Her Shield (The Uncut Series Book 1) (22 page)

Isis faltered. “Well, I don't want to just disappear on my escort.”

  “He'll be fine. Trent can make himself at home here.”

In the car, Marc put a hand to his face. “Don't leave him Princess. She's trying to separate you.”

  “Actually Dr. Smith, Isis had just agreed to dance with me and I'm anxious to hold such a pretty girl in my arms,” Trent said smoothly.

Leaning back against the seat, Callie breathed a sigh of relief. “Good job baby. Don't separate.”

  Camille looked at the pair and smiled. “Of course, we aren't going anywhere. The night is young and full of excitement, just like you two.”

  “Enjoy your dance.” Isis and Trent watched as she disappeared into the crowd.

Isis turned to Trent. “Why is she trying to separate us?”

Trent began to lead her to the dance floor. “I don't know. I think she's up to something.”

  “Yes baby she is!” Callie screamed inside the car and Marc turned to her. “Who is she?”

Marc frowned. “Someone I'm clearly underestimating.”

  Back on the dance floor, Isis and Trent began to dance to the band tune. “What should we do? I still need to question her some more.”

  “I'm not supposed to let you out of my sight so if we don't get the questions answered, we'll have to regroup and come up with a new strategy,” Trent told her.

  “I promised Marcus that I wouldn't let him down. He trusted me.”

Trent looked down at her. “You're in love with him?”

Callie and Marc looked at each other in the car.

Isis smiled from ear to ear. “Yes, yes, yes! I love Special Agent Marcus Graham.”

Trent laughed. “Well damn, okay.”

 
Callie laughed as Marc gave a small smile. She'd rarely ever seen this brother smile since the first time she'd met him and here he was practically blushing over Isis declaring her love for him.

  “I'm happy for you Isis,” Trent told her sincerely.

She looked up at him. “Thank you Trent. I know you truly mean it.”

  “Let's mingle until Dr. Smith finds us again,” Trent told Isis and they began to walk around the venue. Pictures of Justin Black were on display as the Foundation's founder. Trent stopped in front of one and stared at the man who was responsible for giving him life.

Isis looked at him then at the picture. “You favor him a lot, but Jordan looks exactly like him.”

  “Yeah he does,” Trent agreed. “Even little Justice looks like him.”

  “I've heard good things about him,” Isis told him.

Trent laughed. “Bad things too.”

Isis flushed. “I didn't want to say that.”

  “It's cool. I know who my father was.” Trent looked away. “He was the man who gave me away without a second thought.”

  Callie caught her breath in the car listening to Trent. She could hear the hurt in his voice. As much as he joked and tried to hide it, she knew that not knowing his father was something that weighed on his heart.

  “Oh baby...” Callie sighed as she lowered her head listening.

Isis took Trent's arm. “Let's get some food. We might as well settle in for a little while.”

  “You know me and food,” Trent said smiling.

  They headed to the room with an elaborate buffet. The two made plates and found a table before sitting to enjoy their food.

  “So this is a Ball, huh?” Trent asked.

  “Yeah, this is a Ball,” Isis answered. “A bunch of rich people eating, drinking and being merry.”

Trent continued eating. “I'd rather be at home watching basketball with Callie.”

Isis agreed. “Yeah, I'd rather be with Marcus doing anything.”

  They looked up and Dr. Smith was standing at their table with a glass of white wine in her hand. “Hello beautiful young people. Are you enjoying yourselves?” she asked smiling.

Both looked up at the elegant woman in the designer dress and flawless makeup.

  “Well I'm mingling and making sure everyone is having a good time. I won't keep you,” she said happily. “I'm so glad you two came tonight.”

  Dr. Smith turned and stumbled slightly spilling her glass of wine in Isis' lap. Both Trent and Isis jumped up from their seats as Isis yelped.

  “Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry Isis,” Dr. Camille said reaching for a napkin as servers dressed in all black came immediately to assist. “You should go to the ladies room and put some cold water on it.”

