by Linzi Basset
“Shut your mouth, pup. You don’t have tits and a fragrant pussy, so you don’t qualify. You, I’ll just pummel into the ground for your trouble. Keep your ideas to yourself.”
Alexa scooted through the door, unprepared to deal with an amenable and caring Shane … especially in full view of his cousins.
“She looks pale,” Danton said once the door closed behind her. “Are you sure she’s okay?”
“She’s a survivor, Danton. Whatever happened cracked her and she moved past it, but last night …” Shane shook his head, “she was terrified. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on her. Whatever trauma she suffered still haunts her, but it’s time for it to end. I’ll be there when she’s ready to talk about it.”
“As long as you know we’re all here to help, in whatever way we can,” Stone said. He looked at Parker. “Let’s get to work. Did you find any other corrupt officials?”
“No one at the top. We found a couple of mid-level administrators from the FBI, CIA, and the NSA with suspicious activity in their personal portfolio. We had to go to the dark web to unlock intimate details since we couldn’t find intel via the usual searches. Someone went to a lot of trouble to change their background information.”
“Yeah, from their skill sets, it’s evident that SPEONUS has an entire operation on standby to continue with their plans. We might have delayed them but we sure as hell didn’t stop them,” Zeke said.
“We need to get those names to the director of the FBI,” Ace said.
“Fuck no,” Zeke sneered. “I managed to uncover files and communication between Madam Cherie, who we thought was the only mole on the island, and her contact. We now know that she used to be FBI and, apart from Kezzler, the only one she reached out to during her stay on the island was Frank Moore.”
“You’re kidding,” Kane leaned forward to select sandwiches from the tray. “Is there anyone we can trust?”
“Now I understand why he was so opposed in the beginning for us to manage the FBI’s data and security systems,” Hawk said with a pensive expression. “We have to limit the intel those bastards have to the FBI’s data.”
“Already done. I’ve added a level of security to all shared systems. No one can access any file or network outside of their own. That goes for every employee in all the government and police departments we manage, across the board. If anyone attempts to access intel that’s not part of their allocated job portfolio, we’ll get tagged,” Parker said. “That way we will know if anyone else is involved that we might have missed.”
“Good. Keep at it.” As per his usual habit during meetings, Stone started to pace. “Did you find anything on Kezzler’s property dealings?”
“That man played with property like a master monopoly strategist. I’m rethinking my investment portfolio. Property chess is where the big money is,” Zeke said as he entered a code on his iPad. Ten photos appeared on the large monitor on the wall. “These ten properties stood out to us but two are of concern.”
“One confirmed Frank Moore’s association with SPEONUS,” Parker said. “Top one on the right is a romantic hideout in Belize that Kezzler helped Moore buy for next to nothing four years ago.”
“Many people own vacation homes, Parker. Apart from linking him to Kezzler, why does it stand out?” Ace leaned forward to scrutinize the picture.
“Because ever since he bought it, he hasn’t taken his wife or family there for a vacation or a romantic weekend.” Zeke opened a second window and pointed to the images. “As you can see, there has been activity at the house. Guests stay for weekends and in certain instances, weeks at a time, but we can’t find any indication that he benefited financially in any way or form.”
“Which means it could be used as a secret meeting place.” Danton’s fingers rapped on the desk. “Any of those guests we should be concerned about?”
“All of them, I’d say, especially if they’re associated with SPEONUS, which we are sure is the case. Look at this bastard.” Zeke pointed the laser in his hand to a bold man who had a cruel look about him. “This is Miceli Randazzo.”
“The Sicilian Mafia Boss?” Shane straightened.
“The one and only,” Zeke said.
“Better known as Diabolik in the criminal world,” Parker interjected. “He has been a fugitive on the most wanted list since 1993 and according to Forbes Magazine, he’s among the ten most wanted criminals in the world. After Bernardo Provenzano and Salvatore Riina died respectively in 2016 and 2017, Miceli Randazzo is seen as the unchallenged boss of all bosses within the Mafia across the globe.
