by M. Malone
Matthias nodded. "Yep, fine mate."
Noah's voice was soothing. Quiet almost. "Good. Then why don't you go ahead and put your knives away, and step back. Head back to the communications van. Call our cleanup crew. I want IDs on all these guys. Preferably before we head over to deal with Ian."
Fuck, they weren't done. "You think he sent them?" Jonas asked.
"Not sure. But he knew exactly where we would be tonight, which means either he told someone, or we were set up. Either way, he's gonna have to answer some questions about it."
Rafe went over to Matthias. He didn't touch him though. "Kid, did you hear Noah? He needs you to get the ball rolling. The time for killing is done. Back away."
Matthias just blinked back him. There was a gleam in his eyes, like he wanted to go toe to toe with Rafe. Like he was desperate for a rematch of what had gone down a little over a year ago. Rafe adjusted his footing so he was on the balls of his feet, hands up in what looked like a defensive posture, but Jonas recognized it as the fight stance for krav maga. "Matthias. Stand down."
Noah's voice took an edge as well. "Kid, comms. Call in Delaney."
That seemed to shake him out of it. And he blinked several times. When he saw the position of his knives, he sheathed them and met Rafe's gaze. "Sorry." When he turned, he nodded at Noah. "I'm good."
Noah visibly relaxed. "Yeah, I know. Get on, we'll bring all the bodies out. Photograph them, so at least you can have them cataloged. And then it'll make the cleaner's job easier."
As Rafe and Noah headed to the house on the left, Jonas stared after Matthias. Just how dangerous was the kid? He didn't have time to ask those questions though, because they needed to clean up and then find out if Ian had set them the fuck up.
chapter 13
Jonas still couldn't believe that Noah was letting him take point. And, well, he did feel like sort of a badass with his own personal kill squad behind him. When they bypassed Ian's security easily, in through the front door, they found the new leader of ORUS in his kitchen, two guns pointed in their direction and a grenade on his countertop.
"Wow, dramatic aren't you? You can put the guns away. A grenade? Jesus.” Jonas slid a glance to Noah. "Is every single one of you a prima donna? We just came to talk." He turned his attention back to Ian, who hadn't lowered his guns at all. The guy’s right eye twitched when he saw Rafe and Matthias come in behind him and Noah.
"What do you want?"
Jonas palmed his own weapon. "Look Ian, we're just here to talk. About that little death squad you sent for us?"
"Death squad?"
Jonas nodded as he rounded the counter. "Yeah, the team of seven you sent after us, after you told us that everything was all set and we could set the trap and spring it for your boy Chamaeleon. David. Jesus, do all of you have code-names?"
From behind him, Rafe chuckled. "Yeah. You wish you were cool enough."
Jonas shook his head. “I'll stick with Jonas Castillo if you don't mind. Has a nicer ring to it. So anyway, Chamaeleon left us a few little presents. Dead presents. I swear, your boy's like a rabid fucking dog. He killed the target. Dead. He killed innocent civilians in the two neighboring homes."
Ian's brows snapped down as he glared at Noah. "What?"
"Don't look at Noah, look at me. I'm the one who's fucking pissed off. I'm the one who's trying to protect the woman I love. So you're going to start talking, you're going to call off the kill squad that's on its way here to protect you right now, and then we're going to have a conversation about your boy David West."
Ian lowered his guns and carefully picked up the grenade, opened the drawer underneath the counter, and placed it back inside. Then slowly, he pulled the phone out of his back pocket. He tapped in a few numbers, and put it to his ear. Jonas could only assume that someone on the other and had answered when he started speaking. "Code 754312. Orion. Condor has flown." He hung up then. "It wasn't a trap. I didn't set you up."
Noah shrugged. "Ian. You and I go way back. In some ways, I have you to thank for the life that I have. But you need to stop fucking lying. Why are you covering for him?"
"I'm not covering. I did everything as we discussed. I let it slip that we were letting Rafe back in the fold. I simply discussed it with him as we talked about who the target might be. After that, it was up to him to get information. And it looks like he did."
Noah leaned against the countertop. "Yeah, he got there before us. He set up the whole goddamn house. Turned the temperature down, had warming blankets on the guy so that we'd think we had a live body inside. And then, I don't know what kind of armor you guys have now, but he was able to conceal the watchdogs he had in the basement."
Ian sighed. "Temperature in the house very cold?"
Matthias nodded. "Yeah, fucking frigid, mate."
Ian nodded. “We have these new thermo-suits. They serve a dual purpose. Keep your body temperature nice and even, while showing nothing on the exterior. So if you have heat sensors like you guys clearly did, they won't pick it up. And they also act as excellent bulletproofing. Better than Kevlar. Lighter, faster. Recently, we had body disposal for a couple of agents we lost, and their suits came up as unlogged."
Noah threw up his arms. "And you think now is the best time to fucking tell us?"
"How the fuck was I supposed to know? I inherited this goddamn problem; an inheritance by the way, that you perpetrated."
"Like you got the poor end of the deal? Fancy house, more money than you know what to do with, and your own personal kill squad.”
