Inferno (31 page)

Bullets peppered the ground around them. Chunks of rock and debris kicked up from the ground and surrounding trees. Shouting erupted among the men and his teammates scattered in a frantic dive for cover. Disbelief crashed through him followed by outright panic.

He bolted up the hill, his thighs burning from the sharp incline, with Josh hot on the trail behind him. The helicopter veered lower, firing off a rapid volley as it swept past. Darting in between trees, Sebastian managed to avoid most of the fiery hail. One bullet rocked the gear strapped to his back. Another caught the heel of his boot. Wide-eyed, he braced his back against a thick trunk, his heart damn near exploding in his chest. Still heaving for breath, he glanced to his left. Josh’s eyes met his, his expression every bit as wild and bewildered.

He watched in horror as the black bird of death swung right, circling back their way. Levering off the tree, he shouted an order to scatter. Another heavy surge of gunfire bore down around them, drowning out his voice. Uncertain of the terrain above, he scrambled back down the hill, trying to stay beneath the dense canopy of pines. He lost traction several times but managed to keep himself mostly upright by skidding on the braced palms of his hands. Wincing, he tried to ignore the sting of rocks and sticks as they scraped his flesh away.

Dirt and pebbles blasted upward in an airborne spray. Debris pelted his skin and hit his eyes, blinding him while another round of bullets hit too close for comfort. Thrashing his head, he squinted against the sting in an attempt to see. His panic rose as he heard some of his men screaming nearby.

The thumping whir of the blades grew fainter, signaling retreat. Hauling himself upright, he pushed to unsteady feet and blinked against the settling haze. His gaze darted wildly around him, searching for any sign of Josh. Much to his relief he found his partner flattened against the ground nearby, his body still prone and shaking behind the wide shield of a rock.

“What the
fuck
was
that?
” Josh asked, his voice bordering on a scream.

“I don’t know,” he said, wiping his face onto his upper arm and sleeve. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I think so. You?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Marx’s voice broke over his partner’s radio, demanding their position. Sebastian cursed, remembering he had shut his off shortly after the teams had split. His hands still shook with a heavy aftershock of adrenaline as he fumbled for the switch.

“This is Alpha.”

Marx didn’t bother asking for a report or a rundown on their wounded or dead. His next order was crisp and clear.

“You and Reevers round up the men. We are more than done here.”

~*~*~*~

No amount of booze could drive the weariness or fear from his battered system. Gripping the cup between heavily bandaged hands, Sebastian downed the rest of his whiskey and shoved the tumbler away. They’d lost six men in that operation. Six good men whose lives and dedication they could never get back. The ride back to headquarters had been bitter and silent. More than once, he found himself uneasily scanning the skies, worrying that their friends would be back to finish the job and shoot them out of the air.

Marx, too, kept his focus elsewhere. His broad features remained unmoving and stoic, giving nothing away. If the loss of his men hit their commander or impacted him in any way, he didn’t let it show. In fact, the rigid set of his jaw and occasional blink was the only indication the man was still alive.

Everyone took separate paths upon arriving at headquarters. A vast majority of the men sought medical attention. Others retreated to reflect or mourn in whatever scant place of privacy and seclusion they could find. After they’d both been bandaged and Josh’s shoulder had been set back into place, his partner had followed him into his office. He remained seated across from Sebastian, his expression lined with worry and exhaustion, but it was the look lurking beneath the surface of those steely blue eyes that lent him pause.

After downing the rest of his drink, Josh turned his attention to his glass and ran a tremulous finger over the rim. “I heard the talk you guys had earlier, Baas. I won’t ask about Marx, but I need you to tell me you had nothing to do with this.”

He tilted his head, his piercing stare locking on his partner. “I assure you I did no such thing. Why would I put my life or the lives of my men at risk?”

“Because you want him out of the picture, Sebastian. Today was a pretty damn clear indication of that.”

“Look at what he is doing, Josh. Consider, just for one minute, the direction our operations are taking. Not to mention the numerous threats he’s made against Taylor. I can’t afford to take a backseat attitude here. As much as I may want to, the man in me refuses to be blasé and shrug it all off as if it’s nothing.”

