“It can’t be that easy.”
“Sure it can. Want to know why?”
Anke nodded.
“Because the members of CIRO are simple humans. They see complicated every time they’re on the job or get pulled into some catastrophe or another even though they’re on hiatus. They don’t want drama in their lives or beds. With them, I find it easy to say what you mean, and mean what you say. It’s especially important, to take what you want.”
Anke trembled. Pitbull had proven that last part the night before. The inside of her thighs were still tender from him riding her like a champion stallion. “Take—um—take what I want?”
“Yeah.” Miracle glanced over to Mouth before leaning in and facing her again. “Especially if what you want is Pitbull’s body. If he’s anything like Beast, he doesn’t like a weakling in his bed.”
Don’t I know it.
“No wilting flower.” Miracle continued. “You have to leave all of that outside the bedroom—hell, leave it outside the front door. Sure, we’re not going to be perfect. We all have days when we think our butts can be seen from space. But men like Beast and Pitbull will simply turn you to face the wall and spank the thought right out of your head.”
“Oh! My.”
Miracle smirked. “TMI?”
“No. This is good to know. Maybe I should be taking notes.”
Miracle laughed. “Nah.” She crinkled her nose. “Anything you need just call me. And um—you look like my size—if you wanna borrow a few…you know, pieces of sexy clothing. I got you covered.”
Anke laughed then. It was good they’d sent Miracle over. She figured it was so she wouldn’t be freaked out. She made a mental note to thank them later.
“Well,” Mouth said, stepping through the door and closing it behind him. “Pit and Zero just brought a few guys to the headquarters. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.”
“Should we head down there?” Anke said, already rising.
“Trust me, Anke.” Mouth flopped into the sofa beside Miracle. “You don’t want to be there for this.”
“What? Why not?”
“Another thing you will have to learn about this family.” Miracle sighed. “Sometimes, just take their word for it.”
Anke wasn’t sure she was okay with that. Something big could be happening and she wouldn’t have a clue. Then again, they’d done their jobs before she even came into the picture and didn’t require her in-put. Still, she couldn’t help feeling a certain way about it all.
11
Getting the information hadn’t been easy but Beast and Mouth managed to get two of their arrests to talk. Claudia still hadn’t said anything. When Tex did a search for Abigail Lesner, the result wasn’t what Pitbull had been hoping for. The girl’s sister had reported her missing. Claudia knew where she was and wasn’t talking so the charges against Claudia would now be upgraded.
Growling, Pitbull slammed his fist into the nearest wall. Though he didn’t break a bone, he knew he should be feeling something but all he felt was numb.
“Cool it,” Mouth advised. “You can’t lose it right now.”
“Don’t tell me how to feel. Do you know what’s it going to be like arresting my sister for kidnapping?”
“You don’t have to,” Beast said. “Barbie—please inform Ms. Hunt of her new charges then come back here. She might need to get a lawyer. As for you…” Beast turned and jabbed a finger against Pitbull’s chest. “Take a walk.”
“Beast, I—”
“Go. That’s an order, Pitbull!”
Pitbull frowned but shoved by Zero and Mouth. He stepped out into the early morning air thinking there were so many other things he could have been doing in that moment. He could be hanging off the side of the CN Tower—not a care in the world. Or, he could be burning alive between Anke’s legs, letting his heart race out of control. In other words, he could be in heaven but now he was sleep deprived, sitting outside with his hands throbbing like the devil.
Whatever crimes he’d committed in a previous life was coming back to haunt him and Pitbull just wanted to scream.
“Hey.”
He glanced up then straight forward once more.
“I know you’re upset,” Tex said. “But you can’t take it out on us. We’re tryin’ to help.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me what’s goin’ on in that head of yours.”
Pitbull went through the story of his parents and Claudia’s slip into madness. When he was finished, he was physically exhausted. Telling the story always left him out of breath as if each time he relayed it, a part of him died.
“Dang.”
“Yeah." Pitbull's voice cracked. "Leaving her was the only thing I had left. I couldn’t watch her kill herself and I didn’t want to fall into the same hole she was in.” Pitbull exhaled. “And even that didn’t help her. Because now she has this idea she’s saving someone and now she’s looking at serious time.”
“Pitbull, your sister is an adult. Anything to happen from here on in is on her. She’s made a choice and must now suffer the consequences.”
“It still doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Silence wrapped around them except for the periodical vehicles moving about the compound. From time to time someone would jog by and call to Pitbull and both men would wave.
“I have a gift for you,” Pitbull said.
“Aww, you bought me a present?” Tex teased. “You can’t deny you love me now. I have proof.”
“Ass.”
“But a very sexy one.” Tex laughed.
“Seriously for a second. I know we don’t tell you nearly enough how much you mean to us.” Pitbull swallowed. “I mean, I know I don’t. Even though you’re not a part of our team, you’re a part of it because no matter when or how many times we call, you’ve been there.”
“Aww-hell. Think nothin’ of it. You hobos are family.”
Pitbull laughed. “So, I can keep the gift then?”
“Let’s not act hasty now.” Tex bounced him with a shoulder. “Gimme my present or I’m holding your truck hostage.”
