by Blake, Lexi
His aunt walked up to him. She was a good foot shorter, but she was still the ultimate figure of loving authority in his life. She smoothed down his tie. “Simon, do you want to stay with these Agency people or do you prefer to go with the very familiar-looking Mr. Taggart over there?” She sent Ian a frown. “You stay back until he makes his decision. I can take you out too, young man.”
Had he felt bad about coming home? “I think I’ll go with my team, Aunt Ava. And thank you for allowing me to make the decision. If we’d stayed with the Agency, I’m not sure what they would do with Chelsea. But we really do need to get out of here. Ten will probably wake up in a bad mood. JT, you know Michael’s not going to be happy with you. Neither is your father. He’s obviously trying to get the Agency to help with Malone Oil’s overseas problems.”
JT shook his head. “Don’t you worry about that. It’s been a while since Mike and I beat the shit out of each other. It’ll be like old times. As for the other, well, I think Malone Oil has been fine on our own for a long time. It’s time my father and my brother remember that family comes first.”
It did. Sometimes a man’s family went past blood. He turned to Ian. “I’m sorry. I thought I was doing what was best for her and for the team. I should have sat down and talked this out with you.”
“Damn straight, brother. But I really do understand.” Ian put an arm around Charlotte. “The Dennis women can drive a man crazy. Let’s get out of here. Alex is waiting in the driveway with the van. We’re getting out of Dodge for a while, if you know what I mean. We’re dropping Adam and Jake off and then we’re heading for a safe house. We’ll figure out what the hell’s going on before we surface again.”
Chelsea tugged on his hand. “Simon, I just need a minute.”
“All right.” She was likely still worried about dragging her sister in, but she had to see that Charlotte wouldn’t be anywhere else.
Just as he was turning to her, Jesse crashed into the room and he wasn’t alone. A very angry Case Taggart was holding him by the back of the neck, leveling a SIG at his head.
Ian rolled those blue eyes of his. “I thought I told you to go to the van.”
A grimace crossed Jesse’s face. “Yeah, I got waylaid, boss. Sorry.”
Case stopped, not letting up on his grip. “I don’t think you’re going anywhere. Not a damn one of you.”
His cousin hadn’t been very thorough. “I thought you took them all out.”
“I was sure I hit him. He went down.” JT shook his head.
“I found Ten and knew something was up,” Case shot back. “You hit my wallet, asshole, but I played along. And you owe me thirty bucks because it was a good wallet that now has a hole in it. Look here, I don’t give a shit what kind of family problems Mike has. Obviously he’s got issues he needs to deal with, but I will defend my team and my mission. I’ll shoot every single one of you fuckers and I’ll start with this one.”
“Holy shit,” Charlotte said, her eyes widening. Her mouth dropped open. Yes, she’d obviously gotten a good look at Case.
“Jesse, you stay calm.” The last thing he needed was a Jesse meltdown. It looked like the Taggart family reunion was going to happen here and now.
“I’m cool,” he said, his hands up. “It’s hard to be afraid of him. I really just can’t stop thinking of how much he looks like Ian. I keep expecting him to smack me upside the head and tell me I’m an idiot.”
“I’m going to blow your head away, asshole. I want to know what you shot my brother full of.” Case’s question was directed at JT, who was now standing directly in front of his mother.
“Nothing but what you used on my cousin. He’ll wake up,” JT said, his voice steady. Simon had to give it to him. He was cool under pressure.
“He doesn’t look like me,” Ian was saying. He turned his head a bit as though considering the problem from all angles.
“Are you kidding me?” Charlotte pointed Case’s way.
Ah, so they were going to go the chaos route. It was a good play, especially since Simon sincerely doubted Case wanted this to end in multiple dead bodies. So Ian and Charlotte would argue and distract Case while someone else used the cover to deal with the younger man. Simon watched as Jake and Adam exchanged a glance.
“He looks nothing like me, Charlie.” Ian crossed his arms over his massive chest as if to say clearly I’m not a threat. Look, I can’t even reach for a gun.
