by Jana Leigh
West nodded and finished dressing and then began to throw stuff into her bag, and his. Making sure he checked the bathroom and under the bed before nodding, they were ready. Arden stood there with her hands on her hips waiting for them to notice she was finished dressing and had something to say. When they went to the door, both men finally realized she wasn’t following.
“Come on, Arden. Thane is waiting,” Mason said.
“No, I am going with you,” she said calmly and then waited for it—it didn’t take long.
“No fucking way!” Mason and West said together, exploding.
“Yes, fucking way, and I will tell you why. My drive, my rules. I have the combo and the encryption key, John gave them both to me. I found them yesterday when I had my meltdown. I hid them somewhere else, and I am not turning them over to you until I see for myself the people are safe, and we have the drive,” Arden argued.
The men argued with her as she walked out of the room, with her gun at her side and ready to go. Thane was taking the gun her brother had given her with him since she wouldn't be able to take it on the plane.
Thane frowned and waited until West threw up his hands and gave him directions to his mother’s house. Tulu nodded and waved when Thane explained something to her. She grinned and laughed as she looked out the window, as if she approved of what she was doing. Good, at least she had someone on her side.
West and Mason jumped into the cab, making her move a little to give them both room, and so she wasn’t squished. She felt their frustration and anger rolling through them. Well tough shit, she may be all-sweet in the bedroom, but in the real world—no one messed with her or her family. Whoever was behind this, was doing both, and that was not an option.
“I…” Arden said.
“Don’t open your mouth right now. I am so pissed at you, I could handcuff you to Thane and make you go with him, if I didn’t think you would enlist my mother into the guilt trip,” Mason said with his teeth clenched.
“Wow, never seen anyone who actually could talk with his jaw clamped so tight. That is so freaking cool.” Arden laughed.
Mason slammed on the brakes and turned to her. “You are playing with fire, Arden, don’t piss me off. I need to try to focus.”
Arden looked over her shoulder, it was the first time she noticed Jabo was behind them with Sassy in the passenger seat laughing. Oh my goodness, they had a pregnant lady and a Neanderthal watching their back, how could this get any more bizarre. It wasn’t until she looked to the side that she noticed several trucks with armed men flanking them. Were they going to follow them to the state line?
She frowned and then nodded. Seriously, she was being treated like a child, now? Had she not been on her own for months, and a weeklong camping trip with hit men hunting her. She handled that fine. In fact, she hadn’t even needed West, she had the situation under control when he drove in all Ramboish. What the fuck, the anger began to grow.
“West…” Arden said slowly.
“Nope, just as pissed. Do you have any idea what this is doing to us. Not only do we have to watch each other’s back, but now we have to worry about you. Did you not think this through. The people we are up against have left a trail of bodies, and we don’t want you to be one of them!” West yelled.
“Well, then let my ass out of this fucking truck. I will have Jabo drive me to the airport and I will be on my way. I don’t need this shit, I am not a shrinking flower who hides in the corner. I am not irresponsible. Did you ever think that after last night I was possibly afraid to lose you, either of you. What happens when I get another knock on the door, and they tell me both of you are gone. Do you think I will live through that again. I can tell you I won't, so don’t yell at me like I'm a small child who doesn’t know he own mind. My brother taught me how to shoot, he trained me how to remain invisible. I do know what I am doing. Maybe not to your level, but trust me, if I want to disappear, I will. And you will never find me, neither will they,” she screeched, then itched to get her gun out of the holster and show them exactly how good of a shot she was. John had taught her well, then Sassy and Vince had honed her skill.
“Are you threatening to run? 'Cause I have a bunker made especially for you then, twelve-inch thick walls, one door in, and one door out. It is our panic room. Trust me, if you even think about going out on your own, you will become up close and personal with the living space,” Mason grunted out.
“Me Tarzan, you Jane, ugh,” Arden barked out. “That is how you are acting, asshole.”
“Better you be alive to call me names,” Mason said quietly and then pressed down on the gas once again. The trucks followed and Arden rolled her eyes. It seemed they were eliciting the help of the local chapter of the NRA and getting them involved with this now. She briefly wondered what was going to happen when they went to Wyoming, was the whole town gonna follow? It would make for an interesting mix that was for sure.
West picked up the phone, looked at her long and hard, and said, “This is long from over, just sit there and try not to piss us off with your attitude. I need to change our reservations to add one more.”
Arden wanted to laugh, they were taking her thank goodness. She had not been lying, the thought of them out in San Diego was driving her nuts. She needed to make sure they were safe. That and she wanted to see if she could find where John was buried. Now that she had read the letter, the last thing she needed to do was say goodbye. She just wanted to know where he was so when she was ready she could make the trip. It was something she knew she was going to have to face alone. John deserved it.
The flight landed just at sunset, with so many things to do they knew they were going to have to wait. But going to the apartment didn’t. Rex, Drew, and Jazz were waiting for them when they landed. After introductions and a lengthy explanation of Boyscout's family as they walked, when they arrived to the large SUV they were all caught up with the situation as much as Rex and Drew knew.
