Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SETH CIRCLED THE hood of Teagan's SUV and opened her door. Richardson and Peters waited by a luxury SUV, watching their every move. His fellow detectives waited nearby, alert and ready for trouble. Also, if he wasn't mistaken, three men with rifles watched the proceedings from the woods surrounding the meeting place. So much for trust. "Show time, babe," he murmured. "Ready?"

"Bring it." She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in for a long, passionate kiss that made Seth's blood run hot in his veins.

Holy smoke. This woman just did it for him. Although he'd love to stay right where he was and indulge in more sizzling kisses, Seth's nape felt as though spiders crawled over his skin, a sign they were being observed. They wanted The Brotherhood leaders to believe he and Teagan were a couple. That didn't mean he wanted these men at his back, watching as he romanced his woman.

Seth slowed their kisses to gentle brushes of his mouth over Teagan's. "Please tell me we're going to do that again at a more appropriate time."

As he hoped, the beautiful woman in his arms laughed. She grasped his extended hand and slid from the vehicle.

He threaded their fingers together and, with Violet and Noah, walked toward Richardson and Peters.

The two men straightened. "Glad you could make it," Peters said. "I understand you had some trouble overnight."

"We handled it. Just convinced me we need to get out of Ardmore. No way we'll get a fair shake in this two-horse town." His voice was filled with bitterness and anger. Easy to dredge up the emotions because they were the truth. With the Fortress tech tinkering with his and Noah's files, there was no way for them to get justice.

Richardson shook his head. "Sorry, my friend. Like I said, we'll take care of your minor problem. If you decide you want to come back to Ardmore next year, you'll be free to resume your life."

Seth stared. Richardson was saying everything he wanted to hear except Seth knew for a fact that absolutely would never be possible unless someone higher in rank was dirty. If he and Noah had been guilty of murdering Pico, the evidence would be overwhelming. Fortress did nothing by halves.

Noah snorted. "I'll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, let's get going. The last thing I want to do is draw the attention of more of Ardmore's finest," he said wryly.

Richardson held up a hand. "Before we go, did you bring firepower with you?" He smiled. "We need to put in an order for weapons and ammunition on the drive to our compound."

"We're covered. We have what we need for now."

Peters gave a curt nod. "Fair enough. We'll supplement what you brought if it isn't enough for our purposes."

"One more thing before we go," Richardson said. "Cell phones aren't allowed in the compound unless they're carried by those in the inner circle."

So, the leaders of The Brotherhood cut off their members from the outside world. Yet another way to brainwash their people into believing whatever the leaders said.

Seth scowled. "No."

"It's not your choice," Richardson snapped.

"I'm with Seth," Noah said. "That's a deal breaker."

"I'm curious," Peters said. "What's so important that you won't give up your phone to support our cause and to clear your name and record?"

"My mother is ill." Seth hoped the hale and hearty Audra Dixon never got word of her supposed illness. "I'm not cutting off communication. In fact, we all have reasons to maintain communication with the outside world. End of story. If you can't live with us having our phones, we walk, and you can recruit another special ops team with our experience to support your cause."

It was a gamble, one he might lose. However, those phones were a lifeline and another form of protection with the GPS chips embedded inside them. Things on this op could go south in a heartbeat. The ability to connect his team to each other might be the difference between life and death. They were each able to contact Fortress with the watches. Didn't mean they could contact each other with them.

The leaders of The Brotherhood exchanged glances, their expressions grim. Finally, Peters turned back to Seth. "All right. You can keep your phones on the condition that you don't use them out in the open. If someone discovers you have them, point them to me for explanations. However, I expect compensation in return."

Noah's lip curled. "What compensation?"

"For being allowed to keep the phones, you will be part of our organization for 18 months rather than one year as previously agreed."

"And you'll be available for special projects," Richardson added.

A sneer from Bowen. "Your own personal enforcers?"

"Now you're getting the picture."

Knight glowered. "Mercenaries earn more than one hundred grand a year."

"Let's just say you're on probation for six months." Peters folded his arms. "If you prove you're worth the extra money, we'll double your pay."

"You better come through and live up to your word, Peters," Marsh snapped. "Two hundred thousand dollars is still chump change for our skills."

