Destruction

by Knightley, Reese

  Quick looked over his shoulder. “I’ll talk to you in a bit,” the man said and stood. Moving toward the door, he stepped past Alex and disappeared out into the hallway.

  Micah couldn’t tear his gaze from Alex as the soldier advanced into the room. Reaching the bed, Alex’s hand touched his face and wiped the lone tear from his cheek.

  Micah tried to decipher the man’s disposition, but couldn’t see anything past the grim set of the man’s mouth and dark, sad eyes.

  “Vladimir confessed before he died. I think he was lying,” he whispered, hating the way his voice shook.

  Alex eased down to sit on the bed. Micah drew comfort from the strength of the man’s thigh pressing against his leg. Alex took his hand and locked their fingers.

  “Like Quick said, we go with Caleb’s alive until we know differently,” the soldier said gruffly.

  He turned on his side and curled into Alex.

  “I love you,” he whispered and couldn’t stop the tears.

  “I wish it was enough,” Alex murmured, cupping the back of his head.

  Alex

  The sound of Micah’s sobs tore at him and it took several long minutes before he was able to ease away from Micah once the agony of grief subsided. He tucked his desire to fix shit away. What the hell could he say anyway? Nothing that Micah wanted to hear, that was for sure.

  Micah sniffled before shifting about as if to get comfortable.

  “Okay?” His eyes moved over the man.

  “I’m good.” Micah took a deep breath and let it out. “Where are we?”

  “Just north of Fairbanks in the mountains,” he said and stood, backing away from the bed.

  Micah stilled, gazing at him wide-eyed. “So, there was a plane?”

  Alex nodded. “Your friend chartered a small plane.”

  He didn’t go into how Micah had passed out for most of the plane ride and had been in and out of consciousness with a fever for the past week.

  Now, he watched Micah carefully as the man swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. After a few more moments, Micah shoved to his feet. The man met his gaze.

  “I’m good,” Micah insisted.

  He watched Micah for any balance issues and then nodded. “The team’s waiting in the main room.”

  “For?”

  “Us. Roscoe flew back to California, he’ll be back in a day or two. We’ve been waiting for you, so we can plan our next line of attack. We’re going after Mez.”

  Micah’s gaze searched his face, but Alex kept his face expressionless.

  When Micah stepped past him, Alex grabbed up a blanket resting on a chair and draped it over the man’s shoulders. Micah’s hands reached up and brushed his, tightened fingers gripped the material and Alex paused to let Micah step through the door first.

  The place was built like a fortress and Alex couldn’t have been more pleased as their whole unit was tucked safely inside the large snow lodge type structure with full security, cameras, and alarms.

  Quick Jameson didn’t live here, he informed them upon arrival, but one of his associates did. Regardless, Alex was grateful that the place afforded his team a place to rest. His team. And he wondered what the man walking in front of him would think about that?

  They reached the common area. A large room filled with throw rugs, two large sectional sofas, wide screen television, and a massive fish tank that ran the length of one wall. The bubbling water a low hum in the background.

  Wild and Seth sat on one of the sectionals playing a video game with Reggie leaning over their shoulders giving advice.

  Storm, Frost, Noah, and Allison stood at a bar, which separated the large room from a fully stocked kitchen. Beyond them, a large picture window that Quick had assured them was one way glass, they could see the Alaska wilderness. Rush was standing with his back to the room, gazing out of the window at the growing dusk.

  The growing darkness at the early hour marked the return of longer nights, rain, and snow for much of the state. Higher levels filled with returning snowstorms. It was said that every week brought an hour more of night and an hour less of daylight. Soon, there would be no more daylight in places.

  Quick came around the counter having spotted them.

  “Hey,” Micah said quietly.

  Wild paused the game and turned toward him. Storm and Frost hovered in the background.

  “Hey there,” Seth said, hurrying to Micah’s side to help. Micah shook his head.

  “I’m okay. No more dizziness.”

