“S-sorry boss.”

  Chuck placed his weapon back in the holster and then pulled a small cylinder out of his pocket. He pulled the top off and Tailor watched him sniff.

  Son-of-a-bitch is snorting coke before he goes into court!

  Watch him Tailor…Alec?...Take out the two monkeys once he’s in the elevator.

  Roger.

  Chuck entered the elevator and pressed the button for the floor he wanted. Once the elevator was gone the two men moved back toward the maroon car.

  “What a fucking crazy bastard!” said the man with the snake tattoos.

  “Yea, but he’s paying us man, I don’t give a fuck as long as his green is green.”

  “Right, but still, he was going to fucking shoot me!”

  “Don’t be a pussy! Once we have that bitch we’ll get our cut and leave. And I’m going to enjoy playing with her…she’s a tasty little whore…I want to…”

  His words were cut off by a vice around his throat, his feet slowly being lifted from the floor of the garage. His face was turning purple, his eyes popping out of his head. He couldn’t hear anything, he couldn’t speak, all he could see was a dark mass in front of him.

  “What were you saying?” he asked his partner turning to see him lifted off the ground. His face blanched and he looked at the man holding his buddy by the throat. “What the fuck?”

  He pulled out a long knife and started to move toward the big man when a truck slammed into him, his body flying across the floor, the knife lost beneath a car. He stood, shaking his head and noticed another black shape moving toward him as big as the one holding his partner. Except it wasn’t a truck, it was a man, a very, very, large man.

  “Wh-what do you want? Who-who are you?”

  Alec and Tailor were both in black from head to toe, their faces covered with black masks. No doubt they looked intimidating as shit. Six-foot-seven and six-foot-eight of pure muscle hovering over two much smaller men would be intimidating to anyone.

  “Where is the farm?” asked Tailor standing over the small man.

  “I-I can’t…I can’t tell you…he’ll kill me.”

  “I’m going to kill you either way…where is it?” He looked back at his partner now hanging limp, still in the grasp of the other big man.

  “Did you kill him? You killed my friend!” He started to stand, but Tailor’s big boot landed in the center of his chest, pushing him back to the cold pavement. Alec looked at the man on the ground and back at the man in his grasp, he twisted his neck and with a sickening snap, they knew the man would never get up again.

  “What the fuck? Who are you?”

  “Don’t matter…where is the farm?”

  “He’ll kill me…the Ghost will kill me…I can’t…” He started to cry and Tailor let out a long breath, lifting him from the floor, his shirt twisted in his big hands.

  “Where…Is…The…Fucking…Farm?”

  “It’s near Pawnee Lake okay! Fuck…I’m a dead man.” He squirmed in Tailor’s grasp and for a moment he thought about releasing the man, but then remembered his comments about Rose.

  “Yep,” he said with a quick twist of the man’s neck, “you are.” The body crumbled to the floor and Tailor threw the body over his shoulder and into the trunk of the maroon car. Alec threw the other body on top of him and slammed the trunk.

  “That should be ripe in a few days.”

  “Yep,” said Tailor flipping the bird to Code, who he knew was watching on the video feed.

  “Now we wait,” said Alec.

  “Now we wait.”

  Chapter TWENTY-FIVE

  “Mrs. Tyson I have reviewed your request for termination of this marriage based on domestic abuse and I concur. The medical records are clear, your injuries consistent with that of someone who has suffered abuse. I have also reviewed your request to revert back to your maiden name and I will grant that as well.”

  The judge looked up at Rose and her legal team. Although he knew who Kari was by reputation, he had never in his life seen a lawyer that looked like Trak. But he’d been around the block more than once and he knew that Trak was more than a member of her legal team. He grinned to himself.

  “Ms...Ellis,” he said with a smile, “you will receive half of all assets that you have shared with your ex-husband, including any and all bank assets.”

  “Wait!? What the fuck?!” Chuck stood and his attorney pressed on his shoulder.

