Sweat continued to collect on my body as I pushed myself faster. The undershirt I wore was drenched underneath the bulletproof vest. Even the dark, long sleeve shirt I wore over it wasn’t far behind. A mask rested on top of my head, waiting to be fitted over my face in case I needed it. I was ready. Determined to get in and get out as fast as I could. Vibrating against my leg had my steps slowing. My eyebrows drew in, confused, until realization dawned and I had to clench my jaw against my stupidity. I never kept my battery in when I went to investigate. Never. It didn’t even dawn on me tonight before I left. Rookie mistake. I doubted the signal registered with anyone but my company, but I didn’t like it all the same.
I reached into my pocket seeing my boss’s number. Now wasn’t a good time, but I couldn’t not answer it. Not when I knew he didn’t call unless it was important.
“Sullivan.” I kept my voice down as a precaution.
“Gaige,” Elle sounded over the speaker and I nearly stumbled, my heart exploding into rhythm.
“Elle? What happened? Are you okay?”
She sighed and I took in the echoing of her voice. Was she at headquarters? She sure as hell wasn’t home.
“Your mom and I went to hang fliers earlier. We covered a large area, but when we got to San Rafael, I saw two of Marco’s men by your mom’s car. I called your boss and he came to get us. They’re now in custody so everything’s okay.”
My legs instantly felt weak. I reached to a tree, my fingers breaking off pieces of bark as I gripped hard, my anger starting to surface. “You were passing out fliers? What sort of fliers?”
There was a pause. “It was from a human trafficking site. One that rescues slaves. I thought maybe I could help. The statistics for the area are so high. I…” she trailed off, her voice so low I could barely hear, even though it was dead silent where I was. “I knew you’d be mad.”
Mad…I was more than mad. I was pissed. But not at her deed. At the fact that her heart was so into wanting to help while she was probably one of the biggest targets there was. Not to mention, she’d hidden it from me. And, of course, because I wasn’t there to protect her. It all stabbed into my chest, making my blood race even faster.
“You knew better.” I closed my eyes, trying to rein in my temper. “There has to be other ways you can help. Going into the public isn’t safe right now. Reach out online. You helping, so exposed, will have to wait until I get home. Promise me.” The command was there and I knew she caught it.
Silence. Then, a deep exhale. “Alright.”
“Good.” I looked around, feeling suddenly trapped in all of the trees. “How are you? Are you okay after seeing them?” My questions clicked in my own head. “Wait, how did you know they were Marco’s men? Did you recognize them?”
“I’m fine. And only one. It was the same man who delivered Junior. The one I was telling you about. I can’t remember his name, but I know he’s a former falcon turned tracker. He was pretty high in Marco’s circle.”
Fuck. If I had been torn before, I was downright conflicted on what I should do now. Marco was getting close. So fucking close that it made me sick with worry. I should leave. Go home right now. But if I did, who would put a stop to this? Sure there were other agents investigating and gathering intelligence, but no one more determined than me. The fact that his men were even in the area showed how obsessed he was to get Elle back. It proved that he wouldn’t stop. That made the answer to my dilemma clear. I would have to wrap this up, and fast.
“I want an agent on you at all times. No going out unless you have to.”
“Mr. Viceroy is having two men keep watch. You have nothing to worry about, Gaige. That’s why I insisted on being the one to call you. Me and your mom are taken care of. You do what you need to and don’t worry about us. We’ll be okay.”
She could tell me that all she wanted, but it didn’t stop the worry I felt. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Mr. Viceroy is watching me from his office. He wants to talk to you.”
I knew she had to be in the lobby area just outside. No doubt he had his blinds up and she could see him sitting behind the large oak desk. Probably with his arms resting on the top, his back straight, and that cold look on his face. Regardless of how he projected his voice, his face never changed. He was a killer, through and through. Or had been, back in the day. He was the only man I couldn’t get comfortable around while in his presence.
“Sounds good. I’m proud of you for calling my boss. You did the right thing.”
A door opened in the background. “I did what I thought you’d want me to. I love you.” Before I could reply, she was gone.
“Sullivan. I assume she told you what happened.”
I turned, letting my backpack take the weight as I leaned back against the tree. “Two of Marco’s men a little too close to home. I don’t like it. What’s the word?”
“They’re being detained. Questioned. The usual. They claim they don’t know who we’re talking about, but they both have Los Banditos Del Sur tattoos on their chest.” The letter three surrounded by the diamond flashed in my mind. I’d seen multiple variations of the design, but they were all the same in that basic regard.
“I’m not far from the warehouse that held the slaves. I’m going to try to get a better look. See if I can find anything. I have a few other stops tonight, but I’m more interested in where Marco goes when he leaves his estate. I plan to put an end to this soon.”
“You do what you have to,” he said, lowly. “Call if you need anything. I’m sending Ms. Tanner back home and your mother to her house. I want them separated. Both will be guarded. You stay under the radar.” The line went dead and I fought not to crush the damn thing in my fist. I didn’t want Elle by herself. Not with all the nightmares and the PTSD she suffered from. Shit. I’d have to call Patricia, see if she could stop by once or twice a week just to be safe.
