by Adriana Noir
“Baas!”
Josh’s frantic shout echoed behind him.
“Jesus Baas! Put that fucking thing away! What the hell are you doing?”
“Shut up,” he snapped. His burning gaze never wavered from Marx’s face. “So help me God,” he growled, arm trembling, “if you hurt my family, today will be your last. Tell me you didn’t touch them, Marx.”
A brief bid of amusement flashed in the man’s eyes. “I’ll do no such thing. Go ahead, Baas. Pull the trigger.”
Sebastian stepped forward, his aim steady and a feral snarl curving his lips. “Do you think I won’t?” he asked softly.
“It would be foolish to try. I have snipers positioned all over these woods. You shoot, they shoot.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I? Take a look for yourself.”
A quick downward glance assured him Marx was right. Undaunted by the multitude of red dots speckling his chest, he took another step forward. A sharp crack ripped though the field, the retort as loud and sudden as thunder. He froze as a spray of dirt and rocks kicked up a mere inch from his feet.
“That was a warning shot,” Marx stated flatly. “The next one won’t miss.”
“Baas…come on,” Josh pleaded. The crunch of brittle grass and footfalls warned his partner was edging closer. “Don’t do this, buddy. It’s not worth it.”
“I think it is.”
“Your teammates and family would disagree,” Marx countered. “They would suffer dearly for your stupidity, and believe me when I say you would live long enough to witness every second. For their sake as well as your own, pull yourself together and get your fucking ass back in line.”
His finger twitched, tightening ever so slightly around the trigger.
“Baas! STOP!”
He felt a hand claw at his arm but before he could react, the butt of Josh’s gun slammed against his temple. The sickening crack boomed inside his skull and he staggered to the side, stumbling to catch his balance as an explosion of blinding white light detonated before his eyes. His body pitched. Catching himself with one hand did little to lessen the impact and Sebastian winced as his knee collided with the ground. Growling, he tried to shake the stars blurring his vision.
“I’m sorry,” Josh said, still standing over him. “But I can’t fucking let you do this. This isn’t just about you. It’s about everyone.”
He levered halfway to his feet then charged. Roaring, he speared his shoulder into his partner’s midsection. Josh hit the ground hard, the air leaving him in a pained grunt as Sebastian tumbled on top of him. The rest of the team descended in a flurry of black. Hands and fingers bit deep into his arms, fighting to pull him away. A sick sense of satisfaction flooded him as he managed to land at least one good punch before he was wrested off his partner and flung onto his back.
“You have lost your fucking mind!” Josh screamed, furiously batting at the hands attempting to steady him and pull him to his feet.
He pondered that for a moment. Maybe he had. It was a definite possibility given the circumstances lately. Not to mention the sheer terror of not knowing where his sister and Taylor were. His expression hardened. Glaring at his partner, his eyes narrowed. Maybe the real question here was how Josh could remain so calm. Was Monique’s safety not a valid concern in his eyes or did the man know something he didn’t? Frowning, Sebastian smoothed his uniform and gear back into place. Either way, Josh’s reaction didn’t sit well with him. At all.
His partner’s blue eyes blazed with fury as he swiped the back of his hand over his mouth only to have it come back bloody.
“If you want to die, do it on your own damn time, Baas. Don’t drag the rest of us down with you.”
Still glowering, Josh spit a mouthful of blood onto the ground between them. Sebastian regarded it for a brief second, wanting to feel pity or remorse, but all he felt was disgust. When push came to shove, his partner was proving time and again that he would always take Marx’s side. His gaze darted to the director. It wasn’t surprising to find the bastard regarding their scuffle with a smug look of amusement riding his face. He knew all too well the problems and rifts he was causing.
Returning his gun to its holster, Sebastian whirled on their commander and leveled a finger at his chest.
“You better think long and hard about what you are doing,” he warned. “You can only push so far before people decide to start pushing back. I would lay down my life for these men, but if you ever go near my family again, I will end you, Marx. You and everything you stand for. That is a promise.”
