Forsaken Duty, The Red Team Series, Book 9

by Elaine Levine

  “He could have been here when I was in Afghanistan,” Blade said.

  “Yeah. With Amir and your daddy dearest,” Val said.

  Max sipped his beer as he looked at Owen. “You said, months ago, that Jax had gone rogue.”

  “So…is he an Omni?” Kelan asked.

  “I don’t know,” Owen said. “He may just be under so deep he’s lost who he really is. It’s interesting, however, to consider that his dad was instrumental in getting the Red Team formed and funded. They pulled all of us who had a reason to hate the Omnis together, then sent us overseas to fight terrorism—”

  “Conveniently keeping tabs on us while they kept us worlds away from the real action,” Ty said.

  “Right,” Owen agreed. “I had a couple of partners help me get it off the ground. Val’s one. The senator’s the other. If he’s bad, he’s bad all the way through. And he knows everything we’re doing.”

  “And he’s who sent us here to Wyoming,” Kit said.

  Owen’s nostrils flared. “Max, we need to put up a wall between the senator and us.”

  “We can’t lock him out without him knowing we’re on to him.”

  “Delay sending stuff to him,” Owen said. “Send him incorrect info.”

  Max nodded. “Copy that.”

  “Jax said he was on a special assignment for his dad,” Owen said. “I’d actually invited him to join Tremaine Industries. He declined. I learned yesterday that it was because he knew the senator was dirty…so I was guilty by association. He also said he had his own crew. In some ways, it seems he’s working with us, and in others, against us.”

  “We figured out some other pieces while you were gone,” Greer said. “We knew my grandfather had been part of organizing the Red Team. Guess who Santo is?”

  “Henry Myers.” Owen’s voice was flat.

  Addy gasped. “He was my lifeline.”

  “I told you he was bad. But even I didn’t know how bad,” Owen said.

  Ace nodded. “I’ll be killing him.”

  “There’ll be no need to, once I’m done with him, sis,” Greer said.

  Sis? Were Greer and Ace siblings?

  Greer answered Addy’s unspoken question. “Ace is my baby sister. We thought she was murdered in our house when she was a baby. Santo either took Ace from her crib—when she was only two—or facilitated that happening so no alarms went off in the house. They sliced her up in a bloodletting that left us convinced she was dead. Santo handed her over to the Omnis to be raised in hell.”

  “Oh, Ace—” The thought of that racked Addy with grief.

  Ace shrugged. “I survived. And I killed most of those who used me.” Her eyes hardened. “Except Edwards. He’s next.”

  Kelan shook his head. “You don’t get to end all of them, Ace. Don’t be selfish.”

  “She can have him. I get Jafaar,” Angel said.

  Max shook his head. “First come, first served, bro. Get in line.”

  “Pick who you want, but leave my dad to me,” Val said.

  Owen looked around the room. “Addy’s parents are mine.” His eyes met Greer’s, then Ace’s. “And Edwards is mine.”

  Addy shivered, then folded her arms. This Owen was terrifying. His eyes were cold, his face hard. No one in the room countered him.

  “What did you mean about Santo being a lifeline, Addy?” Ty asked.

  “I didn’t know how to get out,” Addy replied. “I didn’t know who to trust or how to go about getting away. The house where I lived was surrounded by miles of national forest, so remote we couldn’t get internet for many years…or so I was told. The telephones were monitored. And any time I tried to stand up for myself or my children…there were consequences. Brutal consequences, not only for me, but increasingly for my sons. Cecil told me Owen was King. I believed him. I had no reason not to.”

  “Do you still?” Ty asked.

  Addy stared at Ty, trying to avoid the pull of seeing Owen’s reaction. “I’ve learned that Omnis have perfected the art of living double—triple—lives. I’ve learned nothing is what it seems on face value.”

  “Not an answer,” Ty persisted.

  Owen bent his head and sipped his whiskey, then stared into his glass. “Leave her alone. I said she was safe here. They beat those beliefs into her, Blade. She believed what she had to in order to survive. Leave it at that. She has to heal in her own time, like we all do or have.”

