by N Kuhn
Jeff pulled up to the office David owned. They got out, heading to the door.
“Jeff, I need you to go pack my bag please. I need my passport too. Get yourself ready. We leave for Sierra Leone tomorrow.” The man nodded, retreating to the car. David let himself into the building. It was the most up to date security system available on the market. Inside, was empty. Being a Saturday, no one was here. He employed a cyber security team, a secretary, and a corporate espionage team. He was thankful for the time alone. In his office, he poured scotch into a glass and then sat down. At his desk, he swiveled the chair, to look out over Manhattan. His thoughts wandered from Mia, the beautiful woman who called to his masculine hormones, to how he could get out of this mess. He downed the glass, allowing the amber liquid to burn its way down to his stomach. He picked up the phone, sighing. This call was going to be dicey. He had to word things so that he didn’t give up Mia, but was able to get her to go with him. Dialing, his finger shook.
“Yeah,” Luca Costello answered. Short as always.
“I have a way to get in, and do this. But I need help, a cover, shall we say.”
“I’ll be at your office in ten.” Luca hung up, and David leaned back. He had ten minutes to figure this out. Blowing out a breath, he went to the bar in the corner of his office, pouring another drink. He tossed it back, and slammed the glass onto the bar. Slowly, he sat back at the desk, watching the computer screen. When he saw Luca, and Mickey at the door, he buzzed them in. It helped, that Mickey was with him. Maybe he could make this seem like Mickey’s idea. The men entered, and David stood to meet them.
“Drinks?” he waved at the bar.
“Looks like you have started without us,” Luca joked, though the mood was somber. Three drinks poured, he handed them out, and indicated the chairs in front of his desk. Everyone settled in, and silently sipped.
“What is your plan?” Luca finally asked.
“Commander Foday, that is my contact. He is the current ruler of the area. decided to throw a ball. Lots of, shall we say, shady characters. But, I need a woman to go with me. I can’t show up alone. They think American men like me, have women dripping from us.” The three men laughed. “It just can’t be any woman though. She must be beautiful, yet smart. Someone we can both trust. She needs to turn heads, but not be in the way, when we talk business. You know? I see how all your girls, they don’t ask questions when business comes up. Not like a nosy socialite would.”
Luca was intelligent. He understood what David was saying. Their girlfriends knew their place, and the men could discuss business around them freely. But Mickey, he was another story. He didn’t seem to understand.
“So, you want one of the girlfriends to accompany you?” Luca said out loud, for Mickey’s benefit. David nodded. Mickey immediately sat forward.
“Take Mia,” he said. Looking at Luca, he continued, “I know she will do what I say, plus, it gives us an extra set of eyes on the crumb.” David knew that crumb meant an outsider, someone who was legit, worked a real job. He wasn’t one of theirs, so he had played up on their suspicious nature. Luca looked at David.
“You met her today. Will she work?”
“Yea, that was my girl, you were talking to her, remember? Dark hair, nice ass?” he laughed, leaning back, a smug look on his face.
“That will work. When can she be ready? I’ll buy her a gown in Freetown. I just need to be ready to leave first thing in the morning.”
“She will be ready. Just name the time, we’ll tell you where to show up.”
Chapter 3
A knock at the door startled Mia. It was almost eight am. In a rush, she finished submitting a report via her secure Wi-Fi, since she wouldn’t make her meet today. She quickly shut it down, hiding the box, and opening up Facebook. Mickey had stopped last night, telling her that the family needed a favor, and she would be rewarded. He only told her that she was going on a trip with David, and that Mickey needed her to keep eyes and ears on him, and report back when she got home. He had given her a passport, which she knew was forged, and handed her some cash. ‘Spending money, buy some souvenirs.’ He had told her. Looking out the peep hole, she saw the man from yesterday. The one who spoke to David. Opening the door, she welcomed him.
