Exposed On the Run

by Wylder Stone

  “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this sooner,” Trista cried.

  “What would that have served?” Derek defended his brother. “You would have just worried, and it wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. We’ve been nearby all along. This guy doesn’t want Becca. He wants you and Owen.”

  “It’s over now, guys, everyone is safe.” James interrupted, ever the peacemaker. “What’s next, Owen?”

  “Tayler has Tyson covered – that’s the boyfriend – getting him caught up on everything. Then tonight, everyone in their group who’s been around this will be at Tyson’s house for a little identity reveal, and they’ll be brought up to speed.” Owen looked at Trista. “That’s when we show up, in the dark, and leave the same way we go in. Stealth all the way.”

  “Wait…” Trista said, taking to her feet, her excitement evident. “I’ll get to see Mason?”

  “Only for as long as we are there, which won’t be long,” Owen informed. “He needs to stay there when we leave. Can you do that? Just a few more days?”

  Tears streamed her cheeks as Trista nodded. She was going to see her son.

  “Let’s get ready,” Owen said.

  Owen’s team had been briefed and were ready. Those posted around Bear Springs held their positions while a mobile team came in to escort Owen and Trista to Tyson Neil’s house through the woods and across the lake, where the group of friends were headed. Based on feedback from the guys in the field, everyone was there and waiting.

  Three dark SUVs pulled in front of the cabin, ready to drive them in. Mark Thomas, Owen’s right-hand from the agency, came in to announce they were ready. James stayed behind, watching from afar via satellite and security feeds he had hacked, ready to do whatever needed to be done remotely. He could get teams, drones, law enforcement, anyone and anything there quick – he could even create a diversion by accessing power grids and the like if need be.

  The rest of the men were going out ahead of them with a tactical team to secure the area they would be infiltrating. Owen trusted his team – his brothers did not and wanted to be certain they weren’t walking into a trap.

  “You’re sure your internal leak doesn’t begin or end with your team?” Jackson said, looking out the window to the SUVs, then directly at Mark Thomas, who gave him a go to hell look. “Everyone’s clean?”

  “I’ve been with those men for most of my career. Fought shoulder to shoulder – they’re like brothers, family,” Owen replied, earning an appreciative nod from Mark. “They’re clean, man.”

  “Okay, if you say so,” Jackson rebutted. “We’ve had eyes on these guys for months, watched their every move yet didn’t see the gas leak that led to the explosion. We would have seen it if it was Cesar’s doing. Just watch your back, man. We may have someone hiding right in front of us.”

  Owen slapped and squeezed his brother's shoulder, appreciative of the concern. “Got it. You guys be safe out there. We’re coming in right behind you. Stay off the grid, and whatever you do, don’t let our sister see you. She’ll blow the whole deal with tears and shit.”

  The brothers laughed, Troy chiming in with his two cents, “Well, she will see you tonight. Good luck with that. It’s been what…two, maybe three years since you’ve seen her? After the tears, prepare to get your ass kicked.”

  “Let’s stay on task here,” Derek interrupted, speaking through his comms to communicate with those who weren’t present. “Where’re we at, James? Clear to go?”

  “Yep, I’m all set up here and around town. We have eyes and ears on the ground and in the air. We’ll see him coming,” he assured.

  “The chopper is on standby out at the old mill,” Jackson added. “Came in stealth last night. I’ll be there with a team on standby in case he gets in the air. He won’t get away, not this time.”

  “Sounds like we’re ready. Let’s go get this asshole,” Mark said.

  17

  Trista was dressed in all black, as she was told, and had on her hiking boots. It felt surreal, like a movie, but it was her life right now. She was running on adrenaline and emotion. Not only was she excited to see her son but she was also worried something would go wrong. She also wondered if they apprehended Cesar that night, if it was the end of Owen by her side.

  Owen stepped out onto the front porch next to her. “Are you ready?”

  “Ready as I’ll ever be. I just don’t want to put anyone at risk. Cesar always gets what he wants and stops at nothing to get it. We both know what that means now,” Trista said.

  “Not this time, Tris.” He leaned down and offered a comforting embrace. “This time, he loses.”

  “Alright, Force,” Mark interrupted, joining them on the porch. “Let’s wrap this up. Just got word that everyone has arrived at the house and should be getting briefed by your buddy Tayler right now. We have about twenty-five minutes to get over there and wait for the signal. First team is clearing the area now. Second team should be done by the time we get to our location.”

  “Signal?” Trista asked.

  “You’ll see it when we get there, darlin’,” Mark said to Trista. “Let’s go. Mobile team is loaded and ready to escort us in.”

  They filed in the SUVs and traveled only a handful of miles on mostly dirt roads through the trees. Not a house or person could be seen. They were the only ones out there. The two vehicles eventually pulled into the brush on the side of the road and came to a stop where two armed men in some military style fatigues were waiting.

  Quick to unload, the SUVs drove off, leaving them alone in the woods in the near pitch-black night. There were several men with them, all carrying large weapons that Trista couldn’t identify. They weren’t anything like the simple hand gun Owen had taught her to use. They were all dressed the same, had paint on their faces, and from what she could tell in the darkness, intimidating as hell.

