Frost crouched in the darkness along with the rest of the unit. Trickling water splashed against the surface of a nearby fountain. Crickets droned on with a steady chirping. The occasional hum of a vehicle’s tires crunched on the next street over and a neighboring dog barked twice.
But from the men around him, crouched in the waiting darkness, there was only silence. He knew each and every single one of them was intently and completely focused on the house. He held his breath when the last light turned off on the inside and plunged the house into total darkness.
Frost glanced at Roscoe. The agent lifted a hand. That was the signal. Frost moved quickly out in front as the rest of them broke up in groups and dispersed. He didn’t need to see in order to know the cluster around the house had only been the tip of the iceberg, the rest were waiting to converge and completely surround the house.
He reached the entrance and slipped to the side of the doorway, locking his gaze on the face of his digital watch as several fully geared and tactical SWAT approached, dressed similar to himself.
In three… two… one, SWAT bashed in the front door with a battering ram. The crack of wood splintered with a harsh bang and long, jagged pieces of wood flew. Frost turned his head away briefly to avoid chunks of debris and then quickly entered the home. The plan was to cover every possible exit and with the amount of Phoenix, FBI, US Marshals, and police they had, it would not be a problem.
The estate was big, massive really, and the bedrooms were on the second floor. He took the stairs two at time. Glock in hand, he moved swiftly along the hallway, not bothering to clear the rooms. His goal was the master bedroom. He was personally going to make sure this shit ended tonight.
“Watch your damn back, Grayson,” Seth’s soft voice said into his ear and he smiled. Only Seth could make him smile at a time like this.
He knew Seth hadn’t wanted to be “left behind” as he called it, but Seth wasn’t ready for full active duty. Or at least, Rossi was holding firm on that even though the doctors disagreed. Asher couldn’t say he blamed them, he wanted to keep Seth protected at all costs.
On dreaded desk duty, Seth was sitting where Asher had left him in the SUV a few blocks over with Reggie monitoring the tactical electronics.
Seth had grumbled about it being techie work. Techie work it might be, but in reality, it had been Seth’s technical work that had broken the case. The genius had discovered a money laundering scheme that was shielded by a dummy company set up by an HG Corporation. HG… Hans Grover. It was clever, and Yakov had almost gotten away with it. Except Phoenix had someone way more brilliant and clever on their side. Asher hadn’t really thought about it before, but he knew it was in that moment when he truly began to realize just how smart Reboot Hell was. Seth had flushed adorably when both Rossi and Stefano acknowledged Seth’s hard work in breaking the case.
“Copy,” Frost whispered through the tiny ear piece before quickly opening the bedroom door. Empty. Fuck. It was the master bedroom, but it was also vacant. He spun back toward the hall. The lights in the hallway suddenly flickered and he raised his gun, only to find Roscoe heading his way.
Frost nodded, lifted his night vision goggles to the top of his head, and turned quickly down the hallway.
“West area clear!” Storm’s voice came through his ear piece.
“Wrapping up North,” Noah’s voice echoed.
Frost tapped his ear piece. “East not cleared.”
“South side not secure,” Allison murmured.
“Watch the exits,” Mac’s voice cut through the com line.
Frost turned down another hallway, this one shorter, and reached a locked door. The door gave way beneath his boot with a crack.
A woman sat clutching a blanket and a man was sprinting across the room toward a far door, tossing whatever he could in his path.
The woman shrieked when Roscoe advanced. Screaming, she launched herself forward, fighting the agent like a wildcat.
Frost lunged after the guy who was tipping over lamps and small tables. He ducked a metal water bottle that was chucked at his head. Hurdling over the garbage strewn in his path, he leaped after the guy. The door banged closed and locked.
He drew back, kicked, and it held firm. Shielding his face with his free arm, he fired two bullets at the door lock and it jangled open. He kicked again and it slammed open against the wall.
“Police, stop!” he yelled, but it was more for effect because really, he planned on putting a bullet in the man’s head. He entered the darkened room in a forward roll, coming up in a crouch.
“Frost is in pursuit of the suspect,” Roscoe’s voice came through his mic with the sound of the woman crying in the background.
“Careful, babe.”
Seth. Just the sound of his voice grounded him like nothing on earth. Hyper aware of the need to stay safe and come back to his love, he paused.
“Always,” he breathed.