Ian shook his head. "You know that's not me. I've never been in this for the power. You know why I do this."
Jonas slid a glance at Noah. "You mean there are reasons to become a homicidal assassin?"
"Can it, Castillo," Rafe muttered.
Jonas turned on Rafe. "Really? We can just roll up in here to your leader and I don't get to ask questions?"
Ian sighed. "Not about my personal life, no. But listen, I know that Chamaeleon is a problem. He was a problem for Orion before me."
Jonas had to take control of the conversation again. If he left it to Noah and Rafe, they'd all be standing around in a circle jerk for another hour. And if he left it to Matthias, every one of them would be dead. Eventually, he and Noah would have to talk about the kid. Because there was something dangerous lurking just underneath the surface with him.
"Okay, look. Start talking, Ian."
"Fine. David West, also known as Chamaeleon, has been an agent since maybe a year before Noah came on board. Brash, uncontrollable, obsessive. Rafe, he looked up to you. He wanted to be you, maybe. When you were taken out of play, he became even more obsessed with your life. Started following around your sister, your grandmother, your sister's friend."
Jonas advanced on him, grabbing by the lapels. "You fucking knew?"
With a series of practiced moves, Ian had himself free. But Jonas wasn't going to let up and advanced on him again.
In flash, Rafe had him in a choke hold. "Easy does it, let the man talk." Rafe easily restrained Jonas until he forced himself to relax. Then he was released.
"I didn't personally know. It was only after I went through the employee files that I found the notes. He was obsessed. And that was his MO. There'd been a girl before he became ORUS. He hurt her, killed her. Evidence points to an accident, but still.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jonas swore.
Ian frowned as he leaned back against the sink. “My predecessor saw skills that could be honed. But, his obsessive personality was a problem. DeMarco, he knew that Orion regarded you as one of his best agents. Considering how young you were and how quickly you rose, he saw you as the one to emulate.”
Rafe clenched his jaw. “My record is nothing to be emulated.”
Ian narrowed his gaze but made no comment about Rafe and his record. “After you were gone, Orion was worried about the blowback. West was too obsessed, wanted to be in every aspect of your life, DeMarco. When Orion found out he wasn’t ju
st following but had inserted himself into your family, he was taken out of play and sent on an overseas, long-term mission. Five years. After I became Orion I was doing an assessment on all the agents and discovered he was still active. DeMarco, your personal files are buried. But West must have had access to them after your death. It’s possible he knows you even better than Noah does.”
“You want to tell me why you didn't take him out?” Noah asked.
“I'm still digging through all the information and cleaning house with my agents. Most of them are true to the cause, patriots. There are some that were either forcibly removed, or let go. I should have done the same with West. But until now, he was an unknown."
Jonas could only stare at him and then back at Noah and Rafe. "So all of you are telling me you had all this information at your fingertips, in essence, and no one did a thing?"
Ian shook his head. "I didn't know. When I brought him back in play to assess him to see if he'd be fit for duty, I had no idea. All I knew was that the work he'd done overseas was solid. I didn't know I'd be triggering his obsession again. We all learned that the hard way. Let me bring him in. I have men at the ready to do it."
Jonas shook his head. "Fuck no. Like we trust your men."
Noah agreed with him. "No. We'll use our guys."
"Look, I want him gone just as much as you do. I've authorized shoot to kill orders on him."
Normally that should've triggered Jonas's old cop genes. But this time it didn't. West had already proven that he was a psychopath. And that he was not above taking a baby, or her nanny, or killing an innocent victim. He had to be put down. Jonas turned his attention back to Ian. "So what's our plan?"
"I've narrowed down a few possible locations. The best places to flush him out."
Jonas nodded. "Fine. Then let's get to work."
"So let me understand, you guys are going to go back out there and search out all of his favorite hiding spots, after he sprang a trap for you and sent men to kill you?"
Jonas cupped his hands over JJ’s cheeks and traced his thumb over her bottom lip. "We're going to be fine. I came home to you after the last time, didn't I?"
"Beaten and bloody. You promised me you would be safe."
He did love it when her temper was up. But he didn't want her to worry. "I know. I know what I said. It was unexpected. But we're not going in blind. We'll have ORUS backing us, we'll be fine."
"I don't believe that. You need better backup."
Jonas chuckled bitterly. "There's no such thing. The kind of situations that Noah has gotten people out of… they have connections like you wouldn't believe."
She glanced up at him curiously. "You mentioned that once before, that Noah got you out of trouble but I wasn't sure if I should ask."
"You can ask me anything you want, you know that." He took a deep breath. "I was in a bad place. There was a woman."
JJ glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Isn't there always?"
His arm tightened around her waist. "It wasn't like that. Emily needed help. We'd responded to domestic calls there before but she always declined to press charges. Her husband was a wealthy local businessman, lots of friends in high places, so he didn't appreciate some small time cop sticking his nose where it didn't belong."
Her hand caressed the side of his face. "You were trying to help her, weren't you?"
