EXPLOITING AJ

by Tl Reeve

  Amelia sat up. “I don’t understand.”

  “Nor do I,” Noah replied, before hitting a button on the laptop in front of him. Murray appeared on screen a second later. “Well, they’re all here.”

  “Thank fuck,” Murray murmured. The guy appeared a bit harried. “I have some information you need.”

  “Well, then get to it,” Thomas said. “I have to get down to the police department.”

  Murray held up a photograph and it took a moment to come into focus. Amelia gasped. She sat forward, peering at the picture in Murray’s hand. Scotty. He looked like shit and was almost unrecognizable. If it hadn’t been for his red hair and lopsided glasses, Thomas might not have known who it was.

  “Son of a bitch.” Thomas blew out a breath. “How?”

  “Where did you get the photo? Who did that to him? Where is he?” Amelia edged out of her seat.

  “We received this photograph yesterday afternoon. Santiago sent it. It appears Scotty had been picked up by Raul’s men and brought to Mexico.” Murray held up a second one. “This is one Jaqueline and I took, not even realizing who it was until we received this photo.”

  Shit. On one hand he’d been grateful he didn’t have to have a conversation about finding Scotty’s body inside the burned out van by the port. But, on the other, it only made their situation more dire. If Scotty was with Raul’s men, he might be recognized, especially knowing how Raul’s men like to keep tabs on Bex and they were at the high school the day of the job fair or whatever Mateo called it.

  “This isn’t good,” Thomas said. “There’s a chance someone might recognize him and tell Raul.”

  Murray nodded. “I thought the same, after finding out about the career fair. However, Scotty is in good hands with Santiago from the encrypted message we received along with the photo. He’ll make sure the kid keeps a low profile. Doesn’t mean they won’t put him through paces, though.”

  Amelia shook her head. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Thomas put his hand on her arm. “Train him.”

  Her face paled.

  “There is only so much our guy on the inside can do to keep Scotty safe and interfering in the training each of the submissives receive would cause too many questions to be asked of Santiago.”

  “So, we’re doing what? Leaving him there?” AJ yelled, irritation lacing her voice.

  “For now,” Murray said, “yes. When you arrive with Thomas, we’ll modify our plans. I already contacted Tex who is sending us someone who can help. Does the name Luca ring a bell?”

  She sat down. “Luca?” Her gaze snapped to Thomas. “I don’t like him. He’s too...” She shook her head. “Never mind. We’ll need him for this.”

  Thomas glanced at Amelia. Well, isn’t that an interesting happenstance? “We’re on the way. We should be there by morning.”

  “We’ll meet in El Paso near Fort Biggs. I’ll send coordinates when you’re in the air,” Murray added. “Be ready to work when you touch down.”

  With that, the screen went dark and Noah looked to Thomas. “You heard him. Be ready to fly out by midnight. We’ll have everything set at the airstrip by the time you take off. I understand you weren’t prepared to leave like this, but you can grab what you need in Mexico.”

  Thomas grunted. “I might know of some people.”

  “I guess I’ll bring Scotty’s stuff with me. I’ll be on the tarmac before midnight.” Amelia stood. “Should have guessed they’d want Scotty, too.”

  Fuck, she broke his heart as she headed out of the conference room, shoulders slumped and her head down. She acted as though someone kicked her puppy and as if she’d lost her best friend at the same time. In a way, he supposed she had. She and Scotty were inseparable. Not for the first time, Thomas wondered what it would be like to have someone in his life who’d make him feel the same way.

  “Take care of her,” Noah said, his gaze following Amelia out of C&C.

  “You know it. I wish I could bridge the gap, though.” He said more than he should have.

  “I think we all do,” Noah said. “This is new territory for us. We usually only do government work. Taking a detour and with female team members... We might end up fucking this group to hell and back.”

  Thomas snorted. “I hope not. I like my job in the FBI.”

  “Shit. I like where I am as well.” Noah chuckled. “We’ll get through this. She needs time to realize she’s not alone.”

