“We’ll be listening here at the office, make sure you give us some verbal details of where you’re entering so that if you need an extraction we can come in after you.” I tap on the mic hidden in my glasses, and say ten-four.
“Go in the other room and let me make sure the mic is projecting correctly,” Jonas instructs me. And since he’s the technical guru I do as he asks. I walk into the gym and go into the alcove buried in the corner. It is the least likely place to pick up signal and the worst-case scenario that is unknown is better than the known.
“Testing one, testing two, testing three,” I say in my normal tone.
“Read you loud and clear, ghost man,” Jonas responds so I make my way back to them. Ghost man is my call sign when we’re undercover working certain types of jobs.
“Considering we can’t get signal on our phones over in that spot, figure it’ll be good that we could hear you since you’ll be underground,” Silas states when I walk back into the room. He’s right, sometimes these mics frequencies aren’t as great as we need them to be, but Jonas is always looking at ways to improve our gear and make it the best out there. In my opinion we have better equipment than what’s even sold on the black market or even what the government uses for covert operations.
“Here,” Jonas states, handing me the money. I take the green, then I put it in the hidden compartment of my utility belt. With my glasses in place, I pick up my keys and wallet, minus my true driver’s license. I grab the fake one out of my desk drawer that I use on operations, and walk out the door. It’s eight forty-five by the time I arrive at our agreed upon destination. I take the few minutes I have to myself and close my eyes. I have to channel the personality I’ll be showing these criminals when I join up with them shortly. I have to think and act as they do, therefore I can no longer be Atticus. I have to become Ghost man. My other personality, he’s an even harder man than I am. I let the pictures of that beaten little girl flash in my mind, it helps me channel and focus on the task at hand. I hear a knock at my window and recognize Chandler, but the other sleazy looking fucker is someone I know instantly has his hands in a bunch of illegal things. I remind myself that that’s exactly what I need and wanted to begin with. I unlock the doors and Chandler takes the front seat and the other guy takes the back.
“Atticus,” Chandler holds his hand out and I grasp it in mine and give him a firm handshake. “This is Martin, he’s my go-to guy,” he introduces us.
“Martin, appreciate the in, man,” I say, as he reaches between the front seats to also shake my hand. I reciprocate, and he sits back in his seat.
“Alright, go out ten miles on I-30. There’s a corner store called the Stop ‘n Sip. When you take the exit ramp 189, I think you should park behind there so your car isn’t noticed,” Martin instructs. “Once we get there, we’ve gotta walk about a quarter of a mile to the entrance of the underground city that houses everyone that doesn’t wanna be found.”
When no further instructions are given, I start the car and head toward what I presume will be hell-like. We’re not on the interstate long before I see signs for our exit ramp coming up. Pulling off, I find the store Martin mentioned and park behind the building. Motioning them out, I navigate between the building and the dumpster where the lights are dim. I lock my beauty up, unconcerned about anyone catching my license plates since Jonas has that covered with yet another identity. Address and all, it looks legit. He’s a motherfucking genius, that’s for sure. Give me the hand-to-hand, knock your lights out kind of shit and I’m good to go. Not Jonas, though. He thrives on digging deep through the byways and highways of the internet, and has found shit out on people that they would have sworn wasn’t possible to locate. Not all skeletons can be buried deeply into the black cyber space.
Shaking my head at my thoughts because I need to keep my head in the game, I follow Martin and Chandler as we start walking. I can tell that Martin probably doesn’t get out much because soon he’s huffing and puffing, trying to keep up. Fuck that shit, I’m not slowing down. Put the damn donuts down and do a few laps, fucker.
When I start to pass where he wants me to be, he yells, “Stop!” I turn around and look around where we are and see nothing.
“The fuck are we stopping for?” I inquire, because there’s nothing here but some overgrown bushes and out of control trees and buildings that look like they’re on the verge of being condemned. I watch as he pulls some vines to the side and am shocked to see a stone door that looks as if it belongs to the wall that is covered in greenery. When he knocks three times, waits a few then knocks four more times, I raise my eyebrows up in question.