“He’s like your twin,” Charlotte argued back, looking every inch the impatient wife.
Jake nodded slightly and moved slowly back.
Adam stepped up, covering his partner’s move. “I think Big Tag’s right. That dude is way more attractive and younger. He doesn’t have all of Tag’s frown lines. Dude, smile every once and a while.”
“Shut up all of you,” Case said. “I don’t care who you are. You’re all going to stand down. I want the redhead to come over here and take the zip ties out of my pocket. She’s going to tie up the big guy first and the rest of the men, including that traitor over there.”
JT simply shook his head. “This ain’t going down the way you want it to, man.”
Ian was suddenly deeply serious. “My wife isn’t doing anything, and you might not care about who I am but I damn straight want to know who the hell you are. I take it my bastard father wasn’t happy simply walking out on me and my brother. The fucker couldn’t get a vasectomy, could he? Tell me you’re some sort of distant cousin and that the Taggart genes just run true.”
“He’s your brother, Ian,” Simon said quietly.
“I am not his brother.” Case’s voice cracked just the slightest, the only way Simon could tell he was at all emotional. “My brother is laid out in that hallway with a dart sticking out of his thigh.”
Ian shook his head. “There’s another one of him? Older or younger?”
“Younger, but only by a couple of minutes. They’re fraternal twins, but it’s easy to see who’s the leader. His brother’s name is Theo and if I had to guess, I would bet Case has spent his life looking out for him. Much like you and Sean.” Ian had to understand that Case would be serious about his brother.
Ian held up his hands and took a step up. All the while, Jake had been moving, clinging to the wall like a ghost. “I understand what it means to be left behind and to have to grow up really damn fast because someone is depending on you. Tell me he stayed with you. Tell me he got a second chance and turned out to be a good father.”
“He left when I was sixteen. Not that he was much of a dad before that. Stand down, asshole.” Case’s eyes moved right to Jake. “Move back with the group or I take out someone’s kneecap.”
Jake stopped, holding up his hands as though he’d only been taking a leisurely stroll. He rejoined Adam.
Ian nodded. “I think I know this story well. Dad takes off for parts unknown leaving you and baby brother. You had to watch out for him because your mother had to work.”
A hard huff came out of Case’s throat. “My mother became an alcoholic who could barely get out of bed to buy another bottle of vodka. I kept everything together. I did that.”
“If I had known about you…” Ian started.
“You never even looked for the old man or you would have found us,” Case began. He stopped and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Like I said, you’re no brother of mine.”
“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong,” Ian replied. “Blood means something to me. Brotherhood means something to me and that’s exactly why Ten recruited you. That son of a bitch.”
Jake slipped closer. Case’s whole focus was on Ian. “He recruited us because we’re the best.”
“Oh, brother, you’re not even close yet. And you tell Ten that I’ll have a talk with him soon and he won’t like what I have to say.”
“You forget that I have the upper hand,” Case replied, sounding just as arrogant as Big Tag ever had.
“And you forget that I always have backup. Alex, take him easy,” Tag said.
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Simon saw what he hadn’t before. Alex McKay had come in from the side door, very likely shadowing Case from the moment he took Jesse.
He put his SIG to the back of Case’s neck. “Ease down slowly. I don’t want to kill a Taggart, but I will if I have to.”
Case cursed and Simon let out a sigh of relief when he finally lowered his weapon and let it drop to the floor.
Jesse moved out of the way, striding to Simon’s side.
Case stared at Ian. “We’ll be coming after you and I swear I’ll be the one to take you down.” His eyes strayed Simon’s way. “We don’t leave team members behind either. You should be ready for that.”
It was Simon’s turn to stare because he didn’t think that had been directed at him. He looked down at Chelsea, who’d gone a pale white. Was she terrified that Ten would keep coming after her? He’d failed her once by letting Ten get the jump on him. Was she afraid he would prove incompetent again? She had to know he would lay down his life to keep her safe.