"Perhaps. You'll have to prove yourselves. So far, I only have the word of Knight's cousin. I haven't seen a demonstration of skill. I'm taking a lot on faith."

"So are we," Seth said. "We'll earn your trust as long as you earn ours. And by the way, I don't appreciate having rifles pointed at any of us, especially my girlfriend."

Richardson chuckled. "Excellent, Dixon. Excellent indeed. I'm impressed."

"Are the men wielding those rifles your enforcers?" Knight asked.

"They are."

Bowen frowned. "You need a better trained protection detail."

"You knew they were there. Why didn't you do something about them?" Peters demanded.

"Ask them to show themselves."

Richardson and Peters stiffened and glanced at the wooded area. "Send them a message to join us," Peters said softly. His glittering gaze stayed focused on Seth while his partner did as instructed.

They waited for over two minutes with no response from the enforcers. Richardson's face turned red. "What did you do to them, Dixon?"

Seth spread his arms, showing empty hands before threading his fingers through Teagan's once more. "Not a thing."

"Then why aren't they answering my message?"

"You obviously know where they set up with their weapons. Go check on them and see what's going on for yourself."

Peters nodded at Richardson, then his gaze slid to Teagan. "Take Dixon's woman with you. If our enforcers are dead, kill her."

Seth stepped in front of Teagan, stomach twisting into a knot. "No. Teagan stays here. If you want a hostage, take me. This team is under my command. I'm responsible for all decisions and orders."

"Commendable but unacceptable. As a leader, you understand there are consequences for every action."

"I know plenty about consequences, Peters. Do you?"

Teagan squeezed his hand. When he glanced at her, he saw the warning in her eyes. Making her look weak in front of these two men could have deadly consequences later. Besides, she'd proved only a few hours earlier how capable she was of protecting herself. She was outside, not cornered in a small room so Teagan wouldn't freeze. Not only that, the other three detectives had incapacitated and restrained the three enforcers. They were fine which meant Teagan would be all right if Richardson kept his partner's promise. He was risking his girlfriend's life on honor between criminals.

What choice did he have? If he continued to protest, their undercover op was finished before it started.

Seth leaned down and brushed her mouth with his. "Go with Richardson, baby." It took everything he had to stay in place when she walked across the open space with Richardson's hand clamped around her upper arm and a weapon pointed at her side.

Ten long minutes later, Teagan walked out of the woods with Richardson and three men at her back. The three men each carried a rifle and had surly facial expressions.

Peters glowered at his enforcers. "Go to your vehicle and prepare to leave," he said icily.

"Yes, sir," was the mumbled response. The men shuffled toward the second luxury SUV, shooting resentful glances toward Seth and his men.

Those three would be a problem. They hadn't appreciated being shown as inept at their jobs by Knight, Bowen, and Marsh. He and the others would have to watch their backs.

"I underestimated you, Dixon," Peters said. I won't do so again."

Good or bad? Probably good. "You need better protection."

"What's your solution to my problem?"

"Use us. We're trained to serve on protection details among other things. You wanted us because of our experience serving together in the military and law enforcement. Use our training for your advantage and best protection."

If they were allowed closer to the men at the top of the power structure, his team could unearth the information they needed that much sooner. Whatever it took to get Teagan out of this situation as fast as possible was his goal. If they remained in the compound, eventually she would be in a situation similar to the one at the station. Seth wanted to avoid that scenario.

Peters inclined his head. "I'll think about it."

Not exactly the response Seth wanted but if he pushed, he'd raise the suspicions of the leaders and that could have deadly consequences for his team.

"Time to move out," Richardson said. "We need to get Dixon and his team settled into the compound and show them how we do things in The Brotherhood." He motioned for Peters to climb into their vehicle. Another man, presumably another enforcer, sat behind the wheel.

Seth signaled his team to load up, then escorted Teagan to her vehicle. He opened the door for her and lifted her to the passenger seat. "Are you okay?" He curled his hand around her nape in a show of possession for the targets who watched them. "Richardson and his thugs didn't hurt you?"

