by Cara Carnes
Jesse smiled. “You’re doing great, Bree. You know we’re here for you, whatever you need.”
“I know. Thanks.” She cleared her throat. “So, I’ll check inventory, but I sent a list of what I thought we’d need for the missions to Mary.”
“And it’s perfect. I think the new EMF drones will prove quite useful.” Her expression turned grim. “We’ll have Medina’s team on standby for you to turn the woman over to. She’ll be put into the underground network for now.”
“Do we know more about her?” Doug asked.
“Yes and no. The initial facial recognition has her as a maid in Bob’s house,” Vi said. “If that’s true, she must’ve seen something she shouldn’t have. We’ll have to question her.”
“You don’t think it’s true, though,” Marshall commented.
“Background only goes back two years,” Zoey said. “She’s definitely working with a false identity, a good one, but definitely fake.”
“Which means she could be an operative,” Jesse added. “HERA’s still digging, but we aren’t coming up with more yet. Either way, we’re getting her out.”
“Do we know how long she’s been there?” Bree asked. In that cage. Trapped. Her skin crawled at the thought.
“No, but if his kids disappeared seven months ago, there’s no telling,” Jesse replied. “We’re hoping the two teenagers are at their base of operations or one of the other target sites.”
“But that’s not a safe assumption. HERA will ferret out electrical bills they’ve paid over the past year. If there’s another location we haven’t already identified, we should know in a few hours, before we’re wheels up. That’s where Addy’s team will move into position. We’re pulling Lexi for them once everyone else is in position. Those kids could be anywhere, and she needs to get Addy and her team there ASAP.”
Everyone nodded.
“Just to let you know, Nolan, we ran an off-book mission for the Scythe MC a few nights ago. That’s the group who’s tied up with helping Counterstrike,” Mary said. “Their crew is mostly former military, most of them dishonorably discharged. I’ve dug into them. Most of the reasons are lies.”
“Okay, how can we help?”
“I’m mentioning this because your new operative, Bishop, has a couple of former team members in the Scythes. One was done wrong in a way we couldn’t ignore,” Mary said. “We took action and took out the former commanders who tried to kill him and slaughtered most of his team, except for Bishop and one other teammate, Anarchy.”
“Fuck.” Nolan ran his hand through his hair. “He hadn’t said anything, only that some bad shit went down and most of his team died.”
“He wasn’t wrong,” Vi replied. “Just light on the details. He may not have known how deep it went, but Knight knew. He’s a ghost. They have several elite ghosts within the Scythes. We’ll be attaching The Arsenal to them and helping them clear their names.”
“Good,” Dylan said.
“No one does that better than you,” Gage said. “If we can help, let us know.”
“Are we considering offering them a place?” Bree asked. Why had Mary mentioned it?
“We won’t poach from the Scythes. It’s a brotherhood, a sanctuary they’ve created that’s to be admired and protected,” Mary replied. “With that said, they have offered to help us with anything we may need them for. I’m thinking they might be part of our answer for Facility Six.”
“Because they’re not officially Arsenal, nor are there any recent records of them anywhere,” Vi said. “They’re completely off radar.”
“Is that safe for them?” Bree asked. “Facility Six is…” She swallowed. “It’s a horrible place. I can’t describe it.”
“You don’t have to. Mia gave us a rundown,” Jesse said. “Vi and Zoey are hacking into their system so we’ll have a better idea who all is in there.”
“Most probably shouldn’t see the light of day,” Dallas commented.
“Or they’re being hidden and should,” Mary said. “We all know when high level operatives get into trouble they’re often disavowed. Some of those prisoners could need our help.”
“Which would change the scope of our mission,” Marshall said. “Initial entry wouldn’t be a simple extraction of one person.”
“It wouldn’t,” Vi said. “But it’s what we do. We help those who need our help, regardless of the threat.”
“Gather the intel,” Marshall said. “We’ll go from there. Leave no man behind. That’s in our blood.”
