Vance woke up, but didn’t move. It took him several seconds to figure out where he was and how the fuck he’d gotten there. He looked at the woman asleep in the chair across from him. Christ, she was a pretty little thing. Vance looked to his right when he felt another person in the room. Dalton nodded.
She’s pretty pissed off at you at the moment. So am I, if you want to know the truth. He asked him what he’d done now. You hit her. Slugged her hard enough to blacken her eye and cheek. If you hadn’t already been down, I would have put you there myself.
I’m sorry. He looked at her again, but the way she had her head tilted back, he couldn’t see what he’d done. I’m fucking sorry. Is she really pissed?
Nah. She was at me. I tried to wrestle you away from her and she lit into me like Mom does when she’s hot. Wow, what a temper. Vance rolled to his back, careful of the wounds. You want to tell me why you were shot four times and wouldn’t let us tell anyone?
Four? No, three. Dalton said he’d counted them. Okay, maybe it was four. I fucking don’t know. I was running.
Vance thought about not telling him anything. There were times, he knew, that they didn’t know what he did for a living, but there were times when he wished he could unload on one of them, just for a little while. Or who he worked with. Instead, he looked over at the doctor and then at his brother. If he was honest, Vance was lonely.
I was looking into some things at the warehouse down by the river. The one that no one seems to own but work is constantly going on there. You know which one I’m talking about? Dalton said he had men watching it. I’d find new ones. If what I saw there this—I don’t know the date, but the morning I came to see Kenton—they’re helping unload a few trucks and store the shit in there.
Two days ago. So they’ve been bought. Vance told him he thought it was more that they had something over them. Or someone. You’re saying that they’re holding their family in order to get them to look the other way? Why? What did you find out?
Contraband cigarettes. Not at all sexy, but it pays good money. I mean, even prostitution doesn’t pay as well as a few thousand packs of cancer sticks. Dalton leaned back in the chair. He knew that this brother would understand that more than anyone. I’d say without a doubt that there are more than seven thousand cartons of them going out of that place a week. If what I found out is right, then someone is collecting the taxes on that, because when they leave the warehouse, they’re stamped.
The government sent you in. Vance didn’t even blink. All right. No answer, I guess, is as good as one. So what is it you’re doing about it? I’m assuming something.
Yes. He couldn’t tell Dalton the rest. That would get his brother killed. Because Dalton was a good man and a better cop. If I asked you to stay out of it, would you?
He glanced at Gabe, then at him, and nodded. She’s my mate, as you know. And I need her in my life. I can’t have her going in all gung-ho if something happens to me. You either. I think she is going to make you do things you will not like when she wakes up.
Like what? Before Dalton could answer him, Gabe sat up. Vance felt his heart twist in his chest when he saw how badly he’d injured her. “Christ, I am so very sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You were in pain. It’s fine.” She stood up and went to him, and Vance ran his finger over her face. It was swollen and dark from his hand, and he sat up and told her again how sorry he was. “You think this is the first time a patient has hit me? It’s not. I’ve been hit dozens of times. Broken ribs, a few fingers smashed up. I once had to have thirty-three stitches in my forehead when a kid no bigger than the one that helped me...Gavin…no bigger than him was high on something and thought I was trying to take his drugs. He used the barf basin that I had for him to beat me to shit, then a few days later he was killed. Nasty shit, drugs.”
“But I wasn’t high and I hurt my sister.” When she looked at Dalton then at him again, Vance had an understanding. “You haven’t talked, have you? He’s your mate, love. And as of the moment that you two came together, you became family. My family, for better or worse.”
“We have talked, but some macho ass came in and interrupted us. And speaking of which, I’d like to talk to you about the tracker you have in your leg.” He frowned, not understanding her. “You have one. Let me show you.”
He’d had his pants removed by someone and he didn’t want to think it was her. Vance didn’t want anyone to see his battered body, but especially not this woman. When she turned his leg so that he could see the long scar there, he told her how he’d gotten it.
“I was jumping a fence and I didn’t quite make it over. It’s old.” She asked if she could show him the tracker. “How would you do that?”