  “We’re on our final approach for the Fort Biggs airstrip, strap in.” The announcement drew Thomas out of his thoughts.

  Amelia lay across from him, sleeping. He hated disturbing her, but they were almost to their destination and she needed to be ready go once they touched down. He undid his seatbelt and eased over to her. The frown lines between her brows had abated and the tension radiating off of her disappeared. She looked peaceful lying there.

  Which meant shaking her awake would suck.

  Thomas crouched down beside her and shook her. “Hey, we’re in El Paso. Time to wake up.”

  She blinked a few times before she opened her eyes. For a second or two, she appeared happy to see him, then all of the cheerfulness bled from her eyes and the frown returned. She sat up and stretched, still not willing to talk to him. It’d been almost seventy-two hours since she’d said a word to him. Thomas sighed and took his seat, putting his lap belt back on as the plane began its descent back to terra firma. According to the plans, when the plane landed, a military vehicle would be waiting for them. They were to hop inside and drive the short distance to a small out of the way convenience store. From there, they’d have another hour drive to Juarez, Mexico and Jaqueline’s estate.

  The plane touched down with a bump and rattle then slowed, allowing them to circle the airstrip. When they came to a stop, the cargo hold opened. Amelia was up and on her way down the ramp before he got his belt off. In her hands, were hers and Scotty’s bags. She’d clung to Scotty’s bag like it’d been a lifeline.

  It’s Scotty’s. His whole life is in there.

  At the time, her statement hadn’t made sense. His whole life? Sure, they didn’t have outrageous salaries at the State Department, but they could live a decent high-middle class life. Then, once he started thinking about it, Thomas realized their lives—Scotty’s and Amelia’s—fit into their ten-year-old packs. They were like go-bags for foster kids. Those packs had seen their best days and their very worst days. The idea they were reduced to what they could carry in a seventeen by twelve inch backpack, wrecked Thomas.

  “You going to stand there like an idiot, or get your ass moving?” Murray demanded, stepping up into the interior of the plane.

  “Sorry,” Thomas muttered. “I’m a little preoccupied at the moment.”

  “Yeah, I noticed. Redheads will do that to you,” Murray replied.

  “She’s not a redhead.”

  “Wasn’t talking about her,” he hollered, stepping down the ramp. “Come on.”

  Thomas exited behind Murray and found a black SUV waiting for them. “Wait, I thought we were supposed to meet you at some strip mall or whatever.”

  Murray grinned. “I don’t like plans all too much. They hamper my ability to work.”

  “So, we’re driving this across the border?” They’d stick out like a sore thumb and might even tip off the wrong people they were there.

  “Fuck no,” Murray said. “Jaq is waiting for us. She’s got my Jeep.”

  Thomas hopped into the front seat beside the driver while Murray got in back with Amelia. The driver put the vehicle into gear and pulled away taking them through the backroads. They drove parallel to the airport then down a dirt road to a small community market. The only Jeep sitting in the parking lot reminded Thomas more of a Baja rig than a conventional Jeep.

  It had a black rag top and brightly woven blankets laying across the backseat. The doors were taken off, exposing the interior to the elements. The red paint had been faded to the point it appeared to be a brick color, yet the
tires were new, knobby, for off-road terrain. In the very back was a large cooler, held in place by bungie cords. If it was spotted anywhere on the road, it would fit in with those who enjoyed being in the desert.

  Once they pulled up to Jaq, they exited the SUV and hopped into the waiting vehicle. Jaqueline switched spots with Murray, while Thomas and Amelia slipped into the backseat. He glanced over at Amelia and hoped she would at least acknowledge him, instead she’d been content to continue to stare out at nothing. He sighed, shaking his head. At some point, she would have to talk to him. When, though, was up to her.

  “So, here’s the plan,” Jaqueline said. “We’re headed to the house, so you can get a shower and change. Then we’ll take you to Luca’s homestead.”

  Amelia jerked beside him. In fact, each time his name had been mentioned, she’d had the same reaction. It’d been obvious to him; she didn’t like the man. Something had happened between them, and if he and Amelia were going to at least go through the motions, he had to understand her reaction to him.