She cupped his cheek with her palm. "I'm fine. Your teammates did a good job. No sign of their passage or a struggle anywhere. They trussed up the enforcers with zip ties and muffled them with gags, their weapons lying beside them. Knight, Marsh, and Bowen haven't lost a step since they left the military."

"Good to know. You're sure Richardson didn't hurt you?" The man had been furious.

She smiled. "He was too angry. Richardson trains the enforcers himself. He wasn't happy to be made a fool of by us."

"We'll have to watch our backs."

Teagan shrugged. "That would have been true no matter what. We'll handle it, Seth. It's what we do."

He planted a hard kiss on her mouth and closed the door. Once Seth climbed behind the wheel, he followed Richardson and Peters and the enforcers from the area. Noah fell into line behind him. Marsh, Knight, and Bowen brought up the rear.

Once they were on the interstate, Seth's phone signaled an incoming call. He glanced at the dashboard. "Yeah?"

"Ticked the men off, especially Richardson," Knight said.

"Definitely. According to Teagan, Richardson trains the enforcers himself. He wasn't happy to be shown up by us."

"Don't care. Maybe we'll find what we need and get out faster this way."

"Or maybe get a bullet in the back," Bowen said. "Teagan, you okay?"

"Not a scratch on me."

Wouldn't last, Seth knew. He feared all of them would carry the marks of their passage through the compound before this mission was finished.

"Good. Orders, Seth?"

"Stick with the plan and stay alert. If Peters takes me up on the offer of acting as their personal team of enforcers, we might get lucky but I'm not counting on it. Nothing ever comes that easily on missions."

"Isn't that the truth. Knight out."

He called Noah.

"Yeah?"

"What's your take?"

"We'll be lucky not to get a knife or bullet in the back. You?"

"Same. Had to be done, though. I didn't want the protection detail to pick us off if this meeting was a trap."

"Good call having Knight and the others recon the area."

"Richardson and Peters only know us by reputation and not a good one at that. No way would they take us at face value without protecting themselves. That would be the ultimate foolishness. Violet, observations?"

"There's a power struggle between Richardson and Peters. Although their power is supposed to be equal, it's more a 60/40 split than equal."

Huh. Interesting. "What else?"

"Richardson wants control. He's biding his time but I wouldn't be surprised if there's an attempted overthrow down the line or a split from the original group."

"Hopefully he'll wait until we're out of the line of fire before he tries to take over. I don't want us caught in the crossfire."

Great. Not only were they having to figure out The Brotherhood's agenda, now they also had to stay clear of internal political struggles inside the group.

"If I had to guess, I'd say there's probably a group of people who are quietly lining up behind Richardson."

"Not what I wanted to hear but we'll find out soon enough. Good insight, Violet."

"Nice work persuading Richardson and Peters to let us keep our phones," Noah said. "I figured they'd turn us down."

"My gut says they want our team for a particular mission and they need the team under their control fast. We're the perfect pigeons for their plan. Having to locate and persuade another Special Forces team to join the cause would take too much time if they're on a short mission clock."

"I think you're right," Noah agreed. "Not only that, we've already been painted as being dirty. Another team wouldn't be as amenable to joining the other side."

"I don't know, buddy. Money talks and Richardson and Peters are throwing money around like it grows on trees."

"Money doesn't talk loud enough to sell your soul to the devil."

"Not our group," Seth agreed. "But we've seen people do anything for a lot less than what we're being offered."

"Makes me wonder what they want from us."

"Nothing good," Teagan said.

"Keep an eye out in case Richardson brings in another group of enforcers to dole out some payback while we're in route to the compound."

"Copy that. Later." Noah ended the call.

Despite Seth's concern about an ambush during the drive, the group arrived safely at The Brotherhood's compound four hours later. He drove through the open gate and followed Richardson and Peters until another man dressed in the enforcer's uniform of black camo pants, black t-shirt, and tactical boots directed him to a parking area away from the leaders of the militia.

Seth turned off the engine and glanced at Teagan. "Please remember I'm playing a role. I don't want to lose you, Teagan."

She leaned over and kissed him. "You won't because the same is true for me." Teagan smiled. "Here's to role playing, Seth. Welcome to the dark side."