A door at the far end of the humongous bathroom was gaping wide and he moved swiftly onward. Slipping into another room, he paused. Adjusting his night vision googles, he cautiously took the set of stairs leading downward.
A bare light bulb hung from the rafters, shining brightly into what looked to be a cellar. He eased off his goggles and leapt quietly down the remaining stairs. A few feet into the room, Yakov Lakhonin stood hopping on one foot, trying to pull on a pair of pants.
“Give me a reason,” Frost growled, advanced, and placed the barrel of his gun to Yakov’s sweating forehead. Their gazes locked and held.
Yakov stopped hopping and dropped his leg, not even getting the pants on halfway.
“Don’t shoot. I’m unarmed!”
So the guy wanted to go the innocent route. Fine.
“I don’t really give a shit.” Frost squeezed the grip of the gun.
Yakov’s eyes shifted to the right, over his shoulder. Fuck. He spun a split second too late and the blow was instant, a jarring thrust to the chest that sent him stumbling backward and pain radiating through him. The thug was big and it took Frost about two seconds to realize the guy was highly trained when his gun hand was snap-kicked and his weapon slipped from numb fingers and clattered to the floor.
Frost didn’t wait for another blow, he went after the guy with an aggressive anger that was not his normal style. Usually, he was the one to keep his cool, but he’d had enough. He struck swiftly and delivered a series of blows that taught the guy really quick who the fuck he was messing with. Blood spurted and the thug stumbled back, wiping at his nose.
Yakov ran in the opposite direction, into the darkened part of the room. He could run, but he couldn’t hide, and just as soon as Frost took out the trash, he would take care of Lakhonin.
Frost stretched out his palm upward and curled his fingers at the guy in a universal sign to bring it on. The guy sneered and moved in. Frost bared his teeth and let the fires of hell feed his anger and nailed the thug on the side of his head.
The guy shook his head and then taunted him. “Bring it, motherfucker. That was a lucky blow.”
Frost almost laughed.
Almost. Tired of the bullshit, Frost came in fast and hard with a series of blows that drove the guy backwards. He had to hand it to the bodyguard, the guy had managed to block about half his attacks, but only managed to get off a few hits in return. Blood welled at the side of Frost’s mouth and he poked his tongue at it.
From the corner of his eye, Storm’s bulk came down the stairs.
“Stay out of this,” Frost growled. His opponent took that moment to bounce on his toes. Like that was going to fucking help. Frost delivered a snap-kick that was effectively blocked. Done with fucking around, he moved in and feigned right, dodged left, and delivered a kick that left the guy spitting teeth before he struck the man in the head with a savage punch. Gripping the back of the guy’s head, he slammed it down into his upraised knee and dropped the thug at his feet. Out cold.
Storm leaped down the remaining stairs and zip-tied the guy’s hands. Roscoe came jumping down the stairs on Storm’s heels.
Spinning, Frost picked up his gun and then strode to the far end of the room. Reaching down, he grabbed the cowering man by the hair and yanked him to his feet. Pressing the barrel of his gun once again to Yakov’s forehead, Frost relished the fear and terror welling in the kingpin’s dirt-colored eyes.
“Frost.”
“Stay out of this, Storm.”
“Frost,” Wild’s voice stated this time. God damned the tracker was quiet, he hadn’t even heard Wild come into the room. “He’s not worth it.”
“Oh, I beg to differ.” He studied Yakov like a bug beneath a microscope. “It’s so worth ending his miserable fucking life.”
Frost felt nothing past the wall of his rage. This weaselly, little, spineless fucker had caused enough fucking misery in the lives of his friends, but when he’d come after Seth…. Well, that was a fucking game changer. The motherfucker had tried to use Seth.
Frost growled deep in his throat, and Yakov closed his eyes and tried to turn his head away, but the gun held tightly center mass to the guy’s forehead didn’t allow for much movement.
“Don’t let him kill me.” Yakov’s voice trembled.
Frost fucking relished the sound of fear.
“So, where were we…?” Frost tipped his head slightly. “Oh yeah…Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t put a bullet in your brain.” The words were guttural. He was actually amazed he could speak at all.
“Be… be…because I can give you locations.”
Wild stepped closer. “All locations and I’ll call him off,” Wild negotiated, as if he had control over him.
There would be no calling him the fuck off. He dug the barrel further into Yakov forehead, creating a divot.
“Yes, yes!” Yakov squeaked. “All locations.”