I pulled out the battery and took off my backpack, zipping it into the front pocket. Once I had the coordinates and my compass back in front of me, I continued on my trek, weaving through the wildlife that began to thin out as I got further down the mountain. Just like Crux explained, a clearing came into view that led to a ledge. Illumination shone brightly in the distance and I crouched. Easing into the open area, I rushed to take shelter behind a boulder.
Three lights were mounted to the outside of the large metal building and only on this side. From the looks of it, there were no windows. I wouldn’t know for sure until I went down and got a closer look, but from what I could see, there was only one way in. Or at least, one side. A man sat in a chair just out of view. His foot was tapping, but I couldn’t see the top half of his body due to my angle.
Hours went by as I surveyed the area, my pulse increasing the longer I stared ahead. Rage had me shaking off and on, but no matter how much I tried to block out what I knew, the truth always came back to tear into my insides. My Elle had been here. Marco had been here. It was the place she was almost raped and where he’d killed the man, taking her with the intention of keeping her forever. Over and over, the truth played in my head, showing me false scenes of things I’d never seen for myself. My eyes closed once again while I tried to clear my mind. Focus.
A large chain link fence, a good ten to twelve feet high, surrounded the area and I studied it. Barbed wire twisted around the top and I couldn’t help but think that even though it might have appeared intimidating to some, there was more to it. If Marco did hide slaves inside, he’d need more protection than a thin rope of metal a person could cut through.
I pulled down the mask, fixing the night vision back on and climbed over, disappearing back into the trees. Enough time had gone by to know I was good to go. If I was going to find out if anyone was still inside, I needed to get closer, right up next to it, so I could see what I was working with. My legs wanted to push me faster. Adrenaline tempting me to race forward. To go in and slaughter every motherfucker that happen to be within the barriers of such a sick fuck
ing place. But I held myself back, walking at a cautious pace, scanning the area for any traps that were meant to ward off intruders.
The trees began to thin out and the fence that lay ahead became clear. Footsteps in the distance had me lowering to crouch next to a tree. I reached back, pulling my gun free. The silencer on the front would come in handy if I needed to use it.
A man carrying an AK47, wearing dark clothing, walked along the fence line. Smoke billowed out from his mouth as he drew on his cigarette. I instantly looked toward the far end where it was the darkest. Where had he come from? He hadn’t been here when I started my decent. Not unless he was the one by the far side whose feet I had only been able to see. But I didn’t think so.
As he got further down and headed toward the lights, more sounds came from the dark. With my position, I couldn’t see around the cluster of trees to find where it came from. Silently, I edged over, making my way even deeper into where I knew it was pitch black. Voices rang out loudly, speaking in Spanish. The gap in the trees gave way and a man on my side of the fence crawled out of the ground, a soft glow silhouetting him. I felt my eyes go wide as another followed behind, using his hands against the earth to brace himself as his feet stepped out.
“Lock it up.” The one standing made the order as he pulled against the strap across his chest that held his own machine gun. But he hadn’t been talking to the one who was now next to him. A third head popped out and he grabbed the top, pulling it closed, once again leaving us in the dark. What sounded like something heavy clicked into place, and the two men in the woods began covering dirt over where they’d exited.
Son of bitch. I held my gun tighter as they began walking in my direction. I was betting my life that the agents hadn’t discovered the hidden tunnel they were using. Now, all I had to do was get the information back and see if it revealed anything. Either the slaves were still there or they’d gotten them out through that route. Or…nothing. But I couldn’t think about that. Not right now.
Twigs and leaves crunched under their feet as they strolled by, not even looking the least bit aware that they were being watched. My breathing slowed at my command and the urge to rush in behind them and slit their throats was almost too much. I’d never been affected by a job before, but every person associated with Elle and what she’d been through brought out the evil I once harbored toward the one woman I’d fallen in love with. I wanted them to pay. To be nothing more than a fucking puddle of blood at my feet.
I rose, unaware that I had until one of the men turned and leaned against the fence. He reached into the pocket of his black cargo pants and pulled out a phone.
“It’s done.” He paused. “No problems. Beto took care of everything.” Once again, he reached into his pocket, pulling out what looked to be a joint. It didn’t take long for the smell of marijuana to drift over to me. “Three tomorrow. Got it.” He hung up, turning to the other man who looked a good ten years younger than his mid-forties appearance.
“Three tomorrow at Senor Garza’s.”
The younger of the two’s face turned down to the ground. “Tomorrow? But, Marisol’s party—”
A slap to the side of the head stopped him from talking. “When Senor Garza gives an order, you obey. Even if it is your daughter’s birthday. She wouldn’t be having a pretty little party if it wasn’t for him. He pays you. Remember that. Now, let’s go back inside.”
They walked down a good twenty feet before they approached a thin gate. A loud pop was followed by the older man swinging it open. My jaw clenched and I looked around, trying to see any cameras that might be in the area. It’d been opened from inside which meant someone was monitoring the area. Fuck. I replaced my gun and eased back, pushing further into the woods, back to where I’d come from. A good hour passed while I followed the coordinates back to where I’d parked. Mr. Viceroy needed to know what I’d discovered.
