"Care to talk about it?"
Taty blinked and shook herself back into the conversation. "Ahhh… no, thank you."
The beautiful woman shrugged her shoulder and gave her a sad smile. "I get that. I used to have a high-stress job."
"Used to have?"
"Yes, I worked too many hours." The woman chuckled and then shook her head. "After a time all the travel starts to build up and becomes less than ideal. I was home maybe two months out of the year. It was difficult and maintaining a relationship would have been impossible with my schedule and his."
"So you just quit?" The conversation was benign, and it kept her from thinking about tomorrow's events.
"No, we figured out a way forward together. Sometimes those walls that seem so damn high aren't when you work toward a common goal. We loved each other and did what we needed to do to be together. The choice to leave what I was doing was simple really."
Taty considered the woman's words. "True, but sometimes those choices aren't yours to make." Taty focused on the darkness outside the window. David had made love to her tonight. She was certain that he felt the same thing as she did, yet she couldn't tell him how she felt. Tomorrow she'd perform the final act of the drama in which she'd been cast. Her testimony alone would put these animals away. There was nothing to do but survive the day. Once she could identify them and witness the transaction between David and the bosses, she would have the final and crucial piece of evidence that would allow MI6 to lock the bastards away. Unfortunately, the same evidence would convict David. Even if his lawyers somehow managed to keep him out of prison, sooner or later he would know it was her actions that identified him to the authorities.
"I'm going to make some tea. Would you like some?"
Taty blinked back to the conversation. She shook her head and returned her gaze to the darkness outside the aircraft. The DNA of the victims she'd been a part of selling was safely hidden. Only the fifteen women that David bought would be unaccounted for. She closed her eyes and rubbed her brow. They needed to be found. MI6 and whatever agencies they teamed with in the United States might be able to flip Casey, David's Chief of Security. It was possible they could offer him a plea deal to testify against David. Yes, that could work. He had to know where they were taken, at least initially, because someone had to arrange the bus and drivers. Who else but him? She filed that piece of information away.
She shivered against the forced air pushing down on her. The only place she wanted to be right now was sleeping next to David, but she'd snuck out of the room, not willing to deal with a final goodbye. They were over. Forever. Reaching deep inside, Taty clutched at every thread of determination she could muster and drew a deep breath. It was show time, and David wasn't cast as the hero, he was a criminal, and he'd be taken down with the rest of the scum she'd hunted for eight years.
Taty nodded to herself once and glanced at the small galley where the tall brunette flight attendant chatted with one of the other passengers. She would have no happily ever after like that woman. Her destiny had been written nine years ago when her sister was abducted. She was Tatyana Petrov, elite European concierge of the Bravata and an undercover agent with MI6. She had the internal strength to see this mission to its end, even if that end destroyed her life.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chief's body was strung tight as a bow with an arrow loaded, pulled back, and at the ready. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was a rush unlike any other. The anticipation of a fight mixed with a healthy dash of resignation and a thread of tightly controlled fear. The fear that trickled through him was of the unknowns that plagued the entire mission. He'd never go undercover again, of that he was certain. When he worked with Alpha team, he'd been part of a carefully crafted and meticulously maintained unit that fed upon the strengths of each other. He missed that iron-clad insurance policy—the knowledge that no matter what happened during an engagement he could predict with certainty what his team would do and how they would react. In this assignment, the unknown variables outweighed the known factors, and that led to trouble any way you sliced it.