  Alex kept his mouth shut and watched for signs. He still stung too much from this latest escapade to believe Micah right now.

  Seth nodded and stepped back, dropping his hands and shoving them into his pockets. Both Allison and Rush hovered behind Seth.

  After a moment, Alex stepped around them all and headed to the bar where he filled a small glass with a shot of bourbon and downed it. Welcoming the burn, he poured another shot and took a slower swallow.

  Frost slanted him a curious look, but Alex just took another sip of his liquor and took up a spot against the wall, holding the half empty glass. The rest of the team waited.

  Quick leaned against a pillar that stood near one of the couches. The man was handsome in a dark-haired, rugged way with dark scruff running along a firm jaw. Quick was about as tall as he was and clearly took care of himself if the state of his body was any indication. Muscles bunched and corded when Quick crossed his arms against his chest. Light green eyes assessed the team and then caught and held his own gaze across the distance. They both had a stake in this, Quick’s eyes seem to say. They both cared about Micah.

  Alex narrowed his eyes. It was clear the pair went back a long way and Alex had to wonder why Micah hadn’t ever told him about Quick. Just one more secret in a long list of secrets.

  “You want to tell them, Lash?” Quick asked.

  “Yeah. There’s another site. They torched the main house before they left. We don’t know if there are any survivors.”

  “Location?” Storm frowned.

  “It’s in the wilds just north of here. I took a look at the maps you brought with you.” Quick gestured to the table. “I spotted the location and called in a favor three days ago to have it looked at.”

  “How long will it take to get there?” Allison asked, sliding from one of the bar stools.

  “Since the snow fell, you’ll need to go by SUV, snow mobile, and then hike in. Take about a week.”

  “How did your man get there?” Alex frowned at Quick.

  “He helicoptered in with a friend. Did a flyby. Was shot at. Like I told Lash, I alerted the authorities, but they can’t get in there due to the storm that rolled in.”

  “What about the perps, did they have a helicopter?” He frowned.

  “No, he saw ATVs. But due to the storm, they’ll be walking out of there now.”

  “Did he get a head count?”

  “More than ten, less than twenty,” Quick responded. “Those were his words.”

  “Fucking snow,” Storm grumbled, gazing out the window.

  “It’s been dumping nonstop for three days,” Quick told Micah.

  Micah glanced out the window. Snow wasn’t uncommon this far north, but three days of it had pretty much socked them in.

  “Traveling through this amount of snow,” Quick began, “it’ll take you six or seven days to get there.”

  “If your man saw them leave three days ago, the perps could be on their way out of there while we are going in,” Seth said.

  “I suspect you’ll encounter resistance if your paths cross,” Quick agreed.

  “Fine by me,” Storm growled.

  “How far can we take a vehicle?” Allison asked.

  Quick walked over to the map resting on the large dining table off to the side of the common room. Everyone converged on the map, gathering around the table. Alex took up a spot behind them. With his height, he could see the map perfectly.

  Quick pointed to a spot on the ma
p. “You can take the two SUVs in the garage, each trailer can hold four snowmobiles.” Quick moved his finger along a drawn line. “Take this road from here to here. You can unload and take the snowmobiles farther.” His finger tapped on a spot on the map. “There’s a lodge here. I’d suggest getting warmed up, spend the night there before heading out. The lodge owner has gas for sale and a few more snowmobiles if you need them.”

  “What about your man, will he guide us?” Micah asked.

  “No.” Quick shook his head. “He’s a local trapper doing me a favor. He’s already gone home to his family.”

  “Okay.” Micah nodded.

  Quick pulled out his phone and check it. “If you want to wait it out, the weather app says it’s going to snow for the next eight days.”

  “We can’t wait that long,” Micah said.

  “We’re not waiting,” Alex assured Micah, and the man flicked those brown eyes up at him. Eyes filled with so much emotion, like a sort of softness and fierceness all rolled up together. Alex had to look away.