Josh sighed, his expression shifting from one of accusation to deep reflection. He dwelled in his thoughts for several more minutes before responding. “I understand, but he senses you pulling back again and he doesn’t like it, Sebastian. He doesn’t like it one bit. This isn’t just about you. At the very least, you have Taylor and your sister to consider. Look at what happened the last time he felt you resisting. Your nephew and your brother are already dead. There’s no coming back from that, Baas.”

“I am aware of that.”

“Are you? Are you also aware of the fact that I’ll be damned before I let you throw your sister or my son under that fucking bus?”

Sebastian’s shoulders jerked with a humorless laugh. “You just don’t get it, do you?” he asked, dropping against the back of his chair. “Why do you think I have been pulling away and distancing myself from you? He’s already locked Taylor in his sights. Marx wants her gone, and no matter what I do, he won’t stop there. Eventually, he will go after Monique, Aiden, you… He will keep going until there is nothing left that matters to me. When he’s done, and there is nothing else left for him to possibly strip away, he will move on to the next guy and he will start the same cycle all over again. He’s overstepping boundaries. Not just with us, but with innocent civilians. Before we know it, the entire world will be fucked, Josh, all because we stood by and
let it happen
.”

He tensed as his partner sprung to his feet and levered a shaking finger in his direction. “Fuck you, Baas. You are out of your fucking mind.”

“I do my job, Josh. I’ve
always
done my job. What purpose does taking everything else away serve? Marx is the one who’s lost his mind. He’s riding some sick power trip, and he is going to take us all down with him. What do you think today was really about? He’s turning things around from the inside and other agencies are already sitting up and taking notice. This is our future now unless we stop him. Dominic, Laychee, that whole thing was a set-up. He’s planning a takeover and he is using my men to do it.”

“You have
completely
lost your shit! Are you even hearing the things coming out of your mouth right now?”

He sighed and averted his attention to the window, focusing his stare on the landscape outside. It was easier than seeing the terror and pain in his partner’s eyes.

“The truth can be a scary thing sometimes, Josh.”

“I’m not doing this. I’m not having this conversation, and I’m not letting you drag me down with you. Do you hear me, Sebastian?”

“I need you. I can’t do this without you. You’re my partner. You’re all I have.”

“No, Baas. You’re not listening. Whatever you are doing, whatever it is you are thinking about doing, just fucking
stop!
”

The words hit him like a physical blow. They sucked the air from his lungs along with all traces of fight. A deep, wounded hurt replaced the shock and left him stunned.

“Get out,” he ordered quietly.

“Yeah, fine. My pleasure. Just do us both a favor and stay the hell away from me. I’m done trying to save you from yourself.”

He offered an emotionless smile in return. “You’ve already made your position quite clear. There is nothing left of me to save. Have a pleasant life, Agent Reevers. Shut the door on your way out.”

Sebastian ground his teeth as he watched Marx stroll the length of the conference room, his deep booming voice nothing more than an annoying drone that he desperately tried to block. Josh sat in stoic silence beside him, the tight clench of his jaw saying all that needed said. His partner was still angry. Scowling, Sebastian slumped lower into his chair and checked the clock. It had already been an hour and Marx showed no signs of shutting his yap anytime soon. To his left, Vincent tried to conceal a yawn behind his hand. The gesture drew the director’s undivided attention along with a blistering glare.

“Am I boring you, Agent Pellagreeni?” he asked, balling his massive fists and pressing them against the table. “Is my briefing putting you to sleep?”

“No, sir. It’s just been a long day. It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t or you will be spending several long nights in a reconditioning cell. I need everyone’s head in the game, including yours, no matter how worthless it might be.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed in disapproval. Marx rose to the challenge.

“Is there something you would like to say, Agent Baas?”

“Other than the fact that I don’t appreciate you belittling my men for no reason?” he asked. “Not particularly.”

The commander straightened with a snort. “I see,” he stated. “We are back to you taking things on a personal level again. This isn’t about
you
, Sebastian. It’s about the lack of professionalism and respect on your team. A fact that has been brought to light in more ways than one as of late. Perhaps the problem isn’t with them after all. Maybe it lies with you.”