Pitbull groaned. “Fine. When you get a chance, pop by my place.”
“Deal. Now, you ready to end this nonsense?”
Pitbull rose and extended a hand to help Tex up. Once they were both standing, Pitbull nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Back in the room with the others, Pitbull remained silent as they plotted out what was to happen. The three men Pitbull and Zero brought in were to be taken before a judge. Claudia would be taken in a little later in the day as there were new charges that were to be filed against her. Barbie and Pitbull were to head back to Pitbull’s place to get Anke and relieve Zero while Beast and Mozart would head into Hennef to relieve the cop watching over Ruby.
Tex would stay at the headquarters and keep working from there.
With their orders, the team dispersed. Pitbull handed Barbie his keys and sat in the passenger side, staring out the window as she maneuvered the truck through the streets of Sankt Augustin.
“Barbie? Why are you turning?”
“Don’t look now but I think we’re being followed.”
“Say what?”
He glanced in the mirror and arched a brow.
“Black Benz. It’s been on our asses ever since we left HQ.”
Pitbull growled but kept his eyes on the car. “Make a left turn up ahead.”
It took a little more driving before Barbie did as he suggested. Sure enough the car behind them followed right along. After another five minutes, Pitbull took a breath. “Packing?”
“Always.”
“Okay. I don’t have time for this so pull over.”
Without signaling, Barbie drew to a slow stop. The car behind them screech to a halt almost crashing into the back of Pitbull’s truck. Barbie barely had the vehicle in park before Pitbull was out of the truck, gun raised and walking toward the vehicle. “Turn off the ignition!” He ordered.
Barbie drove around the car and pulled in behind it. The driver must not have seen or cared because he sped up in reverse, slamming into the front of Pitbull’s truck. When the driver realized he couldn’t get away, the car began peeling toward Pitbull. With a grunt, he fired toward the tires but the vehicle was so low to the ground, he missed both times. Instead, he lifted the gun and fired into the driver’s side.
The car careened to the left, crashed into the guardrail but stopped before falling over into the water below. Once Barbie was at his side. With their guns trained, they inched their way to the car. He took the driver’s side, Barbie handled the passenger side. When they got the door opens, the driver was slumped over the wheel and alone in the car. Pitbull reached in and felt for a pulse. There was a weak one.
“This is Lieutenant Sabine Henson, GSG 9 CIRO – we need an ambulance…”
Anke didn’t get any sleep the whole night. She kept getting up to use the bathroom or wander Pitbull’s beautiful home like a lost soul. Each time she did either of those, Mouth was standing by a window, or seated in the sofa, watching late night infomercials. After around midnight, there was the changing of the guards—Mouth and Miracle were replaced by Zero. She’d wanted Miracle to stay but the woman had to go babysit Barbie’s and Crash’s little ones.
A part of her had been disappointed it wasn’t Pitbull. She missed him—strangely enough. Then again, there were crazies out there taking shots at him and that tore her open every time she thought of him getting hurt. When this mess was cleared up, Anke knew she had to build up enough courage to ask him for a coffee.
She’d take Miracle’s advice. Even if Pitbull told her he wasn’t into anything serious—one date would make her happy.
To keep her mind on something else, she challenged Zero to a duel of chess. Anke had never been any good at the game and lost every round. She didn’t even know what most of the pieces were called and Anke couldn’t think moves ahead like she was supposed to. Neither of them spoke of the impending doom she felt pulsing through her soul. It was probably for the best.
When the sun began peeking through the blinds, Anke showered, changed into a pair of track pants and one of Pitbull’s oversized shirts. It fell down her body like a dress but she didn’t have a choice. Somehow, she’d packed more pants than tops, Pitbull had ripped the only other one she had to shreds and she couldn’t very well wander the house topless.
By the time Pitbull and Barbie walked through the door, Anke and bitten off all her fingernails. The moment she saw him, not caring if anyone guessed what they had done, she dove into his chest and wrapped her arms shamelessly around him. To her pleasure, Pitbull returned her embrace, pressing his face into her neck and moaning.
When she did manage to pull back and look up into his eyes, she saw the ghosts of so many demons swimming in his gaze. “What happened?”
“I shot someone.” Pitbull confessed.
“What?” Zero asked. “What happened?”
“A long story,” Barbie said. “In the mean time we need to get you back to base. We have to start closing ranks. These guys are going after CIRO to get to Anke and we’re not about to let them win.”
“Has Claudia changed her mind?” Anke asked.
“No.” Pitbull said, heading in the way of the bedrooms.
Anke ran after him. Once they were alone, Pitbull held her against the closed bedroom door and kissed her. He drank from her lips as greedily as he’d done while they made love but this kiss felt different. This time it was as though he was trying not to lose his mind and she was the only one who could help him. She allowed him to hold her, to kiss her to his heart’s content, then to press his face into her neck. She never imagined her body would sooth anyone, especially a man like Pitbull, but when he lifted his head again, he seemed like the man she’d met that first day.
“Claudia is now being charged with kidnapping.” Pitbull explained, while he pushed some stuff in a duffle bag.
“What? Why?”
“The woman she’s hiding has been reported missing.”
