Cord SEAL Team Seven (Book 5) (14 page)

I slipped through trying to make myself as small as possible. Keeping as close to the wall and out of the glare of the moonlight coming in through the windows and doors, I kept my eyes trained on the bed.

I placed the shopping bag I had with me on the floor; I won’t be needing that until later. When I was sure from the sounds of their breathing that they hadn’t been alerted to our presence, I stepped towards the bed.

It seemed fucked to kill them in their sleep, and though it didn’t matter to me if they knew who ended them, there was a little added satisfaction in having the last word. I tapped the husband on the forehead with my gun.

His eyes flew open and I pulled the trigger. The splatter of his blood hit the wife in the face and neck and she swiped at it before her eyes flew open. “You shoulda left my kid alone lady. Say hello to your rapist son in hell.” Her mouth opened but it was too late. The bullet had already left the barrel.

“You boys may wanna bitch out now, you might not have the stomach for this next part.” They hadn’t said a word, hadn’t made a sound. I grabbed my bag and headed for the bathroom.

I ran the water and emptied the bottles in the tub and went back to get the bodies. “This might take a while. I’m gonna toss the place, see if there’s anything here that might give us some answers.”

They both stepped towards the tub and shook their heads. “That’s cold bro damn.” Creed walked out behind me. “I have to clean up this mess first. Fucking Creed stopped me from tossing the sheets and bed covers.

“No brother, if you don’t want anyone knowing you were here then we have to clean them and put them back.” What the fuck? I had to pull up the damn laundry room on my phone.

“I’ll take care of that, you two get started on your search.” He flipped the mattress over while he was at it. Something else I would’ve got around to if their nosy asses weren’t here. Fucking army boys think they’re the only ones who know how to run an Op.

“Aren’t you glad you brought us along?” Law clapped me on my shoulder before heading for the closest nightstand. Brought along my ass, but he had a point, I hadn’t thought about the clean up shit, though I’m sure it would’ve come to me.

We spent the next few hours going through papers and shit. Some looked interesting, those we put in a bag for later perusal. I was looking for anything about the senator, or the fucker the SEALs had a hard on for, we’ll see.

In keeping with not wanting to leave any evidence that we’d been here, we left things as neat as possible. The sun was starting to come up by the time it was safe to go. I still had a little more work to do.

When I saw what was left in the tub, I made a vow never to let Mengele’s ass anywhere near sulfuric acid ever again. For fuck sake, what the fuck had she been planning to do with that shit anyway?

“What’re you doing with that brother?” Law came up on me when I was washing away the dregs of what was left. “I’m not leaving anything behind.” I emptied another bottle of solution into the tub to clean the pipes so that there wouldn’t be so much as a speck of blood left. There wasn’t even a hint of bone. The mixture had done its job. Fucking mob.

Creed remade the bed but left it a little rumpled, to look like someone had slept there and just got up and left early. We got Jared from his post outside the maid’s door and split. It was halfway back to the boys that I felt eyes on me, but a covert look around didn’t reveal anything.

“You boys feel that?” I asked through my mouthpiece as we rode along. I was tired as fuck. Only an asshole would try to make this trip and back in one day, but I wasn’t about to leave my wife and kids alone, not with this shit hanging over their heads.

“Feel what?” Creed answered.

“Eyes? I picked them up a while ago but I thought I was being paranoid.” In fact I thought I felt them since I made the turnoff from my home but since I didn’t see shit I put it away.

“Whoever it is must be friendlies.”

“How the fuck you figure Law?”

“If they were here to stop the mission they would’ve done so already and they’re hanging back.” That was good enough for me, as long as they stayed the fuck outta my way they can be as friendly as they like.

“We need to stop and get some rest Lyon, we already rode almost a day here and it’s the same amount of time back, you can’t do it, you’ll wipe the fuck out.”

“Law, if your pansy ass wanna stop for a nap go right ahead, but I have to get home to my wife.”

“How do you want to get there? In one piece or do you prefer the State Troopers knocking on her door?” Nosy fuck, this is why she’d set him on my ass. Not this exactly, but she knew he’d try to talk me out of shit. The ass was right, my arms were already pulling, and it wasn’t just me I had to worry about. So as much as I hated to, I put in a call to Max and made sure everything was alright back home. I’ll save her nosy ass for later.

