Chapter Twenty-Seven

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

SETH WALKED INTO the training center and turned on the lights. Enforcers and camp guards would arrive shortly for their first day of training with Seth and his teammates. Kent's time in the group was over. Wonder how many more would drop out or be dismissed by breakfast?

He stood in the center of the mat and looked at his team. "You ready?"

Knight grimaced. "Could have used the two hours of sleep we lost."

"What's the plan?" Noah asked.

"Stick to the schedule we put together yesterday. We know their capabilities. Now we weed out and hone the skills of those remaining."

"They'll notice their missing buddies," Bowen murmured.

"I'm counting on it." Nothing like a wake up call to men who thought they were better than everyone else in this camp.

Ryan and Ivan were the first two men through the door of the training center. Both men looked ready to begin their training. So did Colton Wells.

After a careful glance around, Ivan approached Seth and Teagan. He shook hands with both. "Thank you for helping Martina last night," he murmured. "I owe you."

Seth shook his head. "No debt between friends."

"Is she all right?" Teagan asked.

"Thanks to you, she is." Anger simmered in the other man's eyes. "I didn't know Peters was after my wife. If you hadn't intervened…."

"I'm glad we were there," Seth said. "We won't always be available."

A hard swallow. "I know."

He had little time to address the problem. Perhaps this was the time to plant a seed. "You have some hard decisions to make. If you choose wrong, your wife will pay the price. Do you understand?"

Ivan was silent a moment, then gave a slight nod. "I think so, sir."

"If you want help, come to me before it's too late."

Ryan approached. "Ivan, the rest of the trainees are coming."

"Go," Teagan said quietly. "Don't call attention to yourselves."

"Ryan, you set?" Seth asked.

"Yes, sir. So is Colton." He joined Ivan and Colton at the side of the room.

He hoped his warnings were enough. Unless Ivan asked for help to leave the compound, he'd be on his own when Seth and his team finished their mission.

The rumble of voices heralded the approaching group of men. Soon, the training center was filled with trainees. Most of them weren't happy to be up this early.

Too bad. They either get with the program or forfeit their spot to someone willing to work hard.

The last man to arrive was Kent. He slid in seconds before the start time of training.

Seth glanced at Noah, who nodded and stationed himself by the door. "Welcome to Day One of your training. Be prepared to work hard and show improvement. If you think you'll lope through training without giving us everything you have, you're mistaken. Grant."

"Sir."

"Five-mile run. After that, we'll begin hand-to-hand combat training on the mat."

"Yes, sir."

Kent held up his hand.

"Problem, Kent?" Seth had a problem, and he was looking at him.

"Where are Jerry, Shane, Joel, and Ron?"

Silence fell on the rest of the group as everyone looked around.

"Where do you think they are?"

"I'm asking you." Kent folded his arms.

"Worried about your buddies? You should be." Seth looked at the rest of the trainees. "Kent deserted his post overnight to allow Jerry and his cronies to attack my quarters."

Gasps were heard throughout the training center.

"Jerry and company failed to complete their mission."

"What did they do?" Scott asked.

"They broke into our quarters with guns and knives at the ready. What do you think their plan was?"

"Are they dead, sir?"

"No one comes after me or my teammates without deadly consequences. Would you allow someone to break into your quarters and not respond to the threat?"

"No, sir."

"Neither did we. No one will ever lay a hand on my woman or my teammates without consequences. Jerry's plan was for him and his friends to kill me and the rest of my team, then take over security for Mr. Peters. They failed. They also planned to rape Violet and Teagan. That also failed." Seth glanced at Bowen and gave him a chin lift.

"Form two lines," Bowen snapped. "We're going for a little jog, boys. Keep up or find a new job."

Marsh, Knight, and Violet joined the trainees. Teagan stayed beside Seth. Noah pulled Kent from the pack and held him back. When the rest were gone, Noah shoved the guard to the center of the mat to face Seth.

"You deserted your post, Kent." Seth pinned the other man with his glare. "Did you know what Jerry planned to do?"

"N-n-no, sir. He just said he was going to show you and your friends that you weren't as good as you claimed."

