FIRE (Elite Forces Series Book 2) (13 page)

“Fun, huh.  So I’m about to be a third wheel on a fuck fest weekend with the two of you.”

“No, I’ll keep it to a minimum just for you.  Now, get your ass in my truck.  You need a few days to truly relax, and I’m going to make that happen for you if I have to strap you to a lounge chair myself.”  I follow his large stature as I hit the last light in the house.  Closing my eyes as I do doesn’t help the hurt.  Breathing slowly as I walk the path Harris is leading, I whisper, “Goodbye, Kaleb,” as I close the door to my apartment and any possibility of a future with him.

Fuck. 
I throw my phone on the floor in front of the passenger seat in frustration.  She’s leaving me.  I could hear it in her fucking voice.  This is something I can’t compromise on, so I’m left with only one choice.  Deal with the fate of us once I get back.  I’d rather know I have a for sure chance to have that conversation by keeping her safe over taking her with me and chancing my brother torturing me by ruining her.  I could never live with myself if that happened.

Her words echo through my head as I reach the airport and they don’t stop replaying the entire flight to the compound.  It’s the longest flight of my life.

I know her well enough to know the end of that conversation was her way of making me feel like there’s going to be something to come back to.  Well, I hate to tell her stubborn ass I’m not letting this end us.  She can try to walk away from me all she wants, but I will find her with the tracker in her damn leg, and when I do, I know how she’ll react to me.  Just like how I’m pulled to her, she’s drawn to me, no matter how hard she tries to fight it.  She may as well not even try it.  It didn’t work in the desert and it won't work now.  

I land, and I’m still pissed off in more ways than one.  She hasn’t messaged me, but I didn’t expect her to.  I’m desperately fighting the urge to fly right back to her and just tell her everything, but I won’t.

“That was a quick trip.  Great plan to get Jade out of here, my friend.  How’d she take you leaving her behind?”  Jackson must’ve drawn the short stick, because he’s the one here to pick me up.

“Not good.”  His fucking laughter fills the cab, so I give him a death glare to show him I’m not in the mood to deal with any laughter or jokes today.

“I bet she didn’t.”  He pulls the truck out of the pick-up lane before he starts in on me again.

“You know.  She’s changed you.”  I cross my arms, knowing he’s right, but not wanting to hear anything right now except the sound of my brother’s last breath. 

“Jackson.  Not today.  Today, I need you to work and not talk.  I need to get this done so I can get my ass back to her asap.”

“10-4 ,big guy.  I read you loud and clear.”  I hate to be a dick to him. He’s one hell of a guy.  He’s just one to joke all the time, and right now, I’m not feeling like being poked at.

The rest of the ride is quiet, and I begin to get in the mindset that I’ll need to be in whenever I come face-to-face with my brother.  I hope like hell he’s here in the States.  I’d love nothing more than to meet him in my territory, where I can make the rules.

The early morning phone call from Kase has my head exploding.  One minute, we're waiting for clearance to head back to Mexico; then the next, we’re not.  Fucking scared the piss out of me when I saw his name flashing on my screen.  Good thing I was awake and she was passed out from exhaustion.  I hopped out of her bed as quickly as I could before answering, and then shut myself in the bathroom like some school kid hiding out.

I’ll hold on to the memories of having everything to do with her being so exhausted.  I just wish I could’ve woken up with her in my arms.  Then it all hits me. There’s a possibility I’ll never see her again.  She may never let me touch her again.  I swallow hard with the realization and try to focus on the positive.

I should be relieved we aren’t heading to Mexico and that I don’t have to leave Jade behind while I go back there and relive my nightmare all over again on top of worrying about her back here.

But fuck, when Kase said the Mexican authorities would handle it and under no circumstances did they want the United States government involved, that shit worries me even more.  Then he drops the bomb that my brother has been spotted near the US border and I need to get back to headquarters immediately. 

There is no way in hell Ty would be there when they go in, whenever that will be.  Assholes like him have people on the inside.  I bet anything he has several of them on his payroll.  The fucker is long gone by now.

