He paced a few moments, looking in the direction of each submarine. Three choices. Two chances to get it wrong, one to get it right.
“The one headed back to shore,” he announced confidently. “He wants us the chase the one headed out to international waters because it appears they’re fleeing the country. It’s too obvious.”
“And what if he is fleeing? Once they’re out there, we’re screwed, and this becomes really political.”
“I’m not wrong. This other one, it’s too close and not moving as fast as the others. Again, too obvious. We either hit that one because it’s close by or after finding the one heading out of the country is a dud.” Wylie broke it down, and even if it didn’t make sense to anyone else, it did to him. “Look, get these guys on those. We’re headed for the one that’s going back to the port.”
“Where we’re going to have the authorities waiting?” Declan asked.
“It’s exactly what he wants.” Wylie smiled and hopped back onto the boat they came in on. “Boat’s leaving. You guys coming or staying?”
The team followed, though they weren’t one hundred percent on board with Wylie’s reasoning. At the end of the day, however, all three vessels would be infiltrated, and that was most important. Their boat played chase, and they all said a little prayer.
“See, what’d I tell you?” Wylie pointed beyond their boat to the small wake in the water. “There they are. They haven’t submerged.”
“It doesn’t make sense.” Mercy questioned, “Why would he play it like that?”
“For that very reason. Because it doesn’t make sense. He wants us to think it’s too easy and let our egos take over. That’s what this is. Remember what Kimble said? This is how it has to play out.”
“I don’t get you, man,” Luke added. “How? How is it supposed to play out?”
“Think about it.” Wylie laughed, leaving everyone a bit unnerved by his behavior. “Everything up to this point has been intentionally easy. Trap after trap, he wants us to step in it and incriminate ourselves in something. He still thinks we go down for everything.”
“But it hasn’t worked so far…” Declan warned.
“Which is why he thinks it will this time. It was all intentional. He’s a narcissist with sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies. He’s the trilogy of evil. He believes he’s outsmarted us by walking us into situations we easily walked out of, leaving our confidence booming when really, this is what he was waiting for.”
“He wanted us to walk into the one trap we wouldn’t walk out of because we were too cocky,” Declan said. “You’re right. He’s been setting this up for us all along. Starting with his death—albeit fake—in McKenzie Ridge to all the affiliated cases since. He wants us to walk in, pounding our chests, and then he’ll leave us with the ultimate mess we can’t walk out of.”
“A stolen submarine full of illegal drugs,” Wylie deadpanned.
“Wow. You came up with all that standing on that ship back there?” Liam questioned. “Eva is right. You really are the best of all of us, little brother. Your theory is just crazy enough to be on point.”
“Get me up to that sub…they go down, and we may not get her back in time,” Wylie demanded.
“And how do you plan to get in?” Luke questioned. “I can wire it, but we risk sinking them, and that becomes an entirely new kind of rescue mission.”
“I’m just going to knock,” Wylie insisted. “Remember what Kimble said…This is how it has to play out.”
Mercy got their boat running parallel with the submarine, and Wylie didn’t hesitate to jump atop and start pounding on the hatch so fiercely he could feel the vibration in his own feet. With his brothers at his back, weapons drawn, he continued until the hatch was released.
“We’re almost to the port!” Mercy yelled. “I’ll keep this thing floating right next to you all the way in.”
Wylie nodded and pulled the hatch open to find a terrified young kid, maybe early teens, wide-eyed as Wylie dropped inside the vessel, followed by his brothers.
With a heavy Spanish accent, the kid pointed at the other end of the submarine, and stammered, “David Kimble.”
“Kimble planted this kid?” Dace questioned through their comms. “What the hell?”
“There’s no telling what Kimble did,” Wylie replied. “He likes doing things in code and playing it like a nursery rhyme.”
“Right,” Declan fired back. “Like, this is how it’s supposed to play out.”
“It’s like a trail of crumbs, but we have to figure out what the crumbs are,” Wylie whispered, slowing down as they approached the hull. “I got a visual. He fucking has her on her knees with a gun to her head. Proceed with caution.”
