Chapter Nine
Scott
Scott woke with Alyssa between him and Santiago. Yesterday and last night had been the most amazing experiences of his life. Seeing her gain pleasure from them had been awe inspiring. He hated the idea he had to get out of bed soon so he could shower, then plan how they would take down Juan.
However, something still sat wrong with him. Victor’s man had been more than a little agitated. In fact, he’d been down right pissed when Scott thought about it. The whole time they transferred the merchandise to the rental the man had spoken in rapid fire Spanish. He caught bits and pieces. His boss was on his ass. Someone would find out. End up dead …
Questions swirled in Scott’s mind as he curled around Alyssa’s body. Thoughts of how he wanted to rouse her pushed away the suspicion. He began to palm her breast when his phone started ringing. Then a second later, Santiago’s rang, followed quickly by Alyssa’s.
He grabbed his phone and hit talk, without glancing at the screen. “Hello?” His voice was still rough from sleep and he cleared his throat.
“Have you seen the news?” Theo harsh tone, raised a bunch of red flags.
“No, why?” He grabbed the remote next to his bed and clicked on the nineteen-inch flat screen.
“What the fuck are you talking about Athena? No, I haven’t checked on Zeke, why would I? I put him on the job. We call in every twelve hours,” Santiago grumbled.
“Ma, slow down. I can’t understand you. Put Papa on the phone.”
Scott’s heart slammed against his ribs. Anxiety clawed at him, creating the beginnings of a panic attack. He turned the television to the local news and dropped the control on his bed. “What the fuck.”
“We’re hearing one child has been kidnapped and two adults have been shot. We have a partial plate CD374. The car has been described as a white, four-door sedan, heading east out of the high school.” The helicopter above the school continued to circle while the announcers droned on.
“What do you mean, she’s gone, Papa?” Alyssa got out of bed and began to pace. “Si, Zeke came. Destiny went to school. But Papa … how?”
“Son of a bitch,” Santiago snarled. “Where is he now?”
“You need to get your team together and go find her. Whatever game Juan is playing needs to be stopped,” Theo snapped, drawing his attention back to his phone. “No police on this one, Scott.”
He sat there gobsmacked, unable to process what the hell just happened. “Do we have any leads?”
“Ask your partner, he’ll know,” Theo said, before hanging up on him.
He looked to Santiago whose expression remained neutral, while Alyssa continued to wipe away tears. How had this happened? What went wrong in the desert? Sure, the whole exchange had been touch and go for a while, but things were straight. The exchange happened and there was nothing to indicate Destiny would be snatched.
“Tell me Zeke had a tracker on Destiny.” He grabbed his jeans off the floor and slipped them on. “Tell me you can find them.”
Santiago scrubbed his face as he threw on his clothes. “I do. I need to get my gear. I’ll be back.” He grabbed his keys off the small table in the room apartment then headed out the door. “Don’t let anyone in. I’ll text you when I get back.”
Scott gathered Alyssa in his arms and pulled her back down onto the bed. The flutter of her heart beat had nothing to do with arousal and more to do with fear. He kissed her temple and rocked her. When he saw Juan, the bastard was a dead man. He didn’t give a fuck what happened to him. Sometimes a little street justice is what it took for people to learn not to fuck with anyone.
“Why her? She doesn’t know what our brother is. She’s innocent,” Alyssa whispered. “My parents shielded her from our mess, for this very reason.”
“It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”
She snorted. “Couldn’t I?” She turned her teary-eyed gaze on him. “If only I had been strong enough to keep away. To … to … not have this need to rebuild my family, I’d have never accepted this assignment.”
“And, what would your superiors have said?” They were using her. He realized it the moment they talked last night after everything. They saw her as a meal ticket to the inner workings of gangs. She wasn’t a person to them, but a pawn.
Her phone rang again, and she stiffened. “I have to take this.”
“Is it him?”
She didn’t say anything. It was written all over her face. The angst. The fear. The worry. “I have to take it.”
“Let me.” He snatched the phone from her and hit accept. “Hello?”
The man on the other end didn’t say anything.
“Look, I know who you are. Right now, Alyssa needs to focus on being with her family since you threw her into this mess as well. When she’s ready, she’ll call you.” He pulled the cell from his ear and heard the rough sigh.
“She’s still my employee and a deputy.”
“She’s still a fucking human being. You put her in this, and this is the result,” Scott snarled.
“I could say the same for you too, Scott.” The smug bastard thought he understood the situation—had one up on him. Fucker.
“Oh? So, that’s why you sent her back into her old digs to go undercover in her brother’s gang so you could what? What have you fucking done? Nada. You use her like she’s just some filthy cholita because she comes from the gangs. I’ve got news for you asshole, if anything happens to Destiny, I’m coming for you too.” His body vibrated with anger. Pissed at himself and everyone else for getting her and her family involved.
“Is that a threat?”
He chuckled. “No, pendejo. It’s a fucking promise.”