“What the flying fuck are they up to? Billy?” Ace looked at him. “I thought they were interested in gaining control over the U.S. government. Why involve the Sicilian Mafia from Italy directly?”
“Fuck if I know. The times I was involved in the meetings, the discussions were about getting control of the White House.” Billy scratched his jaw. “What if they’re after global control?”
“That’s a big stretch, even for an organization like SPEONUS,” Hawk said.
“Maybe but think about it. Sergei Ivanon, second in charge of Russia was on their board and they got rid of the British Prime Minister and his delegates along with Grayson. We’ve been concentrating on the U.S. Who knows what they’ve already got in place on other continents across the world?”
“It seems your speculation in Tampa was spot on, Shane,” Stone said in a grating voice.
“I wish it wasn’t,” Shane said. “Planting that bomb at that particular time was well planned.” He looked at Zeke. “Have they inaugurated the new British Prime Minister yet?”
“Within a month of the declaration of his death,” Parker said in a quiet voice. “We’ll start looking into him as well as the newly-appointed cabinet over there.”
“Who else stands out from those photos at Moore’s property?” Stone stared glacially at the monitor.
“We’re still busy with background checks but I’m fully convinced that Billy is onto something. Anyone recognize this fucker?” Zeke sneered as he enlarged one of the photos.
“That’s Chan Ho, Dragon Master of Sun Lee Fong Triads and the bastard who kidnapped Tucker months ago,” Kane growled through clenched lips. He’d never forget the angst he’d experienced knowing his just-discovered son had been taken by one of the cruelest crime leaders of all time.
“But he’s not a threat anymore. We made sure of that,” Danton said. He had accompanied Kane and Shane when they rescued Tucker and blew up the house where he’d been kept, with Chan Ho inside.
“He might not be, but don’t forget how the Chinese Triads operate, Danton.” Stone sat down. He nibbled on a sandwich as he stared at the monitor.
“Vengeance,” Danton said.
“In their case, a full-blown vendetta. We believed they weren’t involved with Ace’s kidnapping and me being shot in Cuba, but this picture proves otherwise.” Stone looked around the table as he speculated.
“Yeah, they were in cahoots with SPEONUS to get you killed,” Parker sneered.
“Does anyone know who took over as the Dragon Master after Chan Ho’s death?” Hawk asked.
“We’ve been digging into it since we came across that photo but it’s a closely guarded secret,” Zeke said. “One name popped up, Zhang Yong. At the time he was what is known as a Red Pole in their hierarchy, which means he was originally a military unit leader turned gang leader commanding around fifty men in the Triad.” He pointed his laser to a photo on the monitor. “That’s him, but from what we could find, his position didn’t seem to have changed.”
“What about a deputy Dragon Master? That’s the second in charge, isn’t it?” Ace said.
“It’s what we’re leaning to but can’t find confirmation as of yet. Chan Ho didn’t have a son who could take over and he made it clear over the years that his daughter wasn’t leadership material, so we’re looking into family members that might be in the Triad hierarchy.” Parker looked at Kane. “Don’t worry, Kane, w
e’re not going to allow any of these bastards to get close to Tucker or Rose. We’ll keep digging, but in the meantime, make sure you put a security detail on them, just in case.”
“They’re obviously waiting for us to become complacent and leave my family vulnerable, which in a way I fucking have,” Kane rasped, clearly shaken. “Luckily, my house is like Fort Knox, but Tucker is an easy target at school.”
“I want intel on every bastard who’s been at that house, Parker,” Stone’s voice clipped through the atmosphere. He glanced at Shane. “You fucking called all of this. I can’t believe it.” He didn’t bother to hide his anger. “Also do a full background check on Frank Moore and every fucking move he made for the past couple of years. We need to eliminate all the threats to the government and fast. Once they have the power, it’ll be too late.” He pointed at the pictures of the ten properties. “You said there was another property?”
