As soon as Mancini left the room, I looked for a quiet corner to get two minutes downtime. No one has mentioned anything about the stuff we'd learned here today; I guess the boys were still processing the fact that their lives have been changed in a second. I sat with my eyes closed, and my mind going to blank. I'm not thinking about the sh*t Mancini dropped in my lap, not right now, too much to take in at once.The others were still looking into the new case Mancini had mentioned as a distraction, but I'm sure they all pretty much know what the hell is going on there. From the little bit, Mancini had all you have to do is follow the breadcrumbs, which is what I guess he has those two kids doing. As to what the hell was going on there, that too is very obvious. Someone was avenging some sh*t that these nasty f*cks had done to either them or a loved one in the past.I'll just wait for the kids to find out who where and when to get involved. If this person, whoever it is, is just kil
I made myself comfortable while he took his shower, sitting in a chair in the corner of the dark room where I'd turned off the lights. I saw his silhouette when he came out of the shower and reached for the light on the wall. Before he could hit the switch, I threw my blade and pinned his hand there.His howl of pain was cut off when he saw me stand and walk towards him. Coward, I could already smell the sh*t he'd expelled from his bowels in fear. No doubt he was thinking of his partners in crime and how they'd died just here recently. Why hadn't he protected himself better? Was it because he's a highly decorated cop? Is that why he thought he was invincible?I got up close to him as he was trying to remove the stiletto from his wrist, which wasn't easy since I'd made sure to hit bone. The pain has to be excruciating. He started to whimper at my approach. "Who are you? What do you want?" He tried moving out of the way when I got within a few feet of him, but there was nowhere to go
I still have a hard time accepting that I deserve the life he's given me, as grateful as I am. When you've eaten out of dumpsters for a couple of years, it's hard to assimilate that with the fact that you're now wearing a Rolex watch that the man who adopted you as his brother bought you for your eighteenth birthday.Or the fact that the greasy grimy kid who hid from child predators on the street because he'd learned the signs to look out for way too early in his young life was trusted with little babies who were born into a life of excess luxury. My life has been just too confusing from the time I was taken in by them, and it only seems to get better. Best of all, apart from having my sister back in my life and the new family she and Gideon have given me, is this new venture Mancini has drawn me into.It's like giving a starving man a buffet of all his favorite foods. Saving kids from these trafficking assholes is my lifeblood. With what Mancini had shared so far, it looks like he
I walked around the abandoned warehouse, making sure there were no other denizens for the night. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I removed the clothes I'd worn, which didn't show the blood they were drenched in because of their dark color. I bundled them in a corner and drenched them with lighter fluid before dropping a match on them.Next, I got the wipes from my survivor pack and cleaned up as best as I could. I could've showered at the victim's place since there was so much blood this time, but it didn't sit right with me. Turns out, it was a good call because no sooner had I left his place and was scaling the fence out back when I heard a car pull into his driveway. Someone had gotten a very nasty surprise.I threw the bloody wipes onto the blaze and grabbed some more, making sure to get it all off of me before redressing in another black on black outfit. I unfolded the old second-hand sleeping bag and the moth-eaten blanket, which is all I could afford and laid down.Ou
I listened with half an ear to the men as they talked about their new 'squad' at least that's what Lyon had decided to call it since as he says organization sounds too much like law enforcement and he hates any f*ck that has to do with that f*ckery. His vocabulary is even more colorful than Gideon's, and my brother has got a fine grasp on gutter speak. Mostly I was organizing my moves once we land in my head. I'd already mapped out what needed to be done from the specs Mancini had given me earlier, so it was just a matter of getting there and letting my senses do the rest. There was a certain kind of excitement in the air. One that stems from working with a new crew for the first time and also because this was all new to me, and I have no idea how this person is going to react once found.Usually, when I go on a search and rescue, the kids on the other end are only too glad to see someone who isn't there to hurt them and can't wait to go back home. This person, this stranger, is b
I could feel her as the scent wrapped around me like a blanket. There was no longer any doubt in my mind that it was a female that I was hunting. Her scent was…familiar, though I'm sure we'd never met before whoever she is. It was familiar in the sense that it felt like I knew her on some primal level, someplace deep inside me. My body's reaction was the most telling.I've f*cked plenty since I was a teen, but never before have I been affected by a woman's scent, not to this extent. I've never used my senses with a mate, never shared that part of myself with any of the women I took to my bed. So why was this unknown woman having this effect on me? How had she snuck in under my guard before we even met?I shook my head to clear it and spoke into the device in my ear. "I've found the scent, meet me around back." Part of me wanted to escape, to get as far away from her intoxicating scent as I possibly could, but I've never walked away form a job. Besides, there was another side of me
