Dangerous in Charge

by Sidney Bristol

  Bethany blinked at the bearded man.

  Faith was married?

  But, she always had a new boyfriend. Boy toys she called them sometimes.

  “What the hell?” Megan turned to look across the room.

  Faith buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook, and she sobbed.

  Bethany stared at her roommate and friend, the mixed emotions running through her. The knee jerk reaction was to pull away. Distance herself from this person she didn’t really know.

  But hadn’t that been the point all along?

  They’d wanted a fresh start. All of them. For reasons they hadn’t shared.

  Bethany didn’t know why Faith had left her marriage like she had, but she could guess from the fearful response the image of her husband earned it hadn’t been a happy affair.

  They were the family they’d chosen. They were supposed to be there for each other in their own, dysfunctional way.

  “Turn it off.” Bethany climbed off the bed and crossed the room to wrap her arms around Faith.

  “I’m the one who should have come clean?” Megan threw her hand at the screen. “You’re married to that.”

  “Megan, not now.” Bethany glared right back. “Turn. It. Off.”

  “No, I want to know what they’ll say about you.” Megan crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back into the fluffy pillows.

  This wasn’t right. None of it was. They’d each left a horrible situation and vowed to leave it in the past. This, their chosen family, was about moving forward not tearing each other down. This was fear at work. They’d all been scared of something and now they were cornered. The only option left was to get angry.

  “Bethany Rossi’s family and boyfriend just want her home safe,” another journalist said as the screen jumped to a different location.

  The shot of her parent’s house with her family and Anthony standing out front hit her like a punch to the gut. She clung to Faith, her knees going wobbly. The shot cut to a close up of Anthony’s too perfect face. Except he didn’t hardly look like the same man anymore.

  He’d gained weight, filling out his cheeks. He hadn’t cut his hair lately, which was strange. His clothes were neat and ironed, no doubt thanks to Mom.

  Was he still living in the garage apartment? The apartment that used to be theirs?

  The camera panned to her parents. In the few years since she’d last seen them they’d aged. There were more lines on Mom’s face. Dad had lost a good deal of hair.

  Anthony leaned into the shot, a microphone in hand and said, “We just want Bethany to come home safe.”

  Those pale green eyes of his seemed to stare straight through the TV right at her.

  Bethany shuddered and gulped.

  She still had nightmares about those eyes locking on her late at night. Anthony presented the perfect picture to the world. He’d pretend to be a kind, caring boyfriend, but when it was just them he’d become a manipulative bastard. She’d spent years with him, buying into the idea that without his guidance she was nothing. He was the only person who could love her. No one else liked or cared for her the way he did.

  So many lies.

  “Beth? Bethany?” Kyle pounded on the bedroom door.

  Faith must not have latched the door because it swung open and bounced off the wall.

  Kyle took a step in and stared at the screen, his face grim.

  “We just saw. I’m sorry,” he said.

  “You let this get out?” Megan threw her hand toward the TV.

  “No. None of our team has said anything,” Kyle said.

  “Isn’t it obvious? Your family is the one who told them who we are.” Faith pulled out of Bethany’s arms. “This is all your fault.”

  “No. No, Faith. It isn’t,” Bethany said. “We can’t think like that.”

  “Why not? It’s the truth.” Faith took a step away from Bethany. “I can’t be here anymore.”

  “Faith!”

  Bethany reached for Faith, but she pushed Bethany away and fled the room. She followed, only to have Kyle block her path.

  “Give her some space,” he whispered.

  “She needs us,” Bethany said.

  “Look, one of my best friends has had an estranged relationship with his wife—”

  “This is different.”

  “Maybe it is, but let me finish? Whatever Faith’s reasons were for leaving, she needs some space to work this out.” Kyle glanced over her shoulder to Megan. “You know what? I think Isaac’s girlfriend, Tanya, should join us for a bit.”

  “Why?” Megan asked.

  “She’s a therapist that specializes in dealing with trauma.”

  Trauma.

  Faith was one of those people who had bark and bite, but one image of her husband had sent her running to the corner, shaking like a leaf.

  Bethany swallowed.

  Whatever had happened to Faith, it was worse than she’d ever imagined. Bethany had always assumed that Faith’s problems couldn’t be that bad. She held it together so well. She laughed. She was outgoing and fun. There was always some new guy pining for her attention. Bethany had never considered that under all that, Faith was hiding some serious shit.

  “How do they know about the Triple Threat connection?” Bethany asked.

  “My guess is Roger. We know he tipped off the media when they went to the theater. It makes sense he’d let this slip, too.” Kyle stroked Bethany’s arms. “I’m going to get our two PIs, Ian and Travis, on looking into your families. Our priority is keeping you ladies safe, and that includes the people you’ve been avoiding.”

  “What will PIs do for us?” Bethany didn’t understand what he was getting at.

  “He wants to give us the foundation for a case against them,” Megan said.

  “A case?” Bethany blinked up at Kyle.

  His face changed, going a bit cold. “You want to keep these people out of your lives? You need leverage. Something to use against them.”

