by M. Tasia
“I’m sorry if she was bugging you.” the woman said as she walked in to take Becca. “My name is Jac, short for Jacqueline.”
Before James had a chance to let the tot go, Becca wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. He couldn’t help but smile.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am. Becca wasn’t a problem. Got a lot of sibs.” James shifted the little girl into her mom’s arms.
“How many brothers and sisters do you have?” Jac asked, which made Ross cough.
“I only have one now, ma’am. Finn.” A sad truth.
He could see the realization dawn. Did everyone in Ross’s family have blue eyes and black hair?
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I didn’t know.” Jac was quick to say as her free arm zigzagged through the air.
James placed his palm on Jac’s waving hand. “It’s okay, ma’am. No harm done. I don’t mind talking about them. It helps with missing them so much.”
He should’ have stayed behind to care for them instead of joining the army. He might’ve been able to save them. However, with his father’s ultimatum James had had no other choice. Either he left, or he would’ve had to marry a girl from a neighboring family.
Jac composed herself, and before James knew what was happening he was back in another hug. Other than Finn, he couldn’t remember the last time he had been hugged so much. James He looked up to find Ross staring at them closely. When he saw James watching him, Ross quickly looked away.
Jac straightened and tugged on the small apron she was wearing that proclaimed her The Best, in sparkles.
“Supper will be at six,” she told him. “I expect to see you at the dinner table.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And stop with that ma’am shit. I’m not that old.”
“Mommy said a bad word.” Becca said while pointing to her mother’s face.
Jac’s cheeks got red.
“I’m sorry, baby. Mommy shouldn’t have said that. It was wrong of me.” Jac hugged her daughter close and turned to leave. Then she reached out and punched her brother in the arm. “That’s how you apologize.”
James blinked and stared at his boots to keep from laughing.
Moments later, she was gone, leaving Ross and James alone. Instead of following his sister out, Ross sat in one of the room’s chairs.
“Oookay,” James mumbled, as he went to his bag, and began unpacking.
He wasn’t in the mood for another discussion with Ross.
“Bev and Sparks weren’t gone long. You must’ve packed quickly.”
“Nope, I was already packed.”
“Where were you going?”
“Anywhere other than LA.”
“What about Finn?”
“Miguel is taking good care of him. I’ll come back and visit.”
Ross went silent, and James continued pulling shit out of his bag. At this rate, he was going to be out of stuff before the guy left. James slowed it down.
“Look, James—”
“No,” James growled, as he turned to look at Ross. “I get it. We don’t need to rehash shit. You don’t like me. I’m good with that. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to clean up before supper.”
Jac would prefer it, and considering she was such a kind woman, he would oblige. The fact that she’d punched Ross didn’t hurt either.
Ross sat staring at him for a few more moments before finally standing up. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yes, Detective, that’s what I want.” James bit out every word to make his point.
He didn’t need to stand there listening to a list of his faults. He thought those days were behind him when he left the cult. It was one thing for Ross to say it to James’s face. A completely different thing when it was behind his back.
Ross nodded and walked out, closing the door behind him, which should’ve given James some relief, but it didn’t. He couldn’t get the feeling he’d had at Ross’s touch, out of his mind. For whatever the reason, the cop calmed him in a way no one else ever had. Which didn’t make a fuckload of sense since all they did was argue. And clearly, Ross didn’t hold a high opinion of him.
With everything that was in him, for all the obvious reasons and the hidden ones, James hoped they’d find Avante fuckin’ fast before the situation in this house became as dangerous to James’s health as the threat Avante and his minions posed.
CHAPTER 5
Ross sat alone, staring at the files surrounding him. “Where are you hiding?”
Someone had to be helping Avante stay this far beneath the radar. This was the third day of being confined in a safe house and he was going stir crazy. It didn’t help that James had avoided him like the plague. It surprised Ross how much he missed their usual banter. The man had been a pain in his ass from day one, and he didn’t listen to a word Ross said. He’d have to be crazy to miss that shit, but dammit he did.
As if James meant to rub it in, he was friendly and helpful to Jac and Becca, playing on the living room floor with the little girl more than once. Infuriatingly, Ross found himself more distracted by what James with doing than working on finding Avante. True, it wasn’t his case to work on, but with his history with Avante, he had a lot to offer the team… if he could only focus.
Ross looked up to see James dressed in only his jeans, leaning against the doorway, the wound on his chest a reminder of what the man had done for him and his family. That red mark was the least of his scars. His body a road map of sacrifice for his country.
“You know it’s two in the morning?”
Ross wasn’t sure if he was more shocked by James’s appearance so late at night or that he was talking to him after three days of silence. “Lots of things to take care of,”.
“Like what? Maybe I can help.” James offered.
Okay, Ross knew he hadn’t fallen asleep, because his arm burned where he was currently pinching it, so he wasn’t dreaming this.
“A fresh pair of eyes wouldn’t hurt.” Ross would accept any help offered to find Avante.
“I’ll take that as you meaning to say, ‘James, thank you. I would appreciate your help.’ But I’m not going to split hairs.” The bastard grinned.
