Concrete Justice

by A. R. Ford

  “Create a pseudonym. Go slow. Chat first, build rapport. Don’t be overly eager. I’d really prefer that you let me be there when you access Shade Tree, Leah. It’s a dark fucking cesspool.” He paused, took a drink of coffee, and continued. “Who are you investigating?”

  “I’ll give you a call when I have the things you mentioned.” I leaned forward, then lowered my voice before replying. “Leo Soranno.”

  Ryder sat back with a sigh as blood drained from his face. Deep blue eyes flickered over our surroundings as if looking for signs of trouble. “You’re kidding? Please tell me you’re kidding, Leah.”

  “I’m not kidding.”

  “Then you’d better be extra fucking careful,” Ryder warned. “Tor. Shade Tree Lane. Bitcoin. Create a pseudonym. Buy a burner phone. Only use it for calls related to this case. Switch the phones out weekly, if not more frequently. Call me before you go to Shade Tree. At least let me keep you out of the sickest places. You’re in dangerous territory with Soranno, Leah. I’ve got to go.”

  Ryder bolted from the table, and disappeared into the crowds lining the street. It was Ryder’s typical cryptic information, and warnings. For some reason, this felt different. A glance at my watch revealed it was a few minutes after five. Nick replied with a smiley face to my message asking for a ride. Time to head home, and mull over the information that I gathered.

  We talked, and laughed on the ride home. I looked forward to making dinner for Nick, and spending quality time together. Our laughter, and conversation ended abruptly when Nick noticed the front door had been jimmied open. My cell phone rang, the jangling ringtone imperious, and demanding. I looked at it, and answered at seeing Ryder’s name on the screen.

  “Hey, Shithead. Miss me that much?”

  “You and Nick, get out of the house. There’s a bomb set to go off in a couple of minutes.” Ryder’s voice was nearly a shout. “Get out, now!”

  Nick turned when my hand found his arm. “We have to go. There’s a bomb.” We ran, legs pumping frantically, the phone forgotten in my hand. My ears went numb, a high-pitched tone sounding as every noise around me disappeared. A mass of orange flame belched outward, partially consuming us. The ground welcomed me with its brutal hardness. I lay there, the circle of my vision going dark as debris rained down from the sky. Ryder was right. I was in deep, dangerous territory.

  Chapter 13

  Nick

  THE EXPLOSION KNOCKED both of us to the ground. It took a few minutes before I could lever my upper body off the ground. Leah lay unconscious on the ground a few feet from me. Blood trickled from a cut on her head.

  “Leah? Say something.” I shook her gently. The lack of response brought a cold chill knifing through my gut. The cell phone in my pocket worked. Within minutes, a fire truck, squad car, and EMS were on the scene.

  By the time the EMS guys started checking Leah out, she groaned, and began moving. “What happened?”

  “There was an explosion,” I reassured. “Both of us will get checked out, okay? I should let Rose know.”

  There was a flurry of activity in the area. Both Leah and I were transported to the hospital for evaluation. Rose arrived soon after. She hugged us both while sniffling and worrying out loud as only Rose can. Lukas and Morgan arrived before we were discharged. The silent communication of concern between us occurred in the way that men have managed for centuries. Eye contact, and tight smiles.

  “Rose, you can go home now. Leah and I are fine. We have some issues to take care of at the office.” It was important that Rose go home. A hushed conversation between Lukas, Morgan, and I brought shocking information to the forefront. Information that Leah was in grave danger.

  “I should stay,” Rose protested. “You can stay with me tonight. Say you’ll come over after you meet with your bosses.”

  “I’ll let you know, Rose.” She inclined her head, eyes locking with mine as if understanding there was much more to the situation than I could tell her now. It was the way of things during the years I worked as a cop.

  “Be careful,” Rose said. She hugged Leah tight before pressing a kiss against her cheek. The same behavior was repeated with me. “Let me know that you’re okay, and somewhere safe, if you can.”

  Lukas and Morgan transported us to Knight Security in an SUV. A man introduced as Riley Briggs drove without speaking. The elevator ascended to a floor before opening with a hiss. This floor was set up as a military barracks with a general living area set up outside the elevators. Open doorways down the hall revealed beds, and other furnishings.