“It’s the code,” he mumbles. Ah, okay then. I would’ve never found this or known how to get the guard’s attention on the other side. I guess this is worth the funds we’ve paid these two.
“Password,” is called out from the other side. I mean fuck, there’s a secret knock and now a fucking password? These guys are really worried about uninvited guests, which means there are some deep, dark secrets hidden behind this door.
“Shamrock,” Martin calls out. Oh fuck me, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Am I on some sort of comedy central show?
I raise my eyebrow at Chandler who shakes his head slightly while raising his shoulders. Guess this shit is new to him as well. When the door opens, I half expect to see some gargantuan behemoth waiting. Instead, the guy is maybe five feet, ten inches and a buck-fifty dripping wet. And still, there’s a look in his eyes that lets me know he’s not a fucking pansy.
“Got my money?” he asks Martin. Martin then points to me and I unbuckle my belt and unzip the hidden zipper. I pull out the money, Martin counts off three G’s and hands it to him. I guess two of that is his, the guy opens the door wider and we all head through and into the passage. There’s no lighting so it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust. “Go down this hallway here and all of the rooms are located in the west wing, do not go into the east wing.” he emphasizes, which makes me decide right here and now, that I will be visiting that side as well.
“Not a problem, man,” I lie right to his face, something I have no qualms about doing. I have no loyalties to this asshole, and well, Martin and Chandler knew what they were getting into when they agreed to take payment from me and escort me here.
“We’re going to the east wing, aren’t we?” Chandler asks as we make our way further into the tunnels.
“Sure are,” I reply.
“But that’s forbidden,” Martin nervously states.
“And?” I question him, raising my brows waiting for him to make another stupid statement.
“We can’t get caught, man. That guard knows me personally and he’ll fucking tell them where to find me and I’ll be a dead man walking,” he mutters.
“So, we won’t get caught,” I say, taking my flashlight out of my utility belt and turning it on so that I can see better. “And if we do get caught, run and go hide out somewhere they won’t look for you at.” I shrug my shoulders. Makes a fuck of an issue for me, I couldn’t care less what he does.
Decision made, I turn toward the east wing. Let’s see what these two are made of. Let’s see if they run like pussies or stand beside me and help me figure out what they’re hiding. My attitude of fake it until you make it works as no one questions who I am and what I’m doing. If I act as if I belong here, they’ll assume I do and not stop me to ask any questions. Door after door is opened, yielding rooms that look like dungeons. Shackles and manacles hang from the wall and I can tell they’re used to hold people, I’m assuming these are hostage cells. For what reason, I’ve got no clue, but that’s beside the point. The guard expressly said to stay out so there’s something down here they don’t want seen, or found, at least by me.
I hear the sounds of whimpering coming from a door further down and make my way there, acting as casually as possible, despite the blood pumping through my veins and the feeling that things are about to be as fucked-up as possible. We haven’t come across anyone a
s of yet, but I’m not going to let my guard down and be taken by surprise. “Going in,” I murmur, so low that I know these two numbnuts won’t hear.
“Roger that,” Jonas replies. Good, they can hear me. I made sure to verbalize directions as they were given. When we found the spot, I activated my GPS locator that’s inserted in my watch. So I know that even now, the two of them are likely nearby, just in case.
The sight that meets my eyes has me cringing and my blood boiling. And I’m a fucking badass who’s seen it all and done most of it. There is a slip of a woman chained to the wall who is covered in black and blue bruises and her body and hair is coated in blood. Hell, the only way I know it’s a female is the outfit that she’s wearing. Or, what’s left of it that is. I don’t think she realizes that we’re in there, her eyes are closed and she’s moaning in pain. “Fuck me,” I mutter.
“What?” Jonas asks. I can hear the tone of his voice has changed because neither of them are physically at my back, but right now, I gotta figure out how to get her out of here. There’s no fucking way anyone deserves the treatment she’s been given.
