by TL Reeve
The monitor mounted to the wall flickered to life, and Asher was dead center at the table, surrounded by the upper elite of his team. Even through the screen, Duncan could sense the other man’s intensity. Noah sat to Asher’s right and Callahan to his left. The other members were spread around, and nestled in the right-hand corner of the screen was Agent Laura Pratt, sitting alone in a standard FBI conference room.
Without any preamble, Asher began the meeting. “As you all know by now, it appears Raul has gone on a killing spree.”
The bastard should’ve been six feet under after the shit in Mexico, but instead he was wreaking havoc in the States. It pissed Duncan the hell off. Whoever tipped Raul off to the raid cost them everything. Now, Raul was trying to cover his tracks and make sure no one was left behind to betray him. “Other than the Suarezes?”
Asher nodded. “A few of Raul’s lieutenants. They moved their families to the US. Some joined their families in rural areas of Mexico when shit went south during the auction. All of them are figuring out they weren’t as smart as they thought.”
“Not surprising.” Duncan snorted. Raul wasn’t stupid, not when it came to making sure his underlings remained loyal. The easiest way to keep his men under his thumb was to use their family to get what he wanted or needed. He’d learned that from his da while still in nappies.
“Raul knew where their loved ones were the entire time,” Asher added.
“Of course he did.” Duncan rolled his shoulders. “Look, this is all simple shit. Raul isn’t going to allow his men to run away while he’s on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. He’s going to force them to help him. Those not loyal will end up dead.”
Thomas joined Duncan, standing behind his right shoulder. “How many?”
“Including the Suarezes, a dozen,” Noah answered. “That we know of.”
“Where?” Thomas pressed.
“Mostly the West Coast and a couple in the Mid-West,” Asher said, features twisted in anger. “It’s why we can’t say definitively it’s all Raul, even if it is his men who’ve died.”
Pratt cleared her throat, gaining the attention of the others. “I’ve already reached out to the local authorities for the coroners’ reports with the hopes of getting the time of death on the victims along with method. With Naomi, he slit her throat. We have to assume he would do the same with the others. The reports should also give us a clear idea of the path he’s taken and where he’s going.”
Duncan snorted. If all of the murders were connected, it was obvious where Raul was going. “He’s heading toward Virginia, most likely Virginia Beach, to grab Bexley.”
“Agreed,” Asher said before turning his attention to Noah. He said something in a tone so low the mics didn’t catch it.
Noah nodded, making notes on the handheld device resting in front of him.
“Maybe we can get lucky and he’ll get picked up because of a busted headlight or something,” Omar said.
“That shit only happens in movies,” Thomas stated.
“You still moving your witnesses?” Asher cocked a brow, referencing their conversation from last night.
Duncan nodded. “After dinner tonight, we’ll head over.”
“Do the siblings know about their parents?”
Duncan had explained the situation, but when it came down to it, Bella and Enzo understood what might happen if they joined the cartel. Just like he realized the path his life would take the minute he joined his father. Death. “Told them this morning.”
Noah tapped his pen on the desk. “Any chance they’ll do something stupid and make a run for it?”
Duncan shrugged. “If they do, they’re on their own.”
Omar whistled. “That’s cold-blooded, man.”
“They know the risks. I’ve been upfront with them both.”
“Reiterate everything with them again. I don’t want any confusion,” Asher ordered.
“Will do.” Duncan bit his tongue. He and Thomas didn’t take orders from the Commander of R.O.O.T. but from the Director of the FBI. The only reason R.O.O.T. was there was due to the cases crossing. That’s it.
“Omar is going to need access to your apartment at Club X. He’ll do a sweep for bugs and set it up so if anyone does try to get a device in or around you, the only thing they’ll hear is static.”
“I’ll give him a key and let Mistress Trixie know what he’ll be doing there. Whatever he has to set up, I want it finished before I bring Enzo and Bella in,” he said with authority.
“Agreed.”
