Leah frowned and squinted her eyes. “I don’t think we should. I didn’t want to bring it up last night after everything that was said. That’s just one more thing we have to worry about.”
Symone sighed. Last night after her Aunts Natalie and Constance stopped by, they’d been made aware that the family’s debt was increasing. The pharmaceutical company their parents co-owned was taking major losses. Despite the fact they’d secured a fifty-million-dollar insurance policy last night with the Saliera, Leah’s biological mother and Symone’s adopted aunt, Natalie, informed them the property they inherited from their late grandparents was up for auction because of missed payments.
They’d all groaned. “How many payments have we missed and why haven’t we gotten any notices?” Drew had asked.
Constance slid a glance at all of them, her brows furrowed. “We’re not going to worry about it. This is one we’ll have to let go.”
“We can’t do that! It’s been in the family for generations!” Drew spoke up.
“Baby,” Constance went to her and pulled her in for a hug. “We just can’t afford it.”
“How much,” Symone had asked.
“Sweetheart,” Aunt Natalie started.
“How much,” Symone asked again.
Natalie closed her eyes. “With the debt from our business plus the amount of the property…” her eyes danced quickly across the room. “Seventy-five point four million dollars.”
Brooklyn fell into the couch, grabbing her chest as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Everyone went quiet, and Natalie and Constance tried to explain why it wasn’t a need to worry. Why it was best for them to let the property go.
“We’ve done all we could. We gave it a good run.”
But for Leah, Symone, Brooklyn and Drew, they knew what this meant. One more luxurious heist was in their future, if not more.
A brief silence fell over the table as Symone and Leah remembered the feeling of dread and anxiety after the conversation. A waitress approached their table, taking their order of coffee and tea.
“Brooklyn and Drew don’t seem interested in a conversation about Agent Fuller’s presence,” Leah said. “They’re satisfied enough that Drew lifted the salt shaker. And you know, if he was there, his partner wasn’t far away.”
Symone shook her head in agreement. “The only way they would be there is if they knew something was going down. What would give them that impression?”
Leah’s nerves were on edge. Up until now, the women had assumed they were low on the totem pole concerning the FBI. But the agent’s attendance said otherwise.
“Maybe we should lay low for a while and find out what they know,” Leah offered.
“Or maybe,” Symone injected, “We should tell Brooklyn to check with her inside man about specifics. We need to know, what they know.”
The waitress approached sitting down hot tea and coffee in front of Symone and Leah.
“Thank you,” they both chimed.
“You’re right,” Leah said. “When should we bring it up?”
“Today. Whichever one of us see’s Brooklyn first.”
Chapter Four
“I don’t know how much more we can do here,” Agent Stinson said, moving the over easy eggs around on her plate. Although she was hungry, after not eating during the stake out at the museum, her breakfast was unappetizing. The best thing about this morning was seeing Mason first thing. Maybe it was the seasoning or lack thereof. Maybe she just missed home.
Agent Fuller hadn’t even bothered to order breakfast, instead settling on a cup of black coffee. Having a debriefing session this morning was Stinson’s idea, and Mason just wanted to get through it without confrontation or god forbid flirtation. Stinson easily blurred the lines between their professional partnership and her fantasies of more intimate moments to come. It was an on-going battle to keep her on track.
“I agree,” Mason began, pulling himself back into the conversation, “but until we talk with the chief of the German Federal Police, we have to stick it out.”
“That could be a problem,” Stinson replied, continuing to poke at her eggs.
“Why,” Mason asked. His forehead creased.
“I’m not sure they know we’re here.”
Mason sat his cup down hard on the table.
“How could they not know, Stinson?”
“I didn’t say they didn’t know, Mason,” she defended. “I’m just not sure they know we are here in an official capacity.”
Mason had left the responsibility of informing the GFP to Stinson. She said she would handle it.
“What the hell kind of capacity do they think we’re here on,” Mason rebuffed.
She hated it when he looked at her that way, such disdain, like she failed him again. Stinson was straight out of Quantico when she was partnered up with the infamous Mason Fuller. Everyone in the bureau knew Mason didn’t want a partner, definitely not a new partner, definitely not a female partner after what happened to his last one. But Stinson was full of herself after graduating at the top of her class. She determined she would prove the naysayers’ wrong who insisted she’d be better off working with someone else. Stinson did just what she said. She was Mason Fuller’s partner.
“I think something got lost in translation,” Stinson defended. “That’s all I’m saying, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
Mason’s temper was on a low boil, but it was quickly heating up. To undermine a foreign authority was not only against protocol, it could also make an already difficult situation worse. Mason downed the rest of his coffee in one gulp and got up from the table.
“Fix it,” he commanded and walked off.
Stinson flopped back against the seat and slid the fork across her plate.
“After all that, it’s still not enough…”
Brooklyn was frustrated, as were the other three. What Constance and Natalie shared with them shook the group to their very core. Sitting in Leah and Symone’s living room, the girls contemplated their next move, if there was one. Although Leah and Symone talked about bringing up the ‘Mason in Vienna’ issue with Brooklyn, now didn’t feel like the right time. The angst and anxiety amongst the girls was already at an all-time high. Symone decided that adding one more thing right now, was not the best idea. If Leah brought it up, of course the issue would have to be addressed, but Symone decided she would not initiate it.
