Colby
“The plan is bullshit.”
Cross throws his arms up in the air and storms out of the cabin. I don’t blame him, but we’re out of options.
“You need to go and speak to him,” Briella sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
Wearily, I stand up and work the kinks from my shoulders. We’ve been hashing out the best way to tackle tonight for the last two hours and each time we think we have it, it falls flat. Until the last suggestion. One that puts Cross right in the thick of things. He’s not a happy camper.
I find him out on the back deck, staring out at the ocean. I’m not sure what his deal is, but I need him to get on the same page.
“I know you don’t usually do field work, but we need you tonight.”
He turns those intense eyes on me and I nearly shrivel up from the venom. “You think that’s why I’m pissed? What kinda pussy do you think I am?”
“Whoa. I don’t think anyone that has an ounce of self-preservation would call you a pussy Cross. What’s with the bitchiness?”
I don’t get it. The plan is, well, it’s bullshit. But it’s the only choice we have. Bri and I have to make a big entrance at the party, that’s a given. And since the others can’t just rock up without an invite, that leaves them to deal with the shipment. We need eyes on everyone, and where that would usually be Cross, it was agreed by all that Chantel and Skylar would be central command. It helps that Chantel has a hotline to the US government. Don’t know why, apparently it’s need-to-know.
I can’t tell you how hard I rolled my eyes at that one.
That means Marcus, Cross and Sydney would be on the ground, or rather in Sydney’s case, in the sky. The area is well secluded but being a dock yard, there is always somewhere high to keep an eye on things. We have every inch of this island covered now that the rest of the team’s here. I had to hand it to them, the teams work well together.
As soon as we have proof that the Mob boss is trafficking humans, we can call in the Feds and get those girls rescued. It isn’t exactly riding in on white horses, but we are just a few and Colm is an army in comparison. It’s the best we can do.
“We’re just gonna stand there and take fucking pictures? A few live feeds?” He paces the deck in front of me, his steps getting more agitated by the second. “We need to get those fucking girls out.”
“I hear you but there’s just no way we can swing that without getting people killed.” I try to placate him. “If you have anything else to add, I’m all ears.”
He kicks at the side of the cabin, making the wood tremble. That is one huge, pissed off motherfucker.
“Actually, I have another idea.”
Sydney stalks into view, looking more serious than I have ever seen her. Curious, we follow her back into the cabin, noticing straight away that we have company. Bri’s phone is sitting on the table, Calvin’s name lighting up the screen.
Bri waves us closer. “Okay, say all that again, Colby’s back now.”
“I think you guys have a chance to get the girls out tonight but it’s not gonna be pleasant. You’ll need to distract Colm.”
I cast a resolute look at Bri who shakes her head in amusement. “Not me.”
“No,” Calvin agrees. “It can’t be Briella, or you Colby. Colm has asked me and a few of his security team to keep an eye on you both. I don’t know why but I think he may have suspicions about you.”
Well isn’t that just peachy. As if I need another reason to hate this fucking plan. And now Calvin knows we have backup, which doesn’t sit right with me.
“I’m gonna go with you guys, I can be a stray you pick up along the way. I’ll keep Colm occupied,” Sydney informs us.
“What?” Cross explodes. For a usually quiet and calm guy, he sure is doing a great impression of an insane dude.
I ignore the fuming giant and turn my attention back to Calvin. “How is this going to help?”
“Colm has ordered the shipment to be delivered, but due to some unwelcome questioning from the local Feds, he can’t unload straight away. To keep his assets protected, he’s going to leave a few guards on site and wait until the coast is clear before he unloads them. That will be your window.”
“If the Feds are already asking questions, we could go to them…” Marcus begins, only to be cutoff.
“The second you make contact, he’ll know. He has eyes everywhere.” Calvin sighs.
“How much time are we talking here?”
He pauses, and I know this isn’t going to be good. “30 minutes. An hour at the most.”
“Jesus Christ,” Marcus grumbles. “Thank fuck I’ve been working out.”
“Your mouth doesn’t count asshole,” Skylar mutters.
“That’s not what you said last night.”
“Enough!” I snap. The pair sit back, glaring at each other but knowing I’d reached my fucking limit. “Break it down Calvin, I’m not risking this without all the details.”
So, he does. The shipment will arrive, which is just a small fishing boat loaded with a haul of crayfish. Simple. Locked below however, will be around twenty girls. Gagged, bound, and most likely, sedated. They’ll be useless helping themselves, the bastard will make sure of that. The fish will be unloaded and taken away like usual, and the boat will be left all in the ruse of looking ordinary. As soon as Colm receives word from the chief of police that the coast is clear, his men will go back in there ready to unload the real haul. From there, who knows where they could end up. This is just a stop gap to get them away from the states.
“You need to make sure he doesn’t answer that call. The moment he does, his men will be all over that shipment. It will all be for nothing.”
“Shit just got real,” Bri murmurs beside me. I grab her hand and give it a squeeze.
“I need to go. I’m picking up Nadia for Colm.”
“What’s her part in all of this?”
He sighs wearily. “She’s a pawn. I actually feel quite bad for her. I’ve tried to convince her to make a break for it tonight once the party is over, but she’s under Colm’s spell. I don’t think it’s going to end well for her.” The call drops and we collectively breathe.
It’s a clusterfuck, but if we can pull it off, it will be worth it. Sydney and Briella are busy working out how to conceal weapons in their skimpy dresses, going unarmed isn’t an option. Chantel is whispering away in the corner, making provisions to get the girls out of there once we have them safe and sound. I have to trust she knows what she’s doing.
“What do you think?” I ask Marcus as he sets his ass down next to me.
“I think this is the only plausible plan, and we are all more than capable of pulling this off. We just need to stay connected and all be kept in the loop.”
Nodding slowly, I appraise the group of people surrounding us. Marcus being serious means one thing. He’s never serious unless…
“We’re fucked then.”
“Oh yeah, totally fucked.” He slugs me in the shoulder and walks back over to the brooding Cross.
Within the hour we’re parting ways, earpieces in and two-way enabled for all. Plus, some cleverly concealed cameras. Total open communication. We need to know where everyone is at all times. I take my girl’s hand as we near the dock and bring it up to my mouth.
“Shoot to kill Bri, no hesitation.”
She smiles that sexy smirk of hers and winks. “You know it.”