Bree’s mind raced. How could a team or teams enter a facility, minimizing casualties, and extract one certain people? How could she help mitigate a bloody battle?
“Rhea. Question.”
“Fire away.”
“Your sleep compound. Is there a way to reverse it? Like, if we hit the entire facility with it, could we wake only those we want to for extraction?” Bree asked.
Rhea blinked. Her eyes widened. “You know, I think I can. I’ll have to experiment some, but that might work.”
Addy chuckled. “Brains at work. They barely even need us.”
“We will always need you,” Bree replied. “We provide the ammunition, but you are the weapons.”
“See what you can come up with,” Jesse said. “That’s a damned smart plan if we can make it work.”
Bree tightened when her gaze landed on Gavin as he entered a cottage. Her cottage. “What the hell?”
Everyone’s gaze swept to the big screen. Ram growled as he stood.
“Don’t,” Mary ordered. “We need to know what other agendas he has.”
Pierce thumped Ram on the back as Doug shoved him back into his seat.
“Take your woman and her family into town. Relax and have fun. We’ll figure out what he’s up to and then you can deal with him,” Doug said.
His woman? Bree’s pulse thumped hard. “I’m not his woman.”
Gage’s laughter rumbled through the room. A few others grinned. His gaze caught hers. “It’ll be fun when he proves how wrong you are.”
9
“I found another one!” Luke darted across the parking lot of Bubba’s and grabbed the bright blue balloon tied to the shrub.
Ram couldn’t help but grin. So far, they’d found six big balloons with Luke’s name written on them spread throughout Resino and the surrounding area. He wasn’t sure who’d initiated this little treasure hunt, but it’d made the boy’s day.
Luke carefully removed the note and the small box from the balloon’s string and handed both over to Bree, who placed them in her backpack, where the others were tucked away.
“I didn’t realize you carried a backpack,” Ram commented.
“I started doing it after we met Kamren. She inspired me. You never know when you might need something.” Bree glanced up at him. “Are you okay?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing.” He put an arm around her waist. “Anything from Zoey or the others?”
She shook her head. “We’ll worry about that later. We’re having fun right now.”
And they were. The scents wafting from Bubba’s made Ram’s stomach rumble. He chuckled. “Let’s go get our grub on. I’m starving.”
“Me, too,” Grams said. “That’ll give us time to open those packages and help Luke solve this mystery.”
They entered the popular eatery. As always, it was filled with patrons. Despite the addition Bubba had made to the side of the building, there was rarely open seating available. Ram suspected the man couldn’t add on enough to keep up with the demand for his barbecue, especially since he now offered Ellie’s desserts.
“Oh, my,” Grams said. Her gaze swept the filled area. “I didn’t realize it would be this busy. There’s not even an open table.”
There was, though. There always was. The table to the far back nearest the back hallway wasn’t ever used by anyone other than a Mason. Ram’s gaze landed on the table.
Riley waved from her spot at the otherwise empty table. “It lo
oks like we have a reservation.” Grams didn’t need to know about the table’s infamous reserved status. Bubba wouldn’t allow anyone to sit at it because he said the Masons deserved a sitting spot whenever they came in. Ram suspected there was more to it than that, but it wasn’t his story to know.
“Oh, good. You can finally meet my baby. She’s been so busy with her investigative business these days,” Momma Mason said.
The two women made their way toward the table. Luke and Hillary followed. Bree and Ram hung back with her brother.
Lars paused, but glanced their direction. “I’m thinking there’s something going on I don’t know about. Bree keeps looking at her phone, and you’re hovering.”
“It’s nothing,” Bree whispered.
“Sis.”
“Bro.”
Ram sighed. While he understood Bree’s desire to keep her family protected from some of the harsher realities of her job, they deserved a few answers. “Sorry, Bree, but he should know. There’s a guy hanging around the compound, former British Intelligence. He and your sister have history, not a good one. He’s helping us with a mission we’re working on, but he’s doing a few shady things.”
