“Hello, boys.” I say, catching the attention of Logan and Jackson. They turn quickly to face me. Jackson starts towards me but is distracted when Julia comes up behind Logan and knocks him out with butt of her gun. I see the pain it causes her, but we don’t want to take any chances. We need it to look like he was unwilling for the next step in our plan.
Jackson comes towards Julia, but she pulls out her gun, pointing it at him. When Jackson turns back to me, with a head shake, Julia struggles to put Logan on an ambulance stretcher that we had hidden earlier. She finally tugs him on enough to wheel him away to our getaway car which happens to be an ambulance we kind of borrowed.
“What the hell are you doing?” He asks watching Julia leave.
“Um, nothing.” I answer with a nonchalant shrug.
He throws his hands up in frustration, “I told you to lay low!” He bellows at me.
“I’m not going to just sit on my ass while my uncle destroys everything in my life, everything my father built! For god sakes, he is corrupting the United States government!”
“Enough, Carter!” He yells at me, “I have been watching him. He hasn’t done anything to prove he did anything unjustified.”
His voice softens, “I don’t want to believe that your father was a traitor, but everything points to him. Your uncle has the proof. The government and the organization would never have killed him if they were not completely sure. There is so much evidence, Carter.” He says with a defeated sigh.
“You are such a stubborn ass. I understand your loyalty, I really do, but you need to open your eyes. Look, closer!” I scream.
“I can’t do this anymore! I love you, more than I should, but I just…I just can’t.” Jackson says looking sad. The rage consumes me. How dare he say he loves me.
“Love, Jackson, love is having faith and trust in someone. Believing in them!”
“Is that what Charlie does for you?” He says coldly. “Are you sleeping with him?”
“You son of a bitch!” I don’t know why, but I guess it was the heat of the moment. I guess I wanted him to feel the kind of pain I felt. I slide my hand into the pocket of my hoodie. I grip the knife and release it. Jackson dodges it.
“What the hell!”
“That is for leaving my bed for hers.” He glares at me. He stalks towards me. I start backing up.
He makes a grab for me, but I kick him in the balls. He bends low, groaning.
“That is for telling me you love me.” He stands up, again, but then his eyes widen slightly, and he moves toward me, but I had heard the footsteps. I slide my katana out, turning swiftly, and meet Mustang’s in a loud clash.
“Oh, bitch it is on.” Mustang states snidely.
“How’s the head? Did you have a nice nap?” I say with a smirk. He pulls away only to swing the sword back down. I block him and decide to show him how it’s done. I flip backwards out of Mustang’s reach. I turn back to him just as he swipes for my legs. I leap over his sword and bring mine slashing across. I cut a chunk out of his side. He keeps coming at me even when clutching his side. The blood is running down to the ground. Jackson moves forward, but Mustang stops him.
“No, let me,” pushing Jackson back with one hand and continues towards me.
“You stupid, spoiled bitch. I’m going to enjoy killing you.” I slice at his arm, but he blocks me.
“Me, a bitch, I think you’re the little bitch. My uncle’s little bitch. I know you are working for him on the side. You sleep with him too?” I say just to rile him up. The rage that follows is breathtaking. I have never seen so much hate.
We engage in a deadly dance. I’m lunging and blocking him, trying to get close. When suddenly, someone grabs me from behind. Jackson throws my sword to the side. It clatters to the ground. Mustang keeps coming. The tip of the sword is coming closer to my chest.
“Stop, Mustang.” Jackson commands, pushing me behind him, but holding a death grip on my arm. Mustang stops, but he is holding on by a thread. He is going to snap. The sweat is pouring off him and his teeth bared back.
“What’s this? Are you protecting the little princess?”
“No, but we need to think this through.”
“Why? Let’s just kill the bitch and go home.” He says with a sneer.
“No, we will take her to her uncle.” Jackson puts up a hand to Mustang’s protest. Jackson jerks on my arm and starts pulling me towards the entry of the alley.