~
Santiago
Santiago could cut the tension with a knife the minute he strode through the door, carrying the black cases filled with electronics and weapons. He’d missed something. He didn’t know what, but he was sure to get an earful about it. He placed the cases on the small table, blotting out the teak surface.
“Okay spill,” he stated, while flipping the latches on the container so he could open them up.
“Scott told off my commanding officer,” Alyssa said, a hint of pride and a bit of fear tinged her words. “Threatened him too.”
Santiago cocked a brow.
“He fucking put her out there without care or forethought. At least with us with her, we can catch both Victor and Juan and in play.” Scott shrugged. “So, I told him if anything happened to Destiny, he was next.”
“Shit, Scott.” Santiago bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to laugh. “You probably have him pissing himself.”
“Good,” he replied. “Fucker deserves it. How’s Zeke?”
“On the way. I just talked to him. Thank fuck he had his vest on.” He gave Alyssa his full attention. “He’s upset. He let you and your family down.”
She nodded. “Papa said Doug is there with them and so are a couple of other men. I think he said Quin and River?”
“Good. Both are LAPD, and they’re solid. They won’t let anything happen to your parents,” Scott answered.
Santiago retrieved the tracking monitor and turned it on. “Zeke gave your sister a GPS necklace. It’s virtually undetectable unless you have specific equipment. We all have a set when we work cases like these where someone’s life is on the line.” A green beacon dot began to blink on the GPS map. “She’s headed for the border.”
They were already an hour behind. They had to get going or the window of opportunity would close. “We have to go now. Scott you’re driving. I’ll call Kershaw on the way. We need to get a bird in the air and close down the border without them knowing we’re coming.”
A knock came at the door. Two taps, a pause then another. Zeke. Santiago opened the door, and the guy stumbled inside. He looked like shit. But, that’s what happened when you took two to the chest. His normally tan skin had been pale. His gray eyes dull from the pain. His mop of sandy blond hair fell in his face as he lowered his bulky body into the closest chair with a groan.
“Remind me never to get shot again.” He rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, before glancing up at Alyssa. “I’m sorry.”
She waved off his apology. “It’s not your fault my brother is a puto. We’ll get my sister back.” Determination filled her amber eyes as she lifted her chin.
“Yes, we will.” He closed the cases while Zeke held the GPS monitor. “We should take one car. Don’t want too many people getting suspicious.”
“Sounds good,” Scott replied.
When they were situated in Santiago’s truck, he used the on-board phone to call Kershaw. He couldn’t waste any more time. “Call Agent Kershaw.”
“Calling Agent Kershaw.” The computer chimed.
Moments later he answered. “Kershaw.”
“I need a bird. Over the 5 Freeway,” Santiago stated pulling away from the curb.
“Where and why?”
He explained the situation. “I’ve got her tracker over Orange County right now. Tustin to be exact.”
“Son of a bitch,” Kershaw snapped. “I’m on it. I’ll have a unit on the way too. Don’t engage until we get there.”
“I’m not making any promises.” He ended the call as he gassed on it.
As he drove, he tried to come up with a plan. If they went in guns blazing, it would get Destiny hurt. If they stood around too long, they’d get hurt. He glanced over at Zeke who’d regained some color, but looked worse for wear. “It’s not your fault.”
“The fuck it’s not.”
Damn. Zeke had a habit of taking shit too personally. It was one of the reason they gave him the lighter cases. Stuff he could handle without worry of death or kidnapping. His psych evaluation said he had issues with guilt and self-recrimination. Santiago tread carefully.
“Dude, stop beating yourself up. We’ve had this conversation man. Not everything in the cosmic universe is your fault. Suck this shit up and get your head back in the game. Destiny needs you. I need you.”
“You couldn’t have known.” Alyssa sat forward, squeezing his shoulder. “This is my trifling ass brother’s doing. Whatever he got caught up in with Cajero is on him. No one else.”
“She’s a good kid and funny as fuck too. Your parents should be proud of her,” Zeke muttered.
“They are.”
They stopped about three miles from the caves. The chopper was hidden, but they could see Juan and Victor Cajero near the opening of the caves. Destiny was nowhere in sight, and Santiago was getting antsy. The longer they stood there doing nothing, the harder it would be to get Destiny back and take down Cajero.
“Your secondary team will be there in ten minutes,” Kershaw said, over the phone.
“Destiny’s tracker isn’t working,” Zeke muttered. “By the time we get there she’s going to be over the damn border.” The threat of violence threaded through his words as he stood there with them.
“We’ll get there. I bet she’s in the cave and it’s interfering with the tech.” Scott picked up the binoculars on the hood of Santiago’s truck. He scanned the area then pointed. “Three o’clock.”
A plumb of desert dirt floated in the air trailing behind a sand-colored tactical vehicle. “Thank fuck. Calvary is here.”
The burly beast of a truck stopped a few feet behind where Santiago and his team stood. After the passenger door popped open, a man wearing expensive Italian loafers appeared on the diamond plated step. He had model good looks and wore a perfectly cut suit, as though he were a Phil Coulson wannabe. His brown hair had enough product in it to hold it stiffly in place while mirrored aviator glasses covered his eyes. He descended from the monstrous machine, his head on a constant swivel as he strode toward them holding out his hand.
