Relentless Chase 4 (Troubles Brewing)

by Posey Parks

  “Zoey and I will sit on the rooftop across the street to the right of the target’s location. I’ll fly the drone close and gain eyes on the inside. I have to hand it to her. Setting up shop in downtown L.A. was smart. There’s constant traffic.”

  “I agree. But Jacob.” I pointed. “Will provide a screen freeze on her security system for two minutes. Long enough for me to get inside.”

  Sydney grabbed my arm. “What do you mean you?” she scowled. “We are a team.”

  “We are, but if I don’t make it out alive.” I swallowed hard, staring into those beautiful eyes. “You need to take care of Caden.”

  She slammed her hand into my chest. “You can’t do this again!” she roared.

  My thumbs swiped the tears from her cheeks. “It’s not up for discussion.”

  I glanced at Samantha. “You and Jacob will post up with sniper rifles on the rooftop directly across from the target building. Once I’m inside and you have visual take out her men on the roof.”

  “Ok.” She slipped her hand over her long ponytail. “If I have the shot. You need to let me take her out.”

  I sighed and paused. “Ok. First, I need information from Luna, Pippa whatever her name is. In regards to the gun operation abroad that would be a huge win for the CIA. She’s selling our weapons the terrorists.”

  “Fine,” she huffed.

  I peeked to my left. “James and Jake cover the grounds around the house as well as the roof.”

  “Got it,” they stated.

  “Caden, I can help cover the grounds.”

  My eyes narrowed at my mother. “That would be great. Thanks.”

  “Dad.” Jacob waved him over to the opposite side of the counter.

  He explained how to use the extra drone.

  Jacob clapped his hands. “Dad and I will be back. I need to show him what areas to fly the drone. Hunter and Skyler will slip on their prosthetics. We’ll be ready to move out at fourteen hundred hours.”

  “Jacob, Sydney and I will print the wraps for the truck.”

  “Great.”

  “Jacob.” Mom grabbed his hand. “When did Skyler and Hunter arrive. I haven’t seen them in a few months.

  His free hand stretched toward Samantha. She fell under his arm.

  “This is Skyler and I am Hunter.”

  She gaped. “I don’t understand.”

  “There’s no way I can go out and help my friends as Jacob Latters. Everyone would spot me or my wife right away. So, we wear prosthetics.”

  Mom’s cheeks flushed.

  I glanced at their locked fingers.

  “Ok, Mom. Release the man’s hand.”

  She smiled nervously, freeing him.

  Fucking embarrassing.

  Jacob grinned and exited the kitchen.

  “Dude, your moms got the hots for Jacob Latters,” Brandon whispered over my shoulder.

  My forehead creased.

  “Brandon, dude.”

  “What just speaking facts.”

  I faced a snickering Zoey.

  “Oh, this is so amusing to you both.”

  Brandon shrugged.

  I glanced at mom. “I hear Caden crying. Can you see about him, please?”

  “Sure.” Her Jersey accent poured out of her mouth.

  I was lying. He wasn’t crying but, I couldn’t handle my mother, fawning over my celebrity friend. Shit.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  SEBASTIAN

  Sydney and I wrapped two white rental trucks with the local power company logo.

  Samantha strolled around each truck inspecting our work. “My meager garage came in handy, huh?” She scanned the large space.

  “Damn right. Thanks, Samantha.”

  My eyes roamed over the two Maybach’s, three Ghost Bentleys, a Lamborghini, and two party limo buses on the other side of the garage.

  “There’s nothing meager about it. It’s perfect. Sydney and I need to find a garage close by.”

  “No problem. Mr. Real Estate agent. I’m sure you’ll find a great piece of property.” She cheerfully shoved her fist into my shoulder.

  I snickered.

  We climbed into power uniform overalls. Zoey and Brandon would cover a manhole in the alley behind the building they’d use as a stakeout.

  The remainder of us would park behind the building across from Luna’s. We’d also block the alley off for underground power work.

