Chapter Twenty-Six

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

"DID YOU GET it?" Seth asked. He hoped she had because he didn't think they'd have another chance to search Peters' office. The man was paranoid, especially now that he knew someone was spying on him. If Seth had been a betting man, he'd put his money on Richardson being the guilty party.

If that was true, why did Richardson feel it necessary to spy on his partner in leadership? Made little sense unless he suspected Peters planned to leave him out of The Brotherhood's big plan. Seth was driven but Peters and Richardson were something else entirely. Besides both men being driven to succeed, they didn't mind stepping on anyone who hindered their journey to the top. But the top of what? That was the question they needed to answer to unravel this puzzle.

Seth yanked himself back on task when Teagan's slow smile caused his heart turn over in his chest. His woman was potent.

"I did," she said. "You gave me the time I needed to use Riley's program."

"Good thing," Noah said. "I thought we'd have to take out Peters if he tried to drag you off to the punishment room."

Her smile faded. "He could try. He would have failed."

"We don't have enough manpower to take on the entire compound, babe." Seth kissed her temple. "Let's play nice with the militia members until we're sure we have what the feds want. As soon as we confirm the target and the day and time, we're out of here."

Couldn't happen soon enough. He wanted Teagan out of Haven before the first bullet flew. Seth didn't want any of them caught in the crossfire. "How do we send Riley the information?"

"She already has it and so does Zane. The program automatically uploaded the files on the hard drive to both of their computers. They'll analyze the contents of the hard drive and hopefully give us the information the feds want."

Bowen sighed. "If we're lucky, Peters isn't so old school that he keeps everything on paper and under lock and key."

"I didn't find a safe in his office." Teagan frowned, her expression thoughtful. "He might have one in his quarters. I can check for that."

"No," Violet said.

"We may not have a choice."

"There's always a choice, Teagan. We're not taking a chance with your life. Let's wait and see what's on the hard drive. If what we need isn't there, we'll come up with another plan." She looked at Noah. "Are you good at interrogation, Noah?"

"I was cross trained in interrogation techniques," he admitted. "I'll get what we need but it won't be pretty or silent."

"Iona can do it, too," Teagan pointed out.

"She's not in Haven. We can't have our teammates in the compound without a viable explanation for anyone who sees them."

"They wouldn't be seen. We're better than that."

"Come on, Teagan. Chances are excellent someone would see at least one of our teammates. Too many people wandering around the compound at all hours of the day and night. Many of them have itchy trigger fingers. I don't want to treat our teammates for unnecessary gunshot wounds."

Seth held up his hand like a traffic cop to stop the ongoing argument. "Table the discussion until we know what's on the hard drive. We can't do anything until Zane and Riley finish examining the files. When they do, we'll create a plan to find the information we didn't uncover or escape from the compound and let the feds take over."

Marsh snorted. "If they can. The feds are well known for their messes."

Knight said, "The feds may not mobilize fast enough."

That was Seth's biggest concern. "I'm afraid your right."

"What will we do if they can't handle the job?" Bowen asked.

"Whatever is necessary to stop The Brotherhood. For now, get some rest. We have to meet the trainees in four hours."

"Can't let the trainees show us up." Noah pressed his hand against Violet's lower back. "Come on, Violet. I'll walk you home."

Teagan's teammate glanced at him with amusement in her eyes. "Oh, good. I was afraid I'd get lost going to my room."

The rest of them laughed, breaking the tension in the room.

One by one, the rest of the team scattered, leaving Seth alone with Teagan. He wrapped his arms around the woman of his dreams, pulled her close, and held her against him, allowing the stress and adrenaline from the night's events to bleed off. "You were amazing tonight."

"I did nothing out of the ordinary."

"You finished the mission even though Peters showed up and when you left the office, you acted as though you had every right to be there. You didn't panic."

"Panicking would have gotten us killed."

"You're right. I lost a partner when I worked undercover because he panicked."

Teagan frowned. "Were you injured on the op?"

He touched his left thigh. "Took a bullet trying to save Jeff. I failed."

"I'm sorry. Losing someone is never easy, but it's a hazard of the trade. Our jobs are dangerous."

"Yours is more so, I think." His hand cupped her nape. "Are you ready to sleep now?"

She shrugged. "Not really but what choice do I have?"

"You could stay up the rest of the night."

