Onyx, p.11
Lenas' Mountain: A REAPER Security Novel - Book 3, page 11
“I guess the little Indian girl belonged to you, huh?” Jorge said with a twisted grin.
“Yea fucker. She belonged to me, and you’re going to die for touching her. But before I kill you, you’re going to make a call.”
He looked around the room and for the first time recognized his brother’s right-hand man, Victor. He felt relief at first and then confusion. Then his confusion began to piece together what he had suspected.
“You son-of-a-bitch! You’re military? Cop? No…you’re a fucking fed! You’ve been lying to my brother…to all of us for years…you’re a fucking traitor!”
“I’m the son-of-a-bitch? You really are a sick fuck Jorge. You kidnapped and hurt your own fucking niece. That sweet innocent child in there!”
He didn’t say anything at first. Just stared at Victor/Vince not knowing what to say.
“Why? Why now? You surely have all the information you need to nail my dear brother,” his confusion was almost satisfying to Victor/Vince. It let him know that he had done his job well.
“This wasn’t all about your brother. You want to know why? Why? You don’t remember do you? Ellen Martin. Helena Martin.”
Jorge just stared off into space. Ellen? Helena? So many names. So many faces.
“Virginia Beach summer of 2000.”
The look on his face suddenly filled with terror and something else…fond memories. This fucker was remembering with fondness what he had done to his wife.
“Right…right…Alexei didn’t want your wife…only the girl,” he smiled a disgusting smile. “I’ll bet her cute little ass made him a killing. I sure had some fun with your wife though. Her sweet ass was sooo fucking tight. Mmm mmm mmm. Oh, I got to really do some serious shit with her. Man did she moan and cry. Turns me the fuck on! I’m getting hard just talking about it.” He knew what he was doing. He knew he was fueling the anger in this man, and he didn’t care.
Victor/Vince dove for Jorge, his fist connecting with his nose he pummeled uncontrollably into the man’s face. He didn’t care that they couldn’t get to Alexei, he only cared about here and now.
Jorge didn’t even fight back. He didn’t lift his fists in self-defense. He didn’t throw a punch. He took what was dished out. Willingly.
In his final fit of rage, Vince held Jorge’s head and twisted. The distinct snap was heard in the room and not one man budged. This was his vengeance to get. He let out a long slow breath, his shoulders heaving. Tears slid down his cheeks, but he made no sound, only staring down at the man who stole is beloved.
Only Tailor looked at the body on the floor and the man, whose bloody fists were still clenched above the dead body, wishing he had gotten at least one hit in before his death.
Victor/Vince was straddling the body, his breathing labored and hard. He held his fists at his sides, shaking violently, and Nine laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Brother,” he said, “he’s dead brother. You’ve settled one debt.”
He only nodded rising to wash his hands at the sink near the mini bar. They heard Angel’s sweet voice talking to Katrina, the little girls’ laughter echoing in the marble walls of the bathroom.
“Fuck!” said Victor/Vince. “Now how do I get Alexei?”
“I have an idea,” said a voice in their ears.
“Is that you Tony?” asked Nine lightly pressing his finger to the earpiece.
“Yes sir. I think I have a way that will help,” he said. Sly’s voice echoed in the background screaming Fucking Genius!
“I’m listening son and I don’t have all day here.”
“Well sir, I have recorded phone calls with Jorge’s voice on them, and you have his cell phone which probably has voice recordings for him as well. I can string together words and sentences that he’s used, writing an algorithm that will respond by me typing, but in Jorge’s voice.”
There was silence as Nine and the others looked at each other completely puzzled.
“Is he fucking kidding?” asked Tailor.
“No!” said Sly with more excitement than intended. “It’s genius. We’ve recorded everything,” they could hear Sly tapping on the keys of the computer, “and by my count there are more than three thousand words stored. With that, we can respond to almost anything Alexei asks. He’ll think he’s talking to Jorge! Genius!”
“Alright, make it happen Sly. And Tony…”
“Sir?”
