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Chapter 184: Priscilla
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 185: Brenden
Friday. Somewhere in Gila National Park, New Mexico.BRENDEN FOLLOWED ALONG BEHIND Priscilla as the team walked single file, picking their way through the dense brush surrounding the crash site. He didn't like leaving the flight crew behind, but there was no arguing with them. The best they could do was as Grant said. Get to high ground, keep watch, be ready and do their best to protect both their asset and the crew.At least they'd been able to get into the luggage hold and retrieve much of their gear. With what they carried with them they could fend off a small army and self-sustain for forty-eight hours. When they didn't check-in tonight and their flight was MIA, Zain would begin looking for them.The night air in the desert was chilly. They were still getting a lot of warmth from the rocks and sand. Soon enough that would dissipate and things might get serious.He watched Priscilla inch along ahead of him carrying her two boxes despite Grant's insistence she leave the ev
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 186: Damian, Priscilla
Friday. Somewhere in Gila National Park, New Mexico.DAMIAN HATED NATURE.The bugs. The plants. The dirt. It was all of the things he didn't like rolled into one. But this was where the job was taking them.He eased off the accelerator and the all-terrain buggy slowed.They'd made it to the park and inside without incident using off-road vehicles they'd picked up from a contact not far away. So far he hadn't seen any signs of the wreckage, and that was alarming.If his coordinates were correct, the plane was only a few miles away.Was it possible they'd managed to land instead of crash?At least there weren't any other vehicles out here. No first responders. Nothing. Just miles of brush, cacti and rock."Boss, how far are we?" Aaron asked via their headsets."We're getting close. Just a couple more miles. Keep your eyes open for movement." Damian pulled out his phone, double checking the map.Yup, they were almost on the spot where the signal had last transmitted
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 187: Brenden
Friday. Somewhere in Gila National Park, New Mexico.BRENDEN STAYED LOW TO the ground, his eyes locked on the shooter pelting the belly of the plane with bullets.He and Vaughn had been staring at the crash, watching for movement, when the first shots fired. They hadn't seen anyone. Their attackers had eluded their detection and now the innocent lives of the flight crew were in their hands. If they died, it was on their team.Spiny plants picked and snagged his clothes, but he kept going. The rocky ground made for uncertain footing, but he didn't let that slow him down.It was unusual to not hear the whispering voices of his team in his ear. He'd gotten used to that. And now, the only thing he heard was gunfire and cries for help.Whoever these people were, they were trying to get into the plane. The shooter was simply a distraction. The real threat would come if or when one of their attackers got up into the cabin. Brenden couldn't see the hatch from this angle, but his g
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 188: Priscilla, Damian
Friday. Somewhere in Gila National Park, New Mexico.PRISCILLA KEPT HER HANDS braced on the cardboard box, her eyes searching the desert surrounding them. She strained to hear another shot, a cry of pain, something. Anything."What do you think happened?" she whispered.Melody radiated nervous energy, yet her words were calm. "I think everything is fine.""Bullshit.""I have to believe they're okay." There was a cold note to her voice, a fear that echoed Priscilla's own.She reached over and took Melody's hand in hers. Priscilla was so used to being the one out front, the one in the middle of things. Being back here, waiting, it was tough. The not knowing was the worst.There were ten people out there. Ten lives she should be thinking about. And yet, she'd be lying if she didn't admit to herself that Brenden was the one she was most concerned about. He was the kind of brave, selfless idiot who would sacrifice himself for someone else."They stopped shooting," Priscil
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 189: Brenden
Friday. Safe House, Albuquerque, New Mexico.BY THE TIME BRENDEN plodded up the stone walk to the safe house it seemed as though a month had passed in one night. He hadn't seen or heard from Priscilla since putting her in the ATV. No one had mentioned her in all the back and forth with cops and first responders, so it stood to reason she was fine. And yet, he'd be lying to himself if he didn't own up to that anxious part inside of him that needed to know she was okay.What he wanted was to hold her, reassure himself it was all another bad chapter. But he couldn't. There was still too much to do before anyone could rest. According to Nolan the first half of the team had only arrived at the house half an hour ago. Which meant they still had to brief, set up surveillance, make a plan, figure out who the hell those people were. Just because they'd reached a waypoint in the journey didn't mean they were safe, that they could let their guard down, or anything.God, what he wouldn't
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 190: Priscilla
Friday. Safe House, Albuquerque, New Mexico.PRISCILLA PACED THE ROOM, along one side of the bed, around the foot and toward the door, then back again.What could she have done different?From the very beginning, was there something she should have done and hadn't? Or something she shouldn't have done?The Rio trip had gone according to plan. She'd arrived, gone to her hotel. The local team had picked her up. She'd toured the site with just the director.Should she travel with security? Was that necessary?Priscilla had always thought herself prepared. That she wasn't an ideal target for kidnapping because she was always aware of her surroundings.That hadn't kept her from getting taken and leading to now.So what could she have done differently?Give in and hand over the money, obviously. Was that it? The thing she should have done differently to save them all from this hell?The flight attendant would be alive then. Hell, Priscilla might have never met Brenden
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 191: Brenden
Friday. Safe House, Albuquerque, New Mexico.BRENDEN WAS GOING TO crack a molar. At least they were done showering. He'd never studied the levels of hell, but one of them had to include showering with a gorgeous woman and not popping a boner. It had taken all of his concentration while sharing the shower head to keep his thoughts in line.To him, this was another day at work. Yes, someone had died. It was a terrible tragedy. It wasn't the first and it wouldn't be the last. The nature of his job was dangerous, and that meant sometimes people were killed.Priscilla didn't have that same mindset. She was upset. He was going to respect that and keep his dick to himself.He swiped the towel over his body, doing a quick dry off. Priscilla didn't move as fast. She focused on her hair then limbs. The water made her tanned skin dewy, and it glistened under the lights. Some of her bruises had begun to turn colors, the new layering with the old. He hated every one of them and wished fo
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 192: Brenden
"You might think differently in the morning." Brenden fisted his hand in the sheets at Priscilla's back."No, I won't." She tipped her chin up, one side of her mouth hitched up.Brenden wasn't strong enough to resist her, and he didn't want to. He pulled the blankets back and yanked his towel out from under him. The sheets slid along his skin, cool to the touch, at least until he got closer to her.For a little while, they'd both forget.He cupped her face and kissed her, keeping his touch tender.He kissed down her body, plumping her breasts and teased her nipples. Her hands stroked his shoulders and neck. He gathered her to him and rolled, pinning her under him.Brenden pushed up, taking in the image of her laid out against the sheets, her damp hair spread over the pillow where it had come free from her towel. Her pupils were dilated and her skin flushed.The rest of the world didn't exist.Right now it was just them.He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. S
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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.