“I left your door open, Valdez. You sink this ship, and we all die,” Wylie yelled ahead, sarcastically, announcing his presence. “Oops. Sorry about that.”
“It’s a hatch, you imbecile.” Esteban was seething, drenched in anger.
The brothers moved forward in unison as Wylie called out, “Let her go. You know how this goes.”
“You arrogant asshole,” Esteban fired back. “You don’t call the shots around here. In fact, you’ve never called the shots. I’ve rather enjoyed orchestrating every aspect of your lives for the past few years. If you’re the best this country has to offer, I wonder how it still stands. You’re pathetic.”
“Says the guy who… Oh, never mind. You’re wasting time, and I refuse to monologue with you. That’s where it always goes wrong in the movies.”
“Take it down,” Esteban yelled to the man behind him, but the man refused. “I said take it down.”
“The hatch…is open,” Wylie reminded once more. “Guess your guy doesn’t feel like dying today and taking everyone down with him.”
Esteban engaged in a yelling match with the man and ultimately pulled his weapon and shot him in the head, point-blank range. Then he stalled, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped his face of blood and brain matter with a look of disgust on his face.
“Hard to find good help these days,” he shrugged, tossing the handkerchief on the corpse.
“Let her go, Esteban, and we work the rest of this out, you and me.”
“No, Wylie. I won’t go,” she cried. “I’m not leaving you here with him.”
“It’s okay, baby. You and my brothers go, and I get to deal with this guy…alone.”
“No.” Esteban grabbed Eva by the hair and lifted her to her feet. “Get up, daughter. Do as father says. You know it’s me this time, right? Or can you still not tell the difference?”
“I know the devil when I see him,” she provoked. “I guess Uncle Alejandro was good at playing him.”
Esteban hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. “You don’t ever speak of my brother like that again, you hear me? He was loyal, more loyal than you ever were. How did I end up with such a pathetic, weak whore of a daughter. Karma? Are you my punishment for the things I’ve done? You’re worthless. You enjoyed my money and power long enough, little girl, and you’ll pay. See, you get to watch me kill your beloved, then the rest of them, one by one until they’re all dead, and after I’ve brought my son, Jax, that you took from me, home…I’ll let him watch as I kill you. That’s your punishment.”
“Don’t listen to him, honey. He isn’t hurting anyone,” Wylie reassured with clenched teeth. “You aren’t getting Jax. Are you kidding me? He has a father, and it isn’t you. You get nothing, Esteban, but a cell to spend the rest of your life in.”
Esteban’s laughter sent a chill down each of their spines. It was twisted, it was evil, and it was soulless. “The cells are reserved for you. Once again, you played right into my hand. You realized we’re heading back to port, right? The plan was to pin this machine on my waste of a daughter and let her go down for the stolen goods and millions of dollars of opioids on board, but instead, you’ll all go down and make it that much more fun. Then eventually, after a while, I will come for each of you, one at a t
ime, and with each beating, you’ll wonder…is this the time he kills me. Your life will be so miserable, you’ll beg me to take you out. Fun, am I right?”
“You won’t touch one of them. It’s me you want, so let them go, and we’ll…leave. We can go anywhere, whatever you want, but you leave them out of this,” Eva cried. “It’s between you and me.”
Esteban gripped her hair tighter and pulled her head back. “You better believe this is between you and me, you little cunt. You disgust me. It’ll bring me pleasure to find new ways to make you pay for what you did to me, to my brother, and what you did to your own brother. Maybe I’ll sell you to the highest bidders and let them take turns with you. There’s an idea.”
“He was evil. I did what was right. He was just like you, and the world is better off without him, just like it would be without you.”
Esteban punched her in her side with the side of his hand, weapon still in his grip. “Shut your mouth. You hear me, bitch? Not another word.”
