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Chapter 28: Erin
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Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 29: Riley
SUNDAY. ERBIL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, KURDISTAN.RILEY'S NECK AND SHOULDERS were tighter than a hidebound drum. He dreaded the upcoming flight, and not just because he'd been seated next to Erin for over thirty hours in the air. He kept telling himself that what mattered was that they were all going back in one piece.Melody's heels heralded the woman.He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. She'd been telegraphing not so subtle you're in the doghouse vibes at him since they'd left the police station. He knew what side she was on in all this."What is your problem?" Melody nudged his boot. "I know you're not asleep.""Can't a guy dream?" He cracked one eye open and watched Melody take the seat next to him, Erin's computer bag in her lap."What did you say to Erin?""Nothing.""Bullshit. When you got to the house yesterday you were inseparable, now you can't even look at each other.""I thought you'd be happy I was doing my job and keeping my distance.""Why t
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 30: Riley
"Jimmy, but the idiots called him JimBo. He talked slow. Kind of funny, but he could outshoot us all. Fuck." Riley shook his head. All those days squirrel hunting had paid off.Erin reached over and took his hand as though she knew the next part was bad."We got into a bad situation. Jimmy and I were bringing up the rear, but I was too distracted with what was going on ahead of us. He took one shot. Killed him instantly." All because Riley couldn't do what he was supposed to."It-""Please don't say it wasn't my fucking fault, or it's war, or any of those other bullshit lines." He turned his head to stare at Erin. "I fucked up. And I fucked up again today.""I forgive you. For the fuck up. Jury is still out on if I'll forgive you for being an ass."Riley held onto her hand. He couldn't make himself let go."I still haven't called my parents," Erin said."You want to do that now, or wait?""I should do it, shouldn't I? Tell them I'm coming home.""Now or in Frankfurt
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 31: Erin
SUNDAY. HILTON GARDEN INN, FRANKFURT, GERMANY.ERIN'S WHOLE BODY HURT. Each step jarred her poor muscles and she couldn't take a breath without wincing in pain. And that was from three hours on a plane. What the hell was she going to do in eight hours when they got on their trans-Atlantic flight? Was there some way she could buy some muscle relaxers? Was booze the answer to her problems?She'd worry about that later. Right now, it was one foot in front of the other. Soon she'd have somewhere to hide.Erin squinted at Melody chatting with the concierge. What Erin would give for some sunglasses right about now. The posh, glistening lobby of the airport hotel was so bright it hurt. She needed water, for sure. Not drinking anything while in the air was a mistake she was paying for now.Falling asleep on the plane was a terrible idea. Those seats were not made for comfort, much less sleeping. She didn't know how Riley or the other guys did it with their sizes."Okay." Melody ap
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 32: Erin
Erin reached out and covered his hand gripping the edge of the tub. She'd already forgiven him. He might still be the wrong man for her, but they'd survived this together.He glanced at her hand on his, then her face."We're good," she said. "You have to figure out how to forgive yourself. For this. For Jimmy. You can't keep blaming yourself.""If I'm not responsible, who is?" Riley turned his hand and squeezed her hand back."Sometimes it's no one's fault. If you'd been looking behind you, do you think you'd have seen the guy who shot Jimmy?""There wasn't anything there..." He stared at the tile, but she knew it wasn't this room he was seeing."Take it from me. You have to figure out how to forgive yourself." She'd made her share of screw ups to know the truth."I'll get there." He smiled weakly at her. "Hungry?""Yeah.""Would you mind some company?"That was a dangerous question right now.She couldn't say no to Riley."This stuff smells good. Want to eat he
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 33: Riley
SUNDAY. HILTON GARDEN INN, FRANKFURT, GERMANY.RILEY WRAPPED HIS ARM around Erin's waist, holding her to him. The water clinging to her skin soaked his clothes and the smell of her girly soap clogged his nose. Her mouth slid against his, urgent, needy.The only thing that made sense to him right now was that being with her, right now, was where he belonged. That went against everything he'd learned, but the voice saying stay was louder than the one that wanted to run.Her arms slid around his shoulders and she leaned against him. Her tongue slid into his mouth, teasing his.She was amazing. Plain and simple. She took the kind of stuff that would make other people fall to pieces and she built a tank out of it. He wished he had half her wisdom. Listening to her helped him understand his own shortcomings. He knew what he needed to do to fix them, but he had to focus on her first.His hours with Erin were limited.He didn't know how to ask her for more, but he was getting th
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 34: Riley
Riley would have to be very careful.He dug his fingers into her hair and bent her head backward. She sighed and her body slumped against him. He was learning her ways, the things that made her tick.Riley used his grip on her hair to turn her then walk Erin back until they ran into the mattress."Sit," he said."I didn't think you liked giving orders." She perched on the edge of the mattress, one leg crossed over the other."You like taking them, so I do what I can."She arched a brow at him but couldn't hide the way her skin tinged pink. He bumped her chin with his fingers and buzzed her lips with a kiss. He wasn't stupid enough to think this side of her extended beyond the bedroom.Riley backed away, memorizing the picture she made sitting there on the bed. Her crossed legs seemed almost demure, as though she were hiding herself from view. Her tight nipples telegraphed the message he'd already received loud and clear.He knelt, wincing at the sudden tightness of his
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 35: Mark, Riley
SUNDAY. NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.MARK GLANCED UP AND down the landing, but the hall was clear. He didn't want an audience for this visit.Over the years his company had sponsored a number of individuals coming to America for a variety of reasons. With Khalil Muhssan Al-Araji, it was about separating the brains from the body. The young man had been too smart to leave alone and too well-connected to kill. Giving him a one-way ticket to America got him out of Mark's hair and let him bank a favor.He strolled down to the last apartment on the right. Music blared inside. Khalil was home. Mark knocked and leaned against the wall.After a few moments with no answer, he knocked again."It's Mark. Open up," he called out.The scrape of a lock and the jangle of a chain were enough to let him know further threats weren't necessary.A narrow crack opened and a thin, young man with dark, shrewd eyes stared back at Mark."Mr. Forest, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Khalil asked.
Aegis Group Lepta Team Chapter 36: Erin
MONDAY. TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT.ERIN TOOK HER LAPTOP from Riley and set it up on the tiny tray table in front of her. Her ears kept trying to pop without success as the massive air bus reached cruising altitude."Anything I can do?" he asked."No. Everything we salvaged was digital.""You want me to go through it? You could watch a movie.""Thanks, but I should do this. I mean, what if there's confidential information or details about a new site? We don't know what we're looking for.""If Mark was involved..."Erin swallowed. The possible connection to Mark had her nervous. There wasn't anyone else who operated in Erbil with the kind of equipment or manpower that had issue with her. Before, when she'd thought this was a personal attack against her, she'd understood what was going on, even if the how didn't make sense. With Mark factored in it was obvious he'd put her kidnappers up to the job.But why?She had no idea.But she had eleven hours to figure it out."
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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.
