The End of Games

by Tara Brown

  "Is it a setup?"

  She sighed, "I don’t know. Your mom is going in, she's worried. I can tell. That makes me worried. Fitz thinks we should tell them all to fuck themselves and Jack is tense."

  I nodded, "Okay. I don’t think we should do it either, but at the same time, I don’t like the idea that there are human-trafficking brothels. I have kids; I would kill someone if they ever touched them. Our job has always been to protect and rescue, this isn’t that different. Apart from the fact we are in deep cover and trying to save our own asses and keep my kids safe."

  "I got your kids, dude. Fitz and I won't let anything happen to them."

  I shook my head, "Tell Mom she has to stay. Tell her me, Jack, and Coop can do this."

  "She isn’t going to listen."

  I growled, "Put her on the phone."

  Mom's accent was thick and sweet when she answered, "Not a chance, my darling. You are stuck with me."

  I bit my lip, "If I ask Servario for help, will you stay with the kids?"

  She went silent for a moment, "No, he hung you out to dry."

  I sighed, "I know but he's good at this. You said it yourself. Between him, Coop, and Jack, I'll be fine."

  She went silent again, "Fine. If he goes, I'll stay. He will meet you in Hawaii."

  I scowled, "Hawaii?"

  "Coop knows his orders. I love you and I will meet you at the ship tomorrow."

  I opened my mouth to say something but Luce was back, "Hey. You think Servario is a smart idea?"

  I looked at Coop and scowled, "No. But I do know he's a better bet than my mom. He has all the wrong connections in all the worst places. I have a bad feeling that’s what we are going to need."

  "Yeah, that’s probably true. Anyway, the reason I called was Coop talked to Jack last night. He was all drunk and rowdy. He was asking Jack about me and him and how we manage to make the job important and it was weird. Is there something finally going on with you two?"

  I smiled as Jules got off the chair and twirled for Coop as he took pictures, "Yes. So you really phoned to gossip?"

  "Of course."

  I smiled, "Shhhh. We can't talk about it—we'll jinx it."

  She started laughing, "See ya soon."

  She hung up and I clapped my hands for Jules, "You look beautiful."

  Jules curtseyed perfectly, "Thank you, Mother." She sounded just like Cinderella when she said it. I laughed harder, "You are a crazy kid."

  I felt a small measure of relief, knowing my mother was going to be with the kids. She was the scariest thing I had ever seen in action. No one was getting my kids with her around.

  We walked the deck, ate at the best restaurant, and eventually turned in for the night. Jack had included the kids new names and back stories in their suitcases. I gave them both the papers, "Memorize these. It is our new life, okay?"

  Jules gave me a confused look, "Why?"

  I stroked her cheek, "Mommy is back to being a super-special worker for the government again."

  Mitch gave her a look, "Remember, how I told you Mom and Dad had a secret job, and if you ever told anyone about it, they would die and that someone must have talked about Dad's job and he died? We both swore we didn’t tell anyone, you remember?"

  Jules nodded, swallowing hard. Her eyes were wide with fear. I gave him a scowl but he softened his look, "Well, this is what happens when one of the secret workers dies. The rest of the family has to change their names and lives, and be different to save the rest of the family."

  Jules looked scared, "Mommy, you won't die, will you?"

  I laughed but felt sick, "No, baby. Mommy is not doing that job anymore. It's just like Mitch said, though not the way I would have said it. Daddy died so now we have to be different people. I am working for the secret people again, but I'm doing something really different now. It's way safer and no one knows who I am." I winked at her worried face, "Besides, Grandma is a ninja."

  Jules laughed, "No, she isn’t."

  I nodded, "She is, I swear. Ask her to do ninja stuff, but you can't tell anyone she is a ninja. It could put her in danger too."

  Jules zipped her lips and mumbled awkwardly, "Love you!"

  I kissed her cheek, "I love you too." I kissed Mitch and muttered, "You are in trouble."

  He shook his head, "She didn’t understand why we were always running and changing names. She needed to know something."

  I kissed his nose, "Okay, but no more. She doesn’t need to be scared."