Chief glanced at the myriad of seaplanes parked at the pier. He strode toward the end where Dixon and Drake were doing a pre-flight inspection. Tatyana hadn't said a word to him since she slipped out of the bed after he made love to her. The resignation of that loss weighed heavy, but he pushed it to the back of his mind. He needed the distraction of his emotions to be gone. There was nothing he could say to her at this point that would matter. His actions in the next two hours would destroy her world, but then again he couldn't stop what was about to happen. The fucked up truth was he'd live for the rest of his life knowing the woman that completed him was a criminal, a sex-slave trafficker and if the suspicions were correct, a murderer. The accusations against her completely violated his perception of her. His mind couldn't reconcile the wildly diverse halves that made her whole. Being so close to her, perhaps he couldn't see or sense the true nature of the woman. Chief frowned at that thought. He'd like to think he was an excellent judge of character, but…
They settled into a sixteen passenger seaplane. The smell of the sea and the warmth of the sun did little to divert anyone's focus. Tatyana's brow seemed creased in determination. Whatever she'd done, he'd deal with it. He leaned back in his seat after Jasmine ensured they were strapped in and Dixon and Drake fired the engines. Chief closed his eyes and focused on the myriad of events that could transpire on the island and his actions to this point. He'd left Casey and Thomas at the hotel in Malé, against Casey's vehement arguments. As bodyguards, his personal security team did not have international credentials and were not on Guardian's payrolls, so getting them further entwined in the dealings of this mission wasn't going to happen, no matter how much Casey bitched.
After Tatyana had slipped out of the bedroom cabin last night, Chief studied a map and photographs of the island he had on his phone and used the time alone to meditate on the events of the next twenty-four hours. Unfortunately, he was walking into this situation blind. He had no firsthand knowledge of the island or the enemy and even though he could guess what Guardian would do to prep and guard the meeting—that too was an unknown.
Thankfully, he did know that Jacob would be somewhere close. He had no doubt his six was covered by the best. Even if shit went south, his team would protect the women involved in the transaction. Dixon and Drake would have charges planted at the entrance to the dock by the time the other planes landed, and with Jasmine in the mix, the people the Bravata left as guards were going to get one hell of a surprise. That beautiful woman could kick ass and take names with the best of them. They'd catch the bastards at the top or if necessary, eliminate them. The Bravata was about to implode and take Tatyana with them, and he was the one who was going to push the detonator. Fuck. His. Life.
The flight was an up and down affair. Not twenty minutes after takeoff, the aircraft set down on the crystal blue waters off David Xavier's private island. They were right on time. Off the starboard side, two other seaplanes circled to land. One was a passenger aircraft. The other appeared to be a larger cargo craft, probably where the women were being held. Chief waited for the plane to dock. Drake hopped out to secure it to the metal tie-off anchored into the wood piling. Jasmine and Drake secured the passenger door before Chief extended a hand to Tatyana and began the long walk down the pier.
"Do you know how this will happen?" Taty spoke as they headed up the walk to the palatial house.
"We will meet over there." Chief pointed toward sheltered outdoor living area off the side of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The area was secluded from direct view of the dock and defensible if necessary. Chief used a hand at her waist to steer her in the right direction before he continued, "After our introductions, you will proceed to the plane to check the cargo."
"And then?"
&nb
sp; "After I conclude my business, you will depart."
"You are not leaving?"
"No, this is one of my many homes. I will remain here. Our association has run its course."
"I'm sorry to see it end."
He made an unintelligible sound. He wished he could believe it, but the woman had lied to him since the day they met. The only thing he knew for certain about her was that she was the other half of his soul.Fuck, no. That line of thought was off the table. Forever. The second call proved she was working her agenda and no matter what, he was either a bargaining chip, leverage, or bait. Little did she know, Guardian assets now surrounded her.
"Why do you doubt this?" Tatyana stopped at the top of the long staircase that topped the length of boardwalk from the dock and looked back at the planes as they maneuvered toward the tie offs. They watched as the passenger plane docked. Two men in dark business suits exited the first aircraft. Chief guided her into the area he knew the Advon team had somehow wired for sound and video. Taking down bastards like the Bravata required hard fucking evidence.
"They will be armed." She cautioned him unnecessarily.