“I’ll plan to be on his six anytime he steps out of the club, boss,” Omar assured Asher.
Kissass.
Asher’s gaze flickered to something, or someone, off-camera before his full attention came back to them. “We all need to keep each other in the loop. Any update, no matter how small, I want to know. If shit is going to go down with Raul, I want to be a step ahead of that bastard.”
Duncan nodded before the screen went black.
Omar stood. “I’m out.” The sound of the chair dragging across the wood floors had Duncan clenching his teeth in irritation.
“At least FBI agents have some fucking manners,” Thomas bitched.
He chuckled. One thing about Thomas was that he had manners and expected others to use them as he did. Asher, on the other hand, was an asshole. But the other man knew it, owned it, and made no excuses about it. “He’s a meathead.”
“You got everything covered?” Thomas inquired.
He gave a tired sigh. “Yeah. I’ll let you know when we’re settled tonight.”
Thomas nodded. “If you need anything, you’ll let me know, yeah?”
He flashed his partner a forced smile. “Will do.” The words sat on the tip of his tongue to tell Thomas about the sensation of being watched, but he held back. Since they had Omar with them, they were safer than before. Nevertheless, the niggle scratching at the back of his neck was a warning.
They weren’t alone.
Chapter Three
“Trixie, we need to talk,” Duncan said over the phone.
“Oh? Do we?” The way she purred her words had him shaking his head. “Are you leaving your FBI job and going rogue? Or have you come to realize kneeling at my feet is where you need to be?”
He chuckled, relieving some of the tension in his shoulders. “If only you were my type.”
“Star crossed lovers.” She sighed. “Destined to never find happiness together.” She cleared her throat. “What can I do for you, Duncan? Are your wards coming tonight?”
“About that...” He scrubbed the back of his neck.
“Oh? Have things resolved themselves then?”
He wished. No, things had become more complicated. Add in Omar, well, he didn’t think there was a better fitting term than FUBAR—Fucked Up Beyond All Repair. The death of Bella and Enzo’s family put another level of stress onto the mission. “I needed to update you on matters.”
“I’m all ears.”
“After I left the club last night, I received a phone call from an old friend in the FBI. It appears Raul’s on a killing spree. He murdered a mother and father in San Diego and at least two of his men near Colorado. He’s slowly making his way to the East Coast.” The murders were methodical, from everything he’d had time to read. It was simple elimination. Take out all those who could possibly turn state’s evidence or worse, go to work for another cartel and destroy what was left of the Nieto Cartel, which wasn’t much.
“The mother and father murdered last night weren’t random, were they? You wouldn’t be giving me inside information if it didn’t have to do with your wards.” Trixie had been around all of them, agents, military men, industry cut-throats, and more so, her intuition was off the charts.
“No, it wasn’t, and no, I wouldn’t.” Bringing Enzo and Bella to Club X could put everyone at risk. If Trixie rescinded her permission, he wouldn’t blame her. “It was their parents.”
“Spit out the rest of it,” Trixie said.
“I know there’s more.”
“I have a guy who’s going to be with Enzo and Bella when I can’t be. His name is Omar Pershing.” The poor guy tried to assert himself as top dog, but he still had a way to go if he thought he intimidated Thomas or Duncan.
“Hmm...”
“I won’t put the club at risk. If you say no now, I’ll understand. You have more to worry about than my case.” Using a BDSM club as a safehouse was a whim anyway. It brought about several challenges like protecting the club members, and as much as Duncan wanted to play with Enzo, explaining where they were if Bella or Enzo tried to sneak their way to the main floor would prove challenging. Even though Paul would stop them, they’d still have questions.
“Where would Omar be when not with Enzo or Bella?”
“Hotel, I assume.”
“Doesn’t sound very advantageous for you or Omar should something happen,” Trixie replied.
