<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Not five minutes after Acker and Nina left the cafeteria headed over to the recreation facility to look for Brutal, a tall, black haired, hazel eyed male walked into the cafeteria with a friend. He paused at the door and lifted his nose into the air.
“Problem?” Two asked, lifting his nose to scent the air as well.
Lethal shook his head. “No. I just thought…” he didn’t finish his sentence. He looked around the cafeteria, then stepped back outside and glanced around at all the people milling about. Not finding who he searched for, he rejoined Two inside. “Never mind. I’m losing my damn mind, I guess. Let’s get some food and get back to the house. I’m anxious to see what Valor can find on that flash drive. At the very least I’m expecting him to get information on that partial social we found.”
“What partial social?” a voice behind them said.
Lethal looked over his shoulder and found Roscoe right behind them in the serving line.
“It’s not your concern,” Lethal snapped, facing forward.
“If you and your squad are using our IP addresses to hack into government sites so you can track social security numbers, it is most certainly my concern,” Roscoe answered.
Chapter 29
Lethal very casually turned to face Roscoe who was standing behind him and Two. “It’s. None. Of. Your. Business,” Lethal repeated, more slowly this time, taking a single step toward Roscoe.
“It is my business if you are risking everything we’ve worked for, everything we’ve built for these people because of your selfishness and stubbornness,” Roscoe answered, taking a step toward Lethal.
“Selfishness?!” Lethal bellowed. “Let me tell you about selfishness, motherfucker! My female is still out there being subjected to whatever twisted bastards have her! Every fucking day she wakes up wondering what she’ll have to live through today, how many fucking males will she have to submit to in order to keep her bones from being broken as they fight over her! And here you stand getting your panties in a wad because somebody might use your goddamn computer to hack into a government website. Fuck you! I’ll hack into what the fuck ever I have to, to trace any lead I even think I’ve found until I bring her the fuck back here! You got a problem with that? Let’s sort it out right the fuck now!” Lethal shouted, shoving Roscoe back several steps. “Because I am not stopping ‘til I find her!”
Roscoe stood his ground, but it was easy to see from the look on his face, Lethal’s outburst was the last thing he expected. He’d taken all Lethal’s alpha shit as nothing more than look how bad I am, and not even realized the single thing driving the male, was the abuse his female was enduring, and finding her.
He used his peripheral vision to glance to his left and right, and while he stared Lethal down he saw the males behind Lethal, waiting for his response. Even though Roscoe was in a different mind set with Lethal at this point, he couldn’t just walk away. He needed these males to respect him.
Roscoe stepped to Lethal and got in his face. “Yes, asshole. Selfish! Because all the hell you had to do was tell us what the problem is. Do you think we’d really have denied you any help you needed? No! We’d have joined you. We’d have offered all our resources. But instead, you stand here yelling about the fact that she’s still missing! Damn it, Lethal! Allow us to help you!”
This was not the response that Lethal expected. He was waiting to throw down over their confrontation. Instead, here he stood, trying to figure out how he should reply. Two, thankfully, saved the situation.
“You can help us trace social security numbers?” Two asked.
Roscoe didn’t break eye contact with Lethal, but he answered Two. “I have top level clearance. I can trace pretty much anything, or anybody, anywhere. How the hell do you think you all were found?” he ended on a yell.
Two raised his eyebrows, and looked toward Lethal. “I say we get some food and get him to help us.”
“You said you’d do anything it took to find your female. Does that include me assisting you?” Roscoe asked.
Lethal didn’t hesitate. He’d kiss the bastard if he’d help Lethal find his woman. “Yes. Anything.”
“Get your food, let’s go,” Roscoe said, indicating that Lethal should turn around. “We’re holding up the line,” he added.
“You get your food!” Lethal snapped before he turned around and grabbed a tray.
Two fell in behind Lethal and flashed a smile at Roscoe.
Roscoe smiled back at Two and just shook his head. He sighed and picked up his own tray.
As they exited the serving line with their meals, plus four other meals in ‘to go’ plates, one of the females stepped into his path. Roscoe paused to look at her.
“My name is Carrie,” she said.
“Hi, Carrie,” Roscoe answered.
“I heard your argument over there. I just wanted to say thank you for finding us, and for freeing us,” she said.
“You’re welcome, Carrie. I’m happy you’re here,” Roscoe said sincerely.
Carrie nodded, then hurriedly sat back down in her chair.
Roscoe looked up to see if Lethal and Two had waited for him, and found them just a few feet away. When he joined them, Two spoke. “Yeah, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Two. But no thanks are needed. I just couldn’t look the other way,” Roscoe said. His gaze wandered over to Lethal who was watching him closely.
They regarded each other for a moment before Lethal finally lifted his chin toward Roscoe. “’Appreciate you,” he said begrudingly.
Roscoe nodded at him, then began to follow Lethal and Two out of the admin building.
“Roscoe!” a voice called.
Roscoe turned and looked over his shoulder.
“You got a minute?” Brutal asked, striding toward him from across the room.
Lethal glanced at Brutal then at Roscoe. “We’re not ready for you anyway. Haven’t been through all the evidence we found.”