"I thought about it. Is that what you plan to do?"

He pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. "I'm on watch. I'll catch a nap later in the day." If he could. The past two days had been so fast-paced he hadn't been able to rest much. Wouldn't be the first time he'd gone without sleep.

"Where are you setting up?"

"I'll rotate between the living room and kitchen."

Teagan tightened her hold around Seth's waist. "The couch looks comfortable. I'll stretch out there and keep you company."

"I'll try to be quiet as I move around. Need anything before you sack out, love?"

"A goodnight kiss."

An invisible band around his heart squeezed as his head lowered. "Anytime." Just before his mouth captured hers, Seth whispered, "I love you, Teagan."

Long, heated minutes later, he broke the kiss and smiled at the dazed look in her eyes.

"Wow. You have skills, Dixon. I believe I'll keep you."

"Yeah? For how long?"

She pretended to think about it, eyes twinkling. "For life."

"I like the plan." After stealing another kiss, he released her. "Settle on the couch. I'll walk the perimeter, then grab some coffee and keep watch from the living room."

Seth nudged her toward the other room, turned out the light in the kitchen, let his vision adjust, and slipped outside. While he surveyed the area, Seth thought about the problem of Peters and Martina. If he didn't convince Ivan and Martina to get out of this compound, Peters would continue to go after Martina, especially when he realized Jillian had escaped.

When that happened, he'd have to protect Ryan. Seth didn't want the soldier to suffer because he was on watch when Fortress spirited away the teenagers for their own safety.

Following a thorough examination of the back of the property without seeing signs of encroachment, Seth rounded the corner and walked toward Ryan.

The machinist turned. "Everything's been quiet, sir."

"Anyone show interest in our quarters?"

"Jerry and Shane. I sent them on their way. They weren't happy, but they went."

"Thanks, Ryan. I owe you, my friend."

"Anything else I can do to help?"

"You should be relieved from duty in another few minutes. If that doesn't happen, let me know. I'm on watch, too."

Ryan studied him for a beat. "You don't trust easily."

Understatement of the year. The only people he truly trusted were his teammates and Artemis. "No, I don't."

"Do you have a reason for the caution here?"

Seth nodded. "With you taking the watch outside our quarters, you may find yourself under scrutiny, especially when Peters and Richardson realize Jillian and Rubin are gone."

"I knew the risk when I volunteered to help. I'd do it again in a heartbeat to keep them safe."

"I'll do what I can to keep the heat off you."

"I appreciate that, sir. I can handle whatever happens."

Seth studied him a minute, then asked softly, "Are you packed to bug out if necessary?"

Ryan's gaze sharpened. "Do I need to be?"

"Yes."

"Consider it done. As soon as I leave my post, I'll pack what I have. For that matter, if I need to go without my gear, just say the word. I'd rather be safe than dead."

"Just be ready. Colton Wells should also be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

Ryan's eyes widened. "Yes, sir."

Seth clapped him on the shoulder and returned to his quarters. On the hope that Teagan was asleep, he let himself into the kitchen and locked the door behind him. His woman was armed and dangerous. She wouldn't appreciate him coming through the front door unannounced. He might find a knife or a bullet in his gut. Neither appealed.

He filled a mug with coffee and walked to the living room. Teagan was asleep on the couch. What he wouldn't give to curl up on that comfortable sofa with his woman and take a nap.

Not happening, though. Seth's skin was crawling. His gut said something was very wrong.

He stood to the side of the window and sipped his coffee. Right on time, Ryan's replacement took over the watch. The two men spoke for a minute before the machinist loped off toward his quarters.

Every few minutes, Seth changed his watch location. All remained quiet but his trouble radar still warned him something bad was coming.

At 2:55, four men approached the guard on watch outside Seth's quarters. After a brief conversation, the guard glanced toward the house, nodded, and walked away.

Nice. Kent was finished as a guard. Seth glanced over his shoulder. "Teagan."

She sat up, alert. "What's wrong?"

"Four men just convinced the guard posted in front of the house to leave."

"Who bailed on us?"

"Kent. Wake the others."

"Copy that."

She hurried toward the bedrooms as Seth monitored the men talking outside their quarters. Finally, they split up to surround the house.

Seth's teammates assembled in the living room.

"Sit rep," Noah snapped.

"Four men convinced the guard posted outside our quarters to leave. They just split up. Find them and detain if possible. I want answers."