  Quick continued. “About five miles from the lodge, the mountains get steep and you’ll need to ditch the snowmobiles and go on foot. You’re going to need supplies to sleep in the elements.”

  He cleared his throat. “Where can we get supplies?”

  “There’s an all-purpose store that opens at eight in the morning. They’ll have everything you need.”

  None of them took any of the rooms for sleeping except Micah. As if by silent consensus, it was just a matter of spreading out pillows, a few sleeping bags, and the owner even had a couple of air mattresses. Alex took up a spot in one of the large couches and stared out the window. He rubbed at his chest. This could very well be it. This could be where they found the remains of Caleb.

  “Hey.” Micah’s soft voice flowed over him. Alex glanced up with surprise that Micah wasn’t curled up in the bed. The man gestured to him and Alex lifted his arm. He could no more refuse Micah than he could stop breathing.

  Micah slipped in next to him and leaned against him, tucking his head into the crook of his neck and shoulder. Pulling the blanket from the back of the couch, Alex wrapped and covered them both. It was almost like old times, and if he partially closed his eyes, he could imagine Micah hadn’t walked away. He tipped his head back and looked up at the ceiling.

  It was going to be a long night.

  Alex

  It took a few days to get everything together and arrange for snowmobile rentals and buy equipment.

  Roscoe, along with Mac, flew into the airport the next day. Wild approached Roscoe with Storm on his heels. Wild slipped his arms around Roscoe, who hugged the man tightly.

  “How are the kids?” Wild murmured.

  Roscoe smiled down into Wild’s face and then held Storm’s gaze. “They are fine, missing you both very much.”

  The hunt for the trafficking site took them into the Alaskan mountains north of Fairbanks. They started the drive up the mountain and Mac swore them all in as US Marshals for the duration of the assignment in Alaska.

  Once they reached the place to unload the snowmobiles, they rode up in pairs until they reached a lodge. The place was small and quaint and barely fit them all, but the owner was thrilled to have the lodge full for the night.

  “Welcome, I heard a big group was coming on in,” the grizzled old man said, making his way deeper into the lodge with the aid of a cane while the unit followed.

  “Chili and cornbread are ready.” The man waived them all toward the table.

  Early the next morning, Alex, along with the rest of Phoenix, pulled on backpacks, doubled up, and mounted on snowmobiles. They followed the trail on the map that Quick had drawn.

  Bitter wind and snow slapped at his face and he was glad for the tightly cinched hood, weather-proof face mask, and goggles for protection against the elements. He twisted the throttle on the snowmobile and took them up and over a small rise in the snow.

  Micah huddled against his back with his arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Micah was dressed similar to him. With the hood and face mask keeping his newly shorn head from freezing, Alex thought the new look was hot as hell. It accentuated Micah’s eyes and full lips and gave the hunter a sexy look.

  They reached the five mile point where the snowmobiles could no longer climb the terrain. From there, they hefted heavy packs and hiked on foot. Food and extra gear, along with essentials, were placed on a pulk sled to drag behind them. They took turns wearing the harness.

  The storm crept up on them quickly and he found himself suddenly unable to see the trail before him.

  “We might need to backtrack,” Roscoe said.

  “How close are we?” Allison said.

  “Another six days or longer,” he responded.

  “That’s five hours a day,” Micah estimated.

  “If nothing slows us down.” He glanced around but it was becoming more difficult to see in the blowing snow. “Right now, though, I say we backtrack and set up a camp on that flat portion surrounded by trees that we crossed ten minutes ago,” he said to Roscoe. The lieutenant nodded.

  “Wait? What’s that noise?” Reggie asked, stepping closer to the bigger men.

  “It’s dogs,” Noah said.

  Sure enough, the dogs barking came closer.

  “Or wolves,” Reggie said, gazing wide-eyed toward the sound.

  Simultaneously, several of Phoenix pulled their weapons.

  A few moments later, a sled pulled by several large, beautiful huskies came into view carrying three men.