“Cut you. I can numb it for you, though I don’t think it’s that deep. But it’s there. I can.... I’m joking. I have an x-ray of it. When you were out, I had portable equipment brought in. Again, under the guise of training. Kenton had to be informed because of what I was doing with the equipment, and he saw it too. Not my fault in this…I had to have help as I’m not a doctor anyone would know as yet.” She reached into the small drawer by the bed and pulled out a folder. “I didn’t mean to snap you here, but I wasn’t used to using the machine by myself, and I caught this image.”
It was of his left leg. Gabe pointed to the long ago break in his fibula, as well as some small shrapnel in his calf, neither of which bothered him. But it was the small cylinder shaped thing that had his full attention.
“I could have removed it while you were out, but I had no idea if you had it put there or if it would go off or something if I did. I saw one like this once, when I was volunteering overseas. This kid had it.” He asked her if she had a better picture. “Yes. If you want the numbers off it, you’re going to have to give me something in return.”
Vance wanted to lash out at her, but he held his tongue when Dalton stood up. He’d kill him if he attacked, and Vance loved his brother too much to fight him back if it came to just fists. Instead, he just stood up and towered over Gabe.
“What do you think I have to give you, Gabe? Money?” She shook her head. “Then what? What sort of demands will you make of me since you know something that I don’t?”
“Don’t be a fucking prick.” Her tone and words shocked him. “Sit the fuck down and get your fucking panties out of a twist before I do it for you. You’re all that and more, I can see that, but guess what, jackass? I don’t want to fight you; I want to save you.”
He’d just had his ass handed to him by a woman. Sitting down, he told her he was sorry again. When she sat down as well, he felt like the biggest jerk that had ever lived. Vance felt the last fifteen years of his career, his work, and his life hit him right in the heart.
“I’m sorry.” She told him not to worry about it, but not to assume with her. “No, I won’t, not again. What is it you want me to do?”
“That thing in your leg. You have any idea who could’ve done that?” He said was aware of maybe a couple. “I might be able to help you along with that. I have a buddy, he’s.... Well, he won’t care for you…he’s not into the macho manly type. He’s gay, and likes his men to be diminutive and a lot on the feminine side. He’ll help me, but you have to play nicely with him or he won’t help.”
“What is it you think he can help me with, and why would he?” Gabe smiled. It was sort of frightening, even for him. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“Oh, it’s fine. If he doesn’t help, then I’ll tell his mommy. She’s scary.” Vance pointed out that he thought she was as well. “Well, wait until you meet Edna. She’ll make me look like the girl next door.”
When she walked away, to call someone he thought, Vance looked at Dalton. He was staring at the door where Gabe had exited like a starved man. Vance said his name twice before he turned to him.
“Your mate, I think she might be a good fit with my company.” Dalton nodded and smiled. “Christ, I hope I never ever meet my mate if you have to look all sappy like you do right now.”
“I cannot wait until you meet her, Vance. You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to start taking notes on all the shit you tell me about not having a mate, and read them to her when she gets here.” Vance growled. “Oh, you don’t scare me anymore, buddy. I’ll sic my wife-to-be on you and you’ll go running with your tail between your legs.”
Vance thought he might be right. Gabe didn’t seem to be a pushover, nor did she appear to be afraid of him. Vance thought he might just like this sister best of all.
~~~
Gabe closed the phone and sat there quietly. She had a feeling that Vance wasn’t going to be any happier with her now than he’d been before. The news she’d gotten wasn’t good. In fact, it was downright scary. Turning when someone came in the room with her, Gabe smiled at the woman. Mrs. McCade had been in the kitchen since she’d shown up an hour ago.
“You get unpacked?” Nodding, she told her that she just had a few more things to sort out. “Oh good. How long will Vance be laid up?”
Gabe said nothing. She hadn’t been aware that the woman knew her son was here, much less that he was hurt. But when she just cocked a brow at her Gabe closed her mouth tightly.
“My boys, all of them, think that I’m just this woman who raised them. I haven’t any idea why they feel I can’t handle a little bad news with the good. I’ve had a lot of the latter lately, just so you know. But they’re my boys, and I know when they’re hurt faster than they do at times. Not really, but I know.” Gabe nodded. “Vance is the toughest boy I had, always has been. But as I said, he’s my boy. And a mother knows things. Besides, I have resources that you cannot believe, so don’t ever think to pull the wool over my eyes.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She thanked her and asked again about Vance. “I can’t tell you anything. I made a promise. You have to understand that about me too since I decided to work for Kenton. I hold promises and secrets to my heart. I was asked to not say a word. To anyone. And I won’t. Not even to you.”
