Lucifer's Beginning (The Lucifer's Trilogy)

“I’ll buy you another.”

“You don’t have to. There’s no story here. An old friend texted me with an urgent message. He’s not taking my calls or texts now.”

“The kind of old friend none of us want to hear from.” It’s not a question.

“Yup,” I say, unwrapping my burger and taking a bite of heaven. “Damn. This place is the best part of Texas.”

“How much trouble is this, potentially?” Adam asks.

I don’t bullshit Adam. He’s too good a guy to deserve that shit. “The kind that makes you think you better savor your Whataburger with a chocolate shake because it might be your last meal.” I grab my drink and sip the sweet beverage.

Adam grabs his drink and says, “Shit,” before he sips as well.

That’s right, I think—triple shit. My cellphone rings, and I grab it from the table, glance at the number, and give Adam a nod. It’s him. I answer the line. “What the hell is going on, Jake?”

He’s breathing hard. “A team of operatives just tried to take me the fuck out. I’m on foot in the damn woods.”

I sit up straighter. “Who?”

“They found me. Fuck. I have to go. There’s a hitlist, Luke. Son of a bitch.” Gunfire sounds, and there’s a bunch of shuffling sounds on his end.

I stand up. “Jake?”

There’s more shuffling, the sound of Jake saying, “Eat shit, you bastard.”

A man laughs and then a bullet sounds. I squeeze my eyes shut before I hear an unfamiliar voice say, “Hello, Luke. I bet I get to her before you do.”

My heart stops beating for a moment. “If you touch her, you’re dead.”

He laughs. “We’ll see.” He hangs up.

I’m seeing red as I start walking toward the door, and contrary to the norm for me, I’m freaking the hell out. I’m outside, helmet in hand, when Adam steps to my side. “Where are we going?”

“Not we. Me. I’m off the books for at least a week.”

“Like I said, where are we going?”

I could fight with him, but based on what I just overheard, backup might not be a bad idea. “Colorado, to save the only woman I ever loved. And we might need Savage’s surgical skills. The last time I saw her, she shot me.”

CHAPTER THREE

Lucifer

Before Adam and I ever leave Whataburger, I dial Ana. I’m not surprised when she doesn’t answer, but I try again. I call her ten freaking times and leave just as many messages.

“Jake is dead,” I finally say to her machine. “I heard him die on the phone, while he warned me that we are next. I talked to his killer. He picked up the phone and challenged me to get to you first. He’s coming for you, Ana, and I don’t know who he is. This isn’t a drill,” I add, using the words her training tells her means business. I have to hope like hell that’s enough.

I’m back at the ranch house, packing my bag when Luke Walker, the middle of the three founding Walker Security brothers, steps into the room I’ve been staying in at Cowboy’s Family Ranch. And like all the brothers, his hair is dark, his build is fit, and his skills just as dangerous. I like Luke. He personifies his biblical name: a peacekeeper, a man of honor. There’s a reason I never use Luke myself. I’m none of those things.

“Adam told me what’s going on,” he says. “I chartered you a plane to Colorado minus the pilot. That will have to be you.”

I zip up my bag. “Thanks, man. I’m not turning that down.” I take a step toward the door, ready to leave.

He doesn’t budge. He’s still blocking my exit. “The question is,” he says, “how concerned should I be about three of my men, you included, visiting the woman that tried to kill you?”

I grimace and silently curse Adam for running his mouth. “I’m not taking Savage for wit,” I say, “but ultimately, the only person she wants dead is me. She’s FBI. She doesn’t kill anyone she doesn’t think deserves it.”

His brow shoots up. “But she did try to kill you?”

“That’s right,” I say, offering no details, and I never will. Ever.

Luke is smart enough not to push, shifting to the next obvious question. “Who wants her dead?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know why?”

“As I said, she’s an FBI agent. She has enemies.”

“And yet, they seem to be using her as bait to get to you.”

“So it seems,” I say dryly.

“Is that all you’re going to tell me?”

“Yep,” I say, and I don’t apologize, either. My past is ugly, but it’s buried well enough that not even Walker Security will uncover just how ugly. Unfortunately for Ana, that past is also her past.

He studies me a moment that turns into two, time I don’t have right now, before he says, “Who was Jake?”