  He nodded, "Yes, she does."

  I shook my head, "You are safe. I swear it on my life, you are."

  He looked into my eyes and nodded. I kissed him again. He whispered, "Coop is always going to stay with us, right?"

  I looked at him, "Does he make you feel safer?"

  He nodded again, "The safest."

  "Me too."

  I left them in their rooms with their papers and closed the door behind me, turning the lock. Coop was on the bed, looking angry.

  I smiled, "What? Blue balls getting you down?"

  He shook his head slowly, "Yes, but that’s not it."

  I laid on the bed next to him, "What's wrong, muffin?"

  "Don’t muffin me. Why is Servario coming with us? Why are you making decisions for my team?"

  I winced, "I need my mom with the kids."

  He nodded, "I agree, but me, you, and Jack could have done this. It's my decision who comes, not yours. I'm in charge. I don’t think he's safe or the best option."

  I moved in close to him, "Coop, you ever hear that saying, quit while you're ahead?"

  He nodded. I smiled, "You're ahead." I turned the light off and climbed under the covers. In the dim light coming under the door, I could see his eyes grow wide as I pulled off all my clothes and tossed them on the chair beside the bed.

  He smiled, "You feeling less conflicted suddenly? Or trying to make me agree to Servario coming by…" I put my finger to his lips, "Don’t finish that sentence. I am feeling less conflicted."

  He leaned over, kissing my cheek, "Me too. Being on this boat was either the best idea ever or the worst."

  I laughed, nodding, "I agree."

  He kissed my other cheek, "I feel things for you that I can't even put words to."

  I smiled, feeling the heat from my thighs creeping up my body to my face, "I like that."

  He nodded "Me too."

  I whispered, "I still don’t like your mom."

  He kissed next to my mouth, pausing there and then whispered, "I can live with that."

  I wrapped my arms around his head, pulling him down on me. He kissed me differently, it was less driven but more needy. He needed to touch me and hold me. His strong hands and arms wrapped me up in him. I moaned into the kiss. He pulled away, standing and ripping his shirt off and his jeans. He dove into the bed, pulling me to him. His warmth against my body made me shiver with excitement.

  His lips trailed down my throat and chest. He licked my nipples like they were ice cream cones, switching back and forth. Finally he sucked one, pinching the other. I almost cried out, but I managed to control myself. He rolled back, bringing me up on top of him. His erect cock was between my pussy lips when I sat up. I rotated my hips a bit, noticing how wet I was. He reached into the drawer and grabbed a condom. I took it, realizing that I was making a decision, a choice. I was choosing someone over someone else.

  For me there would be no going back.

  I opened the condom and slid it over him. I stroked his huge cock a few times. He was massive. It made me smile. He laughed, "You thinking about how you told that girl I had a little dick?"

  I laughed, "Yeah."

  He gave me a smug grin, "Not so little, huh?"

  I shook my head, "It's alright."

  He pulled me down on him, "I'll show you how alright it is."

  He reached between my legs and angled it. I sat back, pushing it into me. It was a tight fit at first. He took a deep breath, "Oh shit, you feel good."

  I nodded, "B
ack at ya."

  He grabbed my hips and started to move me up and down his cock. I leaned forward a little so he could suck my nipples while I rode him. My whole boy was tensing and convulsing as I got used to the size of him. His tongue flicked at my nipples as he started to move me faster. I sat back again, taking all of him in.

  He chose the speed and the stroke size, using my hips as guides. I leaned back even more, rubbing my G-spot with his cock. I worked it circularly, holding my breath and trying not to just scream at him to fuck me like an animal. The room was pretty sound proof, but not that sound proof.

  I felt the waves of pleasure starting to lap inside of me. I let him move me and fuck me. He was doing it exactly the way I wanted him to. It was like winning the lottery.