My eyes popped open, and I came instantly awake. Something had awakened me, some sound, what was it? I held still and listened, my heart racing with fear until I remembered that I was no longer the defenseless little girl who'd been awakened many times during the night to face torment and horror.I sat up slowly in the dark and pulled on my shoes with my back to the wall as I listened and peered around in the darkness. Whatever it was had come from outside, there was no one in my direct vicinity, I was sure. Crawling on my hands and knees, I made it to the nearest window, or the place where a window once was I should say since they'd all been long gone.Looking down into the night, I didn't see anything which meant whatever it was might be around the front of the building. From my place on the top floor, I should be able to see fine, but if it was indeed a person out there, they might have a better shot at me from their vantage point since the moon was so high.'Stop borrowing tr
"F*ck!" I didn't have time to tell her that I wasn't here to hurt her before she came at me. The move was so unexpected that I stood in shock and barely moved out of the way in time. I felt the wind from her blade as it sailed by my face, but instead of defending myself, which would've entailed hurting her in some way, I went into retreat, gliding back on my heels and out of the way.She came in fast, and I had no choice this time but to ward her off, but still, I did the least amount of damage I could in the circumstances by hitting her wrist with the heel of my hand in just the right way to get the results I wanted. The blade clattered to the old cement floor with a clanging sound. "I'm not…" I started to explain myself, but she came in low and fast, and this time both hands held the blades she'd grabbed from their hidden place at her sides. Stupid me watched in fascination, not quite believing what I was seeing.I didn't think I was going to need backup when I told the others I
Why do I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop in this place? I feel like I've fallen down the rabbit hole, but I've never done drugs, not willingly at least, and not since the ones that had been foisted on me to keep me in line came to an end with my escape. Yet, it feels like I've lived ten lifetimes in the few days I've been here.I'm warily cautious of accepting both Jason and the doctor's words that I'm pregnant, but he seems so sure. Even the way he touched me just now was different, so there's no doubt that he believes his own words. I don't feel any different, obviously, since we'd only just started having sex, and as far as I know, it would be way too early to tell. But if I add up all the strange things that have transpired in the last few days, I guess this would fit right in."How are you feeling?" Mr. Lyon drew my attention from watching Jason's retreating back."I'm fine; why does everyone keep asking me that?""The longer you're here, the more you'll come to re
Roxana was grumpy and fretful after the doctor left, and I knew most of it was due to the fact that I'd kept her up all night and into the early morning, plus the added excitement of the last few hours. Still, I had to fight her to stay in bed, which she did only after I manhandled her stubborn ass into compliance. I learned a neat new trick in the meantime and feel no shame in using that sh*t to my advantage going forward.It seems like as much as she wants to deny both mine and the doctor's assumption that she's pregnant, the mere possibility has put her in a bind. The very mention of her needing to rest because of her condition, something I have no idea about, to be honest, was enough to make her settle down and do as she's told.Since it was my first time seeing an obedient Roxana, I'm not yet a hundred percent sure that it wasn't a fluke, but I can't wait to test it out. Now I find myself looking back at her every few minutes from my place at the desk where I was once again go
I looked up at the wall where he'd hung my family crest along with the others, still not used to the idea that some ancestor of mine was a sellout who'd saved some asshole king that was probably not worth it. I'd threatened my kids with death if they spread this sh*t , but I know it won't last. It's only a matter of time before I have to deal with their mother and her sh*t ."Turn it off, Lyon." I hit the off switch, and we were treated to the women's laughter as they congratulated themselves on getting one over on us again. Then they started their sh*t again."Where did you say this person is? What prison?""California City Correctional, why?""No reason! As you said, you're a FED, not much you can do. Why are we talking about this anyway? I thought we were discussing Roxy's thing." Flanagan got restless in his seat as his wife's words came through the speaker."What is it?" I asked, but he just gritted his teeth and shook his head."She's up to something; she changed the
