by Maya Banks
Eddie finally slumped into one of the armchairs across from the couch where Raid and Ryker sat and bleakly stared at his sons.
“You both know I served in the military.”
They nodded, impatience simmering in Ryker’s eyes. He wanted his dad to get to the point.
“I served in a special ops group, one that didn’t officially exist. Our missions weren’t the usual run of the mill. We took on missions that were it discovered the U.S. had a hand in them, the fallout would have been messy. One particular mission took us three years to complete. Three long years of waiting and watching for the right opportunity. Raul Sanchez was our mission. Taking him down and dismantling his operation. Three years and two months into our operation, we caught a break. We got intel that he was going to be in a particular location for a family gathering. His daughter’s birthday. This was a man who was as slippery as an eel. More than one country’s military was after him. We just happened to get to him first.
“We set up surveillance on the compound where he was going to be. Everything went off without a hitch. But then the unthinkable happened. We believed his wife and daughter had already left in a car. We waited until they were clear of the compound and then we went in.”
He broke off, regret and guilt surging and pumping through his veins as if it had happened just yesterday. For years he’d lived with his mistake. A mistake his wife had paid for, his entire family had paid for. And now it would appear Eden would pay for it if he and his sons didn’t prevent it.
“A firefight broke out. Our entry wasn’t clean. A guard got lucky and deviated in his patrol, saw one of my men and all hell broke loose. I was leading the group of men tasked with taking out Sanchez. We burst into the study he was holed up in. He had two men with him and they drew on us. We had no choice but to return fire and . . .”
He scrubbed his hands over his face, tears burning his eyelids.
“What happened?” Raid asked quietly.
“Sanchez’s wife and daughter got caught in the cross fire. God, she was just a little girl. Holding the doll she’d been given as a birthday present. There was blood everywhere. God, I can still see them in my dreams, my nightmares.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry, Dad. That’s a big burden to carry around all these years,” Ryker said.
“Sanchez and his son got away, in the chaos and my horror over the wife and daughter being caught in the cross fire. My priority was trying to get them help, and Sanchez and his son escaped.
“We cleaned up best we could. Collected the information needed to dismantle his operation and rounded up a lot of the key players in his business. He had a hand in a lot of different pots. Drugs. Arms trafficking. God, he even had a lucrative human trafficking operation going. Selling young girls into sexual slavery to the highest bidder.”
Raid made a sound of disgust.
“I thought . . .” Eddie took a deep breath. “Years went by and I thought I’d put it behind me. I retired after that debacle. I just couldn’t do it any longer. You children were born and your mother and I were happy. And then . . .”
He choked off, emotion knotting his throat as tears gathered in his vision.
“Sanchez waited, biding his time, planning his revenge. He was responsible for your mother’s death and he wasted no time in letting me know he was taking an eye for an eye. A wife for a wife.”
“What the fuck?” Ryker demanded. “And you never told us? You just let him get away with that? Killing our mother?”
“No,” Eddie said quietly. “No, I didn’t. I called Guy.”
“Hancock?” Raid asked in a puzzled tone.
Eddie sighed. “There’s a lot you don’t know about Guy. He joined the military, followed in my footsteps in more than one way. He belonged to a group that was buried so deep that according to military records, they were all killed in action. They no longer existed. They weren’t supposed to have any ties to the outside world. They lived, breathed and ate their missions. But he kept me in the loop. He wasn’t supposed to, which is why I never let on to you or Eden. All you knew was that he was serving and off the grid. And it’s why we never see him. I hear from him sporadically. He never tells me much, just that he’s okay from time to time. He’s made a lot of enemies over the years and now the government has cut ties and likely has orders to eliminate him if he ever surfaces.”
“So you contacted him after Mom died. Why?” Ryker demanded.
“Because I wanted revenge,” Eddie said in a low voice. “I wanted to go after the bastard and make him pay for what he took from me. For what he took from all of us.”
“Jesus,” Raid breathed. “And? Did you? Did you find him?”
Eddie was silent a long moment before finally nodding. “Guy went after him. He didn’t want me involved. I gave him all the intel I had. I called in a lot of favors to get the information he needed.”
“So he killed him,” Ryker said bluntly.
Again Eddie nodded.
“Christ, Dad. And you didn’t think we deserved to know all of this sooner? And why tell us now? What’s going on?” Raid demanded.
Eddie paled, suddenly feeling years older. The weight of a lifetime of regret settled like a ton of bricks on his shoulders and his heart.
He reached up to the mantel and picked up the photos and the note he’d received. With shaking hands, he shoved them toward his sons, simply waiting for them to look them over and draw their own conclusions.
“Holy fuck,” Ryker exploded. “Eden is being threatened?”
