* * *

Mancini reminded us that we had to go and we helped the admiral load his prisoners on the boat. The sun would be up in another half an hour and we hurried to pack up and head out.

The plan was to ride out to the airfield and board the three planes Mancini had waiting. I felt a whole lot better about this move now that the admiral had given Mancini his stamp of approval.

She’d only cried a little at her parents’ leaving and for a second there I thought her father was going to order her to go with them.

I saw the effort it took for him to give her back to me and was grateful I got off easy with just a warning.

Of course being warned that he’d hang my nuts on a spike if I fucked over his kid was a bit harsh, but it was reasonable.

I’d wanted to take her to meet my sisters, but this would be the last time with the girls she’d saved and I didn’t want to rob her of that. She’ll have the rest of her life with the others after all.

All the women were going on to Mancini’s hideout while we were going with Hank to drop off the girls and make sure this place was legit, or in other words, up to Lo’s standards.

I’d just closed the door to leave her to her goodbyes and was on my way to meet the others who were having some sorta powwow.

Apparently Lyon was giving Hank the third degree, since his wife and kids were going ahead of him and he’s not in the habit of trusting his family to just anyone.

I walked up in time to hear what I suppose was his last threat. “Anything happen to my woman spook boy ain’t enough holes for you to hide in. That’s all I’m saying.”

Hank, being the smooth operator that he is just calmly reassured Lyon and the rest of us truth be known, that all was good. Besides, Law’s crew was going with them.

That didn’t necessarily placate Lyon but at least his bark had boiled down to a grumble.

Just then a chopper flew overhead, too damn low for comfort and there was no doubt they were buzzing us.

“What the fuck?” Lo looked up as Zak and Cord took off running towards the women. Mancini pulled what looked like a glock from under his jacket.

“Get inside.”

“Hank, domestic soil.” Lo warned him.

“I don’t play by those rules.” None of the rest of us moved.

The fucker took aim and followed the aircraft as it made a turn. He waited until it was over the water and fired.

The explosion was loud as fuck and we knew any minute the whole place would be swarming with cops. “There were two on board came out of Langley.”

“How do you know that?” I asked Mancini as we headed to my place to get the girls.

“My people picked up their Intel while we were inside. The NatSec really needs to do something about their secure broadbands.”

“I like this fuck, what’s that you’re carrying there Hanky?” Lyon, who had been surprisingly quiet at this turn of events jogged up next to him, trying to get a look at the piece he was carrying.

“It’s just a little handheld with extra power. I’ll get you one.” The two of them laughed and Lyon clapped him on the shoulder.

My brothers, Law, Creed and I shared a look and I knew to a man we were all thinking that was not a good idea.

Of course the women heard the explosion and wanted to know what was going on, but we just loaded them up and headed out.

Cord ran back to the mansion and came back with the old man’s portrait and the only thing he’d say when we looked at him questioningly was that he’d tell us later.

There were a lot of hurried goodbyes and I had to damn near pry Kelly away from her wards. Her tears I already knew were going to be a problem for me.

I felt like the worst son of a bitch because I couldn’t give her what she wanted. And the shit was fucking with my head. Damn!

I introduced her to her new sisters before their plane left and had to drag Ty’s ass away from Vicki to get him on the plane with us.

No one was settled and relaxed, least of all me. We’d all just trusted our women to a complete stranger stamp of approval or not.

We got the kidnapped girls settled in the back of the Gulf Stream and strapped in up front. Whoever Mancini is, dude’s got the best fucking toys. This G-six held all of us with room to spare.

Just before we went wheels up a screen came on and a female voice came on while it was still black. “Hank are they here? I fell asleep.”

“No baby, we have to make a run, I’ll be with you in another three hours or so. Are you decent?” There was some wrestling around and it was obvious from the sounds that whoever she was she was in bed.

“I’m up, what’s going on?” The screen faded from black to the sleepy face of a very beautiful woman who looked like she was being swallowed by a man’s dress shirt.

There was no need to guess who she was from the way Mancini reacted as soon as she came on screen. He did everything but kiss the damn screen.

“Hi baby, say hi to our new friends. Gentlemen Special Agent Cierra Mancini, F.B.I. my wife.” Say what now?

