The Battlefield Series 7: Disguising the Truth (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Jesus, I thought you wouldn’t come. Where’s your cell phone?”

  “My cell phone? Why?” she asked and pulled it from her purse.

  “Give it to me, they’re tracking you.”

  “Who is?” she asked.

  “Copias’s men. They’re here in Texas. They were able to track your location by an informant working for the feds.” He put the phone on the ground and stomped on it, cracking it.

  “Come on. We have agents waiting to talk to you and set up a temporary location for hiding.”

  “But my friends—”

  He cut her off.

  “No one can come with you or you’ll put them in danger. They will shoot and kill to get to you. Copias is obsessed with you, Chloe. You’ve known that. He will kill any man who stands in his way. You have to leave with me now.”

  “I can’t believe this. I need to tell Tessa something.”

  “No. Leave her. We’re running out of time.” He pushed open the back door and they headed to a black sedan with tinted windows. He opened up the back seat and slid in with her. She saw two men, one in the driver’s seat and in the backseat was Synad Barker. She worked for internal affairs.

  “Synad, what are you doing here? This has something to do with IAF?” Chloe asked.

  Synad took an unsteady breath. Chloe could tell she was scared.

  “It’s bad, Chloe. Inside people, cops who want to help Copias find you. Brogan is involved.”

  “Brogan?” she asked and her gut clenched. She realized as her mind caught up with her gut that something wasn’t right here. Brogan could not be working for Copias. She trusted Brogan with her life. Stephan did as well.

  “How can that be? He was the main leader in all of it from connection to completion. What the hell is going on? Stop the car, Michael. I want to check with Brogan on this.”

  She gasped as she felt a prick in her neck. Synad stuck her with something.

  She realized too late that she’d been had. Synad and Michael weren’t who they claimed to be. They were the inside rats who tipped off Copias about the raid. That’s why Michael wasn’t there and hadn’t sent the backup he was supposed to send.

  “You bastard,” she growled and struck him in the face with her forearm. His head went back and she reached for the door handle. Synad struck her and Chloe smacked her across the mouth and then reached for the handle to the door. She felt the barrel of a gun to her head and looked up to see Michael.

  “Just cooperate, Celeste. There’s no way out of this. Copias always gets what he wants and he wants you.”

  “How could you do this?” she asked and gripped on to the seat to try and steady herself. She felt dizzy and weak and her eyes began to feel very heavy.

  “Money and freedom. I hand you over, get paid a pretty penny and Copias is off my ass forever.”

  She fell forward and fought to stay awake.

  “It’s over, Celeste. Just make the man happy and be his wife or else you’ll suffer an unfortunate alternative. My hands are tied. I have to look out for myself and Synad.”

  She glanced that way and saw Synad with tears in her eyes and fear in her expression. Copias had something on them and was forcing them to do this. She thought about Stephan, Wallace, Scottie, and Tobias. She was never going to see them again. Copias won.

  * * * *

  “Tell me Chloe is with you,” Goose said to Stephan.

  He stood up from the bar and gripped the cell phone tight. His brothers all saw his expression and so did Brooklyn, Cesar, Antonia, and their friends.

  “No, she isn’t. What’s wrong?”

  “Where is she, Stephan?”

  “In Keanter shopping with Tessa. They should be here in a couple of hours.”

  “Get her on the phone and get her back here now. I figured out where the investigation and search for Chloe was coming from. Internal affairs investigator Synad Barker.”

  He could hear Goose typing into the computer. “Is someone calling her?” Stephan demanded.

  He covered the cell phone. “Call Chloe now,” Goose said to Tobias.

  Tobias pulled out his cell.

  “What’s going on?” Scottie asked.

  “Stephan, what is it?” Wallace asked.

  “There is no reason for internal affairs to be investigating or getting information on Chloe,” Stephan said aloud. He knew his friends and brother could hear him but he didn’t care. He looked at Tobias.

  “It’s going right to voice mail. I can’t reach her,” Tobias said.