“His son,” Eddie said in a strained voice. “It has to be the son. We weren’t able to find him. Just Raul. But his son would want revenge because not only did he lose his mother and sister but then Guy took out his father and now he’s looking for revenge. By hitting me where he knows he’d hurt me the most. Through Eden.”
“Son of a bitch,” Raid swore. “What the hell are we going to do? Where is Eden now? What are we going to do? She’s not safe even for a minute. What if he’s already found her? What if he’s going after her as we speak?”
“It’s why I called you both to come. I spoke to Eden earlier today. She seemed fine. I don’t want to scare her. I don’t even want her to know all of this. It would upset her. But we have to close ranks around her. Tighten security. What we have now isn’t going to cut it. These people are ruthless. They have resources beyond our imaginings. She isn’t safe. We have to figure out a way to make sure she’s safe at all times.”
Ryker went silent a long moment, his expression thoughtful. “I know people who could help us. It’s what they do. They’re all ex-military. I served with two of the brothers. Nathan and Joe Kelly. They got out when I did. That last mission that went all to hell. Some of us didn’t make it back. Joe was injured and Nathan and another teammate were held prisoner for months in the mountains of Afghanistan. But their brothers run a special ops group. Some of it’s private sector, but they also do a lot of government contract work. Jobs that no one else can or will do. Hostage recovery, rescue, protection. You name it, they do it. And they’re damn good. Nathan and Joe work with them now as does Swanny, the other guy I served with. We could call them in. They owe me a favor.”
“How good?” Raid asked bluntly. “Because good isn’t good enough. Not when it comes to keeping Eden safe. We need the fucking best.”
“I’ll call them. Set up a meeting immediately. We may need to fly out there so we can get the ball rolling sooner,” Ryker said grimly.
“You do that,” Eddie said. “I’m not losing Eden. Or you. Those bastards have taken enough from this family.”
The phone rang, interrupting the tense discussion. Eddie glanced down to see that it was Eden calling.
“Hey, baby girl,” he greeted, holding his hand to his sons.
“Daddy?”
At the tremble he heard in her voice, his blood went cold.
“Eden? What’s wrong? Are you all right? What’s happened?”
Raid and Ryker immediately came to attent
ion, rushing over to stand closer so they could hear what was transpiring.
“There was a shooting,” she said, her voice wobbling precariously. “But I wanted you to know I was okay. I didn’t want you to hear about it on the news and worry.”
“What do you mean there was a shooting?” he roared.
“I don’t know anything yet, Daddy. The cops are coming to question me. David and Micah got me into the car and to the hotel. We’re staying in a different suite. Micah and David were concerned that this could be personal.”
Hell, Eddie knew it was personal. Son of a bitch, but he hadn’t expected it to start this soon. He’d only received the threat today. His blood chilled in his veins. But the timing was impeccable. Had the killer planned it this way? For Eddie to receive the threat just a short time before Eden was killed?
Helpless rage gripped his throat, squeezing until he could barely breathe. Raid wrenched the phone from his hand, ignoring his father’s immediate protest.
“Eden, this is Raid. Tell me where you are and we’ll catch the first flight out we can,” he said calmly.
There was a pause and then Raid said, “Okay, honey. Stay where David and Micah put you. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
He ended the call and handed his father back the phone, his eyes nearly black with rage.
“So it’s begun, then.”
Eddie could only nod, fear and fury waging war in his mind.
“Then let’s get the fuck out of here,” Ryker said tightly. “I’ll call Nathan and Joe on the way and have them meet us there if they can make it.”
CHAPTER 4
DARYL “Swanny” Swanson picked his head up when the phone rang in the cabin he shared with Joe Kelly.
“Hey, can you get that?” Joe called from the bathroom.
Swanny hauled himself up from the couch where he was watching the baseball game and ambled over to pick up the cordless house phone. It was probably a damn telemarketer because no one ever called the landline. Everyone used cell phones.
“Hello?”
“Can I speak to Nathan or Joe Kelly? It’s urgent.”
The male voice sounded vaguely familiar, but Swanny couldn’t place it. But whoever it was obviously wasn’t someone who knew the brothers well or he would have known that Nathan lived in his own place with his wife, Shea.
“Can I tell him who’s calling?” Swanny asked as he started toward the bathroom.
“This is Ryker Sinclair. We served together. It’s important I speak to one of them immediately.”
“Sin?” Swanny exclaimed. “Hey, buddy, it’s Swanny. How the hell are you?”
There was a pause and then Ryker replied. “Swanny? I heard you were working with the Kellys, but I didn’t expect to get you on the phone. Man, am I glad to hear your voice. How are you doing? How is Nathan doing? I haven’t heard from y’all since we all got out.”
“We’re all doing fine. Nathan is married now. But hey, what’s going on? You said it was urgent. Anything I can do to help?”