  “You curse like that in my courtroom again Mr. Tyson and I will have you charged with contempt. And your little badge that you carry won’t save you here. I know what kind of man you are Mr. Tyson, I’ve seen your kind for years.”

  Chuck sat back down his face red with fury and he stared at his ex-wife, venom dripping from every pore of his body.

  “You’re the kind of man that believes you can own people, that you can command respect because you’re a bully. Well, I don’t like bullies Mr. Tyson and I damn sure don’t like abusers. I’m also granting a restraining order for Ms. Ellis. If you are within five hundred yards of her at any time, you will be arrested. Do I make myself clear?”

  A sick, twisted grin spread across Chuck’s face. Arrested? Fuck him, no one would dare arrest him if they knew what was good for them. It wouldn’t matter. The bitch would be dead by the end of the day.

  “I hear you,” he said calmly looking at his fingernails.

  Trak looked at the man, eyeing his every move. He hated weak pathetic men and this man was weak, preying on those weaker than himself. He would love to get his hands on this man, but Baptiste had first dibs.

  Chuck looked across the table at his ex-wife and sneered. But it was the dark man next to her that sent a chill up his spine. He quickly averted his gaze from the man and back down at his hands.

  “Ms. Ellis? You are hereby granted your divorce and your name change. You are also granted the restraining order against Mr. Tyson. I wish you good luck Ms. Ellis.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  Move with Kari and Trak, Rose…just follow them toward the elevator banks…we’re right here.

  Rose heard the voice of Nine in her ear and felt a flood of warmth and comfort over her body. She still saw Sniff and Daisy sitting in the room, as well as Gabriel and Antoine. She didn’t look directly at them, but grinned, feeling completely protected at that moment.

  Trak’s hand was at her back guiding her toward the elevators. Once inside she let out a long sigh.

  “Why are we going in the elevators this time?” she asked.

  “Chuckie had a bit of a surprise planned for you, but we’ve got one planned for him. If you don’t want to see this, you’ll need to get into the vehicle with Angel.”

  “No,” she said shaking her head. “I need to see this finished.”

  Trak nodded at the woman and once more was reminded of her incredible bravery. He pulled out his weapon and checked the ammunition, then slid out his long knife from his briefcase, tucking it behind his suit jacket.

  “How did you get that through security?” she asked.

  “Not sure, ask Montana,” he said smiling. “Some sort of magic she’s working on.”

  “Wow,” said Kari. “Impressive.”

  The elevator doors slid open and they walked into the garage. Rose spotted Angel standing next to the car and she moved toward him, Trak and Kari at her side. Slipping from the darkness she spotted what could only be Tailor and Alec and she smiled.

  The back door of the car opened up and Baptiste stepped out and pulled her into a hug.

  “Baby you were so brave!” He pulled her into his embrace, kissing her cheeks.

  “It’s easy to be brave when I’m surrounded by all of you,” she said hugging him.

  He’s on his way down…be ready.

  “Stay in the car baby,” he said kissing her forehead.

  “No, no Baptiste, I need to do this. I need for him to know he can’t intimidate me any longer. I need to make sure he knows I don’t need him…I don’t want him. I need to end this.” Baptiste nodded at his brave little fire dragon. She stood by the door of the car with Kari and Trak as the others dispersed.

  When the elevator door opened he walked into the garage looking left and right. He spotted the maroon car and looked inside. Not seeing his buddies, he had a panicked look on his face.

  “Looking for someone Chuck?” she said sweetly.

  “You fucking whore! I will kill you.” He started to move toward Rose, but she didn’t budge from her spot.

  “No my friend,” said Trak stepping forward, “I don’t think so.” He pulled the knife from his waist and before the man could pull his service weapon he released the blade and it slice through his right shoulder. He screamed in pain, his weapon skittering to the floor.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?” he screamed at Trak.

  “You shouldn’t worry about me friend. You should worry about them,” he said pointing behind him. Chuck turned and saw the two brick walls moving toward him, dressed in black from head to toe, only their eyes visible. He stepped backward, holding his hand to his shoulder now dripping in blood.