Roscoe nodded. “I’ll stop by a little later.”
Lethal turned to leave just as Brutal approached.
“Lethal,” Brutal said by way of a greeting.
“Brutal,” Lethal responded.
The two males held each other’s gaze for just long enough to be uncomfortable, before Brutal turned his attention to Roscoe and Lethal walked away.
Lethal banged on the front door of their new home, their headquarters, with the toe of his boot.
The door was pulled open and he and Two walked through.
“Any particular reason you felt the need to kick the door in?” Scorn asked.
“Maybe because we’re both carrying food?” Lethal answered. “And I didn’t kick it in, I just kicked it.”
Lethal placed the Styrofoam plates on the table and disappeared into his bedroom. Everyone else sat and ate their meals. A while later he came back into the living room, grabbed the meal that was left on the table and leaned against the counter as he ate. “You find anything?” he asked Valor.
“Yeah. I’m making progress. Confirmed it’s a paycheck stub,” Valor said.
“Which we figured,” Steel said.
Lethal shot him a look and Steel shut up. Lethal returned his attention to Valor. “Anything else?”
“Yes, actually. I’ve managed to narrow it down to about two hundred people who were employed in this state with the same last six numbers of the social showing on this stub.”
“Really?” Lethal asked with surprise in his voice.
“Yeah. Got it right here, been going over it for any that look familiar, but so far none of them are ringing a bell for me,” Valor said.
“Or any of the rest of us,” Scorn added.
“You want to take a look before I move on to the next option?” Valor asked.
“Yeah, I do,” Lethal said, putting his plate on the counter and walking over to stand behind Valor.
Valor slowly moved his mouse down the page, giving Lethal the opportunity to read each name on the l
ist.
After a few minutes Lethal reached out and tapped the screen. “This one. Right there. Can we pull up any information on him?”
“I’ll see what I can find. You know him?” Valor asked.
Lethal shook his head. “No. But Nina mentioned that one of the guards was nice to her. I told her not to trust him. His name was Hal.”
Valor clicked a few times with his mouse, then paused to read the screen. “Jessupson?” he asked.
“I don’t know, but his name was Hal. That much I’m sure of,” Lethal answered.
“It’s a start. Let me dig into Hal Jessupson a bit. I’ll let you know when I’m done,” Valor said, scooting his chair in and beginning to type away on the keyboard.
“Alright. Roscoe’s supposed to come by later, too. Claims he can get us into websites only the government knows about,” Lethal said, striding toward his bedroom again.
“We may not need him, but I’m impressed that he at least wants to help,” Valor said.
“Where you going?” Scorn called, after Lethal had already disappeared into his bedroom.
“Try to get some sleep. Wake me if I’m needed,” Lethal answered.
“Don’t sleep much, does he?” Feral asked.
Steel shook his head. “Not since his female was taken away,”
“Makes him more dangerous,” Scorn commented.
“Is that why you want to find her so badly?” Feral asked.
Two glared at Feral. “Every female deserves to be found. Especially if they’re suffering.”
“Didn’t say they didn’t,” Feral answered. “Just wondering if his temper had anything to do with it.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Bright and early the next morning Nina was more than ready to go. Having met several of the males that were planning to make their permanent homes on Alliance Ranch the evening before, she wasn’t worried at all anymore. She’d been wary of meeting them at all, but was glad she had. Each of them had been kind to her. And Brutal had pledged his protection to her. Telling her that if she ever felt unsafe, all she had to do was let him know and he’d be right there beside her. She smiled at herself in the bathroom mirror, and studied her face. The smile still seemed so out of place, but it was getting easier to get through each day.
“Sweetheart? You ready?” Acker called through the door to her.
She didn’t realize it, but her smile turned sincere at the sound of his voice. He was her anchor in all this madness. He was the one who kept her grounded and looking for tomorrow. “Yes! I’m coming,” she answered. She brushed her teeth, then placed her toothbrush in the holder next to his, before opening the bathroom door and joining him.
“Wow,” Acker said, smiling at her.
Nina looked down at herself before looking up to meet his gaze again. “Do I look okay?” she asked.
“You look beautiful,” he said, taking in her tan slacks and white battenburg lace trimmed top. They fit her small figure perfectly, and she paired them with matching bone-colored high-heeled pumps. Her long, shiny, straight black hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck in a single barrette and she’d put just a touch of mascara on her lashes and gloss to her lips. “Just, wow,” he said again.
Nina blushed and let her gaze drop to the floor.
“No, none of that. Hold your head up, sweetheart. Let people see the female I do. You’re going to do so well.”
“Thank you, Glenn,” she said, smiling at him.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
“Guess so, can’t keep putting it off,” she answered, huffing a small laugh.
Acker held out his hand and Nina walked forward, slipping her hand into his, so he could walk her over to her first day at work. Together they crossed the park in the middle of the community as they moved toward the admin building. When they arrived, he pulled the door open and stood back as she entered before him. The cafeteria side of the building was already filled almost to capacity with people having breakfast. Acker didn’t know if he should be proud or protective when they stepped through the door, and almost every male eye in the place landed on his Nina.
