“Only for as long as we are there, which won’t be long,” he informed. “He needs to stay there when we leave. Can you do that? Just a few more days?”
Tear streamed her cheeks as she nodded – she was going to see her son.
“Let’s get ready,” Declan said.
Declan’s team had been briefed and were ready. Those posted around McKenzie held their positions, while a mobile team came in to escort Declan and Lydia to Colton Sparks’ house where the group of friends were headed, based on feedback from the guys in the field.
Three dark SUVs pulled in front of the cabin, ready to drive them in. Tom Boyd, Declan’s right hand, came in to announce they were ready. Liam was staying behind, watching from afar via satellite and security feeds he had hacked, ready to do whatever needed done from there.
The rest of the boys were going out ahead of them with a tactical team to secure the area they would be infiltrating. Declan trusted his team; his brothers did not and wanted to be certain they weren’t walking into a trap.
“You’re sure your internal leak doesn’t begin or end with your team?” Luke said, looking out the window to the SUVs, then directly at Tom Boyd who gave him a go to hell look. “Everyone’s clean?”
“I’ve been with those men for most of my career. Fought shoulder to shoulder – they’re like brothers, family,” Declan replied, earning an appreciative nod from Tom. “They’re clean, man.”
“Okay, if you say so.” Luke rebutted. “We’ve had eyes on these guys for months, watched their every move and yet didn’t see the gas leak that lead to the explosion. We would have seen it if it was Esteban’s doing. Just watch your back, man. We may have someone hiding right in front of us.”
Declan slapped and squeezed his brothers shoulder, appreciative of the concern. “Got it. You boys be safe out there; we’re coming in right behind you. Stay off the grid, and whatever you do, don’t let our sister see you. She’ll blow the whole deal with tears and shit.”
The brothers laughed, Wylie chiming in with his two cents, “Well, she will see you tonight – good luck with that. It’s been what…two, maybe three years since you’ve seen her? After the tears, prepare to get your ass kicked.”
“Let’s stay on task, here,” Dace interrupted. “Where’re we at, Liam? Clear to go?”
“Yep, I’m all set-up here and around town. We have eyes and ears on the ground and in the air. We’ll see him coming,” He assured.
“Chopper is on standby out at the old mill,” Luke added. “Came in stealth last night. I’ll be there with a team on standby in case he gets in the air. He won’t get away, not this time.”
“Sounds like we’re ready. Let’s go get this asshole,” Tom said.
Lydia was dressed in all black, as she was told, and had on her hiking boots. It felt like a movie, surreal, but it was her life right now. She was running on adrenaline and emotion – excited to see her son and scared something would go wrong, sad because this could be her last night with Declan.
Declan walked out onto the front porch to find her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. I just don’t want to put anyone at risk. Esteban always gets what he wants and stops at nothing to get it. We both know what that means now,” She said.
“Not this time, baby.” He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, trying to offer her comfort. “This time he loses.”
“Alright, O’Reilly,” Tom interrupted, joining them on the porch. “Let’s wrap up this love fest. Just got word that everyone has arrived at the house and should be getting briefed by Blake now. We have about twenty-five minutes to get over there and wait for the signal. First team is clearing the area now; second team should be done by the time we get to our location.”
“Signal?” Lydia asked.
“You’ll see it when we get there, darlin’,” Tom said to Lydia. “Let’s go. Mobile team is loaded and ready to escort us in.”
They loaded up in the SUVs and traveled only a handful of miles on mostly dirt roads through the trees. Not a house or person could be seen, they were the only ones out there. The two SUVs pulled into the brush on the side of the road and came to a stop where two armed men in some sort of military fatigues were waiting.
Quick to unload, the SUVs drove off, leaving them in the woods, alone in the near pitch-black night. There were several men with them, all carrying large rifle-like guns that Lydia couldn’t identify. They were all in dark military clothing, had paint on their faces; from what she could tell, they were all big and scary as hell.
