“Understandable.”
“This internet thing, the way kids are on social media—we can’t protect them. We can’t wait for the government to protect them. The police have their hands tied. I sometimes wonder, if we put a few SEAL teams on it, what they would do locating these rings and putting them out of business.”
“In a perfect world. But we’re not allowed. You know that.”
“So we spread the news, wait, and hope it doesn’t happen.” Bryce leaned forward and drilled a look that told Tucker he was dead serious. “How well does that work overseas? Waiting, I mean?”
“That’s what we’re there for.”
“Right. Invited by governments, provided by our government. Meanwhile, some of our kids are getting abused back at home. And do you think it will get any better on its own? I gotta hand it to the police, but they’re outmatched, Tucker. You know that.”
Tucker’s adrenaline switch had flipped. He’d had the same thought many times over.
“What are you saying, Bryce?”
“I go over in three days. I stay perhaps two, three weeks, whatever. But when I come back, I’m thinking I’d like to do something about all this.”
“How?”
Bryce checked the surrounding area to make sure he wasn’t being heard. “I don’t know. Perhaps find someone who could help us out? Give us an inside line on the bad guys, help support our efforts?”
“You’re talking about posse comitatus.”
“I am. Except I’m not sure it can be a government entity. Might have to be private.”
“And that would be illegal, Bryce.”
His friend nodded again and stared off into the distance. “I can’t wait, Tucker. That’s the hardest thing I could do. I’m one of the old guys now. Probably time for me to hang it up before I get injured or get someone else hurt. I need a new hip, and my knees are shot from all those jumps.”
“Same here. I’ll be needing new knees before I’m fifty.”
“We’ve done good work, protecting those we love from foreign evil coming here. But we’re losing the way, Tucker. It’s coming anyway. We got terrorist plots and training camps, and some of us have seen them, too.”
Tucker had heard the stories. It was common knowledge.
“We have to take a back seat to guys—I’m talking police and social workers—who are terrific but just don’t have the same training we have. They’re like janitors in our inner cities. The cleanup crew.”
Bryce leaned forward again.
“We need someone to go in and take them out. As many of them as we can find.”
Tucker waited before responding. “I hear what you’re saying, Bryce. How are you going to know the difference? What if the wrong person gets taken out? That’s why we have the courts. It’s slow, and yes, some of these dudes get off, but we can’t have citizens taking the law into their own hands, Bryce.”
“Most citizens. Tell me, Tucker. Would you be able to tell the difference? If you got right up into the face of pure evil? You’ve seen them before, as have I. If you had the opportunity to make sure one of these creeps would never hurt another innocent child or woman, if you could bring them in to face justice, what would you do?”
It was the same thing they did overseas all the time. They weren’t assassination squads, yet, things were done. Some enemies would fight to the death.
Tucker thought about the offer Colin Riley had made. He personally wasn’t in a place where he could consider going to work for the man. Not yet.
But maybe he could make an introduction.
Chapter 24
Three months later….
Tucker and Bryce flew into Portland where a black town car waited for them. The two had not spoken much since Bryce’s return from his mission. Tucker had hoped Bryce had reconsidered the ideas he’d shared. But that wasn’t the case. He was even more determined than before.
Bryce told him his San Diego P.D. buddy let him know that they’d solved a bomb threat case at Lynn’s school last year. It had been arranged through a chat on a gaming site. A sophomore at the school paid an anonymous person five hundred dollars to hack in and email the threat to the school administration.
The student was questioned extensively, but the money transaction happened outside the banking system with crypto currency and therefore was untraceable. It was a case of a kid who wanted a few days off from school to visit his girlfriend in the Bay Area. The girlfriend casually mentioned it to her parents months later, and they called the police. Otherwise, no one ever would have known.
Just knowing this type of thing could happen set off red flags in Bryce. He felt more compelled than ever to somehow make a difference, make himself the barrier between evil and innocents.
Though the story wasn’t about sex work or human trafficking, it very easily could have been.
Tucker told his buddy about Mr. Riley and agreed to accompany him to meet the gentleman. He wasn’t going to join up, just make the introductions.
“Did he say his daughter is recovering?” Bryce asked.
“I didn’t ask about her, and he didn’t bring it up. Sven keeps in loose touch with her.”
“You trust the man?”
“That’s going to be up to you, Bryce. It’s an awfully big step, doing this. I presume you’ve said nothing to Geri.”
“Nope. We’re just fishin’.”
“You gotta think very hard before you jump into this. You could be sent to prison if caught. What would Geri and the kids do without you?”
“We gotta talk first. Hell, he might not like me. He might only want you,” said Bryce.
“Well, he’s not getting me. I’m not ready to take that leap, and don’t pressure me. It won’t work. I’m doing this for you because I don’t want you mixed up in something that’s underfunded. This guy has billions. That part is real. The rest is up to you.”
Colin Riley sat in his specialized wheelchair in the middle of his wood-paneled office overlooking the Columbia River. He briefly scanned Bryce but moved his chair forward to shake Tucker’s hand first and then turned his attention to Bryce, as Tucker introduced him.