“Just give me a moment,” she said, shutting the door. Mia quickly ran to her bedroom, grabbing the suitcase she had, and went back to the living room. She shut down her laptop, and made sure everything was off. Smiling, she followed Jeff downstairs. Her nerves were going haywire. One on hand, she was nervous to be going on some secret trip. What if they knew about her? Was she going to die? On the other hand, her hormones were in a fluster, knowing she would be with David. The man certainly turned her on. He exuded sex appeal. It was hard for her to retain control of her body, when he was near.
The town car maneuvered through the quiet Manhattan streets. So early on a Sunday morning, there wasn’t much traffic yet. They arrived at an airfield in New Jersey, in less than forty minutes. Jeff didn’t speak to her the whole way. Trying to stay in character, she had on tight leggings, a flimsy, revealing tank top and sky-high heels. Travel wasn’t going to be very comfortable for her. She boarded the plane. Being on a private jet wasn’t new to her. She had been on them before, in other undercover operations.
“Welcome,” David said. He sat on a couch that lined the one side. A woman walked over, smiling at Mia. She took the suitcase, stowing in a bin, over a table. Mia chose a comfortable looking seat, opposite David. It was safer for her to stay away from him. Jeff boarded as well, heading to the cockpit.
“Miss,” the stewardess said, “we will be taking off soon, can I get you a drink?”
“Just water, thank you,” she responded. Mia and David stared at each other in silence. The woman returned with a bottle of water, and then moved to the service area, just outside the cockpit. She closed the door, leaving them alone. David stood, moving to sit in the chair next to her. He buckled in, and she followed suit. As the plane took off, no one spoke.
Once in the air, the woman returned, asking if they needed anything else for now. David instructed her they were fine and needed privacy. Alone again, he turned to Mia.
“I said I wouldn’t spill your secret, but there’s a cost.” Her heart skipped a beat. This was it. Two years of work, and it was over. Their case, done. She fought to contain her fear, and turned to him, smiling. With that annoyingly thick accent, she played it off.
“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Hell, I don’t even know your last name.”
“Kennedy,” he said forcefully. “Cut the shit. I was there, when you were with Viktor Volkov. I was his hired security. I know you’re a Fed. I need to know who you work for, and we need to get the on the phone. I want to cut a deal.”
“I do-“
“There are kids lives at stake,” he yelled at her. She pushed back in her seat, her fear showing. She had no weapons on her, no back up. “My brother got me into this mess. I need your help to get out of it. Or the Costello’s will kill his kids.” This hit home with her.
“Alright. What have you got?” She had dropped the accent, since her cover was obviously blown. She had helped take down ex-military arms dealers and a Russian mafioso. She had never seen David there, but knew Vicktor had outside security. The jig was up. He knew who she was. He quickly explained how he got wrapped up in this. It was a sad story and his suspicions were right. The Costello’s would never let him walk away after the debt was paid. Not if he was making them so much money. At least, not alive. Mia pulled her phone from the purse she had dropped next to the seat. She called her handler. After quickly explaining, she hung up.
“In Sierra Leone, we grab your diamond dealer. It will be kept quiet. When we return to the US, and you hand off the stones, we take down the Costello’s. You testify, go into witness protection, and you’ll be given full immunity.” He stared off into space, looking thoughtful.
“Deal,” he said. The rest of their flight was planning their oper
ation. Mia spent time on the phone, with her team, setting up the first takedown. David gave her details needed, to get the team safely into the compound, take down the drug lord and diamond dealer, as well get them out, without any casualties. When they landed, Mia was exhausted. Jeff drove them to a hotel in Freetown, where David had booked the largest suite, and they caught some much-needed sleep. Mia’s dreams were filled with sexual fantasies of David Kennedy.
