“We should be in Naples in an hour.” Zane sat beside Eve on the couch and rested his arm on the back of the sofa behind her. “Then it’s a twenty-minute drive to the safe house.”
“That’s close,” Olivia said, surprised.
“It is,” Eve answered to her right. “But don’t worry. No one will be able to find us there.” Her gaze skipped past Olivia and landed on Landon. “Which means it’s time you started talking. Who were those people, Miller?”
Landon capped his water bottle and set it in the drink holder to his left. “The Red Brotherhood.”
“Fuck me,” Zane muttered. “You did not piss off the Red Brotherhood.”
Landon glanced toward Olivia and shrugged. “Afraid so.”
Olivia looked from face to face, confusion clouding her mind. Landon had told her all about the scientist the DIA had sent him to kill and the girl he’d let go free, but he hadn’t said a word about the terrorist group other than to mention that he recognized their tattoos. “Who is the Red Brotherhood, and why are you all wigged out by them?”
“They’re only the biggest and most dangerous group operating in all of Europe right now,” Eve told her. “They’ve got ties to al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the IRA. But unlike most of the groups they associate with, their goal isn’t the liberation of any religion or the advancement of any fundamentalist principles. No, they’re interested in money, plain and simple. And their tactics for getting what they want often come with a shitload of bloodshed.”
“They’ve been a major factor in the decline of the European economy,” Zane added. “Every time a country starts to have trouble, the Red Brotherhood goes in and causes even more instability in the region with targeted attacks designed to create increased chaos, as was the case in Greece. You heard about several key banks being bombed in Greece over the last year, right?”
Olivia nodded.
“That was the Red Brotherhood.”
“And that cruise liner that was hijacked a few months ago in the Mediterranean,” Eve said. “Eighty-three passengers killed, another two hundred eventually ransomed and rescued? That was the Red Brotherhood too. They’re funded by some influential people throughout Europe who are pulling the economic strings to get Europe exactly where they want it.”
“People like who?” Olivia asked.
Eve shrugged. “No one quite knows. But the theory is they’re a major player in the move toward a new world order.”
Oh shit.
“And they’re expanding,” Landon said at her side, drawing her gaze. “It’s only a matter of time before they start hitting targets at home.”
In the US. Olivia’s stomach felt like it was set on perpetual spin. She much preferred living in the dark and not knowing any of this stuff was happening around her. Landon had mentioned there were people in the shadows, working behind the scenes to keep Americans safe. She was starting to get her first glimpse of what that was all about.
Eve’s gaze shifted from Olivia to Landon, and her eyes narrowed. “If they’re fixated on you, that means you have something they want. Something important. What the hell are you involved in, Miller?”
Landon ran a hand through his dusty hair. “I let the daughter of a mark go free. One who had access to her scientist father’s research. The Red Brotherhood knows, and they want what she’s got.”
“Which is?” Eve asked.
Landon glanced once at Olivia, sighed, and then looked toward Eve and Zane. “Which is some seriously fucked designer biotoxin shit the US government doesn’t want out there. The kind that could be targeted to take out an entire race.”
“Fuck,” Zane muttered.
“Yeah. Pretty much. The Red Brotherhood won’t rest until they find Danica Crossler.” Landon glanced once more at Olivia, and she watched the guilt creep into his eyes. Guilt that hit her hard. “And that means I need to locate her before they do and warn her before it’s too late.”
The drive from the airstrip in Naples to the safe house took exactly twenty-eight minutes. Landon knew because he counted every single second as he sat in the third row of the Escalade, watching Olivia in the front seat.
Mick Hedley had picked them up at the airport, and the Aussie was currently chatting with Olivia about the Amalfi Coast where Ryder’s private vacation villa was located. For her part, Olivia was making polite small talk as she looked out at the passing scenery—the mountains rising steadily out of the sea, the pastel-colored buildings, the lemon groves, and the winding coastal road—but Landon could tell she was rattled. She’d barely spoken two words to any of them since he’d mentioned the Red Brotherhood on the flight.
