“Who rescued me? They wanted to know who was more invested in my return than they were. Now, you’re all on their radar.”
“Wh-Why would you do that?” Daisy wasn’t kind in her questioning. Her tone was harsh. “That’s so dangerous. This building has kids in it, Colleen and Magnus are here, my Gran and Carly. Why would you put them in danger?”
“They were never in danger. It’s all smoke and mirrors – a distraction. Someone has a lot on the line right now. As long as you are alive, they are bound to make a mistake,” Carter reassured.
Declan took over, trying to put minds at ease. “Your Gran being here tipped the scale in our favor.”
Daisy shook her head wildly and flailed her arms in frustration. “What? How?”
“We’re protecting her,” Luke added, piecing it together himself.
“Protecting Gran from who?” Daisy still wasn’t satisfied with their answers, not even close.
Luke turned to her, his expression blank. “From you, Daisy.”
Daisy slumped, her color draining as her voice fell to a whisper. “From…me? You think I—”
“No, but they think we do now. They came for us because they thought we were hiding you, hence your Gran being here,” Carter explained, not that it was easy. “This was all a game of Russian Roulette and Reverse Psychology. I told them we were protecting her from any fall out and using her to draw you out. They think we were a step ahead of them.”
Daisy faced Luke with a painful stare. “That’s why you brought her here?”
“No, not at all. I brought her here for you. The rest of this was just a strange bonus in timing.”
Carter smacked his hands together and pointed to Luke. “I can vouch for that. It was only after he made arrangements that I made sure to leak that we had her here to the right people. None of you were ever in real danger. I have eyes and ears all over this city right now, people the feds don’t know about.”
“Your grandmother was the real star today, Daisy,” Colleen chimed in. “You should be proud.”
Carly giggled. “She certainly was.”
“When Carter over there told me he needed me…well, I was happy to serve my country.” She paused at the snickering surrounding her. She was steadfast on the idea that she was serving her country and doing her civil duty. “I played the part of a feeble old woman – I’m thinking dementia.”
Carly and Colleen chuckled, enjoying the older woman’s frankness.
“I…I don’t understand,” Daisy huffed in frustration. It seemed everyone was a few steps ahead of her.
“When they questioned your Gran, she just stared off and didn’t answer. I reminded them a few times that she didn’t talk, and they eventually gave up,” Carly said. “She even mumbled and moaned a few times – actually worried me for a minute.”
“I was on my death bed and out of my ever-loving mind for about twenty minutes. Can’t wait to do this again,” Gran admitted, earning a round of laughs, even though she was drop dead serious.
Carter laid a hand on her shoulder. “You did your country proud, ma’am.”
With furrowed brows, Gran looked around, and said, “Who you callin’ ma’am, boy? You call me Tilly or Gran, but don’t be insultin’ me with some old lady business…ma’am.”
This time, the laughs were muffled, not wanting to offend Tilly.
“Yes, ma – Tilly.” When the older woman side-eyed Carter, he corrected once more, “Yes, Gran.”
Tilly, or Gran, smiled wide, liking the way her name sounded coming from him. Much like Colleen O’Reilly, Tilly King liked to claim people as her own rather quickly – nothing made her happier.
Liam had been pecking away at his computer, listening in, but something else had his attention. “Bingo. Got it. Jesus, I knew it.” Liam ran his hands through his hair, leaning back in his seat, full of relief. “Yes!”
“Mind filling us in?” Luke snarked.
After hitting a few more keys, Liam turned to face the group while all the screens on his wall filled with images and what appeared to be live video streams with strangers faces plastered throughout. They appeared to be working as they were unknowingly being watched.
“Ta-dah! Figured out why it was so hard to break the code and locate Carter when he was missing. It’s also why I couldn’t trace the minor hack threats, or see Director Prick coming for us. I didn’t even see he was in town, or that he left town, until now,” Liam laid it out, like everything he just said would make sense of the whole ordeal, but it didn’t.
