The guys share a couple of common traits. They are all large and buff like they work out a lot, they are all good looking in their own way, and they all have the credentials to back up being able to work for an organization like Undercover Elite. I know enough to know that these guys are mercenaries. Their motto is, When no one else wants the job, we dare to get the job done.
I can’t help but wonder how my sister met these guys. They are elite in every sense of the word. It’s clear they don’t let just anyone into their inner circle.
I click on the contact button before I can change my mind and write out an e-mail to Cash:
My name is Rhonda Bayne and I believe you have ties to my little sister, Johnnie Bayne.
My husband’s name is Steven Taggart and he is involved in organized crime. He faked my death four years ago and I am now being held against my will, along with my four year old daughter.
I believe our lives are in danger. My husband lost a large amount of drugs he was transporting for the Colombian Cartel. They have given him three days to come up with their money or they are going to take matters into their own hands. I fear my daughter and I getting caught in the crossfire.
I leave the address to where I’m being held against my will and hit send before I can change my mind. I then grab the burner phone in my office drawer and call the number listed to leave the same message. Now, all I can do is wait. This guy, Cash, will do one of two things: help me, or write me off as a crazy person…
Chapter Twenty Four
Cash
I sit and twirl a pen between my fingers as I listen to what the nurse on duty has to say about Rhonda’s case.
“I never trusted that guy. Call it female intuition, or whatever you want, but there was more to that girl’s death than suicide.”
I know when to just listen. I don’t want to goad her into telling me what I want to hear so I continue listening, mostly silent but asking questions intermittently when appropriate. I want to be able to tell the woman I love that her sister is alive but I need proof. It’s a matter of asking the right questions.
“What do you mean? What did you feel uneasy about?” I ask her.
“Well, he never would, or I should say, could give valid proof of the dead woman’s identity. I even went so far as to get a DNA sample and send it off to a cop I was dating but they can’t really identify someone who isn’t already in their system.”
“Did you ever come right out and ask Steven?”
“Anytime I asked for any kind of verification, he avoided the question with responses like, ‘I think I know who my wife is’ or ‘I, of all people, would know her identity.’ He had this way of talking down to you to make you shut up. It’s like he would purposely embarrass you and make you feel like you were crazy for even thinking it, much less having the audacity to ask. I recognize it because doctors do it to us all the time. It’s their way of maintaining control and protecting their egos. That’s another thing… that guy was egotistical. I never did like him and I most certainly didn’t trust him. She died the next day and he had the body cremated. I came into work and the woman was gone. After that, I was forced to just let it go and hope my gut feeling was wrong.”
I leave my name and number with the nurse and thank the woman for her help. She’s confirming what I believe to be true but I still have no proof.
I open up the browser to check my e-mails but feel my phone vibrate at the same time so I grab it first. It’s a voicemail and the message I hear shocks me. It may be the proof I’ve been waiting for. If Johnnie recognizes the voice on the other end of that line, then I will have everything I need to go and rescue her sister.
Now there’s a sense of urgency to this case—a four year old little girl urgency. I can’t help but also feel a slight panic at the thought of putting Johnnie in a situation where she might revert deeper into herself. I’m walking a tightrope right now and I’m feeling it even more so than usual because my own emotions are involved. I breathe in deeply to prepare myself and reach over to push the button on the intercom, calling her into my office. This is something I have to do. I will never forgive myself if I knew I had the chance to rescue them and I didn’t do everything in my power to see them safe. Johnnie won’t forgive me either. After all I have been through to get her, there is no way in hell I am going to let a situation like this build resentment between us. If I can’t save Johnnie’s sister, I stand a chance of losing her. There is no way I am going to allow that to happen after all I have been through to ease my way into her life.
Johnnie isn’t the typical woman. I know I’m dealing with deeper issues when it comes to her. I’m walking a fine line, a razor’s edge I’m willing to walk for her and only her. It’s the first time in my life that I’m willingly going through issues with a woman. Before her, I would have considered the RAD unnecessary drama that I didn’t have time for. It’s odd because when it comes to her, it isn’t an inconvenience or a hassle. It’s just a mere bump in the road that I am more than willing to navigate.
Johnnie
I bounce down the hallway and make my way into the office. The look on Cash’s face immediately lets me know that something is up.
“I need you to listen to something and tell me if you recognize this voice.”
I watch as he pushes an app on his phone and my mouth falls open in astonishment as I listen.
My name is Rhonda Bayne and I believe you have ties to my little sister, Johnnie Bayne.
My husband’s name is Steven Taggart and he is involved in organized crime. He faked my death four years ago and I am now being held against my will, along with my four year old daughter.
I believe our lives are in danger. My husband lost a large amount of drugs he was transporting for the Colombian Cartel. They have given him three days to come up with their money or they are going to take matters into their own hands.
“I have a niece? That’s Rhonda’s voice!”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive! I would know her voice anywhere.”
“Well, young lady, it looks like we’re going on a job tonight and we’ll need all the guys to do it.”
