Blind Justice

by TL Reeve

  “Basketball,” Omar said. “We’re getting into the winter showcases.”

  “Yeah, true,” Enzo agreed. “Who’s your favorite team?”

  “Warriors,” Omar answered. “Shit. Look at that score.” He pointed to the bottom of the screen. “I think they’ll get back to the championship this year.”

  Bella chuckled. “I’m going back to bed. Have a good night, boys.”

  Duncan stepped into R.O.O.T.’s C&C floor and went straight for the conference rooms. There had been an incident at the high school, and the whole team, minus Bronx, who decided to hang with Bex for the evening, was meeting with everyone to give them an update. He hadn’t thought in the beginning their missions would cross paths, but it seemed like the more he tried to find evidence, the more shit crossed over.

  He took a seat at the conference table. The expressions on the high school kids had a knot forming in his gut. What the fuck happened to cause them to appear so morose? When Asher joined them, he closed the door and took his position at the head of the table.

  “Let’s cut right to it, shall we? We have a ton to go over, and these kids need to get back to Bex.” Asher glanced at Alé. “You’re up, kid.”

  The guy with the teardrop tattoo stood. “Three days ago, Bex was attacked again. According to Doc Rae, she has a broken wrist and some cuts and bruises. She’ll be down for a couple of days. The worst part is that the girls responsible used Bex’s fucking prosthetic leg to beat her.”

  Duncan’s stomach roiled in disgust. Bex lost her leg when her father beat her then broke her leg so severely, the doctors had to amputate. “Who found her?”

  “I did. So did Bronx.” Alé shook his head. “Red-handed too. Those bitches were going to kill her if they could.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me,” Noah added. “This is the issue Mateo faced with these kids since Bex arrived at the school. Sucky part, no one at the high school seems inclined to do a damn thing about it.”

  “That’s not the worst though.” Alé nodded to Asher, and the lights went out. Two photos appeared on the projection screen. One was of Marybeth in her school uniform, and the other was of her at some ranch. “Her name is Marybeth Gunther. She’s the granddaughter of Anderson Gunther.”

  Son of a bitch. “Do you think the attacks are connected?”

  “No,” Noah answered. “It fits too perfectly, don’t you think?”

  Duncan shrugged. “In the beginning maybe, however, it would make sense on how Pueblo found out Bex’s location.”

  Alé scrubbed his chin. “There’s a ring of truth there. The easiest way to get to the competition is to go at the weakest link. His kid.”

  “Or her bodyguards. Offer enough money and incentives and they’d look the other way,” Duncan added.

  “There’s more,” Alé said. “We found a video.”

  “More like one was dropped in our laps,” Eito interjected.

  “It’s pretty fucked up.” Ale nodded again, and the images on the screen changed to a video. “We don’t believe Bex knew she was being recorded. Nor did she consent.”

  “Ah, fuck me.” Duncan scrubbed his brow. “Do you have a bead on who shot it?”

  “Working on it,” Alex grumbled. “Whoever was behind it, they did a good job of keeping their identity a secret.”

  “We’ve narrowed down the time, day, and year. It coincides with when Bex lost her leg,” Jacolbi added. “This shit got sent to her father.”

  “We believe,” Alé stated, “the All-Americans and Bitches are behind it. My gut says Marybeth figured out who Bex was and decided as a way to fuck with her she’d send it to Raul, but I can’t prove the latter half.”

  No, but it was good conjecture on his part. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah, there was another fight.” Eito grinned. “It felt good.”

  “Jesus, kid, I thought you were supposed to be keeping a low profile?” It was the second incident where the kids had gotten into it with the assholes who’d made torturing a student an art form.

  “I wouldn’t have engaged had the asshole not broken my mother’s bento box. All bets were off then.” Eito shrugged. “I’m more than sure this’ll cause issues for Bexley, but we’re of the same mind. We will protect her.”

  Asher grunted. “You’ve all done good work. Your quick action saved Bex in more ways than once, and showing off a little in the cafeteria also put the message out loud and clear that anyone who fucks with her, or you, will have hell to pay.”