“Where are we?” Lydia asked.
“We go in on foot from here Miss. Prescott,” Tom answered.
“On foot? In the dark? How are we…” Panic started to settle in. Lydia could barely see a foot in front of herself. How was she supposed to go traipsing through the woods, blinded by the darkness?
“Well, we can’t just drive up to the house in a bunch of cars and knock on the front door. The house is being watched,” Tom responded in a snarky tone.
Lydia didn’t like the sound of this. It had Esteban written all over it. “Watched? Oh, my God! Are we walking into a trap?”
“Dec, didn’t you brief her? Tell her what to expect? Geez, man,” Tom scolded because her insecurities were the only real threat right now.
“No, you’re safe. I would never put you in front of a gun like that, baby.”
Tom rolled his eyes and cut to the chase. The nurturing, I love you shit was getting annoying. “There are two houses just on the other side of these trees. They sit on a lake, we’ll get to that first. The furthest house is where the package is kept. The first house we come to is our target. We’ll get the signal – get in – get out – pick-up is in fifty-eight minutes now because we’re burning time right here.”
“Package?” she asked, not sure what he was talking about.
Declan took over, “Megan and Jax are the package. Our target is Colton’s house where everyone, including the package, is.”
Tom turned his head and held his hand over his ear, listening to the message coming through his radio earpiece. “We have confirmation of the package. We have eyes on all sides – let’s move in.”
“Wait!” Lydia protested, earning more groans from all of the men around her. “Don’t I need a flashlight?”
The men around her dropped large goggles over their eyes from their heads, including Declan.
A younger guy, with a big Cheshire cat smile and southern drawl spoke up, tapping his odd eyewear. “We’re your eyes, ma’am.”
“But it’s dark; I’ll get lost if I can’t see you.”
“See that light through the trees?” came the same soothing southern drawl, “Follow it – it’s your flashlight.”
“My flashlight,” she nodded.
“These will let us see what you can’t.” He tapped the goggles again. “We see ever’thang just fine. Now, you just hold onto your man’s belt, and don’t let go. We’ll be your eyes darlin’.”
Declan planted a kiss on her forehead, then grabbed her hand and placed it on the back of his belt and tugged, confirming her grip. “You have men all around you, even if you don’t see them. Just hold on. I’ve got you.”
Her demeanor changed as she looked around at the men surrounding her. Her slouching posture turned more rigid and upright, stronger and all business. She was ready.
The team began to move, spreading out as they did. Despite the amount of people crossing the forest floor, not a sound, not even a rustling bush, could be heard. It was almost eerie.
Only a few moments had passed when they arrived at the edge of the tree line where everything came into better view. Staying under the cloak of darkness, they waited for the sign she was told they would receive. It was odd – despite how dark it had been in the trees, it was well illuminated just beyond.
She could clearly see the lake reflecting the moonlight that guided her. The two houses were in plain sight, just beyond th
e lake’s beach. She could see to the far end, past where the second house sat, all the way to the opposite tree line. The sky was clear, boasting more stars than she had ever seen, which seemed so close she could almost touch them – it was beautiful.
This is where her family had been living. It was so not Trinity’s style of living, but perhaps it was Megan’s. If Lydia had changed through this circumstance, she was sure her sister had, too. If there was a man here that held her heart, perhaps this place felt like home. The small town living she had done had changed her, and she preferred it. If she had to guess, a beautiful town like McKenzie Ridge was a place her sister could love.
A light on the back of the house closest to them had gone out. That was Colton’s house – their target.
A whisper came from Tom as he placed his hand over his ear again, listening to the voices through the radio. “There’s our signal – waiting for the all clear.”
He stood, holding his hand in an odd gesture, obviously waiting for further instructions, communicating both through the radio and with hand signals. “Copy that. Front of the house is closed and lit – we’re a go.”