  “Finish what you were saying about Santo,” Rocco urged her.

  “My parents came and visited me.” A wave of anguish washed over Addy. “I thought…I thought my nightmare was over. But it wasn’t. Be a good wife, they said. Make Cecil happy so he has no need to punish you…” Her voice trailed off. The room was silent, except for the boys having dinner in the next room. “My nanny at the time was friends with Santo. They offered me a way out—or what I thought was one. I always thought of him as a lifeline…until today.”

  The room was quiet after she finished talking. There was so much more to say, so much more to try to understand. So many of the pieces didn’t fit, but all of that would have to wait for their after-dinner meeting, since the kids’ meal was breaking up. They were clearing the table. When it was reset for the adults, Zavi brought his parents over to talk to her about the sleepover.

  “Zavi would love it if Troy could stay with him tonight,” Mandy said. She pointed toward the far end of the house, opposite from Addy’s room. “You were in our wing earlier, just before we started our tour. We’ll have our door open at night. If he gets scared, he can come in. Or we can always bring him back to your room.”

  “If you’re sure it won’t be an imposition—”

  “Not at all,” Rocco said.

  “Well, then,” Addy said. “I guess it’s okay with me, too.”

  The boys shouted and ran upstairs. A young girl stopped in front of her—Casey. “I know moms worry. Mine sure does. But I’ll be with the boys until Uncle Rocco and Aunt Mandy are finished with the meeting. If you like, I can come get you when it’s time to kiss him goodnight.”

  Addy nodded. “I’d like that.”

  “Great.” Casey smiled and waved as she hurried after the boys. “See you later, Ms. Jacobs!”

  Jacobs. How Addy hated that name suddenly, with all the privilege and horror it brought. She resolved to find a new name for herself and her boys.

  The living room began to thin out as everyone moved into the dining room. Owen set his glass down on the bar. Instead of following the crowd, he caught her arm, turning her to face him. He pulled her close, then kissed her forehead. “I love you. I promise to never scare you again,” he said, but the smile he gave her was haunting.

  Before she could respond, the moment passed. He led her into the dining room. There was an empty seat at the head of the table and one just to the right of it. Ivy, Casey’s mom, sat across from Addy. She owned the diner in town, Addy reminded herself. They hadn’t had a chance to chat yet, but the wife of Owen’s team lead looked nice. They exchanged smiles.

  Addy didn’t offer much to any of the discussions at the long dinner table that night. Sometimes there was only one conversation going at a time that everyone participated in, other times, sections of the table—or even just couples—would break into separate conversations. The mood was upbeat. Several of the guys would glance toward Owen with a look of relief. How long had he been gone?

  Addy surreptitiously studied everyone around the table. Seeing them together let her connect who was with whom. Strange how easy it was for her to remember details. She wondered if that was another part of healing after the extreme stress she’d been in during her marriage.

  The surprising thing that caught her attention was how familial the group was with each other, teasing and laughing in friendly ways. It felt genuine. These people, whatever side of her fight they were on, didn’t fear each other. Geniality like this was hard to fake. She looked at Owen, and he met her eyes. If he wasn’t King, if he really was just Owen, what had hi
s life been like during her hell?

  Hopefully, she’d learn more in the meeting that was coming after. Dinner finished a little while later. Everyone picked up their plates and helped clear the table. She did the same, wanting to blend in.

  “Can I help in here?” she asked. “Maybe put food away?”

  Ivy smiled and shook her head. “We’ve got this. Russ and Jim do the cleanup, but we try to give a hand where we can. Owen, what time are we meeting?”

  “In a half-hour or whenever everyone’s ready.”

  Addy hadn’t realized he was right behind her.

  “You have a minute?” he asked. “I want to take you to see Troy.”

  “I was just going to go looking for him.”

  Owen took her hand and led her into the hallway. It felt better than she liked to admit, having that connection to him. She should have pulled free, but she didn’t. They turned away from the living room stairs to a back flight like the one by her bedroom wing.