"He was dead wrong. You're finished here, Kent."

The other man stared. "What?"

"I won't have a man I can't trust guarding me or my team. You're relieved of duty permanently. I don't care what you do around Haven, but you won't ever work for or with me again."

"You can't do that."

"I can and I am."

"I'll go to Mr. Richardson," he threatened.

"Go ahead. Still won't change my mind. Dismissed."

Kent fisted his hand.

"Try it," Seth said, voice low. "You'll regret it."

After another minute of staring, Kent backed down and stalked from the training center. He slammed the door behind him.

"Are you sure I can't take care of that problem for you?" Teagan asked mildly.

"I'm with her," Noah said. "He'll cause trouble, Seth."

"When he does, we'll handle it."

"Sure, if he doesn't shoot you in the back first."

"He'll run to Richardson," Teagan said.

"Probably. I still won't take him back for training. If Richardson insists on taking over the group's training again, we'll focus on our bodyguard duties with Peters. No matter what, I won't have Kent at our backs. Don't care who he has in his corner."

Minutes later, the trainees staggered back into the center. Some of them dropped to the floor.

"Up," Noah snapped. "Now. You don't sit unless we tell you to sit."

"Yes, sir," was the response. The sitters scrambled to their feet.

Noah and Teagan flanked Seth. "Gather around, boys," Seth said. "Time to do one-on-one training in close-quarters combat. Break up into teams of two and let's get to work."

Seth demonstrated one of the easier skills on his master list and had the trainees practice with their partners. Over the next ten minutes, he and the others corrected trainees doing the skill wrong and showed again how to do it right.

Once they mastered that skill, they moved on to a more advanced technique using the same skill they'd just learned. Halfway through this practice session, Richardson walked into the training center.

Figured he'd show sooner rather than later. Seth signaled Noah to take over the session, then walked to the militia leader, who stood at the back of the room, glaring daggers at him. Guess Kent had found a friend in the other man.

"Outside," Seth said and stepped into the brisk early morning air. When Richardson followed him, Seth closed the door and walked several feet away. "You're up early."

"Kent woke me a few minutes ago, complaining about you."

"Is that right? Did he tell you why I kicked him from the training program?"

"No. That's beside the point. I chose him for the camp guard job. He's a good man."

"That may be, but I don't trust him and you shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Kent was assigned to guard duty outside our team's quarters early this morning. He left his post an hour into his shift without sending a replacement. Do you know why?"

"No."

"Jerry asked him to leave."

Richardson blinked. "Why would he do that?"

"Jerry broke into our quarters with Shane, Ron, and Joel. They were armed and planned to kill me and my men, then rape and murder Teagan and Violet."

The militia leader swore viciously. "Are you sure?"

"We captured all four of them and interrogated the men. Yeah, Richardson, I'm sure."

"I'll talk to them. This won't happen again."

"I know it won't," Seth said, voice soft. "We took care of the problem permanently."

Richardson stared. "What did you say?"

"You heard me. I told you and Peters that I was protective of my team, especially Teagan and Violet. No one attempting to harm them will survive the fight. Kent is a weasel who follows whichever man he's trying to impress. His loyalty was supposed to be to his team leader. That would be me. Instead, he was more interested in making an impression on Jerry. I won't have a man like that at my back or at my teammates' backs."

Seth shifted closer to Richardson and had the satisfaction of causing the other man to back off two steps. "Would you trust him to keep you safe overnight, sir?"

"No. That still doesn't give you the right to reassign workers without consulting me first."

"You gave me and my team the authority to train these men to the best of our ability. You either let us do our jobs or you can handle the training and all the other responsibilities yourself. My team and I will simply focus on protecting Peters. Is that what you want?"

The temptation was there. Seth could see it in Richardson's eyes. He wanted to retake command, but The Brotherhood's agenda prevented him from taking over again.

"No. Continue the training. I'll find somewhere else suitable for Kent."

"Want a suggestion, sir?"

Richardson motioned for him to continue.

"Put him on laundry detail."