  Isis looked up at Trent. “I'll walk you there,” Trent told her and took her arm as Dr. Smith directed them to the facilities with a smile on her face.

  They walked down an empty hall to where the restrooms were located and Isis turned to Trent. “I'll be right out. Don't go anywhere.”

  “I'll be right here,” he assured her before she stepped inside. Trent looked up and down the empty hall.

  “We're at the bathroom and Isis is inside,” he told Callie and Marc listening in the car. “We're fine. You don't need to come after us.”

Callie looked at Marc. “Should we go get them?”

Marc sat contemplating. “Let's give them a few more minutes.”

  Trent turned as a hand holding a cloth came out of nowhere and was placed over his mouth. Trained in Jui jitsu, he sprang into action throwing the man off his back. He was ready to pounce when he heard the click of many guns. He looked back down the hall and froze when he saw four gunmen dressed in black.

  “Shield,” he said softly, praying that Isis didn't emerge from the bathroom.

  At the sound of the code word, both Marc and Callie threw off their headsets and grabbed their guns. They were out of the car and inside the building in ten seconds flat with Marc shouting orders and flashing his badge joined by other agents.

  They hurried to the hall that contained the restrooms and found it empty. Callie rushed into the restroom and reappeared with Isis by her side. When she emerged, she looked around.

  “Where is Trent?” she demanded looking at Marc who stood surrounded by three other agents.

Isis looked at Marc in fear. “He's in the building Callie. We have to find him.”

  Callie rushed over to him with her weapon in her hand. “Find him? What the hell are you talking about Marc?”

Marc looked down at her flashing eyes. “I don't know where he is Callie.”

Isis gasped as she looked around. “He was waiting out here for me.”

  “He called for backup,” Marc told her.

Callie lifted her gun to Marc. “Find him...or I swear your ass is dead tonight!”

  “Callie!” Isis screamed watching her point the gun at Marc's face.

  “Do you hear me?” Callie said in a low voice.

Marc sighed. “Put the gun down Callie. We're wasting time.”

He turned to one of the agents. “Where does the tracking say he is?”

  “There's some sort of lower level in the building,” the agent reported. “We have to find how to get down there.”

  “What about his mic? What's coming through?” Callie questioned.

The agent looked somber. “It went silent and wherever he is now, the reception is dead.”

  “Let's move.” Marc ordered before he turned to Callie who had lowered her weapon. “We'll find him.”

  Callie took off behind the other agents after giving Marc one last look. Isis stood watching in horror as Marc came over to her. “They're taking you home.”

  “I have to help find Trent!” she protested.

  “They're taking you home,” he repeated walking over to a waiting agent.

Isis slowed. “Marcus...”

  “Take her home!” he barked to the agent before he turned and followed his men in the search for Trent, leaving her to watch his retreating back.

*********

  Trent's heart felt as though it was going to beat out of his chest as he stood looking at the man across from him.

  “Who are you?” Trent asked knowing that the man couldn't possibly be who he thought he was.

The man smiled. “Who do you think I am Trent?”

  “I know who you look like, but you can't be him,” Trent answered watching the man closely.

He laughed. “You can relax Trent, I'd never hurt you. You're with family.”

Trent's eyes narrowed. “I never had a family.”

  “But you have one now,” the man responded.

Trent swallowed. “What do you want with me?”

The man smiled. “I wanted to see you.”

  Trent looked around at the men dressed in black that had brought him to this place. “So just asking was not an option?”

  “I didn't know if you would be receptive.” He shrugged. “And I know your brothers would not have allowed it without checking me out.”

  Trent continued to study the man whose picture he'd just looked at a little while ago. If this man was who Trent thought he was, how was that possible?

  “Even though you're a genius son, you won't figure this out,” the man told him.

Trent's eyes narrowed. “Who the hell are you and what do you want from me?” he demanded.

  “Camille told me you were here and I had to see you for myself,” he explained. “I don't want anything from you son.”

  “I'm not your son!” Trent yelled.

The man smiled. “You're a Black.”