Jazz whispered in her ear from the third row seat where the girls had been banned. “Take it from me, they may be pissed, but they will get over it. Find a nice nightie and pout, the blood will rush to their cocks and you will be back in control. Also, no worries, I have a sidearm for you. Bailey and her husbands got you a permit, it is in my room with the gun. I know how to act all helpless for the men to feel better, but also how to kick ass when it is needed.”
Arden put her hand over her mouth so the men wouldn’t hear their laughter. Jazz was a complete surprise. Jazz made a signal for her to listen to the guys. If they wanted info, being quiet and in the back was the way to go. It was like there was a bottle of testosterone in the car feeding them. They actually seemed to forget they were in the car with them.
“Gage called a few minutes before you landed. David smoothed the way with the locals. I didn’t want to call the base yet until we had the drive in hand. They would want to go through channels, ask a lot of questions we don't know the answer to yet,” Rex said.
“For the best, at least for now, we are going to have to bring them in sooner rather than later, but let's take this one step at a time,” Mason said and West nodded. “What else did Gage have to say?”
“They have started the list of family members and put their addresses on alert just in case someone calls 911. They also have the list going from the reports the Commander had delivered. That is a most impressive list of people you all have pissed off. I thought pissing off the mob was interesting. Hell, now you have us beat hands down with people who want to kill you,” Drew said.
Arden felt a cold sweat wash over her, they had that many people wanting them dead? How were they ever going to find who really is behind all this. So many names and not enough information. They needed the drive, hopefully it contained the names they needed to connect so this shit would be over.
Jazz put a hand on her thigh to calm her. She smiled at her new friend and nodded. She understood, no freaking out, or the guys would make them go back to the hotel alone. They wouldn't trus
t they could remain calm and not begin crying like they expect a woman to do.
The men continued to talk and Arden listened intently. She did get what Jazz was saying, she needed to learn how to deal with two overbearing, overprotective men. Or else she was going to be smothered and lost. It was their way, and she needed to know how to handle it. The men talked about the security at the hotel. The meetings the guys were going to set up, and they wanted Arden safe by herself. They asked for names and information on each of the men on the security team. She wanted to scream in frustration when they talked about someone checking the food from the food service. Wow, paranoid much. If someone wanted to dose her oatmeal, she wouldn't be able to stop them.
Her ears perked up when she heard John’s name. “Where are the new tenants?”
“We moved them to a suite at the Hilton, told them to order room service and call in sick to work until we called them. They were a young couple and were worried about missing out on pay. We assured them we would make sure they were reimbursed for missed pay. We sent a hundred thousand dollars to their account a few hours ago. They should be able to see it in the next few days, maybe that will convince them we are serious,” Rex said and Arden felt her eyes bug out.
A hundred thousand dollars? She would wrap herself in cellophane and walk in a parade for that amount of money. Who were these people? She briefly remember John talking about Boyscout's family being ménage families, she would have remembered if he had told her they were loaded. That much money can do something to people. She had seen it, her parents were prime examples of greed. She only hoped she wasn't getting herself involved with someone who was the same.
The men talked some more, making educated guesses on who could be involved. So far, she agreed with everything they said. Including on talking about her parents and how they could be involved. Jazz gripped her leg harder, letting her know she was being supportive. The last thing she wanted was for her to be linked to her parents' behavior. She was nothing like them, and would never allow herself to be sucked back in.
They pulled up to a nice, plain apartment building. She knew it was John’s because she had been here a time or two for vacation. Taking a deep breath, she followed Jazz out of the back seat. West and Mason instantly surrounded her and put their hands on her waist. She wanted to tell them how much their support meant to her, but she couldn’t. They were standing in front of her brother’s old apartment. Would she be able to make it through this without breaking down?
The group of them walked up the path, she saw the yellow crime scene tape and grimaced. It was proof this was really happening and not just in her head. Rex and Drew pulled the tape up and allowed them to pass. Jazz walked ahead, the woman was a rock star. She wore thigh-high heeled black boots that went over a pair of nice tight pants, and a black turtleneck. She was what Arden wanted to be when she grew up. Someone who looked like they could kick ass and take names. Someone who was worthy of being the girlfriend of two SEALs.
Shaking off her thoughts, she paused at the open door. Jazz had already stepped in the room. When she walked in, she felt horror and relief. The new tenants had changed everything. The look and décor of the entire place, there was no reminders of her brother. But the level of destruction made bile rise in the back of her throat, animals, she thought and stepped over the table that had stood in the doorway.
Arden ignored the debris and focused on moving to the place the picture of the two of them had been drilled in the wall. The new tenant had assumed the top was where they were supposed to slide in a picture, which is the way her brother designed it. She knew because he had installed a similar on in her apartment, telling her that no one would ever know what was behind it unless they knew where the little latch was.
