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Chapter 102: Sold at auction.
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Aegis Group Chapter 103: Success.
Hannah.Mason gripped the binoculars, his throat seizing up. It was his first glimpse of her since the airport. He was powerless to do anything about the big African man carrying her to the curb and a waiting car. She kicked, an elbow went flying. Even now she was fighting back, but she was tired, he could tell that from a hundred yards."I see Hannah," he managed to get out. "Black limo. Get into positions."This was exactly what they'd hoped to avoid. The only good thing now was that they were minutes away from getting Hannah back. But at what price? There was still the very real danger the man would kill her, that she could be hurt during the rescue."Luke, get out of there." Zain started the SUV's engine below."I can't. I'm being watched." Luke's voice was pitched so low it was hard to hear over the coms."I'm signaling Jer we're on the move." Mason could only hope the CIA was in range. Jerry couldn't tell Mason anything for sure, but he'd wanted the full report on the
Aegis Group Chapter 104: No man left behind.
"What?" both Mason and Hannah said at once."Your headset must have malfunctioned," Zain muttered."Luke?" Mason tapped the com unit.Nothing."I can hear him." Travis' lips were pressed tight together."Oh no...Luke Stiles?" Hannah covered her mouth with her hand."We have to go back for him." There was no question in Mason's mind. "Get Hannah somewhere safe, then we go back.""No, he'll be dead if you wait. We have to go in now. Cruz will kill him." Hannah twisted to face him. "Give me a gun.""No way." He'd literally just got her back. The last thing Mason was going to do was escort her back into that hellhole."I'm a great shot. You've said so yourself. I don't go in. I stay outside. You get Luke back, we leave."What about the others?He kept that question to himself."We can use all the help we can get." Zain passed a handgun back to Hannah."No." Mason grabbed the gun, but Hannah got to it first. "Are you crazy?""Do you want Luke to die?" Zain turned
Aegis Group Chapter 105: Rescue.
Hannah handed out another cup of water, but her heart wasn't in it.Where was Mason? Travis? Zain? Luke?The CIA agents had swept them up unilaterally, uninterested in their reason for being there. She'd been put with the other American prisoners. To a one, they'd been rescued from the fire and the buyers. It was enough of a relief-she could cry. If she'd had enough moisture left in her body. There was no doubt she was dehydrated and running on fumes.But where was Mason?She'd been rescued, only to become a prisoner again. This time of her own government.A man in slacks and a CIA vest opened the door to the large holding room, or whatever it was they were keeping them in."Hannah Stevens?" he called out."Here!" She held her hand up.Wait-did she want him to know who she was?Too late now."Come with me?" He waved her to the door.She followed, her bare feet cold on the tile. The sequins scratched her arms and thighs. In a few places the dress had rubbed her raw
Aegis Group Chapter 106: Home again with you.
Hannah shambled through her front door, Mason right behind her."Mel?" She paused, but there was no answer.Over half the boxes were gone. Knickknacks and touches of home were everywhere. It was strange being back here. Almost as if she didn't belong. As though she were a different person now.She glanced back at Mason, but he hadn't spoken a word. Not a single damn thing. He hadn't strayed more than five feet from her since they landed. It was as if he expected someone to snatch her away again. She didn't mind his presence. It comforted her. Kept the nightmares at bay. His silence? Not so much. That she could do without, but she didn't have the energy to deal with it yet."I'm going to lie down," she said.No answer.He just stood there.Staring at her.She climbed the stairs, and he followed.Hannah grabbed a pair of shorts and a tank top from her dresser, and changed in the bathroom, not out of a need for privacy or modesty. Mason didn't need to see the other bruis
Aegis Group Chapter 107: Hello, father dear.
A loud Bang! Crash! woke Mason from a deep sleep. Hannah started in his arms.It took him half a second to remember they were in her bedroom and the other half to start moving. He stood, drawing his gun from the side table, and circled the bed to stand between her and the door."Mason?" Hannah whispered, the tension strung tight in her voice."In the bathroom, now."She rolled out of bed and stopped, head tilted sideways. If possible, her face seemed to go even paler in the darkness.A light flipped on downstairs, flooding the upper landing in a warm, yellow glow.She turned, eyes wide, lips parted, panting, and mouthed, "Dad."Oh shit."Are you sure?" he whispered.Mason kept the gun in hand, but lowered it.Hannah tiptoed out of the room to the banister and peered over."Daddy?""Hannah. Dear God, they just told me." Footsteps thumped on the stairs.She glanced over her shoulder, expression panic stricken.Mason slipped his handgun into her nightstand, sna
Aegis Group Chapter 108: Perfect for you.
Hannah sat on the bottom stairs, watching the shadows sway back and forth through the frosted glass.What were they saying?She couldn't make out anything. Not one little word. Which was shocking. She'd been ready for her dad to yell, scream, maybe even shoot Mason. Instead, it sounded as though they were having a civil discussion. About what? And why couldn't she be involved? Of course they'd talk about her. Her trip. All her wrong decisions.God, she wanted to strangle her father. For this and everything else. He could be so damn difficult.The thinner shadow shrank.Her dad was leaving?That was it?Mason opened the front door and stepped over the threshold. His short hair stuck up every which way and he had a bit of a shell-shocked expression on his face."What? What happened?" She sat up straighter. "Did he fire you?""No."Thud.Thud.Thud.Each footfall against the stairs as he climbed the short distance to her was louder than the next. Whatever had hap
Aegis Group Chapter 109: Next best thing.