“Nice to hear from you, Tucker. Someone sent me a picture of the palm trees in your front yard. I like what you’ve done with the place.”
Of course Riley would have done this. He’d be checking up on Tucker for the rest of his life.
“So you probably know about my daughter, then.”
“I heard about that too. I think we have a little token for you, something you can stash away for her college fund.”
“I didn’t come here for money, sir. I’m just here to make an introduction.” Irritation made a familiar appearance in Tucker’s gut.
“I do understand.” Riley angled his head, pointing to the large leather couch placed beneath an enormous photograph of a bald eagle hanging on the wall above. “Please be seated.” Mr. Riley asked Tucker to begin.
“Sir, I told Bryce some of what we discussed in the hospital some months back. I told you then I wasn’t interested, but Bryce here is.”
Riley studied Tucker for several long seconds then turned his gaze to Bryce. “And what were you told Mr. Tanner?”
“You asked Tucker if he ever wanted to do something else, take care of bad guys here at home, that you might be interested in supporting him.”
“Not supporting him, Bryce. May I call you that?”
“Yes, sir. You may.”
“I said I’d make him rich beyond his wildest dreams.”
Bryce leaned back into the back of the couch and exhaled. “Okay. Wow.” Then he placed his elbows on his thighs, coming closer to the billionaire. “Tucker isn’t interested. But I am.”
“Your reason?”
“My daughter was recently targeted by a predator. Everyone knows the facts. The police, the FBI, everyone agrees that it would be nearly impossible to find this creep. He’ll probably get caught in some raid at some future date. Or not. But day after day, there are these rings o
f people who traffic young girls, women. And there are thousands of them. The number is growing, not getting smaller. Tucker and I both have seen some of these human smuggling rings in action—like the one who nabbed your daughter.”
“And you would consider what I asked Tucker to do?”
“I’d have to think about it. But that’s what I came here to talk to you about.”
Riley’s eyes sparkled as he turned to Tucker. “Why did you come? Were you curious?”
“I wanted to help him, as a brother, not make a wrong decision. I don’t want to see him going to jail, even if he’s trying to do good here. What we’re talking about is not legal. Not sanctioned by any government entity.”
“Do you know others who you might be able to recruit, to set up a team, Mr. Tanner?”
“I think I do.”
“Former SEALs?”
“SEALs, law enforcement, and patriots who just don’t want to wait around to let someone else clean up the trash. I know men who have the skills and knowhow to make a difference.”
“Like Robin Hood and his merry band, eh?” Riley chuckled.
Tucker dug his fingers into the soft leather and nearly punched four holes in it.
“With all due respect—” he began.
“I meant no insult. I meant it in the most respectful of ways. If I was healthy, it’s what I’d do. I have the money, and I have the connections. But I cannot be the weapon. That part of my life is over. I don’t know how much longer I have—even a simple cold is life-threatening for me. But I don’t want to wither away in a rest home when I can make a difference. I want to spend my money creating good, stamping out evil, and supporting those warriors who can help me accomplish that.”
Riley’s eyes were unwavering. Tucker knew the man meant every word he’d just uttered. A part of him wanted to seize the chalice and grab the golden sword to take on the challenge. But the loyal husband and father and decorated Navy SEAL wasn’t there yet and would not be taking that step.
“What would it take for you to join him, Tucker?” Riley pondered.
It was not a difficult decision. It wasn’t even his decision to make. There was only one answer to that question.
“Time. Lots of time, sir.”
That afternoon Riley and Bryce Tanner agreed to have several meetings to iron out the details before anything would be said to anyone else, including his wife. Tucker was sworn to secrecy.
On the flight home, Tucker admitted, “You’re either a crazier man or a braver man than I am, Bryce. Part of me wants to go do this with you. But I just can’t yet.”
Bryce was thoughtful. “I’m not going to lie. I feel as excited as the day I was told I had a chance to go to BUD/S. Maybe you’re the braver man, Tucker. Only time will tell.”
“Roger that, my friend. You make sure you look at everything before you commit. And I’m going to have to work on my conscience if anything happens to you. But damn, wouldn’t it be great if it would work?”
“And then you can join me.”
“Not promising. Don’t say that.” He chuckled. “Now you have to come up with some awesome name like Posse International.”
“Fuck You Society.”
“Elimination Inc.”
“I got a better one. How about Bone Frog Protection?”
Tucker smiled to himself.
Yeah, that would work.
Chapter 25
Brandy had tried for days to find out about his fishing trip with Bryce. Tucker came back from it like he’d just spent two weeks at a Man Camp or Olympic Training Camp, she told him. He was light on his feet, happy, and fully engaged in life. It was as though he’d finally had an epiphany and had settled into his own skin.
She watched him closer that day, Tucker holding Kimberly on his belly, her arms and legs moving as he played horseshoes with Bryce, who was now a frequent visitor. Bryce was like one of the Team 3 guys.
