“I had a feeling I’d want more, and more with you and your brothers might be a mistake.”
He gave her hip a tap as she turned for them to start walking.
“I don’t think it will be a mistake, I think it will only get more and more interesting. That I promise you.”
She could smell the fire the closer they got to camp. She also could hear voices and then she saw the back of a third person.
“Chloe, you have to meet Stephan,” he said and she didn’t know if she was ready to meet brother number four. She was feeling pretty overwhelmed. So when Stephan turned around and she saw his face, her eyes widened, her voice got caught in her throat and she started backstepping.
Scallone?
His eyes widened too and he looked angry. “Celeste?”
“Oh God, no. No!” she screamed and started to run.
Chapter 4
“Celeste? What the hell is going on?” Tobias yelled. She could hear the footsteps stomping toward her. She could hardly run fast enough. She was dead. He found her. He was the one who helped Copias escape. Scallone, her lover, the man she had taken three shots for. The man who ruined her life because she protected him.
“Celeste, no. Stop running.” Scallone grabbed her arm, the bruised one and she cried out in pain. He released her. “Jesus, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Goddamn, baby, you’re alive. You’re here and alive, what the fuck,” he exclaimed and gripped her by her hips. His hands were all over her, caressing her as if checking to make sure that she was real.
“They killed you. You got shot protecting me. I saw you go down,” he told her.
“You left me. You took Copias and helped him to escape.”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t. I had to get out of there or my cover would have been blown. There were men everywhere firing at me.”
She stared at him in anger. “You left me there to die. You’re a criminal, and should be behind bars, too.” She pushed from him but he wouldn’t release her.
“No, no I’m not. I was there and went to find you. There were men everywhere and agents.”
“All dead. Copias’s men shot them and as I stayed behind there, taking the bullets meant to kill you, I took out all of them. I did, no thanks to you. How do I know you’re not working with Copias and that this isn’t some trick?”
“I swear to you, baby, I was working undercover. I’m Special Forces and work for a specialized unit for the government. I was working deep undercover for the better part of a year and a half. I had to give up seeing my family.”
“What the hell is going on?” Scottie asked. Wallace and Tobias approached and stared at her.
She looked at Scallone and tears filled her eyes. She tried to speak but couldn’t.
“I thought you were dead—that he killed you. I never would have left you. I don’t even know why you’re here. How do you know my brothers? Did you look to find me? Did someone give up my identity? I’ve stayed away from home for far too long. What happened?”
She stared at him and a tear rolled down her cheek.
“You don’t know who I am. You didn’t find out?” she asked.
“No.”
“I was a cop, hired and trained by the federal government and trained to be a federal agent. I was an undercover agent just like you.”
He was breathing through his nostrils and she saw the emotion in his eyes and then he hugged her tight, shocking her.
She couldn’t believe that Scallone was here. That he was Tobias’s brother, and an undercover agent.
He pulled back and lowered down to look her in the eyes. “You were shot. You took a bullet to the stomach and the chest and a third shot. I saw you get hit and go down. You took those bullets for me.”
She was filled with emotions as she looked at him and then his brothers, who seemed dumbfounded.
“Celeste—”
“Chloe. It’s Chloe now,” she said and covered her mouth and stepped away.
* * * *
Stephan was in shock. This was the last thing he expected coming back to Repose. He thought he lost her. The woman he fell in love with. The one Copias wanted in his bed.
He covered her shoulder with his hand and squeezed. She was facing away from him.
“What is going on? Can someone please explain this?” Wallace asked.
“No,” she said, and looked angry as she turned toward Stephan, making his hand fall from her shoulder. She headed toward her bag and the tent nearby.
Tobias stopped her. “Don’t leave,” he said to her.
“This is a mess. The worst possible mess that could happen.”
“Why is that?” Scottie asked.
She looked at him and Stephan, then locked gazes with Tobias. Tobias looked pissed off.
His brothers had feelings for Celeste. Jesus, she was alive, when all this time he thought she died. “Celeste, don’t go. Baby, we need to talk this out. My God, I thought you died back there.”
She stared at him.
“Did that make it easier for you to leave? To not look back and go on with your wonderful life?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Really, because the last conversation we had you demanded that I leave and to go with you.”
“Copias’s men were nearby. He showed up and I was furious and jealous.”
“He was going to kill you. We never should have slept together.”
“Don’t say that when we both know it was special and perfect.”
“Really? Then why confront me at one of his parties when you knew the raid would be coming soon enough. The big shots were surviving, and I needed to buy time. To keep Copias’s trust.”
“I was pissed off. He was kissing you, had his hand on your fucking ass.”
“You knew if I didn’t obey him, that he would be suspicious of you and your loyalty to him and the business dealings. Your focus was gaining the evidence needed to destroy his company and dealings and get him and the others locked up forever. You were being an agent and so was I.”
“By letting him think there was nothing between you and me? I could have gotten you out of there before the raid.”