“…nice job kid,” he said smiling.
“Thank you, sir, but maybe we should wait to be sure this works.”
Nine nodded in agreement and looked at the others. “Alright we have seven minutes left on the camera disruption. Let’s get that little girl out of here.”
Angel appeared from the bathroom with Katrina wrapped in the big terry cloth robe, her face freshly washed and eyes sleepy. She looked at the big dark giant who scared her earlier and realized he wasn’t so scary any more.
“Mr. Angel says I’m going to see Poppy,” she said innocently.
“That’s right baby,” said Tailor. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I would never hurt a little girl. Ever. I want to get you to your Poppy, okay?” He gazed at the little girl and prayed she wouldn’t be afraid of him.
“You’re like the big friendly giant, aren’t you?” she said sweetly.
“Yes, I am baby, yes I am,” he smiled. Nine hit redial on his phone and heard the weak, exhausted voice of Miguel Santos.
“Please tell me you have my baby,” he said.
“We have her. She’s unharmed,” he said.
“Oh my God! Oh my God!” he sobbed uncontrollably on the phone.
“Hold it together Miguel. She’s going to need you. I’ll have one of my men fly her to Arizona…”
“No! No, I will be there myself in a few hours. I’ve just been released from the hospital and I’m headed straight for my private plane. I’ll be there soon.” There was silence again but Nine could tell he wanted to say more. “I owe you Dougall. I will owe you forever.”
“You want to pay me back?” he said.
“Si my friend…anything…you name it.”
“Give up the fucking drugs. Do something normal. Buy and sell hotels. Open a casino. Cruise the world with your daughter. Just stop fucking with everyone’s lives.”
Again, silence on the other end of the phone.
“We’ll see you in a few hours,” and with that the line went dead.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Angel and Miller pulled in front of the house to find Ajei’s little face plastered against the window waving at them. As Lena looked out the window, she looked down the long driveway for the SUV with Tailor in it, but there were no other cars following.
Angel stepped from the front seat and then opened the back door of the SUV. Pulling a sleeping Katrina from the car seat, still wrapped in her white fuzzy robe. Lena held her hand to her mouth and turned saying something to the room behind her.
As suddenly as they had arrived, the three women and two of the men crowded the front door, watching the big Adonis carry the small child.
“She’s asleep,” he whispered. “But she’ll be hungry when she wakes. I don’t think she’s had anything but candy. She also doesn’t have any clean clothes.”
“Oh God!,” gasped Lena, “did they…did they…”
“No…I don’t…,” he said quietly, “I don’t think so anyway, thank God for big favors. She said they didn’t hurt her. Other than a few bruises from her uncle’s anger, I didn’t see anything glaring.”
Her little eyes fluttered and she looked up at Angel and smiled. She cuddled into his chest and then noticed that she was in a big room with other people. Suddenly terrified, she nearly climbed over Angels’ shoulder.
“It’s okay sweetheart. These are my friends,” he said sitting on the sofa.
“Are they…are they friends of Uncle Jorge’s?” she asked innocently.
“No baby,” said Lena. “We’re friends of Angels and we’d like to be friends of yours too. Do you think that would be okay?”
Katrina nodded, her messy mop of brown curls falling in her face.
“I’m so glad!” said Lena excitedly. “This is my little sister Ajei. She’s eight. How old are you?”
“I’m six,” she said quietly.
“That’s a fun age,” said Lena confidently. “These two beautiful ladies are my friends. This is Lauren and this is Erin.”
The little girl gave a tentative smile and looked at the three women and little girl huddled in front of her. That didn’t worry her, what worried her were the two big men behind them.
Lena looked over their shoulders to see Tommy and Bull standing with arms crossed. She gave them a scowl that told them immediately to stand down.
“Don’t worry about them baby. They’re here to make sure no one else takes you before you daddy gets here.”
Her brown eyes grew three sizes and she sat up straight. “Poppy’s coming?”
