My Traitor.

By Nicolette Pierce.

Dedication.

To my brother, Steve, both Army and life strong. And, yes, "hooah" in the most flattering of ways.

Thank you to all who have served.

Acknowledgements.

A big thank you goes out to so many people!.

To Lan Gao, who designed not only an eye-catching book cover, but one that has a strong emotional tug too. A perfect cover for Remy.

An everlasting thank you to the Moraine Writers Guild who has to put up with my skipping around to different works-in-progress. A special thanks to Lisa J. Lickel for critiquing the entire book.

A huge Mya-style hug to my mom, Judy Hanson, who tells me when my lines just don't sound right. That's valuable information. My brain tends to work a bit differently at times.

To Steve Lindbloom and Kini Chu for rounding out the book and making sure Remy's army didn't take too many fantastical liberties. They also added wonderful lingo such as "hooah" to my personal dictionary. I will use them with care.

Amber Barry, thank you for sticking around for the ninth book! I'm grateful for the many hours you put in, editing and polishing. It's such a relief knowing a professional book heads out the door on release day.

Another round of thanks to Kathy and Bill, who take on extra babysitting duties - especially when I'm down to the wire, which happens quite often. I love knowing Lucas is happily playing at your house while I'm grinding out words.

And, of course, to my fans who keep me motivated. Thank you for your support, your reviews, and for just being so dang fabulous!.

Chapter 1.

Remy Bourne sat in his Cadillac, staring blankly ahead. The unlit road eased his mind.

"She's been seen," Rat said, his eyes darting as if he could see past the car hood.

"I heard you the first time. Keep tabs on her," Remy replied.

"She's asking around for you. She's using both names."

"Make sure she doesn't find me. Spread the word that I've left town."

Rat nodded and slipped out of the car, disappearing into the night. Even if the road was lit, Remy wouldn't have bothered to see which way Rat had gone. He had a way of becoming invisible. The small, skittish man proved useful from time to time. That was the only reason Remy kept him around. He didn't trust Rat.

But, then again, there were few people he did trust.

Remy had known this day would come. He knew she'd come for him eventually. He'd kept tabs on her for the last couple of weeks, leaking false information as to his whereabouts. He didn't want to be blindsided again. If Ava Hunt was looking for him, it meant she was up to something - and he was going to find out what it was first.

He had a feeling he already knew. He prayed he was wrong.

Remy started the engine and drove to his temporary residence. From what Rat said, Ava had already searched his house from top to bottom. Not one thing was left out of place, and not one thing was taken. She used the darkness as her cover and had sophisticated equipment to override his security system.

Remy had trained her well.

Too well.

As he pulled into the warehouse lot, he noticed a familiar car parked in his spot. The lock on the outer fence had been cut, allowing the unwanted vehicle inside the gate. He suspected the warehouse door was unlocked as well.

Remy parked next to the vehicle and walked the few yards to the door. He took a breath and opened it, stepping into the dim interior.

"You've been MIA," David Miller accused, stepping into a sliver of light from the high windows, mostly broken after years of abandonment.

"Looks like I'm not anymore," Remy replied dryly, walking past David.

David followed behind, his footsteps loud in the cavernous s.p.a.ce.

On the far corner of the building, Remy opened another door and flipped on a switch, lighting a large square room. It was spa.r.s.ely furnished, but it fit Remy's current needs with a cot, an old office chair, and a table piled with gear. Video surveillance screens covered the wall.

"I see you're expecting company," David said, surveying the equipment. His gray eyes scanned, taking everything in. Remy knew in just those few seconds that David had already categorized his inventory.

Remy eyed the dark-haired man, a.s.sessing him. He wondered how much information he could give and still get David to walk away. Too much information and David would be glued to his back.

"She's looking for me," he finally said.

"I know," David replied. "You said you'd be gone for a week or two. Mya's now on my case because she hasn't heard from you."

"Your wife is your own problem."

"You know how she is," David said with an unaffected shrug. "But, I have to say I'm not sure if this is wise."