Aisha, what she’d been asked to call her, just sat there. She wasn’t happy with what she’d said to her, Gabe could see that. But if she wanted to know something, anything about Vance and his wounds, then she was going to have to ask the man himself.
“Is he all right now, at least?” Gabe nodded. “Do I need to know the rest? I know you won’t tell me, and while I’m upset about that, I applaud you for keeping your promise.”
“No, there is no reason for you to know anything other than he’s fine.” Aisha nodded. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Gabe told her. “Honey, the fact that you’re willing to help him, and not go running into the night, thrills me to no end. Also that you can be trusted with whatever anyone tells you. I love you for that as well.”
“Well, I thank you for not asking me for too much.” Aisha smiled. “I guess I need to get back to the bed and breakfast now. I mean, you know that I’m not really staying here, so I should get back.”
“I thought you were staying here.” Gabe told her she didn’t even know whose home this was. “Dalton’s. He bought it a few months ago. Well, this is his second home. I know that he also has one in town that he is renting right now. You should talk to him before you take off.”
She had to talk to Vance too, but didn’t tell her that. When Aisha started talking about dinner and what she should have made, Gabe wondered about the man upstairs. And what he’d want of her now.
Dalton wasn’t like other men she’d dated. He was kind and strong. Most of the men she had gone out with over the last five years or so were doctors, men with huge egos and bigger demands on the women they dated. Like someone should simply have sex with them because they were who they were. And Dalton’s family was nice.
“Gabe?” She looked at Vance, then around the room for his mom. “She’s gone to the kitchen. Mom said that you sort of zoned out on her. She also said that you hadn’t told her anything.”
“You told me not to. Is it safe to talk to you here? I can go outside if you’d like and tell you.” He sat down slowly and told her now would be fine. “All right. I spoke to Jeff and I gave him the numbers that I found on the cylinder. He said that he’d get back with me by this evening.”
“He can be trusted…you’re sure about that?” Gabe nodded. “I don’t trust many people, just my family, but if you say he can be trusted, then I will. But he knows to be careful with his computer if that’s what he’s using, yes?”
“Yes, he would know better than most. Jeff is…how shall I say this...? He’s a hacker. And a very good one. You’d have read about him, I’m sure. He goes by the handle Prick Stick.” Vance laughed. “Yes, well, he might be really smart, but he has no imagination. Anyway, he has this set up that will route him around the world a few times dinging his signal off a thousand sites and enabling him to be long gone before you ever find him. Plus, people underestimate him.”
“Why?” She just shrugged. “Oh come on now, you’ve told me this much about him. What is it that makes people overlook him?”
“He’s blind and confined to a wheelchair.” She knew that Vance hadn’t been expecting that, and continued before he could let it work around in his head. “About the time he and I became friends, he was living with his father. Jeff would spend half his time with his dad and the other time with his mom. His parents had never married. Jeffery, his dad, was a bastard. He would hurt Jeff whenever he had to pay for something that was required of him by law. You know, food, insurance, and clothing.”
“Sounds like a winner. I bet his father wasn’t thrilled when it turned out his son was gay either, was he?” Gabe said he was dead. “Good, saves me the trouble.”
Gabe said nothing. She had wanted to kill the prick herself, but at the time she’d been a kid, not much older than Jeff. But she had decided to become a doctor after he was hurt. She looked at the china cabinet rather than Vance as she continued.
“Jeffery had a good job, and to the world he was a good provider as well as father. But he wasn’t. And when his son never showed any interest in manly things—football, basketball, or any other sport—he would make him try out or play. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for sports, he just didn’t want to play them.” Gabe remembered the bruises and hurts on her friend, and had never once believed they were from playing as Jeff had wanted her to believe. “When Jeff was twelve, he invited me over to have dinner. It was just pizza and junk food, but we were having a blast. Then his father came home and the nanny who had been caring for us left.”