***

CREED

***

“Babe, I’m not gonna make it back tonight.” I waited for the whine I knew was coming. This would be the first night we’d spend apart since getting married.

“What why?” I could hear her rustling around in our bed and wish to fuck I could be there with her. “I told you, I had to make a run with the guys right. Well, the shit took a little longer than expected.” She had no idea I was in Arizona. Not that it mattered, since she hooked up with the other women, it’s like a spy network or some shit. I have no doubt she’d hear it from Lyon’s woman or Law’s.

“Who’s there?” I knew where she was heading with that shit and I hated like fuck that she even thought she had to ask.

“It’s just me and the guys babygirl, I told you about that shit didn’t I? You got the ring and the man, you do not have to worry about strange pussy.”

“I know it’s just…”

“It’s just nothing Jess, we’re not doing this shit. If I say I’m with you I’m with you. If I tell you I’m not fucking around on you then you believe that shit no question. Then ask yourself when the fuck would I have had time since I haven’t been more than ten feet away from you until tonight?”

I thought she was over that jealousy shit. I’d sent the woman packing halfway across the country and haven’t even seen another female if she was standing on top of my head. What the fuck?

“Are you crying? You better not be crying babygirl. Listen to me. I waited almost ten years for you. I didn’t do that shit to fuck it away for a piece of ass.” She sniffled and calmed her ass down and I was trying hard not to be pissed.

“How’s my kid?”

“He’s good, but you’re not gonna be here to hold my hair in the morning when he makes me sick.” I could hear the pout in her voice but at least she was over that crying shit.

“I’ll make it up to you. I stocked your little refrigerator with ginger ale and your crackers are in my nightstand. Just make sure you have both before you get out of bed and you should be fine babygirl.”

We fucked around on the phone for a little bit until her voice cleared and there was no more worry there. I got to wondering why the fuck women always think their man don’t miss them as much as they do when they have to be away from them because I had a bitch of a time getting to sleep without her next to me.

CORD

***

“C
ord, someone’s in the house. I think they’re heading for Susie’s room.”
There was fear in the kid’s voice but he was holding it together. I knew I shouldn’t have let her leave me. There was no time for recriminations now though; I had to move.

“I’m on my way.” I hit the ground running. I tightened the waist on my drawstring pajama bottoms, pulled the socks off my feet for better traction, and picked up my glock in one hand and my phone in the other.

I used the mechanism on my watch to open the gate as I ran flat out. I used my phone to call Lo, he’ll alert the others. But I was sure I’d be done by the time they got there. “Lo, someone’s after my girl, I’m almost there.”

“Fuck, I’ll get the others. Cord don’t…”

I hung up before he could try to talk me out of going in alone. I know my brothers very well and Lo’s first priority will always be one of us. He’d want me to wait, even though we’d just learned that they were the old man’s, he’d still put my life before hers.

I paced myself and controlled my breathing as I ran through the night to get to her. I didn’t let my mind go anywhere else. I didn’t give in to the anger that was gnawing at my gut, or the self-loathing for going against my mind and letting her leave. I just focused on getting to her, making her safe, and then killing the fuck that had broken into her house.

The night was still, as if waiting to be shattered. One of those nights where not even the trees moved in the breeze and the stars were hidden in the clouds. I took it all in as I made my way through the dead of night with my heart lodged somewhere in my gut and my mind on autopilot.

The little house came into view up ahead. It was in total darkness as I crept around the side. I knew which room was hers and which was her brother’s. I’d made it my business to know. I kept my eyes and ears pricked for any movement but all was still. The house next door was in total darkness, nothing moved over there.

There were no cars on the street, why would there be? In our little sleepy hollow everything shuts down by dusk and most law-abiding citizens are in bed by this hour. I checked the house for a way in without alerting whoever was inside. I didn’t know how much time I had. Either way, I wasn’t about to fuck around. I couldn’t let myself think about the terror she must be feeling, or whether or not she’d already been hurt. Did she cry out for me?

Davey, who has been hanging around us for the last little while, was starting to think like us. He’d opened his window for me to climb through. I knew the only reason he hadn’t tried to defend his sister himself was because we’d taken his piece that first night we met, which now seemed like so long ago.

If I’d been thinking, I would’ve armed him, but that was a mistake I wouldn’t be making again. Not that I was ever letting her out of my sight after this.