Ryker breathed out heavily over the phone. “Yeah, I need your help. I need KGI’s help.”
“Hang on, let me get Joe and I’ll put you on speakerphone.”
Swanny beat on the bathroom door, holding the phone to his side. “Hey, Joe, get out here. It’s Sin. Ryker Sinclair. He needs to talk to us ASAP.”
The door swung open and Joe appeared, a frown on his face. “Sin?”
“Yeah, get in the kitchen so I can put him on speakerphone. He said it was urgent and he needed KGI’s help.”
“Fuck,” Joe muttered.
They strode back to the kitchen and Swanny punched the speaker button before replacing the phone on the receiver.
“Hey, man, we’re both here,” Joe said. “What’s up? How the hell are you?”
“Not good,” Ryker said grimly. “I have a problem. I need your help. KGI’s help.”
“You know we’ll do whatever we can. Give me the rundown.”
“I don’t have time to get into it on the phone and I don’t have all the details myself. We’re on our way to where Eden is. She’s in trouble. It’s a long goddamn story and I know I’m not giving you much to go on, but I need you for this. Can you come?”
Swanny’s eyebrows went up. Eden? She was Ryker’s sister. His very hot sister. Ryker used to share her letters—and photos—with the guys when they were freezing their asses off in the Afghani mountains. She’d fired more than one wet dream. She was fucking gorgeous. And not in a bought-and-paid-for way either. She was a natural beauty through and through and she just sparkled. She had a million-dollar smile and her letters were always filled with love and humor. Her letters had brightened many otherwise shitty days when they were hunkered down with only her pictures—and their fantasies—to keep them warm.
He frowned. She was a model, if he remembered right. And she was in trouble? Swanny’s protective instincts roared to life. What kind of trouble was she in that her brother needed KGI’s help? Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
“Tell me where,” Joe said simply.
Sin had saved Joe’s ass by shoving him down when their team came under fire. Sin had taken a bullet that would have otherwise taken Joe out. Swanny knew that if Sin needed help, Joe wouldn’t refuse. No matter what it involved.
“We’re flying to Boston now,” Ryker said grimly. “Some asshole took a shot at her and they’re holding her for questioning, so Dad and Raid and I are going there so we can find out what the hell is going on.”
He paused a second, letting out a sigh.
“And there’s more. A lot more. But I can’t get into it over the phone. That’s why I need you there as quickly as you can make it. I’ll explain everything when you get there.”
Joe and Swanny exchanged quick looks.
“I’ll call up my team and we’ll head out as soon as I can get everyone to the jet. Sit tight, okay? Let me give you my cell number so you can reach me.”
“Thanks, man. This means a lot to me. And to Dad. I’ll text you the hotel.”
Joe gave him his cell number and Swanny’s, and then they quickly took down Ryker’s as well.
“Okay, give me a few hours and we’ll be on our way. I have to run this by my older brothers, but we’ll come. You can count on it,” Joe said.
They rang off and Joe turned his frown on Swanny. “I wonder what the fuck that was all about.”
Swanny shrugged. “I’m more curious as to what he meant when he said someone took a shot at Eden. Did he mean someone hit her or actually tried to shoot her?”
Joe scowled at that. “Isn’t she some hotshot model?”
“Surely you remember the pictures Sin used to show us,” Swanny said dryly.
Joe’s brow furrowed. “No, not really.”
Swanny rolled his eyes. “Dude, she is hot. Smoking hot.”
Joe’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. She must have really made an impression on you. I never hear you talk about chicks, hot or not.”
Swanny rubbed a hand over the jagged scar that ran the length of his face. “Not much to talk about,” he murmured. “They aren’t exactly lining up to get with me.”
Joe grimaced. “Sorry, man. Poor choice of words.”
Swanny shrugged. “You want me to call Skylar and Edge? Get them heading in this direction? I’ll let you tackle your brothers. They’re going to want a meet-up at HQ. They aren’t just going to turn us loose on the basis of a phone call saying we need a jet, and oh, by the way, we’re taking the team but we don’t know why yet.”
“Smart-ass,” Joe muttered. “But yeah, you’re right. You call Sky and Edge. I’ll call Nathan and Sam and we’ll meet at the compound.”
Swanny pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned away to start making his calls. If he lucked out, both would be at home since they roomed together in a house close to the compound so he’d only have to make one call.
“Edge,” Swanny greeted. “Hey, man, is Sky with you?”
“Yeah, she’
s here,” Edge replied. “What’s up?”
“We’ve been called up. Load-and-go situation. No idea on how long, so pack accordingly. Meet up at the war room as soon as y’all can get there.”
“Later,” Edge said, and hung up.
Swanny grinned. As verbose as ever. Edge didn’t say a whole lot, but people tended to pay attention when he did. But then he was a big guy. Most people were wary around him. Swanny often wondered how he and Skylar ever decided to room together.