That’s why I immediately called Harris the second I hung up with Kase.  He’s the only one I trust to keep her safe.  I told him to talk her into going to the ranch.  It’s the safest place for her right now.  This whole thing is out of my control, and it’s making me fucking crazy.  Control is my middle name.  I have to have it, and when I don’t, I get shitty.

I reach for my phone on the floor as we pull into the gates of the compound.  Fucking Jackson and his crazy-ass driving. Swerving all over the place like an asshole.

I glance at the screen one more time, just in case I missed a call or message from her when I was off in my own little world, only to find nothing. 
Fuck.

My phone starts to vibrate in my hand, and I quickly see that it’s my mom. 

“Hi, mom.  What’s up?”

“Your brother called, Kaleb.”  Her words are barely audible through the sobs I can hear and the pain flowing from her.  My heart instantly freezes.

“How did he get through?  Your number was changed years ago, mom.”  God.  I need her here with me.  The sounds of her sobbing achingly are killing me.  I can’t imagine what’s running through her mind right now. 

“He called the neighbor.  He took a message and just brought it over.  What do you want me to do?”

“Mom.  I need you to calm down, please.  I know this is a shock to you after all this time.  Please trust me when I tell you Ty is a dangerous man.  I need you focused right now.  Tell me what he said, mom?”  I’m about to lose my shit as I think about that motherfucker getting anywhere near my family.  I should’ve forced her to move to the compound. 
Fuck. 

My hands start shaking as I glance over to Jackson, whose expression is pinched.  Worry is creasing his features and his fists are clenched while he begins to shake too.

“He said he’ll be coming to visit soon and wanted to make sure I had his number.  My neighbor, Rick, wrote it out. I have it if you want me to call him.” 

“Fuck, no, mom.  Don’t you dare call and talk to his ass.  I’ll have you and Amelie moved immediately.  Ty is into some deep shit, and I can’t chance he’ll bring it to your fucking door.”

“Kaleb Maverick.  Quick saying ‘fuck’ to your mother.  Is this what you were not telling me the other day?  Do you have more information on Ty I need to know about?” 
Yeah, mom.  I have a lot of information about your son. 
I’m not about to tell her that though.

“We’ll talk as soon as you get here.  Grab a bag and get a few things.  I’ll have a flight arranged in about five minutes.  My security guys will get you from the house.  Mom.  I need you to move fast.  Leave everything as it is and get the hell out of there.”

“Alright.  I’m moving.”  Now her voice turns panicky. “Where’s Amelie?”  I close my eyes, hoping to god she’s called her already.

“She’s here.”  Thank you, god.

“One more thing. The only word they are going to say to you is ‘Fire’ when they come to the door.  They won’t say anything else.  If they don’t, then you tell Amelie to take that shotgun and blow their heads off, do you understand me?  I have to go.  I’ll see you soon.  Text me the number he left you.”   I hang up on her, knowing I need to get them out of there now.  My heart is panicked, and I’m pissed I let her convince me he’d leave her alone.  This could just be a threat to me, because he knows she’ll call me with the information if he contacts her.  This is him playing games.  Well, game on, motherfucker. 

I work fast to get everyone in place and a plan set out for them to get to me, while Jackson heads inside.

  My next call is to Harris to check on Jade. 

“Tell me you’re already on the move.”  I don’t even give him the chance to greet me.

“Sure am.  Already on the road.  Figured a road trip might do us some good again.  What’s up?”  He sounds at ease, and I find peace in knowing he’s got her. 

“Nothing.  Just stick with the plan and keep me posted.”  I trust Harris, but he needs to know this is a hell of a lot more serious than it was when I called him earlier.

“How’s she doing?”  I’m surprised my voice is as calm as it is with all the shit that’s running through my head right now.

“Been better.”  I can tell he’s trying to keep his words short, but to the point. She’s right there with him. 

“I’m going to make this right.  Just please, stay with her.  My brother called my mom today.  He’s circling the area, and I need her safe and nowhere near me.”  Ty will never be able to put her with me when she’s across the country.  That ranch is well hidden and a perfect place for her to go.

“We’re good here.  Do what you have to do.” 