"Yes, sir."

"Marsh, take the east side. Knight, the west. Noah, cover the back. I'm on the guy in front." He was pretty sure the intruder at the front was good old Jerry. "Bowen, you and Teagan set up an interrogation area in the kitchen. The rest of you set up interrogation areas as well. Violet, get your mike bag. We may need your services before the night is over. If these guys get past the four of us, you three capture and contain. Get everything they know. I don't care how you do it."

"Copy that."

His teammates split up, and Seth turned his attention to Jerry. As the other man approached the house, he walked through a large area of ground lit by moonlight. Instead of going around it, Jerry continued through the area as though it didn't exist.

Seth shook his head in disgust. And Jerry thought he was fit to be an enforcer? He'd never make the cut in Special Forces. Jerry's arrogance made it easy for Seth to see his opponent wasn't carrying anything more lethal than a knife and gun.

Intercept or let him break in? Take Jerry down inside, he decided. Although he'd only seen four men, more could be stationed in the trees in case Jerry and his crew flushed Seth's team from the house.

Seth positioned himself behind the door and waited. A minute later, he heard sounds of someone picking the lock. More waiting as he listened to Jerry swearing softly on the other side of the door.

Seth rolled his eyes. Though he hadn't admitted the truth to Teagan, he had skills at breaking and entering, too. Although not as skilled as his woman, Seth's skills were miles better than Jerry's. Come on, Jerry. Get the job done.

Finally, Jerry manipulated the lock and slowly turned the knob. He eased the door open and peered into the dark room. Satisfied he hadn't been observed, he closed the door with a soft snick, and walked further into the room.

As Jerry reached for his pistol, Seth wrapped his arm around the other man's neck and squeezed. His opponent was out in seconds. Sleeper hold for the win.

Seth cinched Jerry's wrists behind his back with zip ties and slapped a piece of duct tape over his mouth to keep him from warning his buddies. He made his way to the east side of the house in case Marsh needed a hand. Unnecessary, he realized. Marsh had already captured Shane and used zip ties and duct tape to contain him. "Set up an interrogation area."

"Yes, sir." Marsh smiled at Shane. "Hear that, Shane? You'll have a nice, long conversation with us tonight. Too bad you chose the wrong side of this fight."

Shane glowered at Marsh and Seth.

He retraced his steps and checked in with Knight. His prisoner, a man named Ron, struggled to free himself from the zip ties and continuously mumbled behind the tape over his mouth while glaring at both men.

Seth glanced around the empty room. "Perfect place for an interrogation, don't you think, Ron?"

More mumbled cursing.

"Glad you agree." He turned to Knight. "Need a hand setting everything up?"

"Nope. I've got it. What about your man?"

"Out and restrained."

"Nice. You haven't lost your touch, Major. I didn't hear a thing."

"I'll check with Teagan and the others. Let's finish this."

"Copy that, sir."

Seth walked into the kitchen in time to see Noah perp-walking Joel in through the back door. Excellent. He signaled Bowen to follow him.

His teammate fell into step behind Seth. He carried a chair they'd use for Seth's prisoner. Together they hauled Jerry to his feet, shoved him into the chair, and secured his arms and legs to it.

By the time they finished, Jerry was coming around. He struggled to free himself to no avail.

"You shouldn't have come here, Jerry." Seth watched him fight his bonds harder. "Wasting your time, man. But since you're here, let's talk."

Although Jerry held out longer than Seth expected, he caved and spilled everything he knew which wasn't as much as Seth's team needed. "What's the target, Jerry? We need to know. Don't want my team caught in something we're not prepared for."

A snort. "You're supposed to be Special Forces. You can do anything."

"With the right information, we have a better chance of survival. And make no mistake, Jerry. My priority is the safety of my team. You, my friend, are collateral damage. I don't care if you live or die."

Jerry's face grew pale. "You're going to kill me?"

"You planned to kill me and my team while we slept. How would you have explained our deaths?"

"Blame it on someone else." He looked smug.

Rubin. Jerry and his buddies had been setting up Rubin to take the fall. Someone had noticed Marsh's interest in Jillian and jumped to the wrong conclusions. "Target, Jerry. I'm tired of messing with you. You interrupted my time with my woman. I won't forget that."

"Like I care."