“Really? Because at the time neither of us knew that we were both agents working undercover. Deep undercover. Eighteen months of my life, and then I put it all on the line and I’m forced to decide either to let him kill you because of the jealousy Copias had and his obsession with me, or do my job because you were a criminal, too—participating in illegal arms deals and working alongside the man and the dynasty our government invested to bring down.”
“So you let him fuck you?”
She was silent as the tears continued to roll down her face.
“I played my part like you played yours. It doesn’t really matter now, does it? Copias is out there somewhere and free. I had to change my name, fall off the face of the earth, and lose everything I had.”
“I had to kill to get out of there. Someone was shooting up all of his men and took down a bunch of them. I nearly got caught on the way out.”
“I remained, and took out over a dozen men and kept looking at the doorway, hoping, praying that you returned for me. That deep down you loved me and that you would give up all the illegal activities for me.” She chuckled and used the back of her arm to wipe her eyes. “Stupid thing was, I was ready to put aside the fact that you were a criminal, too. I was willing to give it all up for you. You left me there to die.” She bent down to pick up her bag and he was sick with guilt, with anger.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “I went through hell. Hell!” he roared. “I couldn’t even come home. After I escaped and found out that Copias got away I spent the next year trying to find him so I could kill him for taking away the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you, Celeste. I thought you died. I know you sacrificed so much for me. I’m sorry. This isn’t over. I show up here and you’re right here in Repose. You’re with my brothers and that isn’t some sort of coincidence to ignore.”
He cupped her cheeks and stared down into her eyes. She risked it all for him. She was shot for him, forced to have sex with Copias.
He scrunched his face, squeezed his eyes closed. He felt his blood pressure boil with thoughts of her having sex with that man who was obsessed with her. He opened his eyes, stared at her face, her lips and the fact she was right here, alive.
“Mine. You’re mine, and this is far from over.”
He covered her mouth and kissed her. He pulled her up into his arms and they fought for control of that kiss. He stumbled forward and lowered her down inside the tent and continued their kiss.
He released her lips, half his body pressed between her legs as they tried to catch their breath. He caressed her hair from her cheek and held her gaze.
“This is where you belong.”
“It can’t be. This is a mess.”
He looked back toward the opening of the tent.
“You’re seeing my brothers? You know about how things work in this town?”
“Yes, of course I do, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“Tobias, Scottie, and Wallace, get the fuck in here.”
“It’s not big enough for all of us,” Tobias stated in anger, as he and his brothers squeezed into the tent.
“The closer we are to explaining what’s going on, the better. Know this right now, all three of you,” he said and then looked back down at Chloe. “Celeste is the reason why I haven’t returned home. Now she’ll be the reason why I’m staying.”
* * * *
Chloe wasn’t sure how to react to this. She was still in shock as Stephan started to explain his role in the government operation.
She felt the hand caress her shoulder and looked to the right at Tobias. “So that’s how you know all those defense moves and were able to stop those two men from hurting you and Tessa—and your familiarity with guns. You were a federal agent?” he asked.
“What guys?” Stephan asked, and Tobias explained. Stephan traced her jaw with his finger.
“We both lied about who we really were. We both did shit, Celeste.”
She swallowed hard. “It’s Chloe now,” she said and her voice cracked.
“You’ll always be Celeste to me. You’re the same person I made love to, and snuck around to see. I was willing to blow my cover for you.”
“You didn’t need to,” she said and her voice cracked again. She closed her eyes and then pushed to her elbows. “Let me up.”
“No. we’re not done talking.”
“We can talk. We can go through it all and explain it to your brothers, but not here. Not with you lying over me and your brothers surrounding me.”
“Why not?” Scottie asked.
She looked at him. She shook her head. “This is a dead end,” she whispered.
“It isn’t,” Stephan told her and caressed her cheek. She turned into his hand and kissed his palm. She loved the scent of him, the sight of him in dark camouflage pants and a black shirt. He looked rugged with facial hair, yet she still instantly recognized him despite the beard and the clothes. He played his role well. She did, too, and it just continued to cost her more.
He stood up, reached a hand to assist her up and they all headed out of the tent. Scottie and Tobias had set chairs up around the fire.
“Let’s cook and talk,” Wallace suggested. They went about preparing things but she couldn’t stop staring at Stephan and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
“Where did you go when you disappeared that night?” she found herself asking him.
He ran his hand along his beard then up his cheek to the back of his neck. “I took one of the cars and got the hell out of there as fast as I could. I was afraid to make contact with my leader until I was safely out of the area. We had a plan of escape in motion but I missed the first getaway. I kept thinking about going back. I wanted to kill Copias.
“What about you, Celeste? You jumped into the line of fire and took several shots. I saw you go down and then I was pushed out of the room, and bullets are flying everywhere. I turn back and see you on the floor bleeding, eyes closed.” He swallowed hard and then rubbed his mouth and beard, truly affected by the memory.
