Fuse gave a slow nod. “There’s one more person whose name has never been put in writing.”
“The president?”
He didn’t respond. “You need to forget what you learned, Brit.”
“You’re the only person I’ve talked to about it. Well, and of course my friend who accessed the files.”
“Don’t talk about it to anyone else. This is serious business. If the wrong people suspect you know about the Brethren origins, you could make yourself a target. Forget that. You would make yourself a target. There are people out there who believe we’re more than an MC club.”
She let out a sigh, running both hands through her hair. “The only thing good about all this is I’ve been able to spend time with you, Scott.” When he opened his mouth, she raised a hand. “Don’t worry. I know when this is over, I’ll go back to my job and you’ll proceed with your life. At least now we’ll be able to put some of the bad feelings behind us and move forward. Forget about each other.”
“Is that what you want, Brit? To forget about me?”
She could lie, save herself more heartache, but this might be her last chance to tell him the truth.
“No, but it’s what I have to do.” Brittany stood, walking to the window to look outside. “I want a second chance, the opportunity to start over. You’ve made it clear, and I’ve accepted that it isn’t going to happen.” Turning toward him, she wrapped her arms about her. “I don’t blame you, Scott. What happened is all on me. Even so, I’m grateful for the time you’ve given me. I’ll be able to move forward, maybe even meet someone else, knowing there’s no chance for a future with you.” A wistful look crossed her face before she returned to staring outside.
Fuse wanted to dispute her assertions, tell her he still loved her, would always love her. Staying silent seemed the best choice. He didn’t know how the next few days would go. Had no idea when her nightmare would be over. A nightmare which had become his since being assigned to this op.
He snorted at calling this an op. It was nothing more than babysitting a high-value asset. If asked, most would say the senator was the high-value asset and Brittany the tool to reach him. In truth, losing Brittany would shatter Fuse.
Standing, he stepped behind her, settling his hands on her waist to draw her against him. “When this is over, Brit, we have a great deal of talking to do.” When she stiffened, he bent, pressing a kiss to her neck. “I don’t know where this will all lead, but we have to get it all out in the open. The complete truth, Brit.” Feeling her relax, he pressed one more kiss to her neck before putting distance between them.
Neither noticed Deke walking into the room. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
Brittany whirled around, hoping he couldn’t see the flush on her face. The twitch of Deke’s lips said otherwise.
“Your house is locked and secure, the men gone, Fuse. WES and Mitch’s men in cruisers are posted outside the perimeter of the property, ready to go in when the sirens begin.”
Fuse sat back down in front of the computers. “What are their orders?”
“The goal is to encourage the intruders to leave without casualties.”
“The first thing they’ll do when spotting the cruisers will be to shoot,” Fuse said.
“That’s my bet,” Deke returned. “If they’re stupid enough to fire first, our men have approval to return fire. They’ll be in full tactical gear, which will give them somewhat of an advantage.”
“Still no approval for a full-fledged assault on them?” Brittany asked.
Deke settled fisted hands on his hips, shaking his head. “I doubt it will be coming. It could trigger a war, where the town is pitted against two gang elements. It may take time for them to regroup, but neither the Bratva nor Devils will forget.”
Brittany walked to where Fuse sat, putting her hand on the back of his chair. “I just don’t understand why such deadly actions over a senate vote. Isn’t that what lobbyists, and to a certain degree, ambassadors are for? They try to persuade votes to go their way.”
“Kell said Grayson told him this is unprecedented. The Bratva are known to stay under the radar, operating in the depths of the underworld.” Deke lowered himself into a chair, leaning forward to rest his arms on his thighs. “Something else is going on, but neither the FBI nor CIA are talking. Since we have no other data to go on, we have to protect you and those who live in Liberty Lake the best we can.”
Fuse rubbed a hand along his short, dark beard. “It would take a psychic to figure out the mind of a Russian. As much as I don’t enjoy sitting on the sidelines, playing a defensive rather than offensive role, it’s all we’ve got. We’ll let the politicians and alphabet agencies figure out the motives.”
Brittany lifted her chin, squaring her shoulders. “Assuming all goes well tonight, how long until I can have my freedom?”
“I know this is hard for you,” Deke said. “Right now, there’s no absolute answer. For now, you’re safe here. If a week passes and it appears the gangs have given up, we’ll consider the choices. Understand, your father will have a say in this.”
“The truth is if I wanted to go home now, I could. You don’t have the right to hold me here without my consent.”
Fuse scrubbed a hand down his face. He would not allow her to leave and face the possible consequences. “Not happening, Brit.”
“It isn’t your decision, Scott. I’ll wait a few days, and if there are no other threats, I’m returning to Phoenix.”
“You don’t have a place to live.”
A brow quirked up in question. She’d forgotten her apartment had been gutted. “Then I’ll use the next few days to find something.”
Deke looked between the two, cutting in. “Don’t make any definite decisions on leaving, Brittany. Let’s get through tonight and another week. We’ll continue our Intel, as will the FBI. There’s a chance they’ll give up after tonight. They’re getting well above the radar, which won’t be good for either group.”
Brittany’s eyes widened, features brightening. “Maybe we’ve been approaching this wrong.”
Fuse’s face scrunched in confusion. “Protecting you?”
She shook her head. “No. Why are we keeping all of this a secret? We know who is after me. Is there a reason it can’t be published?”
Deke’s gaze narrowed on her, liking the idea, knowing it was impossible. “The FBI won’t allow it.”
“Wrath isn’t going to approve any publicity involving the Brethren,” Fuse added.
Tapping a finger against her lips, a small smile curved her lips. “Maybe so. I’ve got an idea which might satisfy them both.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Slider, Pistol, and Hammer drove three trucks, the Russians another, positioning themselves around the outskirts of the property. They’d waited until an hour after midnight, everyone dressed in black. The twenty men slipped on ski masks after jumping from the trucks, then spread out.
Fuse tapped a few keys, enlarging the view of one screen. “We can review the images later to try and identify some of them before they covered their faces.”