His shoulders jerked with a humorless laugh. Dropping his chin to his chest, Sebastian gave a rueful shake of his head. “If you say so.”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Marx countered, “and I highly doubt you want it to come down to that. If you think the last two weeks you spent in lockdown was hell, keep trying me.”

He opened his mouth, but a sharp elbow prodded his side before he managed to voice his opinions on the matter. Furious, he swiveled in his chair and pinned Josh with a heated glare.

“Shut up, Baas. Just
shut
the fuck up before you land us all in a world of hurt.”

“Your partner is a wise man, Sebastian. You would do well to listen.”

Ignoring Marx’s taunt, he gave Josh a cold smile in response. “I think I liked it better when you weren’t speaking to me.”

“Suit yourself, prick. Go back to holding private meetings with Vince. I’m done with you.”

Blinding rage threatened. Springing from his seat with enough speed and force to capsize it, he grabbed the back of Josh’s head and slammed him cheek first into the table. His partner gave a pained grunt when his fingers bit deeper into the corded muscles of his neck. The room around them exploded into action as several team members scrambled to break them apart.

“Who do you think you are, Josh?” Sebastian asked in a deceptively soft whisper. “Nobody speaks to me that way. Not even you,” he warned. “Before you decide to cross me again, take a good look at the empty chairs in this room. It doesn’t end well for those who try.”

“That is ENOUGH!” Marx bellowed.

Releasing the other man with a snarl, Sebastian backed away and smoothed the front of his uniform as his eyes locked with the director’s.

“This is
company
time, not a personal free-for-all. Baas…get your ass in the hall. You and I are going to have a private chat.”

He shot Josh one last look of disgust before backing toward the conference room doors. As if the day hadn’t been bad enough, everyone around him seemed intent to add insult to injury. Ignoring the pain in his hands, he flung the door open then slammed it shut in his wake. Marx followed shortly behind, his face dark with displeasure and the lingering effects of anger. His deep, black eyes narrowed with scrutiny before he tilted his head, indicating toward the corridor housing the holding cells.

Sebastian’s stomach sank, but he fell into stride beside their commander. They were halfway down the hallway before Marx spoke again.

“It’s come to my attention that you put in a vacation request the other day.”

He bit his tongue to keep from losing his fragile hold on his temper. Choosing to play it safe, Sebastian offered a mute nod and wondered where this interrogation was going to lead. His chest tightened as the director paused outside of Irene’s cell. He had no desire to revisit that hellhole again.

“Hand over your weapon.”

His head whipped to the side in time to see the man indicate toward the guards stationed outside the room with an impatient flick of his wrist. His stomach cramped and an ice-cold trickle of dread crawled through his veins. This wasn’t good. He briefly considered resisting, but with three of them and Marx all but breathing down the side of his neck, those efforts wouldn’t end well. Pulling his pistol free, he reluctantly handed it over.

“Knife too, Sebastian. We know how much you like to play with those things,” Marx quipped, a snide smile curving his lips.

He clenched his teeth, but given no other choice, he obliged. Stepping to the side, the director pulled the door open and gestured him inside. Irene promptly scuttled across the floor to greet them. Crouching near Marx’s feet, she pressed a worshiping kiss to the side of his leg. The gesture earned her a hard pat to the cheek.

“Very good,” he praised. “Now say hello to Agent Baas.”

He took an involuntary step back when she prowled closer, inching across the cement floor on her hands and knees. His stomach clenched, his breakfast rising when she reared up and reached for his belt buckle with filthy hands.

“That won’t be necessary,” he assured her, his stare swinging to Marx in disbelief.

“That’s right. I forgot. Sebastian has a pet of his own to keep him sated. A rare commodity for my men these days. I believe you know her well, don’t you Irene?” he asked, leaning down to grab the front of her throat. The nails of his blunt fingertips paled beneath the press. “Maybe someday, the two of you can visit. Would you like that? Do you miss socializing and seeing your friends?”