THEY LEFT ONE man at the trees’ edge, while the rest traced the property, moving quickly, hugging the tree line around until they reached an embankment the house sat on just above the lake’s beach. Another man stayed at that point, that was his post, apparently. It was becoming clear how this would work. They would leave men at each post to stand guard until it was time to leave.
Walking low and fast, they found the stairs that led up to the house, quickly moving across the lawn. A man remained at the bottom of the stairs, then one on the deck, sitting low, at the back door as Declan and Lydia went in with Tom Boyd, who remained in the background by the rear door they entered through.
Lydia squeezed Declan’s arm when she could hear the voices of those learning what was going down in their town. “I’m so nervous.”
Declan pulled her closer by her hand, kissing it before he said, “Don’t be – I’m right here with you the whole way.”
They walked through an open kitchen and dining room, stopping in an archway between that and the living room everyone was sitting in, talking. The room went silent, and Lydia stayed just behind Dec, standing in his shadow while nerves and emotions took over. Not only was she about to see her sister, and her son for the first time in so many months, but she was about to do it in front of a bunch of strangers.
Megan’s eyes grew huge at the sight of Declan. She clearly hadn’t been expecting him. She clung to Colton, searching for words – her mouth moving, but not a sound could be heard. A beautiful porcelain skinned woman with long copper hair and familiar emerald green eyes stood, moving swiftly toward Declan, sobs escaping her typically collected self.
“Declan Farrell O’Reilly!” she announced before wrapping her arms around him. He held her tight and folded into her. The emotion he felt could be seen by all when his large edgy demeanor shrunk to a soft teary-eyed man who had clearly missed his baby sister – Carigan O’Reilly – the baby sister Lydia had heard so much about.
Movement caught everyone’s attention as a nervous woman moved from behind him, stepping into to the light. She was petite and curvy, with chocolate brown hair, familiar golden eyes and a turned up nose.
“Oh, my God, Lydia!”
A quick reunion commenced full of hugs and handshaking. Declan said his hellos and Lydia said her nice to meet yous. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when Lydia sank to the floor in tears after being reunited with her son.
Lydia was so overjoyed, a feeling she had never experienced – it was almost painful. He had grown, obviously, but despite all of the changes, she still saw her baby boy. She had worried he wouldn’t remember her, but he did, and he clung to her. It was beautiful.
The children were eventually put to bed for the night so the grownups could continue the briefing of sorts and devise their plan. Lydia, however, held a sleeping Jax in her arms, unwilling to give up what little time she had with him.
Without a mention, it was clear to all just how significant this circumstance was if it pulled Declan and Lydia out of hiding. There was only one reason to do so, and that was to use them as bait. Dangling that carrot before the metaphoric rabbit meant the rabbit was indeed there to tease and trap.
In other words, it was time to pull Esteban out of hiding once and for all. It appeared he was right under their noses, and had been for a while. His men were playing with Megan, toying with her emotions for weeks to accomplish one of two things; one – get her to run and lead them to Lydia, or two – dispose of Megan and use Jax to pull Lydia out of hiding.
Declan and his team would do one better. Now that Esteban and his posse were in McKenzie Ridge, they would beat them at their own game and dangle Lydia in front of them to pull Esteban out of hiding. It was so simple and obvious that it was bound to work. They would be looking for hidden traps and complex plans so they wouldn’t realize the game was being played right back.
“So that’s the plan? Do nothing?” Carigan asked.
“We aren’t doing nothing; we’re provoking their next move,” Declan answered.
“Dec, that sounds like poking a bear for fun. If we aren’t ready for them to swing or don’t see it coming…” Colton’s concern was obvious and received plenty of nods from around the room.
“I get it, but we know he’s here or at least nearby, or his men wouldn’t be here, playing as they are, making themselves known to her. These aren’t just his minions. These are his closest, most trusted associates. They don’t go anywhere without him and vice versa,” he offered as peace of mind to the group. “The advantage we have is I’m here, my team is here, and we have eyes everywhere, and he doesn’t know that. We are either going to draw him out or wait for a mistake and let one of his goons lead us to him.”