“Well, he’s up on the screen. What does that mean? How do you know he’s gone?” Carter asked, referring to Director Waterman on the screen.
“Because that, my friends, is Director Waterman on his jet back to DC.” A near evil villain like cackle escaped Liam.
“How do you know he’s gone and headed there?” Luke inquired, also unsure where this was going.
Without another word, Liam pointed to another screen that looked like a GPS map and had a moving image.
“Because that red dot is his plane. The white dots before and after it are the flight details filed before he took off about twenty minutes ago. And that…” he said, pointing to the live feed of Waterman, “is him on the plane, scrolling through his phone. Looks like text messages.” Liam leaned forward and read his screen before pulling the messages up on the wall for everyone else. “Ewww, dirty text messages. I better not put that one on the big screens – just a second.”
Liam hit a few keys and turned back to the group. “I thought I was working against a brilliant techy – a hacker like no other – and that was why I couldn’t get in.” Liam threw his hands in the air. “I was right. I was that techy.”
“Uhhh, come again?” one of the brothers asked.
“It was me – my program – they were using it against us and that’s why I couldn’t get around it. I did such a good job, I couldn’t even break my own code. I was just chasing my own tail. Well, until now – I knew I would figure it out.”
“Is this where you high five yourself?” Wylie asked with a laugh.
“Humble isn’t his strong point,” City laughed.
“I’m just saying, the product is solid. All the changes and things they brought to me while they were in test mode were just more fail safes for them to keep me out.”
Anger was filling the brothers. Their own business was being used against them to bring them down. Luke was particularly angry. “Son of a bitch.”
“Exactly. But now that I know, I can lift those layers and see what we’ve missed, what they’ve been hiding. A playback, really. I’m dismantling the program as they know it and adding a few new features. They’ll be none the wiser. I see everything and have the kill switch. I can shut them down whenever I feel like it.”
“Now that you know, can you figure out who our players are? Who’s behind this?” Carter questioned, because time wasn’t on their side, they had a trip to DC coming up.
“Does a monkey eat bananas?” Liam asked in response.
“I think that’s a myth,” Wylie spoke.
“Okay, then do bears crap in the woods?” Liam tried again to make his point.
“Jesus, Liam, of course they do. They’re bears, they live in…the woods.” Wylie burst into laughter, realizing the ridiculousness of the conversation at hand.
Liam shrugged and extended a hand as if it were an offering. “There’s your answer, brother. I’m already on it. Like a bear in the woods.”
“Excellent.” Carter slapped Liam on the back, pleased with the new information that would give them the upper hand they needed to bring DC to its knees. “Will you have details by the time we land in DC? I know it’s a tight window of time, but we need to know.”
“What? You can’t be serious. You can’t go,” Daisy cried. “It isn’t safe. You’re walking right into the lion’s den.”
“That’s the point,” Luke answered.
“What if you can’t get out? No. No. You aren’t going. You c
an’t go.”
“Daisy, honey, the boys know what they’re doing. I know we sound like a broken record, but they’re the best at what they do,” City conveyed. She didn’t like it either, but she knew it had to be done. “I’ll be watching everything from here. I know what to do if they run into trouble.”
“No,” Daisy deadpanned, her tone as serious as it was stubborn. “I…I can’t let you risk…everything. Your lives. Not for me. You have kids, and wives, and almost wives. Colleen…Magnus, surely you agree.”
They gave a sympathetic and knowing look. They’d been there a hundred times with their boys, but didn’t say a word. At the end of the day, City was right – they were the best.
“Daisy May…you can’t live in fear, honey,” Gran chimed in. “I trust them. My gut says to trust them, and you know my old gut is never wrong. It’ll be okay, sweetheart. Besides, my money is on that weasel Francis something. Beady little dark eyes…never trust a set.”
More of Grandma Tilly’s wild candor was good for the mood of the room, as it ended in good-hearted laughs.