“Who are you?” I ask as I lean closer. She opens her eyes, which is no better than slits if I’m being honest. “Can you see me?”
“Y-yes,” she stammers out. “Who are you? Please, they’ve got Destiny!”
“Who’s Destiny and who has her?” I bark out.
“My sister. The same people who kidnapped me have her. They’re using her as leverage, so I’ll do what they want me to do,” she replies. I can hear the pain lacing her words and while a part of me feels bad for pushing her, I can’t look at that right now.
“I’ll help get you out of here, but later you’ll have to explain to me what you mean. You’ll have to tell me what they want you to do and how they’re using her as leverage. Deal?”
“Yeah, deal,” she murmurs. I can tell she wants to argue with the fact that I practically demanded she share her story, but the concern she has for her sister is overriding her anger.
“Dammit,” I mutter when I see that there are difficult locks on these chains. “We need to find a way to break her out of these, I’m going to search in the other rooms for something we can use, you two stay here and guard her. Do not let anything happen to her before I get back,” I order the two men with me.
“The only person with a key to the locks should be here any minute to bring me my daily water,” she tells me. Guess we’ll be waiting for the douche to show up, which means we need to find a place to hide so he won’t notice us once he enters the room. I look around and there are no places to hide three grown ass men.
“You two, go wait in the room next door. It’s empty so no one should be looking inside it, I’ll come and get you when I’m done taking care of the guy and have her freed,” I instruct.
They both nod their heads and sneak out the door. I stay hidden in the shadows.
“You need us to get in there?” Jonas asks through my mic.
“Not yet, but be on standby,” I reply, taking my place behind the door. “Did you catch the shit when we got here?” I know he probably heard the sequence of knocks and also the password that will allow them entrance.
“Yep. We’re ready to neutralize if necessary so you can get out,” Silas declares, he is in operative mode.
I’m about to say something else, when I hear heavy footsteps echoing down the hallway as they approach the door. I look at her and place my finger to my lips and see her nod slightly. Good.
“So, how’s the bitch doing today? Not looking so pretty now, are you?” the guy asks, as he makes his way into the room. He never sees me hiding behind the door therefore he never sees me coming. I hit him in such a way that he’s unconscious as I ease him to the floor. I twist his neck, until I hear an audible break with a satisfying crunch. Grabbing the keys, I quickly find the ones for the locks on her shackles. Once I have her freed, I help her get the feeling back into her arms and legs. I rub the life back into her limp and heavy limbs. She cries out as the feeling starts to come back. “Shh,” I place my finger on her lips, because I don’t want to take any chances of anyone walking down the tunnels and hearing her cries.
“Now, Jonas,” I say into the mic. Indicating that this would be a good time for him and Silas to make their move. I’ll let tweedle-dee, and tweedle-dum, take her back up, and out to my brothers, while I go search for the asshole who started all of this… Senator Sterling Brown, Jr.
3
Atticus
As soon as I have them heading down the tunnels with Piper in tow, I take off in the opposite direction, heading toward the correct wing. I can’t believe I’m under the city, in hidden tunnels, searching for this asshole who thinks he’s safe in this underground world. He may have money, and has found himself some resources, but he wasn’t betting on men like me and my brothers to work hard, hiring us some informants, and track him down. We are ruthless as fuck. We take no prisoners. And have no regrets, or any qualms, for anything we have to do to accomplish the missions we’re hired for.
I stealthily hide in the shadows as I notice these rooms are occupied and lit up like the Fourth of July. I peek into each room I come across, I have the face of the man I’m searching for memorized and I haven’t spotted him as of yet. I make it down two passages before I spot who I believe is the person of interest I’m looking for. He’s in the middle of an argument with two guys, and from the way it sounds, he’s in some financial trouble. I hear him say that he can’t pay him until he makes some deals with individuals that owe him money.