He should have waited to discuss the situation with Zane and Eve until after they got to the safe house and Olivia was well out of earshot. After everything she’d been through, he didn’t need to scare her into thinking she wasn’t going to be safe when she went home.
But would she be safe? He rested his elbow on the windowsill and rubbed his aching forehead. The woman did what she wanted, when she wanted, and even if Ryder assigned security to her in the interim, there was no telling if she’d play nice. He couldn’t be a hundred percent certain what she’d do, and that bothered him. But he couldn’t possibly keep her with him, not where he was headed, and he had a strong hunch she wouldn’t want to go even if he asked.
Zane turned in the middle row and hooked his arm over the back of his seat, looking Landon straight in the eye. “What’s going on between you and the sister?”
Shock sent a burst of heat straight down Landon’s spine. His gaze snapped to Eve, who was sitting beside Zane, leaning forward in the second row to talk to Hedley and Olivia at the front of the vehicle. If she heard what Zane had asked, she didn’t show it. “Nothing.”
“Something.”
Landon frowned and looked back at his buddy. “Stay out of it.”
“I will, but she won’t.” He nodded toward Eve. “So you better figure out what the hell you’re gonna say because that one’s gunning for you.”
A whisper of relief rushed through Landon. Not because Eve wanted to kick his ass, but because he knew after he left, someone would be looking out for Olivia. He wanted it to be him, but her domineering older sister wasn’t a bad second.
“We’re just friends,” Landon said. “I didn’t know she was heading to Spain to see me. It was a total surprise. But trust me, after everything that happened, I’m pretty sure the younger Wolfe wants to have nothing to do with me. So Eve can stop stressing. I’ll be out of her sister’s life in a few hours.”
Zane narrowed his eyes. “You sure that’s what you want?”
No, that wasn’t what Landon wanted at all. But it was the only thing he could do. “Wanting shit only gets you in trouble. Pretty sure you know that as well as I do.”
A slow smile spread across Zane’s face. “Yeah. I do. But sometimes life surprises you, and it turns out not to be as bad as you thought.”
The moron was talking about his relationship with Eve. For over a year, Zane had thought she’d turned traitor and wanted nothing more than for her to be caught and punished. Then he’d learned the truth, and their relationship had gone from combative to sultry faster than Landon could blink.
He was happy for the pair—he truly was—but he wasn’t stupid enough to believe in fairy tales. Not for himself, anyway.
“And sometimes it is.” He sighed. “Look, the only thing I want right now is food, a shower, and a place to crash for a few hours before I have to leave. That’s it.”
Zane lifted his brows and shook his head. “Denial, dude. Total fucking denial. I’ve been where you are. It’s a dark and lonely place.”
Landon doubted Zane had ever been where he was. The man’s moral code was way too high. Not a problem Landon had ever experienced.
Hedley pulled the rig off the small two-lane road and stopped in front of a ten-foot wall.
Tall trees ran the length of the fence on both sides, blocking the view inside the property and the sea beyond. Hedley shot a shit-eating grin at the security camera, then punched a code into the keypad. Metal groaned, and the giant iron gate slowly opened to reveal a tree-lined paved road that wound across an immaculate terraced lawn toward not just a Mediterranean villa, but a freakin’ mansion.
“Wow,” Olivia muttered from the front seat, sitting up straighter.
Hedley chuckled. “Ryder’s father was this superrich son of a bitch. This is only one of many properties he inherited after the old guy kicked the bucket.”
“It’s gorgeous,” she said.
It was gorgeous. And Landon had seen it a couple of times when he’d done jobs for Aegis overseas. But seeing it through Olivia’s eyes was better. Palm trees waved in the breeze, and numerous flowering vines he couldn’t name covered the grounds, giving the entire place a postcard-worthy quality.
“I’m surprised he doesn’t live here full time,” Olivia said.