A heavy pause hung between them. Marx’s smooth brown skin glistened beneath the late morning sun as he pursed his lips into a thoughtful moue and nodded. “You and what army, Sebastian? Save your fire for the field where it belongs. An animal can only lash out at its master so many times before it becomes obvious the thing is untamable and needs put down.”
“I’m not your fucking pet,” he growled through clenched teeth.
“And I’m not going to waste any more time. If you aren’t an asset to this organization, you are a liability. Make your decision, but choose wisely. One of those decisions comes at a hefty price. Not just to you, but to your team as well.”
He shifted in the indicated direction, not quite willing to let Marx out of his line of sight. Sure enough, both Vince and Wes sported a multitude of red beads. The latter of which shook so hard it made the loose jowls along his chin judder and sway. His attention flickered briefly to the rocky outcroppings and the woods beyond, searching for any signs of the snipers. Unable to spot them, and not seeing any other choice, Sebastian bit back his anger and rejoined his men. He couldn’t risk offing the only person who might know were Taylor or his sister were located if they had been taken and, fortunately for his men, he needed every ounce of manpower he could get.
Content with his decision, Marx rattled off the two teams. Much as he suspected, the director pitted him and his usual men against Bradley and the fresh batch of recruits. It was a battle of new versus old in a test of skill and ability to please.
Like obedient fucking show dogs.
One thing remained in his favor. Bradley was sporting a row of cracked ribs, though it was almost certain Marx had the medical team give him something to take off the edge. The moment they were given the go ahead, he steeled his jaw and stormed toward the edge of the woods and the rocky outcropping to the right. He didn’t bother looking to see what direction Bradley and his team took. If the man was smart, he’d hightail it to the other side of the woods and get as far away from them as he could get. It didn’t take long for Josh to catch up to him and he stiffened in anger listening to the labored sounds of his partner’s breath.
“You want to wait for the rest of us or are you just going to charge full steam ahead and call the shots for everybody here too? You know, the next time to decide to go off all crazed and hammer cocked a little heads up would be nice.”
“I could have had him.”
Josh responded with a crazed laugh. “No, Baas, you couldn’t. God forbid you had and those snipers had taken all of us out. I don’t know what it is you’re hoping to accomplish, but you need to get your damn head on straight, pal.”
He came to an abrupt halt. Jackson stumbled with a curse behind him, almost tripping with his frantic efforts not to collide with Sebastian’s back. Craning his head to the side, he flung his arms up in the air and stared at his partner.
“Maybe you don’t understand what’s going on here. That sick fuck could have my sister locked up again. Or Taylor—or Aiden or Mia. Doesn’t that matter to you?” he asked, his voice cracking with disbelief.
“Of course it does,” Josh exclaimed. “But killing him isn’t going to fix anything! They’d still be out there, God knows where. How would we find them then, Baas?”
He had no answer for that. It was just another agonizing roadblock and a sickening reason to keep the demented bastard alive.
“Yeah,” Josh muttered. “
That’s what I thought. You know we’re going to come out of this on top. We’re gonna kick ass and get things done just like we always do. We have nothing to worry about.”
Gritting his teeth, he shouldered past his partner with a disgusted shake of his head. “Hold on to that confidence. It will be a great consolation prize if someone we care about ends up dead.”
Whatever begrudging response Josh muttered was lost beneath the squad’s footfalls and the crunching of dry grass, twigs, and leaves. Ignoring him, Sebastian led the team up the wooded slope in search of a higher vantage point where they would have a better view of the land and any potential movement below. They weren’t half way up the rocky forest terrain when Jackson fell into a tentative pace beside him. Glancing over at the young man, he switched off his headset. The rookie agent took his lead and did the same before aiming a cautious look his way.
“I’m sorry to bother you, sir, it’s just…this thing…what happened back there…”
“Yes?”