Ian stepped up and stood in front of his brother. Now that they were so close, Simon could see the differences. Case was definitely younger than Ian, his hair threaded through with bronze where Ian’s was pure Nordic blond. Case was just the tiniest bit shorter than his brother, but his shoulders were just as broad and his nose had been broken at some point giving what likely would have been a perfect male-model face some real masculinity.
“And you should know that this is far from over, brother,” Ian said before nodding to Alex.
“You’re not…” Case’s defiant words were cut short by Alex bringing the butt of his SIG down on Case’s head. The younger Taggart dropped to a heap on the floor.
Ian stared, all joking gone from his expression. “How did I not know this? What the hell am I going to tell Sean?”
Charlotte was there with him, her arms going around his waist. “The truth. Ian, this isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known about this.”
“But Ten did.” Ian’s lips curled up in a nasty snarl. “Ten fucking knew.”
“Yes and I’m sure he also knew that if you had any conception you had a couple of brothers out there, you would go after them. Ten’s got a job to do, too. You know he’s had a hole in his operation since you left. Don’t start a war with him until you talk to him.” Charlotte seemed determined to be the voice of reason.
Alex shook his head as he looked down at the currently defunct Case. “That is so weird. And he’s got a Southern accent. Even weirder. Did I hear him say there’s another one? Should I bundle them up for transport?”
Ian shook his head. “No. We’ll deal with them later. We have to get Simon and Chelsea out of here and now. Adam?”
Adam didn’t need more than that to know what Ian was asking. “I’m on it. I’ll get everything about them to you in twenty-four hours. I’ll find out what they eat for breakfast and how often they crap, Tag.”
The slightest smile tugged at Ian’s lips. “I think I can live without the last part, but thank you, Adam.” He turned back to JT. “Mr. Malone, I owe you a favor. I expect you to collect one day.”
JT nodded. “I suspect a favor from you is worth something, Mr. Taggart.”
Chelsea pulled her hand out of his. “Simon, I’m not leaving this house.”
He turned and sighed. She could be difficult at times. “I promise I’ll get you clothes once we’re out of here. I suspect Charlotte might have already handled that problem.”
He grabbed her hand again and started toward the driveway.
Charlotte jogged up beside them. “I did indeed. I have a bag packed for little sister.” She lowered her voice. “We’re driving to Florida. We’re going to hide out in the condo. It’s under a fake name that no one will tie to us. You’ll see. A little beach time and we’ll figure this whole mess out.”
Chelsea dragged her heels. “No. I’m not going. Simon, I want to talk to you, but we’re out of time. I can’t go with you.”
He stopped as they made it outside. The night was warm and quiet except for the sounds of crickets chirping. It was peaceful, but frustration built inside him. Why did she have to make everything so difficult? “You can and you will. Charlotte wants to be here. I was wrong to not involve her. I was wrong to take you away. We’re a team and we stand by each other.”
She shook her head. “No. We’re not a team. Simon, I never meant to leave with you.”
The rest of the team was moving. Alex sighed as he jogged by and opened the driver’s side door. Jesse patted him on his back. Even Jake and Adam sent him sympathetic glances. Because they all knew he was in over his head with her.
It was time he took charge. He was sick of his brothers looking at him like he was a pathetic chump who couldn’t handle his submissive. “Get into the van right now. I understand you’re afraid and we’ll talk about it later, but right now you will get into the van and keep quiet. You will obey me or I swear you won’t be able to sit our entire ride to the condo.”
Charlotte winced, but Ian was right behind her. “Not a word, baby. This is Simon’s gig.”
At least Ian was willing to back him.
Chelsea was so fragile looking in the moonlight, but she shook it off and he watched as she pulled that armor around herself again. Gone was the vulnerability, like it had never existed in the first place.
“No. I’m not going to obey you, Simon. Or you, Ian. I’m staying here because I work for Ten now. I chose this and there’s nothing you can do about it so get out of here and don’t worry about me anymore.”