She remembered what had happened next like a loop in her mind. Whenever she was exhausted or thinking about Jeff, she’d see it play out. She told Vance like she’d seen it, like she was still the little girl that had been caught up in a nightmare.
“Jeffery came home, like I said, and the nanny left. I’m not sure what that was about, but once she was gone, Jeff became quiet. It was strange to me, even then, to see him just become this other person. He could and still will talk your arm off if you don’t shut him down. His dad came into the kitchen where we’d been eating and swiped all the food to the floor. Neither of us moved. ‘Your coach called me at the office. He said that you didn’t want to play soccer anymore. Why?’ There wasn’t time for Jeff to answer, his father had answered for him. ‘Do you think it’s too much for you? Does it hurt you to fall down?’”
His voice had taken on a whiny tone. His face was contorted into this monstrous look that had her backing into her chair to get away from him. And when he asked Jeff again why he’d quit, Jeff looked at her.
“You have to go. Now. I don’t want you hurt.” It had been in that moment she’d known. Jeff was being hurt by his dad. “Go home, Gabe, please? I’ll call you in a couple days and we’ll go to the movies.”
She hadn’t left, of course, but had stood up on her chair and told Jeffery to go away. And when he laughed at her, she felt her temper snap. But she never got the chance to lash out at the man, even if she could have, because he’d slapped her. Hard enough to not just knock her off the chair, but to fly across the room and hit her head on the stove.
Gabe looked at Vance. “I woke up in the hospital. My dad was there, as was my sister. They were both crying, and I had no idea what had happened.” Vance asked her what did happen. “Jeffery hit him, I guess harder than he had me. And when Jeff, a small kid anyway, hit the wall behind him, he crushed a part of his skull. But his father didn’t stop there. When Jeff left the hospital, he was permanently blind and in a wheelchair because of a broken back.”
“What did he find out?” She nodded and reached for the paper she’d made notes on. Vance put his hand over hers. “Thank you for telling me. And the next time you speak to him, ask him if he’d be willing to help me out on a few other things too. I’d pay him.”
“I’ll let him know.” Clearing her throat, she picked up the paper. “It’s a tracker, just like I thought it was. Jeff said that it’s government issue, just as I’m also assuming you knew. The remote to it is in DC…he can’t figure out who has it yet, but he will. And if the numbers are correct, and I read them to him four times, you don’t want to have it removed. But he did suggest that you find out how many others you have in your body. He said he’d bet at least half a dozen.”
“Did he say why that many?” She nodded. “I’m not going to like this answer, am I? Tell me so I can figure this out.”
“He said that he thought there would be at least one in each arm, more than likely both legs too. You’d have one in your head somewhere, or the neck, as well as under a rib. That way if you were hurt badly enough to have something amputated, they’d still know where you were. Gruesome fuckers, don’t you think?” She’d been going for a joke, but it fell flat. “He also said not to remove them. He’s sure that there is something on them that can detect when they’re fucked with. He’s thinking that they’re on a remote detonator, and that as soon as you mess with them or the people who had them inserted, they’ll set them off and no more you. Jeff said that if you ever manage to get one taken out, for any reason, that he wants it. He likes to play with things like that. Oh, and they’re only trackers, they can’t hear whatever it is you say.”
When he got up and left her, Gabe just sat there. She’d hate to be the person that put those things in Vance. He was a dead man, no doubt about that, and she had a feeling that it wouldn’t be a quick one.
Shivering, she went to find Dalton. Gabe needed a nice guy to talk to her for a moment or two. Not that Vance wasn’t nice, she supposed, but he wasn’t like Dalton. Smiling as she made her way through the house, Gabe thought that no one was like Vance. And that was what made him so good at what he did. And Gabe knew what he did too, or had a good idea. Jeff had told her.
“He’s elite, as in Special Forces elite. He’s the guy they call in to do the bad things. Like murder for hire.” Gabe had asked him how he’d come to that conclusion. “The government wants to know his every move. They don’t put those kinds of things on agents or lawyers. This is to find a man that they’re afraid of. They want to know when he’s coming.”
“You think that whoever had those put in him, they’ll hurt him if they get the chance?” Jeff told her that they’d never catch him unless he wanted them to. “Why would he let them catch him?”
“To kill them.”