"You should." Seth moved closer, letting his anger show. "You planned to kill the woman I love. I take that very personally."

He pulled his Ka-Bar and flicked a glance at Bowen who immobilized Jerry's head. Seth rested his blade against the enforcer's throat. "Last time, Jerry. What's the target?"

"I don't know. I swear. Peters and Richardson don't tell us anything."

Unfortunately, Seth believed him. Answers would have to come from another source. So, what to do with these clowns was the new dilemma.

Violet appeared in the archway.

"Watch him, Grant."

"Yes, sir."

Seth nudged Violet into the short hallway between the kitchen and living room. "What is it?"

"I have a medication that will knock these guys out for twelve hours or more."

He sighed. "We only have three options. Knock them out, take them out, or get them out of here like we did the kids."

Would his mission be finished in twelve hours? Perhaps. No way to know for certain. Everything hinged on how long it took Riley and Zane to dig through Peters' computer files.

"Can you keep them knocked out without endangering them?"

She shrugged. "It's possible but the logistics are messy. We'd have to feed them and give them bathroom breaks."

"How close is the second Fortress team?"

"They're 40 minutes out. The team can take them off our hands and send them to a black site until our mission is complete. At that point, we can turn them over to the feds."

"Good. Contact Iona and have her set it up. We'll see if we can get more information from these guys before the second team arrives."

They'd have to move fast. Peters and Richardson would notice the absence of the teenagers plus the four enforcers.

He returned to the living room to find Jerry moaning with Bowen standing close by. "Problem?" Seth asked.

"With a little persuasion, Jerry admitted he came up with the idea to kill the five of us in our beds tonight, then volunteer himself and his merry band of thugs to guard Peters."

Seth stilled. "What about the women?"

Fury burned in Bowen's eyes. "He planned to kill them, too, after he and his team took turns raping them."

Blinding rage swept over Seth. He turned away, fighting to control the urge to kill Jerry on the spot. When he could think again, Seth pivoted on his heel and punched the prisoner. A satisfying crunch filled the air a second before Jerry screamed. Blood gushed from his broken nose.

He leaned close to Jerry's ear. "You're lucky I don't kill you. One woman you planned to rape and murder is mine. No one touches her without repercussions. You're going to regret threatening my woman, Jerry. One day, I will find you and make you pay. You'll never hear me coming. I have a long memory. Know what that means? When I take you out, your death will be painful and slow."

By this time, Jerry was sobbing and shaking.

Jerk.

Violet returned. "All set. Thirty minutes." She looked at Jerry. "Want me to help him?"

"No. He's tough. He can handle a little pain." It was more humane than what he planned for Violet and Teagan.

Forty-five minutes later, the four enforcers were out of the compound and on their way to the black site.

"Orders?" Noah asked when they'd gathered in the kitchen again.

Seth glanced at his watch. "We need to go. Time to train the remaining enforcers and bodyguards. When you see Kent, pull him from the group. He's finished."

"Yes, sir."

Knight folded his arms. "How will we explain the disappearance of Jerry and his cronies?"

"I'll think of something."

Seth locked the door behind his team and joined Teagan for the walk to the training center. He felt eyes on them from the moment they left the house.

He quartered the area as they walked, spotting four more enforcers hidden in the trees. So, he'd been right. Jerry brought backup, and the backup hadn't noticed the team escorting Jerry and his cronies to the extraction site.

"Four in the trees," Teagan murmured.

"I see them."

"What do you plan to do about Kent?" She glanced at him. "I'll be glad to handle it for you."

His lips curved. "That would be fun to watch but another time, babe. I'll take care of him."

"Too bad."

Seth couldn't help it. He laughed. He knew Teagan was dead serious, but she was everything he'd ever wanted in a woman. His lady was delightful if a bit blood thirsty. "I love you, Teagan."

She stared at him. "I volunteer to eliminate a problem permanently and you think it's funny?"

"Your sense of humor is razor sharp, love."

"So is my knife. You should remember that."

Seth's phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket and scanned the message. He scowled. Not what he wanted to hear.

Teagan wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him to read the screen. She growled.

"Yeah." The files from Peters' computer were a dead end. Zane and Riley found a date and time for The Brotherhood's agenda but not the target.

"We have little time," Teagan whispered.

Two days. Seth and his team had two days to figure out the target and stop The Brotherhood from shedding innocent blood.