  “I started looking into this woman and found out that she’s involved with some illegal activities, and a few of the places she is associated with are locations connected to Copias,” Goose said to him.

  “Fuck.”

  “Yeah, it gets worse, man. She’s sleeping with Chloe’s former commander, Michael Crown. He’s the rat in the department. He’s the reason why Copias got away.”

  “That mother fucker,” Stephan stated.

  “I know, I’ve got a lot of shit here that links the two of them to stuff that your fed guy is going to want to see,” Goose told him.

  “I need to connect you with him.”

  “First, get Chloe on the phone and back to Repose,” Goose said and was typing away on the computer keyboard.

  “Fuck. I’m trying to get a location on the two of them. Running their names through the system to see if they’ve purchased any tickets anywhere or are traveling. Fuck. Shit. They’re in Texas.”

  “Oh God, no. Fuck, he’s going to take her to Copias,” Stephan said.

  “He is.”

  “Have you gotten in touch with her?” Stephan raised his voice.

  “No. What the hell is going on?” Tobias asked.

  “Copias has people in Texas. We need to find her now.”

  “She’s with Tessa. Let me try her number,” Antonia said and they waited as she dialed and then had it on speaker.

  “Tessa, it’s Antonia. Is Chloe with you?”

  “No. I don’t know what to do. She was with me and then I went into the dressing room and came out and she was gone.”

  “Tessa, it’s Stephan, Did you see anyone suspicious nearby or see her look at anyone with concern?”

  “Uhm yes, there was this tall guy in a dress shirt and dress pants. She looked at him as if she saw a ghost and then she said it wasn’t who she thought it was. A guy from New York.”

  “Look around the area, to see if there’s a back exit or something. See if you can find anything of hers, even a cell phone, her bag, anything,” Tobias said to her.

  “Oh God. Is she in danger? Did someone take her?” Tessa asked. From her tone they could tell she was getting hysterical.

  “I’m going to send Coastal and Jack there for Tessa. Should I contact the sheriff there?” Cesar asked.

  “No,” Goose said and Stephan repeated that. “No, we need to handle this discreetly and I need to call in some people.”

  “Oh God, I found her cell phone. It’s crushed on the ground,” Tessa stated.

  “Shit. Okay, Tessa, I want you to wait there for help to come. Don’t let on to anything being wrong. Help is on the way,” Tobias said to her.

  “What do we do now, Goose?” Stephan asked.

  “You get Brogan on the line and tell him what happened. I’ll take it on this end. If they try to fly her out of here or take her by bus or train I’ll know it.”

  “Okay. I’ll keep you informed of our next steps.” Stephan disconnected the call and then quickly dialed the number.

  “It’s me. They took her. Michael is involved. He’s the rat.”

  “Goddamn it. We were getting close and a few of the agents were just talking about Michael and Synad Barker from internal affairs shacking up. Then a few other names start coming up with corrupt cops in the department. Synad’s name is listed as head of the investigation on all cops being investigated from that precinct. Except the cops who she identifies as corrupt aren’t the ones doing the crimes. She’s fra
ming good cops for the crimes.”

  “Holy shit, so they were both working for Copias all along. Now they’re sending Celeste to Copias as payoff or whatever?” Stephan asked.

  “Do you have Michael and Synad in custody?” Brogan asked him.

  “No, I don’t even know where they are at this point or where they’re headed. We have cops going to the location and they’ll look at the surveillance video.”

  “Good, keep on top of that investigation, and I’ll see what we can do on this end. There’s been chatter about a shipment taking place in the next few days,” Brogan told him.

  “A shipment where?”

  “Colombia.”

  “He could be there. Would he arrange for Celeste to be transported to Colombia?” he said aloud and his brothers cursed and the others looked shocked.

  “I hate to hope that’s his plan, but if it is then we can get there and get her back,” Brogan said.

  “With me as lead with my men of my choice,” Stephan stated.

  “Whatever you want. I’m sorry this happened. We’ve been investigating but just didn’t get the information fast enough.”

