by Michelle Kee
“Thank you and I will always remain loyal to you.”
The line went dead. The caller smiled and tucked the phone back into their pocket. Casting one last glance at Alora’s home, they turned and strolled casually down the darkened street, the unmarked unit out front never even noticing as they faded into the dark. Soon, very soon Alora St. James would learn what happens when you foul up business for the Malconi family.
***
Lance stood at the window of his office starting out over his adopted city. Last night before he and Alora had gone to bed, he had taken a quick walk around the outside of the house when he spotted something. A pair of boot prints on the side of the house where Alora’s bedroom was. He almost brushed it off till he remembered something Alora had told him. She had a sprinkler system that was on a timer. It went off once at six in the morning then again at six in the evening. The boot prints had been fresh. Lance had gone to the unmarked out front where one of Danny’s men and Helix from Charlie team were. Lance told them about the prints and Helix got out to photograph them. Both men swore they had seen no one on the street or sidewalk since a little after seven. Lance was pulled from his thoughts at the knock.
“Yeah?”
Grant walked in, “Hey Hawk, I just bumped into Helix and he gave me these.”
Lance rounded his desk and took the folder that Grant held out to him. He opened it as Grant came to his side. The boot print had been a men’s size ten. Helix was able to run the print through a database and it showed the boot was a Merrell Phaserbound Mid Waterproof work boot. Nothing special about it and like Lance had suspected, the boot print had been fresh. About half an hour to an hour after the sprinkler system shut off. At that time Lance and Alora would have been in the bedroom and whoever had been there could have seen right through the window.
“What’s up Hawk?” Grant asked.
“Last night I was walking the perimeter and I found these boot prints. Alora has a sprinkler system and these were made after it shut off. If Helix is right about the time line, me and Alora were in her bedroom. Whoever made these would have had a clear shot into the window.” Lance said, trying to stay calm.
“You think it’s the same person who took those photos and sent them here when you two came back on Monday?”
Lance faced Grant, “Yeah.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
And that was the crux of the problem. Should he tell Alora? Keep a lid on it? Hell, he had no clue what to do. “I don’t know. Hell Grant, if I tell her, it could freak her out and stress her out more than she already is. Yet if I don’t and she finds out she’s liable to kick my ass from here to Saturn and back.”
“Maybe you should talk to Ethan. He’s probably the best one to ask advice on this.” Grant suggested.
“Yeah, yeah I think I will. He in his office?”
“Last time I checked.”
Lance patted Grant on the shoulder and headed for Ethan’s office. He found the man behind his desk growling at the computer. “Hey boss man, you got a sec?”
“Please yes! Anything to keep me from going cross-eyed on the damned budget.” Ethan replied.
Lance would normally chuckle at that, but his gut was too twisted. He quickly filled Ethan in and showed him Helix’s findings. “Christ man, should I tell her or keep it to myself?”
Ethan leaned back in his chair. “This is a tough one buddy. If it was Krista I’d tell her, but then we all know how Krista is about being kept in the dark. Do you think it would help or hinder her by telling her Lance?”
Lance dropped into one of the visitor’s chairs, then ran a hand over his face. He leaned back, stroking his beard covered chin. “My gut says to tell her. She and I promised to be honest with each other and damned knows I’m trying. I just don’t want to cause her more worry or worse. Put that fear back in her eyes I saw the day she walked in here.”
“It’s been my experience, especially with women like Krista and Alora to go with your gut. I’ll call Danny and Wilson and see if we can’t add another team on the street. If they can’t I’ll pull in Delta for it.” Ethan said.
Lance felt a little of the weight lift knowing his woman would have a bit more security. “Thanks Ethan. I… hell, thanks.”
“No need to thank me. You protected my wife last year not once, but twice. I will do what I can to protect your woman, hell any of our guys women if I can.” Ethan rejoined.
Chapter 22
‘Friday. Thank god it was Friday.’ Was all Alora could think as she took off her chef’s coat.