It took a few seconds for the words to really penetrate. She’d done what? “He blackmailed you.”
She shook her head. “No. He didn’t blackmail me. He offered me power and money and that’s what I want, Simon. I’m sick of all of this. I want what I had. I want to be The Broker again. I’m sorry. I should have told you, but I also wanted to sleep with you.”
He was trying to let her words sink in. “And you knew I wouldn’t if I thought you weren’t serious.”
She shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal. “I told you I was curious.”
He felt like she’d kicked him in the gut. He’d been nothing but a curiosity for her? He’d invested in her, sacrificed for her and she’d lied so she could sleep with him and satisfy her bloody curiosity?
“Chelsea, you don’t mean any of this,” Charlotte said slowly. “What’s going on? What did Ten do? And Ian, I take back everything I said. Go to war. Kill that fucker.”
Chelsea turned on her sister. “Don’t you dare. I won’t have you ruining this for me. You have your comfy little life. I want mine now. I don’t want to be Simon’s sweet little sub, popping out his kids and making sure his suits are pressed. I’m smarter than that. I deserve better. I deserve the life Ten is offering me and I won’t let any of you hold me back. Do you know how pathetic I’ve been? Pretending to be Adam’s little assistant or some shit. I’m smarter than all of you combined, so I’m leaving and I’m not looking back.”
Charlotte’s eyes had narrowed. “You better rethink this whole thing because this is not going to go well for you. I’m going to give you some sisterly advice. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but you’re going to lose this battle and you’re going to have to grovel. Apologize to him right now and maybe, just maybe he’ll calm down in a few months and you’ll have a shot with him again. You are throwing away something special and you might not get another shot at it. He’s been patient and kind, and for some reason I’m pretty sure he loves you and you’re about to kill that emotion. It’s not something you want to be responsible for. So throw yourself at his mercy and tell him everything right now.”
It might work. If she was hiding something, if Ten had convinced her there was a greater purpose in working for him, perhaps he could consider it. He actually felt a little hollow. He didn’t want to consider it. Suddenly, he rather wanted to be done with all of it. Months and months he’d spent pursuing her and it was all for nothing. Worse than nothing, actu
ally. She’d actively lied. She’d known how he felt and used it against him.
He straightened his shoulders. He was once again the object of everyone’s pity. Just a left behind boy.
Maybe Chelsea could finally teach him what nothing in his life had.
“Simon, I’m sorry.” Her lip trembled, but perhaps that was an affectation, too. She’d gotten good at manipulating him. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, but I want to stay with Ten.”
It was time to let her go. Once and forever. He took a deep breath and gave her his most serene smile, the one he’d perfected over years and years of telling everyone he was all right. “I understand. Come here. Give me a hug and we’ll be done.”
“Simon,” Ian began.
She practically ran into his arms. “I’m so sorry.”
In one swift move, he turned her and got his arm around her neck. She couldn’t be left behind, but he didn’t trust her to come quietly. She would put everyone at risk including herself and that couldn’t happen. “I’m sorry, too, love. This is probably going to be quite painful.”
He pressed on her carotid artery, depriving her brain of blood. It was a move he’d practiced hundreds of times and had perfected. In the hands of an amateur, it would be dangerous, but he knew exactly what he was doing. She slumped over, completely unconscious.
Charlotte was crying as he lifted her up. “You’re a good man, Simon. She didn’t mean any of that. I know her. When she’s backed into a corner, she spits bile but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t care for you. I’ve watched her since she’s met you. She’s crazy about you. She’s hiding something. You’ll see. I’ll go make a place for her.”
Charlotte was an optimist of the highest order. He’d required one thing from Chelsea. Some modicum of trust and the tiniest bit of honesty. He was willing to look past every other problem, but she didn’t really want him. Not for any length of time. She’d wanted someone to fuck her and he’d been enthusiastic. She would likely just move on to Ten now that she knew she enjoyed sex.