“He can’t be serious. I mean, he can’t really do this shit and get away with it, right?”
Sebastian snorted beneath his breath. “He thinks he can, Agent Lane. That’s what matters.”
“For what it’s worth, I appreciate what you did.”
“You mean potentially getting you killed?” he asked with a heavy twinge of sarcasm.
The young man laughed and wiped away the thin rivulets of sweat starting to run down his face. “No, sir. Not that part, but for sticking up for us and trying to do what’s right. I know I signed up for some ethically debatable shit, but whatever it is we’ve been doing lately—this isn’t it.”
Keeping pace, he raised an eyebrow but nodded. It was best not to respond or encourage that kind of resistance, but it did give him hope. Though small, he had a group of men banding together behind him who might be willing to stand up and fight should push continue to mount to shove. He kept his focus rooted on the rocky terrain, scanning the trees and cliff for movement or potential hiding places. All that mattered was finding whoever was in those woods and getting the hell out.
The air above them shifted, and Sebastian faltered upon feeling the faint quiver in the ground beneath his feet. It was low, but he could hear the low, guttural sound of an engine and the rhythmic chop of helicopter blades sluicing the air. Josh came to a stop behind him and the rest of the group fell short. Squinting, he shielded his eyes and scanned the sky.
“Do you think Marx is bringing more teams in?” Jackson asked.
He frowned, briefly wondering if that was the case. The remaining men were too new and inexperienced. They wouldn’t be ready for this kind of exercise. Then again, when it came to business ethics lately, he and Marx rarely saw eye-to-eye. He tensed, his body bracing as the chopper drew closer. Something was off. The color was right, but it was flying too low, swooping low enough to whip the grass and trees beneath into a frenzy. Before he had time to react, it veered in their direction and opened fire.
Bullets peppered the ground around them. Chunks of rock and debris kicked up from the ground and surrounding trees. Shouting erupted among the men and his teammates scattered in a frantic dive for cover. Disbelief crashed through him followed by outright panic.
He bolted up the hill, his thighs burning from the sharp incline, with Josh hot on the trail behind him. The helicopter veered lower, firing off a rapid volley as it swept past. Darting in between trees, Sebastian managed to avoid most of the fiery hail. One bullet rocked the gear strapped to his back. Another caught the heel of his boot. Wide-eyed, he braced his back against a thick trunk, his heart damn near exploding in his chest. Still heaving for breath, he glanced to his left. Josh’s eyes met his, his expression every bit as wild and bewildered.
He watched in horror as the black bird of death swung right, circling back their way. Levering off the tree, he shouted an order to scatter. Another heavy surge of gunfire bore down around them, drowning out his voice. Uncertain of the terrain above, he scrambled back down the hill, trying to stay beneath the dense canopy of pines. He lost traction several times but managed to keep himself mostly upright by skidding on the braced palms of his hands. Wincing, he tried to ignore the sting of rocks and sticks as they scraped his flesh away.
Dirt and pebbles blasted upward in an airborne spray. Debris pelted his skin and hit his eyes, blinding him while another round of bullets hit too close for comfort. Thrashing his head, he squinted against the sting in an attempt to see. His panic rose as he heard some of his men screaming nearby.
The thumping whir of the blades grew fainter, signaling retreat. Hauling himself upright, he pushed to unsteady feet and blinked against the settling haze. His gaze darted wildly around him, searching for any sign of Josh. Much to his relief he found his partner flattened against the ground nearby, his body still prone and shaking behind the wide shield of a rock.
“What the fuck was that?” Josh asked, his voice bordering on a scream.
“I don’t know,” he said, wiping his face onto his upper arm and sleeve. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I think so. You?”
“I’ll be fine.”
Marx’s voice broke over his partner’s radio, demanding their position. Sebastian cursed, remembering he had shut his off shortly after the teams had split. His hands still shook with a heavy aftershock of adrenaline as he fumbled for the switch.
“This is Alpha.”