“I know he gave a kill order, but I think we should take her to him. He was probably just frustrated. I doubt he wants her dead. I mean, come on, she is his niece. I’m taking her in alive.” Jackson explains. I can’t believe this!
“He wants her dead. I know that for a fact and I’m going to do it.” Mustang says, pulling a gun from inside his jacket. I’m still pinned against Jackson, but suddenly Jackson flips me around and takes the bullet. I’m in shock. Oh my god, oh my god, Jackson!! Jackson falls to his knee. I fall to my knees next to him. My hands are searching for the wound. Mustang starts to laugh like a crazy person.
“I told you she would be the death of you! I can’t wait to tell Kilson about his best agent and his hated niece. Classic! Too bad, you won’t be there.” He lifts his gun at me again, I close my eyes. I feel Jackson sit up and I hear the gun shot. A few seconds’ pass by. I open my eyes to see Jackson pointing his gun to where Mustang had been standing. I look down and see Mustang on the ground. He has a bullet hole in his forehead. My eyes slowly meet Jackson’s. I see the numbness and despair. Mustang was his friend. Jackson killed him to save me. I see the blood seeping from his arm. I reach up and touch his arm. I see that Mustang’s bullet just grazed him. Lucky bastard. Jackson jerks away from my touch.
“Don’t.” He says, with no emotion. I try to reach for him again, but he pushes me away.
“I said, don’t!” He yells at me. He looks away from me. I suddenly feel the distance between us. It is a lonely feeling. I stand up and hug my arms to my chest.
“Sparks, you need to get out of there. Tex is wondering what is taking so long.” Charlie’s voice comes over my ear piece.
“For what it’s worth. He betrayed you. He was working for my uncle on the side.” I say in a quiet voice to Jackson, ignoring Charlie. Silence greets me. Jackson just stares down at the ground. He looks like a fallen dark angel. The gun drops to the ground in front of him.
“Sparks, you have two minutes.” Charlie’s voice warns.
“Go.” Jackson’s voice is pure steel.
“Jackson...”
“Just go!” He yells at me, looking at me. There is so much anger towards me. I just look at him sadly.
“I’m so sorry.” I mumble. He gets up and kneels next to Mustang. He doesn’t look at me as I pick up his gun. I put my fingerprints all over his gun.
“Tell him we fought, and I took the gun from you. I shot Mustang.” He starts to shake his head.
“He will kill you if he knows you let me escape.” I try to explain. I drop the gun back down.
“Enough, Carter. Look at what you made me do. I killed my best friend!” The anguish is overwhelming. I start to reach for him but pause when I hear, “and for what?”
I finally rest my hand on his shoulder, but he jerks away from me.
“No, don’t touch me. Don’t every touch me again. We are through. You are on your own from now on. Next time, I swear I will kill you myself if you ever put me in that position again. Just go, get out of my sight!” His voice is venom. I gasp in shock.
“Get going, Carter!” Charlie yells in my ear, breaking me out of my stunned state. I scramble to grab my knife and katana off the ground. I start to run down the alley but stop. I turn back.
“Jackson, I’m sorry, I didn’t…” I trail off. He doesn’t react. He just presses the button on his earpiece.
“I need assistance. The target has escaped.” Jackson reports. I look at him one last time, he is still kneeling over Mustang and I swear I see a tear drop from his eye.
Chapter Twenty
Charlie watched the whole thing from the cameras we had strategically placed.
I didn’t have to tell him. When we arrive back at the safe house, Charlie pulls me in his arms. I take comfort from his warm hug.
“He was just acting out. I’m sure he didn’t mean it.” He says trying to reassure me. I pull away from him, wiping the tears away.
“I’m pretty sure he means it.” I say sadly. I quickly excuse myself from the room, so I don’t break down in front of everyone. I need a few minutes before I can talk to Logan. Julia and Logan are in the front room, their heads together. I can hear snippets of their conversation and Julia is informing him what happened to her. I nod my head towards Logan.
“I think we are good but watch him just in case.” I tell Charlie. He nods and gently pushes me towards the back staircase.
