CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

With the Marines at full strength, the team offered them a variety of weapons that they might be comfortable with. Considering the number of people that would be at the premiere, they hoped that no weapons would be needed. If Stone valued his own life at all, he'd surrender without any shots fired. If not, the team wouldn't hesitate to take him down.

The same team that had been in West Virginia, minus Tailor and Alec, plus Bremmer, Crockett, Swan, and Clark, they loaded into the two Ospreys and headed to L.A. Since they were supposed to be security blending in with the others, they all had tuxedos, except, of course, Clark, who had a custom-made dress from Gwen.

Checking into the most prestigious hotel in the city, they almost hoped that he'd be staying there as well. Instead, they'd been informed by LAPD that he was in his main home at the beach. While everyone was going on about their business, they left the hotel and moved to their real base. A beautiful home in Malibu far enough away from the glitz and glamour, prying eyes, and rapid cameras. It was also far enough from Stone that they didn't need to worry.

Early the following morning, they did a walk-through of the venue to ensure they had all entrances and exits covered. Noting several concerns from a security standpoint, they made preparations to cover possible exits backstage.

Not wanting to be seen by anyone, they ordered several types of food to be delivered to the house and basically created a smorgasbord of ethnic food. There was Italian, Chinese, Greek, Lebanese, and, of course, American.

"I've never seen so much food in all my life," said Crockett.

"We like to eat," smirked Alistair.

"We've noticed. The question we want answered is how all of you stay so fit? I'd be three hundred pounds if I ate like this all the time," said Swan.

"Lots of good training, brother," smiled Leif. "So, tell us. When you heard Stone's voice, what did you think?"

"I swear it was like a veil of darkness being lifted," said Bremmer. "I was racking my brain trying to figure out what we could have seen or heard, and there was nothing there. Nothing. Then Victoria calls us all in and plays the voice of his brother. We stared at one another, knowing that it sounded familiar, yet not."

"That was exactly how I felt," said Clark. "Then, when she showed us a movie clip, it was so clear. I remember you all getting out first, and the DEA agents were hanging back. He was right near the fire and stared directly at us, then turned and ran. I don't know how he got away, but he did."

"He was in the treehouse," said Alistair. "We're almost positive of it. He went up there to hide, and when the agent went up to check it, he was pulled inside and killed. With all the weapons firing, no one saw it or knew what had happened."

"He deserves to hang just for that," said Swan. "But also for killing one of our own."

"He'll pay for what he did," said Leif, "but you all have to remain composed and not go off the rails. Clear?"

"Clear, sir."

Most of the men barely slept, preparing everything in their mind to ensure they got Stone in front of the world. When it came time to leave for the arena, they were dressed in their tuxedos, their earpieces in place, and waiting for their moment.

Alistair glanced into the audience, seeing Stone seated in the front row with a very buxom blonde. She definitely had been gifted some plastic surgery, but she didn't appear to be on his drugs. When his movie began, the others never lost sight of him at all times.

"Get ready," said Alistair. "Curtain is about to come down."

When the ending finished, the credits rolled, and the lights came up. There was moderate applause in the arena but not the standing ovation that they could tell Stone had been hoping for. He reluctantly stood, turning to smile and wave at the audience.

Turning back to the stage, he took the steps up, and as he did, four people were ushered out of their seats, and four others took their place.

Behind the lectern, Stone set down some notecards and then looked up, trying to find the beautiful face that was beside him moments earlier. Instead, he was greeted by four faces that he immediately recognized. The silence was deafening.

"I, uh. I, um, sorry. I'm humbled to stand before you today. This picture was a labor of love."

"She's fat and needs to drop the weight, or she'll never be in any film I produce."

The audience gasped, staring at one another as the sound of Stone's voice echoed in the arena. He looked behind him and didn't see anyone or anything.

"You said you'd have ten bottles for us."

"I said I'd have ten bottles if you had ten grand. You've only got six grand. You get six bottles. See, that's basic math."

"Don't treat us like we're stupid. We want ten bottles."

"Then I want ten grand. Come on, honey. We both know Daddy gives you whatever you want. You've got the fancy car, the designer clothes, now you've got the designer body to go with it. You can afford this."

"Fine."

"Let me give you the bag back. That's worth at least another two grand."

"No. No, keep the bag, but give us two more bottles."

"Cool. Where's your other little friend? She was a sweet piece of ass."

"She died."

"Now that's a shame. Who's taking her place?"

"I will."

"That was good, sweetheart. Next time, put some effort into it. I'll see you girls in a week."

Standing with her brother in the first row, Dove stared at the man who sent his own brother to drive her to an early grave. She looked frail and sickly, but she was there to point to her executioner.

Suddenly, a flicker and a camera image of his brother appeared on the screen. He gasped, staring at the man tied down.

" What the fuck do you think you're doing? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"

"Yep. I'm dealing with Bernard Steiner, brother to Milton, a.k.a. Lance Stone. Where is he?"

"Fuck you."

"Not nice, little man. Where is your brother?"

"What do you want?"

"Your brother."

"Like I said, fuck you."

"No problem. You'll die never knowing what happens to this story."

"You don't understand. He's untouchable. The whole world loves Lance Stone, and the fact that he's making a drug to make the world thinner, healthier, is only going to make him more revered."

"Not when it kills everyone who takes it."

The cameras panned to Dove, who was shaking as she stood beside her brother. They handed her a microphone, and she spoke.

"Lance Stone manufactures and sells an illegal weight loss drug that is also an opioid. He convinced me that I needed to lose weight in order to be successful and famous. Now, I may not live to see any of that. He's killed dozens, if not hundreds, of people because of this and tried to kill these four Marines because they saw him during a raid."

"That's a lie!" he screamed. "She's a drug addict. It's not my fault."

"It is your fault," said Clark, walking toward the stage. "It's your fault that a DEA agent died in a tree stand because he recognized your face. It's your fault that your sister is dying from the same drugs you produced. It's your fault that doctors, right this moment, are losing their licenses as raids are taking place."

He looked panicked and scared, but never more so than when the men started to move toward him on stage. Slowly, the audience stood and turned, walking out of the auditorium.

"No! Wait! I can explain it all!" he yelled.

"Too late, Milton," said Garr.

"That's not my name!"

"It is your name. Milton Steiner, brother to Bernard Steiner, a.k.a. Roper, and Raelynn. You killed them both."

"No," he said, shaking his head.

"Yes. But I know why," said Alistair. A flash appeared on the screen behind them, and a doughy, overweight Milton appeared before them. "You were overweight as a child, adolescent, teen, and young adult. Surgery helped you, but that wasn't enough. You used diet pills, diuretics, and other drugs."

"Shut up!"

"You're a fraud. You're not naturally healthy. Your hair transplant, nose job, jaw enhancement, and multiple liposuctions will say that to the whole world."

Stone was falling apart in front of everyone. The cameras were still recording the entire event, and everyone now knew who he really was. He turned, momentarily thinking he could run, but then realized there was nowhere to run. He was surrounded by a wall of muscle and might.

He was caught.