  “We’re loaded and ready to go.” Brandon stated, hanging out the driver’s door.

  “Do we have enough firepower, explosives…”

  Jacob’s heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “Hey man, we always do.”

  I nodded.

  My body pulsated as I hopped in the back of the van.

  Sydney’s shaking body fell into my arms.

  “Hey, if you aren’t up for this…” I whispered against her ear.

  “No.” She shook her head and peered into my eyes. “I can’t lose you.” Sydney choked back the tears.

  We bounced side to side through the bumpy streets of downtown L.A.

  I held her face in my large hands. “Baby, I will do everything in my power to come back to you.” I devoured her lips. Her tongue slid past my lips.

  Her hands caressed my neck. Our tongues danced. I pushed her back. My heart beat so fast I thought it would explode.

  “Sweetheart, I love you so much.” My forehead dropped upon hers.

  “We’re here,” Samantha stated behind her mirrored aviator sunglasses.

  “Head’s in the game, people.” Jacob’s deep vocals bounced off the walls.

  “Fuck you, Jacob. My husband’s putting his life on the line again.”

  “Everyone take a step back.”

  He turned in the driver’s seat. “Sydney, I know you’re upset. I apologize for yelling.” He stretched his hand out toward her. “We’re family and we are a team.”

  She sighed, gripping his hand. “Thank you.”

  “Sydney, we’ve got your back.” Samantha sat on her knees beside her, kissing the side of her head.

  She closed her eyes and nodded.

  “All right, let’s gear up. Earbuds in.” I slid my mirrored aviators over my eyes.

  “Brandon, how are we looking?” I peeked down the alley both ways. Pedestrians strolled by lackadaisically in route to probably the nearest upscale Hollywood restaurant. All this town cared about was keeping up appearances.

  “We’re in location. I’m flying the bird as we speak. I won’t be able to detect the correct number of people inside until nightfall. The thermo camera would give an accurate count. Peeking through the window, I counted four armed guards. They’re monitoring the traffic from inside. It appears we’re still undetected.”

  “Roger that.” I tapped my ear piece.

  Skyler and Jacob climbed toward the top of the building.

  Sydney peered at me. Sadness filled her eyes.

  “Up the ladder. Ten stories. That’s nothing for you.”

  She rolled her eyes. Sydney stepped on the first bar. My hand landed heavy across her ass.

  She yelped and her eyes narrowed.

  “Keep moving.”

  I hopped on the ladder and followed her. I spotted Skyler and Hunter. Skyler’s brunette wig was pulled back into a low ponytail under the dark baseball cap.

  Her prosthetics skin was dark brown. The difference between Skyler and Hunter was she enjoyed changing her appearance. Hunter wore the same prosthetics he wore last month. Secretly, I think he was digging the red hair.

  Three hours later darkness was upon us.

  We shed the power uniforms revealing our black camo gear. The heat was unbearable in the overalls.

  “Caden, come in.”

  I tapped my ear bud. “Go ahead.”

  “There are six people inside the building. And two patrolling the exterior. Are you sure you want to go in alone?”

  Sydney pretended not to listen, staring through her sniper scope.

  “If I see no way
out the go phrase is just another day. Then move in. Everyone copy?”

  “Roger,” they chimed one after the other.

  “All right, Caden, you’re all clear,” Brandon stated.

  “On the move.”

  I removed a fake gold and black Marshall’s badge from my pocket. Hanging it around my neck, I sat beside Sydney.

  “Sweetheart, I have to go.”

  She kept her position.

  “Syd, look at me.”

  Her angry gaze met mine.

  My fingers stroked along her cheek. “I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”

  Her lower lip trembled.

  “I need this shit to be over once and for all. Please understand.”

  She blinked and tears spilled from her beautiful eyes. My lips grazed hers then I deepened our kiss.

  Her fingers clung on to my tight black T-shirt. She broke our kiss. “Go Caden, before I move in myself.”

