* * *

Not even a full day yet and already she’d joined ranks with the women. I didn’t know if to be pleased about that or pissed that she thought I had no say in what she did.

I’m happy that Lo had stopped me just now though because who knows what I would’ve done or said if I’d gone down there in a huff.

My brothers were still going on about the kid and trying to figure out where he fit in. So far these boys had gone after daughters, or were they just choosing any kid as long as they belonged to one of the CO’s old team?

Lyon was looking quiet and contemplative which is not necessarily a good thing coming from that quarter, but at least he had the baby in his arms.

“Quinn since you’ve got point why don’t you bring these boys up to speed on what we have so far?” “Sure thing Lo.”

All eyes turned my way and Mancini turned down the volume so the women’s voices were mere drones in the background.

I went through everything we had so far including what we’d found in the CO’s little surprise book and the names we’d found there.

It was a testament to how much we trusted them that we were willing to share what could be classified information. But I had no doubt that nothing we said would leave the room.

Plus it was good to have new eyes since the seven of us were so close to the situation. It might loosen something up that we’d missed.

We spent the next hour throwing around ideas, the only common consensus being that we had to go to Cali and grab this kid before those assholes got to him first.

“Where the fuck is Davey?” I’d only just noticed that he wasn’t in the room.

“Probably sniffing around my kid. I hope his ass can fly cause I will throw him off that cliff out there.”

“Chill Lyon, he’s not that kinda kid.”

“Dude, I’m pretty sure he’s what, eighteen, nineteen? They’re all that kinda kid. The only reason I haven’t put the fear of hell in his ass is because my girl is already gone over some asshole kid back home.”

This guy at some point is going to have to get some kind of medical attention for his psychosis; but that’s for another time.

“I think we better keep an eye on him too.” My brothers knew what I was talking about but we hadn’t shared our suspicions that the old man might be his dad with the others yet.

“So it’s settled we’re going after this kid.”

“Yep, I say we leave tonight. How far are we from location Mancini?”

“About six hours we can make it in three and a half, four.”

“Okay we need to get eyes on that house.”

“No problem.” He pulled up the home on a wall screen and put in some shit on the computer that took us to the front door.”

“What the fuck is that?”

“I would think you’d know. The military has been playing around with this little toy for the better part of six months.”

It’s the first time I’d seen anything like it. It was like Google earth on steroids. You could actually see inside the house and its surroundings in real time, almost like you were there.

“Are we calling ahead Quinn?” I fielded Lo’s question and had to think about it. I shook my head as I worked it out.

“No, if they were heading to him that means they already know who he is and might have eyes on his place and who knows what else.”

“The first team has been disbanded so it might take them some time to coordinate, not sure what kinda setup Khalil has here. But either way we can’t risk it.”

“I say we go in at night, take the kid and head back here. Speaking of which I need to call this Thorpe guy, check in on the girls. Kelly would want to know that they’re doing ok.”

I didn’t give any thought to what her dad and his pals might’ve done to their prisoners, but I wouldn’t be surprised if bodies started washing up on the mainland in the next week or so.

“You make that call Quinn. In the meantime, what the hell are we going to do about these women?” The others turned back to the screen at Lo’s words while I moved off to the side to make the call.

“Thorpe, Quinn here I'm calling to check on the girls. How's everything going on your end?”

“Yeah, uh Lieutenant I don't know if Mancini told you, but this place is supposed to be kind of secret? I had a visit from their fathers I had a hell of a time convincing them to leave them here.”

“And before that the women refused to settle down. They were worried about someone called Kelly; I’m guessing she belongs to one of you. They didn’t settle down until after their fathers showed up here.”

I could hear the barely restrained frustration in his voice and was thinking from the little time I’d spent with the admiral I could well imagine what Thorpe was facing.

“Serious question. Why is it that you military types are so…?”

“Aggressive?” I tried hard not to laugh at his disgruntled tone.

“No, I was going to say uncultured but that'll work.”

“I’m pretty sure you understand the situation. These men… those are their little girls. I’m pretty sure you can cut them some slack.”

“I understand, I know. But I also have other people that rely on me and this place. And your boys are just out of control. Another thing, I’m not sure what they were up to before they got here, but it wasn’t anything good.”

“Now somebody needs to get them out of my place. They say they’re not leaving without their kids and Mancini asked me to keep those girls here. The wives are in my damn house eating cupcakes and tea and their fu…their husbands are making me crazy.”