“I don’t have any intentions of allowing anything to happen at the club.” Was he making the wrong decision? If he brought the siblings there and someone got hurt, it would be on him. However, the chances of Raul finding them were slim to none. The FBI bought everything they wore, and Duncan even made them ditch their phones. He didn’t think they had trackers on them either. Which meant, more than likely, Raul wasn’t coming for them. He wanted Bexley.
“Still. If you have an operative with you, shouldn’t you maximize his usage?” Trixie had a point. It would be nice to have Omar there, even though he rubbed Duncan the wrong way.
“I’m sure I can figure it out as I go.”
She sighed. “You’re so stubborn, Duncan. It’s part of your charm and also why you infuriate me. Do you have information on this Omar Pershing?”
“I can get it to you. It’ll come from Asher.”
“Send it along. We’ll figure out living arrangements when you arrive. Also, bring Enzo, Bella, and Omar to your quarters using the elevator from the parking garage. It will keep them out of the club proper. Remind them the only two places the elevator goes is to the apartment level and the lobby. Nowhere else.”
“I owe you, Trixie,” Duncan said. “We’ll be there about nine.”
“You do. I’m adding it to your tab,” she teased. “See you tonight.”
Duncan pulled into the driveway of the club and stopped at the guard shack. He hoped Trixie would instruct those who interacted with him for the time being to not refer to him as Master Duncan. It would make for some awkward conversations, though he did want to eventually have them with Enzo and maybe Bella when she wasn’t lost within her grief.
The guard waved him through, and he continued into the parking garage where the resident elevator was located. It would be easier this way. It bypassed them meeting Paul to keep their curiosity to a minimum. Duncan glanced at Enzo. The guy kept checking the mirrors and their surroundings as they drove. He hadn’t stopped yet. Duncan didn’t blame him. They should have died in Mexico, plain and simple. If they had then maybe their parents would be alive.
“This is where you’ll be staying.” Duncan put his car in park then shut it off. “I’ll be with you as much as possible, but there will be times when Omar will be. When he is, if you need anything, he’s the one who will get it.”
“What is this place?” Enzo glanced at the other vehicles already there.
“Think of it as the last place on Earth where Raul would search for you.” Duncan got out. “Come on, let’s head inside.” He guided them to the elevator, and when they were within the car, he pressed the button for the apartment level of the club.
“I need you to sign a few things for me as well.”
“What do you mean?” Enzo kept Bella tucked into his side while Omar stood sentinel behind the three of them.
“It’s better to talk about in the apartment.” The elevator dinged, and Duncan stepped out. His apartment was small compared to the one he shared with Thomas, and it had bachelor written all over it. He stopped in front of his place and inserted his key into the lock. It’d been months since he’d been there. Probably should’ve taken the time to air out the place the night before. “Welcome to my home away from home.”
Duncan stepped inside and flipped the light on. It wasn’t much, but it was manageable. It was clean too, surprising him. Another thing he probably owed Trixie for. “As you can see, there’s a kitchenette, living room/bedroom, and bathroom. This space isn’t made for comfort, but it’s a place to sleep.” He choked on the words, knowing full well he hadn’t slept a wink there on several nights. He raised hell in that room. When he needed privacy with a shy sub, he brought them there and coaxed the wildness out of them.
“Awfully close quarters, don’t you think?” Enzo’s gaze landed on the king-size bed a short distance from the living room. Trixie allowed them to decorate how they wanted, and the first thing Duncan had added to the room was a privacy wall. When the lights were off in the space, the windowpanes on the wall were opaque, but when a lamp came on, they frosted over, giving the area a sense of seclusion.
“The couch pulls out into a queen-sized bed, and I’ll be sleeping there or Omar will, depending on our schedules.” He pointed to the only door in the place. “Bathroom and shower are through there. Towels and soaps should be in the cabinet inside the space. Also, you can put your clothes and such in here.” He crossed to the other side of the room. “Each panel door has different things you may need. Blankets, sheets, pillows. Do not touch the last door. It’s my personal space and items.” He then gestured to the kitchenette. “The fridge isn’t stocked yet, and as small as it is, it’s best for drinks or the ingredients for one meal. I don’t mind takeout, so I can pick it up on the way.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the NDAs for the club and the rules. He knew Trixie would break down the basics for him so he didn’t have to answer too many questions, and they wouldn’t try to sneak a peek of where they were. “On the table, you’ll find the NDAs. Please sign and initial them.”