The militia leader stared for a beat, then laughed. "I might do that." He sobered. "I'll have to report the deaths of Jerry and the others to Peters."

"I wouldn't expect any less, sir. Would you have done something different if Jerry and his friends came after you in the dead of night?"

He shook his head. "This is an organization based on military training and principles. We can't have dissension in the ranks. I can't predict Peters' response to the news." His smile was wintry. "But you're tough. You can handle whatever repercussions come, can't you? Carry on, Dixon."

Seth took a minute to let the adrenaline bleed off. Looked like he'd have to make his case with Peters. Otherwise, he might spend time in the punishment room. Better him than Teagan or the others.

He returned to the training center and immersed himself in helping these men become better at protecting themselves and others. The rest of the training sessions included weapons skills, and he knew just who to tap on the shoulder to lead them.

He signaled Teagan to take over since she was an expert in knives and guns of every variety. He also wanted to shake up some men who continued to look at her and Violet with disdain.

By the end of the session, the men showed the beginning of an attitude change. Seth would take that for a win. At 7:00, he released the trainees to shower and eat, then return to their duties.

"Who's drawing the short straw with Peters first?" Noah asked.

"You and Grant. Teagan and I will be spot-checking the trainees. Marsh, monitor the trainees this afternoon. Teagan and I will take the afternoon shift with Peters."

"I can handle a shift with the lecherous creep."

"Not saying you can't. However, I want you to steer clear of Peters as much as possible. No need to remind Peters that you prevented him from spending time with Jillian last night."

"And you and Teagan interfered with his plan to rape Martina, too."

"Who's in charge of assigning jobs around the compound?"

"A woman named Maddie," Bowen said. "Of course, she takes orders from the Dynamic Duo. What are you planning to do?"

"Have Martina reassigned to kitchen duty. Ivan told me she's a chef."

Noah scowled. "What is she doing cleaning buildings?"

Marsh snorted. "Peters probably has all the attractive women working where he has easy access to them."

"I don't know," Teagan said. "He seems to think he's the leader of the free world with access to anyone at any time. I don't know that the job matters. He believes all he has to do is snap his fingers."

"Teagan's right." Seth frowned. "I'm hoping he'll lose interest in Martina if she's out of sight." At least until he convinced Ivan to leave Haven with her. "All of you watch your backs. Won't take long for word to spread about Jerry and his cronies. We'll face serious hostility. Don't let your guards down for an instant."

"You heard the man," Noah said. "Let's grab food on the way back to our quarters, clean up, then get to work."

As Seth and Teagan patrolled through the camp, glances in their direction shifted from friendly to cautious to fearful. They also encountered their fair share of resentment and anger at the supposed deaths of Jerry and his friends.

After lunch, they took over guarding Peters. The militia leader's eyes narrowed when he saw them in the hall. Still in a meeting, he merely nodded at them and returned his full attention to the computer screen.

"I think we'll be called into the principal's office before school's out," Teagan said.

Two hours later, Peters opened his door. His eyes glittered with fury. "Inside. Now."

They followed the militia leader inside his office and closed the door. Seth and Teagan stood in front of his desk.

"What happened with Jerry, Dixon?"

"He persuaded a guard on duty to leave his post without permission, then broke into our quarters with his three friends. All four men were armed. We captured and interrogated them. They admitted to planning to kill me and my men, then raping Violet and Teagan before killing them, too. If they'd succeeded, they would have demanded to be your personal security detail, sir."

"Where are they?"

"We disposed of them."

"You killed them?"

"What part of they planned to rape and kill Teagan and Violet didn't you understand, sir? When you recruited my team, I told you that Teagan was mine and Violet was Noah's. No one will hurt them or threaten to hurt them and get away with it unscathed. The men were a threat to my woman. I took care of the problem."

"Why didn't you detain them and report to me and Richardson?"

"Would you want rogue enforcers like these at your back? I could have released them from the enforcers like I released Kent from the guards this morning. They would have come after us when we least expected it. In my assessment, that was an unacceptable risk. The moment they broke in with weapons, they became my enemy. When they admitted to planning to rape Teagan, they were dead men walking."