  “See you soon.”

  “I love you and I’ll…see you…soon,” she bit out swiping at the tears.

  I saluted Skyler and Hunter. “I know you all have my back.”

  “That’s right, brother,” Jacob smirked.

  Securing the Glocks in my waist holster, I stalked down the alley and across the street. The best course of action was to enter the back door.

  “Caden, a guard should be exiting the door in ten seconds,” Brandon stated.

  I crouched down and scurried beside a nearby garbage can. The door creaked open. He slid his expensive jacket sleeve back, glancing at the time. He peeked both ways then lit a cigarette. I approached, wrapping my arm around his neck from behind. Pulling him backward toward the garbage can. He gripped my arm trying to free himself. I squeezed tighter and his body went limp. I lowered him to the ground behind the garbage can. I turned the back door knob and dipped into the building. Large light fixtures crowded the ceiling. There was only one table in the center of the large two floor building. Standing in the shadows, I observed their operation. Sliding back a crate top, I glanced at the military grade automatic weapons. “I think we found the base of their operation,” I whispered to my team.

  “Peckus, what’s the status on the streets.

  The tall bulky man wearing an expensive suit and a crew cut peered at her.

  “No movement.”

  “Good.” Her blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail. She wore tight dark jeans and a navy T-shirt.

  Unholstering my Glocks, I raised them eye level, and side stepped along the crates lined against the wall.

  “Hello, Luna or should I call you Pippa.”

  Her guards pointed their weapons toward me.

  A huge smile curled her lips.

  “Tell your men to relax. I’m here to talk.”

  “Lower your weapons. He won’t shoot. This entire building is rigged with explosives,” she chuckled.

  Both guards returned their attention to the streets. They gawked through the row of eye level rectangular windows.

  “The best hacker in the world. And it took you three days to find out my real name.” She shook her head, crossing her legs at her ankles leaning on the wooden table, arms crossed.

  My skin heated. Remain calm Caden. “I admit you’re pretty good with computers. You made Ms. Skover invisible. Still haven’t uncovered a single picture.” I lowered my weapons.

  I glanced upstairs. Two guards stood, gripping their Glocks, eyes locked on me.

  The smell of new tires filled the air. Two jeeps and three dark SUV’s were parked to her left.

  “You are no longer the best.” It was my turn to laugh.

  “I’ll allow you to think that. When did Stephanie learn you were half-sisters?”

  “Her first year of college.”

  I holstered one Glock still holding the other, sitting on one of the large crates. “Stephanie didn’t mention you. Not even a hint that she had a little sister.” My lips quirked slightly.

  She cocked her head. “We’ll she told me all about you. Steph said you were the love of her life.” Pippa tapped her index finger against her pink lips and roved my body.

  “Big sis, said you were fucking fabulous in the sack. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I wanted to take you for a test drive the first night we officially met, before I set you up.”

  Shit the entire team heard her fucking declaration. Most importantly my wife. My brows wrinkled. “What do you mean officially?”

  She visibly swallowed and turned away. “I was curious about the rich entitled family I never had. I found out Stephanie was throwing the bomb party for her seventeenth birthday. So, I crashed with a friend. It was very easy. I hacked her laptop scrolled through her guest list and added myself. Not as me but as Luna.” She laughed.

  “She lived well. I didn’t know I wanted what she had until I saw her interaction with him and you.”

  I ignored the part about me. “Your father?”

  She cleared her throat, meeting my gaze. “Yup.”

  “He gave you a trust fund.”

  “So!” she snarled. “She had him for every birthday. I didn’t until lately.”

  I’d come back to the daddy discussion. Didn’t want her to kill me in a fit of rage. Fucking daddy issues.

  “What’s your beef with me?”

  Her smile rose and fell. “Where do I begin? She thought she’d be your wife. The woman had been in love with you since high school. But you broke her heart. You married that little twit.” She waved Sydney off like she was trash.