  “We’re still going through financials,” Alex said. “We should have more information on that front by the weekend.”

  “I also went by the dry cleaners,” Jacolbi said. “It’s closed. Everything is gone and there’s a for sale sign in the window.”

  “She’s running out of food and money.” Alé cut his gaze to Asher. “We’ve been catching her snagging extras. Twice now I’ve offered to treat her to a meal, but she tells me to stay away.”

  “Be more persistent, kid,” Duncan said. “She’s a caged, broken animal right now. She doesn’t know who she can trust and who she can’t. By all of your actions, you’re giving her a chance to see that people care. Keep going.”

  Asher nodded. “Exactly. Alex, Eito, I want the financials in my email by Monday morning. Jacolbi and Alé, keep up with being makeshift bodyguards. Tell Bronx she’s doing good too. You’ve all stepped up your games. I’m proud of you. However, if you could keep your asses out of the office, that would be great.”

  Alé chuckled. “Won’t make any promises, but we’ll do better.”

  “All I can ask for,” Asher said. “Now, get out of here. We have business to take care of, and you guys can’t be here. Dismissed.”

  Everyone left, leaving just Asher and himself.

  “Omar working out okay?” the Commander of R.O.O.T asked.

  “Yeah, most times they barely even know he’s around.” Duncan shrugged. “Which isn’t exactly easy, considering how damn small the apartment is.”

  Asher cocked a brow. “You could always just hand them over to the FBI and wash your hands of it.”

  He could, but he wouldn’t. He’d made a promise, one he intended to keep to both Bella and Enzo. Of course, on the flip side, he wanted to see if his gut feelings on Enzo were correct.

  “Yeah…that’s what I thought,” Asher said. “Which one has your interest?”

  “Wait…what?”

  Asher gave him one of those knowing looks he’d come to recognize since he started collaborating with the black ops group. “Just be careful, Duncan. They’re both carrying some heavy ass baggage.”

  Duncan shook his head and took a defensive pose. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  Asher gave a sardonic chuckle. “Yeah, okay. I can play it that way too.”

  Duncan rubbed the back of his neck, not willing to admit shit to himself or the busybody Commander sitting across from him. “Can I just tell you what I need to so I can go home and get my ass to bed at a decent time tonight?”

  “I honestly thought we were.”

  He snorted. “No, you”—he pointed at Asher—"were telling me to be careful about something.”

  “Jesus. You’re one of those.”

  He looked at Asher in confusion. “One of those? By that, I’m assuming you mean I’m one of those FBI Agents?”

  Asher grunted. “We both know that isn’t exactly the truth, now don’t we, laddie?”

  He chuckled. “It’s lad. Laddie is Scottish. Which I’m most assuredly not.” He went to stand, not willing to play these stupid games with the other man. “We’re done.”

  Unfazed, Asher pointed to the vacant chair. “Sit down, you’re not going anywhere.”

  “I’m in no mood, Asher. I never took you as one of those people,” he said, throwing the other man’s words back into his face.

  “Meaning?”

  “You’re a hypocrite,” he snapped, feeling the slightest twinge of pain at the base of his neck. Another thing he di
dn’t need, a migraine.

  Asher leaned back in his chair and placed his hands over his belly, watching him. “Actually, I’m not.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.”

  “I know exactly who and what you are, Duncan, and I’ve never held it or used it against you.”

  Other than locking him out of conference rooms because he didn’t trust him. Duncan wasn’t going to get into it with Asher. He had no desire to go head to head with the other man. It was a battle he couldn’t win.

  “Anything I’ve done is because I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Knowing your background, I can safely say, if the roles had been reversed, those who worked with you wouldn’t say the same.”

  Damn the man. He was correct. Duncan’s father only engaged people that were downtrodden or poor. The vast majority hated the monarch, and unlike him now, they wanted revenge—still did in most cases. Bringing in an outsider was rare and only for specialty missions.

  Asher leaned forward. “I’m not your enemy or a combative of yours. Believe it or not, we have the same goals.”

  Duncan had to bite his tongue on that one and lied. “We do.”