Chapter 3
David set the white gift box down on the dresser, quietly moving out of the room. Mia was more beautiful asleep, without all that crap on her face, than he had imagined. They had time, so he didn’t want to wake her yet. He didn’t want to be the one to wake her at all. He couldn’t trust himself. His every thought was of taking her in his arms and kissing her stupid. Those lips, watching her talk, plan out the events that would take place tonight, she had been so sexy. Her brain worked in wondrous ways. She took the lead and really laid out all the details for her team, taking input, but her plan would work. David would hand off the money, and then as they exited the ball, with the diamonds, they would be arrested, along with the broker inside. In his room, he quickly pulled on the tuxedo, and then paced. It would all be over soon. Mia made sure his brother, and family would also get witness protection. But somewhere far from him, and that Charles and his wife would get rehab and cleaned up. Since their parents died a few years ago, they were all that was left, so it didn’t matter. While he waited for the trial, he would be able to sort out details of his company and turn everything over to Jeff. The man had been at his side since day one, and deserved it.
A knock at his door finally broke his thoughts.
“You ready, sir?” Jeff asked. David came out from his room, and immediately, his breath was taken away. Mia stood in the shared space, her floor length golden gown, shimmering in the light. Her long dark tresses were pulled up, into a tight bun on top of her head. She looked elegant, regal. He could have never imagined how gorgeous she could be.
“Say something,” she joked. He enjoyed that her real voice was not as annoying as her cover tone. That damn accent drove him nuts.
“You are stunning,” he told her. Walking closer, he pulled a velvet box from the pocket of his jacket. “But, you’re missing something.” He opened it, and she gasped. “No woman, on the arm of a diamond broker, can look so bare.” He had gone downstairs, after she laid down to sleep, getting her the gown. When he went to leave the shop, this necklace had caught his eye, and he knew, just knew, it was made for her. A simple silver chain, with a large square topaz, surrounded by diamonds. It matched her gown, and graced her neck with perfection.
Heled her down to the waiting car, and Jeff drove them out of Freetown. As they approached the compound of Commander Foday, he tensed. Stone walls loomed around the mansion., ten feet high, smooth facing with no footholds and a metal gate. Soldiers paced the walls, with automatic weapons. This was what he was trained for. As a Navy SEAL, he was used to operations. This was the first time though, that he was the one without a gun. He gripped the small bag he carried, tightly in his hand. It held a million dollars cash. To buy the diamonds and drugs. Entering the mansion, he watched Mia’s awe. He knew the Russians she went after. They didn’t do luxury., they did practical. Everything shone and glittered, dripping in diamonds. The man flaunted his wealth. A large dark-skinned man approached. His military uniform, self-made, covered his tall frame. At over six and a half feet tall, Commander Foday was an imposing figure.
“David,” he said, his thick African accent making it sound like Daveed.
“Commander Foday, please meet my companion, Mia.” Foday bent, kissing her hand.
“Thank you for the invite,” she giggled. David had instructed her to seem vapid, but not as ignorant as with the Costello’s.
“Such beauty,” he stated smoothly, “And that necklace, a perfect choice, for such a stunning woman,” he complimented.
“Thank you,” David answered.
“We will do business first, then enjoy the night,” Foday instructed. He led the couple into a private office, where the music from the party faded. Mia’s purse held a tracker, and sound device, apparently disguised as useable lipstick. She had explained before they landed, that the CIA had a team already in country. They dropped off necessary items, while she had slept, including a gun. She refused to give him one though. Hers was strapped on her somewhere, and his cock twitched, every time he wondered where it was.
Keeping his hand on her back, his fingers burned at the contact with her soft, smooth skin.
“What a pretty painting,” Mia exclaimed. Inside the office, there was a large painting, leaning against the desk.
“Do you think so? It just sold for a million,” Foday told her, winking at David. He led her to a seat in the corner, leaving her there.
“Let the men talk, baby,” he murmured to her. Moving to the desk, he opened the bag, showing Foday the money. The man turned the painting, peeling back a corner of the paper that backed it. Inside, there were rows of diamonds, held in place with clear packing tape to the back of the canvas. As he pulled back more, below the gems, were two grey bricks of what David knew was cocaine. One hundred thousand dollars’ worth of cocaine. And a million in diamonds.