“Breaking into my cottage isn’t shady. It’s creepy.”
“What the hell?” Lars glowered at his sister. “What are we doing running around town? Who’s handling the asshole?”
“We’re giving him the rope to hang himself,” Ram said. “Bree’s friends are handling him. He’s under constant surveillance. We’ll know what’s happening when they know more. Until then, we eat barbecue and figure out today’s mystery.”
“Who do we have to thank for that?” Lars grinned. “Gotta admit, I haven’t seen my boy this excited in a long time.”
“I’m betting we’re about to find out.” Ram motioned toward the table. “Let’s get seated. I’d offer to order the grub, but Bubba always brings it straight to us when we come in.”
“That’s because, as far as he’s concerned, we’re family since we’re at the Mason ranch,” Bree said. “He and Momma Mason kind of have a thing going, but they haven’t admitted it yet.”
“Sounds familiar.” Lars winked at Ram. “While you were off doing whatever you two do, at least twenty guys approached and told me you were one of the best men at the compound. Then they shared reasons why. Gotta admit it makes me feel better knowing someone as solid as you is friends with my sister.”
“She’s surrounded by far better than me.”
“No. I’m not. You’re just as good as them.” Wait. What was she even arguing? “And stop with the hints that’s there’s something more. We’re just friends.”
“We’re gonna be more than that,” Ram whispered in her ear. “I’m okay with going slow, sweetheart, but you know we both want more.”
She nodded. While she wasn’t about to admit that aloud in the middle of Bubba’s, she couldn’t deny the attraction, the desire to be more than Ram’s friend. Tonight. Tonight would be the perfect backdrop for a heart-to-heart about what they both wanted.
She followed her brother to the table, a well-worn surface with bench seating along both sides. Patrons nodded at them as they sat. They may not know who they were, but they’d gained instant respect because they were allowed to sit at the coveted Mason table.
Bubba arrived at the table with a kid chair for Hillary. He introduced himself to Grams, then Lars. His gaze swept to Ram. “You come in with the other two. Never seen you without them. I’ll have to do plates to go ’cause I bet they’ll have words if they find out you came without them.”
He chuckled. “I appreciate it.”
“Anytime. I’ve gotta keep the Triple Threat fed. You boys have done a lot of good out there.”
“He knows who you are.” Luke breathed the words as he leaned toward Ram. “How does he know?”
Ram leaned closer to the boy. “Because he’s one of us. Family.”
“Wow.” Luke looked up at Bubba with wide eyes. “I’m a superhero-in-training. I’ll be like them all one day.”
“If you’re like them, you’ll pave your own way,” Bubba said. He ran his hand on the boy’s head. “Those men and women are who they are because they’re brave enough to do what’s right. They don’t shy away from who they are.”
Luke’s face scrunched. “So, I have to find my own superpower.”
“That’s right,” Bree said. “And you will. It’ll come to you one day.”
“When did yours come, Aunt Bree?”
Good question. Ram sat beside her. She dipped a straw into the large tea Bubba deposited in front of her. “I wasn’t much older than you. Your dad and I still lived with Grams back then, so did your grandparents. There was a terrible storm.”
“That’s an understatement,” Lars said. “The winds almost took the cabin out.”
Bree nodded. She wiped her hands on her jeans—jeans that molded against her gorgeous body perfectly. Ram loved her curves.
“What happened?” Luke asked.
“We lost power,” Grams said. “For weeks. All of our food went bad. It was cold, too. So cold.”
Fuck. Ram ran a hand down Bree’s back. “That’s when you decided to make sure no one was without power.”
Bree nodded. “That’s where it started. Sitting in the darkness, holding Lars’ hand. I vowed to never cry in the dark again. There’d always be light on the mountain. We’d always have a cold place to put our food.”
“Baby,” Grams whispered. She reached across the table and touched Bree’s cheek. “Is that really why? You never told me.”