  He lifted a bit, pushing me forward and positioned his legs underneath of us for better thrusting. He grabbed my ass and fucked me hard. He thrust his body and pushed mine at the same time. I lost all control, as his thrusts got deeper and harder. I reached forward and grabbed the pillow quickly, stuffing it over his face and burying mine into it. I moaned into the pillow as my pussy grabbed onto him, and I came in a series of muffled words I didn’t know. I continued to move on him, as he fucked me hard, but I was done. I wasn’t helping him anymore. He grabbed my ass hard, holding me in one place and fucked until I felt his face jerk up into the pillow. Our breath was meeting somewhere inside of the pillow with the muffled moans. I just continued to repeat, "Oh fuck." for several seconds.

  Finally, he pulled the pillow off of his face, "You trying to kill me?"

  I shook my head and collapsed onto his chest, "No."

  We lay there for several minutes, gasping for air and trying not to move. I didn’t know what to say, and I was certain he didn’t either.

  After several awkward moments, he started rubbing my back, "That was not what I expected."

  I looked up at him, "Why?"

  He shook his head, "You are such a tease, I seriously thought you were messing with me."

  I laughed, "I told you, I was less conflicted."

  He nodded, "You also told me it wasn’t ever going to happen." He looked down at our bodies, "That just happened."

  I nodded, "Did it ever."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  S is for Scoundrel, Scum, and Sexy as Shit

  I looked out the window of the jet as we took off from Vancouver. The weather was dreary and wet. I hated flying in the rain.

  I noticed Jack watching me in his peripheral from the seat across the aisle. I scowled and mouthed, "What?"

  His lips were playing with a grin but he wouldn’t commit to it. Finally, I rolled my eyes and spoke aloud, "What?"

  He snickered, and finally mouthed back, "I read the report Coop gave of your account of the yacht."

  My eyes widened. He nodded, "Wow!"

  I shook my head, "You have no idea."

  He nodded, "I think you're my new hero. Not even kidding. If I'd seen shit like that, I might have killed myself."

  I snorted, "When I was in that closet on the boat, I contemplated it."

  He gave me a traumatized look, "Did you want to tell S to just light a match and say screw it? There is no cleaning that level of filth out of a boat."

  I started laughing, "I think he has abandoned it."

  Coop leaned over to me, "What are you guys laughing about?"

  I whispered, "The boat, what I saw from the closet. He got to read the report to the commander."

  Coop's face screwed up into a grimace, "Good God. I never want to talk about that again."

  I nodded, "You and me both."

  He took my hand in his, "You nervous?"

  I shook my head, "Just leaving my kids behind."

  He nodded, "They'll be fine. They're going to love Canada."

  I gave him a stoic face, "Has anyone ever really said that sentence and meant it?"

  He chuckled, "I have heard that Canadians love it there."

  I pointed at the window, "It's rained the entire trip down the coast from Alaska. It just rains and rains. Did you hear that lady at the Vancouver Airport who said she had been loving the mild weather? This is mild weather? It just rains."

  He started to laugh, "How different is that from Boston?"

  I wrinkled my noise at him, "Fall is our season. We rock fall. Summer is muggy and hot, spring is always a bit on the wet side, and winter is miserable, but fall is dry and crisp, and yet, somehow warm still."

  He rolled his eyes, "It's not much different from the East Coast weather here. A north coast is a north coast. Doesn’t matter so much if it's east or west, it's not Mexico."

  I stuck my tongue out.

  He bent in and kissed me. I smiled into the kiss, "Are you nervous?"

  He cocked an eyebrow, "Why would I be nervous?"

  An evil grin spread across my face. He sighed, "If you even look at S with anything but hateful contempt after everything he did to you, I'll kill you myself."

  I laughed, "He and you were in cahoots in Rome. Admit you knew exactly what was going to happen."

  He nodded and whispered into my ear, “Not what you think.”

  My stomach felt funny. I narrowed my gaze, "Did you know at the casino, before you sold me? Was that prearranged?"