“Eva, honey,” Wylie called out. “Eyes on me. You look at me, not him. Don’t even listen to him. He’s just talk. He can’t hurt you, or me, or anyone else. He can’t pin any of this on anyone but himself. What he doesn’t know is that all of his buddies in DC and beyond are being arrested as we speak, and the authorities who aren’t on his payroll are waiting top side for his ass to come out. He’s out of moves. It’s checkmate, baby. He’s done.”
“What are you talking about?” Esteban began to panic. “What did you do?”
“Wylie, maybe this isn’t the time to fill him in,” Declan warned.
“Oh, I’ll fill him in.” Wylie smiled. “Petra said to tell you hello…last I heard, she was in an interrogation room rolling on you and everyone else.”
“You’re lying. This is a trick!” he yelled.
“No trick. You’re done, you miserable piece of shit.”
“No…I’m not. Sounds like I have nothing to lose. The question is…do I shoot her and take your fire that follows meeting my demise quickly? Or do I take you out one at a time and use her as my shield…that’s more in line with the original plan, and she gets to watch you all die.”
“Wylie, shoot him!” Eva called out, her sobs more violent. “Just shoot him. Please. He can’t hurt another person. He’s going for Jax. Just shoot him.”
“He’s not getting to anyone. He isn’t getting out of here a free man, honey. I’m not shooting him. I will not lose you. Not again.”
“Oh, how sweet,” Esteban snarked, raising his gun to her temple. “You decide, O’Reilly. Her? Or one of your brothers.”
“Eva, eyes on me. Remember what I said to you in McKenzie Ridge? You’re smart. Your instincts are incredible, and you’re one of the strongest—and scariest—women I know. Remember that? Remember you had that thing…under your foot, and we bickered about it? Remember, honey. Please remember.”
“This is getting boring. I need you to decide, O’Reilly. Brother? Girlfriend?”
“Wylie,” she cried as Esteban tightened his grip on her hair. “I remember. I remember it. I love you, I remember…”
In a quick moment that felt like time rolled by so slow you could hear the air move, Eva stomped on her father’s foot as Wylie tossed her a handgun. Esteban released her hair, and she pulled away, spinning on her heels and turning the weapon on her father.
“You fucking bitch!” he cried. “You ungrateful little…”
“I know, Father, bitch. Got it the first few times.”
“Eva, baby, just keep it on him and back up to me. He can’t hurt anyone. All weapons are trained on him. One move and he goes down.”
“No, Wylie. This is what I should have done all along. When I knew who he was and what he did. I let him hurt so many people. Not this time. Not ever again.”
“Listen to me. Let us take care of him. You can’t undo or unsee whatever you’re planning.”
“He’s haunted me my entire life. I can do this.”
“What are you going to do, shoot me?” He laughed, taunting her. “Go ahead, little girl, pull the fucking trigger. What? You don’t have it in you? Do it. DO IT!” he screamed.
“Eva, no…”
Esteban’s face dropped, and his eyes narrowed, and the corners of his mouth turned up in an evil grin. “I’ll help you, daughter.”
Esteban raised his gun, but before he could have it on anyone, Eva squeezed the trigger once, discharging a bullet from her gun aimed right at the center of his forehead. She left the gun on him and watched him fall to the ground in a lifeless heap before she lowered her arm, dropped the gun, and turned to Wylie’s embrace.
“He can’t hurt anyone anymore,” she cried into his chest. “It’s over. It’s finally over. I took care of it.”
“Yes, you did. You’re so brave. It’s over, baby,” he reassured, cradling the back of her head and holding her tight against him. “He can’t hurt us…any of us…anymore.”
37
“Well, Ma,” Wylie said with a grin, “I think you just raised the bar for Sunday dinners at the pub.”
Colleen O’Reilly clapped her hands. “Isn’t it exciting? I love weddings.”
Eva joined them. “Lydia was a beautiful bride.”
“You know you’re next.” Colleen winked. “Should I book the Pittock Mansion? Family tradition and all…”
Wylie hooked his arm with Eva’s and dragged her away, his mother laughing at the gesture. “You’re next, boyo. You can’t run from it. I can already see it happening.”