Bree nodded. “Too many people live that life daily because there isn’t a way to get them power.”
“And now?” Lars asked.
“Now I donate generators powered with modified versions of my design to organizations that combat the problem around the world,” Bree said. She glanced up at Ram. “I don’t talk about it with anyone. Rhea knows, though. So do Mary and Vi. It’s not anything like we use with HERA.”
“You don’t need to justify anything with me, Bree. Never. You’re giving the world a gift, one most people would try and make money off of. But you don’t, I bet.”
She shook her head. “Not a cent. That’s part of the agreement. None of the organizations can charge for their work if they want my generators. A large one can power a small village. I should have a much larger one operational in a few months, once I have time to work on it some. Things have been a bit busy.”
He’d realized how brilliant she was, but the generosity astounded him. Corporations had made billions off what she was chatting about like she’d donated a case of water. She was powering remote villages and regions around the world.
If word got out she could do that…
But it had gotten out. That was the underlying threat to her because of Carlisle Industries. Her work had hit the radar, bigger than it had before. Mary and Vi had been powerless to stop it this time. Too many had been aware of Carlisle’s work.
Fuck. Bree wouldn’t ever be truly safe because this was only one of her many accomplishments. Ram doubted anyone other than her knew them all.
“That’s amazing, sweetheart,” he mumbled against her ear.
“Wow,” Riley said. “That is amazing. Now I feel like crap because I was going to try and finagle some of your time to help me with something.”
“I’m all yours. Hit me,” Bree said.
“You shouldn’t hit her,” Luke said, his eyes wide. “Dad gets mad when someone gets hit. He got really mad at Mom when she hit Grams.”
What the fuck? Ram glanced over at Lars.
“That’s a saying, Luke. She won’t hit your aunt.” He kissed the boy’s head as he glanced over at Bree.
“Why didn’t I know about that?” Bree asked, her gaze cutting over to Grams.
“We’ll talk about it later, dear.” Grams patted her hand.
Bubba appeared at the table with large plates of food. He gave the first to Momma Mason with a wink. “I’ve got
fresh cobbler ready for your dessert.”
“You do spoil me.” The woman smiled.
Riley smirked as she watched. “Just for her, huh?”
“Oh, hush.” Bubba huffed a moment, then mumbled something about brats.
Ram couldn’t help but chuckle. Everyone dove into their food. He’d never had a bad meal here. The meat was always tender, and the sides were delicious. Home cooked heart on a massive plate.
“So what are you working on, Riley?” Bree asked.
The woman’s gaze cut to Luke and Hillary. “It’s not for little ears, but I need to get eyes into a house. Someone’s up to something bad, but I don’t have any proof. My gut’s screaming, so I’m listening. Jud and Kristof don’t see it, but they said to run with it.”
If Riley’s gut was anything like her brothers’, it was solid, which meant there was a problem. “How can we help?”
“You want some micro drones,” Bree said.
“I do. The house is small.” Riley’s voice lowered, barely audible within the crowded room. “The other building is a bit bigger.”
“How much bigger?” Ram asked.
“Church big.” Riley looked down at her plate. “Forget I said that.”
“Not happening,” Bree said. “Are you sharing with your brothers?”
“No. He’s no threat to me. I’m about twenty years too old.”
Damn. Ram tightened. He’d have a word with Doug and Pierce and see what they could do to help Riley out. Better yet, he’d have a chat with Jud.
“I need to check inventory. We’ve used quite a few and might need more for a mission we’re doing,” Bree said. “But I’ll get some for you by the morning. Will that work?”
“It can wait,” Riley said. Her expression turned grim. “I knew it was a longshot.”
Ram leaned closer to Bree. Their night out would have to wait. She looked over at him and chewed on her lower lip. “It can’t wait, can it?” Her voice was low, a hot breath against his throat.
“No,” he whispered back. “What’s it gonna take to get more made?”
“I should have all the supplies. I just need some time to get it done.”