Trent frowned. “What are you going to do to me?”

  “I'm going to let you walk out of this room and go home to your apartment that your brothers gave you with that pretty little girlfriend you have. Callie...she loves the hell out of you boy. Don't mess that up.”

Dark eyes clashed with matching ones. “You're watching me?” Trent asked angrily.

  “I've been watching you for a long time Trent,” the man admitted. “And I'll always be watching you.”

  “Why?”

The man smiled. “Because you're a Black, the one that was lost and now he's found.”

  “This is crazy. I don't understand what the hell is going on here!” Trent said frustrated.

  “It's okay Trent. All you need to know is that you're never alone.”

Trent looked at the man. “My brothers will find out who you are,” he vowed

  The man laughed. “Your brothers don't even know I exist.” He reached into his breast pocket and retrieved a phone.

  He studied the screen for a moment before looking back at Trent. “Well it seems our time together is over. They have an entire squad looking for you.”

  “I would shake your hand, but I know your skills. I wouldn't want to end up passed out on the floor.” He walked to a door and looked back. “Don't ever forget Trent, you're a Black.”

  Trent watched him disappear through the door and turned to find all the gunmen gone as well. They had placed a cloth over his face to prevent him from speaking as they led him to this room and when he'd entered, the man had been waiting for him. Trent knew that Marc and Callie were looking for him and he wondered if Isis was okay, or had they taken her too.

  The door burst open and Marc entered slowly with his gun drawn, quickly surveying the room. “Trent! Are you okay?” he asked coming over to where he stood.

  Before Trent could answer, Callie burst into the room and ran to him. “Are you okay?” she asked grabbing him.

Trent looked at Marc over her head. “I'm fine.”

Marc lifted a brow. “What the hell happened? Why are you down here?”

Callie stepped back to listen, watching Trent's face. 

  “Four gunmen brought me down here. There was a man waiting for me,” Trent explained.

Callie looked confused. “Who was the man?”

Trent looked down at her confused as well. “I don't know.”

  “What did he look like?” Marc questioned.

Trent lifted his eyes to Marc then looked at Callie. “He looked exactly like Justin Black...”

*********

  Isis arrived at her empty apartment and was escorted inside by the assigned agent.

  “Goodnight Miss Martin,” he said as he exited.

  Isis was still in shock from Trent being taken. She didn't understand what had happened. Had Dr. Smith done something to him? She knew the mission wasn't over, but what was going to happen now? Isis went to her room and stepped out of her dress and into another outfit to prepare for what was next. She left the microphone and wire intact for Marcus to remove later.

Would Marcus still want her on the mission or had the plans now changed?

  She took a seat on the sofa and tried to replay the evening. Dr. Camille Smith was a very savvy woman apparently. She'd set them up by sending them to the restroom where she'd apparently planned to take Trent. But why would she want to take Trent? What did she want with him? Who was this woman?

  Marcus had made her leave the scene without one word. He hadn't even allowed her to stay and help find Trent. She wondered if he had been found and what had happened.

  The doorbell rang and Isis went to look through the peephole. Seeing Jeremiah on the other side, she opened the door since Marc had assured her that Jeremiah was no threat to her physically. Isis looked him over in a suit jacket and slacks.

  “Hi Jeremiah.”

He stepped inside and looked at her. “Hey Isis.” He glanced around. “Is Tasha here?”

Isis shook her head. “No, she's not here. I just got here myself.”

He nodded. “Good, so now you can come with me.”

  Isis felt her heart began to beat the same way it did before she stepped out on a stage. “Come with you?” she repeated.

  “Yeah...now.”

  “When Marcus gets here, maybe then...” she trailed off.

  Jeremiah shook his head and Isis watched as he slid his jacket back to reveal a weapon at his waist.

  “Now.” He smiled as he came to take her arm. “Don't worry, Marc will find you. He's the FBI.”

  Isis felt a chill at his touch. Jeremiah allowed her to get her shoes then moved her quickly out the door and down to his car. He turned to her and smiled. “We don't want to keep Millie waiting.”