Since finding out Esteban was alive, all the years Lydia and Declan thought they were married, they found it necessary to make it official now that he was really gone. They’d also found out they were pregnant again, which was exciting for the entire family after what they had been through.
After several weeks of debriefing and tying up loose ends, the brothers and Eva were exonerated of all charges, and they were applied to all the appropriate parties. It took time to iron out the details, but none of them were held in custody during that time, thanks to friends in high places, like Mercy’s brother, President Ransom Wyatt, and the help of Carter Landry, of course.
David Kimble hadn’t been seen, but he’d been heard from over the private servers. It seemed he preferred that method of communication. As the charges came down and names dropped in the Chalice case, David made sure to help connect all the dots with the help of the brothers.
Ivy was proud to know her father was on the right side of everything and that he was instrumental in breaking up the Chalice, which would go down as one of the largest conspiracies in US history. David said they wouldn’t see him, but they knew he was around. Cash claimed to have seen him at the park even.
In the end, Dace was relieved to know the person who held his son captive on a ship and nearly took him away forever was in custody. It was Petra. They knew it was a woman because upon his rescue, he mentioned it was a lady who took care of him, and when he saw her picture on the news, it all fell into place.
Ronan and Ryker were absent this time because they were given the arduous task to hunt down many of the Chalice members who’d fled or simply disappeared. President Ransom Wyatt himself requested their assistance in cleaning up Washington and bringing those deserving to justice. There was already speculation that many of those they were hunting would never show up because it was thought that the Dirty Dozen were on a similar mission, serving their own kind of justice, righting the wrongs they unknowingly participated in.
The pub was filled with family and friends who earned the family label after everything that had happened. Blake Cooper had stuck around to offer support as did Mendoza and Charlie Tango, but they’d all be returned home and back to the regular lives now that things were finally settling down.
Doc Baine and Beck McCain were present, and now expected at family dinner every Sunday by Colleen O’Reilly after she learned about their heroic support—and she meant every Sunday despite the distance to McKenzie Ridge because McCain had a jet
…and a helicopter. No excuses.
Life was returning to normal, or as normal as it could be in this group, and they all congregated in a corner as they often did as each other’s brothers’ keeper. Nobody understood what it was like to be them than the one seated beside them.
“How’s the shoulder, man?” Wylie asked Carter, guilt laced in his words.
Carter smiled. “Not too shabby. It’s healing quite nicely. I owe you one.”
“I’ll take a rain check,” Wylie teased. “What’s next for you? I heard something about you becoming our next attorney general?”
“There have been a few conversations, but nothing for certain yet. I’m actually thinking of taking a leave of absence from Washington altogether. Maybe set up shop out here and work in the private sector as a civilian.”
“That sounds…”
“Incredibly boring,” Carter finished the sentence for Wylie. “I love the sound of boring.”
The group laughed.
“I think we all do.” Wylie nodded. “Mercy and Eli are going to head things up for a bit and let us take some time to just…be. It’s been one thing after another.”
“I don’t think that break is going to last long,” Liam added. “Cane called, trouble in Vegas. Nothing concrete, but there have been Anson Deveraux sightings. He may be closing in on them.”
“He’s the serial killer, right?” Eva asked. “Cane is protecting the witness who survived…”
“That’s the one.” Liam bobbed his head in agreement, then shook it in disbelief. “Maybe we can hire that Dirty Dozen group to take care of this stuff for a while.”
The group laughed again.
Wylie snickered a little longer than the rest. “It’ll be fine. With Gannon and the MC stepping up, Mendoza and Charlie Tango coming back to us soon, and the rest of the Keepers growing and expanding…I think we’ll be okay.”
“You all get over here and out of that corner of yours!” Colleen hollered. “They’re cutting the cake. C’mon.”
Moans and groans engaged, followed by plenty more laughter as the group migrated back and joined the rest of the party.
Brother's Keeper V: Wylie (the complete series BOX SET): NEW RELEASE + Series Box SET included! Page 138