“It’ll be okay, Colton. I trust Dec and his team. They got me and Jax out here safely, and he’s kept Lydee alive all of this time,” Megan said to Colton. “It’s almost over. I’m almost free. We’re almost free,” she said giving her sister a teary smile.
“Lydia and Declan will remain hidden; we aren’t showing Valdez our cards just yet. They will think we are when they follow you guys out of the area, see a few unidentified people in your cars. Change in activity and behavior will be their tip off, or so they’ll think,” Blake said to Colton and Megan. “Meanwhile, there will always be an agent nearby, watching both of you,”
“When any of you are together, there will be agents; just know that. Nobody gets hurt, no one. We’re taking this asshole down,” Declan assured.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll be spending a lot more time with you, Meg,” Morgan Jameson, Blake’s partner said. “If they’ve been watching, they know we’re friends, so it won’t seem out of place. The key here is to never finding yourself alone.”
Lydia watched her sister nod, so brave, accepting her new role that would bring the last year and handful of months to an end. She was looking forward to ridding her life of Esteban but feared the changes that would come in her relationship with Declan.
“Any questions?” Dec asked. “I need to get Lydia out of here before we start to look suspicious.”
“Yeah, how did they find me?” Megan questioned.
Declan smiled and gave a slight snort. “Facebook.”
“But I don’t have a Facebook account,” she defended.
“Your town does. It seems the town was quite impressed with the new florist in town. You’re evening tasting events were plastered on the tourism sites…and this big dance thing you’re organizing?” He questioned.
“The Gala… My wine tastings,” she whispered.
“McKenzie Ridge has become pretty tech savvy and caught up with social media—we found you everywhere,” he finished. “Seems you’ve really made your mark on this place.”
“She sure has,” Colton said, grabbing her hand.
“Oh, my God! What about the Gala?” Meg’s closest friend
in town, Sam Tayler questioned. “Do we cancel? Will it be safe?”
The room filled with emotional responses to Sam’s question. They had worked so hard, and this year was promising to be their best yet. The town relied on the seasonal event to raise funds and donations for underprivileged youth in the area. They provided gifts at Christmas, warm jackets in the winter, it was an important cause to each of them, one that even brought tourists back to enjoy every year.
“Business as usual. We send a huge message if we cancel. Esteban needs to think he has the upper hand, the element of surprise, here. We’ll have our people everywhere. Undercovers will be there as attendees – some will be placed as workers, and the place will be surrounded. He won’t be able to touch the place. We’ll stop him miles out in any direction,” Declan assured them, already a step ahead.
“Sounds like you brought a small army,” Dawson Tayler, one of Meg’s new friends, joked.
“We did. This guy is done,” Dec replied with a smile.
Everyone said their goodbyes, a tearful one as Lydia kissed her sleeping son goodbye, again. They made their way back out the way they came in, picking up the men they had left posted at various points around the perimeter and down by the lake. They disappeared into the woods. With her hand firmly gripping Declan’s belt, Lydia put her trust in him and the team, all the way to the other side where they had started.
They stood at the edge of the tree line, at the road, hidden just behind the darkness of the forest as headlights came closer. The vehicles that had delivered them an hour before had returned to take them back to the cabin. It had all been so perfectly timed. They drove off into the night, leaving a couple of men behind to hold their position until they got word that Declan and Lydia were safely delivered.
Leaving her son again was hard, but at least she had hope. If Lydia learned anything this night it was that Declan and his brothers knew what they were doing. She trusted him before, but now she not only believed in him, but believed this really was almost over, and Esteban was about to be dealt with for good. Prison, she thought, was paradise compared to where he really belonged, but she would find peace in that when she needed to.
Brother's Keeper I: Declan Page 17