“Why all the secretiveness?” Bella whispered. “I get we’re here to stay protected, but NDAs?”
“Let’s just say the owner is a stickler for privacy. The people who live here all have different jobs and all kinds of lifestyles, so she doesn’t want people talking about what they might see or hear outside of this building.”
“Makes sense.” Enzo went to the table first and grabbed one of the papers. “Do you need my social security number for real? You run that shit and my record is going to come up.”
Fear lurked in Enzo’s brown eyes. It would be so easy to reassure him all was fine. “Them’s the breaks.” Duncan shrugged.
“Won’t it put me on the public radar or some equally bullshit police thing? Isn’t Raul using that shit to find all of us?”
Bella gasped.
“First, you’re freaking out Bella. Second, you’re safe here. I told you before we left, this place is secure. Plus, you have meathead over here.” He hitched his thumb in Omar’s direction.
“Crazy weto.” Enzo shook his head as he signed the form. “Come on, hermosa, sign yours.”
“Why do they need an NDA from us?” Omar muttered so Enzo and Bella couldn’t hear while he also signed the forms.
“I’ll explain in Trixie’s office.” Duncan grabbed the completed forms and motioned for him to follow. “We’ll be back in about thirty minutes or so. In the meantime, kick back, watch some TV, or get some rest. It’s up to you.”
He closed the door behind him and strolled to the elevator. “There are other ways of getting to the main floors of the club, however you’re not allowed there, and neither is Enzo or Bella.” Duncan wanted to add, for now, nevertheless he kept the tidbit to himself. “This elevator will bring you to the apartment levels or the lobby.” When the doors slid open, he stepped inside and pushed the L-button when Omar joined him.
“I’m still not sure I follow,” Omar said. “You keep saying club, but I don’t hear any music, and I haven’t seen anyone since we stepped
foot into the building.”
Duncan smirked. “You’re not supposed to. That’s the point of the elevator.” When they arrived at the lobby, a few of the club members were entering the main floor. The hum of music and energy zinged through Duncan’s blood. He should be in there. Playing in there. Having his dick sucked in there. God, all he needed was a chance to come down some willing sub’s throat and release some of his built-up tension.
“Ah, Duncan,” Paul said in greeting. “Mis—Trixie is waiting for you in her office.”
Alas, his work was never done, and the only person he seemed to be able to keep a hard-on for was upstairs with his sister, watching TV. “Thank you, Paul.” He started for Trixie’s office. “Come on, Omar. Her office is this way.”
The guy had a curious look on his face as he spied another group of club members entering the main area. He didn’t seem like the type to enjoy the lifestyle. He was a bit too straitlaced and militant for all that. Maybe it was why he didn’t like the guy. Omar was too uptight—too much like the grunts his da bossed around.
Duncan knocked on the office door before stepping inside. There Trixie sat in one of her fitted gowns, this time sparkling from head to toe in a crystal sequence. The royal blue frock brought out her blonde hair and gorgeous eyes.
“There you are. I thought you’d gotten lost.” Trixie stood then glided across the room for an air kiss on the cheek. “Everyone set—who is this hunk of a man?” She held her hand out to Omar.
“Omar Pershing, ma’am.” He gripped her hand for a quick shake then stood at parade rest. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Mmm, interesting.” Trixie took her seat.
Out of the corner of Duncan’s eye, he caught the guy staring at the sway of Trixie’s ass. Well, it was good to know he at least had some interest.
“Sorry it took so long.” Duncan sat in the seat across from Trixie’s desk.
