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Chapter 157: Vaughn
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Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 158: Carla
Tuesday. Smuggler's Ship, Mediterranean Sea.CARLA LEANED AGAINST Vaughn's shoulder and watched the frothy water churned up by the boat's motor. The wind whipped across the boat, taking her hair and anything not tied down with it. The Beirut coast was a shrinking lump on the horizon.They hadn't yet said much of anything since leaving the SUV.She glanced over her shoulder at the guy manning the wheel, but a door and glass separated them. The blaring radio pretty much insured he couldn't hear anything they said.Brenden and Jamie were below deck with the man they'd called Ethan.Carla still didn't understand it all. But she wanted to.She lifted her head and prodded Vaughn's arm.He glanced down at her, brows lifted."Is it okay to talk?" She kept her voice as low as she could.Vaughn nodded."What happened?" She reached for his hand and laced their fingers together."When?""At the park?"Vaughn blew out a breath and rubbed his chin. "We saw him-Ethan-comi
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 159: Vaughn
Tuesday. Yialos Hotel, Meneou, Cypress."YOU HAVE REACHED your destination."Vaughn stared up at the white hotel in front of them. It was out of the way and with any luck they'd look like a group of tourists who'd partied a bit too much. He parked their rental in the small lot adjacent to the building and together they got out.The keys to two adjoining rooms had been waiting for them along with the car.Vaughn didn't know how the guys back home did this stuff, but he appreciated it. They were all on their last leg, too tired to think beyond making it to the next stop to figure out what that stop was.He got out of the van and stretched, his legs wobbling a bit. An hour after they'd disembarked from the smuggler's small ship Vaughn still felt the ground moving beneath him. It was the same thing every time he got on the water. His body just clicked with it and didn't want to let it go.Maybe the next chance he got he should take a vacation. Bring Mom and Santiago if he wa
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 160: Carla
Wednesday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Cairo, Egypt.CARLA KEPT HER hands folded on her lap as the SUV rolled past the large gate leading into the Aegis Group Cairo headquarters. It felt like she'd been here ages ago. Was it really only a week? Not even a week. Six days.God, it felt so much longer.She wasn't ready for this.Vaughn had effectively terminated their relationship. Maybe he was right and one more night together would have made today harder. They'd never know.The SUV came to a gentle stop, the dust swirling around them from a gusty breeze.The nightmare was over so why was she dreading this place? Was it the return to reality? To an existence that was slowly strangling the life out of her?She glanced at Vaughn in the driver's seat.He didn't look in the mirror at her. He barely acknowledged her, and somehow that hurt worse than the gashes on her feet or the bruises on her head.A man she didn't recognize opened her door."Ms. White?" He offered her a
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 161: Carla
Strong arms scooped Carla up and then she was sitting nestled up against a warm wall of man she'd come to care for. She buried her face against his neck and stopped pretending as though it was going to be fine."What the fuck did you do?" Vaughn snarled.Jared sputtered, "Nothing!""Carla?" Ashton's stern voice made her flinch and hold tighter to Vaughn."Give us the room?" Vaughn twisted, becoming the wall between her and the guys.Carla cried uncontrollable tears. Years of loneliness and want poured out of her in those moments, wringing her emotions dry until there was nothing left. It was a purging of everything she'd stored up, all the times she'd told herself just a little longer, it all came out and straight onto Vaughn's shirt.She didn't know how long she cried only that she gradually became aware of an awkward silence surrounding her spectacular display of waterworks. Vaughn rubbed her back while his other hand kept her cradled tightly to him.No one spoke.Wer
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 162: Vaughn
VAUGHN NEEDED THE climb to the third floor to let the facts settle. He was vaguely aware of the guys watching him and some looks, but holy hell, a lot just got unpacked. This-him and Carla-wasn't over, which was an important fact to remember.Neither he nor Carla spoke all the way to the master suite. It was still untouched though a few luggage pieces had been stowed by the door. He set Carla down on the big, platform bed then stepped out of reach before she could pull him in. He knew her, all action, that brilliant head of hers snapping out ideas and solutions while he was still sorting things out.Carla gripped the comforter in both hands and leaned forward. Her black T-shirt and yoga pants had seen far better days. Her face was red from crying and her hair had partially fallen out of the bun she'd secured it in that morning.In a word she was beautiful.But that wasn't the only thing he saw when he looked at her.He licked his lips. "Please tell me you aren't doing this fo
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 163: Epilogue.