  He let go of her hand as they went up the stairs. She could hear a TV on. The kids were laughing and arguing as they played a game. At the top of the steps, Owen smiled at her as they went into the sitting room that connected the three bedrooms in this wing.

  Her son was sitting at a round table, playing a board game. Zavi was on his knees on the chair, leaning on his elbows to look over the game. Casey calmly reminded them of the game’s rules. She noticed them and waved. “Hi, Uncle Owen, Ms. Jacobs. Everything okay?”

  “It is.” Addy walked over to them. She ran her hand over Troy’s head. “I think we’re about to have our meeting. You have everything you need for the night? Your toothbrush and pajamas?”

  “Yep. We got everything. I brought some toys, too.” He pulled a chain from around his neck and showed Addy. It was a security necklace just like the one she’d been given. “Look, Mom, what they gave me. If you press this, it’s like a shout for help.”

  Addy didn’t hear anything from the necklace, but suddenly there was a stampede from downstairs. Rocco and Kit flew up the stairs, followed by several others on the team. “Troy!” Rocco shouted as he cleared the stairs. “Troy!”

  Owen caught them before they charged into the little living room. “Just a test. Sorry. Everything’s cool.”

  Kit sighed and shoved a hand through his spiky hair.

  “Wow. It really works!” Troy said.

  “It’s not a toy,” Owen said. “Remember, it’s only to be used when there’s a big problem and no one is near to help you.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll remember.”

  Rocco chuckled and came over to see what the kids were playing. “Well, that’s the sort of crisis I like—one that’s easily resolved.” He looked over to Kit with a grin.

  “Sorry, Dad,” Casey said. “Couldn’t catch him before he squeezed it.”

  “No worries, Case,” Kit said. “Was a good trial run. So, we’ll be downstairs. You good up here?”

  “Yup. We got it,” Casey answered. “I’ll put them to bed at nine.”

  “Aww. Can’t we have a little longer?” Zavi asked. “It’s a weekend. No class tomorrow.”

  “How about I put you to bed at nine, but then you and Troy can have another half-hour in your room if you don’t get too wild?”

  Zavi sent Troy a grin. “That works.”

  Addy kissed her son’s head. “All right, then. Since that’s decided, I guess we’ll leave you to your fun. Troy, be good for Casey.”

  “I will. Night, Mom. See you in the morning.”

  “Wait until you see breakfast, Troy…” Zavi began to fill Troy in on the feast they always had in the morning.

  The guys who’d run upstairs with Kit and Rocco had all disappeared, but Owen waited for her. “Feel better?”

  “I feel okay about this.”

  Owen nodded. “It’s a start.”

  Val came into the living room to wait for the meeting to start. He’d just gotten there when Kit shut off Troy’s emergency summons. Selena was standing by the French doors.

  “You okay?” he asked Selena.

  “It was only a test run,” she said.

  “Wasn’t talking about that.”

  She shrugged and smiled at him. “Yeah. I learned a while ago blondes weren’t my thing.”

  Val’s grin was a little sad. “Smart call. You comfortable guarding Addy?”

  “It’s the job.”

  “You trust her?”

  “Not yet. She’s very reserved and thinks Owen may be King. Not sure if she’s hiding something or just holding back. Time will tell.”

  “She did surrendered her devices for a check without argument.”

  “True. What’s your take on her?” Selena asked.

  “It’s been years since I’ve seen Owen laugh like he was earlier. I hope she’s what he needs.”

  “Me, too.”

  Ace joined them. Val opened his arm for her to come close. “Talking about Addy?” she asked.

  Val nodded. “Any thoughts?”

  “I think the Omnis have cornered the market on head fucks. It’s going to take a while to unwind everything they’ve twisted around her. I hope Owen will give her that time. I know I’m a long way from being untwisted.”

  Val drew her close and kissed her forehead. “I kinda like you twisted. Keeps me guessing.”