  “Sounds perfect,” Thomas said.

  “Might as well get comfortable,” Murray said. “We’re going to be on dirt roads the majority of the time.”

  “Any word from Santiago?” Amelia sat forward. “Any more pictures?”

  Jaqueline turned to her. “No. He was able to send the photo because it’s part of protocol for Raul’s business.”

  “Right.” Amelia frowned. “Silly question.”

  “Look,” Murray said. “Of all of the people in this vehicle, Jaq and I understand you the most. It’s a fucked-up place to be. We will get him back.”

  “I don’t like guarantees,” she said. “There are too many variables for this mission.”

  “It’s why we’ll plan and prepare,” Murray stated. “It’s why you have to play the doting submissive.”

  Amelia tsked. “I know my position.”

  “Really?” Murray cocked a brow. “I know you lost your best friend, however the ice building between you and Thomas could put a glacier to shame. Thaw it some.”

  Amelia blew out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

  “No need to apologize.” Thomas reassured her.

  “Could you show some other emotion beside cool, calm, and collected?” Jaqueline glanced at Thomas.

  “Raging right about now, won’t do any of us any good,” Thomas answered. “Losing my shit, also won’t fix the situation.”

  “No,” Murry said. “But it will show us you’re human.”

  Thomas frowned. “I’m human.”

  “Then pull the slacks from your ass and show it.” Jaqueline glanced at him then slid her gaze to Amelia.

  She giggled then cleared her throat. “He’s always serious.”

  “I’m sure the women adore that in him,” Murray said, sarcasm dripping from his words.

  “We don’t talk about conquests in our partnership,” Amelia said.

  “Oh?” Murray settled into his seat as they found an obscured dirt path and turned off onto it. “Why not?”

  “We’re working on Am-AJ’s jealousy streak. The little green monster is possessive when it comes to all things Scotty and, it appears, me.”

  Murray whistled. “Intense.”

  “It’s nothing like he’s talking about,” Amelia said. “I happened to be broadsided by both of them, and I question how anything they said could be true.”

  “Sounds like you need a session with Dr. Phil,” Jaqueline muttered. “Or maybe you should work your shit out, fucking each other.”

  Murray barked out a laugh. “Damn, woman.”

  Jaqueline shrugged. “Works in those telenovelas.”

  Thomas looked over at Amelia who’d turn beet red. “Interesting take. We might have to try some of those telenovelas you’re talking about.” He glanced out over the desert. “Uh, how do we cross the border?”

  “We don’t cross the border, the border crossed us,” Jaqueline snapped, then laughed. “We’re jumping it.”

  “Uh? Is that a smart idea?” Amelia blanched.

  “You mean because of the stupid fucking militants and the corrupt border patrol agency?” The woman waved Amelia off. “Trust me, they don’t come out here. They don’t like it. It’s too dry, too hot, and there’s nowhere to hide when they want to beat on an asylum seeker.”

  “Those are just stories from conspiracy websites,” Amelia said. “They can’t be—”

  “They are,” Jaqueline said. “You forget, I used to work for the Mexican government. This shit with the border is all political for both sides. You guys, because you make a profit keeping humans locked up in a nine by nine cell. Us, it brings the cartel to the forefront. I’ve been watching too many of those fuckers promising better lives for the poor immigrants. I’ve also seen the outcome from putting trust in what the cartel says.”

  Thomas didn’t need to know. He could figure it out. Those looking for a better life become drug mules or worse, built the tunnels which funneled drugs, weapons, and money back and forth across the border. El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel had some of the most intricate tunnel systems. They were legendary. Some of them even emptied out into the basements of safe houses. Those tunnels had been one of the reasons it’d taken so long to capture El Chapo and convict him, beside the fact he had more money than he knew what to do with and could pay off anyone he saw as an easy mark.

  Being able to track what came across the border and went back was becoming harder every day since the cartels were evolving their import and export trade. They were also adapting and learning how to conceal themselves better. Plus, if they greased the right palms, they had free rein to do as they pleased. Like Jaqueline said, everyone had a price and those willing to sell their souls to the right person had a cush life. Those who didn’t, ended up dead.