  Lukas turned to face us in the general living area. “Leah, you have to tell me everything you did after your computer was set up today. Don’t leave anything out. And who tipped you off that there was a bomb in Nick’s house? It is imperative that you tell us everything.”

  “I used the internet to research Leo Soranno. I didn’t get a lot, just what I could find on the internet. There were some newspaper articles, but that’s it. I read the file you gave me. Then, I called a friend to help me dig deeper. He told me a few things to look into. He said I was in dangerous territory, and left. When we got home, right after we found the front door jimmied, he called again saying there was a bomb in the house. That’s it, honestly,” Leah replied. The explosion was powerful according to the feds. Our survival was miraculous. Leah bore its after effects. She was wan, and bruised from falling debris.

  “I need your cell phone, Leah. You can have a company issued phone to use. We have to look at yours a bit more closely,” Lukas said with one hand extended.

  “We?” Leah asked after placing the cell phone in Lukas’s hand.

  “Knight Security, and the feds. Leo Soranno ordered a hit on you, and Nick, Leah. We have that much from the feds. I can’t say more. Where does your friend live, and what is his name?” Lukas asked.

  “Ryder ... I’m not sure where he lives. Just with his mother, in her basement. That’s all I know. He said to use Tor, and go to Shade Tree Lane. What is that?” Leah looked at Lukas, her eyes begging for information.

  “Dammit!” Lukas swore. He rubbed a hand across his face. “No Tor. No Shade Tree Lane, Leah. Did you go there on the internet? Be honest with me.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you think I’m withholding information, Lukas? That’s not how I operate. I wouldn’t lie to you, Nick, anyone. I didn’t have time to go there. That was my plan for tomorrow,” Leah replied. She turned, and walked into a room before closing the door. I could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes, the clenched jaw that signaled an emotional storm.

  “I need to go check on her, guys. Am I to understand this is our home now? Are we in protective custody?” Less than twenty-four hours after starting work for Knight Security, and the shit hit the fan. I knew enough about Leo Soranno to know the man was deeply entrenched in organized crime. He was a deadly enemy.

  “Not yet,” Morgan said quietly. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if the feds don’t take that step next. This is bigger than any of us thought. Way bigger. You’ll be safe here. The building has the most modern security systems. There are armed guards on the roof, and first floor. I’ll have a couple of our guys guard this floor, so you can rest. We’ll talk in the morning, Nick. Let us know if you need anything.”

  Leah lay on a king bed centered against one wall in the space resembling a luxurious hotel room. The door clicked as it closed. She sighed as soon as I snuggled against her back, lips pressing against her neck. “Are you okay, baby?”

  “My head hurts, and my ears are still ringing.” She rolled to face me. “Leo Soranno is the guy who ordered the assassination on that guy. The one who stole money.”

  “Yeah, that’s him.”

  “How could he possibly know that I did some research on him? The only info I found was freely available on the internet.” Leah’s fingers stroked my beard. “I’m not important enough to threaten him.”

  “Don’t doubt, or underestimate, an enemy, Leah. You may have hit a nerve. Or someone i
s on the take. I suspected that was the case when you were in protective custody before.”

  “Who? And who would know where I was?”

  “Me, Mendez, Phil, and Carmichael. Mendez is dead. I’m here. So that leaves Phil, Carmichael, or your friend, Ryder.”

  “Ryder wouldn’t do that. I’ve known him too long.” Leah’s voice was hoarse with emotion. “I’m hungry, tired, and need a shower.”

  “I saw a kitchenette in the general living area. Let me go see what I can round up.” The kitchenette was fully stocked with ready-to-eat food. I prepared a couple of tuna salad sandwiches, poured two glasses of milk, and snagged a bag of potato chips. Everything fit perfectly on a tray sitting on a counter. Leave it to Lukas to think of everything.

  Leah sat up eagerly when she saw the tray. “Tuna salad, and plain chips! That’s orgasmic,” she laughed.

  “Hey, now! I’m a bit jealous of food stealing my thunder.” A mischievous grin lit her face at my words.