“That’s what he has been using against her to make her stay. The sick bastard has been using their daughter as leverage. If I know my sister the way I think I do, she threatened to leave and he wouldn’t let her. Once he stole her identity by staging her death, it just made things more complicated for her.”
Suddenly, I start to panic, “Oh my God, she could be killed by the fucking gangsters he ripped off. I can’t lose her again. I just can’t.”
Cash pulls me into his arms and rubs his fingers lightly over my back as he speaks. “I will do everything I can to return them to you safely. You couldn’t have a better team of men working to get that girl out of there. I need you to keep your head together, girl. Do you want to just let us go on this job?”
“No, I want to go.”
“Then you’re going to have to turn your emotions off and do this like it’s any other job. Can you do that?”
“I can do whatever I need to do to rescue my sister and niece.”
Rhonda
I purposely go to bed earlier than usual to try and avoid my husband. It isn’t like he would be home anytime soon anyway. I’m certain he has a mistress and, some nights, he doesn’t even bother coming home. Judging by the way he is always dressed in a fresh suit the next day, he must be keeping clothes at her place. He is probably keeping the bitch up in an apartment somewhere, paying her bills, paying for her groceries, and buying her clothes and make-up. I am sure if she exists, like I suspect she does, she is driving around in one of his luxury cars too.
“Mommy, can I sleep in here?”
I look up to see my little angel, rubbing her eyes, dressed in a nightgown, and holding her favorite doll. She is so innocent, so precious, and she deserves more than all of this. Steven hates it when she sleeps with us but I really don’t give a shit what he likes or dislikes.
“I would love n
othing more than to have you sleep with me.” Her smile lights up the darkened room and I hold her as we both drift off to sleep.
Johnnie
I sit in Cash’s office with six guys, some of whom I’m meeting for the first time. I push away feelings of doubt, worrying about whether or not they’ll reject the idea of me being on the team. Cash’s voice ends the uncomfortable silence as he makes introductions.
“This is Thorn. We call him that because he’s a prickly motherfucker. I guess you could say he’s a little rough around the edges. He has offended clients and criminals on more than one occasion. He’s loyal, a badass, and there’s nobody I’d rather have on my side or in my corner when the chips are down.
I reach my hand out to shake his as he blatantly studies me with his hazel eyes. “Can you carry your weight, girl?”
“I’m committed to this team. I probably think more like a man than you do. I’ll damn sure pull my weight and if there’s a burning building, I’ll pull yours too when I drag your ass out.”
“Huh,” he grunts. “I like her, Cash. It’s a good thing you got to her first or I’d be trying to fuck her.”
“Well, I did and you’re not,” Cash scowls and continues with the introductions. “You’ve already met our resident prankster, Hunter. This is Harley and his name says it all. The guy has major connections with the biggest motorcycle club in the region, Dauntless MC.”
I look up to view a guy with shoulder length, blonde hair, a mustache, and whiskey colored brown eyes. He is burly but it’s evident it is all muscle. He pushes his hair out of eyes and ogles me. “You can ride on the back of my bike anytime.”
“Sorry,” I shrug, “but I work for my man. He’s my boss and he is crazy jealous or I’d take you up on it.” I wink at him and the group bursts out laughing, including Cash.
“This is Axle and we call him that because he can take a car apart and put it back together again. He’s a little shy but he’s a damn good shot and one hell of a fighter.”
Axle wipes his hands on a rag he’s still holding from when he’d been doing exactly that—working on one of the cars with the lights out on it. Cash had a massive garage set up just for him. I know he would rather be under a hood than anywhere else, especially a meeting full of people. He has short, cropped hair, cut military style, and eyes that look like they could change from green to blue depending on his mood. He looks at me shyly and holds his hand out, “Sorry ‘bout the grease, ma’am.”
I shake his hand, smiling as I say, “I don’t mind it. I may need you working on that Hummer of mine if that son of a bitch who’s got my sister did anything to it to purposely fuck it up.” I hear Cash’s raspy voice behind me, “Fucking better not have.”
He continues speaking as he introduces one more of the guys. “This is Sniper. His name says it all. I look up to see a very serious faced man with reddish brown hair and bright green eyes. I can tell by looking at him that he is the type who would have no problem taking the kill shot.
I feel good about meeting the guys and getting that out of the way. It has been weighing kind of heavy on me and I’ve been wondering just how they would feel about having a woman on board. I know they discussed it at length but discussing it and doing it are two very different things. It has gone well so far and I am happy for that.
Cash goes over the plans for getting into Steven’s estate. Hunter has been able to get the blueprints for the man’s home and I am impressed. It is clear that this is a professional team who knows how to get the job done. I am lucky to be a part of it and I have every intention of proving myself worthy. The last thing I want is for them to have any regrets about bringing me on board.
Chapter Twenty Five
Rhonda
“Where is your thief of a husband?”
I hear his voice right before I feel the cold steel barrel of his gun pressing against my temple. My head is lying to the side on my pillow and I lift my eyes to look into the face of the man who now holds my life in his hands. He is Colombian and his face has the scars and pockmarks of someone who had borne the curse of terrible acne in his adolescent years. His eyes are cold, black orbs and the serious look on his face lets me know that he would have no problem pulling that trigger.