“I lost focus. I could hear the yelling, and could see men dropping and other men shooting back. The federal agents were raiding the place, swarming in on Copias’s men, and the others who had their security with them were killing all those agents. Some guy, a guard with an AK47 fell next to me. I saw the agents being killed and I picked it up and started shooting. I just kept shooting and shooting until there was no one left standing. The next thing I know, my boss is there. He’s applying pressure to my wounds. Other agents are there helping and then I wake up in the hospital a week later.”
“Where were you shot? Three times and you lived? That’s crazy,” Tobias said to her.
“My shoulder,” she said and unbuttoned her blouse a little then pulled down the tank top and blouse to reveal the scar. Wallace bent down and stroked a finger over it. She held his gaze and then lifted up her shirt and showed her side, right above her ribs. “It was close. They said a centimeter more and I would have been done.”
“And the third?” Scottie asked.
She slapped the side of her leg. “Right here. It was a clean shot through a good portion of my flesh. The plastic surgeons did a great job, but all three areas have scars.”
“Who were you working with in the agency?” Stephan asked her.
She didn’t answer him.
“I was working for a special operations unit within the military. We got wind of shipments of weapons and other illegal paraphernalia. When I was introduced into the cartel in Colombia, it took the better part of a year to establish credibility. By the time I met Copias and started working out some shared deals and learning his trade business, you were working for him as a liaison between some other dealers. You were on our radar. On my radar immediately,” he told her.
“So you two didn’t know that you’re both working to take down this Copias guy and his entire operation? That you’re agents?” Tobias asked.
“No. I never even thought for one minute she was anything other than Copias’s liaison and the woman the man wanted to bed. You worked side by side with Carlyle and Rhia.”
“Undercover federal agents, among other things. They were killed in that exchange of gunfire,” she told him.
“Was the raid, the whole undercover operation successful at all?” Scottie asked.
“As far as I’m concerned, it will not be successful until Copias is captured or found dead,” Stephan stated firmly.
“You got out and got to keep your identity. Why didn’t Chloe get to keep hers?” Wallace asked him.
Stephan stared at Chloe and she lifted her chin and then looked away.
“Jesus, they think Copias is still alive and may be looking for you?” Stephan asked.
She shrugged her shoulders and took a deep breath and exhaled. “Like I said. I lost a lot in that operation. This is supposed to be my safe and happy place.”
“Wait. Why Repose of all places?” Stephan asked.
“I don’t know. My boss came up with it.”
“Who is he? Tell me, Celeste. Who is he?”
She thought about it a moment and then told him. What did it matter anyway at this point? “Brogan Rourke.” Stephan’s eyes widened and he stood up and paced a moment. He ran his hand along his neck.
“What is it? You know the guy?” Tobias asked. Stephan looked at them and then at Chloe. He lowered down and took her hands into his.
“Brogan was one of the main guys involved with the undercover operation. He worked with my boss, Calloway. He had been the one to make sure I got out of that building alive and got to the car that was running and waiting for me. I saw him a month after the incident and the operation concluded. He told me to go home. That it was all over. My part was done, and that home was where I was safest and happiest, and that life would go on, like a new start.
I ignored him. I couldn’t face my brothers or anyone. I was depressed and angry that I lost you. I truly thought you were dead, Celeste. I couldn’t come back home so I hunted for Copias. Meanwhile Brogan was basically telling me to head here because this is where he sent you. He knew we fell in love. He probably saw surveillance video of you taking the shots to protect me. Celeste, he knows we belong together. He helped to make sure that we could be together after everything.”
She was shocked. So Brogan knew everything they went through and of all places sent her here to live a new life and under a new name?
“We can do this, Celeste. We can work this out and be together, and move on,” he added.
She looked at Tobias, Scottie, and Wallace. She could tell they were shocked, but they seemed to place more distance between her and Stephan. As if they were thinking she didn’t want them in her life because she fell in love with their brother already. They were assuming. What was she thinking though? That she wanted to explore a relationship with all four of them? Could that work? She didn’t trust easy.
“Celeste.”
“You have to stop calling me that. It’s Chloe now. My new identity was established for a good reason. Brogan said no matter what I needed to embrace the new identity.”
“Sounds like the danger isn’t over for you,” Tobias said to her.
“Where does this leave us?” Wallace asked.
She looked toward him. “Can I be completely honest here? With all of you?” she said.
“Of course. We wouldn’t want it any other way,” Scottie said and she stood up. Stephan looked worried, like she would deny the feelings she had. She wasn’t going to do that.
“All my life I had to struggle and fight for everything. I became a cop because my parents were killed in a burglary by a felon who was a repeat offender. My grandparents raised me and despite certain things my parents were connected to I went into the academy. I had a knack for law enforcement, for shooting, I won awards. I could have chosen any aspect of the job. They needed me for an undercover operation. It was small-time stuff, and I played my roles well. I was a natural at acting, pretending to be someone I wasn’t. Every job, every incident, and every dangerous situation I handled professionally and to perfection. I played my role so well that it pushed me deeper and deeper into the underworld of illegal drugs and arms deals. I witnessed things at twenty-three years old that no person should have to witness, but I did.
The Battlefield Series 7: Disguising the Truth (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8