  “I don’t want to attack my family.” Bethany took a step away from Kyle. All she really wanted was for her parents and sister to see that Anthony wasn’t God’s gift to everyone. She didn’t want to hurt them.

  “I’m talking about Anthony,” Kyle said.

  Bethany swallowed.

  She wanted Anthony out of her life and far away from her family, but was she willing to go that far?

  “I’d like for you to gather up your things. We’re going to move locations in about an hour,” he said.

  “How? There’s a billion people out front?” Megan asked.

  “We’re going through the back yard and across the neighbor’s property. They’re going to let us pull a SUV into their garage where we will load you all up. We will have one of our SUVs here leave as a distraction while we take you out a back entrance and to another safe house. This time we will not be sharing our location with the police.”

  “What if he’s already found us?” Megan’s voice seemed to shrink.

  Bethany didn’t have to guess who he was.

  “That’s why we’re going to get you ladies out here,” Kyle said.

  “What if this was what Roger wanted?” Bethany stared up at Kyle. “To use us as bait?”

  “I can’t guess at why he did this, but I promise you we’ll keep all three of you safe, okay?”

  “Then why include Roger at all? You could have kept us safe that way.” Bethany wrapped her arms around herself.

  “The system doesn’t work that way,” Kyle said.

  “The system is what’s trying to get us killed.” Bethany pulled away from Kyle.

  He kept promising safety, and yet it was his decision to bring Roger here that put them at risk in the first place. Could she trust his judgment if that was what he’d do?

  KYLE MENTALLY GATHERED up all the tension vibrating between him and Bethany then boxed it up.

  This was why he thought getting involved with an asset was a bad idea. When it came to the tough moments, the personal nature
of the relationship got in the way of the job. Unlike the others, he’d brought this complication with him and he wasn’t all that regretful about it. He still had to handle it like a proper Team Leader no matter what.

  “It’s working. They’re all focused on Zain and Tanya leaving. Several are packing up. A few have already jumped in their cars,” Isaac said from the front of the house.

  “Felix?” Kyle stepped out onto the back patio.

  “Looks good over here.”

  “Ryan, Vito? How’s our getaway car?” Kyle grabbed the two bags he’d be able to travel with. The bulk of the gear they’d brought with them would stay here until a support team could pick it up.

  “Ready and waiting,” Ryan answered.

  Kyle glanced over his shoulder at the three women. Faith had stopped shaking, but now she wouldn’t look at anyone. Megan glared at everything. And he didn’t like the hard line of Bethany’s lips. It didn’t bode well for later.

  Focus.

  Right now he had to get them out of here.

  “Let’s go,” Kyle said.

  Shane strode out ahead of the women to the ladder leaned up against the privacy fence. Another ladder waited for them on the other side.

  Kyle kept pace with the ladies across the lush back yard.

  No one spoke. Not to each other or him.

  This was the way an op usually went when there were hiccups. Anytime things weren’t a simple get in and get out, there was always a period of strain that tested the boundaries for everyone.

  “We have vacated the safe house,” Isaac said through the headset.

  Kyle could hear the sliding glass doors in stereo.

  “Copy that,” Zain said. “We’ll be outside of transmitting distance in about ten miles. I’ve got a caravan behind us.”

  Shane scaled the ladder, hauling three bags with him. As soon as he was over Kyle tossed the bags he’d carried over, then climbed the wobbly thing himself. He skipped the ladder and leapt to the ground, drawing the first easy breath he’d taken since the news broke the story about the girls and their intended killer.

  He understood Bethany holding him responsible. It made sense. And yet, it was a burden he didn’t deserve. It was the responsibility of being Team Leader. Even the unrealistic expectations were his to deliver.

  “Megan’s coming over,” Isaac said.

  Shane and Kyle braced either side of the ladder.

  Megan’s head popped over and she frowned at the ladder.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said.

  Despite the ordeal she’d been through, she made it over the fence with only a little assistance. It was clear from the way she winced that her feet were the biggest issue right now. Keeping her off them was their new objective.

  “Faith’s coming over,” Isaac announced.

  The blonde woman peered over the top of the fence. The change in her was the most drastic. She’d gone from cracking jokes and demanding answers to shaking worse than a leaf. Somehow she’d grown smaller and more frail.

  “You’ve got this,” Kyle said.

  “Give me your hand and put your leg over.” Shane offered her his left hand.

  Together they coached her in crossing from one yard to the next.

  “Shane, why don’t you help them into the garage?” Kyle nodded at Faith.

  Megan might be in the worst shape, but Faith was going through something in her head that had her wound up worse than Megan.

  “Bethany? You coming over?” Kyle called out.

  “Here she comes,” Isaac said.

  Kyle kept his hands on the ladder.

  Bethany scaled their fence bridge like a pro with no more than a frown. He couldn’t help but notice the way she completely avoided looking at him. The chill coming off her was enough to give him freezer burn.

  “Need a hand?” he asked as she made her descent.

  “No, thank you.” Her tone was equally as frosty.

  Kyle bit back his words.

  They’d get to the new safe house and then he’d pull her aside and explain things.