"No doubt." Chief acknowledged. He had a Glock 43 in a concealed holster at his back, an automatic strapped to his ankle and a large knife strapped on and ready. If the bastards came to play ball, they'd play, but if they came to take him hostage or kill both he and Tatyana, well Chief would introduce them to Satan himself.
"I need a weapon." Tatyana squared up and looked him in the eye. She had intestinal fortitude.
"You don't." His mind flashed to the file he received on her. She was linked to three murders. Chief didn't doubt for a minute she was able to kill. He could see the hard resolve needed to take a life in her eyes the day they met.
"They will kill me."
"They won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Call it intuition."
Tatyana lifted an eyebrow at him and then started a careful scan of the surrounding area, obviously looking for the reason he wasn't concerned. Let her look. He knew Guardian's equipment. She'd never find it.
As she strolled around the lavish outdoor living area, he glanced to his left and then to the right wondering where his team was set up. No doubt they were deployed close, watching and listening. There was no way those slimy bastards were getting out of this without paying the price for their crimes.
Chief went through the scattered seating areas to the massive outdoor kitchen and opened the large stainless steel refrigerator. It was full of ample selections of beer, soda, and water. He grabbed a water and offered one to Tatyana.
"No, thank you."
"Nervous?" He glanced down the wooden walkway to the two men traveling to meet them. The one on the right tripped his alarm bells. There was something eerily familiar about the man's gate.
"Actually, no." Her voice held a note of determination.
"You've never met them before?"
"No. I was not important enough."
"But you are now?" Chief gazed at the men as they strode forward. They weren't close enough to distinguish facial features. Instinct told him the one on the right was deadly. The way he carried himself and the way his arm arched slightly away from his left side revealed he was carrying at least one weapon. Chief gave the figure another hard glance. A growing sense of foreboding bubbled up from deep within him. The man was familiar, too fucking familiar.
"Yes."
Tatyana's answer to his forgotten question didn't draw his attention. Chief lost sight of the men as they followed the walkway. His mind flashed through the thousands of men he'd met or seen, or fucking pointed a gun at. Tatyana moved from beside him and stood to his left. He noted the transition because it took her out of the line of fire. The sound of shoes on the walkway coming around the corner drew his eye. Every muscle in his body tightened as recognition slapped him in the face. His enemy, the one who was selling humans like they were no more than groceries was a brother—a Guardian.
Darren Kowalski stepped into the sheltered area and removed his mirrored sunglasses. All six-foot-six-inches of the man abruptly tightened with the same recognition.
"Ski, it's been a hot minute." Chief moved slightly to ensure every weapon he was carrying was accessible.
The man's eyes pinged from him, to Tatyana, to the egress points of the outdoor living area. His partner, an older softer version of himself pulled up short at Chief's greeting.
"You know David Xavier?" The older man asked, obviously trying to catch up. Chief could see Tatyana's head whip around to him as if asking the same question.
"This isn't David Xavier, Uncle. I don't know what his real name is, but he is a member of Guardian's lauded Alpha Team, he goes by Chief." Darren crossed his arm over his chest bringing his hand closer to his weapon. A corner of Darren's mouth lifted in a smirk when Chief mimicked his movement. "That haircut must have hurt like a bitch, huh?"
Chief shrugged. "This gig is a drastic change of employment for you, isn't it, Ski?"
Kowalski laughed, bright and loud. "Hell, those are the most words I've ever heard you say."
The older man shot a look at Tatyana. "You knew we were being set up?"
"No, he is David Xavier." Tatyana shot looks between the three men, her confused gaze landing on Chief. He gave her a lifted shoulder in response. She wasn't the concern right now—Kowalski and his uncle were.
"I didn't know you'd left Guardian." Chief remembered the last time he'd seen Ski. Alpha and Tango teams had been utilized to extract two men, a high-ranking diplomat, and an oil mogul, from a hot zone the stupid motherfuckers had been warned not to go into. The entire mission had been mired in freezing rain, and Tango team had lost one member. Francis Lloyd was hit by shrapnel and lost most of his leg. Ski carried the man out and refused to allow anyone to take over, even after Lloyd succumbed to his injuries. They'd served together in the Army and joined Guardian together. That happened just over eight years ago. Chief hadn't seen Ski since.