Daisy was outnumbered. Everyone was on board, even her Gran, who was suddenly immersed in the mission like a secret agent herself. Despite the uncomfortable chill embracing her, Daisy had no choice but to let Luke go.
“Don’t worry, Daisy. We may be headed into the lion’s den, but we’ve already set the trap and we’re adding bait. Business as usual, people – they’re watching.”
Carter winked, which seemed odd to Daisy. These guys seemed to enjoy this. The more dangerous, the more they smiled and grunted. Maybe they were the best at what they did. Whoever was waiting on the other side of these threats should say a prayer. Lion or not, the O’Reillys were coming.
22
It was hard for Luke to say goodbye to Daisy. He’d never had trouble leaving before, but he’d had a lot less on the line then. The more dangerous, the more eager he was to engage, get the job done, and serve justice. Though not thought to be nearly as dangerous as being dropped in the middle of a hot zone in a foreign country where everyone – including the civilians you were there to protect – hated you, there was a threat.
On their way to what was the safest, most secure compound in the country, the Pentagon, Luke couldn’t help but notice that small inkling of trepidation slowly burning a hole in his gut. He was still on the right side of the law, serving a different kind of justice this time. Despite the precautions they took, they were still an imminent threat, and they were walking into an angry hive, hoping they didn’t get stung.
They were careful the past few weeks, since the FBI raid on Watermark. They were strategic, leaving bread crumb clues and teasers for anyone watching, and watching they were. Liam had used the program he designed to infiltrate the Washington thugs trying to use it against them. Brother’s Keeper had been severely underestimated. Not only did they have eyes on those responsible for the senator’s murder, but those who were hunting Daisy.
It still wasn’t clear who was behind the conspiracy, but they had the players involved. It was only a matter of weeding them out, one at a time, before they found the one behind it all. Right now, the O’Reillys were running the show, orchestrating every move the other side made without them even knowing they were being played.
This type of work wasn’t new to the O’Reillys, but it was the first time they’d taken on their own government, and they were prepared to take it down if they had to. It was risky, for all of them. But it was a risk they were willing take, especially Luke, because it meant Daisy would be free.
The flight was long, from Portland to DC. Luke spent the hours thinking about Daisy. Recalling every beautiful part of her, every perfect inch. He’d thought about the night he met her, alone, scared, in his apartment, and how tumultuous their relationship was. Then he thought about how they were now — how far they’d come in only a matter of months. How much he needed her and desired her. Kismet. She’d called it kismet, but he called it good fucking luck. She was giving him the life he never thought he deserved: love when he thought he was unlovable, and a future he’d never considered.
A shift in the floor, followed by the sound of moving parts as the landing gear deployed, brought him to current. He looked out his window and took in the stunning sight that was the Nation’s Capitol. How could something so breathtaking, that stood for so much as the epitome of greatness and power beyond measure, be so tainted with evil and greed? he wondered. With a shrug, he leaned back in his seat, prepared for landing. Just over the private airfield they would be landing on near the Pentagon, Luke put his game face on. They were going into battle, perhaps even a war.
“It looks like an email went out stating the meeting has been postponed until further notice,” Liam said, looking on his laptop while their private jet taxied to their hangar.
“I don’t see an email,” Carter interrupted, looking at his smartphone, along with the other men.
“That’s because it wasn’t sent to us. It was sent by us.”
A unison, “What?” filled the cabin. They were landing at the Pentagon, clearly there for the meeting. They hadn’t sent anything.
“Yep – looks like we just cancelled on the special committee and the pentagon,” Liam continued, pecking away at his keyboard. “I can’t see who sent it yet, but the program is running. I should have data soon.”
“Someone is still expecting us, though. Looks like today is the day they make us disappear.” Declan pointed to the waiting vehicle, inevitably there to pick them up and drive them to the building.
“And it looks like our doing – smart.” Luke interjected, shaking his head at the audacity. “They just called off all the committee members, so we are about to find out who we’ve been after. Any wagers?”