“That’s it, it's done,” Leah said sitting on the sofa across from Drew. The room fell silent. Drew eyed Leah from across the room. Symone looked off into the distance, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
“Whatchu mean it's done, Leah?”
Drew’s voice was low but intense. The sarcasm was thick. Drew stared Leah down which heightened the tension in the room.
“You heard what Auntie Constance said, Drew. We are millions of dollars short even after all we went through; all the planning, the risks… Like Auntie said, we gave it our best shot.” Leah threw her hands up, in a universal sign of surrender.
Brooklyn leaned against the wall. As Leah spoke, Brooklyn shifted her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Drew didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she dropped her head and steepled her fingers on her lap. When Drew did raise her head, she immediately glared at Leah. Her eyes were tight like it was difficult to see. Deep lines creased her brow.
“So, you giving up, huh?” Drew began. She didn’t wait for Leah to reply. “I’m not surprised.” Symone was forced to return her full attention to the conversation.
“What does that mean, Drew?” Leah asked.
“Just what I said,” Drew rebuffed. “I’m not surprised that you would be the one to throw in the towel, throw your hands up, walk away… Like I said, not surprised at all.”
Now Leah was starting to get upset and re-engaged physically in the conversation; lifting herself forward on the couch.
Drew, that’s not fair,” Leah began pleading her case. “That’s not fair at all. I have
been here the whole time, doing my part. I have risked it all too, Drew, and I have a child to take care of, so I’ve been putting it all on the line not just for me but for him, too!”
Drew heard Leah but refused to listen.
“It’s really not your fault, you know, that whole walking away thing,” Drew smirked. “It’s in your blood.”
“What did you say?” Leah asked, scooting to the very edge of the couch. Symone’s mouth fell open, and Brooklyn lifted herself from the wall.
“I said it’s in… your… blood…,” Drew clapped back, exaggerating every word. She scooted to the edge of her seat as well, and the two glared at each other as Drew spit out her next jab. “Ain’t that what Nia did?”
“What the fuck did you say, Drew?” Leah jumped to her feet, and Symone jumped up with her.
“You heard what the fuck I said!”
Drew stood up, and Brooklyn cut across the floor. Drew started to close the distance between herself and Leah. Leah didn’t back down as she took a decisive step in Drew’s direction. The two were standing so close together their noses practically touched. This was Leah’s proving ground. Her fists were tightly clenched by her side. Leah was never afraid to take it to the street when she had to. And if that’s what Drew wanted, Leah was not about to play nice. Leah’s eyes grew tighter as she stared Drew down. One could easily see the muscles tightening along her jawline. Drew was the first to move. She’d stepped back to gain enough distance to swing. Foul words flew between the cousins; words you wouldn’t say to your worst enemy. Leah was cut deep. Drew’s words sliced enough to draw first blood. Leah didn’t hesitate to throw the first blow when Drew gave her the opening.
Chapter Five
“Leah!” Symone yelled chasing after her cousin. She reached out and grabbed her just as Leah pushed through the front door. The screen slammed in Symone’s face. Symone rushed through and reached out for her again.
“Get off me, Symone,” Leah yelled yanking forward.
“Can you just slow down for a second,” Symone requested.
Leah whirled toward her, anger radiating from her spirit.
“We shouldn’t leave like this.”
“Well, I’ll leave. You can stay. But that bitch was way out of line, and I’m not giving her a pass for that shit because she’s the baby girl!” Leah fumed.
“I didn’t ask you to give her a pass. I just asked that you not leave this way,” Symone reasoned.
“How would you like for me to leave, Symone?” Leah insisted.
“If you could just breathe for a minute. Both of you need to calm down so we can resolve this.”
Leah sucked her teeth. “There’s nothing to resolve! You heard her. It’s in my blood to give up and walk away!”
Leah shook her head. “I’m not staying around any longer than I have to.”
Leah turned on her heels and opened the car door slamming it once inside. Symone watched her lips move as she continued to fuss to herself before pulling away from the curb. Her tires screeched on the asphalt, and Symone watched her hit the corner hard. A car horn blew in the distance; the driver no doubt yelling expletives at Leah.
Symone shut her eyes and blew out a deep breath. Inside the house, Brooklyn and Drew were in a spat of their own.
“Whatever, Brooklyn!” Drew said. “You’re just going to let her hit me across my face and not do anything about it?”
“You deserved it,” Symone said reentering the house.
Brooklyn and Drew both turned to look at her. Brooklyn’s face fell when she noticed Leah’s absence. “She’s gone?” Brooklyn asked.
“Yeah and I think she took out a car on her way around the corner.” Symone crossed her arms.
“I didn’t do anything but tell the truth,” Drew muttered. “And I’m not sorry.”
“You should be!” Brooklyn fired back.
“Oh, what is this gang up on Drew day?”
“No one’s ganging up on you,” Symone added. “And quit acting like Brooklyn’s supposed to take up for you every time you get yourself in a bind.”