“He has a mistress. He didn’t come home last night.”
“Is that his kid?” he asks, nodding his head in Talia’s direction.
“It’s my kid. Fuck him. I don’t care if you blow his fucking brains out but please don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything.”
A very sinister smile comes over his countenance. “Get up, get some clothes on, and, lady, if you try anything, I can promise you that it will be a blood bath up in this motherfucker.”
I very cautiously get out of the bed and do exactly what he commands me to do. I make my way over to gently pick up my daughter, making sure to bring her blankie and the doll she brought to bed with her last night.
He doesn’t need to force me down the stairs and into the foyer; the gun in my back is doing a fine job of ensuring my compliance. I swear to myself that if I make it out of this predicament alive, I am getting away from Steven and starting a new life for my daughter and myself.
I am led out to a black car and placed in the backseat with the man who is still holding a gun on me. I assume he’s just waiting for me to make a wrong move and he’ll happily blow my brains out.
“You don’t need to hold a gun on me,” I whisper in his direction.”
“Mommy, where are we going?”
I am relieved when he places the gun down beside his leg so my daughter can’t see it.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Go back to sleep.” The only thing I care about right now is my daughter getting out of this without being traumatized. I hate my husband for putting us in this situation and I hate myself for allowing it.
Cash
The ride over is quiet. I just want to get this job finished safely. There are two variables I’m not used to dealing with and it’s making this job weigh heavily on me. The job I do isn’t one where you want your emotions engaged and the fact that this is Johnnie’s sister and the fact that there is a child involved are both making me more impassioned than I should be about this case.
We park on a part of the estate that hides our vehicles. I take one last look at my partner and the woman I love and we all exit our vehicles. Each team member has one goal and that is to get that girl and her kid out safely.
We ease through trees and brush, making our way up to the wall around the estate. Walking along the bricked walls, we tread quietly up the door. My heart sinks when I see the door is cracked and has been left open. It can only mean one of two things. Either Steven Taggart is waiting for us or someone has already been here.
We enter the house to see Steven Taggart sitting on the floor and looking like he is in shock. As if he knows why we are there, he begins speaking.
“They took them—my wife and daughter.”
Johnnie lunges at him, hitting him in the face. I watch, completely shocked, as he does nothing to defend himself. I am prepared to kick his ass if he raises so much as a finger in her direction, but I don’t need to. The guy is clearly in shock over his wife and daughter being taken by the Colombian Cartel, as well he should be.
“Where are they, you bastard?” Her screams ring through the air.
I reach down and grab her, pulling her up with one hand. I watch as Thorn grabs her from me and takes her outside, kicking and screaming, so I can get some answers. The team and I work well enough together that many times words aren’t needed. He knew to get her out of there so I could ask the questions that need to be asked.
“The Colombians got her,” Steven repeats once again, as if he hadn’t already said that. He just sits there and stares off into space like he’s hypnotized. I know from my training and previous experience that he’s in shock. I have no problem beating the shit out of him to pull him out of it if need be, but he continues talking.
“The Colombians got her,” he re
peats again. He isn’t going to be much help in the condition he is in right now.
I grab a burner phone I brought with me and dial the one person I know can get that girl and kid back alive, Antonio Wayne Ramirez. Antonio knows everyone affiliated with the Colombian drug cartel. He and his brother have ties that go into the deepest, darkest recesses of that depraved world. The brothers are the only two people that I know who have connections to go that deeply into the cartel’s workings and they are the only two I need to know. The two brothers’ connections stretch around the globe and they have a reputation for being ruthless. There are very few people brave enough, or stupid enough, to cross them and those who do, don’t live long enough to brag about it.
I make my way around the corner, so I can’t be overheard, and leave Hunter and Axle with guns on our mark. He isn’t going anywhere in the condition he’s in right now anyway.
“Antonio, I have got a major fucking problem. I got a guy who lost a shipment of drugs and the Colombians have taken his wife and kid. I have no idea which group did this. I’ve got her husband sitting here but he’s out of it.”
“Put the phone up next to his ear.” I put it on speaker rather than placing it next to Steven’s ear. I want the team to hear what he is saying.
“You want your wife and kid back, then give me a name.”
“Jaime Santiago,” is all Steven Taggart mutters into the phone. I put the phone back up to my ear and go around the corner again for privacy’s sake. I don’t want Steven to hear what is going on. Regardless of his state of mind, I have no intention of underestimating my opponent.
“You are well aware why I’m doing this. I don’t fucking like drugs and, come to think of it, I don’t like Jaime Santiago either.” Antonio growls into the phone.
I knew exactly what Antonio Wayne would do when I called him because he is one of my contacts. He and his brother, Ricardo, are big into Antonio bringing women over from Colombia to work in his strip joint. Ricardo holds all the political connections they need and Antonio holds all the street connections in the states and abroad. People are scared of the brothers and rightfully so. They have a reputation for being brutal. In my line of work, I need all kinds of connections and they aren’t always law-abiding citizens.
Shattered Pieces (Undercover Elite Book 1) Page 11