I find an open section of the hallway that doesn’t contain any doors and is well-hidden. I decide that’s the best option of a hiding spot for me at this time and crouch down since I’m so tall to prevent any light from catching my figure in the shadows.
“Best not take too long, gov’ner,” the one guy says to Senator Douche.
“It’s senator, you asshole,” he replies.
“Figure of speech is all. Get me my money. Right now, there’s a bounty on your head and I’m sure those folks have the cash ready and willing.”
“Don’t threaten me, I could destroy this place,” the senator states. I would laugh because he would like to think he has the clout to accomplish this feat, but in reality, he’s further out of his league than he has anticipated, getting in bed with this group of low-life thugs. But, then they’d know I was here, and I need secrecy on my side, so I hold it back.
“Damn, the mic works great,” I hear Jonas say. “We’re on the way to get her help. She’s in bad shape. Giving you a head’s up. Silas is still around if you need him but I’m out.”
I make a barely discernible noise to show my acknowledgement of his message, and get back a “ten-four.” Good. They know I’ve heard them, and I know that at least Silas is around in case shit goes south. And somehow, I suspect this is one mission that will go south more than once. Call it a gut feeling, but I’m seldom wrong.
The two assholes continue to talk for a few more minutes and a few more threats are tossed around. I don’t give a flying fuck, I just need him alone, so I can take care of business, and get the fuck out of this place. I’ve been in worse over the years, but being down here, I want to scour myself with bleach and brillo pads.
When the other two assholes leave the room, I decide now is the time to make my move. I don’t want to take any chances of any other unannounced visitors making their way to him and placing any further unrealistic threats. The reason they are unrealistic, and bound not to happen, is because the poor, pathetic piece of shit, will no longer be taking a breath on this earth. I sneak into the room and shut the door quietly behind me. His back is to me and I see him looking down at a stack of papers. I quietly walk in his direction, and when I’m close enough, I wrap my arm around his neck and place my other hand over his mouth. “Got you, motherfucker,” I growl out. He begins to fight me. He bucks, claws and tries to throw a couple of swings over his shoulders, none of his moves making any contact with
me. I hear some mumbled words under my hand, but I don’t remove it, afraid he’ll yell out like the pussy he is.
“No one is coming to save you, you may as well save your energy. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you since I saw the injuries you inflicted on your little girl.” I tsk him when I continue, “and what kind of coward murders his own wife? A defenseless woman who only wants to make a better life for her and her child. What happened? Did you find out she was leaving you and planning on sharing all of your dirty secrets? You’re a pathetic excuse for a man. You are nothing short of a dickless, spineless excuse for the male species. It will be an honor and a privilege to get justice for those two. Tell me, senator, are you ready to meet your maker?” His aggravation and fear show in his panicked state as he begins to fight me with more strength than previously. I take my arm that’s around his neck and apply pressure. As much as I’d like to take him out, here and now, I know that I can’t. I feel his body begin to spasm as he fights for each and every breath he attempts to draw into his lungs. “Stop fighting it, fucker!” He finally goes limp and I roughly toss him over my shoulder. I hear his head bang the wall as he goes up and over. “Wish I could tell you I’m sorry,” I say to his lifeless body, “but I’m not.” I slowly open the door to his room. I look to both the right and left and notice that we’re alone. There is still light coming from several rooms so I know I need to be quiet and stick to the shadows of the tunnels.
When I get to the T that takes me back to where I began, I hurriedly head in that direction. When I make it to the exit, I notice the guard that was there when I entered is laying passed out on the ground. I hear a noise and look over to my left and see Silas step out from his hiding spot. “Ready to get out of here?” he asks me.
“Fucking right I am,” I reply, following him out the door and into the dead of the night. “The girl? Piper?” I ask after her.
“She’s good, Jonas is spoiling her rotten. He’s gone out and gotten her some food and clothes. You know how suave he is with the ladies,” he teases, but for some reason, a growl emanates from deep within my chest.
Seeking Our Revenge : Nelson Brothers' Page 3
