At this point, the men with the money—minus the two and a half billion Jay diverted to an account only he had access to—were the greater threat.
Plus, the fuckers had Tak.
The JTT’s sniper had saved Adam’s life with a couple of well-placed bullets outside Bodak’s warehouse in Savannah. Hell, he’d sacrificed himself to save all their lives that day. No question, Adam would get him back, and then he planned to do what he did best.
Sam Black or Adam Grayson, didn’t matter, he was a straight-up killer. Even if he did manage to take out their enemies, there would be no rejoining the land of the living. No falling in love with a woman who warmed his soul. No happily ever after in his future.
Bottom line, if he survived the shit storm he was about to unleash, he would always be a target. It would never be safe enough for him to have a family, and he didn’t stay in one place long enough to own a dog.
With every step,Grant’s legs grew heavier. The temptation to take the easy way out filled his boots with concrete. Turn around now. Go back the way he came. Leave the lodge, the team, the woman who wasn’t his and never would be.
When it came to disappearing, he had enough training and experience to fall off the radar completely. He’d done it once already. If Grant decided to leave, ghosting would be easy, and good luck to the motherfuckers trying to find him.
One problem. He couldn’t fuck off. Not yet. And not because these JTT assholes were starting to feel like family. Like people he could trust with his secrets, his truth, his real identity. Nope. While Johnson remained a threat to Gray’s life, Grant stayed for her. Pure and simple.
He’d watched her suffer. Watched her lose the people she loved, one after the other. And he’d made a vow. He’d do whatever it took to keep her alive. Bring back her smile. Make her happy. Keep her from feeling the sorrow of any more losses.
Fuck. Less than a month later, and he’d already failed on that last one.
He reached his destination and hesitated. A rare occurrence. But this was a situation no soldier wanted to find himself standing in—ever. No matter how battle scarred his heart. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the task at hand.
Grant had delayed this moment for as long as he dared.
Unfortunately, time marched on, and he couldn’t wait any longer.
He knocked on the door. The command to enter came swiftly.
“What is it?” Still armed, Adam turned his back to the window he’d been looking out of. Hands in his pockets, his casual pose hinted at a man with no worries.
Grant knew better. His boss was two hundred pounds of lean mean killing machine. If the need arose, Adam wouldn’t hesitate to cut down any threat to himself or the people he cared about. “Jay confirmed the rumors, Johnson’s people are planning a press conference for later today.”
“The formal announcement he’ll be running for president?”
“Yeah. He’ll be naming his interim DHS replacement as well.”
“Corso?”
Grant confirmed the promotional appointment of Johnson’s deputy secretary with a nod. “He’ll also be using the opportunity to point to Jay for the colonel’s murder.”
“Arrest warrant?”
“Being drawn up now.”
“Motive?”
“As anticipated. Two and a half billion in stolen arms-trafficking funds.” Out of necessity, the JTT had been learning everything they could about the man who wanted them dead, and they’d already predicted most of Johnson’s moves with freakish accuracy.Most.
“No surprise there. So, what’s the problem?”
“He’s added on some extra charges.”
“Treason?”
“Yeah, Jay’s the new number one enemy of the United States of America.”
“Fuck.” Adam shut his eyes, lifted his hand, and smoothed his fingers over his brow. “You said charges. What else?”
“Johnson’s planning to frame Jay for Tak’s murder.”