Skylar was bubbly, outgoing and talkative. Edge was quiet and never instigated conversation. Swanny could well imagine Skylar driving the big man insane inside of a week of living together. But they’d been in the same house for months now and all seemed to be going well.
Joe was still on the phone with one of his brothers, so Swanny took off to his bedroom to pack his gear. He did a weapons check, although he was always meticulous about his gear and kept it ready to go at all times. It wasn’t unusual to get a callout that required them to load and go.
Just another day on the job.
Only this job involved a very beautiful woman, and it pissed him off that someone had taken a shot at her, figurative or not. From what he’d gleaned in her letters to her brother and Ryker’s stories about her, she had a huge heart and was completely down to earth, despite her glamorous life as a model.
An image flashed in his mind. A magazine Ryker had proudly produced on that last tour, the one that had effectively ended Swanny’s career in the army, had Eden’s face on the cover. She’d been chosen as the world’s most beautiful woman, and Swanny could see why. She was so beautiful she made his balls ache.
Long, flowing blond hair. Not the bottled kind either. Eyes an unusual shade of aquamarine that glowed brightly against sun-kissed skin. And her smile. Man. Not a fake smile, but a genuine, from-the-heart-looking smile. Her eyes had sparkled with laughter. She hadn’t done one of those serious, sultry poses. There was a hint of mischief shining in those ocean eyes. The kind that told a man he was getting a handful with her.
And those lips. Full, luscious. Just the right amount of plumpness and forming a perfect bow. No lipstick, just a hint of shiny gloss. For that matter, as he gained a firmer image of that picture in his mind, he remembered that she hadn’t worn makeup, or if she had, it was the kind that made it look as though she wore none. She had a natural, all-American-girl look going. The girl next door, only ten times hotter. Men could only dream of the girl next door looking that damn good.
He shook himself from his wayward thoughts and stashed clothing in a duffel bag, took a quick inventory of his knives and the flashbangs he always had on him and then made sure he had sufficient ammo for the two pistols he carried.
He was acting like a goddamn teenager with a crush on the cheerleader. Yeah, he’d had his share of fantasies on those long nights in the cold with only his daydreams to occupy his thoughts. Eden wouldn’t give a man like him a second glance. Or maybe she would, but it would be because she was doing a double take at the hideous scar that marred his face. That thought effectively put a damper on his imaginings and he got back to the task at hand.
He secured the ankle holster before sliding the smaller Sig into place and then put on the shoulder harness and secured the larger Glock. He grabbed the duffel bag carrying his clothes and the case holding the ammo and then carefully shouldered the straps of the two high-powered rifles. One was a semiautomatic, the other his .308 with the high-powered scope he used for sharpshooting. Anything else they needed would be on the plane in the weapons locker.
He wasn’t sure what kind of trouble Eden Sinclair was in, but Ryker had sounded worried, and not much worried the Sinclair family. Their father was a badass in his own right. Raid, the oldest, was a seasoned cop and Ryker worked in private security, a smaller, less military version of KGI. All his jobs were on the up-and-up. Mostly personal security, which made it odd that he was seeking KGI’s help for the trouble his sister was in. Swanny would have thought that if she was in any kind of trouble, the family would close ranks around her and handle it on their own. They were private that way. Which only reaffirmed his belief that the situation was dire. Ryker’s vagueness on the phone bothered Swanny. He had a bad feeling about the whole damn thing. But there was nothing to do until they got there and heard firsthand what was going on.
He hurried back into the living room to see Joe stuffing his bags with clothing and his own personal arsenal, which was similar to Swanny’s own. They all had their personal preferences when it came to guns, but they all adhered to the motto that many was sufficient but more was even better.
If the zombie apocalypse ever occurred, they were definitely prepared. The KGI compound could withstand a fucking war. The sheer number of legal—and illegal—shit that was housed behind the walls of the compound would shock the average citizen. Swanny had his own stash of C-4 and enough grenades to repel a small army.
During his captivity, he’d sworn never again to feel that kind of helplessness and fear. He’d accepted the inevitability of his own death. He’d even embraced it. In his darkest hours, he’d prayed for it. It shamed him now, but at the time, death was the ultimate freedom. Escape from his dismal reality.
Thank God for Shea, Nathan’s now-wife, who’d inexplicably reached out to him across thousands of miles, speaking to him in his mind. Helping him and Swanny escape their captors and certain death. And Grace. Shea’s sister. God, she’d healed him. She’d fucking healed him from injuries that would have slowed his and Nathan’s escape. He’d begged Nathan to leave him. To save himself. And instead Nathan, with Shea’s and Grace’s help, had healed him. Made it possible for him to soldier on, and they’d made it out of those mountains alive. Not unscathed. But alive nonetheless.