  “No, he needs to worry about me,” said Baptiste stepping forward.

  “You’re all fucking dead! There are cameras…cameras everywhere…they’ll see you…my men will see you….” He was screaming like a banshee now. Amazing what a bully does when the tables are turned.

  “You mean these cameras?” asked Code. He held up the tablet that showed the exact spot where they were standing, and it appeared to be completely vacant.

  “Who the fuck are you people?”

  “Who is the Ghost?” asked Nine stepping forward.

  “Fuck you!”

  “No thank you, I’m not into shrimp dick wimps. Who is the Ghost?”

  “I-I don’t know…I don’t know okay! I get communication via e-mail or phone call.”

  “When is the next communication?” asked Code.

  “T-today…I’m supposed to get an e-mail to tell me where to send our new product. That’s all I know.” He looked from one man to the next, but his venomous glare for Rose had not waned. “I will fucking kill you bitch. They will not be with you forever.”

  “Oh that’s where you’re wrong,” said Baptiste stepping forward, his weapon pointed at the man. “I will be with her forever and you will be in hell.”

  “Wait!” said Rose.

  “Wait? Baby, I’m going to handle this.”

  “But I don’t want you to have to answer the question ‘who killed my sperm donor’ one day.” She touched his hand gently, kissing his lips.

  “Sperm…you’re carrying my child! That’s my fucking baby!”

  “No, this is my child. Mine. You were never a father…never… and you will never touch my child. You will never see him or her.”

  “Baby I’ll do this,” said Baptiste.

  “I can do it for you,” said Trak.

  “I don’t mind,” said Alec.

  “Seriously?! You’re fucking arguing over who’s going to kill me? What the fuck is wrong with you people?” He was screaming at them, his body encircled by massive bodies in black, even Rose was in black.

  She pulled the service weapon from Baptiste’s hand and smiled up at him, kissing his cheek.

  “I will never think of you again,” she said as she leveled the pistol at Chuck. She squeezed the trigger, pulling once, twice and a third time for good measure. His body slumped to the floor and she looked down at him, feeling nothing. No remorse, no regret.

  “There. It’s done. One day I’ll have to say something to this little one, but it won’t be on your shoulders.” She stood on her toes and kissed Baptiste. “I’m hungry baby. Can we get lunch?”

  Nine burst out laughing and Wilson followed. Alec pulled the mask from his head and looked at the woman who, no doubt, would soon be his sister-in-law. She was amazing.

  “Baby, you killed him. Are you good?” he said holding her tight.

  “I needed to do that. I’ve wanted to do that for two years. I know you all didn’t expect that of me, but I needed to end this and know that I did it. I didn’t rely on someone else to finish this for me.” She looked at each of the men and turned to Baptiste. “Thank you all.”

  “I’m so proud of you Rose, so fucking proud of you baby. You’re amazing!”

  “Trak? Thank you. Just sitting beside you gave me courage in that courtroom I didn’t think I had. When he looked over at you, I could tell he was afraid and that made me realize what kind of man he truly was.” She hugged Trak and he looked at Baptiste as if lost as to what to do.

  Baptiste smiled at the man and laughed. “Okay everyone, let’s get my girl some food.”

  “Good idea, we need to be seen. We’ve got the rest of the team raiding the farm. Let’s go.” Nine moved toward the vehicles and they headed out of the garage. Tailor and Alec moved Chuck’s body into the maroon car and slammed the trunk again. That would not be pretty when someone opened it, but it would be justice.

  “Code? Release the video feeds now.”

  Done brother…feeds are back to real time.

  They drove in silence down the long road toward the airport when Rose spotted a food truck at a small rest stop.

  “Oooh! Street tacos!”

  Laughter filled her ear as the men in all the vehicles laughed at her. Angel pulled over and they stepped out to enjoy their food. She looked around at all the men and smiled.

  Wow! What a change…from a frightened, beaten, battered woman, all alone, to a loved, treasured, killer of your own abuser. Not bad Rose.