I climbed quietly through the window and found him by the door about to open it. I made the slightest of sounds behind him so he’d know I was there, and had my finger up to my lips as soon as he turned around. I hoped he could see me in the moonlight that streamed through the window.

The slump of his shoulders in relief told me all I needed to know as I made my way towards him. I could see the fear in his eyes, hear the shallowness of breath, but there was no time to reassure him. Now that I was here, the bitter taste of fear gave away to anger. Someone’s asshole son was gonna lose his life tonight.

I ushered him away from the door silently, and waited until he was out of the way before cracking it open the barest fraction, being sure not to let it squeak. I cautiously looked down the darkened hallway, nothing. Taking my time, I took another quick glance in the opposite direction, clear.

I turned back to him with a swift motion to stay put and away from the window before leaving the room. There was no sound coming from anywhere. Whoever was here was good, good enough that he knew how to control his breathing. I was trained to pick that shit up down to the lowest decibel.

Keeping close to the wall, I made my way down the hallway to her door, which had been left open. From my vantage point around the doorjamb I could see into the room and what I saw had me biting into my lip to hold back the scream of rage.

She was on the bed; someone was leaning over her with his hands around her neck as her feet struggled. She was putting up a fight, but she was no match for the hulking figure that had her in his grips. One sweep of the room confirmed that there was no one else there.

I kept the rage barely in check as I moved swiftly forward and grabbed him around the throat from behind, pulling him back and away from her. I didn’t stop until I slammed him into the wall. “Who sent you motherfucker?” I eased up on his windpipe enough to let him answer.

“Fuck you.”

“Wrong answer.” Without giving it a second thought, I twisted hard once, and heard the satisfying crunch of a neck breaking. He was done before he hit the floor where I dropped him.

I turned and grabbed her up from the bed before the scream could leave her lungs and pulled her head into my chest. She knew my scent and I felt her relax just a little at the knowledge that I was there. “You’re safe.” I kissed her hair before placing her behind me and slipped quietly from her room with her hand held firmly in mine.

I hadn’t had a chance to search the place, so I had no way of knowing if there was more than one asshole here. I was going to take her to her brother’s room and leave her there while I looked, but I saw movement coming towards us in the dark.

I knew it wasn’t one of my brothers because they had more sense than to be that fucking careless. I lifted my gun and fired off two shots to the head. I wasn’t worried about missing, and was sure of my aim when I saw and heard the body drop.

Her hand shook slightly in mine and she made the slightest of sounds in her throat, but those were the only indications that she was distressed in anyway. Good girl! I sometimes forget how tough my baby is. Later I’ll shower her with praise and tell her how proud I am of her bravery, but right now I needed to stay in kill mode.

I kept my ears pricked and my senses open to my surroundings as we crept down the hallway. I didn’t sense any more movement or feel the presence of anyone else in the house other than her little brother, but I wasn’t in the mood to take any chances, so I shielded her body with mine as we crept along the wall stealthily.

The whistle came not long after, announcing the arrival of my brothers and I answered before going to Davey’s room. Lo was the first one through the window, followed by the others. “Who’s home with the women?” As much as I appreciated them coming, I couldn’t forget we were on high fucking alert back at the compound.

“Ours are fine-we made sure of that. How’s yours doing?”

“She’ll be fine but she’s not staying here after tonight.” I kissed her forehead and put her away from me. “Go with my brothers baby, I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” She clung to me, making my heart jump in my chest. I hated the fear in her eyes, hated that this shit had touched her. Too fucking close. “I have to make a run, you’re okay baby look at me.” I clasped her face between my hands and looked into her eyes, something else I was teaching her to do is read me. After her slight nod, I turned to my brother. “Ty I need a hand.”

“What do you need brother?” I motioned him towards the hallway, and the others followed after admonishing the kids to stay put. “There’s another one in her room.” I told them after they saw the body on the floor.

Both men had been dressed in all black with facemasks on. We could pretty much guess who was behind this shit and I for one was tired of the fuckery, no fucking more. My only concern now was, had they been sent to capture or kill to get back at me? “What are we doing bro?”

“We’re taking them to the beach, let the fuckers who sent them find them. I’m sure they have some kind of tracking device on them, and since these fucks want to remain hidden they’re not gonna want anything that can lead back to them out in the open.”