Lena chuckled, “Yes baby, daddy is on his way here right now. What do you say we get you a good bubble bath, comb that beautiful hair of yours and get you some clothes? I bet Ajei has a few things that will fit.”
The little girl nodded furiously, her curls everywhere. The t-shirt she was wearing of her uncle’s brushed the floor as she stood up. Turning, she looked Angel in the eyes.
“Thank you, Angel. My poppy’s coming now. I won’t need you to be my Angel all the time now.”
He smiled down at her. “That’s good to know baby.”
She bit her bottom lip and looked at him again, “But…but can I call you if I get scared?”
He pulled the little girl to him and hugged her tightly. “Katrina you can call me any time, night or day, and I’ll come running. You hear me?”
She nodded furiously and placed her hand in Lena’s following her to the big master bathroom.
“I’ll take Ajei to your house to find some clothes,” said Lauren.
“I’m going with,” said Bull. “No arguments Lauren.”
She smiled at him and batted her lashes. “Moi? I’m wounded Bull. I wound never argue with you.”
He gave a derisive snort, “Yea. And I don’t like women.”
“Mr. Bull, you don’t like women? Then do you like men? Cause Lena says that okay if that’s what someone wants.”
The whole room erupted in laughter and Lauren pulled Ajei out the door with Bull.
Angel’s phone buzzed and he pulled it from his pocket. Seeing the familiar number, he stepped into the kitchen.
“Hey mom. Everything okay?”
“Hi honey, yes everything’s good. With your sisters all gone home from their holiday breaks I was just feeling a bit lonely that’s all.”
Angel’s mom had been his rock in many ways. She had gotten pregnant with Angel at the age of 18, her first year of college. His dad tried to do the right thing by marrying her, but they knew it was a mistake. They had nothing in common really, but that didn’t stop the sexual chemistry. One right after another she popped out five babies in six years.
Angel, Luke as he was named…although now that he thought about it, fitting that his name was Angel, was the oldest. Then Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Ruth the baby. When Ruth was just two years old Angel’s father decided that life on the road was what he wanted and he took off. He was seven years old.
By the time he was ten he had his first job cutting lawns. At fifteen, he was working two jobs, and as soon as he turned eighteen, he joined the Navy sending home every penny he made. He took every overseas mission, every opportunity for extra pay.
Oh, Charlotte Jordan was no slouch. She was a third-grade teacher and children’s book author, but feeding five children was hard on anyone. Now with all of his sisters graduated from college and on their own, Charlotte should be enjoying her life.
“Mom I hate to hear you’re lonely. I tell you what, why don’t you come here for a few weeks. We’re wrapping up one mission and I can ask Nine to let me stick close. I have plenty of room at my place.”
“Oh, honey are you sure?”
“I’m sure mom. Make the arrangements and I’ll pick you up from the airport.”
“Oh Luke, thank you. That’s not why I called, but that sounds wonderful!” Her enthusiasm made him smile. Most men in their thirties wouldn’t be excited about spending time with their mothers, but Charlotte was easy to talk to and an amazing cook. He would enjoy spending some downtime with her.
“No problem. I’ll see you soon.” He ended the call and looked up to see Erin milling around in the kitchen.
“So, your mom’s coming? That’s great Angel,” she said with a smile.
“Yea it is. She’s great. I know you all will like her. You know she’s I think fifty this year and I swear to God she looks thirty. She’s amazing Erin. She’s the kind of woman I’m looking for.”
Erin smiled at Angel’s unabashed affection and admiration of his mother. These men. These beautiful men in her life were not afraid to show their affection. How lucky was she?
Lena walked in the kitchen carrying the robe and t-shirt of Katrina. Her face a mask of pain and anguish; fresh tears filled her eyes.
“What? What’s wrong with her?” asked Angel.
“Angel. I…I think she’s been touched. I don’t see any signs of penetration, but I think they…they….” She couldn’t finish.
“Those mother-fuckers! If they weren’t already dead…” his face was flame red, his blonde hair even more pronounced with his anger.