“We have activity in Portland too. Small team staged outside Watermark.” Liam added.
That had Luke’s attention. He sat forward. “There to grab Daisy?”
“That’s my guess – get rid of her, and us. Everyone behind the senator’s murder and whatever else they’re trying to cover up is off the hook if we’re all gone,” Liam shared.
“Daisy is covered. I already sent a heads up to the team,” Carter informed them. “She’s in the vault anyway, right?”
Luke nodded.
“Are we ready to see who’s behind the mask?” Carter received a round of, “Hell yeah!” and “Better fucking believe it!”
“The Pentagon awaits.”
A large, black SUV with dark windows and government plates waited outside the hangar as expected. They’d seen that from the jet when the email that appeared to be sent by them was detected.
Though the committee, or at least some of its members, thought the meeting was off, someone was still expecting them. And why wouldn’t they? This was what they’d planned. They wanted the O’Reillys and Carter alone, likely to finish them. That meant they knew where Daisy was, and they were prepared to take care of her too.
The drive to the Pentagon was eerily quiet as each of them mentally prepared for what they were about to encounter, which was absolutely anything. Each of the men holding special clearance, they were inside in no time, and escorted to the faux meeting set to start in a matter of minutes. The conference room was dimly lit, a large white screen at the head of the room, and water glasses and several glass pitchers of water adorning the table at each seat along with a dark folder. It was as if it was business as usual, and they hadn’t expected anything less.
It was all a ruse, they knew that, but whoever was likely staged on the other side of the interior door didn’t know this group had such privileged information. It was up to the O’Reillys to keep the act going, play along.
Director Waterman entered the room, smile intact. “Glad you could make it.”
“Of course. We’ve had this planned for some time. It’s a big meeting, we wouldn’t cancel last minute,” Luke said snidely.
“Right. Are we all set to turn off test mode and go live with the program?” Waterman ask
ed of Liam.
Liam pecked away at his screen, avoiding eye contact. “Yes, I’m actually doing that right now. It’s loading on your mainframe and connecting with servers now. I added a few…bonus features, I think you’ll be…surprised.”
A suspicious side-eye glance briefly hung in the air. “I’m…intrigued.”
Carter stepped up to the plate, ready to take a swing. “Where is everyone?”
Waterman looked at his watch. “Not sure. Probably just another busy day in Washington. Someone will be here soon. How about we take a minute to discuss another matter while we wait for Liam to finish uploading to the system and the rest to…join us.”
“Gentlemen, I’d like to direct your attention to the folders in front of you,” Waterman went on. “I’ll give you a minute to look through them and come up with some convoluted excuse – I’m sure there’ll be many.”
The men opened their folders. It was full of pictures of Daisy. Daisy and Luke on an outing. Daisy and Luke coming out of a doctor’s office, arm in arm. Daisy on the rooftop enjoying family and barbeque. Daisy at the park with her dog, Gibson.
“Your point?” Luke chuckled.
“My point is you said you didn’t know who she is. She was there all along. Some of those pictures were taken the day we were there.”
“So what if Luke has been dating her? What do you want with Rose?” Wylie asked with a shit-eating grin.
“Rose?” Waterman questioned.
“Yeah, his girlfriend, Rose.”
“Her name is Daisy.” Waterman paused, awareness settling in. “Oh, shut your ass, O’Reilly. Daisy, Rose…I see what you’re doing.”
Wylie laughed and slapped his knee while the others snickered, enjoying his cheap shots for a change. “Jesus, that was too easy.”
“So, what’s the big deal, Francis?” Luke got down to business. “Why do you care so much about Daisy?”
“Are you kidding me right now? Do I really need to spell it out? You know why.”
Wylie shrugged with hands out, as if he was clueless. The other brothers shrugged as well, looking to one another for answers they already had. They enjoyed fucking with this guy.
Brother's Keeper V: Wylie (the complete series BOX SET): NEW RELEASE + Series Box SET included! Page 87