********

  Marc stormed the Ball looking for Dr. Camille Smith. “Find her ass!” he ordered and agents fanned out in search of the infamous woman.

  After a thorough search of the premises, neither Dr. Camille Smith nor the Justin Black look-alike that Trent had described could be found. Marc stopped and placed his hands on his waist. Dammit! How had this gotten out of his control? What the hell had Sean dropped in his lap?

  He'd thought this woman was harmless except for a few secrets that he would uncover, but she was a master manipulator and still possibly a murderess. What in the hell was he going to tell Ray? He'd put both Trent and Isis in danger and on top of that, he didn't know the whereabouts of any suspects. Shit!

  Marc had sent Trent and Callie home and advised them that they would debrief the next day. He needed to regroup and fast.

  The agent he'd sent to take Isis home approached him and he looked up. “Is she at home?” Marc asked.

  “Yes sir, I dropped her off... but she's left again according to her tracking.”

Marc lifted a brow. “She left? Where the hell is she?

  “She's headed towards the woods outside the city.” He paused. “Her mic picked up that she went with someone named Jeremiah.”

  Marc looked at his watch then pulled out his phone to check for messages. When he didn't see any, he turned and ran out of the building to the waiting car. “Pop the trunk!” he yelled and the driver acted immediately.

  Marc pulled some items from the trunk and quickly got into the car. “Follow Isis Martin's tracking.”

In the back of the car, Marc prepared for the encounter with his brother.

*********

  Jeremiah and Isis arrived at a cabin in the woods and he led her from the car. Isis warily entered the dwelling and saw Shana sitting near a fireplace. She was dragged the rest of the way inside by Jeremiah.

  “Let me go!” Isis screamed fighting at him.

Jeremiah pulled out the gun. “Stop it before I have to shoot your ass!”

  Isis stood with her chest heaving. “What do you want Shana! Why don't you leave me alone?” she yelled.

Shana stood to her feet glaring at Isis. “Because you killed my Daddy bitch!”

  “He was my Daddy too and I didn't have anything to do with him dying,” Isis corrected. “I never wanted to lose my Daddy!”

  “Shut your ass up! I can't stand you or your whore sister.”

Isis looked confused. “My sister's not a whore!”

  “Shut up before I have Jeremiah shoot you before I get my money,” Shana warned.

Isis looked to Jeremiah. “You want to do this?” she asked angrily.

Jeremiah smiled. “I've been waiting for this all my life.”

  “Marcus won't let you get away with this!” Isis vowed. “He'll find me.”

  “Of course he will,” Jeremiah agreed. “And when he gets here, there's something for him.”

Isis' eyes widened and began to tear up. “Haven't you hurt him enough?”

Shana walked over to Isis. “Didn't I tell your ass to shut up?”

She turned to Jeremiah. “Let's call Isabelle and tell her to get our damn money.”

  Jeremiah pulled out a phone. “I got a burner phone so it won't be traced back to us,” he told Shana.

Shana smiled. “You're so smart Jeremiah.” He winked at her.

  Isis looked at the pair then dropped her face into her hands in despair. “I don't know why you two are doing this. We've never done anything to you.” She said through her hands near tears.

  “Shut up Isis, like Shana said.” He began dialing the number.

  “Keep your mouth shut while I'm on this damn phone,” he warned and waited for the call to connect.

He smiled when Isabelle answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Is this Isabelle Martin?” Jeremiah asked.

  “This is Isabelle Parker,” she corrected.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes. “Is Isis Martin your sister?” he questioned.

  “Yes, why?”

  “Well we got her and if you want her back, we want twenty mil.”

Isabelle paused. “Who is this?

  “The people who have your little sister. Now if you want to see her again, get that money!”

  “If you have my sister...let me speak to her.”

Jeremiah walked over to Isis. “Say something stupid and watch me shoot you.”

He put the phone to Isis' ear. “Isabelle?” Isis said in a squeaky voice.