“Ryder doesn’t live in any of them,” Hedley told her as he followed the winding drive toward the whitewashed monstrosity. He pulled through the circular drive and stopped in front of the enormous arched doorway flanked by two huge marble pillars.
“Not in any of them?” Olivia asked. “Why not?”
“Don’t know. He’s never said. Aegis has access to all of them, though.” Hedley shoved the vehicle into park. “We’re here, mates.”
The scents of sand and salt met Landon’s senses when he climbed out of the SUV after the others. A gust of warm air rushed across his cheeks, and he drew it in, his muscles tired, his head light. He hadn’t lied to Archer. He wanted nothing more than a shower, food, and sleep—in that order—but first he needed to make sure Olivia was okay.
He inched his way behind the group, but before he could get to her, one side of the giant front door opened and Marley Addison stepped into the sunlight.
Her glasses were pushed up into her golden-blonde hair, and a warm smile split her face when she saw them all. Wearing slim jeans and a fitted blue blouse, she moved quickly down the three steps of the veranda and captured Olivia in a tight hug. “I am really glad to see you.”
“Thanks,” Olivia answered in a tired voice. “I’m glad to be seen.”
Marley eased back and looked from Olivia to Landon at her back, then over the rest of the group. “No problem from Naples?”
“None,” Hedley answered. “Unless you’re talking about that road. Someone needs to bulldoze the thing and put in a freeway.”
“You are such a man.” Eve linked her arm through Olivia’s and tugged her sister up the steps and into the massive house. “People come here to get away from the noise, smart guy, not attract it.”
“I’m just saying.” Hedley flicked Landon a look before climbing the steps behind the girls. “A little twenty-first-century technology in this place wouldn’t be a bad thing. I can barely get cell service out here.”
Archer chuckled and followed Hedley inside.
When they were alone, Marley’s gaze slid to Landon. “Hey, Bull.”
Few people called him that these days. It’d been his nickname when he’d been in the Marines. Mostly because of his size and the fact he’d never been what anyone would consider graceful. But coming from Marley now, with that sad look in her eyes, he knew she’d figured out more in two seconds than the rest of the group had in a couple of hours. “Hey, four-eyes.”
She chuckled and eased up on her toes to hug him. “I’m glad to see you too. Very glad. You had me worried, Miller, and I don’t like to worry.”
Landon didn’t want her worrying either, but a small part of him had to admit he liked the fact she cared. There were very few people in his life who ever had.
Olivia cares. You know she does. Even after all the shit you’ve done to her.
She shouldn’t. God, how could she?
Marley lowered to her heels, and her hand brushed his biceps as she moved. Pain shot up Landon’s arm, and he grimaced. Marley’s gaze snapped to the torn sleeve of his shirt, concern darkening her features. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” He gripped his elbow, squeezing until pain shot to his joint to distract him from the burn in his muscle. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” She reached for his shirtsleeve. “Let me see.”
He twisted his arm out of her grasp. Letting her see meant letting her take care of it. And while he could handle the pain he’d been dealing with the whole last day, he knew he didn’t want to subject himself to any kind of “treatment.”
“It’s just a scratch. I’ll be better after a shower and some sleep.”
Marley pinned him with a you are so full of shit look. “Landon.”
“Marley,” he tossed back, mocking her. But when she perched her hands on her hips and gave him one of her I mean business stares, the ones she usually reserved for Ryder, he sighed. “Look. It’s nothing. Seriously. I just scraped—”
“He’s not fine,” a familiar voice said from the direction of the house. “He got shot.”
Marley turned and glanced toward the veranda. Landon’s gaze snapped up. Olivia stood in the open doorway looking as tired and disheveled as he felt. Only the worry in her eyes was stronger than it had been before, and for the first time he wondered if it was because of everything they’d discussed on the flight, or if there was something else bothering her.
“Shot?” Marley’s wide-eyed gaze snapped back to Landon. “You got shot? And you’re acting like it’s nothing? You really are a bigger idiot than I thought.”
