Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Maddie (Kindle Worlds Novella) (An Omega Team Crossover Book 4) by Desiree Holt Page B

years ago. As far as the Marshals Service is concerned, the danger has long since passed.”
    She set her spoon in the bowl. “So no one has been checking on them? Keeping an eye on them?”
    “Grey said they don’t have the funding to constantly monitor people in the program. Every person has a number to call if something happens they think puts them in danger. The problem is, agents retire, or die, or move to another agency. So, while the phone number is good, they won’t necessarily reach the original Marshals. Especially after all this time.”
    Maddie stared into the bowl. “So, what, they’re screwed? Is that it?”
    Hawkeye shook his head. “No. As Marshals leave, the contact numbers get passed on to the next person who reviews their list then tucks it away. Of course….”
    “Of course what?” Her breathing was so shallow he was afraid she was going to pass out.
    “Everything now is computerized. Even with a lot of security protocols in place, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility a sophisticated hacker could crack the system.”
    “Still….” She played with the spoon again. “They’d have to have a starting point, right?”
    “And there are a lot of those.” He cupped her chin and turned her so she faced him. “Remember this. I am not going to let a thing happen to you. Or your parents. Believe that if you believe nothing else.”
    She blew out a breath and sat back in her chair. “I’ll try. I’m just so…scared.”
    “I know. But I promise I will protect you at all costs.”
    Hawkeye skipped lunch, his own appetite down the drain. He managed to get Maddie to lie down, although she was sure she wouldn’t fall asleep. He was pouring another cup of coffee for himself when his phone rang. He looked at the readout. Grey.
    “What have you got?”
    “Nothing you’ll like.”
    Hawkeye snorted. “That’s a nice nonspecific statement.”
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I called my guy in the Marshals Office for the Middle District of Florida. They had no idea the daughter of federally protected witnesses was living in Tampa.”
    “Why would they?” Hawkeye shifted the phone to his other ear. “They don’t monitor closed cases for this long, right?”
    “Right. Before he assigned the case to new Marshals, we discussed the entire situation. We agree the guys after her were sent by Scalzo. It also turns out Gus Scalzo has a number of outstanding warrants. He hardly ever leaves his home and then is careful not to get stopped. But Chicago doesn’t have the money to watch him twenty-four/seven.”
    “What else? I know there’s something.”
    Grey was silent on the other end for a long while. “Apparently, since the two yokels he sent couldn’t get the job done, Scalzo arrived here himself. He’s pissed off his goons haven’t grabbed Maddie yet.”
    “He’s doing this with all those outstanding warrants?”
    “Uh-huh. Remember, he’s been waiting thirty years for this.”
    Hawkeye blew out a breath. “So as far as Maddie’s folks are concerned, the Marshals here will do what?” Hawkeye demanded. “I don’t trust anyone. I’d like to go out and find the fuckers and shoot them myself.”
    “It will be up to us to protect Maddie while my people work on tracking down these two dirt bags.”
    “She’ll be with me.” Hawkeye was firm about that. He didn’t plan to let her out of his sight. He had made a promise to Ghost, and he intended to keep it. He didn’t want to admit how important Maddie had become to him personally. That was a distraction, and he couldn’t let it happen. The one night with her had almost undone him.
    “I figured as much. Okay. Let me get back to the Marshals and talk to the two guys now assigned to her. I haven’t touched base with them yet. I’ll keep you in the loop on everything. You keep Maddie glued to your side.”
    “No problem there.”
    After he disconnected, he paced the kitchen, restless. He had the feeling there was something he could be doing.