“We will be waiting when you are ready.” He says with a sad smile.
When I reach the bedroom, I take a quick shower and then I find myself staring out the window, lost in my thoughts. I can’t get Jackson’s face out of my head. I compare it to just a few nights ago when I was lying in his arms. How quickly things change. I need to let go of him. I feel like I will never convince him. I have bigger battles to fight. The only good thing is that he has never given up my location to my uncle. He knows where I am, and he knows that Charlie is working with me. So why hasn’t he turned me in and Charlie for that matter? I guess he is used to protecting me or maybe he is afraid to believe me?
I just know I have to get off this rollercoaster ride. He is slowly destroying me piece by piece. Soon, there will be nothing left. I stand there for a few more moments when I finally understand that we are done, that we have to be done, for my sanity. I say a silent goodbye to him and ignore the pain in my chest.
I turn and walk out of my bedroom, determined to take my uncle down once and for all. I meet Julia on the staircase. Her eyes are filled with worry.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, dreading the answer. I mean what else could go wrong in my life?
“Charlie thinks you need to hear this.” I follow her back down and into the office. Logan meets my eyes and without a word, gets up and pulls me in his arms.
“I was so worried about you when you disappeared.” Logan says, squeezing me hard. I feel so much relief. I truly believe Logan is on our side.
“I’m sorry, I had to. Did Julia tell you everything?” I ask. He gives me a sad nod.
“Yes, and may I add, you did not have to knock me out to come with you!”
“I’m sorry, but I wasn’t sure. How is your head?” I ask. He gives me a smirk.
“It’s fine and I understand, since Jackson….” He trails off and I look down. He lifts my chin up with his finger. “Hey, I just want you to know I never believed that your father was a traitor. I have faith in you. After what happened with Julia, how can I not? I’m on your side. So, with that said what do you need me to do?”
Wow, it is nice to have someone with complete trust in me. I look around the room and realize I’m not alone. Just because the one person I have loved for most of my life doesn’t believe me, doesn’t mean I’m alone. I look at Charlie, Julia, and Logan. They are my family now.
“Okay, as much as I enjoy this little pow wow, we have some serious shit to deal with. Carter, come over here.” I think it is the first-time Charlie has ever called me by my name. I decide I like it. I stand beside him as he hits a button on the keyboard.
“I need you to track down my niece. She took out one of my top agents. I have to assume that she was aware of her father’s activities.” My uncle’s voice comes out through the speakers. Charlie pushes the pause button and looks at me intently.
“He called me earlier. I recorded the whole conversation.” I nod in understanding and let him know I’m ready. He takes a breath and pushes play.
“Understood.”
“I hate to do this, but I’m afraid that she is a traitor as well. I have proof that she assisted her father on his missions. I wanted to bring her in alive and question her. After all, she is my niece and only living relative.”
“Sir, it was my understanding on the mission today, that there was a kill order. Do I need to retract it?”
There is a long pause.
“Sir?”
“I want her alive, but if the situation calls for it, let the kill order stand.”
“Understood.”
“Charlie, I have a feeling that she is working with others. My agents informed me that Flint was taken, and Flames is working for her as well. She is trying to get her team back. I’m going to set up a mission where Torch is bait. See if we can catch her. I’m putting Cowboy as the head of that mission. Any information you find, report to him. This shouldn’t be hard for you. The girl is only nineteen years old. She isn’t as smart as she thinks she is.” The frustration is evident in his voice.
“I understand, sir. I will track her down.”
“You better or this may be your last assignment.”
“It will be no problem, sir.”
“Good, Cowboy will let you know when the mission is activated. Also, I believe we have a mole. Somehow the crooked FBI agent caught wind that we were coming. I need to know who warned him and eliminate the agent. I have a feeling someone in the organization is giving classified information to my dear sweet niece. Find them.” My uncle hangs up.
Everyone in the room looks at me for my reaction. When I don’t react, Julia comes up and puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Are you okay?” She asks.
