sheâd be walking into places where he might be recognized. If the authorities caught Frank too soon, Halloran would have a better chance of skipping the country unscathed.
Still, letting her out of his sight went against everything inside him. His instincts clamored to shelter and protect his wife and daughter, though he knew being obvious about it would push her too hard at this point. A few hours in her company after so much time apart made this necessary absence unbearably worse. He had no idea what heâd do when this was over and Halloran was in custody, no longer a threat to Frank or his family.
Frank wanted his life back; he wanted his wife and daughter.
With a few hours to kill, he ambled between museums and played the part of tourist as memories of Leone family vacations rolled through his mind. He was strolling along, desperate to sink his teeth into some
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