  “How do you fix it?” Amelia hedged. “Since the cartels have a crushing controlling interest.”

  “I’d say get rid of the cartel,” Jaqueline said. “However, there have been times when the cartels have helped the people when the government wouldn’t.”

  Thomas knew of one case off the top of his head; a gang leader in Brazil who, during an outbreak of yellow fever, brought nurses and staff to a small village to help inoculate the people who were most likely going to die. Those modern day Robin Hoods bolstered the popularity of bad people. Their ability to do what the government wasn’t willing to do or didn’t have the resources to do, made eradicating gangs and cartels almost impossible.

  “It’s a catch-22,” Thomas said. “I don’t envy anyone trying to bring them down.”

  “You’re helping,” Amelia said, glancing up at him. “We all are. We’re going to take down the Nieto Cartel.”

  “No,” Jaqueline said, “we’re not. We’re closing this club and making sure shit like this doesn’t happen again. It will take more than a fetish club to end the Nieto Cartel.”

  “Money laundering,” Murray said. “Raul has money everywhere.”

  “Cayman Islands, mostly,” Amelia said. “Hey, did you know his name was mentioned a time or two in the Panama Papers?”

  “He also has it invested in the oil fields of Venezuela.” They turned off the main dirt road onto a smaller path that was more desert than road. Jaqueline pointed to where there had been a glint off of something shiny in the distance. “Welcome to my home.”

  The ranch-style home sat butted up to a small hilly area. As they got closer, Thomas spotted a few head of cattle along with a fence. It went on for what seemed like miles. To the right of the property was another set of hills. It formed almost a perfect bowl around Jaqueline’s land, securing her, while also giving her the perfect vantage point in case someone tried to ambush her.

  As Murray parked beside a pickup truck, an Australian Shepard came running for the Jeep. The little dog jumped and barked at Murray until he bent down and scratched the pup behind the ears. Then the dog went straight to Amelia and gave her a once over. It’d been an experience watching her with the dog. She crouched do
wn then fell on her butt when the dog jumped into her lap and started licking her face.

  “Bebito,” Jaqueline snapped. “Abajo!”

  Bebito whined then did as commanded. Thomas extended his hand to Amelia to help her up. She took it and a bolt of relief filled him. He didn’t take it for granted, though. They still needed to have a conversation about Scotty and what went wrong. She wasn’t at fault, and he would never allow her to be made the scapegoat, either. Shit, sometimes, happened. Scotty being kidnapped happened because all of them got too comfortable. They were so consumed by their desires they hadn’t taken the time to realize they were being followed.

  Thomas had thought about it during the flight. Only someone who’d been watching the hotel for days maybe even weeks, would be able to get in and out with Scotty without Amelia or Thomas being none the wiser. He’d let down his guard and now, Amelia and he were both suffering. He gave her a small smile as he motioned for her to follow Jaqueline into the house.

  “Welcome to my home. It’s not much,” Jaqueline said. “But it’s where my heart is.”

  Thomas liked it. It was quaint. Lived in. There were pictures of an older couple on the wall along with Jaqueline and a boy he believed was Christian. There were knick-knacks and books lining several different shelves as well. The kitchen consisted of a large open area with a big bay window. The floors were clay and some kind of glaze covering it. To the right was a laundry room, and Jaqueline motioned for them to join her there.

  Once they were in the laundry room, she went to a large hand-braided burgundy rug and lifted it, revealing a security door. “Welcome to my C&C.” She entered a five digit code before placing her thumb against a biomatrix pad. When the lock disengaged, she turned the handle and lifted the door.

  Murray went down first then Amelia and Thomas. Jaqueline came up behind them, closing the door as she made her way down the stairs. The area was small, but not cramped. A large screen against the west wall played different views from the cameras surrounding Jaqueline’s property. There were also clocks denoting the times in several different time zones and she had an impressive computer system along with her own servers. If anything should happen, Thomas knew the woman would be safe down there.