Anke sighed. “Maybe you should try talking to her again.”
“We both know she’s not going to listen to me.”
“What’s the punishment for kidnapping?”
“Anywhere from four years to life—depending.”
“Well, now she’s facing more jail time, maybe she will want to talk. I could try with her again.”
Pitbull nodded. He walked over and brushed his lips against hers. “I really wish we’d met under different circumstances.”
“Oh?”
“Because right now even as the world burns, all I want to do is throw you on this bed.” Pitbull kissed the side of her neck. “I’d love to take you out on a real date. You deserve that.”
“Maybe after this is over you can ask me out—official like, I mean.”
Pitbull’s smile didn’t reach his beautiful eyes. “Maybe.
Barbie shouted from the living room and though Anke wanted to ask for a few more minutes but she tapped a hand to Pitbull’s chest and opened the door. She stopped in the bedroom she’d been using to grab a shawl, her cell and wallet, then met the others in the living room. They hustled her out the door and after Zero and Barbie checked the immediate area, she was escorted into Pitbull’s.
“Your truck was in an accident?” Anke asked.
“Very long story.” Pitbull sighed.
Zero flanked her on one side, Pitbull on the other in the backseat while Barbie handled the beast of a truck as if she was meant to do it.
“Tell me the truth,” Anke said. “This isn’t about the missing girl anymore, is it?”
“No,” Pitbull said, his voice cracking.
“They want Claudia,” Zero offered. “And now they know we have her, they are willing to do anything to send us a message.”
“What message?” Anke asked.
Pitbull cleared his throat. “Hand her over or die.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.” Anke groaned.
12
Anke watched the way Pitbull was as he walked her into the holding room. The stiffness in his body was hard to ignore. Was it weird that all she wanted to do was take away his pain?
She sighed.
He didn’t say hello to Claudia. He merely turned to cradle Anke’s face. “When you’re ready to leave, just tap on the wall.”
She nodded and with a final, intense look, Pitbull left the room. Anke inhaled before turning to look at her friend. Claudia was handcuffed to the table and it broke Anke’s heart. “Congratulations,” Anke said. “You’ve managed to ruin your life, my life and will most certainly get CIRO killed.”
“I’m not in the mood for sarcasm right now.”
“Well, it’s all you’re getting.” Anke folded her arms across her chest. “Do you know what your new charges mean? It means you’re facing serious jail time.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Claudia, kidnapping is not a misdemeanor. It’s a federal offence. You’re looking at anywhere from four years to life. Do you understand?”
Claudia turned her head away.
“One last time, Claudia.” Anke pulled out the empty chair and sat. She leaned forward and slapped Claudia against the shoulder. “One last, fucking time. If you don’t start talking now—your life is over. Do you think Daniel wants you to be here? Do you think I want to be in some locked room talking to my best friend who’s chained to the table? You’ve lost your brother. You’re okay with that?”
“I lost him a long time ago.”
“We both know that’s a bullshit thing to say.” Anke snapped. “If you’d lost him long ago, when I went calling for his help, he wouldn’t have cut his vacation short to come save your dumb-ass.”
<
br /> Claudia said nothing.
“You know what?” Anke rose and shoved the chair hard across the room. “Sit there. Rot in prison. Daniel was right—you’re dumb as shit and there’s nothing we can do about it.” Anke leaned in. “Although he doesn’t know it yet, Daniel Hunt is mine. And if because you refuse to talk, I lose him, I’ll be coming for you. Trust me, my wrath is worse than anything you’ll ever come across in the prison system. Do you understand?”
Claudia met her eyes.
Anke slammed her fists into the table making her friend jump. “Do you—understand?” She growled.
“I get it.”
Standing back, Anke banked a fist into the wall. It took mere seconds for a large bolt to be thrown and the door opened. Without taking a second look at Claudia, she stepped by Zero and through the path. When she arrived in a small room at the end of the corridor, everyone was silent. Instead of staying, she stormed back into the front and paced the floor, trying to get her heart to calm down.
“You okay?
Anke looked up to see Zero had followed her out. She shook her head. “She knows where this girl is. She could end this right now. But she’s being stubborn.”
“It happens.”
“Why aren’t you pissed off by this?” Anke demanded. “Why are you so calm?”
“Showing anger isn’t a luxury we have.” Zero leaned his back to the wall and leveled his brown stare on her. “If we lose our minds someone gets hurt. We’ll get there.”
“But they went after Pitbull. Do you understand?” Anke couldn’t control herself anymore. “Even if she doesn’t give a damn what happens to her, why doesn’t she care what happens to her baby brother? Why does she not care what happens to me?”
“She knows we wouldn’t let anything go wrong with you two. I mean, she barely knows any of us personally, but she must know Pit is our brother and we will protect him with our lives if need be.”
Anke frowned. “And you don’t get it.”
“I get it.” Zero stepped away from his post and approached her. She realized then how handsome he really was. His brown eyes seemed troubled but he could turn any woman’s head. “You’re attracted to Pitbull and you are angry as hell that she won’t tell us what we need so we can protect him. But CIRO is here. None of us will ever walk a path alone. We will find away.”
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