“Did we know he was married?” I turned to Lyon who was the one who’d brought him in. “There’s someone for everyone, we have to hope that she’s stable.”

Hank gave us a look and we turned our attention to his wife who apparently was waiting for us and our women at his secret hideaway.

I guess he did that to put our minds at ease and it did. “Go back to sleep princess I’ll call you when we land.” They shared a look through the screen before it went dark.

“So how does that work? A spook married to an F.B.I. agent? I thought you two were supposed to be like mortal enemies or some shit?”

Damn Lyon, no filter. For the next ten minutes we bullshitted around but it was only a matter of time before things got serious.

It seems Mancini had been making a lot of calls while we were in the cottage with the general. “Okay, two things. That fly over was supposed to drop something on your compound. Not to worry, I have people on it just in case they send in another team.”

My brothers and I shared a look. If’ they’d graduated to taking us out then the chips were down. “You sure Hank?”

“Logan I’ll give you about one more day before you no longer ask me that. Of course I’m sure.”

“They gotta ask spook boy, can’t nobody find shit on you.” Leave it to Lyon to put it so succinctly.

“You said two things.” I was listening in but my mind was already with her. We kept our voices low so that they didn’t carry to the four girls in the sleep room in the back.

“Yeah, you’ve got some heavy hitters involved here. This one goes all the way to the top boys.” We already knew or suspected that to some degree, but having verification changes everything.

“Yeah we know about the asshole senator.” Lyon chimed in. “Who else you got?”

“Generals and a few low key players. And this definitely goes back to your guy in the desert.”

We spent the next forty-five minutes shooting around ideas about the best course of action. “So basically you’re saying Law and I got snagged in his net because we worked for your CO a time or two.”

“Sorry about that boys, but that’s the way it’s looking. I think this thing started long before any of us came on board though.” Since Lo was letting me run this show, I filled the others in on what we’d found.

Now that we’d got the women out of the line of fire it was easy to focus more fully and shit started falling into place.

We didn’t know all the men the old man had mentioned in his codes neither did we know where to find them.

If Khalil was exacting revenge for some past wrong we needed to find all these people and make sure they were okay.

We got to our destination in less than half the time it would’ve taken if we weren’t riding in a top of the line Gulf Stream that seemed to just cut through the clouds.

There were a coupla cars waiting for us when we landed and a lone man standing outside the first one. He looked kinda relaxed for someone who’d been dragged out of his bed in the middle of the night.

We got the girls off and kept them between us and him as we walked forward following Hank. As we got closer I saw that this guy was about our age give or take.

“Gentlemen I’d like to introduce you to Gideon Thorpe. Other than myself he’s the leading authority on the underground trafficking world. He got dragged into it by default when his wife became a target of sorts.”

Thorpe came forward and shook each of our hands, looking at us like he was sizing us up. “Gentlemen!”

“I already told Gideon part of the situation but if anyone wants to add anything feel free.”

“I got all I need.” He whistled and two people stepped out of the backseat of the second car.

“Gentlemen my wife Ashley.” He wrapped his arm around the shoulders of the woman who didn’t look old enough to be anyone’s wife but who was obviously pregnant.

“And her brother Jacob.” A young man held out his hand before the two of them flanked her on either side like they were ready for anything.

“Take the girls to the car Blossom.” He kissed her head and she moved over to the four girls who were standing around huddled together.

“Wait!” I walked over before they could be loaded into the car. I looked them over, especially Cara. “You’ll be safe here until this whole thing is over. Your dads will get in touch with you soon and as soon as we get things settled I’ll bring Kelly to see you guys.”

They all hugged me which was surprising because I didn’t remember doing anything to warrant it. Then they went down the line thanking the others which seemed to embarrass them no end.

We didn’t get to follow to see where they were being taken which didn’t sit very well with us, but this Thorpe guy wasn’t taking any chances it seems.

He reassured us that they’d be fine and that he’d keep in contact with us. I didn’t know that Mancini had worked it out so that their dads could come to them when the coast was clear.

Back on the plane I laid my head back and processed all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Has it only been twenty-four? Damn, felt like a lifetime.