“You were wrong,” Brooklyn said, “Dead wrong. Leah has no control over her sisters’ disappearance no more than I have control over the shit that comes out of your mouth, and you know it!”
Drew rolled her neck and twisted her lips. She knew her words were hurtful, but she was hurting, too.
“…shit…” Drew mumbled thinking about the words she said to Leah. Drew massaged her temples and then walked towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Brooklyn and Symone said in unison.
“To fix it.” Drew grabbed her keys and marched out the door. Symone sunk into the couch. “That girl,” she said.
“Get your asses back pronto, do you hear me? Why in the absolute hell would you not go through protocol?!”
Mason sat stone-faced as he listened to the Director of the FBI scream through the speaker phone. Slowly he took his gaze to Agent Stinson who stood ramrod straight in front of the bed, her lips so tight it would take a crowbar to reopen them. They were in Mason’s hotel room. He was showering when she decided to knock on the door with their boss on the phone.
“Sir, I thought it was handled. Let me talk to him I’m sure we can resolve this,” Mason suggested.
“It’s too late! He doesn’t want our help, and we have to drop the case.”
Just when Mason didn’t think Agent Stinson would speak up, she did.
“We can’t just drop the case! We have a possible suspect!”
“You can and you will! It’s your own fault. The only thing we can do now is hand over the information we’ve collected and leave it to them to solve on their own.” The Director sighed. “I don’t have time for this. These mishaps should never happen with agents like you two. Get back now!” The line disconnected.
Brittany didn’t dare look over to Mason, but she could feel his glare from across the room. “Damn it,” she yelled.
Mason moved, walking into the bathroom. She caught the back of him. Remnants of water still soaked his broad back and shoulders. A towel was thrown haphazardly around his waist. He slammed the door, and her head fell in her hands. Brittany was so busy trying to impress him, she skipped a slight detail in processing the papers that would inform the government they were pursuing a suspect in their country.
Brittany left Mason’s room and went to her quarters to prepare her luggage. After an hour passed with no word from Mason, Brittany rolled her suitcase out of the door only to notice a cart sitting in front of his room.
“Excuse me.”
The maid looked to her. “Has the occupant of that room checked out?”
“Danke,” the maid responded, confirming what she already knew. Mason left without her. It seemed her day couldn’t get any worse.
The pace of the treadmill increased as Leah punched an angry finger at the speed and incline buttons. When her feet hit the hardwood floors of her childhood home, she sprinted to the exercise equipment to blow off some steam. Drew’s words ran cycles on repeat in her mind and running on the elliptical machine was all she could do to keep from going back to kick Drew’s ass. Sweat dripped down Leah’s face, and her braids swung from the messy ponytail she’d shoved them in.
The doorbell rang, catching her attention. Leah didn’t want any company. She didn’t want Symone trying to talk her into calming down, and she didn’t want a pep talk. The doorbell rang again. Leah glanced at the clock on the wall. It wasn’t time for James to be out of school and he wouldn’t think to look for her there so she would just ignore it.
Unfortunately for Leah, someone was just as persistent at getting her attention as she was at disregarding it. Leah hopped off the machine and took steps to the stereo system. When the music rang out, she amplified the volume so it would drown out whoever was outside. Back on the treadmill, Leah ran hard; her lips moving to the song on the radio. Forcing her thoughts to a pleasant place, a childhood memory invaded her mind.
“Momma, can we
make the flowers again like we did yesterday?”
“Did you ask your sister if she wanted to help us?”
“Nia, Nia, Nia!” Leah ran into their bedroom. Nia sat with her legs folded on the bed sulking; tears stained her cheeks.
“Don’t cry Nia.”
Leah went to the bed, throwing her small arms around her twin sister.
“Momma said we can make the flowers like we did yesterday.” Leah knew Nia’s favorite thing to do was plant flowers in their mother’s garden. This perked Nia up.
“Grover didn’t go far he’ll be back,” Leah said trying to convince her sister that their dog Grover didn’t leave forever. “Come on.”
She guided Nia off the bed, and although Nia was older by two minutes, Leah still took on the role as big sister most of the time. Leah took pride in being responsible for Nia. They played and planted flowers in the garden and the next day Grover did return.
Being able to help Nia was one of the best memories of her childhood. Leah couldn’t understand why Nia wouldn’t confide in her before her disappearance. Didn’t Nia know Leah would’ve done anything to help her? Leah was lost in her feelings going from one question to the next.
“You know, you really should move this thing.”
Leah snapped from her thoughts and jumped off the treadmill retrieving a handgun that sat on the dresser. With swiftness, she turned towards the voice squaring off with the intruder.
Drew held her hands in the air, a spare key dangling from her hand. “Don’t shoot, Leah!”
Leah grabbed her chest and heaved a heavy breath. She marched to the stereo and turned down the volume. “What are you doing? I could’ve killed you!”
“I need to talk to you, and you wouldn’t answer your door.”
“That means go away! How did you know I was here anyway?”
“Because…,” Drew glanced around the room. “This is where you go when you’re missing her.”
Leah scowled. “What do you want, Drew?”
Prowl (Nothing Else Matters But Survival Book 1) Page 3