  “Just be ready to sign off on whatever I need.”

  He disconnected the call and looked at his brothers and their friends.

  He locked gazes with Wallace and Tobias and Scottie. They were right there.

  “Chloe has been taken.”

  “Who? Who would do this? What’s going on?” Brooklyn asked and Antonia looked upset, and he knew they were good friends with Chloe.

  “Without getting into too much detail, because we need to move on this, Chloe was an undercover agent for the federal government.”

  “What?” Antonia asked, shocked.

  “She was involved with crazy stuff and bottom line is, she saved my life, took three shots for me and survived through it all. But there was this guy—a drugs and arms dealer. He’s obsessed with her and basically her own commander and an investigator from internal affairs just kidnapped her to deliver her to this man. He’s a ruthless killer, and because of Chloe’s undercover work she helped destroy almost his entire operation. He was the only one to get away.”

  “You have to find her and get her back. Where are they taking her? Out of the country?” Cesar asked.

  “It looks to be that way, but we don’t know. The feds are now involved, too.”

  “Whatever help you need, Stephan, guys, we’re here for you,” Cesar said.

  “I appreciate that and we may need your help.”

  Cesar’s phone rang and he put it on speaker. “What do you have, Coastal?” he asked him.

  “Surveillance camera outside shows the make of the vehicle.”

  “Send that to me right now,” Stephan stated.

  “Done,” Coastal said.

  “Anything else?” Cesar asked.

  “The surveillance camera indicates three people in the vehicle plus Chloe. Two men in the front, there appears to be a woman in the back, and then the guy and Chloe. The surveillance camera inside shows Chloe met the guy in the hallway and he put his hand out for something and she hands him her cell phone, he says something then puts it on the ground, and crushes it. She looks upset but he grabs her hand and gets her outside. She doesn’t resist in any way but seems agitated in the video.”

  Stephan sent the make of the vehicle, license plate, and information to Brogan and to Goose.

  “Okay, make sure that Tessa is okay and get her back here.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Cesar disconnected the call.

  “You have a license plate now, are you going to put out an APB?” Antonia asked Cesar.

  “Not yet. The feds can do more right now, and I don’t want to risk them hurting her—or worse—killing Chloe if cops start chasing them. Let us handle it, and if we need your help we’ll let you know,” Stephan said and then he and his brothers headed out of the Station.

  “What is the real plan?” Scottie asked.

  “We need to wait and let Brogan and Goose do their thing. In the interim let’s get our gear, passports, and resources ready. We may or may not be headed out of the country to go hunting.”

  * * * *

  Six Days Later

  “There’s no reason for the angry face. Just accept your destiny, Celeste.”

  Chloe stared at him from across the small table. She was hot, sweating, and barely wearing any clothing—just a tank top, no bra, and tan skirt. It was local jungle attire she presumed, but she wasn’t complaining because he hadn’t raped her as far as she knew. She woke up here, unsure of what day it was, but instantly feeling the tropical heat and then the scent of coconut oil and cigar smoke. It hit her instantly—that familiar cigar scent and she knew it was Copias.

  She sat straight up in the chair despite her aching ribs and bruised and battered face. She woke up two days after arriving. He complained that Michael gave her too much drugs because he feared her abilities. That was the first smart thing Michael had done.

  “Why did you bring me here?” she asked him, throat scratchy and hoarse from screaming. He’d struck her after she fought against his guards, who’d struck her, too.

  “You belong to me, Celeste.”

  “No I don’t.”

  “Oh, don’t tell me you’re still in love with a dead man? You do know that Scallone is dead? I had him killed on his way out of the estate.”

  She was shocked that he believed this, but also relieved that he didn’t know that Scallone—Stephan was alive and well. It was better this way. For Copias to think Scallone was dead. At least none of her men or their friends suffered injury or death because of her.

  She pretended sadness. “He isn’t dead. I don’t believe you.”

  “Oh, he is. I can assure you that. I don’t know what you saw in him. He was nothing compared to me. As I recall, you did choose me over him to sleep with that night.”