“Get him inside, Marley.” Jake Ryder’s voice rang out behind Olivia. Landon had been so focused on her he hadn’t even noticed the man step into the picture.
Marley ushered Landon up the steps, and, frowning, Landon mouthed “Thanks a lot” to Olivia. She didn’t respond. Only folded her arms over her chest and moved out of the way so he could pass, an unreadable expression on her face.
“Nice of you to finally show up,” Ryder said as Landon drew close. “Eve already gave me the short and dirty version when she called from the plane, but you and I need to chat.”
“Yeah, sure thing. Tell Dr. Frankenstein here I’m fine, and we’ll do it now.”
Marley huffed. “He thinks he’s a comedian now. Did you hear that? Must be the loss of blood. Trust me, you’re not funny, Miller. And you’re not getting out of this.”
Landon’s scowl deepened.
A circular marble entry opened to a sunken living room and tall, arching windows that looked out over a stone patio that dropped off to the sparkling blue sea. Like many of the houses built along the Amalfi Coast, Ryder’s mansion was set on a cliff, and Landon knew there were several tiers and levels below that led down to the water. Levels he’d like to hide in now.
“This way, Dennis Miller wannabe,” Marley said, leading him toward a hallway to the right. “We’ll get you nice and comfortable while I fire up my electrical probes.”
Archer barked out a laugh on the arm of the sofa. “I was wrong, Miller. Here comes that lightning strike. Better watch your ass.”
“He needs to do more than that,” Eve mumbled from across the room.
Landon glanced toward Olivia, wanting her to come with him, needing to talk to her. But before he could say anything, Eve tugged Olivia toward the living room. “I bet you’re exhausted. How about a hot shower, clean clothes, and some food.”
“Yeah,” Olivia answered. “That would be good. But I really need—”
“I know exactly what you need, Liv,” Eve said, leading her in the opposite direction, away from Landon.
Olivia glanced back at him as she rounded a corner, a desperate look in her green eyes, one that made Landon’s worry jump another notch.
“Come on, big guy.” Marley motioned Landon her way.
With no other choice, Landon clenched his jaw and turned, telling himself the whole time that Olivia was fine. He’d talk to her as soon as he was done, set things right, then be out of here.
He followed Marley down a hall and into a large room with more arching windows. One glance around told him that this had once been a bedroom suite, but it was now a makeshift emergency room.
“Sit.” Marley pointed to a chair in the middle of the room that looked like something straight out of a dentist’s office. “And shirt off.”
Scowling, Landon did as she said, his legs suddenly feeling like Jell-O. “Love what you’ve done with the decorating.” He unbuttoned his shirt, the pain in his arm registering loudly now that they were away from danger and his body was on the downhill slide of an adrenaline surge. “You know, I’ll be totally fine with a new bandage, a nap, and a shower.”
“Nice try. Lie back.” She moved into the open bathroom. Water ran as she washed her hands. Ryder appeared in the doorway with a tray of instruments, bandages, and supplies.
“Oh goodie,” Landon mumbled, looking Ryder’s way. “It’s Florence Nightingale.”
Ryder set the tray on a table to his right. “Pussy.”
“Asshole.” Landon leaned back in the chair and stretched out his legs. “Where’s Olivia?” he asked, trying to take his mind off what was about to happen.
“Being mothered by Wolfe,” Ryder answered, shoving his hands into the pockets of his expensive slacks. “Trust me, you’re better off. I’d rather deal with a group of jihad terrorists than that woman when she’s in a mood.”
Landon huffed. Olivia hated it when he coddled her. He could only imagine how she was dealing with her overbearing older sister right this very second.
Marley came out of the adjoining bathroom, a serious expression on her face. She’d ditched the blue blouse and was now wearing just a ribbed white cotton tank. “Jake, hand me that alcohol.”
Ryder gave Marley a gauze pad and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. As she sat on a swivel stool and scooted close to Landon’s arm, Ryder held out a bottle of Bacardi 151. “Toss this back. It’ll help.”