  17

  Addy and Owen returned to the dining room. She was still shaken from what had happened upstairs. Those necklaces were good to have if Owen and his team were truly allies. Owen held out a chair at the long dining room table—the same one she’d sat at for supper. He seemed tense, which didn’t calm her nerves. When Cecil had been uptight, she was his relief valve, suffering some twisted abuse of his that appeased his nerves.

  She hoped Owen didn’t do the same.

  The others all returned to the table. Russ and Jim were the last ones to join them. The tablecloth had been changed out for a fresh one. Fiona was going around the room, setting small notepads and pens down. The convivial attitude of supper was replaced now with the team’s somber attention.

  Owen stood behind his chair and looked the group over. Twenty-two in all sat at the table. “We have a lot to catch up on. I missed quite a bit while I was away. And I learned a few things that I need to share. Usually, these meetings are held in the bunker and kept among the team. But everything from here out may affect not just those of us in the fight, but everyone near us. None of this is to leave this room. We’re still not to openly discuss our business. Children have big ears. So do staff—Carla or the guys in the construction crew working on the basement. Things they might overhear could be used against them, so we have to remember to keep this compartmentalized. Let’s get started. Kit, bring me up to speed.”

  Kit told him about recovering Lion and most of his cubs, with the exception of Beetle. Addy couldn’t be silent. She leaned forward and looked down the table to Lion. “Can you tell me anything about him? Was he well?”

  “He was when Edwards took him. He’s learned the survival skills we teach. He’s a competent trapper and tracker. He came to my pride from a different group of boys, but they’d trained him well. Edwards is a sick man. I don’t like that he has my cub. I don’t know why he would have taken him.”

  “The night Jax and I left,” Owen said, “we ran into Edwards. He broadsided Jax’s SUV. We tried to fight our way out of it, but they used a flashbang to stun then capture us. We spent several days in rotting cells in the basement of a mental institution out on the plains, getting worked over pretty good. Edwards wanted to know who was funding us. I didn’t tell him, but I did ask him about my son. I’m afraid I’m why he took Beetle from you, Lion.”

  “Shit,” Kit grumbled.

  “I bet Edwards is seeing his house of cards about to tumble down,” Ty said. “We knew they’d begun cleaning house since they’re killing off their researchers.”

  “So what does Edwards want with Beetle?” Kit asked. “Why take him?”

  “Leverage. Against
Addy or Owen. Or the senator, since he’s Jacobs’ grandson,” Ty said.

  “My parents and Cecil are friends,” Addy said. “They visited us several times, knew what was happening to me, to my sons, but refused to go against my husband. It wasn’t until Augie was taken and I spent time in a hospital with a broken jaw that things began to change. Wendell had been estranged from us for years. Somehow, my dad got him to help me. Wendell worked out a divorce agreement. Or, I guess, just a settlement, since I was never legally married to Cecil.”

  “So does that mean your dad and brother had a falling out?” Ty asked.

  She nodded. “When we finally spoke, Wendell told me he’d been searching for me for years. My parents knew where I was, so why didn’t he? I tried his number a couple of times, but it never went through. Owen’s, too. I didn’t have internet at the house until after the settlement. I learned early on that any attempt to reach the outside world had severe consequences, so for the most part, I quit trying. I couldn’t put my sons in jeopardy. When my parents wouldn’t help me, I thought Jax wouldn’t either. And Cecil had me convinced that Owen was King. My parents said what was happening to me was Owen’s choice. Even Jax, when he did come back into my life, said Owen wasn’t to be trusted.”

  Addy knew her words hit Owen hard. So much pain could have been avoided if she’d somehow found him. How she could have done that when everyone surrounding her was owned by Cecil, she didn’t know. She should have tried harder.

  She, not Owen, was to blame for Augie’s fate.

  “That explains a lot about Jax,” Owen said. “After the train wreck, he became distant, and we went our separate ways in the Red Team. I thought it was just how we both reacted to our grief over losing you. But after talking to him yesterday, I can see how it’s possible he thought I made all of this happen.” Owen sighed. “He said he’d collected a DNA sample from the girl who was killed in the crash and that he was working with the FBI to identify her.”