"I should punish you, Dixon."

"But you won't because I did exactly what you would have done in my shoes, sir."

"Lucky for you that you're correct. If this happens again, you will consult me before you carry out a permanent solution. Am I making myself clear, Dixon?"

"Yes, sir."

"Return to your post. I don't want any visitors for the next three hours."

"Understood, sir."

Seth and Teagan returned to the hallway and closed the door. For the next three hours, they turned away anyone wanting to speak to the militia leader.

Near the end of their shift, Peters opened the door. "Dixon, you and Teagan step into my office. I want to discuss something with you."

Once again, they entered the office.

Peters waved them to the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit for a minute."

Although Seth didn't enjoy sitting with the enemy that close, he sat anyway as did Teagan. "Yes, sir?"

"How do you feel about a special assignment, Dixon?"

Where was this going? "It's what we're trained for and why you recruited us, sir."

"I need a black ops team. Are you interested?"

"Yes, sir. What's the mission?"

"Not so fast, Dixon." Peters shifted his gaze to Teagan. "Are in you agreement, my dear?"

"Yes, sir."

"I won't kid you. The mission I have in mind for you and your team is dangerous. If you successfully complete it, I guarantee you'll move in the upper echelons of power. I will have more need of a skilled bodyguard unit soon. Will you take the assignment, beautiful Teagan?"

Seth wrapped his hand around Teagan's in a blatant show of possession. He didn't like the expression on Peters' face when he looked at Teagan. "We've already agreed, Mr. Peters. If we're to be effective as a unit, we need information. Everything you have. Planning a mission in the dark is a sure path to failure."

Peters inclined his head. "You're correct. However, we still have a problem."

"And that is?"

"You're new to the organization, and you're not part of the inner circle."

"Can't help the first. Only you have the power to change the second. If you want us to take on a special assignment, we need details. I will not take my team into an unknown situation. You're the one who will pay the price. Our job is to protect you."

"Your job is whatever I say it is." Peters studied him for a minute, then gave a slight nod. "I'll present my proposal to the inner circle and let them weigh in on the decision. If they approve and you complete the mission, you'll be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."

Which told Seth exactly nothing except this man had delusions of grandeur.

"How long do you need to prepare for a mission, Dixon?"

"If it's complicated, the longer lead time we have, the better."

"For security reasons, the window will be short. The fewer people who know or suspect the targets involved, the better for all of us."

Targets. More than one. "Are you sure you can't give us more information now, sir? This sounds like a complicated op, and missions like those take weeks to prepare."

"You don't have weeks. At the most, you'll have four hours. Make the time count, my friend. Dismissed."

Seth stood. "Ready for dinner, sir?"

Teagan rose and went to open the door for Peters.

The small entourage made its way to the chow hall. As soon as they entered the large room, all conversation ceased.

Peters took it as a sign of respect for himself. Seth knew different. He and Teagan had seen the suspicious or hostile looks from people all over camp throughout the day as word spread about their confrontation with Jerry and his cronies.

"Carry on," Peters said to the diners as though he was a benevolent dictator. "I'm proud of you all. We're at the end of our preparations and soon will move on to the execution of phase one of the plan to take back our country from the fools running it. While you wait for the beginning of the conflict, eat and rest. In times of war, both are in short supply."

His speech sent cold chills down Seth's spine. He glanced at Teagan. While she had her game face on, her eyes showed the same alarm he felt. Peters was gearing up for war.

Once Peters sat at his table, conversations resumed on a more enthusiastic note. One of the waitresses hurried over with a tray loaded with food for Peters. Richardson soon joined him.

After filling their plates, Seth and Teagan joined their teammates.

"What was that?" Noah whispered.

"A call to war." Seth scanned the occupants of the room. Peters' speech revved most of them. Others, like Ryan, Ivan, and Colton, looked concerned or subdued.

They should be worried. If Peters thought he and Richardson would successfully take on the federal government, they were delusional. Worse, they would take down some good men and women with them.

An hour later, his team gathered in the living room of their quarters. "You heard the speech Peters gave in the chow hall. Reactions?"