Geri had told her that Tucker had given Bryce some really good advice. When she asked about it, Geri said she had no idea, just that they’d had a long talk and both of them got clear about what their life’s purpose was going forward.
He knew he was going to have to tell her something. She wouldn’t let up. She’d gotten a bead on this thing between he and Bryce, and she wouldn’t let go.
Re-enlistments, if it happened when they were overseas, netted them extra bonuses at signing. But when that opportunity came and went, Bryce had made the decision not to renew his hitch and started his disassociation paperwork. A small ripple had been caused in the community, wondering what he was going to do.
Tucker didn’t care about it. He actually felt settled, good about his decision to watch Bryce do something he wanted to do. Tucker wasn’t there yet, and he’d been honest with Riley, and with his Team buddy.
“There’s one thing I’ve been wondering about, Tucker,” she said as he stepped out of the shower.
Here it comes. She was asking very sweetly, so naked and rubbing herself all over him. It was a twisted way of getting information out of him, but Hell, he was game for making love to his stubborn wife however she got to that point.
“What’s that?” He was looking at her standing behind him in the mirror.
She began to dry off his back, kissed him in several places along his spine, at the same time letting him feel the bare skin of her thighs rubbing against the backs of his. She pressed her breasts into his back, allowed the towel to travel from his chest, down his hip, and then drop. She squeezed him which was one of his favorite things. He flipped around to face her.
“What is it, Brandy?” He begged her to tease him, say something either dirty or inappropriate.
“What happened on that fishing trip?”
His quick intake of air almost let the cat out of the bag. He didn’t want to reveal their conversation, or decision.
She gave him a wicked smile. “Should I be jealous?”
“Hell no.” He abruptly moved away, grabbed a glass, and poured himself a drink of water. “Why do you ask?”
“You’ve just had this cat-that-ate-the-canary look to you ever since. And now Bryce is leaving the teams. Are you thinking about doing that too?”
“Why would I do that?” He knew she was beginning to suspect something. She’d pushed too far, and now he was getting annoyed.
“Come here, Brandy. Let’s talk.”
He took her by the hand, bringing her into the bedroom, sat down, and had her sit on his bare legs. Her silk shortie robe opened down the front. He licked his lips as he focused on the way her nipples knotted between his thumb and fingers.
“I love everything about you, Brandy. Some days, when I see you lying asleep or watch you nursing Kimberly, I think to myself that perhaps I don’t deserve this.”
“Nonsense,” she said, moving against him, pushing him back on the bed, placing her knees on either sides of his hips and delicately riding him, teasing to get him snagged. He tried to angle his hips to facilitate this.
“You’re silly,” she whispered, watching him play with her.
“I mean it,” he said, his fingers now squeezing her tits.
She rose up and then deliciously settled back down on him, touching and squeezing the base of his shaft as he plunged in slowly. She leaned forward, tilting her rear up. He bent his knees, forced his hips upward, thrusting so deep she caught her breath. Her internal muscles took hold and she leaned back and sighed.
“Oh God, Tucker. I never want this to end. I want us to fuck like this forever.”
The conversation was gone. The only thing he could focus on was making Brandy explode. He stepped up his pace, grabbing her hips, grinding them down on him, then rose her up so he could pump in and out until his speed caused her to scream, “Yes!”
“Absolutely, sweetheart. You want more?’
“Always.”
“Always what?”
“Always more.” She was going to object as he kept up his furious pace, but she corrected him. “Always fuck me mor
e.”
“That’s my girl.” He could feel she was going to come again for the second time. He was having a hard time holding back.
“Tucker?”
“Yes, Brandy?” He was losing it. He felt her muscles in that delicious spasm of hers. She forced herself harder against him with each stroke.
“I want to fuck all night long. Can we please—”
Finally! She’d lost her train of thought. He started to spill.
“Would you fuck me all night long?”
“If I’m physically able, you bet.”
“And Tucker?” He was coming inside her, his hot sperm coating her everywhere.
“No more questions, Brandy. Sweetheart, I just want to do this.”
God, she was stubborn!
But of course, Brandy never forgot a thing. As soon has he’d nearly passed out, she was at it again.
“That happiness in you. Tell me what it is,” she asked.
Her body was still sweaty. He knew he wouldn’t have much more time until she’d have to get up and feed the baby again.
He drew his arm up over his forehead, thinking all while his shaft was growing again.
“Bryce has decided to follow a different path, one that I cannot take. At least not yet.”
“Go on.”
“That’s it, really. You are more precious to me than my own life. I’ve got everything I need here.”
“And Bryce?”
“He’s going to chase some demons. He wants revenge. He wants to balance the scales of good and evil. All I want to do is complete my job and come home to you, Brandy. I would never do anything to get in the way of that.”
She would tell him later that his kisses were sweeter that night. He’d walked through some kind of a threshold recently and it didn’t really have anything to do with her. He didn’t have the demons Bryce did.
SEALed Protection (Bone Frog Brotherhood Book 5) Page 15