"It doesn't matter either way. Ava's searching for me."

David nodded. "She'll find you."

"And I'll be ready."

"How can I help?"

"Go home and tell Mya that I'm fine. I just need another week or two."

"Remy-"

"It's not up for debate. I'm doing this alone."

"You don't have to. When she sold you out, she sold us all out."

"Yes, but I'm the one who trusted her."

"We all did. We were a team."

Remy shook his head. David would never understand, and that was fine with him. The less he understood, the better.

"Is Mya still getting sick?" Remy asked, switching the subject.

"Not as much as before," David answered. "She's busy shopping for maternity clothes."

"Go home."

"Not until Rat shows."

Remy's brow arched. How did David know? Remy had a bad feeling David already knew too much. "You already missed him."

"He'll be back," David said, settling into the chair as if he were a man of leisure, which, he actually was now that he'd been home, attempting to live a domesticated life.

"You need a job," Remy said.

"I thought about it."

"And?"

David shrugged. "I don't know what kind of job to get. The only thing I'm qualified to do is . . . well, if it's not government sanctioned then it's illegal. Since I promised Mya I'd give it up, I'm not sure what to do with myself."

"Take care of Mya."

David's fingers mindlessly played with the frayed armrest, his long, muscular legs stretched in front of him. "I can only shop so much."

"There are other things you can do with her."

David smirked. "Which is why she's shopping for maternity clothes. There are twenty-four hours to fill every day. I'm good but not that good."

Remy chuckled. "Why don't you take over for me at Tropical Rain Casino? I've taken off as much time as I can, and I doubt they'll allow more. I was about to hand in my resignation."

"A security-guard gig?" David asked, distaste filling his voice.

"Director of Security," Remy corrected.

"They'd hire me?"

"If I gave them a recommendation, yes."

David scratched his jaw. "I don't really need the money."

"No, but you need something to do."

"And you're sure you don't want my help?" David asked.

The way David's gray eyes glinted, Remy suspected he wasn't really asking. "I don't need help."

"What will you do after this is over?"

Remy crossed his arms. h.e.l.l, he didn't know. It didn't seem to matter, either. Ava had ripped his life apart once. It seemed she was aiming for a repeat. "I'll figure it out later."

"What will you do once you have her?"

Remy didn't know that either, but he wanted answers. He hadn't seen Ava Hunt in six years. The last time they'd spoken was right before she left their hideout in Iraq.

He'd told her he loved her.

She'd sent them to h.e.l.l.

Remy jolted awake, sweat trickling down his face. It trailed his neck like the snakes in his dreams. The nightmares were coming back, stronger than before. The scars slashed across his body burned at the flooding memories.

He shook his head, ridding himself of the haunting visions that replayed in his mind. The sounds were harder to clear away. They echoed as if he were still there. A spray of bullets had riddled his platoon's hideout, killing the soldiers. They had hidden in a section of town that had already been bombed during a previous strike. No one should've known they were there. They'd been so careful in their planning.

But he knew what had happened. As soon as he was shoved into a dank enemy prison cell, he had known it. It was Ava. She'd sold them out. She was the traitor.

For months, while rodents scurried through his cell, climbing over his body, sinking their teeth into his flesh, he had hoped he was wrong. For months, bloodied from torture, shackled back into his cell day after day, he had hoped that Ava hadn't sold him out.

As time ticked on, he knew it was her. She was trained in search and rescue. She would've found him in a matter of days. She was the best.

Remy closed his eyes, his head falling into his hands, remembering the look on David's face when Remy had finally been rescued. Relief and fury had darted across David's face as he picked the shackle locks that held Remy against the red-stained wall. David's reaction was nothing compared to what Remy had felt.

"How many survived?" Remy had asked, his voice brittle from dehydration.

"Just me . . . and Ava," David had answered. "I'd have been here sooner, but I woke up in a hospital two days after the attack. You were listed among the casualties."

Casualties.

Such a soft word for a hard reality.

"There's a traitor in the ranks," David had said.

"Ava."

"She was cleared after giving her statement. It's not her."