Six Weeks Later. Private Beach, Miami, Florida.CARLA WAS A WRECK.In one hand she had the leather-bound notebook containing everything she'd have to say, the documents-all of it. And in her other hand she had the rings. Two of them.The sea breeze carried the cry of gulls toward her."All done," Vaughn announced.She turned from the calming ocean view to the sandy shore.A lump of emotion clogged her throat at the sight of Vaughn standing under the canopy with candles, lanterns and flowers surrounding him. He chuckled and padded toward her, barefoot in the sand."You're beautiful," he whispered before kissing her lips ever so gently so as to not smudge her lipstick."I'm going to throw up.""No, you aren't. You've practiced.""Who gets ordained for a wedding online? Shouldn't there be a class for this? What if I do it all wrong?" She leaned on Vaughn's strong arm, soaking up his presence. She'd half wondered if he'd even make it today. He'd surprised her early t
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 164: Brenden
Volume 4: Dangerously BrokenWednesday. In the air.BRENDEN TAYLOR COULD COUNT the number of hours he'd slept on one hand. He eased back in the plush leather seat of the private plane taking Lepta Team to God-only-knew-where and prayed they were in the air long enough for him to get some shuteye. He always did sleep better on planes. Probably because it was impossible to not know where he was. There was something about the cramped space and recycled air that couldn't be mistaken. And to a passed out him, that meant his subconscious couldn't put him back in the four by four box he'd lived in for weeks of his life.His ears popped and the voices of his teammates rushed in, filling the previously hollow space."Hey." Vaughn Fernandez twisted to look back at their Team Leader and Team Liaison sitting across from Brenden at the four-person table."Yeah?" Grant Anderson replied in a cool, calculated tone."Do we have any word about...?" Vaughn's voice trailed off.No one
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 165: Priscilla
Wednesday. Unknown, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.PRISCILLA YILMAZ HOOKED HER fingers in the chain link that made up the three sides of her cell and stared at the bastard taunting the American family opposite her with a bottle of water. The mother cradled her child, who wailed and stretched out his little arm toward the liquid.If Priscilla could just get out of this cage, she'd rip that man's arms off and beat him with his own dick. No, scratch that, it was probably too small. She'd-A door clanged open somewhere outside her field of vision.Gooseflesh broke out along her arms and she tensed.It was only a matter of time before they came at her another way. So far they'd tried to intimidate her, scare her knock her around a little. She could handle all of that. She'd been through it before only now she had the tools to persevere.All she had to do was hang on until someone came for her.She was going to be in so much trouble when she got home. If these thugs had only wanted
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Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 258: Epilogue.
Three Months Later. Aegis Group Offices, Seattle, Washington.MELODY PLACED HER SERVICE weapon in the case and clicked the lid shut. This was the real moment for her when she got to switch off from a job. Used to it was when they turned a newly rescued asset over to whoever had paid to have them rescued, be that family, coworkers or other loved ones. However, after Ibiza everything had changed.She smiled at the newly hired munitions clerk and slid the case over. Unlike the guys she didn't feel the need to keep her weapons at home."I'm done with this. Thanks," she said."There's the sharp shooter," Vaughn said coming into the small room, Nolan and Riley bringing up the rear.Melody flushed and inwardly preened. That had been a rather exceptional shot there at the end."It was just a shot." She rolled her eyes and leaned an elbow on the counter as the guys all requested their own secure cases. "What are you three doing?""Carla's birthday," Vaughn said as if that expla
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 257: Melody, Grant
Tuesday. Forgery Front, Chicago, Illinois.MELODY WANTED NOTHING MORE than to let Grant take over. He was good at that. It was kind of his thing. But she knew he wasn't on Ethan's side. No one was. They didn't understand him. Not that she did either, but after spending a few days around him she had some insight to the man, he'd become.But first...She took Grant's face in her hands and pulled him down for a quick, hard kiss."I missed you," she whispered."You're safe." He squeezed her.She nodded then let go of him and turned her attention on Ethan.The man had taken two central mass bullets. He needed a damn doctor.She grabbed Grant's hand. No matter what came next, she wanted him by her side. She marched across the small space to where Ethan leaned on the only still-standing desk. Nolan had his gun trained on Ethan while a man she didn't recognize spoke to him."Who are you?" She stepped between Ethan and the newcomer. "Why aren't you getting him a doctor?"