"Kat, that was a very impressive sigh; what's up?""Nothing much; I'm just wondering where I can get a pregnancy test on this island.""Why don't you have one of the million doctors they have running around here take a look?""Have you met my husband, Cierra? He'd have to vet that poor person for a week before he'd let that happen. Besides, that's not why I'm sighing. I'm almost certain that I am anyway I don't need confirmation.""Then why the sigh?""I just realized that since we got married, I'm either always pregnant or has just given birth.""So? I thought you loved having kids." "It's not that; I do love having babies, it's just… it's been a while since I've had a good spanking." There was a lot of hooting and hollering followed by a chorus of agreement from the other women, and that's when I turned the screen off. "For f*ck sake!" The other men in the room started laughing their idiot heads off like they hadn't heard their women jumping on the bandwagon with my
"Geez, I need to sit down." I did, but I didn't, so I watched for a little while longer until the two of them headed in the direction of the stables. It was almost half an hour later when I intercepted Catalina on her way to the lab. "Hey, kiddo, how's it going?""Uncle Hank." She ran over and wrapped her arms around my thighs."Hi uncle Hank, did the plane leave yet?""He's almost ready, I wanted to talk to you about that, but there's something else I wanted to talk to you about first. Catalina, those words you gave the senator, where did you hear that song?""Grandpa always listens to that stuff when he's doing one of his experiments."What experiments?""With the grow.""You…""Don't worry, uncle Hank; I've never seen grandpa smoking before; he always goes into the other room.""If you haven't seen him, how do you know that that's what he's doing?" She gave me a look that made me feel stupid. "Sorry I asked." I waited a couple beats before carrying on."Catalina
In the room around me, the men were going over plans for the next few days. Lyon was adamant that he would have the information out of Roxana by then, and I'd already got the specs on the place on the Hudson so that we could synchronize a hit.It hadn't been hard because the idiots, either to be funny or in a show of arrogance, had chosen to use a place that had been used for the same vice in history. The house, or rather mansion, was on the historical society list, which meant getting the blueprints and other pertinent information had been a breeze.It's also a known fact that a lot of these homes that were built by the wealthy during a certain time period in the country's history had a lot of hidden pockets that didn't show up on paper. I have the historical research team working on that as we speak. Since this place is so close to the water, I wouldn't be surprised if there was an underground network of some kind running from the mansion to the river.Since the SEALs had run i
When she covered her tummy with her hand, I covered hers with mine, and we both held the place where I was sure my seed had taken root inside her. "Jason?" I don't think I've ever heard her voice sound so thin and afraid. I wasn't expecting fear. Anger sure, annoyance, any of those things I could've dealt with, but the sound of fear in my otherwise fearless beauty was almost too much for me to bear."What is it, love?" I had to clear my throat a time or two to remove the frogs."I don't know anything about babies. I wasn't going to stay here. What am I going to do?" I got the feeling that that last was more to herself than me, so I concentrated on the rest of what she said. I imagine that, like me, she was thinking about all that she'd been through and worrying about bringing a child into a world where such things were possible, so I went with that first."We'll learn everything we need to to make sure that the little one is safe and happy. I've helped raise my nieces and nephews
Now all those times I'd seen them with a kid strapped onto their chests since we've been here was starting to make sense. I've seen my brother with his kids, of course, but never knew that there were others like him. Now I see why these rough and tumble men were so soft when it came to their wives and kids.When they're yours, your woman, your blood, it changes everything. I feel such a strong sense of protection already for both of them. "I have to get back to her, but I'm going to need a new workspace; I'm not doing any of this around her after today. Mr. Lyon, sir, whatever you're going to do to get her to give you the information, please do it quickly.""Mister? Sir?" The guy is a real grump, like his dad said earlier. I don't know what came over me. Maybe I was overly excited about the baby, but I'd heard him threaten death and mayhem to anyone who said the next words that came out of my mouth, and it still didn't stop me. "I'm sorry, your highness." The room erupted with laug
No sooner had the word left my lips than the women descended like sharks scenting blood in the water. I didn't think I'd spoken that loud, and where the hell did they come from. "Are you sure, Jason?" My brother asked from behind me, and I nodded. I know it's stupid, and I can't explain it, but I know that she's carrying my seed, which is all it is at this point.There was a fire starting under my palm, a kind of electric buzz running up my arm where we touched. My head spun with emotion, and I felt the connection deep. Like something inside her, my son or daughter, holding me there by her side. I caught her when she faltered, her eyes never leaving mine. "Pregnant?" The word was a mere whisper from her lips, and I nodded, too choked up for words.I picked her up while she was still in a daze and less apt to strike. "Ash!" I looked around for my sister and saw a line of women watching us with smiles on their faces. "You and the others follow me." I haven't the first clue what to d