She moved her hand on the top of the strange looking frame, and smiled when she felt the latch. Snapping it the frame fell forward and revealed the safe. Her brother may have been paranoid, but he was also a genius when it came to hiding things, he had to be since he was a foster kid.
She pulled the combination out of her bra and she heard Jazz snort.
“Really, in the bra? Like we couldn’t have found that,” Mason stormed mad at himself for not checking her when she dressed, vixen had really pulled one over on him.
“Ha, like I would have given you permission to get in my bra after you were being an asshole,” she shot back and glared at him.
West shook his head and put a hand on Mason's arm trying to keep the peace, at least until they could get her back to the hotel and show her who was the boss.
Arden looked at the paper and smiled. His code was her birthday. She didn’t even have to look at it again and she put it back in her bra, it would go into her little box.
With a twist of her wrist, she had it open. Her mouth dropped open when she saw what was sitting right in the front. She raised a hand to her mouth and turned to seek her men. Damn John all to hell, she should have realized right when she read that fucking letter what he had been trying to say.
Mason and West were with her instantly. Trying to pull her back so they could see what caused her obvious distress. But she held firm, reached a hand up, and plucked the small envelope that rested against a silver urn with her brother’s name engraved on it.
It was from the Chaplin of the base. Inside was a short and sweet note.
***
Per John’s instructions, this was placed in this safe by me in secret. I have thrown away the code and hope this is in Arden Plane’s hands. Know he set this up years ago. This was what he wanted, he knew you would know what to do, however attached is the note he left with me for safeguarding.
Chaplin Reynolds
Arden sucked in a breath and then opened the small pages her brother had written on, figures it was her note pad from her new apartment. He had written this the last time she had seen him.
***
Sis,
***
Sorry for all the drama, but you know me. I can’t be put in a box and forgotten about. You know what I want, and I know you will do what my wishes were. I hate to put this on your shoulders, but I also know if you are here, so is Mason. Tell him the drive is taped to the back of the safe. I love you, remember you don’t have to do anything yet. Let me go when you think it is right. I know how you feel about saying goodbye to people and I refused to force you until you were ready.
J
Arden sucked in a sob that threatened to escape. Mason and West read the note over her shoulder, but instead of looking for the drive, Mason turned her in his arms and hugged her. West rubbed her back and whispered in her ear that everything was going to be okay. They would work this out together.
She relaxed and allowed herself a brief pity party. John had wanted someone to be with her when she faced this. Mason pulled her outside the room with West still touching her while Drew and Rex emptied the safe and put the stuff in the box Jazz held.
Her men knew she had had more than enough. She was spent for the day, they needed to take her back to the hotel and show her the loving she deserved.
When they finally arrived to the hotel, the men were worried. Arden had shut down, not saying a word as Jazz and the guys had carried the box out of the apartment and placed it in the back of the car.
They switched seats, and West and Mason went into the back with her laying across their laps while Jazz sat in the middle continuing to glance worriedly over her shoulder ever few minutes. They were beginning to panic.
Mason felt like he was helpless. Who should he call? His mom would know what to do, but she was probably just arriving to Wyoming since they had driven. Sable? Jolie? No, they were taking care of ma and Bea. Shit, he wished Marie was still here, she would know what to do as well.
West gripped her thighs, holding her on their lap as Rex raced through San Diego, knowing they needed to get Arden to the hotel. Everyone was quiet, focusing on Arden.
“Hang on, darlin', we will have you in the hotel in a few minutes, then you can yell at us all y
ou want for being assholes,” Mason murmured.
Arden just stared at the window, not feeling like she was even in her own body. It was too much, all of it…her brother's death…the letter…the urn…everything. She was finally getting bitch slapped by reality. She would no longer be able to pick up the phone and call John when she was watching her favorite shows.
What if the drive held the name of the man responsible for all of this? Was part of it her fault? The panic she was feeling was normal right?
They carried her up to the suite, which was across from Rex and the others. They all went into the room, waiting while Mason laid Arden down on the fluffy couch in the living room area. When he stood he looked at everyone with desperation, as if to say fix this, I can't.
West walked to Arden, bent over, and whispered in her ear, “Honey, you are scaring us, please say something. Mason is about to freak.”
Still nothing, but he noticed she began to shiver as if she was cold. “Blanket,” he snapped and looked around the room. Mason was glad to do something, so he went into the bedroom, ripped the comforter off the bed, and brought it back. He folded it in half, and then tucked it around her.
“Shock,” Jazz whispered. “We should call the doctor.”
“Fuck,” Mason swore, he should have thought about this. He knew this was going to be hard, he knew Arden was going to be upset, but he had taken her anyway. Hoping she would see they really cared about her enough to go against their better judgment. How wrong had he been. Jazz stepped up and slapped the back of his head, making him snap out of his thoughts.
“I know that look, knock it off. It was Arden’s decision, she chose to go there. Now, let's call the doc and see what we are supposed to do,” Jazz said and snapped her fingers at her husbands. Rex raised an eyebrow, but he pulled out his phone.