"The guy is crazy," Noah muttered.

The rest of the team nodded in agreement.

"Peters has big plans that might involve us," Seth said. "At the end of our shift, he asked if our team will take a special assignment."

Knight straightened. "What kind of assignment?"

"That's the kicker. He wouldn't give me details. He did, however, let slip that there were two targets involved in this secret mission."

Bowen frowned. "We can't be in two places at once."

"Two options. He plans to split us up into two smaller teams or he has a second team available."

"Second option," Noah said. "Peters wanted our entire unit, remember? He said all or none. Why break up our unit when we work best together?"

Seth inclined his head in agreement with his friend's assessment. "He singled Teagan out and asked if she agreed to be part of the mission."

The men exchanged glances. Marsh's hand fisted. "He could target Teagan because she's beautiful."

"Not only that," Violet said. "He wants Teagan's skill as a sharpshooter. When he talked to us at the coffee shop, he seemed impressed that she was a military-trained sniper."

"He wants me to kill someone for him," Teagan said flatly. "I'm not an assassin."

"No one said you were, Teagan." Violet squeezed her hand. "Like the rest of us, you're a protector who kills if there's no choice. The important thing is we know now that Peters is planning to assassinate at least one person and probably two."

"We need to know the names of the targets so we can inform the feds," Knight said. "It's their job to protect the targets."

"If they can mobilize fast enough." Seth rubbed the tight muscles at the side of his neck. "Peters said he'll tell us the target four hours before we execute the mission."

Bowen stared. "Are you serious? Four hours to come up with a plan and get ourselves into place? That has disaster written all over it in big bold letters."

"I told him four hours wasn't long enough to plan a complicated mission. He said the tight timeline was for mission security. He also said he had to get approval from the inner circle for our team to be brought in on this mission."

"We need to be part of that meeting," Marsh said.

"Not going to happen." This from Knight. "It's a closed session. No one aside from the inner circle is allowed in the room."

"Where do they meet?" Teagan asked.

"The conference room in the headquarters building. The room is locked when the group is in session so no one interrupts."

A slow smile curved her mouth. "When do they usually meet? Day or night?"

"Night."

She turned to Seth. "We need to plant a bug in there as soon as possible."

"Have to clear the other bugs and cameras first," Violet said. "That entire building is filled with them."

"Another security sweep through the building will give us the chance to plant a bug in the conference room without raising suspicion if the inner circle isn't meeting tonight." Seth turned to Knight. "Any chance you'll run into Jace this evening?"

"I can make that happen if I need to. Why?"

"Not having time to talk might mean a meeting has been called tonight."

Knight rose. "I'll see what I can find out." A minute later, he was gone.

"Marsh, you and Bowen come with me and Teagan. We'll do a sweep through the headquarters building. If we're lucky, Peters will hold off on calling the inner circle into session until later tonight or tomorrow. Teagan, get your pack. The longer we wait, the more likely we'll be caught."

Teagan went to her room to grab her pack and returned. "Ready."

"Noah, you and Violet make the rounds of the inner and outer perimeters of the camp. Let's see if our guards are staying on task tonight. Everybody, watch your backs. We don't have many friends in Haven."

Violet gave Marsh her electronic signal detector, then Seth, Teagan, Marsh, and Bowen headed for the headquarters building while Violet and Noah went to the outer perimeter of the camp.

Inside the main building, Teagan showed Marsh how the signal detector worked.

"Looks simple enough. Where do you want us to start, Seth?"

"Second floor. Teagan and I will take the first floor. Go room by room." Seth handed them a plastic bag for the unwanted electronics they found. "We'll do the same. If anyone stops and questions you, tell them you're doing a security sweep."

"Copy that. We'll be close if you need us." The men headed for the staircase.

"Let's start on the far end of the hall and work our way to the front," Teagan said.

"Each room together," he said and followed her. They cleared room after room, removing cameras and bugs as they went. Soon, they walked into the conference room.