Mason stared at the popcorn ceiling, his mind blissfully quiet. Hannah's breathing had evened out, not that he didn't like the sound of her panting and breathless, but sex was an entirely different aerobic activity. The sheets rustled. Hannah rolled to her side, her beautiful, bare body pressed against him. He groped around until he found her hand and squeezed.He really needed to step up his post-sex game.Had he ever been with a virgin?Sex on the stairs and the dresser and...fuck...up against the wall. Not exactly baby steps.He turned his head to catch a glimpse of her and a lump formed in his throat.Her big eyes stared at him, little pools of water at the corners, ready to become Niagara Falls."What's wrong?" He turned, pulling her up against his chest. "Did I hurt you?""No, no."Shit.He was an ass."What happened?" He swiped his thumb just under her eye, catching a bit of moisture."What did my dad say?"That.Oh.Fuck."Nothing bad. Well...I'm s
Aegis Group Chapter 110
Volume 3: Dangerous GamesFREAKING KIDS.Zain Lloyd pressed his back against a cement column to avoid being hit by a walking TARDIS. He liked cosplaying at conventions as much as the next thirty-something nerd, but some get-ups were more hassle than they were worth. He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and watched the spray-painted TARDIS wander down the aisle, bouncing into people.People darted from booth to booth, like exotic fish seeking the shelter of an anemone. The energy in the room was high, almost electric, in a way Zain craved. There was nothing dangerous, no gut-wrenching dread about to crest, no fear someone wasn't coming out of here alive. Just...excitement.He peeled off the column and merged with the flow of traffic, picking his way out from the depths of the booths and toward the outskirts of the vendor hall. An alien and a superhero passed Zain. They traded quick nods, one cosplayer to another. A sign of mutual respect. Man, if Zain's SEAL buddies caught
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Aegis Group Chapter 490: Epilogue.
Two months later. Ekko's Apartment, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.EKKO STARED AT THE table with the spread of food laid out.Was there enough? Did she need more? Would Coco and Paxton like it?She reached out and adjusted the tray of cheese so it was at more of an angle instead of perfectly aligned to everything else.It looked too neat."Stop." Silas took her hand and spun her toward him, capturing her against his chest with strong arms around her waist."It looks like I'm trying too hard." She smoothed her hands up and over his shoulders."Stop. It's just Paxton and Coco.""Your best friend and his fiancé, who I haven't met yet.""What?" Silas' face scrunched up. "You've talked to her dozens of times.""In the background of you and Paxton talking. That doesn't count." She pulled away from him and proceeded to turn dishes a little this way and that."You do realize Coco spends most days digging in elephant shit and stuff, right?""Silas." She scowled at him."What?" He gr
Aegis Group Chapter 489: Thursday. New York Hospital, New York.
IT FELT LIKE THE weight Silas had been carrying around in his gut had now attached itself to his eyelids. He floated in darkness, no longer asleep but not yet awake. Someone had called this twilight once, though he couldn't recall who. Something wouldn't let him go back to sleep. There was something he needed to do. It was urgent.What the hell was it?That nagging question hounded him as he ever so slowly gathered his strength.He wasn't aware of time or how long it took to wrestle one eyelid open, but at long last he peered out of his darkness into...more darkness.Well that was just dandy. What the fuck?He blinked that one eye again, letting his vision adjust. He was in a room and there was a light on, it just didn't do much.Machines beeped and whirled around him.That was a sound he could never mistake and it told him the first piece of his puzzle. From there the others fell into place, one after another.He was still in the hospital.He'd been hurt.There was a fight.
Aegis Group Chapter 488: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO CLUNG TO THE stretcher bearing Silas out to the parking lot.She hadn't realized how bad his injuries were. He was barely keeping his eyes open. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she kept pace with the two paramedics. Silas covered her hand with his as they came to a stop at the bumper of an ambulance.Paxton, Brett and Vito were sitting inside. They were worse for wear and grim, but seemed okay.All around them police were marching uninjured people they'd arrested to sit in a line next to a chain-link fence blocking the sidewalk. The night was lit up with swirling lights that made her head spin."Where's Chayan?" she asked. Her heart was tearing in two, aching for both men.A little distance away an ambulance took off, sirens blaring. She hoped it was the one with Pasley in it."Ma'am, I need to look at that wound," a paramedic said to her.She held tight to Silas' hand. "What about Chayan? Older man, little taller than me? Salt and pepper hair?"Silas had said he was fine.
Aegis Group Chapter 487: Wednesday. New York City, New York.