  She felt the bile rise in her throat. She had no choice and had to protect Stephan. “That was a long time ago and it no longer matters.”

  “Yes, it does matter. I marked you. I took from your body and made you mine. You enjoyed it and accepted my claim.”

  She squinted at him. “I don’t accept it. You can keep beating me and I won’t care or give in.”

  “Oh, don’t challenge me like this, Celeste.” He stood up and walked closer. He trailed a finger along her hair then over her shoulder. He pulled the strap off and her breast appeared. When she went to move he pulled out a knife and placed it close to her throat. He tilted her head back and the tip grazed along her collarbone and then to her breast.

  “I have all the time in the world to train you. I’m not overly patient, so if you continue to resist your destiny, keep in mind I’m a very good hunter, who’s also skilled at skinning anything alive.” He cut her breast lightly and she gasped.

  A small bit of blood rose from the light cut and he leaned down while holding her gaze.

  “Tonight we make love again and begin a new start for us.” He licked away the blood and she closed her eyes and tightened up as he ravished her breast. When he had his fill he stood up and took his seat.

  She went to push up her strap and he stopped her with his tone.

  “No. You stay like that. Every part of you belongs to me. You will get used to it, or the next time I cut deeper.” He used the knife to cut open the fruit, its sharpness evident at how quickly the piece parted and Copias popped it into his mouth.

  He held her gaze and smirked, and she promised herself she would die first before letting the man take from her body once again.

  * * * *

  “We need to be a hundred percent fucking sure,” Tobias said to Stephan. It was him, Scottie, Wallace, Goose, Toro, Monte, Cameron, Wolf, Vanderlain, Coastal, and Memphis standing on the boat.

  Stephan was on the satellite phone. He pulled out the map and pointed then gave coordinates as Vanderlain wrote them down and Toro and Wolf figured it out.

  Stephan got off the phone and T
obias had his hand on the handle of the gun as he waited. They were all dressed in black, armed, and ready to grab Chloe and get the fuck out of Santa Marta, Colombia. He couldn’t believe they were in a resort-like location on the Caribbean Sea and about to infiltrate a major drugs and arms operation. Meanwhile in California, the feds were about to raid a major arms and drug deal operation that Goose found out about as he located Copias and where he was keeping Chloe. Everyone was using their resources and connections to find Chloe and get her home safely. Then they were going to have to hunt Copias down.

  “Okay, I’m being told that five miles up the mountain through the jungle in a more remote area is where Copias is keeping Chloe. There are two ways in, both monitored by guards. It’s tricky terrain, some deep ravines and we pass huts that are built on the side of the mountain. Any number of them could contain security for Copias,” Stephan explained.

  “Shoot first, ask questions later,” Monte stated.

  “Shoot first and who the fuck cares. We’re after one package only, and we grab her and get the fuck back here to the boat,” Memphis stated.

  “We’re ready when you are, Stephan,” Vanderlain said.

  “I just want to tell you guys how much my brothers and I appreciate your help. Don’t get dead,” Stephan stated and they chuckled.

  “Not happening,” Toro said and readied his weapon.

  “Okay. Let’s do this in fours. Everyone knows what to do. Put your radios on three for communication,” Wolf said to them and they all quietly exited the boat in the darkness and began their climb up the mountain in the dark.

  * * * *

  Chloe looked off the balcony of the hut. It was almost pitch black, and the deep thick jungle branches hid the light of the moon above. They were so far up she couldn’t hear the ocean, yet on a cool breeze she smelled the hint of it, and the dampness of jungle. There were so many bugs and creatures making noises and she tried to focus on that as Copias held her wrists behind her back and kissed along her neck. She was shaking, she hated this man so much, and she struggled between giving in and fighting until death. It angered her and saddened her to have survived being shot multiple times, finding true love in a ménage relationship with men she loved and adored, only to have to give up and die so this man could not claim her body. She felt sick and angry as he suckled harder and then used his other hand to cup her breasts.