  Technically he was still giving his da information, but the intel couldn’t be traced back to him and wouldn’t harm anyone. Much. If the FBI ever found out, they’d hold his feet to the fire and would most likely throw his ass in a stateside jail instead of shipping him back home.

  “I’ll also stay out of your personal life.”

  He narrowed his eyes at the other man. “Appreciated.”

  Asher tapped on the solid wood top of the conference table. “Let’s move this along. I got plans tonight, and my wife will skin my ass if I’m late.”

  “The evidence against Raul, along with his latest killing spree in the States and whatever proof Bex has against her father, has changed the FBI’s stance on Bella and Enzo. They’re willing to offer immunity for their testimony.”

  Asher nodded. “That’s good. Do you think they’ll take it?”

  Duncan stretched his neck, feeling the crack and pops as the tightness in the back of his skull dissipated. “If you asked me this question a week ago, I’d have said no. Now, I think it’s entirely possible.”

  Asher folded his hands while pinning Duncan with his gaze. “Did you figure out which one to work?”

  He nodded. “Bella. She’s done with the life.”

  “I agree. I’ve had conversations with Iliana. She wants what’s best for her sister. Enzo too. You think she can turn him?”

  Fuck…he sure as hell hoped so.

  “The deal the FBI is offering isn’t contingent on both. I can take one, but they won’t sign off on the deal without the other.” Duncan wasn’t willing to leave Enzo behind anyway. At least not until he got a taste or two of the other man.

  “Agreed.”

  He stood. “We done?”

  Asher glanced at his watch. “We are.”

  Duncan left R.O.O.T. headquarters, heading back to his apartment at the club after he stopped and got himself cup of coffee from a drive-thru. He was dragging ass, unfocused, and didn’t want to worry about not making it back to the club safe and sound. While he sat waiting for his coffee, he located his over-the-counter pain meds. He had a specific dosage he took of a mix of pills to help combat his migraines when they were still in the infancy stage. With a dose of caffeine, he hoped the beginning of his headache would dissipate before he pulled into the club.

  He had to check in with Thomas. The other man had called him earlier, asking for an update. Thomas also let him know he was heading out to the club with Scotty and AJ for some fun. The call connected through his Bluetooth, allowing him to be hands-free while he drove.

  Duncan didn’t expect the other agent to pick up on the first ring, so he took a long sip of the hot, slightly sweet coffee. His lips still touched the rim of his cup, as he prepared to take another hit when Thomas answered.

  “You okay?”

  He sighed, putting the styrofoam cup in the holder with regret. “Yeah. Just checking in.”

  “How’d your meeting at R.O.O.T. go?” Thomas asked.

  Duncan had finally made it to the interstate, pressing the gas as he merged onto it. “Same shit, different day.” He then gave Thomas a brief run-down of what exactly happened earlier. Once they went through all pressing work, Duncan asked when they’d be arriving at the club.

  “We’re already here,” Thomas said. “Things are... looking up.”

  Duncan smirked, hearing the relaxed undertone of a man who was no longer sexually frustrated. “I can see this is going to be an interesting night.”

  Thomas chuckled. “Is talking about our sex life something we normally do?”

  Not normally, but being that they were often in the clubs at the same time, he’d seen Thomas at work more than once. “Well,” Duncan took another sip of his coffee, “I kind of figured since I watched Scotty bang the fuck out of AJ not too long ago less than five feet from where I sat, we were all good.”

  “Nosy asshole,” Thomas’s amused voice filled the car. Duncan took another long sip of his drink, not willing to confirm or deny the other man’s accusation. “Fine. I’ll answer your question, even though you didn’t ask. Yes, I finally did a scene with AJ and Scotty, and yes, I finally fucked Scotty. Tonight, we’re going to be dominating our lovely little sub.”

  “And yet you’ve taken my phone call,” he teased. “Couldn’t wait to hear my voice, huh? Or are you having second thoughts about being able to keep up?”

  “Fuck you.” Thomas laughed. “They call me an older man, but the moment we got home, the two pups passed the fuck out.” His partner’s voice was filled with sexual frustration. Thomas wasn’t done with the other two.