“Yes, this one at Sachem Pond on Block Island, Washington County, Rhode Island.” Zeke looked around the table. “It belonged to Rebecca Lomas.”
“The Speaker of the House?” Danton leaned forward. “Don’t fucking tell me she was also involved with SPEONUS?”
“Nothing points to it, apart from the fact that Kezzler went out of his way to obtain this property for her while the original owner had no interest to sell.” Parker leaned back in his chair. “The very timely death of said owner clinched the deal since the wife didn’t wish to live there after her husband was killed in a horrific car accident.”
“Seems your instincts are spot on, Shane.” Stone briefly explained Shane’s theory around David Yale and Rebecca Lomas. “Now this. That accident makes me pause. Look into it. If it was a planned killing, it means she is, or was, as corrupt as the rest of the bastards,” Stone snapped.
“I’ve been racking my brain over that,” Danton said as he stared at the picture of the house Zeke had pointed out.
“Over what?” Shane asked.
“Shane asked me if I saw her that day. Ever since the accident, there are things I can’t remember but more and more are coming back. I might be wrong but for the life of me, I can’t recall that woman being on that boat before it exploded.”
“Could she have been down below?” Billy said.
“No, my team leader confirmed that everyone was on deck as we pulled away from the marina.” He shook his head. “But I can’t be sure. It’s still too blurry.”
“How about President Grayson?” Shane said. “Maybe he can confirm her presence.”
“I’ll ask him.” Danton jumped up and started to pace. “If she wasn’t there—”
“She just became a suspect,” Shane grumbled.
“This is totally fucked up. Why the hell would she put herself out of commission? I mean, she was assured the presidency as next in line.” Kane grabbed another sandwich and gobbled it down.
“Do you have a photo of her, Zeke? A recent one?” Billy asked urgently.
“We have this one. It was taken at a charity event a couple of months ago.”
Billy leaned forward and studied the photograph of the beautiful and stately middle-aged woman on the monitor. He shook his head. “Can’t say from that picture. Dressed like a proper lady in evening wear … anything less formal?”
“She was invited to co-pilot a maiden flight of the newly designed KC-46 Pegasus fighter plane late last year.” Zeke pulled up a photo of Rebecca Lomas dressed in pilot gear, smiling broadly with the helmet under her arm. “She used to be a fighter pilot in the military and—”
“Fuck me,” Billy interjected as he pointed to the screen. “I’ll put my head on a block that she is the Masked Fuck or Lionheart as Sheila Maddern said.”
Everyone stared at Billy.
“On a scale from one to ten, how sure are you of that?” Danton snapped.
Billy stared at the photo. His lips flattened. “I can’t say for sure but scale wise, I’d go with an eight.”
“Everything makes sense now. David Yale and Rebecca Lomas … think about it Stone. Yale is adamant he is in charge but from what Billy said, Lionheart was in control at the meetings. Yale unwittingly confirmed he has one weakness.” Shane leaned forward and pointed to the house on the screen. “Rebecca Lomas—the one person who has him wrapped around her little finger.”
“That’s good enough for me.” Stone got up. “Parker, Zeke, find out everything you can about her and every property she owns, especially that one. Get historical feeds from GeoEye. I want to know every movement to and from that house for as far back as you can find. I’m specifically interested to know if there is anyone there at present.” He stomped toward the door. “I trust Shane and Billy’s instincts on this. We’ve got Lionheart if President Grayson can confirm she wasn’t on that boat. Let’s get to ops. We have an operation to plan. We’re going to take a trip to Block Island. If memory serves, you own a beach cottage there, don’t you, Danton?”
“I do. Give me ten and I’ll join you.”
Chapter Eleven
Rum Cay Island in the Bahamas …
“You’re grasping at straws, Danton. Yes, I concur that I didn’t see Rebecca Lomas on that boat, but she wasn’t only the Speaker of the House, she was also a good friend. We all went to school and college together, for heaven’s sake!”