He didn’t blame them. Her oriental heritage was evident in the color and shape of her large, almond-shaped, dark eyes, her small stature and her luxurious, sleek, dark hair. Her pale skin was offset perfectly by the darkness of the rest of her features. Her lips were full and her face more heart shaped than round. Acker figured she got the shape of her face from her American father. She was delicate, and feminine, and absolutely beautiful, and though he couldn’t blame the males for noticing Nina, he didn’t have to like it.
He dared to meet the eyes of several of the more obvious males, succeeding in making them turn back to their meals out of respect for the fact that she was with him. He hurried his step to catch up to Nina and took her hand in his again. For her part she didn’t seem to notice the males and just smiled up at him when he held her hand. “You want to eat breakfast?” he asked.
Nina shook her head. “I’m too nervous. Maybe I’ll come over and grab something later on if I get a break.”
Acker escorted her to Roscoe’s office and held the door for her to enter the office.
“Good morning, Nina!” Roscoe said, rising from behind his desk to greet her.
“Morning,” she answered.
“I’m just getting your computer all set up. I’ve moved over to the work table for now and moved my system to it already,” he said, indicating a table that had been placed in the corner of the room, leaving her desk as the obvious reception point.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be for long. Soon as we get the offices extended, this place will be yours and you won’t have to share it with me anymore. I’ll be next door then, but we’ll have adjoining doors,” Roscoe said.
“It’s not a problem either way,” Nina said.
“I’m glad,” he answered, smiling at her. “I cleaned out your desk, it’s all ready for you. So, make yourself at home,” Roscoe said, stepping out from behind the desk that was meant for her.
“Thank you,” Nina said before she turned to face Acker with a nervous smile on her face.
“You’re going to do great. Have fun today, sweetheart. I’ll be back at lunchtime. If you need me for anything at all, have Roscoe send someone for me. I’m going to touch base with my team and see where they stand, what’s next on their agenda.”
“Okay.”
Acker kissed her and smoothed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then left her in Roscoe’s care.
“She’ll be fine. I’ve arranged my schedule to stay in the office this week. I’ll be with her,” Roscoe told Acker.
Acker lifted a hand and pointed at Roscoe with his eyebrows raised. An unspoken warning.
“We’re going to have a great day,” Roscoe said, letting Acker know he was watching over Nina and would accept nothing less.
“I’ll see you later, sweetheart,” Acker said, dropping another kiss on her forehead before turning and leaving Nina with Roscoe.
Nina turned to face Roscoe and started toward what was to be her desk.
“Lots of drawers here for your belongings,” Roscoe said.
“I don’t really have any belongings to bring with me,” Nina said.
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. But, I see you got some pretty new clothes,” Roscoe answered.
“Yes. Amazon…” she said shrugging.
“Amazing aren’t they? And they’ll ship you whatever belongings you may want to have. It’s your desk, you can keep whatever you want in it.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Come on over here and let’s get you started,” Roscoe said, pulling out her chair for her.
“More bank reconciliations to do?” she asked.
Roscoe laughed. “No, not yet. But at the end of the month, I’ll be happy to hand them over. Do you know how to use Excel?” he asked.
“Not really,” she answered, immediately getting nervous.
“Not a problem. It’s a v
ery easy program to master. Let me grab a chair and I’ll show you. We’re going to start with creating a database for all the names the males have chosen.”
“Okay,” she answered, sitting down and arranging the keyboard and mouse to a position that was comfortable for her.
“Then,” he continued as he maneuvered his chair toward her desk, “I’ll show you how to calculate payroll. But don’t worry, for the next couple of weeks or so, I’ll be right here with you. In case you have any questions, but I have a feeling you’ll pick it up with no problem at all.”
The door opened and both Nina and Roscoe glanced up.
“I brought you a cherry turnover and some coffee, sweetheart. I don’t like that you skipped breakfast,” Acker said.
“Oh, thank you, Glenn! You’re so thoughtful,” Nina answered, accepting the cup of coffee and the small paper plate with the turnover on it.
“Okay, I’m out. Have a good day,” he said, winking at her before he was out the door and on his way.
“Never thought I’d see the day that man would ever put anyone before himself and whatever he wanted to do,” Roscoe said.
Nina just smiled.
“Turns out, you’re what he wanted to do all along,” Roscoe said.
Chapter 30
Lethal was just barely dozing — the best he could hope for as far as sleeping was concerned these days — when there was a soft knock on his bedroom door.
“What?” he asked in a groggy voice.
“I found Hal Jessupson. He lives less than thirty minutes from the facility in Michigan. Been out of work for about a month. You want to take a trip?” Valor asked.
“Absofuckinglutely!” Lethal answered, swinging his legs off the bed and standing up as he grabbed his cell phone.
He followed Valor out of the bedroom as he pressed the speed dial for Smitty. “How soon can we lift off?” he asked as soon as Smitty answered the call.
“I refuel last thing when I return from a mission. All I have to do is file a flight plan and we’re good to go. Thirty, forty minutes?” Smitty said.
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