by Terry Poole
“Why Luis?”
“Danna hasn’t been right since Samuel died. She turned Samuel’s bedroom into a shrine and keeps his body in a special coffin on his bed.” He shuddered. “She talks to him all the time and refuses to leave the estate. That is why you are here. So she can exact her vengeance upon Kelly in front of Samuel.”
Luis sighed. “I have been looking after my half sister and half brother since I arrived here. Danna will hurt them if they are not kept out of her sight. For some reason, she absolutely despises them…and me.”
Twisting, Luis pulled a battered old wallet from his back pocket. He opened it, cards and papers dropping haphazardly onto the bare mattress of the cot as he fished around in his wallet for something.
Nathan noticed a couple of student restaurant loyalty cards and a campus library card on top of the small pile. Maybe Luis kept them as a reminder of the life he’d lost, or hoped one day to regain.
Luis smiled as he pulled a worn photo from the wallet and held it out to Nathan. The picture was of Luis with two small children. He knelt between them, hugging them to his sides, the three of them grinning at the camera.
“This was taken the first day I returned by one of Papa’s men. He left shortly after refusing to work for Danna. I liked him, he was a good man.”
“They look like nice kids,” Nathan said, handing the picture back to Luis.
Luis gave it a fond smile. “They are. The best,” he said before slipping the photo and the pile on the mattress back into his wallet.
“How old are they?”
“Maria is five and Jesus is three. They are still babies.”
Something occurred to Nathan. “Is that why you are so thin? You’ve been giving them your food?”
Luis nodded. “Danna does not care about her children anymore. She actually hates them. After Samuel, who was her joy, died, the other two simply ceased to exist. The men she has now, they all eat well, but I must steal whatever I can for myself and them and hope I don’t get caught.”
“What happens if you get caught?” Nathan had a feeling he knew what Luis would say before he even told him.
Luis dropped his gaze and didn’t answer at first. Nathan felt ice fill his veins.
“Luis? Do they…? Have you been…?” The words seized in Nathan’s throat.
Clearly startled, Luis violently shook his head. “No. They have not raped me. At least that Danna will not tolerate. No, I am struck by fists or a belt and occasionally whipped but that’s all.”
Struck? Whipped? That’s all?
Nathan looked down at the mug in shock. He couldn’t believe the casual way Luis described the brutality inflicted on him, like it was a fact of life, his life. But then again, hadn’t he behaved the same way? Being physically and verbally abused had become a fact of Nathan’s life at a very young age. He hadn’t known any better until his aunt and uncle became his parents and showed him what love was supposed to feel like.
What risks had Luis taken? What cruel punishments had he been forced to endure just to bring Nathan something as simple as soup?
Luis must have caught Nathan’s expression because he laid a reassuring hand on his arm.
“I had no difficulty bringing you the soup. She wants to keep you healthy. When Kelly arrives, she is going to make him watch as she tortures you before she kills you. You must be healthy, in good shape for that to happen. She wants him to suffer before she kills him.”
“Trust me, Kelly won’t be so easy to capture and kill. I know it’s a cliché but Kelly is like a living weapon. You have no idea what he is capable of, what he can do.”
“Really? I hope you are right. You have much faith in him.”
“Yes. I do.”
“Tell me about him,” Luis urged. “I’m curious to hear about this ‘living weapon’.”
“Kelly’s amazing, he’s got muscles upon muscles and he works hard to keep them. He’s a very skilled fighter, clever and smart.” Nathan smiled. “He makes me laugh when I’m too serious and holds me when my day is difficult. He always knows how I’m feeling.” Nathan paused. “Kelly’s got the most beautiful green eyes you’ve ever seen. They change color depending on his moods but when he smiles…” He trailed off, lost in the image in his mind, seeing Kelly’s face and wishing he were there. What Nathan wouldn’t give to be held in those strong arms right now and cuddled against Kelly’s chest like he was the most precious thing in the world.
“You must love him very much.” Luis’s voice brought him back from his daydreaming.
