“Scare tactic,” Cora said more to herself. At Hannah’s confused looked Cora further explained. “In warfare, some will attack or spook those closest to their target to lure their target into a trap.” It was the only thing that made sense. If someone had been with the commander that day he tried to take Hannah with him, they would have seen Cora aiding her and would have put her on their radar. It was unlikely, but it could happen. When had she turned pessimistic? Growing up with two Marines for parents was finally rubbing off on her. They had taught her warfare and to always think outside the box. She never thought it would be helpful until now. Perhaps the broken window wasn’t such a coincidence. Could whoever be after Hannah be using her to get to Hannah or had Cora made herself a target when she helped Hannah?
“I had never thought of that. He did allow himself to be seen on the hospital security footage. Maybe he knew that we would find out it was him and come rushing back. I have to tell Ben.” Hannah stood up and started racing out of the room before she stopped and turned back to Cora. “If he is using you as a scare tactic I think you should think about staying with one of the guys or in a motel as well.”
“I’ll be fine, Hannah.” There wasn’t a force on earth that could pull her from this house. Not traffickers. Nothing. “I have lived in this house for ten years. I’m not leaving it.” If this person wanted her, she would be waiting for him. She was the daughter of two Marines. She knew how to take care of herself.
“I’m not telling you to move. Just go on a mini vacation or something. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.”
“I appreciate the concern. I’ll have security put on the property if it makes you feel better. Other than that, I have all the protection I need here.” Now that she knew to be on the look-out she would be more vigilant.
Hannah must have sensed that Cora was not willing to budge on leaving her home, so she just nodded. “What if I send the guys to check on you from time to time?”
Cora could see Liam and the others on a stakeout in front of her house being bored out of their minds. “Absolutely not. If it makes you feel better if there is trouble and this guy gets through the security then,” and only then, maybe, “I will call one of the guys. Fair?” Not that she would ever call Liam. Maybe Carter “Doc”, she liked him.
Hannah bit her lip in indecision. She probably knew she wasn’t going to win this argument. “Fair enough. I better go talk to Ben and get his thoughts on staying somewhere else.”
Cora stood up and walked Hannah to the door. “Stay safe and keep me posted.”
“Will do.” Hannah hugged her and left.
Chapter Seven
“Report,” Ben ordered Liam as soon as he walked through his front door. He marched up to Liam and glared at him. He thought he had left things in good hands leaving for only a few days, obviously, he had been wrong. Cora’s window had been broken, Commander Brady had been murdered along with his guards. Things hadn’t gone smoothly for him either. Hannah had almost been kidnapped again in Portland and they discovered a trafficking ring. Hannah hadn’t been the first or the last victim but now it was shut down for good.
Liam turned away from talking to Hound in the living room and stood up to face Ben. “Hound is looking into the plate number I gave him from the car that was watching Cora’s house. It was to a rental company under a false name.
“And the window?” Ben raised a skeptical brow.
“She thinks it’s a teen playing a prank, but the images on Hound’s cameras and what I saw I know to be different. It’s Alejandro’s men.”
Ben cursed and spun away rubbing a hand over his face. He took a calming breath before turning back and facing Liam. “Why make her a target?”
Liam looked away uncomfortably to Hound but the man just sat on the couch ignoring them as he worked on his computers. If Liam had been hoping the man would save him he had been sadly mistaken. “Cora set up security to protect Alejandro’s accounts.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?” Ben roared, the urge to smash something was strong but he didn’t want to ruin his stuff. Knocking Liam around however wasn’t a bad thought. Ben had always liked Cora; she didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She left Liam for her reasons and he respected that. She was as dedicated to her work as they were to their team. Something felt off. He had to get to the bottom of it.
“I’ve been trying to deal with it while you’ve been gone.” It was hardly an excuse. Liam just didn’t like an arguing woman. Put him in a firefight and he fought to the bitter end. Get a woman arguing with him and he jumped ship every time.
“And how’s that working out for you?” Ben asked, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at his friend.
“She keeps kicking me out of her house every time I try to talk to her about it.”
Hound whispered something behind them never looking up from his computer but they chose to ignore him. This was between Ben and Liam. If Ben hoped to leave Liam in charge for short periods when he was gone the man had to learn to step up.
“You need to try harder. So, she works for Alejandro and he broke her window. That doesn’t sound like a happy customer.”
“I may have something