  “I haven’t forgot I had plans for you later.” The gleam in her eye left no doubt as to the plans she had. I certainly wasn’t complaining. “Eat, wild thing.”

  Chapter 14

  Leah

  THE NEXT MORNING A commotion in the general living quarters woke me. “Dammit! You let me go right now!” It was Ryder’s voice. From the sound of things, he was more than pissed off.

  I dressed in a hurry before leaving the room. Two FBI operatives released Ryder when I appeared. “Ryder!”

  “What the fuck is going on here, Leah?” Ryder said before giving me a hug. He wore the same clothing from yesterday.

  “I wish I knew, Ryder. Things went sideways after Nick’s house exploded. How did you know?” I held his hand while searching his face.

  “Shade Tree connection, Leah. Our conversation yesterday made me curious. I’m glad I found out in time to warn you, and Nick. Someone isn’t happy with the direction of your inquiries.” Ryder smiled, a mere curling of one side of his mouth. “I get to meet your Nick today.”

  “That you will. I’m her Nick.” The deep voice came from behind me. Large, possessive hands came to rest on my shoulders. Of course, he was staking his claim. He had no idea who Ryder was. I turned to face him, and was instantly rewarded with a panty scorching kiss. “Good morning, baby. Who’s your friend?”

  “Ryder, meet my Nick. Nick, meet my best friend from forever ago, Ryder. He also responds to Shithead, but only if I call him that,” I replied. It was important that Ryder, and Nick get along. Both were important in my life.

  Nick’s grin preceded the hand offered to Ryder. “Good to meet you, Ryder. Does Leah have a nickname I’m unaware of?”

  “Asshole is what I’ve called her for years,” Ryder replied.

  “I’m dying to hear how my lady earned the nickname,” Nick replied with a laugh. He inclined his head toward the two agents standing at the elevator observing our meeting. “I see you got the red-carpet treatment. Funny how things escalate so rapidly when the feds get involved.”

  “Nothing like having flash bang grenades go off in your house before being yanked out of bed, and treated like a criminal. And not to mention my mom was a hysterical mess. Fucking feds,” Ryder remarked. His disdain for the agents, and their treatment of him, were obvious in the tone of his voice. It was Ryder’s trademark sarcasm.

  Any hope of gaining more details was quashed when Lukas Knight appeared from the elevator. He approached our trio before speaking. “Good morning. Ryder, I apologize for the way things were handled last night. It was out of my hands. Find a room you like, and make yourself comfortable. Then, I need all of you to come with me for a meeting in the boardroom.”

  An impromptu meeting. I wondered what was the urgent matter that required yet another meeting. Lukas and Morgan joined us in the boardroom, along with a man sitting near the head of the table. I didn’t know his name, but I knew he was a person of power. The way he carried his body, stiffly upright, with shoulders pulled back, the trademark agent haircut, and, of course, the trademark black suit, black tie, and white dress shirt added to the intrigue. His hair was solid grey, and the piercing blue eyes looked through me, not at me. Then, I saw the badge pinned to his lapel. Special Agent Benjamin Halman.

  A woman sat at his side. Her face was familiar. She was tall, with dark hair, and blue eyes, wearing a women’s suit similar to that worn by the man. The government must have dress standards, or uniforms. The thought made me grin. “Special Agent Ally Brendel,” I said in greeting. “You escorted me from the helicopter to the room with a bed, and shower. I wanted to thank you for that, but didn’t see you again.”

  Agent Brendel stood before shaking my hand. She inclined her head in Nick’s direction. “Nick, good to see you again. And you must be Ryder.” She shook Nick’s hand, then held out a hand to Ryder. He pointedly ignored her attempt at civility.

  “Just ignore, Ryder. I think he’s still steaming over the way your agents handled his extraction last night,” I said in the way of explanation. Ryder snorted derisively before walking off to the windows where he stood admiring the view.

  Agent Benjamin Halman decided to join our little party. His reserved, less than friendly attitude was off putting. “Special Agent Benjamin Halman. Call me Ben.”