“I’ve seen this before and the children often don’t even understand what’s happened. I think that’s what happened here. I asked her if anyone touched her and she said of course, meaning that they touched her to hold her hand and so forth. But you have dig and ask the right questions. She has a little bruising around her vagina. If you want to know the disturbing sick truth?”
Angel nodded.
“I think he probably ejaculated on her, but it wasn’t her uncle. It was the one named Gino. Please tell me you killed him,” her eyes were filled with tears that she dare not shed or she would frighten Katrina.
Angel nodded again.
“He’s dead. But not by me,” he looked up at Lena and Lena could only nod. She understood. Tailor had taken the man’s life. At first her stomach dropped, sick at the thought of her sweet man taking the life of another. Then something else took over, something more primal, more maternal. The fucker deserved to die and suddenly she filled with pride for what Tailor had done.
“Lena!” she heard the little girl singing her name.
“Coming baby,” she called to the girl. Lena plastered a smile on her face and wiped her eyes.
Bull, Lauren and Ajei walked in with a bag of clothes and a few toys. Lena smiled at her beautiful little sister; her heart so full.
“Look Lena, I brought my purple skirt and the sweater that matches. It’s too small anyway and it’s really for a little girl. Not me.”
Lena smiled at her sister and rubbed her hand over her long braid.
“That’s right baby, not a big girl like you. You wanna help me with Katrina?” She nodded her head and skipped off toward the bathroom.
“I’ll make some food,” said Erin.
A few minutes later Katrina walked down the hallway hand-in-hand with Ajei, her face rosy and clean, her curls bouncing with shine around her face. The little skirt and sweater set fit her perfectly. The black tights hugging her little legs.
“I’m hungry Miss Lena,” she said innocently.
“I know baby. Miss Erin is making all of us something to eat.”
“It’s all ready,” said Erin with a smile. She placed the bowls of soup on the table with a basket of crackers. Sliced cheese and apples were on a plate, with cookies waiting for dessert.
“Yum!” cried Katrina. “Food!”
Erin’s stomach rolled and she looked away, the tears forming in her eyes. To distract herself she turned to Angel who was sitting next to Katrina.
“When will the others be back?” she asked.
“You know I can’t tell you that Erin. They have to finish some things.”
She only nodded her head and turned to the lively conversations of the girls at the table. Puppies, Barbie dolls, Justin Bieber, and all things good. The miracle of a child’s heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Get him on the phone now!” screamed Alexei. No one makes him wait. He gets what he wants when he wants it. And he wanted the child now.
His businesses were many. He liked to think he had a diverse portfolio. Drugs, trafficking, casinos, arms, and now children. Growing up poor in Russia does things to a man. When you spend time in one of the worst prisons in the world, well that does things to the man and his head. He killed his way to the top and he would be damned if Santos or his big-time brother would prevent him from getting what he wanted.
He was so easily bored. Women were like flavors of ice cream and in his mind, he had tasted every flavor. Which made him start to desire children. He didn’t mind taking little boys, but girls were his preference. But for his clients? Anything goes.
He’d been providing girls for his patrons for years now. Some liked them skinny, some liked them with a little baby fat still on them. Others, they wanted them made up like dolls – make-up and frilly skirts, hair in ringlets.
Not him. He just wanted to beat them into submission and then take their virginity in the most painful of ways. He would keep them for a few months and then toss them into one of his whorehouses around the world. The youngest he had ever taken was eleven. But this child served two purposes. She was the youngest he would ever have and it would let Miguel Santos know that he could not fuck with him.
Nine, Trak, Tailor, Miller, Code, and Wilson sat in the SUV waiting for the call.
“He’s dialing the number,” said Tony’s voice.
“Okay that’s fucking scary that he knows he’s even dialing,” said Code. Nine held his finger to his lips.
“Yea,” came the voice of Jorge Santos.
“Boss wants you,” said a decidedly Russian accent.
“Fuck the boss,” said the violent return. The men all looked at one another. Tony was good…like scariest shit ever good.
