The Midnight Hour - Brenda Jackson [98]
His chest went tight as he remembered those times. That was the past and this was the present, and he wished he could consider it as water under the bridge but Cross was still around muddying those waters.
"So what do you think will be his next move, Drake?" He looked Tori directly in the eye when he answered her question. "First he'll verify my claim that you're alive.
Once he's satisfied it's true and it's not a setup, he'll plan our downfall and use every arsenal at his disposal to do so. And because of his position within the cartel, he won't wait to make a hit."
He stepped from behind the pool table and glanced out the window. Trevor, Ashton, Jake, and the others had gone outside to give them privacy. He slowly turned back to Hawk and Tori.
"Horton was a wealth of information and one of the things he told us was that Cross's position with the cartel is better than we think. In fact, it's better than the cartel thinks. While keeping a low profile Cross has been busy gaining support from several leftist rebel forces; rebels who have agreed to protect him. He in turn agreed to provide them the financing they need to fight their bloody wars. They see it as a 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' situation because Cross is willing to aid their fight against the government; something the present cartel has refused to do."
Hawk grimaced. "Heaven help us all if Cross becomes head of the ASI."
"He won't live long enough to take the throne. I'm going to see to it."
Hawk went rigid when he saw the intent in Drake's eyes. "You can't do this alone, Drake. You can't become a one-man hit squad."
Drake smiled slowly. "Believe it or not, that's exactly what I'd thought of doing five years ago, but, no, that's not what I plan to do now. I sort of like to compare myself to the Terminator better."
Hawk's gaze narrowed. "This isn't funny, Drake."
"And you don't see me laughing, Hawk. Cross is coming after me and I plan to use whatever means I can to keep me and Tori alive."
"And you will get help," Hawk said, coming to his feet. "I'll guarantee it."
Drake shook his head, chuckling. "Forgive me for not wanting to fully trust the CIA, FBI or DEA about now. What went on here with Horton has somewhat sullied my opinion of the agencies. The only good thing I have to say about the CIA is that you're back, and I know you'll clean house. But you're only one man, Hawk. You have to take your orders like everyone else and at the moment I refuse to believe that the Agency is going to support everything you want to do."
Hawk sighed deeply, knowing Drake was right. Because of Casey and Chisholm, the Justice Department would be initiating a full-fledged investigation; and in the meantime every department within the agency would have to be on their P's and Q's and play strictly by the rules. "So what do you plan to do?" he asked Drake.
The smile that had appeared on Drake's face a moment earlier faded. Now there was intensity in the depths of his eyes, the firmness of his jaw and the flaring of his nostrils that made Hawk glad that he wasn't the enemy. "I plan to do nothing, but sit and wait. I'm sure with all his contacts, Cross will eventually find me."
Hawk took a deep breath. "And when he does?"
"I'll deal with him."
"Then we'll deal with him," Tori spoke up and said, glancing from Drake to Hawk.
Hawk studied them both for long moments. They were more than operatives who had worked for him, marines who'd served under him. They were two people he genuinely cared about, and he knew he had to make them see reason. "The two of you are making a mistake. Besides, what you want to do is out of the question. You will be breaking the law and-"
"The only law on Warren Mountain