  He shook his head, "Not until after we got the note and Luce got attacked. James orchestrated the drop off of you at the ruins. S came to us the second he dropped you off with James, just like you asked him to. He told us James was taking you to a brothel. We were to follow him to the border and watch him put you on a fishing boat. He said that we should follow the boat and meet in Split. S arranged the contact with your mom and Fitz. They were already in Rome, they knew he was up to something. He and your mom got in a fight on the flight. He said something to the effect that he wasn’t on CI or the Burrow's payroll. I heard him say, ‘One human life isn’t worth the rest of the world.’ He was talking to your mom. I got the sense that he was talking about you. Jack and I immediately left for the border to watch for the fishing boat. We intended to steal you back, assuming S was not going to rescue you. Of course, we watched the harbor all night; you and James never came and never got on the boat. Jack phoned S who was pissed. He said we'd been double-crossed. We thought we'd lost you for sure. S had been one hundred percent sure that James would take you to Split. The order for you in Split had come down from higher up than his mom."

  I scowled, "So he never went to the brothel?"

  He nodded, "He did. He got a helicopter and took us there too. We met your mom and Fitz there, she had stolen a fishing boat. She said she had a girl inside, a whore who was Burrow. The girl’s dad is one of the scientists S saved. She and S had a thing, I think."

  I nodded, "Yeah, Elise. That was my understanding also."

  He sighed, "When S dropped us in Split with your mom and Fitz, we never heard from him again until he was walking you into the brothel. He dialed and left his phone on. We knew that was the signal to come for you guys."

  I looked him straight in the eyes, "So you never knew about the boat at all? S never knew James would take me there?"

  Coop shook his head, "As far as I know, that was never the plan. He went crazy when we realized we were fucked over by James and you were missing." He gave me a smug grin, "I never worried, I knew you had it."

  I shoved him, "You ass. I didn’t have it. I winged it and it wasn’t pretty."

  He nodded, laughing at me softly. "The training kicked in."

  I rolled my eyes, "I hate you sometimes."

  He kissed my cheek, "You love me and you know it."

  I couldn’t fight the look on my face. I shook my head, "I don’t and you don’t love me."

  He shook his head, but I could see the love in his eyes, "No, I don’t. I’m glad you don’t love me either."

  Jack whacked me in the arm, "I don’t love either of you, so keep it down. I may vomit from this."

  I flipped him the bird and snuggled into Coop. "Thanks for coming and getting me."

/>   He shook his head, "That was S. I wish I could take the credit. We were in enemy waters, and I didn’t have a clue as to what was what. S wasn’t very forthcoming."

  "Yeah well, he's like that with everyone. Don’t take it personally."

  "Good to know." He kissed my forehead, "Let's get some rest."

  I closed my eyes and let the flight be the sleep I was going to get for the next forty-eight hours.

  The jet landed in Kauai, and as I thought it, he said it, "I wish the kids were here. They would love it. Jules would be a natural at surfing."

  I smiled, "This is exactly why I don’t love you."

  He gave me a curious look, "Why?"

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, "You love my kids. That’s like some kind of aphrodisiac."

  He cocked an eyebrow, "Remind me to bring it up on the plane ride home. Until then, we are partners. Keep it in your pants, keep your head on straight."

  “You brought them up, not me.”

  He shrugged, “I didn’t know you’d go all gooey over it.”

  I was almost hurt by it, but I forced myself to remember what we were doing in Hawaii. It wasn’t vacationing. That was for sure.

  I nodded, "Good point. Not to mention, S might need me to persuade him of a few things. It’s better if he doesn't know you and I are… what are we?"

  Coop's eyes cooled off, "In Hawaii we're partners. I don’t even want to think about S right now, but I'll tell you… there will be no persuading. Not unless I'm allowed to persuade him with pliers." He turned and walked toward the lineup for customs.

  Jack leaned into my ear, "Go easy on him. He likes you more than you can imagine. His version of the story at the brothel isn't exactly how it happened."

  I gave him a look. He winked at me.

  "You can't say that and not explain."

  Jack walked next to me slowly, "He and S fought. He won and he called your mom with S's phone. He made her convince S to go after you on the yacht. S didn’t want to come look for you. He considered you a lost cause by that point. Coop said something to your mom, and whatever your mom said, is what made S go get you."