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Chapter 84: The honeymooners.
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Aegis Group Chapter 85: Talking is over-rated.
Mason watched Hannah stride across the room and come to an abrupt stop in front of the windows. Dirt stained her khaki shorts and the white top, but she was alive. He was grateful for her quick thinking and fast feet. She lifted the lace edge of the curtain and peered out at the street. Night had descended in full force, swaddling the city in starlight.What had he done wrong now?Man, he excelled at fucking up.He collected their to-go boxes and stored them in the fridge, giving Hannah a bit of space while he mulled over her sudden snappishness. Maybe it wasn't him at all. Maybe it was the stress of their situation. It was a demanding set of circumstances to be in, and lashing out at him could be her way of dealing with it all. He'd been in stranger crises with customers, but this was Hannah. Having her upset ate at him. He wanted to fix things. And he didn't know how without taking her away from here. An option she'd firmly squashed.Then there was the fact that they had sex-
Aegis Group Chapter 86: Shredded control.
"You need to be really sure you want to kiss me." Because his control was in tatters and he was losing sight of all the reasons they shouldn't be together. Especially when she rolled her hips like that, stroking his cock.She let go of him and wiggled her arms between them.Was she pushing him away?God, he'd have the worst blue balls.No-no-that was not pushing him away.Hannah pulled her shirt up and off. The camisole was thin enough he could see the lines of her bra and freckles under it. Just enough coverage to tease and drive him crazy.Yeah, this was happening. There was no turning back now.They were so not doing this on the floor.He pushed up, grabbing her hands and hoisting them to their feet. Hannah attacked the hem of his shirt and ripped the clothing over his head.Getting naked was next on his list. If he had an actual list there would be two things on it. Naked and sex.He tossed the shirt to the floor and caught Hannah by the waistband of her shorts.
Aegis Group Chapter 87: Pillow talk and secrets.
Hannah stared at the ceiling and listened to the beat of Mason's heart. She still couldn't think straight. Or at all, really. They'd somehow made it to the bed, and here they were."You want some water or something?" Mason's voice rumbled against her ear."No, I'm fine. Thank you.""Okay." He squeezed her and she felt his lips brush the top of her head.She'd finally seen the Mason she remembered again, the one she'd coaxed out of that grumbling bear of a man she'd first met. He could be funny and sweet, a bit stubborn, but she liked him. He was a good man. And in another set of circumstances he could be more than that for her. But not Mason. Not now. And that was an ache, a desire, she'd carry with her for a long time. She might not be well-versed in love or sex, but her gut told her this was a once-in-a- lifetime kind of thing. So she'd better enjoy it while she had it."I was thinking about taking a shower before bed." Mason drew lazy circles on her arm."M'kay." She lik
Aegis Group Chapter 88: Quitting cold turkey is a good idea.
Mason finished drying the last dish and set it on the counter. He didn't know how much sleep Hannah had gotten, but it couldn't have been much. He'd lain awake, watching her for most of the night, and for a good while she'd been awake, too. Exhaustion had won out after a time, and they'd both crashed at least.The bathroom door opened and she stepped out, her clothing looking a little better after some spot washing."Heard from Zain again?" She crossed to the counter and leaned her elbows on the surface."He sent me a text earlier, said he was looking into the cell phone data." The rest of what the message said wasn't for Hannah's ears.Things were bad."You're making a face," she said."I am?""It's bad, isn't it?""What face are you talking about?""Mason."He straightened and leaned against the sink, facing her."It's not good," he replied."So, what is it?""Zain poked around, asked some questions. The local cops are more likely to help Cruz than protect u
Aegis Group Chapter 89: Helpless for now.
Hannah jerked against the man's hold. The bandana tied around her head as a gag cut into the corners of her mouth and the dust got stuck in her nose, making it hard to breathe. Fear gave her fight. She twisted, jabbing her elbows against her captors.If they got her into that building, her gut told her it was all over.She tried to scream, but the gag and her lack of breath made it near impossible.Two sets of hands clamped around her arms and hoisted her up until her toes barely touched the ground. She thrashed, but they were too strong, and she was near exhausted.The heavy doors closed behind them with a clang, sealing her fate. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the dimmer light. There were people around her, but she couldn't see them. The voices didn't make sense. She couldn't understand anyone.Handcuffs clicked around one wrist and then the other. Struggling was an effort in futility. There were too many of them to fight back against, and she hadn't had enough sleep or fo
Aegis Group Chapter 90: Gang's all here.
Tap. Pause. Tap. Tap. Tap."Zain." Mason snatched the door open without further proof it was his cousin."Bang." Zain fired his bionic fingers at Mason, the prosthetic lighting up like some strange toy. "You're dead.""This isn't a fucking game." Mason stalked across the room back to the windows that looked out on the side street to Cruz's building.Zain, Travis, and Luke entered the former office suite and stashed their gear along the walls. For them, this was business as usual, even though it was Hannah they were going to rescue. For Mason, this was a new circle of hell."I've seen eight men go in, three come out, only two the same. They were in the van Hannah was brought in on." Mason was ready to chew nails. Do something besides sit here and stare at a building."Mason." Zain stood at Mason's side, not even bothering to look at the building."What?""Look at me.""What?" Mason pivoted. The soldier in him knew every man in this room outranked him in the field. He w
Aegis Group Chapter 91: Despair is a weapon.
Hannah's arms ached. Sweat burned her eyes. The muscles in her back screamed for her to stop. But she wouldn't quit. She couldn't. It was dark enough now she could barely make out the glint of the crude blade."Are you sure that's going to work?" Christine asked from her perch on the bottom bunk."No clue." Hannah lifted the piece of a metal chair leg she'd broken off and examined the edge. She pressed her thumb against it.This time there was a slight bite to the metal.It was working.She spat on the concrete serving as her whetting stone and put her weight into refining the edge."It's working," She whispered."What did you say?" Natalie leaned over the edge."She said it's working," Christine repeated."What are you doing?"Hannah glanced up and across the space between their prisons at another woman. Her English was heavily accented, but Hannah could understand her."I'm making a blade." She lifted it to show the other woman. "You can make them from the chair
Aegis Group Chapter 92: Deals made in darkness.
Mason ended the call and stared out at the moon glinting off the water. Could Hannah see the water? Was she asleep? Had they fed her?"What'd he say?" Zain asked."Abraham is interested, but not convinced it's worth the trouble to help us.""Did you tell him there was money?"Mason turned, folding his arms over his chest, considering the man in question. "I'm not sure money is a motivating factor in this. Cruz took people from him. I think Abraham is more interested in revenge." It was a sentiment Mason understood. But as much as he wanted to gut Cruz, getting Hannah out of there was his only concern. He slid his phone into his pocket."Well get her out." Zain hadn't budged on that stance since he'd arrived. Mason was grateful, especially in those moments when his hope faltered."Any luck getting us a plane on stand-by?""There are a few prospects, but they aren't awake yet.""Travis and Luke still out?""Yup. We'll trade off with them in a bit."Mason's phone buzz
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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