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 256: Melody, Grant
Tuesday. Forgery Front, Chicago, Illinois.MELODY STOOD FROZEN TO the spot, the visual of the crackling electricity up lighting the faces of Ethan and Liman burned into her mind. It was like something out of an action movie.Ethan hauled back and rammed the bathroom door with his shoulder. He roared his rage.Liman was trapped. There was no way out of that bathroom. Eventually Ethan would get in or Liman would have to come out. Either way, it was going to be an explosive conflict.This was her chance to get out of here. The back door was unlocked. She could slip out and be gone. Call the cops, Grant, anyone more capable to deal with this. And yet she remained rooted to the spot, unable and maybe a little unwilling to move.They'd already left Ethan once and look where that got him.Ethan planted his back against the wall and kicked. She heard the pop of hinges. Another kick and the door clattered to the floor. Her stomach clenched. Ethan shoved off the wall, only to be h
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 255: Grant, Liman
Tuesday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.GRANT PUSHED UP OFF the cot. Some thoughtful person had brought four of them into the ops room at some point. He'd actually managed half an hour of sleep. It was better than he'd gotten trying to crash back in his room. Something about being near the constant buzz of activity helped ease his mind.He stretched, paying attention to the twinges of muscle protesting. The soreness was worse now post-crash.How was Melody feeling? Did she have any injuries?Watching the video, the ambulance had more or less driven off the road and tipped over. With any luck she wasn't badly injured.Grant gave Marco and Luke a wide berth. Both men had chewed his ass out for potentially risking Hannah and running into a situation by himself. Grant wasn't keen on rehashing that. Instead headed for the computer in the corner where Ghost had set himself up. Most people avoided him, which was fine for Grant. He didn't have to like the guy to use
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 254: Liman, Melody
Tuesday. Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.LIMAN LAID OUT EVERYTHING he'd spent the last thirty-six hours gathering. When he'd left their safe house he'd wanted to take supplies with him, but didn't dare beyond some cash. All he'd had was what he was wearing, some jewelry and a couple things he knew he could hawk at the pawn shop around the corner.It had taken some work hustling the goods he had, turning them into more profitable items, but he had a couple thousand in US dollars, three new to him guns and a small collection of ammunition, and if all went as planned, in another day he'd have a passport that would grant him an escape from this dammed country.He knew he couldn't go home. That bridge was burned. As soon as his government learned about the utter disaster, they'd want to bring him in for questioning. It wouldn't end in a simple debrief. There were no answers he could give his superiors that they'd accept. The only true end would be Liman's death.He had no intention of
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 253: Melody, Grant
Tuesday. Unknown.MELODY'S TOES HURT.That was her first coherent thought as her mind rose from the groggy sleep of the dead. She remained exactly where she was, as if even her subconscious was aware that there was a predator nearby.The handcuff secured to her left wrist bit into her skin and her fingers were numb, no doubt from the way she'd been laying.She strained to listen harder. There was no sound of traffic or horns. She couldn't even hear someone walking around, the whish of fabric or the soft sounds of someone breathing.If she didn't know better, she'd think she was alone.What did she smell?The air was musty and she recalled a vague memory from last night that included a sneezing fit."I know you're awake," a man said slowly.He was so close his voice seemed to rumble across her skin.Melody sucked in a breath and her eyes popped open.Ethan sat next to the bed, his clasped hands resting on the edge of the mattress. He was watching her."Jesus."
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 252: Grant
Monday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.GRANT KEPT STARING AT the map, as if it would suddenly reveal where Melody was. He knew it wouldn't, but as the hours ticked by his hope was beginning to wane. Eventually they'd get a lead. They always did. But would it be too late for Melody?"I know who he is," Gavin announced.Grant straightened and stared at the younger man holding his tablet up like a beacon."And?" Marco prompted.Gavin referenced the tablet screen. "Liman Fahed. Intelligence officer for the General Directorate of General Security.""And that tells us, what?" Grant asked."A name is a start," Ghost said.Grant ground his teeth together and focused on the map.A name was just a name, especially when they didn't know how to find the man.He'd hoped that with Ghost's arrival, they might make some sort of forward movement on locating Melody, but they were still stuck in a holding pattern.They needed a lead."So I guess it's not useful to
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 251: Melody, Liman
Monday. Unknown, Chicago, Illinois.MELODY KNEW SHE WAS dozing. She hadn't actually fallen asleep, even if the odd, twilight state between sleep and wakefulness made her question that knowledge. Exhaustion had won out, more or less. But she couldn't relax enough to become totally unaware.A soft jangle of metal lured her consciousness back into the land of the living. It wasn't a suspicious noise. More like she'd moved and maybe disrupted the coil of chain. Or Ethan had finally decided to stop playing at being a statue.Thinking the man's name caused Melody to shiver. She opened her eyes, blinking into the relative darkness. The light filtering in around the door from the next room over provided enough light for her to make out shapes.Ethan was no longer sitting.He stood. Judging by the way his shoulders hunched, his back was to her, his attention on the handcuff securing him to the wall.The chain jangled again. He grunted.The hair on the back of her neck stood up.
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 250: Grant
Sunday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.GRANT STARED AT HIS new phone. Zain had a bundle of them delivered via a courier about an hour ago. Since Aegis Group hadn't contacted Lepta Team's family beyond a few of the guy's girlfriends, it was imperative they have a means of communicating.The gut-punch had been opening up his photo gallery to see pictures of Melody. They'd gone to a nice dinner last week before leaving on the job. She'd looked beautiful in a goldish-pink dress that had shimmered. She'd rolled her eyes when he took a picture of her with the city lights behind her.Zain was nothing if not thorough. Of course their new phones would be updated with all their information and preferences, right down to the custom sound Grant had picked for Melody's texts.He tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling.Following the outburst earlier Grant had opted to wait in the hall where he wouldn't be tempted to stick his nose in things and slow people down.