  “Give’ em a break, Thomas. Don’t you remember how exhausting doing a scene for the first time was?”

  “I remember. It’s why I’m allowing them a reprieve at this time.” He paused.

  Duncan felt sorry for both AJ and Scotty now.

  “Enough about me though, how are you? Still sporting a massive case of blue balls?”

  He grunted, not willing to answer his friend.

  Thomas sighed. “As a favor to me and so I don’t have to deal you’re your grumpy ass, either dip your foot into the pool or blow off steam at the club with us.”

  Duncan had considered it. Several times. Except over the last couple of days, his group had expanded from Enzo to Bella. He found himself watching her at odd times. If he took the gang out of the equation, Bella was the type of woman he liked to fuck. She was dainty but tough and curvy. He got off on shorter women. The smaller the better, and she often wore her dark, long hair in complicated braids he found intriguing. Yesterday when he was in the shower, he imagined plowing into her pussy from behind while using those braids to hold her to him. Given her short stature, he figured her slit would be delicate, like a tight fist wrapped around his cock. He loved watching a woman’s pussy as it stretched and struggled around his girth. It wasn’t exactly PC and maybe made him a Neanderthal, but he didn’t give a fuck. He liked it, and in his mind, that was all that mattered.

  Feck me. He was getting an erection just thinking about it. While he was driving and speaking to Thomas!

  He had no shame.

  It also wasn’t a line he was willing to cross. Fucking siblings would cause some massive issues. A threesome would be out of the question, for sure. In his experience, most opposite-sex siblings weren’t down with ménage. The reason being, even the most vigilant of lovers experienced some level of touching while engaged in sexual activity with three or more partners.

  And even though he wanted to fuck Bella, he wanted Enzo more. Being with him was what Duncan had focused on.

  “Tried the club,” he admitted.

  It had failed…big time.

  He ended up picking a free, experienced male sub. It was going pretty damn well until it came time for the sub to suck his dick. Duncan halted the scene the moment the other
male’s lips had touched his tip. He’d immediately moved them into aftercare. He couldn’t even explain it if he tried, but, in the long run, he’d felt like he was cheating on Enzo. Which was bullshit, because he wasn’t in any type of relationship with the young man and didn’t owe him any loyalty.

  Thomas snickered. “Pull your head out of your ass, Duncan, before it slips through your fingers.”

  Sometimes he hated how Thomas knew him so well and could decipher his feelings better than he could.

  “It’s not that easy.”

  “Bullshit. It’s easy if you’d stop pussyfooting around.” Thomas blew out a breath. “Stubborn, pigheaded Irishman.”

  In a rare form of defiance, Duncan let the brogue he worked so hard to hide shine in all its glory. “If you’re tinkin yisser insultin’ me wi’ dat slur, you’d be dead wrong.”

  Damn, that felt good. Freeing.

  “There he is.”

  “Langer,” he spat.

  Thomas chuckled. “Now, now, you’re not being very nice.”

  “Feck you,” he grumbled. “I’m hanging up now, asshole.”

  Thomas’s laughter was the last thing he heard before he disconnected the call. His exit was the next one, and if he was lucky, he could get a hot shower and be in bed in under twenty minutes.

  After clearing through security at the gate and pulling into his assigned parking spot, he finished the last of his coffee. He tossed the empty cup in one of the outside trashcans before making his way upstairs. The tension at the base of his skull had lessened, leaving behind a phantom ache. He’d have to monitor it, but hopefully with the shot of caffeine and the meds, he’d save himself from another shot.

  Duncan frowned as he stepped onto the elevator. The frequency of his migraines were increasing, something his doctors informed him would happen over time. They were traveling. He could pinpoint where they originated and then moved. It was weird, to say the least, and if he uttered it out loud, he was sure his doctor would call him crazy.

  Exhausted, he stepped off the elevator and trudged down the hall to his home away from home. Duncan stuck his key into the lock and turned it. When he opened the door, he found himself looking down the barrel of a 9mm.