“Have you ever seen so much luxury, together?” Foday joked. He pressed the paper back onto the painting’s frame.
“So, we’re good? A million for the diamonds, a hundred thousand I wired you earlier, for the coke?” David asked.
“Correct, we are all set. The courier will get it to the ship, and we go party.” Foday slapped David’s back in comradery. He felt guilty, at setting up a man who had done so much, to help David when he was in trouble.
“Where’s Gabriel? I thought he would be here?” David questioned. The man who dealt the diamonds was normally at their meetings.
“He’s,” Foday paused a moment, “Indisposed. Permanently.” The man grinned. David got it. He had been killed. Foday most likely made a move, to take the diamond mines, and won. It gave him a stronger foothold in the country, against the militias that tried to over throw him. Mia stood, walking over to him. Wrapping her arm around his, they walked out of the office.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate your hospitality,” David said. That was the code that the deal was done. Guests milled about the room beyond the hallway they were in, enjoying the string quartet that played, drinks being served and food. From the crowd, emerged ten men, in black suits. The team piled into the hall. They pulled guns, half facing them, half turned to the doorway to watch their backs and ensure the guests did not get too close. This had to go down quietly. Mia could tell, they were uncomfortable in their suits. Since these were most likely SEAL’s or field agents, it would be odd for them to do a takedown in monkey suits, instead of battle gear. But they worked efficiently.
“Commander Foday, David Kennedy, you’re both under arrest. For trafficking, drugs and blood diamonds, as well as war crimes and smuggling.” Two men approached and grabbed them, quickly cuffing their wrists. Foday grew angry, screaming at them.
“This is wrong, you got this wrong, I work security, I don’t smuggle,” David cried out. He played up his anger and outrage at the situation.
“You do this, in my home, when I’m entertaining? How dare you?” David could only stand by, and watch in horror, as Foday wrapped his arm around Mia’s neck. A gun appeared in his hand, pointed at her head. His heartbeat raced, and instinct took over. Though, never with someone he was so attracted to, he had been in this situation. Holding his hands up, he tried to placate Foday.
“Come on man, you don’t want to do this. Not to my girl, man.” He stepped closer. It was risky. He didn’t want Mia hurt, but they couldn’t blow the op, or her cover. “Let’s go, we can work this out. Both of us, have enough money, to get the best legal counsel ever.” Foday’s eyes shifted between the armed agents, his men, and David. Another step closer, and he the agents shouted at him to stay still.
“Sir, remain still, don’t make us shoot.”
Mia looked David in the eyes, and he could see the clarity shining. She winked, and he realized she was going to make a move. Slowly, David got down on his knees, slowly moving his hands, to behind his head. An agent grabbed his wrists, handcuffing them.
“Please,” he begged. “Just let Mia go. She has nothing to do with this,” he cried out, pleading with Foday. Mia lifted her leg, as the armed man shook with anger.
“You come into my home!” He shouted, and she shifted a little more, to the slit in the side of her gown. He had been so enraptured with her beauty, that he never even noticed the long slit along her right leg. His cock thickened, pressing against the tuxedo pants. He cringed, knowing this was absolutely, the worst, possible timing for a hard on. But the sight of her long, milky white leg, begging for his hand to slide up, under the material of her desk, drove him crazy. Finding what she was seeking, Mia pulled her gun out. She waited quietly, for Foday to begin yelling again, and his gun moved away from her temple, she took advantage. In action, Mia was the most beautiful creature, he had ever seen. She twisted her body in a way so that it broke the choke hold Foday had on her. His gun arm moved, at the same time his finger squeezed the trigger. A bullet flew past one of the agents, planting itself into one of Foday’s own men. The guy fell to the ground, blood dripping from his chest. His other guards shook in fear, not well trained like the men they stood against. Thankfully, the music from the ballroom was loud enough that hopefully no one had been able to hear the shot. David let out a breath he hadn’t known was being held.