Ross pinched himself even harder.
“What’s going on?” Cause sure as shit, this was not happening. “You haven’t talked to me in days. Now you are here offering to help. What gives?”
James took a few more steps into the room and said, “I want to call a truce.”
“A truce?”
Ross was leery. It seemed too easy.
“Yeah. While we’re hiding out. There’s a lot of tension between us and I don’t want it to affect Becca or Jac.” James appeared to be genuine, but even as Ross acknowledged how well James had been treating Jac and Becca, he was still wary.
“I agree. We need to work together to protect my family.” Ross could not help but thaw a little knowing James cared for Becca and Jac.
“I will protect them with my life,” James said, with vehemence, and Ross believed him.
“You already have. Thank you.” There was nothing else he could say. His gratitude was all he had at the moment.
James came over and took a seat in the chair across from Ross. He picked up the file closest to him.
“Maybe it’s best if I get a feel for this Avante, from the beginning.”
Ross leaned over, grabbed a two-inch thick folder and handed it to James.
“These are all my notes. I have spent years building a case against the POS. He never liked to do his own dirty work, so gathering intel meant I had to get creative.”
James stared at him closely. Ross was not sure what he was looking for. “This is personal.”
“Yeah. He’s after my sister and niece.” Ross stated the obvious.
“No, I mean before Avante tried to take them. There’s more to it.” James narrowed his eyes as if he was trying to peer inside Ross’s head.
Scary thought, nobody in their right mind want
ed to see that.
Ross didn’t know how James had figured that out so quickly but there was no use keeping it a secret.
“Avante is responsible for my brother-in-law’s death.”
“Becca’s father? Jac’s husband?” James confirmed.
“Right. Mark got himself into a world of trouble.”
“Money? Drugs?”
“Gambling. By the time Jac found out, it was already too late. Mark had remortgaged their home, sold all the jewelry our mother had left Jac, and he’d burned through their savings and Becca’s college fund. Then he started to borrow money from the wrong people.”
It still burned him that Mark hadn’t come to him before destroying Jac and Becca’s lives.
“Shit. He borrowed from a loan shark?”
“Worse. He made a deal with the devil, by the name Avante. If Mark didn’t repay what he owed within sixty days, Jac and Becca belonged to Avante.”
Even saying the words made Ross sick.
James stood so fast his chair fell over behind him. “The bastard wanted them for…”
“Yeah. Sick fuck. Thankfully, Mark had a shred of decency left. He didn’t have the money, but at the sixty-day mark he went to the meet location but didn’t bring Jac and Becca. A week later, his body was found in the gutter, near San Pedro. It appeared he’d been kept alive for days while Avante questioned him.”
“So you made it your mission to put Avante behind bars.” James shook his head, his brows drawn together, low over his eyes.
“Yeah. I had to make sure he never came after Jac and Becca, and I had to take that sick fuck off the streets for good.”
James righted his chair and sat back down. “Okay. Let me read through this file tonight to get up to speed.” He suddenly averted his eyes and twisted the paper in his hands. “Did that piece of shit mean to pimp out Jac and Becca?”
“Human trafficking is my best guess, but I’m not sure. Avante is so twisted, who knows what’s in his head” It didn’t matter what Avante intended to do with Jac and Becca, the only thing that mattered was making sure he never got the chance to try. Mark owed over two hundred thousand dollars. Avante wanted his money back and would take by any way means necessary.”
James’s lipped thinned and set his jaw. “Saint told me about something like this happening to friends of his brother, Johnny. They brought in some specialists to help.”
“We have cruisers in the area and officers around the property. We’re alert and we’re not where Avante expects us to be.”
“Really? Have you figured out how Avante found out who I was so quickly?” James asked pointedly but didn’t wait for a reply. “I know you have faith in the LAPD, but I’m just sayin’, this guy is motivated. Think on bringing in other people.” James waved the folder and then stood.
“James, we’re safe here.” Ross stated.
“Keep telling yourself that.” James turned on his heels and went upstairs.
Ross knew James had seen and done a lot in various conflicts around the world, but Ross knew LA and his fellow officers.
“My family will be safe,” Ross whispered, and for a split second, he wondered whom he was trying to convince.
Damn it, James.
***
He felt like he had been run over by a truck, and was in desperate need of caffeine. After returning to his room and reading through the file, there was no way in hell James could’ve fallen asleep. Avante was a cruel and sadistic bastard, and imagining Jac and Becca being anywhere near him, filled James with rage. Avante had been implicated in so many criminal activities, most of which prayed on the innocent. prostitution, human trafficking, drugs, and gun running. Anyone in his way moved or disappeared.
After showering and getting dressed, James made his way downstairs, He carried his boots. He didn’t want to wake anyone else since it was well before six in the morning. His need for coffee had him heading straight for the kitchen. The house was quiet and it seemed as if he were the only one up. He peeked through a curtain to see the officers were spread out around the property. He figured they’d be in for coffee soon, and decided to brew a full pot.