  No, he hadn’t wanted to bring Roger Blew in. The simple facts were he had to. They were on American soil and bound by American laws. They couldn’t impede an investigation, especially one that would protect the girls. None of them had any power over who the cops were investigating the matter.

  Isaac and Felix tossed their gear over then climbed the fence. By the time they gathered up the bags, Shane, and the women were already in the garage.

  “Trouble in paradise?” Isaac asked.

  “Let’s load up and get out of here.” Kyle didn’t acknowledge Isaac’s quip. He enjoyed being a pain in the ass at times, for whatever reason.

  They crossed the lawn without spying the home’s owners who knew what was going on. Likely they wanted as little to do with this as possible

  Kyle stepped into the garage. The ladies stood by while Shane loaded the vehicle. They’d only be taking one SUV which meant it was going to be a tight fit.

  While the others got the gear stowed, Kyle climbed behind the wheel. Usually this was Adam’s job, but with him gone for the moment Kyle needed this modicum of control. If the only way he got that was behind the wheel, then so be it. He’d take this drive and milk it for all he could get.

  “How’s the street look?” Kyle asked.

  “All clear,” Ryan responded.

  “Your exit is clear, too,” Vito chimed in.

  Kyle peered into the rearview mirror.

  Bethany sat in the middle of the back row, her head down, still not looking at him.

  “Opening the garage,” Felix announced.

  He focused on the garage wall in front of him while the guys climbed in.

  She was cornered and scared. That was all this was.

  “Everyone buckled?” He shifted into reverse.

  A chorus of yes answered him, but he couldn’t help but notice Bethany’s lips didn’t move.

  “Let’s roll.” He pressed the accelerator, and the SUV coasted out to the road.

  Vito and Ryan’s surveillance vehicles were conspicuous parked on the street the way they were, but the HOA knew who they belonged to.

  “Cameras show the front of the house is clear,” Ryan offered.

  With the media off their tail Kyle was fairly certain he could lose anyone else.

  He got the SUV pointed toward the exit.

  An hour or so of mindless driving and he could put everything straight. He knew he could.

  17.

  SUNDAY. AEGIS GROUP Safe House, Seattle, Washington.

  Jay saw the silver SUV roll out of the community from his vantage point at the gas station.

  He’d been right.

  A little too much information shared freely, and they’d left their safe burrow.

  This was Jay’s luck taking a turn for the better.

  The gated community was too secure. It would have taken him too long to figure out how to flush them out. This way was better.

  He watched the SUV roll to a stop at the red light and sank down farther in his seat.

  It really was stupid luck that he’d seen those two goons who’d been stationed at the gate go in with the luxury SUV. If Jay hadn’t been scoping out why they were interested in the back yard to begin with he’d have to focus on following them.

  The light changed to green, and the SUV accelerated away.

  Jay glanced down at his tablet and watched the blue dot blip away.

  Keeping Megan’s phone and using the girl’s tracking habits against them was one of the more clever things he’d done. All he had to do now was wait until they stopped then swoop in and take his prizes. He didn’t even have to follow them.

  In fact, he should have dinner. It was going to be a long night, and he had so much to accomplish if things went his way.

  At this rate he’d be home in a few days with Mom and prepared to deal with another year of her steadily declining health.

  SUNDAY. SECONDARY
AEGIS Group Safe House, Seattle, Washington.

  Bethany sat on the sofa in their new digs. She had to pee, but no one was allowed to leave the room until the whole fucking place was secure.

  Whatever the hell that meant.

  They’d driven around the city for close to two hours with one bottle of water and no stops. Megan was so tense and knotted up she ached. Then there was the continuous high level tension Faith was holding onto.

  What they needed was to rest. Driving around in the name of safety was stupid. They should have stopped an hour or more ago.

  Kyle strode through the living room without looking at them.

  “Can we pee yet?” she asked.

  He paused and turned toward them.

  “Just a few more minutes.” He even had the nerve to smile. For some reason that was her last straw.

  “No.” Bethany pushed to her feet. “I’m going to the bathroom and Megan is going to go lay down.”

  “We’re almost ready to settle in. Just a few more minutes,” he said.

  “No,” she snapped. “I’m done with this waiting game. This is bullshit.”

  She turned toward Megan and offered her a hand. Her silence was more telling than anything. Megan always had a comment or a sarcastic remark. If she was this quiet, she had to be hurting.

  “Beth...” The annoyance in Kyle’s voice grated.

  He was annoyed?

  Well so was she.

  They’d trusted him and his team, and now their painful, private lives were plastered everywhere. This wasn’t just one nightmare to live through, it was two.

  “There we go.” Bethany wrapped her arm around Megan’s waist and guided her toward the hall. “Come on, Faith.”

  “The master is through the kitchen,” Kyle said.

  On the other side of the house.

  Great.

  “Fine. Okay.” Bethany got them turned around.

  They made a slow march across the living room. Like the previous house, this one had an open concept all in beige. She’d never seen a place more monotone than this one.

  As far as she could see there wasn’t a whole lot to be done. Wasn’t a peak in each room and a glimpse under all the beds good enough? Or was there more?

  Whatever it was, they could do it while the girls rested.