“Couldn’t let you have all the fun.” He smirked. “Sean Kershaw, at your service.”
Santiago stared at his hand for a minute before taking it. “Figured as much.” He let go, then hooked his thumb toward his team. “Scott, Alyssa, and you already know about Zeke.”
“Alyssa,” he said taking her hand. “I am sorry about your sister, but we’ll get her back.”
“I know we will.” Her steely gaze turned Santiago on.
He had never considered sharing a woman with anyone, however he’d been damn lucky to have found her through Scott. “Yeah we will.” He wrapped his arm around her, tucking her into his side. He realized she didn’t need his protection, yet he offered it anyway.
“They’re in a standstill down there. I have a plan though,” Kershaw stated. “We’re ready if you are.”
Santiago nodded. “We were waiting on you.”
“Follow me. I have supplies for you.” Kershaw motioned toward the back of the tactical vehicle.
He opened the door, and Santiago’s mouth fell open. “Fuck me.” Every type of weapon from a Glock 9mm to a grenade gun were secured behind screened doors at the back of the all-terrain vehicle. Gas masks and vests hung above the seats. Damn, he’d walked into a government toy store, and he could have one of everything.
Scott whistled. “We can do some damage with this, homie.”
Damn straight they could. “Omega has a nice collection of shit, but this …” he grinned.
“Boys and their toys.” Alyssa pushed past them. “Let’s go. We’re here to do a job.”
Santiago, Zeke and Scott followed her, taking seats on the available benches, before they drove off down the path toward the caves—the same one they’d taken to get closer to the deal last night.
“We have to come in from the east so not to be seen or heard. We also have a drone in the sky with heat signature capabilities. We know Destiny is in the tunnels. She has a guard with her and appears to be tied up. Once we take down Cajero, we’ll have to take caution to recover her.”
She was already in danger, especially when shit went down. The small window between cab and the back opened, and the passenger turned to speak to them. “Shit is hitting the fan. We’re two minutes out.”
Santiago’s stomach dropped. They had to hurry the fuck up. Double time it. If Juan killed Victor, Destiny was dead as well. If they killed Juan, he feared for what would happen to Alyssa’s little sister. He gripped the military grade .223 tighter as he sent up a little prayer.
When the vehicle came to a stop, he charged for the door, ready to get this shit done and over with. No way in fuck there were going to kill each other, let alone a defenseless little girl. He slammed the door open and jumped down. The action jarred his knees and rattled his teeth. Alyssa and Scott were right on his tail, with Kershaw bringing up the rear.
From this vantage spot, he could spot Juan gesturing while running his fool, fucking mouth. The asshole was going to get himself into trouble, if the tension radiating off Cajero was any indication. His shoulders were stiff. His jaw clenched. Even the way he braced his feet held a bit of an edge. His whole posture denoted the exact force it took for him to stand there and not attack.
Santiago held up his fist as he eased closer. He had to be in position in case shit went south. Three members who’d been waiting in the vehicle were on the other side of the cave, ready to pounce when he gave the signal. They had to move with precision and safety. He placed the long-rifle on the rock in front of him and sighted in. No use in sending out wild shots if things got squirrelly.
Beside him, Alyssa crouched down, the Glock 9mm she grabbed from the truck rested in her hands, locked and loaded. Kershaw and Scott were on the other out cropping of rocks five hundred feet from them.
“Puto!” Juan reached for his gun and started firing.
“Shit. Hold your fire. Don’t engage. Don’t engage,” Santiago yelled as he and Alyssa headed for the cave’s entrance.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed off the walls as they ran deeper into the cavern. A shadow of movement to Santiago’s left caught his attention seconds before the impact to his face.
He staggered backwards, reaching out for the cavern wall. Spots danced in front of his eyes. The din of gun being fired in the distance rang in his ears as he shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. Everything came back in roaring clarity. He pushed off the wall and stepped back into the fray. Alyssa fought with the guard in the tunnel, her furious lefts and rights proving she was a little scrapper. She tangled her legs with the big man, taking him down hard.
Santiago fished cuffs out from behind his back and slapped them on the man’s wrists before helping Alyssa up. “Are you okay?” They said it simultaneously, causing him to chuckle. “I’m fine. Caught me off guard is all. You?”
“I’m okay,” she stated while catching her breath.
“Let’s go get your sister.” He wiped a bit of dirt from her cheek before brushing his lips over hers.
They hurried down the trail, descending deeper into the cave. The warm tepid air of the desert became cool, almost wet, to the touch—if they could touch the air. The walkway widened into a decent sized cave, and there in the middle sat a frantic Destiny.
Alyssa ran to her, pulling the gag from Destiny’s mouth before going to her knees to untie her sister’s feet and wrists. The girl sobbed. Her whole body trembled as Alyssa undid the bindings. Santiago opened his mouth a few times to say something, anything, but nothing came. When Destiny was free, he picked her up and carried her out.