Nathan searched Luis’s face for any sign of revulsion or disgust at the thought of a man loving another man and saw nothing but longing.
“Yes. I do love him very much.” Nathan held out his left hand, fingers spread to show the thin engagement ring on his finger. “We’re going to be married next month.”
“Really? This is allowed where you live?”
“Yes. I can hardly wait to make him legally mine. And I’ll be his. I miss him so much.”
“Ah. The look on your face when you speak of him, he is a very lucky man. I wish I had someone who would love me the way you do Kelly,” Luis said sadly.
“One day—” Nathan began.
“No. It cannot happen for me. It may be accepted in parts of the United States but here, in my world? Even with Papa dead, I will have to marry a nice woman of standing that’s specifically chosen for me and breed an heir. I would be killed if it were ever to come out that I preferred men instead of women.”
He sounded so defeated that Nathan’s heart went out to the despondent young man. “Come with me and bring Maria and Jesus.” He spoke the words without thinking but they just felt right to him, like there was no other option.
Luis looked at Nathan as if he had lost his mind. “The children? You would take them?”
“Of course.”
“But who would care for them?”
“I would.”
Nathan only hoped that Kelly wouldn’t mind becoming a family this quickly. They had agreed that they wanted kids down the road. How would Kelly feel now that the road had suddenly become very short?
“You? You would take on this responsibility?”
Luis looked dumfounded as if it had never occurred to him that anyone would want them—all three of them.
“This is not a safe environment for either them or you. Is it?”
“No, it’s not. Honestly, I fear for their lives.”
“That’s settled then. The three of you are coming with me when Kelly rescues me. We’ll go together. Kelly and I, we know people, people who will help us. It’s the only way to keep all three of you safe.”
Luis peered at Nathan intently. Nathan assumed it was to make sure that he was telling the truth, judging his honesty and worth. Did he mean it? Yes, he did. Luis’s lips slowly stretched until a smile spread across his entire face, almost blinding Nathan with its intensity and joy.
No matter the outcome, Nathan knew he was doing the right thing.
Chapter Three
Kelly pulled his SUV alongside the other vehicles parked by the sidewall of Hangar B6. The steel building was large enough to house several civilian planes but far enough from the tower to afford some privacy. Stepping inside the building through the massive partially open doors, Kelly headed for a metal stairway to his right. It led up to a bank of rooms, which overlooked the planes and the rest of the hangar.
The sound of ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ met Kelly’s ears when he reached the top of the stairs. Wondering what the hell was going on, he walked toward the large meeting room, the source of the excited voices. He stopped short in the doorway and gaped. Three of his team members were already there. The noises they were making were almost sexual as they pawed over the vast array of weapons that covered four large tables lining the walls. As he moved closer, Kelly had to admit that the three of them behaving like kids in a candy store was entirely justified. Handguns and rifles, every caliber and barrel length imaginable, available
in the US, Canada and pretty much anywhere else, were on display. It was a soldier’s wet dream.
Kelly stepped closer to the table that held the handguns neatly arranged in rows. Holy shit! Is that really a Korsakov? He’d only heard rumors of the weapon actually existing, based on an imaginary one used in those British secret spy movies. Kelly lifted up the 9mm beauty, rotating it back and forth and admiring the lines before returning it to the table and continuing his perusal. His gaze was continually drawn back to the gun until he sighed, finally admitting defeat. He slipped the Korsakov into the waistband of his pants at the small of his back. He pocketed several boxes of ammunition for it.
He couldn’t be bought, but damn he could be tempted.
Slipping a P229 into his shoulder holster and picking up the appropriate ammunition for it, he turned his attention back to the rest of the room.
The fourth table held nothing but knives from Ka-bar’s to Tac Tanto’s. Those were the ones that could cut through the side of a car like the metal was made of soft butter. Kelly grabbed a couple of those too, grumbling as he slid them into their sheaths, which he then strapped to his thighs. He chose a smaller one and slipped it into his boot.
Okay, bought maybe just a little.