This week had been long and a roller coaster. The fight with Lance, making up, then finding out someone had been outside her house possibly watching her and Lance again, just like in North Carolina. To make things worse, Sam and his father still hadn’t been found and Monica Malconi was still in Costa Rica. She just wanted this damn mess over so that she and Lance could move forward and not have to look over their shoulders at every turn. Tonight, they were going to attempt to be a normal couple. They had plans to go out to dinner and a bar with Ethan and Krista, which Alora was looking forward to. She slipped out the back and walked to her car when her cell rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey Tigress.”
She giggled. “I have to stop at the cleaners on the way home, but I’m leaving the shop now. Want me to swing by and pick you up?”
Lance sighed, “That’s why I’m calling. We’re heading to meet up with Danny. He got a tip that Sam and Ian were spotted in a hotel in Temple. Me and Ethan will meet you and Krista at the restaurant.”
“Lance, you and the others be careful. You got me? If you get so much as a scratch because of the Malconi’s I’m kicking their ass THEN I’m going after yours.” Alora ordered.
“I promise babe, I’ll be careful.” Lance chuckled. “I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll see you at the restaurant.”
“See you… Oh you four can kiss my fucking ass!” Lance yelled before clicking off.
Laughing, Alora unlocked her car and moved toward the back to put her things in.
“Hello Alora?”
***
Lance charged through the door with Danny, Ethan and Gage right behind them while Tony and Grant were covering the back with some of Danny’s men. The hotel room was empty except for a note and a cell phone resting on the table by the window. Holstering his weapon, Lance and Danny approached the table. The note simply said, ANSWER ME. Lance and Danny exchanged a bewildered look.
“There’s no one here.” Gage said.
A second later the cell rang. With dread, Lance picked it up and answered, “Hello?”
“Why hello Mr. Archer.”
“What do you want Malconi?” Lance demanded.
“It’s not what I want, but rather what I have.” Ian replied, almost sounding joyful. That dread Lance had felt when the phone rang grew heavier. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. Ian chuckled and began speaking again. “I will say this; you and my son do have exquisite tastes. Ms. St. James is quiet a beautiful woman.”
“You fucking bastard. You touch her, and I’ll kill you.” Lance hissed, clutching his fist.
“Temper, temper. We wouldn’t want dear Alora to pay the price for your rudeness, now would we?”
Lance froze when he heard a slap followed by Alora crying out in pain. “STOP IT! WHAT DO YOU WANT?”
“Oh, so many things Mr. Archer. But what I want from you…that’s simple. You and your friends cost me quite a bit of money last week. I’m offering a simple trade. You bring my merchandise and I’ll give you the woman. Only you. Do you understand me? If I see or even SENSE you’re not alone, I’ll put a bullet in her brain and her blood will be on your hands.”
Lance was trembling in fear and rage. Knowing that Alora’s life was on the line helped balance out his decision. He caught Ethan pulling out his cell and knew that it had to be Krista. That was a relief knowing the Malconi’s hadn’t grabbed her too. “Where and when?”
“You bring my merchandise to the old Terrell State hospital. I’m not completely unreasonable, I understand the D.E.A. has my things, so I will give you till seven tomorrow morning. If you arrive even one minute late, all you’ll find is the bitch’s dead body. That gives you twelve hours to get my merchandise from A.D.A Jameson’s son and transport it here. Remember, you and only you. No D.E.A., no Feds, and NO BLACKOUT! You will also come unarmed. You only have one chance to save her Mr. Archer and the clock starts now.”
The line went dead. Lance was breathing heavily and on a scream of rage, threw the phone against the wall watching it shatter. “FUCK!”
“Lance, listen to me…” Grant began.
“He’s going to fucking kill her if I don’t bring what we took at the raid to him. He slapped her. He fucking TOUCHED HER!” Lance roared.