“Yep, just peachy.” I say sarcastically. “I mean my uncle could care less if I’m alive or dead which is fine because I want him dead. Also, Jackson is now in charge of tracking me down and bringing me in.” I start to pace, thinking.
“I just don’t understand. Jackson knows where I am, and he knows you are working with me.” I say to Charlie. He just gives me a shrug.
“You think we should move?” He asks. I start rubbing the bridge of my nose.
“Have you talked to him since the mission?” I ask and Charlie shakes his head no.
“I need you to get a hold of him. We need to know what his next move is. Say something about Kilson and the new mission. Test the waters.” He nods and pushes a button, calling Jackson.
“Hello?” A girly voice answers. It is the voice that reminds me of fingernails on a chalkboard.
“Yeah, I need to speak to Jackson.” Charlie responds.
“I’m sorry; he is not here.” I hear a noise that sounds like bedcovers moving. I clench my teeth.
“Baby, just hang up and come back to bed.” I hear a man’s voice in the background say. My stomach churns.
“Can I ask who is calling?” Brooklyn asks sweetly.
“It’s his boss. I really need to speak to him.”
“Oh, well, like I said, he is not here. Hey, don’t!” Click. The line goes dead. The room is silent until Julia breaks it.
“Was it just me or did that guy sound just like Tex?” She asks.
“I thought so too.” Logan agrees. Maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me. I could have sworn it was Jackson’s, but I guess I’m just looking for more excuses to hate him. I start to laugh.
“Tex and Brooklyn. Classic.” I say, still laughing. I see the worried looks pointed in my direction.
“What? I just think that Brooklyn and Jackson are the perfect couple and deserve each other. They are going to have a lovely marriage. Full of trust and all that fairy tale shit.” Now, they are worried. I probably sound like a mental case.
“Well, that was definitely interesting, but I still need to get a hold of Cowboy.” Just then there is a ringing. Charlie sees the number and tells us to be quiet.
“Yeah?” He answers. He points to the number and I see that it is a direct line from the organization. He is at the facility. He wasn’t with Brooklyn.
“The mission is to take place two nights from now at my engagement party. Kilson believe
s that Sparks will make an appearance. It is a public affair and has been in the papers. I will send you the mission details.” Jackson informs Charlie in his professional tone.
“Sounds good. By the way, I called your phone. I believe Tex will know where it is.” There is silence on the line.
“I left it at my apartment, how would Tex know where it is.”
“For me to know and you to find out. Just so you know, you deserve it.” With that Charlie hangs up on him.
“Dude, that was awesome!” Julia says, giving Charlie a high five. I hide my smile. Charlie just shrugs it off and I notice that he meets my eyes, searching for something. Approval maybe? Just as quickly, though, he looks away.
“Okay, well there is more to it.” Charlie tells me, staring back at the screen.
“So, there is a reason I should go to the party.”
“Well, it would be the perfect opportunity for you to make your uncle look bad. All the people that have hired him in the past or will hire him are going to be there. You can bad mouth him but be sly about it.”
“How am I going to do that? When I show up, I’m sure he will act like the loving uncle, so glad to see his missing niece alive.”
“But what if you get to the press first? What if you claim he knew where you were the whole time?”
“Oh my god, Charlie, you are a genius! People will be pissed that he lied.”
“I’m not done. I have a lead on a new mission. It involves some sort of illegal shipment back to Italy. Brooklyn’s dad oversees it. He hired Kilson to send a team to make sure the transfer goes smoothly. At first, I thought we were going to stop it, but then my orders were changed to just watching the action and to warn them if the authorities are on the way.”
“So, we need to stop it. I’ll go on sight and…”
“Hold that thought. What if we don’t stop it?”
“What? We can’t let them get away with a crime.”
“Now, listen, I know it sucks, but do you want to get revenge on your uncle or what? It’s not ideal, but it is a perfect opportunity to destroy your uncle’s connections. Brooklyn’s dad is a top guy in the mafia. If we discredit your uncle, it will get around.”
No Regrets Page 15