Seth
The office was relatively quiet, which was odd because every member of Phoenix was on-site. What surprised Seth was that his Uncle Rossi was also there.
Asher shifted in the seat beside him and slipped his arm along the back of his chair and over his shoulder. Seth eased closer.
He’d never been so fucking scared in his life like the day Asher had held a gun to Yakov’s head. Not that putting an end to the bastard wouldn’t have been deserved. But Seth didn’t want Asher putting his job or that of Roscoe’s on the line. Sure, they had all killed before and always had a damned solid reason for it, but shooting an unarmed man in the head while their unit and an FBI agent watched wouldn’t have been a good idea—to put it mildly.
Through the ear piece, Seth had heard Wild beg Asher to put the gun down, but nothing had gotten through to his man. Both Roscoe and Storm had tried.
“I have never seen anything like it before. Ever,” Wild had told Seth later. “Usually, when he’s that far gone, someone dies. I seriously thought Yakov was a dead man.” Wild shook his head.
“Then suddenly, Frost lifts his hand calmly as you please, touches his ear, and murmurs, ‘I’m on my way.’” Wild had shaken his head in amazement.
Seth knew, though. He knew why Asher had pulled back, and it sent a warm feeling even now, warming his stomach.
Those few terrifying moments when he’d listened to Asher fighting, and then as Wild, Storm, and Roscoe begged Asher to lower the gun. Seth pictured his love and froze in fear for a few precious seconds.
“Come back to me,” he remembered whispering as he wiped at the tears on his cheeks, his heart in his throat. He couldn’t lose Asher. He wouldn’t survive.
Asher had instantly murmured back the sweetest words on the planet. “I’m on my way.”
And just like that, Seth could breathe again. Reggie had driven them around the few blocks and Seth had stepped from the SUV and anxiously waited.
Asher had come out of the front door of that house. Larger than life, tossing his helmet to the grass, and yanking at his bullet proof vest. Muscles corded and rippled beneath the sweat soaked T-shirt, and when the man moved, he moved like something wild and savage. The air caught in Seth’s lungs when Asher had walked straight toward him and didn’t stop until they collided, pulling him hard against his chest.
Seth had reached up and wrapped himself around Asher regardless of who was watching. He loved Asher with every fiber of his being, heart and soul.
Now, sitting snug against Asher’s side in the meeting, he looked around the room and, to his surprise, found a couple of new faces. Well, one not so new, but one he’d never met before.
Reggie, Allison, and Noah came from the kitchen laughing about something and a low hum of conversations filled various parts of the room.
“Whatcha thinkin’?” Asher nuzzled his cheek.
He must have been lost in thought longer than he’d realized. “How happy I am,” Seth whispered, resting their linked fingers on his knee.
Asher leaned and nibbled on his ear and Seth curled his shoulder away. “Behave,” he whispered.
Asher harrumphed and Seth stifled a smile.
“Alright, people, take a seat,” Stefano called out across the room. They had stacked chairs in three rows in front of a large flat screen monitor at the far end of the space. The area was fashioned like a conference room without walls.
Everyone took a seat. The commander stood in front and Seth’s Uncle Rossi sat on the edge of a desk not too far from the group.
“Some of you may have noticed a few new faces in the group,” the commander started. “Hell, you all better have noticed or I’m taking names.”
The group laughed and several heads swiveled to check out the new faces.
“First, though, I’ve invited the chief to join us. We’ve tried to keep his identity on the down low for reasons you all know about. We have talked it over and have decided that it is no longer pertinent to keep his identity a secret. Phoenix, I give you Giovanni Rossi, whom you will address as Chief.” Stefano nodded and gave the floor to Rossi.
Seth glanced over and caught Noah’s gaze, they grinned at each other. Seth mouthed, I knew it, to his cousin.
“Good morning. Thank you, Commander Stefano. By now, you all should know why I kept my identity a secret. The threat to me and my family was very real. With Yakov in custody, the threat has significantly diminished. If you have any personal questions for me, you can catch me in private. For now, we’ll stick to business,” Rossi said, nodding at Stefano.
The commander stood. “When I say your code name. Lift your hand or wave so the team can identify you.”
“Reggie, Reboot Hell, Mamma Bear, Frost, Ghost, Storm, Wild,” Stefano said, and each of them raised a hand or a few fingers in greeting. “Fear and Rush.” Fear nodded to the group and the other man, Rush, lifted a hand to wave.