  Chapter TWENTY-SIX

  Code, Sniff and Daisy, along with Antoine, Miller and Bull made their way to the farm. The house was vacant, but they quickly gathered files, laptops, tablets, and anything they thought they might need. Although Chuck had installed a fairly complex security system, it was nothing for Code to bypass.

  The house didn’t look as though it was lived in, but rather a place to meet or sleep on occasion. There was beer in the refrigerator and two beds in the back with blankets, but no sheets. There were no chairs, other than a few lawn chairs. There was however, a large table set up with electronics.

  A large barn-like structure at the back of the property got their attention and they moved toward the building, crawling low to the ground. Miller held a fist up and everyone stopped. He moved carefully along its edges peeking in the windows. Moving back to the group behind a grouping of trees, he knelt down.

  “About ten people in the building. Looks like their cutting some sort of brick looking thing.”

  “Explosives?” asked Sniff.

  “I don’t think so, I think its drugs, but nothing like I’ve ever seen before,” said Miller.

  “Let me send in Daisy,” said Sniff. Alex “Sniff” Mullins had been an Army K-9 officer. When he returned home to find his girlfriend had taken everything he owned and emptied their bank account, it wasn’t long before he had found himself homeless.

  Trak and the team found him in a camp that was being used to test devices on homeless men. The devices eventually would have been implanted into soldiers and killed them. He had been given a second chance, and he wouldn’t ever forget that.

  Miller nodded at the younger man and watched as he and the dog moved around the building. Several times Daisy stopped and pawed the earth. Finally reaching the side door, Sniff spotted a complex grouping of wires and grew wide-eyed. Quickly making his way back toward the trees, he looked up and saw what he feared. A small drone with a camera-feed.

  Fuck!

  He started to run toward the group of trees waving at them.

  “Get back! Get back!”

  The explosion was deafening, splinters of wood sailing through the air. Sniff felt his body fly through the air and land hard, then something warm and furry laying on top of his body. Debris fell around them and Miller jumped up first running toward the younger man.

  “Sniff!? Sniff are you okay?”

  He moaned and turned over, Daisy covering his body. He immediately reached out, feeling the dog for any injuries or blood. Amazingly, they were all okay.

  “Fuck that hurt!” he said looking up at Miller.

  “What the hell happened?” asked Code.

  “The whole place was rigged to go. I think we must have triggered something. There was a drone with a camera on it and once I saw it, the lights started blinking on the side of it. I think it was motion sensor activated. When I moved the five second countdown started.”

  “Jesus! That building had people in it. Someone just blew a barn full of people and drugs to prevent us from seeing what was inside.”

  “Shit!” said Antoine.

  “No, no this might be good,” said Code.

  “Good? How the fuck do you figure this could be good?” asked Miller.

  “Think about it. With their new shipment gone and that explosion, people will swarm to this site. They’ll know about Chuck and his dealings and those bodies will just be thought of as casualties of the drug war. When the Ghost finds out, he’ll be sending e-mails like crazy.”

  “He’s right,” said Bull. “But we have to get the fuck out of here before the authorities arrive. Let’s go gentlemen. There’s a chopper with our name on it waiting at the airport.”

  As they drove toward the airport, three fire trucks and a handful of police cars passed them, but they all looked down and drove at a normal speed, not looking in the direction of the first responders. Bull looked in the backseat at Sniff and Daisy.

  “That’s a damn fine dog, Sniff. She saved our asses.”

  “She’s a good girl,” he said rubbing the dogs’ ears.

  “Maybe we need to think about getting another one?” said Antoine. “Seems like you’re always off doing extra duty. It would be good to have another dog or two.”

  “I could help train them if they’re not already trained. But a lot of working dogs retire at fairly young ages. We could adopt a few,” he said looking at Antoine.

  “Awww that’s so cute, you two are going to be parents together,” said Miller punching his brothers’ arm.

  “You’re such an ass,” said Antoine. “But you’re an ass in my family so I won’t kill you.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17