Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(45)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Rachel, I—”

“Because you know who I am. You know me better than anyone else alive.” Her family saw the image that she presented to them. When she visited them in New York, they embraced her in their wonderful, loving arms, but they didn’t know her. He did. “You won’t make the mistake of trying to push me aside this time.” He couldn’t.

His hands had fisted. “What will I do…damn it, what if you die?”

“I won’t.” Her fingers wrapped around his fist. “Because you’ll have my back, just like you always do.”

His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “I know you well,” he rasped.

He wouldn’t stand in her way.

Rachel turned from him. There wasn’t any time to waste. She had to tell Mercer—

“I love you.”

She felt the impact of those words roll through her whole body.

“I screwed up before,” Dylan said. “I hurt you…because I was so scared. I’m not used to fear. I’m not used to love, either. But…I love you.”

Rachel glanced back over her shoulder. “I know.”

His eyes widened.

“I know you pretty well, too,” Rachel told him softly. “And when I come back—because I am coming back—I’ll show you just how I feel about you.”

Rachel pulled open the door and hurried into the hallway.

I love you.

His words gave her strength.

Mercer waited for her in front of the interrogation room door. When she approached him, he straightened and said, “You don’t have to do this.”

She heard footsteps behind her. “Yes, I do.” It was time to end this chapter of her life. She wanted the future that waited for her.

She wanted Dylan.

But first, she had to stop the killer in that interrogation room.

Mercer opened the door for her.

Kenneth glanced up.

“Show me,” she told him. Because that was all that she had to say.

* * *

DYLAN WATCHED AS Rachel drove away. She and Thomas Anthony were in the front of the vehicle. Kenneth was secured in the back. Dylan followed behind them in a separate vehicle, as did several other agents. Demolitions experts.

They were ready for whatever trick Kenneth tried to throw their way.

Because there would be a twist, Dylan was certain of it.

The miles slid past. Soon enough, Dylan realized that they were heading back to the harbor.

“The location makes sense,” Noelle murmured from beside him. “He had plenty of access to this place. We know he did.”

Dylan yanked out his phone and called Mercer. “Harbor bound,” he snapped.

“I’m watching the GPS,” Mercer replied. “Already got a crew checking on all the boats there.”

Because it would be easy enough for Kenneth to rig a bomb to a boat. The thing could explode when the ignition turned, the same way it had with Dylan’s car.

Or the bomb could be on a timer.

“There’s a celebration set for the harbor tonight,” Mercer said. Dylan heard the murmur of voices then Mercer swore and told him, “Senator Lawrence Duncan has a boat out there. The Dreamer. Duncan’s ex-navy. He could be the target.”

Maybe. Maybe not.

“Stay close, Agent Foxx. Don’t lower your guard for an instant.”

* * *

MERCER PUT DOWN his phone. The whole setup felt wrong to him.

Kenneth Cross is a crazy SOB. He could be planning to light up that whole harbor and kill everyone in his path.

Except…Kenneth liked a challenge.

I have a very large target in this city. One that I will take out…my bombs are already set. Kenneth’s words echoed in Mercer’s mind.

There were so many potential targets in the city. Powerful men and women who fit Kenneth’s attack profile.

Ex-military.

Positioned with connections to all the big players in D.C.

There were senators, generals…

Hell, even the president.

And…

Mercer stared down at his phone.

There’s also me.

* * *

RACHEL GLANCED BACK at Kenneth. His face appeared calm. He’d spoken only to give them directions. His voice had been quiet, almost mild.

Soon, very soon, they were stopping at the harbor.

Rachel quickly exited the vehicle. Thomas pulled Kenneth from the backseat and kept a tight hold on the man. Dylan and Noelle marched toward them. The other agents hung back.

Kenneth was manacled—hands and feet—and he could only take slow, mincing steps. He should have seemed powerless. He didn’t.

“I’m not going to be able to get on a boat this way,” Kenneth said, yanking at his cuffs.

“That’s because you’re not getting on a boat,” Rachel snapped at him. She wanted to be done with Kenneth. “We’re here, and our bomb-sniffing dogs can do the rest. Your job is over.”

Rachel motioned to the van that had just pulled in the lot behind them. The doors opened, and the handlers brought out their dogs.

Dylan’s gaze scanned the boats. “Start with the Dreamer,” he ordered.

Rachel’s brows rose. Why had he picked that boat?

“It belongs to Senator Duncan,” Dylan said, glancing her way. “Mercer thinks the guy could be Kenneth’s target.”

Kenneth frowned at him. “Trying to steal my show? That’s not good form, Agent Foxx.”

Dylan advanced on the guy. “It’s not a show. It’s life. We did our part. We let you drag us out here, and now you—”

“Senator Duncan isn’t my target, though he is someone that I wouldn’t have minded killing.” Kenneth tilted his head to stare at Dylan. “But I had a very, very big fish to fry this time. The biggest of my career.”

“No…” Rachel whispered as a new fear snaked through her. She stared at Kenneth, hoping, praying that she was wrong.

A very, very big fish.

She grabbed for her phone, dialed the EOD.

“Too late,” Kenneth said as he glanced toward her. “I had to get you out of there, of course, before the explosion could commence. Didn’t want you getting caught in the blast. It was actually quite tricky to arrange everything, you know…”

I had to get you out of there.

“Mercer!” Rachel’s voice shook when he answered the phone. “Get out of the building! Get everyone out!” Her words were eerily reminiscent of his own from just hours before.

Kenneth shrugged. “You all gave me the idea with that little tracker under your skin… I learned about that a few months back, and thought, why not use it myself? Those trackers were so clever.”