“Fear is here on a temporary basis to help out with cleanup efforts.”
Well, that was weird. The guy hadn’t been interested in helping them catch Yakov. Why the hell would Fear want to help them clean up Yakov’s operation? Seth studied Fear as the commander spoke.
“He comes with a long list of—”
The door of the office swung open, cutting off Stefano’s words. Seth had never seen a person move as quickly as Fear moved. By the time his head swiveled to the door to see a figure in a dark hoodie, Fear was already there, just that fast. In his seat one moment and at the door the next.
Asher stood a second after Fear and pulled his weapon. Storm was across the room at Fear’s back. Wild moved, slipping out a knife as the rest of the team shoved back their chairs and stood.
The figure in the doorway looked vaguely familiar to Seth. He sucked in a breath when the hood was knocked back by Fear’s hand and the man’s face was revealed.
Seth’s heart leaped when he saw the familiar face.
“Lash,” he blurted, and then he was moving, shoving people aside.
Lash shook back his hair and Seth’s eyes were drawn to the thin white scar that trailed beneath the hunter’s chin and down his neck. Their eyes met and held. Seth didn’t stop until he could wrap his arms tightly around his friend. Lash didn’t hesitate, he returned the hug just as tightly, resting his cheek on the top of Seth’s head.
Wild was next and the tracker stepped forward, meeting the hunter half way, and the two men hugged tightly. “Welcome home.”
Fear moved back and took up residence against the wall. The soldier was definitely intimidating with his quiet quickness and lethal movements.
“Alright everyone, come back and take your seats,” Stefano ordered with a barely raised voice.
Seth reached out to cup Lash’s face. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
Lash nodded. Seth saw pain and sorrow in the hunter’s gaze before he moved back.
Noah moved in and snagged a tight hug from Lash before stepping back.
Seth turned, searching for Asher, and found him standing close. He slipped his arm around Asher’s waist and settled near. His man drew a quiet breath and wrapped him up in his arms.
“Today, people,” the chief urged, but his uncle was smiling. The pleasure at seeing Lash back in the fold was clear in Giovanni Rossi’s eyes, although the man looked worried. For the most part, Lash appeared unharmed, but the dark turmoil in his shadowed eyes told a very different story.
Resuming his seat along with the rest of the team, he turned his attention back to the front.
“Welcome back, Lash,” the commander said to the man who opted to sit in the back row.
Lash tipped his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“Now,” Stefano said. “As I was saying, Fear is assisting. He comes with a long list of qualifications that make him an asset to our next mission.” Stefano then listed tactical weapons, explosive expertise, military, and previous homeland security experience. Fear said nothing, just tipped his dark head in acknowledgment, gunmetal gray eyes shuttered.
“Rush is our newest recruit and comes to us from the FBI. He had the opportunity to see us in action and approached me several months ago,” Stefano continued and listed off Rush’s background in tactical experience as well as many years of expertise in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and a medical tech in the military. “I know the FBI is crying over this, but we are damned happy to have him.”
The team laughed and Rush smirked and nodded. The medic’s hair was a mess of shaggy, white-blond strands cut short but left long on the top. Rush’s skin was pale and his eyes, behind the black rimmed glasses, appeared the color of a changing sea, one minute blue and the next, green.
“Now that we are all together, Phoenix is nine men strong to date.” Rossi’s voice drew Seth’s attention back to him. “This is it, look around. We will hold our number at nine plus Fear when he helps out and focus on the task at hand. We all need to be prepared through the coming months. We don’t know the full extent of damage left by Yakov, nor how many victims are still out there, but now that we have the head of the snake, it should only be a matter of time before the operation crumbles,” the chief said, hovering a laser pointer at the flat screen TV. The red light near the name Yakov Lakhonin was in large, bold letters.
The commander held up an iPad. “With Yakov Lakhonin in custody, we’ve been able to get the location of several operation sites. What was a hunting mission has now become a rescue and clean up,” Stefano said, and his worried gaze settled for a moment on Lash. “We’ll be working closely with local and federal officials in all states effected.”
Rossi shut off the laser pointer and looked out over the room. Catching his gaze, his uncle’s eyes softened with the love shining through. “Well done, team. You can all be proud of yourselves and each other. You really pulled together. Now, let’s rescue as many victims as possible and bring them home.”