He leaned against the counter and waited, then heard a muffled voice outside the kitchen window. He leaned over the sink to listen in on the conversation.
“Yes,” a voice said, and James recognized it as Sparks. “I’ve taken care of it.” Then there was a pause before Sparks continued. “Has the money been deposited into my account?” Another pause. “Yes. You have a thirty-minute window. Make it count.”
Fuck. Sparks had sold them out. James grabbed the only set of keys from the hook and rushed back upstairs to Ross’s bedroom. The second he opened the door, Ross sprang from the bed, his gun drawn and trained on James.
“Stand down, man.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Ross growled, as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
“We have to go. Avante is on his way.” Time was of the essence. They could not stay here and shoot it out until help arrived.
Ross glared, but James could see the fast pumping blood in Ross’s neck.
“How do you know? The officers are—”
“Not going to be of help. I overheard Sparks making the arrangements. We have to get the girls out of here.”
Ross looked unsure for a moment.
“You have to trust me to protect your family. Now, Ross. We’re running out of time.”
Ross looked him in the eyes for a beat before finally nodding and reaching for his pants. James hightailed it to Jac and Becca’s room and hoped neither one of them screamed at having him walk in there. Thankfully, Jac was already awake and sitting up in bed with Becca still asleep beside her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“We need to go. Avante is coming. Get dressed, but stay in here and take only what you need. Ross or I will come get you.”
Without any further questions, Jac reached for Becca to wake her. James left them and ran for his own room. He grabbed his duffle from the top shelf of the closet and threw what was necessary in it, then unzipped the inside pocket he had added to the bag years ago, and reached in and pulled out his Glock, along with three clips. He shoved the clips into his pockets, checked the safety, and tucked the gun into the back waistband of his jeans. With one final scan of the room and a quick text to an old Army buddy, he was ready.
By the time James made it into the hallway, Ross and the girls were waiting for him.
“I’ll head down first to make sure it’s clear.” James threw his bag over his shoulder and onto his back, then pulled out his gun before heading down the stairs.
Every creak seemed amplified as he honed in on their surroundings. When he made it to the bottom, he placed his bag on the floor and pressed his back against the wall between the living room and kitchen. James let out a breath, brought his gun up at the ready, and then stepped around the wall and into the kitchen.
The house was as empty as it had been when he’d first come down to get caffeine. The smell of coffee teased as he went to the kitchen window once again and gently pushed the curtain back enough to see the front yard. Sparks stood about twenty feet away in the middle of the driveway, undoubtedly waiting for Avante and his men to show up. Fleetingly, James wondered how much money it took to buy off Detective Sparks.
When James got the chance, he’d educate the detective on the error of his ways. For now, he had to get everyone out of there.
He walked back to the bottom of the stairs and waved to Ross, whose gun was drawn. Jac carried a sleepy Becca, who was held close to her mother’s chest.
Ross checked the back of the house while James stayed up front.
“My car is about ten feet from the backdoor,” Ross whispered.
James reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys. “These for it?”
“Yeah.”
The dude was cool under pressure. James would give him that.
As James turned from the window, the sound of tires rolling o
ver gravel alerted them to imminent danger. He took a second look to confirm it was indeed Avante and his men, almost hoping he had been wrong. The same black Hummer that had been sitting at Ross’s house pulled to a stop beside Sparks, and a tall Asian man got out of the passenger seat. The file James had read last night had an assortment of pictures of Avante in it, and there was no mistaking this was the asshole from the fight.
James didn’t have to say a word. Ross was already leading his family out the backdoor. James grabbed his bag off the floor and followed them out. Ross scanned the area while James covered their backs.
A few feet away, they found the first officer face down in the grass. Ross leaned over to check for a pulse and shook his head. James didn’t expect anyone was meant to survive today. As if to confirm it, in the distance a second body lay motionless against the tall wooden fence running along the west side of the property.
Sparks would pay. James would make sure of it.
He positioned himself in front of the car as Jac and Becca climbed in the back. Once they were in, James made his way to the driver’s door, never taking his eyes or his gun off the house. Avante’s men should be coming around the back to surround the house anytime now. James glanced over to find Ross trained on the house as well, only on the passenger side of the car instead.
With another nod, both got in the car.
“All hell is going break lose when I start this car.”
“I’ll be ready,” Ross answered, and James had no doubt. He had seen the same look in the eyes of the men in his unit. Nothing was getting past Ross.
James put the key in the ignition and turned over the engine. At least the car was pointed to the back alleyway. The moment he dropped the car into gear, he floored it and skidded out into the alley, taking a few trashcans with him.
“Get down,” Ross yelled, seconds before bullets ricocheted off the car.
Jac and Becca’s heads disappeared, and James figured they were laying on the floorboards. Their screams tore a hole in his heart, but it was the safest place for them.
In the rearview mirror, James watched several men running out into the alleyway as he picked up speed. Avante and his men weren’t even trying to hide their guns, completely unconcerned if they hit an innocent bystander. Fuckin’ pieces of shit.