Several boxes filled with explosive devices sat beneath the tables. His jaw dropped as he caught sight of what stood between two tables. Son of a… He took a second look to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. Nope, there were definitely bazookas and portable missile launchers propped up on their ends against the wall.
Mind blown, Kelly slowly spun in place, staring around the room. He was having a hard time keeping his jaw from actually hitting the floor. There was enough firepower here to take down a small country. Sure, Kelly had contacts and resources but nothing compared to this. It had to be Brendan’s doing. He knew Matt, Nathan’s father, had extensive dealings with the military. Brendan had already provided Kelly with useful aerial intel, but how in the hell had he and Brendan managed to pull all this together? And so fast? Damn, they must have called in every favor the two of them had.
“Kelly?” Brendan’s hesitant voice came from one corner of the room. He was chewing his lip. The high-powered attorney was visibly uncertain as he slowly approached Kelly. “Is this going to be enough?” Brendan asked, gesturing around the room.
“Enough?” Moose, a huge mountain of a man, spun around and stared at Brendan incredulously. “Boy, this is all you?” He waved a hand, indicating the rest of the room.
Brendan nodded. “Is it good?” he asked again. “I mean, is it enough? Do you need more?”
“More?” Moose turned to Kelly. “Do you hear this boy?”
The others stopped to watch as Moose clapped a huge hand to Brendan’s back driving the smaller man forward two steps.
“More, he says.” The big man shook his head. “Son, you better be single cause I’m gonna either marry you or adopt you.”
At Brendan’s instant flush all the men roared with laughter. Both Brendan and Nathan were very fair and cursed the fact that they blushed all too easily.
Kelly punched Moose lightly in the arm. “Moose, stop it. You’re gonna scare him away.”
“Scare him away? Are you kidding?” Manny called out while reverently running his fingers over one of the portable missile launchers. “We’re calling dibs on who gets to keep him.”
Manny brought the missile launcher up to his cheek, and rubbed his face along the length of the barrel. “Oh, baby. I think I’m in love.” He sighed, tenderly caressing the metal like a lover.
The third member of his team, Frodo, was holding a rifle in each hand, his gaze traveling from one weapon to the other before glancing at Kelly. “Santa? Can I haz pleeeze! I haz been a good boy this year.”
Kelly rolled his eyes at their antics.
“Careful, mon cher. You roll them too much, they get stuck looking at the back of your skull. Oui?”
Kelly tipped his head at G, a stunning woman in an expensive pantsuit as she walked into the room. “Hey, G. I was just about to text you.”
“No need, mon cher. I am here. Zuit d’alores but everyone wants me today.” She sighed in exaggerated exasperation.
“Problems crossing the border?”
“No. Simply my government wishing the use of my services but I told them no, they would have to wait.” She shrugged as she dropped her suitcase at her feet. “Unfortunate for them, oui?”
G took a sharp breath as she took in the arsenal arrayed around her. “Merde,” she murmured in awe before moving over to examine one of the tables more closely.
Brendan leaned over to Kelly. “Government? Is she one of your team?”
“Mais oui, ma petite,” G said, glancing up at Brendan. “I’m French-Canadian and very much a part of this team.”
G placed the handgun she had been admiring down and moved toward Brendan. Her steps, more like the slink of a cat than a walk. She pressed herself sinuously against Brendan who was roughly the same height and ran a finger down his cheek.
“Oh, cher, I like this one. He is simply delicious.”
Brendan reddened, gaping at the woman like a guppy. Kelly blew out a breath. G had worked her magic and another one had bit the dust. Not even a high-powered lawyer was immune to her charms.
“Okay, guys,” Kelly said loudly to the room in general, effectively snapping Brendan out of the spell G had woven around him. “I’ve already sent you the intel I was provided with.”
He turned to Nathan’s brother who still had G draped all over him. “Brendan, this big goof whom you’ve already met is Moose; he’s communication and pretty much anything electrical. The one over there making love to the missile launcher is Manny, our heavy weapons expert and that one playing with the rifles is Frodo, our sniper.”