  “Where are we?” Trista asked.

  “We go in on foot from here, Miss Ryan,” Mark answered.

  “On foot? In the dark? How are we…” Panic started to settle in. Trista could barely see a foot in front of her. How was she supposed to go traipsing through the woods, blinded by the darkness?

  “Well, we can’t just drive up to the house in a bunch of cars and knock on the front door. The house is being watched,” Mark responded in a snarky tone.

  Trista didn’t like the sound of this. It had Cesar written all over it. “Watched? How can we be sure we aren’t walking right into a trap?”

  “Owen, didn’t you brief her? Tell her what to expect? Jeez, man,” Mark scolded because her insecurities were the only real threat right now.

  “No, you’re safe. I would never put you in front of a gun like that, there’s no trap. We have a lot of people running constant intel so we know where we are stepping every bit of the way in this town. Every move we make is analyzed and calculated.”

  Mark rolled his eyes and cut to the chase. The nurturing shit was a waste of time – better to drop facts and give her the confidence they all had. “There are two houses just on the other side of these trees. They sit on a small privae lake, so we’ll get to that first. The farthest house is where the package is kept. The first house we come to is our target. We’ll get the signal – get in, get out – pickup is in fifty-eight minutes now because we’re burning time right here.”

  “Package?” Trista asked, not sure what he was talking about.

  Owen took over. “Becca and Mason are the package. Our target is Tyson’s house, where everyone, including the package, is.”

  Mark turned his head and held his hand over his ear, listening to the message coming through his comms. “We have confirmation of the package. We have eyes on all sides. Let’s move in.”

  “Wait!” Trista protested, earning more groans from all of the men around her. “Don’t I need a flashlight or something? I can’t see a thing out here and I’m guessing even less when we step into those trees.”

  The men around her dr
opped large goggles over their eyes from their heads, including Owen.

  A younger guy, with a big Cheshire cat smile and Southern drawl, spoke up, tapping his odd eyewear. “We’re your eyes, ma’am.”

  “But it’s dark. I’ll get lost if I can’t see you.”

  “See that light through the trees?” came the same soothing Southern drawl. “Follow it. It’s your flashlight.”

  “My flashlight.” Trista nodded.

  “These fancy glasses will let us see what you can’t.” He tapped the goggles again. “We see ever’thang just fine. Now, you just hold your man’s belt and don’t let go. We’ll be your eyes, girl.”

  Owen planted a kiss on Trista’s forehead, then grabbed her hand and placed it on the back of his belt and tugged, confirming her grip. “You have trained men and women all around you, even if you don’t see them. Just hold on. I’ve got you.”

  Her demeanor changed as Trista looked at the people surrounding her. Her once slouching posture turned more rigid and upright, stronger and all business. She felt more confident having been briefed on details. She was ready.

  The team began to move, spreading out as they did. Despite the number of people crossing the forest floor, not a sound, not even a rustling bush, could be heard. It was almost eerie to know there was a strong presence among them but such absolute silence that not even nature stopped it’s evening song out of fear of a predator.

  A short time had passed when they arrived at the edge of the tree line where everything came into better view. Staying under the cloak of darkness, they waited for the sign she was told they would receive. It was odd – despite how dark it had been in the trees, it was well illuminated just beyond.

  She could clearly see the lake reflecting the moonlight that guided her. The two houses were in plain sight, just beyond the lake’s shore. Trista could see to the far end, past where the second house sat, all the way to the opposite tree line. The sky was clear, boasting more stars than she had ever seen, which seemed so close she could almost touch them. It was beautiful.

  Her family had been living here. It was one hundred percent not Lizzy’s style of living, but perhaps it was Becca’s. If Trista had changed through this circumstance, she was sure her sister had, too. If a man here held her heart, then perhaps this place felt like home to her. The small-town living Trista had done changed her too, and she preferred it.

  A light on the back of the house closest to them had gone out. That was Tyson’s house – their target.

  A whisper came from Mark as he placed his hand over his ear again, listening to the voices through the comms. “There’s our signal. Just waiting for the all clear.”

  He stood, holding his hand in an odd gesture, obviously waiting for further instructions, communicating both through the radio and with hand signals. “Copy that. Front of the house is closed and lit. We’re a go.”

  18

  They left one man at the edge of the trees while the rest traced the property, moving quickly, hugging the tree line around until they reached an embankment the house sat on just above the lake’s beach. Another man stayed at that point while the rest moved on. It was becoming clear how this would work. They would leave men at each post to stand guard until it was time to leave. Leaving them behind, one at a time as they made their way to the house so by the time they got there, only a few remained.

  Walking low and fast, they found the stairs that led up to the house, quickly moving across the lawn. A man remained at the bottom of the stairs, then one on the deck, sitting low, at the back door as Owen and Trista went in with Mark Thomas, who remained in the background by the rear door they entered through.

  Trista squeezed Owen’s arm when she could hear the voices of those learning what was going down in their town. “I’m so nervous.”