IGNEY PACED IN A circle, looking down each hall in turn.Where were they? Had he miscalculated? Were they willing to lose the woman so long as they got the man?His orders were clear. Get both the man and the woman.The woman was a symbol. Too many young people had taken to the streets because they listened to others like her.The man though, he knew things.Killing the woman was personal. Chasing her had cast him in a bad light. But the man was more important in the grand scheme of things."Fuck," Igney muttered. He glanced at a pair of men striding for the doors. "You. Come here."The men never glanced at him. Because they didn't understand him?He whirled to face Alban. "Where are the others?""I don't know where Delem and Michil are." He grimaced. "I haven't heard from them since we split up to search the building."That wasn't good.Igney had heard a lot of gunfire. Was it possible the other men he'd brought with him were dead?If both Chayan and Pasley escaped, leavin
Aegis Group Chapter 486: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO'S ONE OFFENSIVE ATTEMPT was an utter failure. Her head spun and she was going to be sick.This wasn't good.She felt like a ragdoll being drug around, first by Igney then another man she didn't recognize. He spoke Daurian though which could only mean one thing.He was London DSS.Her body chilled. Was that from fear or the blows to the head? She didn't know anymore."Come find me, Pasley, or your little bird dies," Igney cackled into the radio.She tasted bile.Pasley had called her little bird back in the park.Igney cackled like a bad movie villain. The man was enjoying this. He was getting off on torturing them all.What about Silas?Pasley was with him.If Pasley told Silas, if he knew, they would come for her. Silas was determined to bring them all home and to keep her safe. But if he did, if he came to her rescue, Igney would kill them. Igney needed her and Chayan. Which meant he couldn't kill her here and now. It was an empty threat. Wasn't it? Did she dare belie
Aegis Group Chapter 485: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
SILAS PUSHED HIS GROUP hard as they traversed the second floor. The sun had fully set, plunging them into complete darkness where there weren't windows or other lights.This building was a damn maze, and every turn they needed was blocked by too many people to fight their way through.There had to be more than the fifteen or so they'd estimated. More like thirty.This wasn't good.What about Ekko? Where had the others gone to?He'd hoped getting down here meant they would find her and Paxton, but so far all they'd found were a few bodies. At least they knew Paxton and Brett were eliminating the other side. But no one had taken the ammo or guns. Why? When resources were this precious, why not take them?Could they have gotten free? Did he dare hope?Something thumped in the darkness. Like a heavy footfall.Silas cursed himself as he skidded to a stop. He didn't see anything, but his gut screamed at him. He pivoted and threw himself at Chayan, shoving the other man aside. Silas w
Aegis Group Chapter 484: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
THE DARKNESS FELT AS if it were swallowing her.Ekko clung to the back of Paxton's shirt like he'd directed. She couldn't shake the sensation that there were hands out there reaching for her. That Igney or one of the others were biding their time and waiting for the chance to kill her.Where was Silas? What about Chayan and the others?They'd been separated before she realized what was going on.Behind them a burst of gunfire spurred her on, shattering the silence.She knew it was Brett. Was he trading gunfire with someone? Those shots all sounded the same to her. She hoped he was safe. He was only one man and they had no idea how many were behind them."Stay close." Paxton reached back and pressed her hand to his back.Her head pounded with each and every step. It hurt so bad, but she didn't want to say anything. Her pain was minimal compared to what could happen."Will you cut that out?" Paxton yelled behind them.He side stepped and sort of skipped through a narrow gap betw
Aegis Group Chapter 483: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
SILAS GRIT HIS TEETH to keep from telling Paxton to hurry the fuck up. It wasn't like Paxton was slow. The knife on his belt tool was small and no doubt dulled after cutting through several sets of thick, plastic restraints.Sitting like this it felt as though there was a ten pound weight sitting on his guts. He didn't know what the knife had cut, but Silas knew from the woozy feeling and blood making his jeans sticky it wasn't good. He had to get the others out of here before his clock ran out."Which way did they bring you up?" Silas asked Brett instead of chafing at how long getting free was taking.Brett stood by the door, a discarded piece of wood held as a weapon. "We came in some doors, up a stair to our right then a long walk down here. You?""Different way." Silas grimaced. "Do we retrace our path, or avoid it? How many people were with you?"Brett grimaced. They'd been hooded when they arrived. "Hard to say.""Let's assume at least the three that came in here plus one o
Aegis Group Chapter 482: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO STARED IN SHOCK, her head spinning as the men left the room again."S-Silas?" she whispered so softly she barely heard herself.He slumped sideways groaning.Had that man-that monster-just stabbed Silas?"Man, Silas, dude, talk to us." Paxton had scooted forward, his arms extended behind him, attention on Silas."I'm fine." Silas' voice was strained. "Brett, Vito, how are you two?""Alive," Brett groaned."Vito? Man?" Silas shook his head and sat up straighter."Fine."This was it.Ekko swallowed.They'd done everything and in the end, they were outplayed.The DSS would kill them. She wasn't sure why they hadn't already, but she didn't doubt that death was the final move. All of these people, they were going to die because she'd been arrogant. She'd thought she knew what she was doing, when in fact she hadn't a clue.A sob tore out of Ekko making her already aching head pound harder."Ekko?" Silas called out. "Ekko, listen to me, this is going to be okay. Pax?"A ch