  After yet another round of handshakes, Lukas invited everyone to sit. Ryder remained at the windows pretending to ignore us. I knew he was listening. He moved back and forth at the window, but paused each time a person at the table spoke. The little bastard was gathering his own intel. Ear hustling in action.

  A tray of fruit, cheese cubes, and drinks sat in the center of a table near the windows. I dug in, not ashamed to eat when food was available, and I was starving.

  I joined the group at the table, and paused when the agents glanced at the plate of food. “Is there a rule against eating during the meeting? I can eat, and participate. It’s not rocket science.”

  Lukas chuckled before interceding. “Leah, you’re fine. Can we begin?”

  Agent Brendel spoke first while her too somber partner dissected us with his eyes. “Leo Soranno is a major player in the organized crime world. He’s responsible for the increase in imports of heroin laced with fentanyl. Now, he’s moved into the illegal arms trade. The man you saw assassinated, Leah, was one of Soranno’s associates who decided five million dollars was worth more than his life. He double-crossed Soranno, and ended up with a bullet in the brain. The men who assassinated him escaped while being transported to a maximum-security federal detention center. We suspect they’re after you, Leah. We aren’t entirely sure why, but your internet research, and meeting with Ryder about the deep web sparked another assassination attempt. Your phone was remotely accessed, and turned into a listening device. That’s how they knew about Ryder, and your intentions on Tor.”

  “So, Soranno has a hard-on for me? I’ve never enjoyed getting screwed without getting kissed.” The entire situation rankled me. The food was great, but being targeted by some low life criminal pissed me off. Especially when the man I loved was involved.

  Lukas and Morgan chuckled at my comment. Nick muttered something under his breath. Ryder continued to ear hustle while appearing dissociated. And Agent Halman hadn’t said a word. I began to wonder if the man was only there to intimidate us.

  “We believe someone in the Warner PD is on the take,” Agent Halman said.

  “It speaks.” That remark earned me a glare from Agent Halman’s pale blue eyes. His lips pressed in a thin line, while a muscle twitched in his clenched jaw. “Apparently, Soranno is not the only one with a hard-on for me. I’m taken, sweetheart.”

  “Leah, for fuck’s sake!” Nick groaned.

  Ryder rotated on one foot to face the conference room table. He chortled with glee while clapping. “Bravo! Well played, Lady Leah!”

  “Would all of our crew calm down?” Morgan snapped. “There’s no need for a dick measuring contest to take place today.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have a di
ck to measure,” I bit out before standing, and returning to the food table. My irritation was at a feverish pitch at the moment.

  At that precise moment the conference room door opened. Rose was pushed unceremoniously inside by an agent. “Nick? Leah? What’s going on here? Those federal agents made me come with them.”

  “No one has a hard-on for anyone other than Leo Soranno. Your sister is here for her own protection, Nick,” Ally explained. “Rose, I apologize for the way things were handled. Your safety is our primary concern. I hope you can believe that.”

  The entire situation was spiraling out of control. Leo Soranno wanted me dead. Now, Nick, Ryder, and Rose were threatened. When would any of this end? I knew the answer already. It would only end when someone stopped Leo Soranno.

  Chapter 15

  Nick

  I FOUND RYDER IN THE general living area working on the laptop. I knew enough about the internet to order items online, or check email. Beyond the basics, my brain turned into mush. Ryder’s knowledge of the dark web fascinated me.

  “What are you up to?”

  “Finding stepping stones,” Ryder said before glancing at the laptop. “Lukas and Morgan asked what I needed. I told them some outrageous stuff that I never thought I’d get in a million years. This laptop is top of the line, military quality. The IT guy came by earlier to make sure I was okay with it. So, I asked for access to Shroud. Lukas is a fucking coding god. I’ve never seen anything like Shroud. And Lukas fucking Knight let me have access. Color me impressed.”

  “What are stepping stones, Ryder?” I leaned closer, just hoping he would show me. His eyes narrowed before he closed the laptop.

  “Stepping stones are tools. To get to the top of the tree you have to go through a lot of roots. Tools help me find the roots. When Leah is ready, we’re taking them out,” he said. “Every tree has them. The bigger the tree, the more plentiful the roots.”