"Why would I stay? To get myself killed? I don't think so." Darren cast a glance around the outdoor room again. "Where is Alpha?"
Chief smiled. "Not here."
"I see. So should we just get this over with?"
"We will leave." The older man started to turn, but Ski caught his bicep and shook his head without moving his eyes from Chief.
"We will not be allowed to leave, Uncle. This is a trap. There is no reason to run. Guardian will have us surrounded by now. The question is, do you want to spend the rest of your life in jail or would you rather go out like a warrior?" Ski's eyes silently challenged Chief.
Chief shifted slightly before he spoke, "My people have a saying,hoka hey, today is a good day to die."
Chief dove to the right, tackling Tatyana and dropping them both behind the bar as he un-holstered his automatic. He tossed her the Glock 43 and prayed like hell he wouldn't get a bullet for the effort. Chief rolled through the small space and came up firing as he lunged again hard to the right. Ski had taken cover at the end of the bricked-in grill. His uncle wasn't in Chief's line of sight. Chief fired three shots, sending chips of brick and mortar flying causing Ski to duck and dive behind the low front counter of the outdoor kitchen. A bullet from his left hit the wall just past him, driving him down to his stomach on the tile flooring. He scrambled in a low crawl to the corner. Tatyana moved to her left in a crouch. Chief saw Kowalski's uncle draw a bead on her just as a volley of bullets rained down around him.
"On your left!" Chief yelled out the warning just as he was spun around by a bullet that slammed into his arm. Chief heard several shots and prayed Tatyana had moved fast enough. Chief worked his way down the back of the couch and stood taking aim at the uncle.
Ski hit him in a flying tackle. The grip Chief had on his gun failed. His hand was wet with his own blood, and the 45 went flying when he was hit. He rolled
through the impact, and both men came up in a crouch with knives ready to engage. Chief's knife was in his left hand. Not his dominant side, but he'd practiced countless hours for this very contingency. There was a barrage of gunfire down by the docks, and Chief heard the shouts of his team as they rushed to his assistance. His eyes locked with his opponent. Ski had the same training as Chief, and they both knew the next few seconds would determine who lived and who died.
Chief feigned right and dove left, low and under Ski's slicing jab. Chief grabbed the man's ankle while deflecting a second thrust. He strained with his injured arm, whipped around with an elbow to Ski's knee and yanked the fucker's foot off the ground. Ski's body slammed onto the hard tile. Ski kicked sharply at Chief's thigh. Chief deflected the blow and blocked a wild swing of Ski's knife when the man attempted to right himself. Chief grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it violently and pushed forward, driving the man down again. Chief's good arm pinned Ski to the ground, but he couldn't hold him down with his injuries. Chief did what he had to do. He kicked hard, landing a blow on Ski's jaw. That kick would have taken out most men, but Ski knew to move with the force of the blow, and he did, freeing himself from the armbar. Chief's legs were taken out by a sweeping kick. He went down hard and hit his head in the process. Ski was on top of him in a second. The sounds of shouting and shooting surrounded them, but Chief's only focus was the knife that was now angled toward his throat. Chief grasped the hilt with both hands, forestalling the weapons' descent to his vulnerable neck. Ski pushed all his weight into the struggle. Clarity hit Chief at that moment. He had a counter move and executed it. His body bowed up as he pushed the weapon over his head. Ski's weight and the momentum initiated by Chief's unexpected launch off the ground sent him forward onto his right shoulder. Chief rolled and pinned the man's arm under his knee. He rammed all his weight behind a right hook to Ski's jaw. He powered another and then a third before he felt Ski go limp.
Chief (Kings of Guardian Book 7) (The Kings of Guardian) Page 21