Danny stepped forward, grabbed the older man by his shoulders and turned him so they were eye-to-eye. “We’ll get her back. Okay? Listen to what I’m saying, we’ll bring Alora home safe and sound and throw everyone one of the Malconi’s behind bars.”
Lance stared into the cinnamon brown eyes of Krista’s brother. He felt himself beginning to calm down. He closed his eyes and took three slow deep breaths. “I have to go alone. Malconi said if he sees or senses I’m with anyone, he’ll kill her.”
“Where does he want to do the exchange?” Ethan asked.
“The Terrell State hospital. The abandoned one. I have until seven tomorrow morning to bring his stuff.” Lance answered.
“Danny, go to your boss and tell him what’s happened. I think I have an idea. Twelve hours isn’t a lot of time to pull off what I’m thinking, but we can do. Let’s roll.” Ethan ordered.
***
Alora tried to remain calm, and mostly succeeded. She looked around the crumbling lobby of the main building. She was currently in the center of the lobby just in front of the old reception desk, her wrists bound to a folding metal chair. The fading light of the day casting long shadows along the floor. She looked over at the woman who had grabbed her. “I don’t understand. I thought you said you were disowned by your family?”
Annabelle looked up from filing her nails. “Makes a nice sob story doesn’t it? Helped land a job at the D.A.’s office. Oh, I knew Jameson was after my family and what better way to prove my loyalty and protect them than by joining the office that was trying to take them down.”
“Nick trusted you. Blackout trusted you.” Alora spit out.
“And that just makes them all gullible. You see, unlike my idiot brother, I don’t make mistakes. I knew when my father told me about you when he first met you, you would be my brother’s downfall. Course, I should be thanking you. Because of you, old Sammy boy is no longer in charge. That honor is now mine. For years I’ve monitored everything the authorities were doing. All raids, or attempted raid were run by Jameson. I was in prime position to secure my place within my family’s legacy.”
“Lance will come for me and when he does, you better pray he gets to you before I do bitch.”
“Strong words, too bad you won’t get your chance.” Annabelle smirked.
Alora continued to glare at her while trying slowly to wiggle her wrists free. Yes, the ropes were tight, but she had tiny wrists. Ryan had told both her and Jacquie a few ways to get loose. Yet Annabelle had in fact made a mistake. When she had tied Alora up, she had only secured her wrists. That meant if Alora could get her hands free, she could possibly make a run for it or fight. She hoped that Lance and Blackout had a plan and she could just make a run for cover.
“And how is our guest behaving?” Ian asked.
“She seems pretty sure that her boy toy will save her and that she’ll take me down.” Annabelle chuckled.
Sam snorted. “You really are stupid.”
Alora said nothing. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of raising to their bait. No, she needed to conserve her energy. If Lance got here before she got free, it could be trouble. She figured the Malconi’s would use her as a human shield and take Lance out. No, she couldn’t let that happen. She had to get loose before Lance and his team got here. Taking a soothing breath, she continued her work.
***
“That’s all of it?” Lance asked, checking his watch.
“Yep. We confiscated eight crates and here’s eight crates.” Danny answered, closing the bed of the truck.
It was now six a.m. and it would take him at least forty-five minutes to get to the hospital. He looked at Danny. “You better get going if you’re going to get to your spot. I’ll see you there.”
“Be careful Lance. Don’t let them get under your skin. That’s what they want, to distract you. Don’t play their game, make them play yours.” Danny advised.
Lance nodded and walked to the driver’s side. He hopped in, turned on the truck and took off. He hoped Ethan’s plan worked, but what worried him was that he would get there and find Alora already dead. ‘No! Don’t go there. She’s alive and you will bring her home.’
The highway was virtually deserted which made it better and he was able to make good time. At ten till seven, he pulled through the old gates of the abandoned asylum. He spotted two vehicles parked outside the main building. One was a black diesel truck the other, a flashy little green beamer. Lance killed the engine, took a moment to steel himself before climbing out and heading toward the building. Taking a second to compose himself, he squared his shoulders and headed inside. The first thing he saw was Alora bound to a folding metal chair.