  Alex recognized the familiar form of Micah’s friend Quick.

  “What are you doing here?” Micah stepped toward Quick and grasped the man’s hand.

  “I brought you someone you know,” Quick said.

  Alex grinned when Wolf lifted gear from the sled and walked toward them. The man wore all black with a hood that covered his face. The only thing showing was his eyes. He looked like a ninja warrior wearing a special kind of dark tactical gear. Behind Wolf, the driver of the sled waited. The man shushed the dogs and they settled down.

  Alex stepped forward and gave Wolf a brief handshake.

  “I have a message for Roscoe Burns,” Wolf told him, and Alex pointed to their lieutenant.

  “Stefano wants Reggie to stay in town. If you need backup, you can radio Reggie, who can in turn call Stefano in California,” Wolf told Roscoe.

  “Who are you?” Roscoe’s brow wrinkled.

  “This is Wolf,” Alex said.

  “A friend,” Wolf said.

  After a moment, Roscoe nodded. “Thank you, Wolf. All right, Reggie, you heard the man,” Roscoe said. The lieutenant handed one of the radios to Reggie.

  “I’m going in that?” Reggie, eyes wide, tucked the radio away.

  Wolf motioned to the man behind him. “He’ll get you back to the snowmobiles and safely to town.

  “Oh, cool.” Reggie slowly approached the sled.

  “Put your foot here and sit here,” the man said, and secured Reggie to the sled.

  After a grin and a wave, Reggie was whisked away into the night to the tune of barking dogs.

  “I chartered a plane in Fairbanks to take you all back to Anchorage when you’re through here,” he overheard Quick tell Micah.

  “Thank you,” Micah said.

  “Like I said, I owe you,” Quick told Micah with a sincerity that Alex didn’t doubt.

  “Besides, I was starting to worry when I saw you passed a perfectly good camping site. Damned tender foots running around all over the place.” Quick snorted.

  Micah shook his head. “Okay. Well, where to, Captain Cook?”

  “Who’s that?” Seth asked.

  “A famous Alaskan explorer,” he said, stepping over a large fallen tree.

  A few of the team chuckled and Alex found himself smirking. He dropped into step with Micah, keeping his eyes straight ahead even when he felt the man glance at him.

  They followed Quick a good ten minutes before
the man stopped. Quick lead them to solid ground and beneath a group of trees thick enough to form a thicket and keep most of the brutal wind at bay.

  “We’ll need to make up the time in the morning, but at least we’ll be somewhat dry tonight.” Quick pointed to the bundles of supplies.

  With so many of them, it took fifteen minutes to set up the camp and fix food. Wolf prowled the area and then stood silently guarding the main path into the small camp.

  Alex approached Wolf. The man stood like a silent sentinel, still fully geared the same as him, only Wolf held a semi-automatic weapon at the ready and had his mask pulled in place, covering his head and face.

  “I’m not surprised to see you here,” he told the warrior.

  “I didn’t think you would be.” Wolf glanced at him.

  Alex was reminded of the words Wolf had spoken during one of their many phone conversations after Caleb had been taken.

  “We’ll find him or die trying.”

  Well they weren’t dead yet.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” he said quietly.

  Wolf held his gaze. “Me too.”

  Micah

  Several days later, he realized how lofty his idea of hiking five hours a day had been. They were all experts, but the Alaskan terrain wasn’t something to treat lightly even fully geared for weather.

  “Why the fuck would they have a trafficking site out this far?” he’d groused, stomping in the snow.

  “Privacy. They fly in when the weather permits. There’s also access roads when it’s clear. A snow plow can get up here except during the worst of times. They can take dog sleds, so really, it’s not that remote,” Quick said.

  He gave Quick a dark look. “Unless you’re trying to come in undetected in the middle of a snow storm like we are.”

  “Well, yeah. There is that.” The man smiled and wandered off to the other side of camp. This one was bigger than the last, but still afforded them some protection.