Marx didn’t bother asking for a report or a rundown on their wounded or dead. His next order was crisp and clear.
“You and Reevers round up the men. We are more than done here.”
~*~*~*~
No amount of booze could drive the weariness or fear from his battered system. Gripping the cup between heavily bandaged hands, Sebastian downed the rest of his whiskey and shoved the tumbler away. They’d lost six men in that operation. Six good men whose lives and dedication they could never get back. The ride back to headquarters had been bitter and silent. More than once, he found himself uneasily scanning the skies, worrying that their friends would be back to finish the job and shoot them out of the air.
Marx, too, kept his focus elsewhere. His broad features remained unmoving and stoic, giving nothing away. If the loss of his men hit their commander or impacted him in any way, he didn’t let it show. In fact, the rigid set of his jaw and occasional blink was the only indication the man was still alive.
Everyone took separate paths upon arriving at headquarters. A vast majority of the men sought medical attention. Others retreated to reflect or mourn in whatever scant place of privacy and seclusion they could find. After they’d both been bandaged and Josh’s shoulder had been set back into place, his partner had followed him into his office. He remained seated across from Sebastian, his expression lined with worry and exhaustion, but it was the look lurking beneath the surface of those steely blue eyes that lent him pause.
After downing the rest of his drink, Josh turned his attention to his glass and ran a tremulous finger over the rim. “I heard the talk you guys had earlier, Baas. I won’t ask about Marx, but I need you to tell me you had nothing to do with this.”
He tilted his head, his piercing stare locking on his partner. “I assure you I did no such thing. Why would I put my life or the lives of my men at risk?”
“Because you want him out of the picture, Sebastian. Today was a pretty damn clear indication of that.”
“Look at what he is doing, Josh. Consider, just for one minute, the direction our operations are taking. Not to mention the numerous threats he’s made against Taylor. I can’t afford to take a backseat attitude here. As much as I may want to, the man in me refuses to be blasé and shrug it all off as if it’s nothing.”
Josh sighed, his expression shifting from one of accusation to deep reflection. He dwelled in his thoughts for several more minutes before responding. “I understand, but he senses you pulling back again and he doesn’t like it, Sebastian. He doesn’t like it one bit. This isn’t just about you. At t
he very least, you have Taylor and your sister to consider. Look at what happened the last time he felt you resisting. Your nephew and your brother are already dead. There’s no coming back from that, Baas.”
“I am aware of that.”
“Are you? Are you also aware of the fact that I’ll be damned before I let you throw your sister or my son under that fucking bus?”
Sebastian’s shoulders jerked with a humorless laugh. “You just don’t get it, do you?” he asked, dropping against the back of his chair. “Why do you think I have been pulling away and distancing myself from you? He’s already locked Taylor in his sights. Marx wants her gone, and no matter what I do, he won’t stop there. Eventually, he will go after Monique, Aiden, you… He will keep going until there is nothing left that matters to me. When he’s done, and there is nothing else left for him to possibly strip away, he will move on to the next guy and he will start the same cycle all over again. He’s overstepping boundaries. Not just with us, but with innocent civilians. Before we know it, the entire world will be fucked, Josh, all because we stood by and let it happen.”
He tensed as his partner sprung to his feet and levered a shaking finger in his direction. “Fuck you, Baas. You are out of your fucking mind.”
“I do my job, Josh. I’ve always done my job. What purpose does taking everything else away serve? Marx is the one who’s lost his mind. He’s riding some sick power trip, and he is going to take us all down with him. What do you think today was really about? He’s turning things around from the inside and other agencies are already sitting up and taking notice. This is our future now unless we stop him. Dominic, Laychee, that whole thing was a set-up. He’s planning a takeover and he is using my men to do it.”
“You have completely lost your shit! Are you even hearing the things coming out of your mouth right now?”
He sighed and averted his attention to the window, focusing his stare on the landscape outside. It was easier than seeing the terror and pain in his partner’s eyes.