“You alright Alora?”
“Yes.” Alora nodded, trying to signal to Lance’s left with her eyes, but she wasn’t sure he could see in the low lighting.
Lance however did see and was ready. He felt someone approach from his left a second before he felt the cold steel of a gun barrel pressed to his temple. “Not one twitch, or you’re precious Alora will watch as I blow your head off.”
Lance sneered, “So that’s how your brother and father knew about Houston. You’ve been playing us the whole time haven’t you Annabelle?”
“Yes, and you all fell for it.” Annabelle shot back. “Move.”
Lance kept his eyes trained on Alora as he stepped further into the building. He watched as Sam and Ian stepped out of the shadows behind Alora. Lance had to fight himself when Sam stopped at her side and pulled out a silver pistol and level it at Alora’s temple. Ian kept walking till he and Lance were now eye-to-eye. Lance stared into the piercing gaze of the older man and saw in those eyes that the man would not hesitate to kill and had killed before.
“Where are my crates?” Ian demanded.
“The bed of my truck. First let Alora go. I’m worth more to you than she is.” Lance said.
“She waits here. Annabelle, you stay with her. Samuel, you come with me.” Ian ordered. As Sam and Annabelle traded places, Ian began patting him down.
“Don’t worry baby, we’ll get out of this.” Lance promised.
“I know we will Lance.” Alora nodded.
“You follow instructions well Mr. Archer.” Ian replied. “Now, take me to my merchandise.”
With one last look at Alora, Lance pivoted and led Sam and Ian outside. When his back was to both men, he smiled. Oh, his Alora was both strong and smart. He’d have to ask her how she got free when they got back home. “You should know one thing Malconi. You hit my woman. For that I will kill you.”
“Big words Marine.” Sam chided.
Lance opened the tailgate of the truck and he prayed that Danny had made it. Sam shoved him to the side and moved in to count the crates. “They’re all here father.” Sam announced.
A second later, the lids of the crates flew off and the rest of Lance’s team, Harker, Fortner and Helix sat up, their weapons aimed at Ian and Sam. Lance pulled his backup piece from his ankle holster. “It’s over Malconi.”
Ian turned his head and just smiled. “Is that so?”
Chaos irrupted.
***
Alora’s b
ody jerked at the echoing sounds of gunfire drifted inside from out front. She watched Annabelle move from beside her to in front looking at the doors. Alora knew this was he chance. In a blink she was out of the chair and charged at Annabelle. Annabelle tried to pivot but Alora collided with her and both women hit the floor, the gun skittering across the cracked tile. As the gun fight raged outside, Alora was waging her own fight. She needed to get that damned gun from Annabelle. Both women were screaming and clawing at each other, Alora howled in pain when Annabelle grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked.
“You stupid bitch!”
“Fuck you!” Alora screamed, throwing her head back, connecting with Annabelle’s nose.
Annabelle cried, and her grip loosened. Alora rolled her body bucking the other woman off her. Scurrying on her hands and knees, Alora managed to retrieve the gun. Getting to her feet, she pointed it at Annabelle. “I told you before bitch, you should have prayed that Lance got to you first.”
***
Lance dropped beside Danny, using the truck as cover. “Where the fuck did these guys come from?”
“Hell if I know.” Danny gritted, taking out three of Malconi’s men.
“Alora’s still inside with Annabelle.” Lance said, taking down two more.
“Annabelle?”
“Yeah. You were right about a mole. His own fucking daughter.”
Danny’s eyes turned hard at the news of the betrayal and took his anger out on the Malconi’s. Lance spotted Ian making a run for it. Without thinking, he took off in pursuit. He caught up with Ian about fifty yards away. “Freeze Malconi!”