"Yeah. Convinced her to press charges. Then the next thing I knew, I was being arrested for assault. It was my word against his about what happened. I was going to go down for sure, he was friends with the Chief of Police and plenty of judges. Emily was the only one who could testify that I hadn't raised a hand against her but in the end, she sided with her husband. After everything I'd done to try to help her, it wasn't enough. I still don't know how Noah got me out of that one but the next thing I knew, I was being released from jail and told by the chief that my resignation had been accepted. I was too shaken to ask many questions."
JJ pulled him close, resting her head against his chest. It was exactly what he needed right then, the warmth of her embrace permeating the chill thoughts of the past always brought.
"It wasn't your fault, Jonas. You did everything you could. Sometimes, even when you do all you can, it just doesn't work out."
"Exactly," Jonas stated, leaning back so he could look her in the eye. "Which is why I don't want you anywhere near this. Noah has called in help from some friends. Rafe has called in some help from the feds. It'll be okay. And the team, we're together on this."
"Okay, fine, I hear you. But I still think I should come with you. We all know I make really good bait."
Jonas chuckled and tugged her against him. "No. You understand I lost years off my life watching you stroll right up to that asshole and proceed to start screaming at him, right? I can't do it again. I am not strong enough to do that again, so no can do.”
JJ shoved at him and he released her. "What's that supposed to mean? I can take care of myself you know."
"Sweetheart, I know. I believe in you. I do. But, all I want to do is keep you safe. You are my heart and my love, and more than once I've had to watch you face complete terror at this guy's hands. I can't do that again. I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"Well I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I mean, what am I supposed to do without you? I had never planned on falling in love, and now I am. You did that to me."
Jonas chuckled. "Well, sweetheart, you’re right about that. And if you stop yelling at me, I can do it again."
"Are you serious right now?"
He held up his hands. "Well, it's true, I am irresistible. And I turned my charm on you. So I mean obviously you would fall in love."
She poked him in the chest. "This is not funny. I'm not used to loving someone."
He laughed. "You love people all the time. You just don't want them to know that you love them. Only difference is now I know."
"Yeah, but don't go getting all smug about it."
Jonas hugged her tighter. "Me, smug? Never. Now, why don't you help me get out of this battle gear, and you can kiss my boo-boos and admonish me for all the reasons you're mad at me."
"Sex is not going to solve this. I want to help. I want to do something. Anything. Let me ride in the van or whatever it is. I can run the communications."
"JJ." She huffed and held her shoulders stiff. "Jessica." The use of her name had her body softening a little bit, and he was willing to use whatever he could to get in her good graces. "Sweetheart, I love you. But I can't let you do this. And if you try, I really will lock you inside this penthouse."
"You are welcome to try. See how well that works out for you. I swear to God you'll be missing a nut in no time."
His lips tipped into smile. "There are more pleasurable things you can do my nuts."
"You keep talking, jackass, and no one's going near your nuts for a very long time."
Jonas grinned. God he loved her sassy mouth. "Yes, I hear you. But, that's really biting off that perfect pussy to spite your own libido. You're not going to cut me off because you need me too much. I bring you all the good orgasms."
She still whacked at him. "So what? I'm sure if I found Lucia's giant toy, it would get the job done too."
"Oh, you wound me." He placed a hand over his chest. "Don't be mad at me. I'm just trying to keep you safe. That's the only thing that matters to me right now and for the rest of my life. Keeping you safe and loving you. Two main directives, that's all I’ve got."
She harrumphed. "You know, you're not supposed to be so sweet."
“I’ve always been sweet. You were just too busy sniping at me to notice."
She narrowed those beautiful eyes at him. "Me and you, who was doing the sniping?"
Jonas nipped along her neck. Why did she always smell so good? “I think we know the answer to that.”
She groaned and her breath caught. “You. I'm an angel. Ask anyone."
Jonas laughed as he nuzzled her throat. "Yes, maybe an a
ngel of torment. Now come on, I need you to kiss my boo-boos. And I'll sweeten the deal. I’ll match you kiss for kiss. Right now I need the woman I love. I need to hold her, need to touch her soft skin, I need her to touch me. What do you say?"
"Well, when you put it like that how could I say no?"
chapter 14
She knew what he was trying to do. Distract her. Seduce her with those kisses that always made her forget her own name so she wouldn’t be thinking about the possibility of him being hurt, or worse, dealing with the nightmare of her past.
“Are you trying to seduce me into dropping this subject?”
He looked her right in the eye. “Yes. Because I don’t want you worrying about any of this shit. I’m going to fix it for you.”
Even though she knew he was trying to do something good, something positive for her, JJ was done sitting back and letting others be in control. There had been a time she’d wanted that, when she was young and lonely and grieving. But she’d also like to think that she’d learned from her mistakes. Having a man want to control things for her had never ended well.
“You’re trying to look out for me, I get it.” JJ put her palm gently against his cheek. “But having someone take care of things for me isn’t what I want. I’ve had a man want to take care of everything before. You’ve seen how that ended up.”
Jonas rested his forehead against hers. “I would never treat you like that. My impulse to take care of you doesn’t stem from possession. It’s just caring. I want to make your life easier and make you happy. Most of all, I want you to be safe.”