Danton didn’t move from where he stood gazing out of the window over the ocean. He loved it on this island. It was here at his remote pineapple plantation on the opposite side of Port Nelson where he usually found solace. No one, not even Ace or the Sinclairs, knew about this property. He hadn’t kept it from Ace on purpose; it had just never come to mind to tell him about it. On the one hand, it was a good thing. If Ace had known, it might put his life in danger should anyone find out Grayson and he had survived the explosion. The SPEONUS bastards wouldn’t find it difficult to uncover their association and use it to find Grayson.
“And to suggest that she and David killed Veronica? Come on, Danton, it’s ludicrous,” James Grayson railed on as he paced agitatedly.
“I know you don’t want to believe Yale is corrupt and now Rebecca—”
“You’re damn right I don’t. He’s my best friend. I was there when his family was killed, Danton. He was shattered, to the ground. There’s just no way, no way in hell he would’ve done what you’re accusing him of.”
Danton faced Grayson. “Let’s try and remove emotion from the equation for a moment.” He held up his hands as the president glared at him. “Just listen and allow yourself to consider what I’m saying without reacting immediately.” He rubbed his forehead. He wished the goddamned headaches would fuck the hell off. It had been months, but they continued to cripple him. “You say you were all friends. Was there ever anything between Yale and Rebecca?”
“Romantically?” Grayson sat down and leaned his head against the back of the sofa. “God, I hate having to do this,” he mumbled. “For a while at college, yes.”
“What happened?”
“Veronica happened. We were in our final year and David became enamored with the beautiful, dainty freshman. None of us believed it would last but he surprised all of us by marrying her as soon as he graduated.”
“What was Rebecca’s reaction?”
“She was nonchalant about it. According to her, theirs had been a friendship with benefits arrangement, nothing serious, although …”
“Yes?” Danton prodded when he hesitated as he straightened.
“She made no secret of her feelings towards Veronica. I remember I spoke to David about it once. We all got the impression that she hated her. He was quite vehement in his denial. Said that she was probably just upset that she’d taken away her convenient … er … you know?”
“Fuck buddy,” Danton supplied succinctly.
“That, yes.” He cast a sharp look at Danton as he chuckled at his reddening cheeks. “She always intended to start working in her father’s legal practice after graduation. We were shocked that instead, she joined the U.S. Air Force and became
the first female fighter pilot squadron commander.”
Grayson jumped up as a thought came to him. “Holy Mother of God!” His eyes were as wide as saucers in his now pale face. “I’d forgotten about this,” he said in a forlorn voice.
“Care to share?”
“Rebecca Lomas resigned from the Air Force ten years prior to the Cuba incident and became a prominent attorney fighting for environmental issues. A couple of years later she turned to politics. We all believed it was because of that when she became involved at the time of the kidnapping. Because of her history, the Air Force didn’t think twice when she offered to be a part of the squadron that bombed that village in Cuba. Politically, the Secretary of Defense benefited immensely as a result and for years rode on the wave of her success as the squadron commander of the aerial strike.” He appeared beaten as he looked at Danton. “As did she. Her political career boomed after that. David had billions, all courtesy of his success as an investor combined with Veronica’s inheritance from her parents. They were married in a community property state. She’d always said he was a wizard with finances and she trusted her fortune in his hands. He was, and that’s how he became the owner of the Finance House Bank Group. It was his money that paved Rebecca’s rapid rise in politics and through his influence that she became Speaker of the House.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I didn’t think anything of it. We all remained friends throughout the years and because of their history, I didn’t find it strange that he backed her financially. Come to think of it, Veronica wasn’t all that impressed.”
“Greed changes people, Mr. President. With Yale’s success in the financial industry, it gave him a taste of what real power can do.” Danton shrugged. “I can only assume that’s what’s been driving him to be involved in SPEONUS.”
“But killing Veronica? Why? Her money was already his.”