I took off my bag, glancing around the darkness that still blanketed me. There was no way I was going to break from the safety of the covering before what I knew was shared. As I put the battery back in, I listened to the noises in the vicinity. Aside from the wildlife that moved around in the trees, I didn’t hear anything to cause alarm.
Ringing was met with a slightly scratchy voice. Had so much time passed since he’d had Elle? I hadn’t noticed. “What have you got, Sullivan?”
I knew my boss was asleep, but he’d also know I wouldn’t have called had it not been important. “There’s a tunnel that leads out from the warehouse. Crux has the coordinates,” I said, looking down at the watch. “They’re moving something. Or, moved it, I should say. We need to get men in before whatever they have disappears for good. I would have stayed longer, but they have eyes on the area.”
He sighed. “Gonna be kind of hard to get Mexican authorities to comply. You know, as well as I do, they have their own rules. Most are paid off, but let me make some calls. I’ll see what I can do. Good job, Sullivan. Now get the fuck out of there.”
“On my way out as we speak.” I hung up, hitting Crux’s number. As I walked at a fast pace toward the car, leaves and twigs crunched beneath my feet. Silence no longer mattered. Leaving did.
“That was faster than I thought,” he said, answering the phone.
“Get the last coordinates you have on me before I headed back. There’s a tunnel entrance not far from there where they’re running something. People, drugs, guns, who the fuck knows. Boss was already called, and you’ll be getting rung up soon. I’m headed back.”
I disconnected and shoved the phone in my pocket. I approached the car and got in, keeping the lights off as I headed down the dirt mountain road. Only when I reached the shacks closer to the bottom did I turn them on and take off the night vision. My eyes squinted against the change in light.
The clock read almost three in the morning and although I wanted to call and check on Elle, I decided it was best to hold off. She’d probably be sleeping. God, what I wouldn’t give to curl up behind her and pull her body back against mine. With as fast as things were going, I might be doing that sooner than I’d thought. If they found anything. Maybe I was too late.
Forty minutes of countryside disappeared into bright lights from the city. The streets were nearly deserted as I broke into the outskirts and headed toward the house. The buzz from my phone vibrating had me glancing down and I grabbed it as I weaved up the road and pulled into the circular driveway. My headlights curved around the house to settle straight ahead into the yard.
“Sullivan,” I said, not bothering to look at the Caller ID.
“Where are you?” My boss’s voice broke over the speaker, louder than he usually spoke. I looked back to the house, going from one window to the next. It wasn’t like Crux to leave the lights off.
I placed my gun in my lap. “I just pulled into the driveway. Why?”
“Can’t get ahold of the sleeper. I’ve been trying now for a while. Something’s not right. Get out of there.”
Glass exploded all around me and I dropped the phone in my lap, throwing the car in drive. I turned to look back at the house despite the aching burn in my chest and shoulder. Air was almost hard to get in from the pure impact I’d taken from the rain of bullets that sprayed the car.
Headlights flashed in front of me as I hit the road to head down the mountain. My foot slammed on the accelerator, passing the old white truck just as more bullets pinged against the hood and side of the car. I grabbed the phone, wincing at the fire that flared in my shoulder.
“Boss, you have to find me an out, fast.”
“Already on it. Head to the freeway. Give me a few and I’ll give you a location.”
I looked at the rearview mirror, noticing the truck was in the process of turning around. I didn’t slow as I approached the curves, winding around them at deadly speeds. Tires squealed as I merged onto the main road.
“Shit. Hold on, Sullivan. Something’s up with the satellite.”
I didn’t answer as scenery blurred by and t
he city came more into view. I took the ramp and kept up my speed, my mind swimming with so many questions that I couldn’t think straight.
Fuck. I looked down at the wetness that was soaking my shirt. It wasn’t bad. I knew that. And the shot to my chest was absorbed by the bullet proof vest, but I was going to have a hell of a bruise.
“While we’re waiting, first things first. You need to ditch the car.” What sounded like a door slammed open and I could hear footsteps pounding against the floor.
“Already on it, boss.” I took the first exit I came across, blasting down the off-ramp. Small businesses lined the street. A garage with wrecked cars in front. A few rundown looking bars. I pulled over in a crowded parking lot, grabbing my bag and slipping it over my wounded shoulder. A few people were standing out by the open door and music poured through the dry air. The row of vehicles were in decent shape and would get me to where I needed to go, but which one to take? “Let me call you back.” I hung up without waiting for his reply. Fuck. My mind went to Crux. Did he get out? Was he dead?
A black older style coupe sat at the end, close to the far exit. I tried to stay low as I made my way over. It was further from view of the entrance and I reached into my bag, pulling out my tools. I had the door opened and was hotwiring it within seconds. The engine roared to life and I cringed at how loud it was.
I slid in and threw the car in reverse, only to push it into first gear and take off. My phone vibrated and I pulled it out. No Caller ID, they were calling blocked. My boss?
“Hello?” I answered, holding the phone between my good shoulder and ear as I put it in second gear and then third.
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