“Frodo? Is he a fan of Tolkien?”
“No, man,” Moose said to him from across the room. “He’s got furry feet. Don’t need to wear socks, just braids the hair around his toes.”
Frodo gave Brendan a shit-eating grin, obviously not embarrassed in the slightest.
“Oh.” Brendan flushed as the group burst out laughing.
Kelly smiled. They were all a bit crazy. It was a result of the history they shared and the work they still did. Being not-quite-sane was a definite requirement but he couldn’t ask for a better group of people at his back.
“Continuing on,” he interrupted them. “G is short for Giselle and she’s our logistics tactician. Guys, this is our benefactor and Nathan’s brother, Brendan. You can thank him for all these prezzies on the plane.”
Brendan gave them all a small wave. “Hi, guys. You all have code names. That’s so cool.” He looked eagerly at Kelly. “Do I get one too?”
“No,” Kelly told him flatly. “This is not a game or the latest blow-em-up movie.”
Kelly knew he had hurt Brendan’s feelings. Even though he was pretty sure it wouldn’t work, he was still hoping to dissuade Brendan from joining them. The man had to understand that this wasn’t a movie where everyone got shot at and never hit. This was going to be dangerous and no one was guaranteed to come out of this mission in one piece or at all.
Directing his next words to the entire team, Kelly faced them, hands on his hips. “Go get changed, grab whatever gear you want and get on the plane. We need to head out. Brendan, I’ll kit you up.”
Kelly spun on his heel, anxious to leave. The need to get to Nathan was growing, eating away at his insides. It was becoming increasingly difficult to reign his anxiety in, to not to snap at the people around him. A clock ticked inside of him and he felt like he was running out of time.
“Uh, Kelly?” Brendan called tentatively to him. “Could I have a word with you?”
Kelly stopped, closed his eyes while he counted to three, and turned, trying hard not to show his impatience. “Yes, Brendan?”
“Dad and I took the liberty of chartering a different plane for you.”
Kelly stared at him. “A different plane,” he s
aid flatly.
“Um, yeah. This way.” After giving Kelly a furtive glance, Brendan walked out of the door of the meeting room. Kelly could hear the hesitation in Brendan’s voice. He guessed he hadn’t been doing a good job of keeping it together after all. Brendan had never seen Kelly like this and was probably afraid that Kelly would lose it and refuse to let Brendan come with them.
Running a hand through his hair, Kelly forced himself to rein his temper in once more. It wouldn’t do anyone good if he lost it, especially Nathan.
Brendan stopped at the second-floor railing, waiting until Kelly joined him. Pointing to a small aircraft in front of them, he said, “That’s the one you chartered.” Then he shifted slightly to the left and gestured to the half-open door of the hangar. “That’s mine.”
Kelly looked past Brendan’s shoulder and felt his jaw drop…again.
“Holy shit! That’s stealth military… H-how did you…?”
Kelly was blown away. Just what kind of pull did Brendan and Matt have to be able to secure one of those and at such a moment’s notice?
G pressed herself against Brendan’s back, draped her arms over Brendan’s shoulders and clasped her hands together on his chest. “Mon cher, you do know how to impress a girl. Kelly, I’m keeping this one.”
“Wait in line toots!” Moose bellowed.
G angrily twisted around. “Toots. Toots? What Neanderthal says toots?”
“I do. Toots.” Moose pointedly emphasized the word.
“You…”
“Why do they call you Moose?” Brendan smoothly interrupted as he stepped between them, effectively and cleverly averting the impending bloodbath.
“No,” G and the other men shouted simultaneously making Brendan jump and look around in alarm.
“Do not get him started,” warned Kelly.
“Well, ya see, pup…”
“Shit.”
“Here we go.”
“Moose,” Kelly growled, his patience wearing thin with the need to get to Nathan. “We don’t have the time. Wheels up in thirty.”
“Fine, fine, fine, short version then. I wrestled a moose in Alaska and won. Okay?”