I went through their pockets first to see if they were dumb enough to carry ID on an OP and was disgusted to see that they had. What kind of amateur bullshit was this? So far our opponents had proven themselves to be smart, but this was a huge mistake. Maybe they were getting nervous because we were getting too close, who knows. “Not military.” Punk ass. I passed the IDs off to Lo.

I went back to her pulling her into my arms. “Go with the guys, I’ll be home soon. Go straight to my place, the door’s open.” After kissing her on the forehead I left her with the only men I’d ever trust her with and went to dispose of the bodies. I wasn’t even thinking of them or the fact that I’d taken their lives. The fuck were they doing in her house?

This changes everything. When shit started going south I’d let Lo make the plays. I was happy to stick to the status quo, to let things run the way they always have. But there was no way after tonight that I was letting anyone else call the shots, not where my woman is concerned. As soon as I stash her at my place I’m going on the hunt, this shit ends now.

***

The good thing about deserted streets is that no one was around to see us lugging their bodies down to the water. I kept my senses open just in case these two had backup. If we were dealing with the people we suspected, then they ought to know that I was going to retaliate. I didn’t kid myself that these fucks didn’t know everything there was to know about us, down to the last detail. It’s what I would’ve done in an operation like this.

But something else was very troubling. How did they know she was in that house tonight? She hadn’t been home in a while, so either they’d been watching, or someone tipped them off. The thought made my blood run cold.

I was sure it didn’t come from the compound. We had enough safeguards in place to ensure that nothing got in or out of there without our say-so. Candy wasn’t coming and going from the office anymore, plus we had her covered for her own safety just in case they thought to go after her. So who or how?

It didn’t matter this was on me. I should’ve followed my mind. I knew better, she was already a target, not only because her face had been in that book, but also because she’s mine. I fucked up royally but that shit’s never gonna happen again.

I wouldn’t even let myself think of what ifs as I moved through the night. It was enough that they’d got too fucking close.

Now that it was over and I could breathe again, my mind went to the next step, finding the motherfucker who’d sent them and ending him. This shit might turn into a national crisis but I no longer cared. I’d given my sweat and blood for these assholes, no way was I letting them get away with this shit. She’s just a girl for fuck sake.

Ty and I made short work of staking the bodies out for their buddies to find. I had no doubt that whoever had sent them would be in touch, since we seemed to be playing a game of cat and mouse with these fucks.

It was the ass end of midnight, so there was no danger of innocents wandering around down here, no worries. I took one last look at them before turning away.

There were no words passed between Ty and I as we walked away, but you could all but taste the anger in the air. We’ve never been in combat where the enemy was targeting us directly. The fact that this shit seemed to be geared more against our women than us, meant the stakes was higher.

We’re warriors, we know how to protect ourselves, and each other, our women should be shielded from this shit. The fact that they were going after them put a different spin on things. They didn’t have any dealings with the old man, except for Susie and Nessa, so why go after the others?

Because it wasn’t about that. The shit circled back to us. The idea that it was because of what we’d done under the old man’s command made sense. Still, why our women? Why not come at us?

If the fucks were coming at mine they were shit outta luck, they’d chosen the wrong one this go round. My give a fuck meter stays on empty. Unlike my brothers who may still retain a modicum of patience and loyalty, I have none. Not when it comes to her. They’d have been better off coming at me head on. Now they’d fucked themselves because their days were numbered, ex presidents or not.

We hurried back to the compound where we found the others waiting for us. The women were rallying around my girl and her little brother, while my brothers stood watch. With just a nod I let them know that shit had been taken care of before reaching for her.

Everyone was gathered in my house because I’d told her to be there when I got back. I was happy to see that she’d followed orders and not let her sisters talk her into doing different. She was scared and shaken and I knew she needed me, but there was a lot to be done before I could give her what she wanted.

Somebody had put on a big pot of coffee and my sisters were bustling around my kitchen putting shit together. That’s the women’s answer for everything; it’s their coping mechanism, food. Even though it was the middle of the night no one was going back to sleep any time soon.

I looked around at all of them, at my brothers and the way they were trying to soothe their women’s fears, thinking of how drastically our lives had changed in such a short space of time. Especially us men, we were damn near domesticated.

It helped to calm me down some as I looked at Ty rubbing Vicki’s tummy as he whispered in her ear, or the way Lo and Con were comforting their women. Zak had the baby on his hip and was soothing Nessa with his other hand as she looked ready to go to battle.