“Thanks, Harris.” I leave those as my parting words and climb up the steps into the office.  The feeling of panic completely outweighs how thankful I am, but I’m determined.  Panic and determination; that’s a lethal combination right there.

“Alright.  Let’s gather around the table.  We don’t have any spare time until we find my brother. The President wasn’t interested in starting a war with the Mexican Cartel, so we’re on our own with this.”  I’m livid, and no one says a damn word as they all gather around.

“You sure you want to start this, Fire?  Once we do this, there’s no turning back.”  Kase is just making sure I’m thinking with a level head, and I’m sure he’s worried about the fallback from this if we find Ty’s whereabouts.  This shit is deep.  He’s now coming into my territory, and I need a fucking game plan for when he arrives.  I know damn well he will.  This could fall on all of our shoulders if we don’t find him, because he will start picking apart everyone we love to get to Al-Quaren.  I know he needs him.  I’d love nothing more than to give the fucker back to him and not be worried about the safety of every single person I care about, but that isn’t how all of this works. 

“You know damn well he’ll be coming for us to get Al-Quaren back.  He has to.  I know without a doubt that was Fernando pressuring him on the phone when he held me captive.  They were talking about missed firearm shipments over him losing that terrorist fucker to us.  He has orders to get him back, or his fucking life is ruined.”  My temper flares at how he’s fucked up his life.

“Who’s to say he’s not already in the States?”  Vice speaks up and I welcome his thoughts.  Hell, I’ve thought them a million times myself in the past few days. 

I practically stop breathing when I think he contacted my family, but now that I know they’re on a plane coming straight for me, maybe I’ll be able to calm down soon.  I’ll have to get them settled here, so I can go find my brother.  We’ll have the best team looking for any sign of his whereabouts.  Fucker will have to show his face one time or another. 

I wish I didn’t have to leave once they get here, but I can’t be everywhere, even though I wish I could be.  No.  I need to be the one to put an end to my brother.  I have to trust that everyone else keeps up their side of this mess and protects those I love.

“Nothing says that.  He could be anywhere, but I’d put my life on the fact he’s here. Especially since he contacted your mom.”  Pierce stands up then works to fix the projector so that our satellite imaging is displayed.  I turn to Jackson and nod my thanks for him letting them know about the call from my brother.  Saves us time we do not have if I had to explain what the hell happened.  I let Pierce take the floor and begin the details of our plan.

“I have my intel team working on anything they can find on him.”  Kase leans forward in his chair, pulling out his phone to continue texting, while data scans across his computer screen.

“Alright.  We need anything and everything we know about him brought to the damn table now.  His name is Tyler Daniel Maverick.  Aka Robert Daniels.  Aka Danny B.  Have them run all of those names and pull up the American from the sex slave case we worked.  See if any of the details match.”  I start barking orders and everyone moves quickly.  This is why I love my team.  These table meetings bring out the best of all of us.  “Also, get me the feed to all of the tracking devices.  I want to know where everyone is during all of this.”  Pierce hits a few buttons, and a map of the United States pops up with tiny red dots flashing in three areas. 

“Looks like Jade must be traveling.  We’ve got our other guys in North Carolina waiting for word to move.”  Pierce points to the screen, but my eyes zone in on her flashing dot.  That’s right, baby, get your ass to that ranch.

“I discovered a little something, or should I say, our handy friends down there did.”  Pierce turns his head in my direction with remorse and sympathy etched across his face.

“Spill it.”  My brows furrow, then I look at the screen, immediately understanding why he’s looking at me the way he is.

“Is that what I think it is?”  Kase stands, his big build hovering in front of the screen.

“My god.  That’s where they were holding me.  Fuck me.”  Every damn second of the torture and my brother’s face flash before my eyes when Kase moves out of the way.  The shithole structure of a building and that wicked tree are on the screen.  Only this time, I can see.  Clear as can be.  My eyes aren’t half open, and there’s no darkness from the recordings that night. There’s a large structure just behind all of that, half hidden in the trees.  He zooms in behind it, and I work to make out what I’m seeing. 

“It’s fucking cages.  The asshole has cages.  Are those people?”  Shit, I can’t fucking see it zoomed in that far.