  Owen pulled her closer by her hand, giving it a gentle but reassuring squeeze, “Don’t be. I’m right here with you the whole way.”

  They walked through an open kitchen and dining room, stopping in an archway between that and the living room where everyone sat talking. The room went silent, and Trista stayed just behind Owen, standing in his shadow while nerves and emotions took over. Not only was she about to see her sister and her son for the first time in so many months but Trista was about to do it in front of a bunch of strangers.

  Becca’s eyes grew huge at the sight of Owen. She clearly hadn’t been expecting him. Becca clung to Tyson, searching for words. Her mouth moved but not a sound could be heard. A beautiful porcelain-skinned woman with long copper hair and familiar emerald green eyes stood, moving swiftly toward Owen, sobs escaping her typically collected self.

  “Owen Force!” the woman announced before wrapping her arms around him. He held her tight and folded into her. The emotion he felt could be seen by all when his large edgy demeanor shrunk to a soft teary-eyed man who had clearly missed his baby sister – Lyla Force – the baby sister Trista had heard so much about.

  Movement caught everyone’s attention as a nervous Trista moved from behind Owen, stepping into the light. She was petite and curvy, with chocolate brown hair, familiar golden eyes, and a turned-up nose they all recognized, despite only meeting her for the first time.

  “Oh, my God, Trista!”

  A quick reunion commenced full of hugs and handshaking. Owen said his hellos, and Trista said her nice to meet yous. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when Trista sank to the floor in tears after being reunited with her son.

  She was so overjoyed, a feeling she had never experienced – it was almost painful. Mason had grown, obviously, but despite all of the changes, Trista still saw her baby boy. She had worried he wouldn’t remember her, but Mason did, and he clung to her. It was beautiful.

  The initial excitement was quickly settled and the briefing of sorts ensued so they could devise their plan. There wasn’t much time and a lot to discuss. Trista held Mason in her arms until he drifted off to sleep, unwilling to give up what little time she had with him when someone offered to put him to bed.

  Without a mention, it was clear to all just how significant this circumstance was if it pulled Owen and Trista out of hiding. There was only one reason to do so, and that was to use them as bait. Dangling that carrot before the metaphoric rabbit meant the rabbit was indeed there to tease and trap.

  In other words, it was time to pull Cesar out of hiding once and for all. It appeared he was right under their noses and had been for a while. His men were playing with Becca, toying with her emotions for weeks to accomplish one of two things: one, get her to run and lead them to Trista, or two, dispose of Becca and use Mason to pull Trista out of hiding.

  This group of family and friends weren’t just from any background. They served as either the towns law enforcement, local fire, search and rescue, or part of the town medical staff, and even some had combat training on their resume. Each had a rare skill set that left them more prepared than the average citizen which was what made this plan a good one. It they’d been just anyone it would only make the risk greater – in this case – it made them stronger. The very people – every day people – that Cesar and his people had been watching were unassuming. Cesar wouldn’t see them coming or believe they were anything more than just the towns people. It gave them an advantage.

  Owen and his team would do one better. Now that Becca led Cesar and his posse to Bear Springs, they would beat them at their own game and now dangle Trista in front of all of them to drag Cesar out of hiding. It was so simple and obvious that it was bound to work. He had no idea he was surrounded – or would be – it was just a small mountain town with average people who posed no threat. They’d been looking for hidden traps and complex plans so they wouldn’t realize the game was being played right back in simple terms.

  19

  “So that’s the plan? Do nothing?” Lyla asked.

  “We aren’t doing nothing. We’re provoking their next move,” Owen answered.

  “Owen, that sounds like poking a bear for fun. If we aren�
�t ready for them to swing or don’t see it coming…” Tyson’s concern was obvious and received plenty of nods from around the room.

  “I understand the concerns, but we know he’s here or at least nearby, or his men wouldn’t be all around town, playing as they are, making themselves known to her. These aren’t just his minions. These are his closest, most trusted associates. They don’t go anywhere without him and vice versa,” he offered as peace of mind to the group. “The advantage we have is I’m here, my team is here, my brothers and our people are here, and we have eyes everywhere. But he doesn’t know that – you guys didn’t notice any of them, neither will he. We are either going to draw him out or wait for a mistake and let one of his goons lead us to him.”

  “It’ll be okay, Tyson. I trust Owen and his team. They got Mason and me out here safely, and he’s kept Tris alive all of this time,” Becca said to Tyson. “It’s almost over. I’m almost free. We’re almost free,” Becca said, giving her sister a teary smile.

  “Trista and Owen will remain hidden for now. We aren’t showing Perez our cards just yet. Perez will think we are when they follow you guys out of the area and see a few unidentified people in your cars – agents. Change in activity and behavior will be Cesar’s tip-off, or so he’ll think,” Tayler said to Tyson and Becca. “Meanwhile, there will always be an agent nearby, watching both of you. All along the way, around every corner, ”

  “When any of you are together, there will be agents. Just know that. Nobody gets hurt, no one. We’re taking this asshole down and getting him out of your town and into a jail cell where he belongs,” Owen assured.