  I smirked. “You only know one side of the story.”

  Her eyebrow rose. “Were you not in a relationship with her for ten years?”

  “No, I wasn’t. We were always friends.”

  She chuckled. “Friends with benefits?”

  I sighed. “If that’s how you want to spin it fine. What matters is I sat down with her and told her we couldn’t see each other anymore. So, when she behaved fucking crazy, we weren’t together. She manipulated and twisted situations to make my life a living hell.”

  “Is that why you killed her? Because my sister couldn’t let go of the man she loved.”

  I clutched one fist at my side. My blood coursed through my veins. She wouldn’t fucking trip me up. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  Her head teetered to each side. “No?”

  Pippa picked up a remote off the dark wooden table and pointed it at the large TV hanging on the wall behind her.

  Stephanie appeared on the screen, sitting in a chair at a desk. She wasn’t pulled together. Her nose and eyes were red and fresh tears streaked her face. “If you’re watching this video, I’m dead.”

  My heart plummeted to my feet. The urge to close my eyes was heavy. I couldn’t fold under pressure.

  She continued. “Sebastian.” One eye flickered and a heavy tear dropped in her lap. “The man I loved killed me.”

  I placed my hand over my mouth and sighed. “Hunter, handle this.”

  “Stall her and I’ll see if I can delete it.”

  Luna paused the TV.

  “Where’s my sister?” she growled.

  “I have no idea.”

  “When did you last see her?”

  She leaned forward. “You son of a bitch!” she roared.

  “I helped her come after you. Try to get you to see reason.”

  “Oh, you mean helped her kidnap my son,” I yelled.

  Her chest heaved, and she slid her hand over her blonde ponytail.

  “I haven’t the foggiest idea of what you mean.” Her southern accent poured over my skin like hot lava.

  “My sister disappeared. She said I was to release the tape if things went sideways.”

  Her eyebrow quirked upward. “But I had other plans.”

  “Oh, you mean setting me up to take the fall for a murder of a woman I never met. And you sent the inmate to kill me.”

  An evil smile lit her lips.

  “I knew you’d come. You thought you’d walk into my
place of work…”

  “By place of work your speaking of dealing in illegal weapons.”

  “Is your little team with you?”

  My brow wrinkled. “I’m alone.”

  “Bullshit. You’re no more alone as you were the night that house those people ran out of blew up. By the way I allowed them to live.” She snickered.

  My fist clutched at my side again. Wrapping my hands around her neck ate at me. I longed to watch the life drain out of her body through those blue eyes.

  She laughed, cupping her hands in front of her. “You’re a man of many talents. Hacker, real estate investor, and Central Intelligence Agent.”

  “You need to pay for what you did to Ms. Skover.”

  She pointed. “You mean like you need to pay for killing my sister.”

  Heavy footsteps pounded the cement floor in the distance. I peeked over Pippa’s shoulder. My eyes widened.

  “I never wanted to believe you were capable of something like this, Sebastian.” His deep voice bounced off the walls.

  “I loved you like a son.”

  He tugged the gold cufflinks under his navy-blue tailored suit jacket.

  His jaw ticked under his blond and white five o'clock shadow.

  “Mr. Porter, I asked Stephanie in Seattle to stop the games.” My hand grazed my forehead.

  “But she wouldn’t.”

  “Caden, don’t,” Sydney pleaded in my earbud.

  “Was I wrong for dating her for years. Yes, but that gave her no right to lie, manipulate, and kidnap my son.”

  Mr. Porter stepped next to Pippa.

  “Where is Stephanie’s body?”

  I stretched my hand. “Get Pippa help. She’s crazier than Stephanie. She peeled a woman’s face off for Pete’s Sake. Focus on building a relationship with her. Pippa is bitter and was swept up into Stephanie’s web of delusion. Also, she feels like she was a part of the family.” My eyes fell on hers. “Isn’t that right?”