“Is that Quinn? Give me the phone.” I only lifted my brow at the language on the other end as Thorpe passed the phone to the admiral.

“How’s my kid?”

“She’s uh, she’s okay sir.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t started trying to figure this shit out on her own. She’s squirrely; keep a tight watch on her. Anything happens to her I don’t have to tell you I’ll bury your ass.”

“Yes sir!” Better Thorpe than me, shit.

“I don’t know how secure this line is so I’ll let you go. Just make sure you boys check in on the regular. You boys have a run to make, make it. You’re expected.”

Reading between the lines I took that to mean he knew where we were heading next and that he’d been in contact.

When I hung up the guys were still arguing about how to approach the women and their meddling. “We’re on an island in the middle of nowhere, what can they do?”

“Seriously Tyler, are you new?” Lo shook his head and walked around the room like a caged animal. Lyon had the baby on his shoulder burping him and I still didn’t trust his ass.

“Cierra is the loose canon. She has contacts, and as my wife, a very far reach. The only good thing we have on our side, is that she doesn’t quite know that yet.”

“Lyon, your thoughts?” Way to go Con, best you let that shit sleep.

“Watch and learn. Tyler, take the kid.” He passed the baby off and headed out the door after Mancini released the locks.

We all watched the screen as he navigated the hallways to get to the media room. It was obvious from the many missteps and all the hand gestures that he was not happy.

“Watch this.” Mancini flipped a switch and went to audio. We could now hear Lyon as he traversed the hallways.

“What the fuck! Where am I, in a maze? Mancini you fuck where am I?” He looked up directly into the camera like he knew exactly where it was. Spooky.

“Just go straight ahead and make a left. Head down the stairs and they’re in the room at the end towards the back.”

He jogged the rest of the way until he stood outside the door. We watched the women jump guiltily when he busted in on them.

He didn’t say anything, just stood in the door watching his wife, who started twitching in her seat five seconds in.

“Colton quit it.” He still didn’t say a word, didn’t even move. The other women were now staring back and forth between the two of them, but no one dared say a word.

He didn’t move towards her but she acted like he had. You could see the moment she caved, when she looked almost apologetically at the other women.

“Okay…wait, how much do you know?” She gave him a sneaky look but Lyon just folded his arms and kept that stare trained on her.

“Okay-okay, we were just trying to figure out what was going on.” At that point the others started talking over each other trying to protect one of their own.

Cierra Mancini left her post on the chair she’d been lounging on and approached the middle of the room, practically putting herself between the Lyon and his wife.

“What seems to be the problem? We were just giving you guys some time to rest since you were up all night. Here would you like some cake? It’s really good.”

“Forget it Cierra, he knows. I don’t know how he knows but he does.” Cierra smiled and shrugged before returning to her seat.

“It was worth a try. Where’s that son of a bitch? I knew he had this place wired. Bastard.” Lyon still hadn’t said anything but the women never shut up.

“We’re sorry we won’t do it again.” Poor Katarina she was still trying. Lyon just crooked his finger at her and waited for her to approach him.

“Where’s my son?” Her eyes widened and she looked around as if expecting the baby to appear. “Oh no, I’m so sorry. Isn’t he still asleep?” She was back to wringing her hands again.

“I’ll go get him.”

“No, that’s okay I’ll take care of him and the rest of my kids who’re out there running around a fucking cliff.”

“Ohhh, damn Colt that’s harsh.” Tyler was talking shit but he was looking at his hero with a glint in his eye. Like he needs to be any crazier than he already is.

“Let me ask you something before I go. Are you pregnant?”

“Yes.” She hung her head. It’s a wonder she has any flesh left on her hands as much as she wrings them together.

“What about these other women here, any of them pregnant.”

“Yes.” She turned back to the women and mouthed the word ‘sorry’.

“Is it good for pregnant women to be stressed?”

“No.”

“How many times have you been pregnant?”

“Five, plus this one makes six.” Her voice kept getting lower.

“Did I ever allow you to be stressed or do anything even remotely strenuous during any of those pregnancies?”

“No!” Now she was doing the shifting from foot to foot thing I’ve seen my sisters, do a thousand times.

“But you decided that these three little girls don’t deserve the same. I get it.”

She went to put her hand on his chest and he moved back out of reach. It was plain to see that that move was the one that gutted her.

Without uttering another word he turned on his heel and left the room. But not before looking into the camera again though. Again, like he knew exactly where they were.