Quickly, Teagan swept for electronics and found two cameras and two bugs. "Overkill," she muttered after Seth removed them. She grabbed a bug from her pack and crawled under the large conference table. Seconds later, she emerged. "Done."

They left the room and continued their search. Five minutes later, men began entering the conference room by ones or twos. Most of them glared at Seth and Teagan. Knight walked down the hall with a dark-haired man, talking about a family reunion the following summer.

"I don't know," Jace said. "I understand why your mom is interested in the family getting together next year but you and I will be busy with more important matters. Better not agree to any commitment for the foreseeable future, Elias. Your time and loyalty belongs to The Brotherhood until this time next year." He grinned. "I'm betting you stay with us even after your contract expires. You won't be able to resist the power and money coming our way. Babes are drawn like bees to pollen when you have power and money."

Knight held up his hands. "All right, Jace. I'll take your advice and hold off on commitments to Mom and her plans. She won't be happy, though."

"She'll get over her disappointment when she sees you rubbing shoulders with the power brokers in our country, especially if you bring home a beautiful wife."

Knight joined his cousin's laughter but joy didn't reach his eyes. Jace should have recognized the fake laughter. He didn't. Knight clapped his cousin on the shoulder. "Thanks for the advice, cousin. I'll see you later."

After Jace entered the conference room, Knight joined Seth and Teagan. "Orders?" he murmured.

"Help us finish the room searches, then we'll go, hopefully before the meeting begins."

They finished searching the final three rooms in fifteen minutes, adding another six cameras and bugs to the plastic bag.

The three met Marsh and Bowen in the lobby and together returned to their quarters. After a quick search revealed no new electronics in their own place, Seth walked to the kitchen to make coffee while Teagan synced up her phone with the bug in the conference room.

He returned five minutes later with two to-go cups of coffee, one for himself and one for Teagan. "We need to be closer to headquarters, don't we?"

She nodded and handed him a comm device to slip into his ear. "Activate it. When we're within range, we'll hear the conversation." She slipped a second device into her own ear.

"We'll help Noah and Violet by covering the inner perimeter. That should put us close enough to hear everything said in the conference room." Seth turned to Marsh, Bowen, and Knight. "Stay alert. I don't think we'll have another hit team stupid enough to come after us again tonight but we made enough people angry that I might be surprised."

Bowen said, "Go. We'll let you know if something goes down here."

Teagan and Seth set off for the inner perimeter of the camp. Soon, Seth heard Peters' voice in his ear. He grimaced at the arrogance coming from every word the man spoke to his inner circle. Following fifteen minutes of patting his own back, Peters introduced the subject of the special mission he wanted to assign Seth's team.

"What do we really know about these men?" one man asked. "We only have your word for how good they are."

Jace spoke up. "You're kidding, right? Elias and his teammates were Special Forces. You're not assigned to an elite team like that unless you know what you're doing. Elias and the others were Rangers. You know their motto, right? Rangers lead the way. I'm telling you Elias and his friends will get the job done. This will be a cakewalk for them."

"Don't be an idiot," another man said. "None of this will be easy. The Secret Service will be everywhere."

Teagan's free hand tightened around Seth's.

Yeah, he'd caught that. The Secret Service protected the president, vice-president, and their families, former presidents and their spouses, and visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their families. Too many targets to narrow down with that small clue. They needed more than this to derail The Brotherhood's agenda.

The men spent a few more minutes debating the merits and skills of Seth's team before ultimately voting to bring them into the inner circle for this mission only.

The meeting broke up shortly afterward, leaving only Peters and Richardson in the conference room.

"When do we leave?" Richardson asked.

"Tomorrow morning. Are you sure this is the only way to handle the problem?"

"Can you think of a better way to protect ourselves than to blame the assassinations on two rogue teams?"

So, Peters planned to get rid of Seth and his team by throwing them to the Secret Service as rogue agents. Have Seth's team do his dirty work and rid himself of a loose end at the same time. Diabolical but brilliant.

"How do you plan to alert the authorities to the identities of Dixon's team?"

"It's amazing how easy it is to drop an anonymous tip in the right place."

"What about Teagan and Violet?"

"Once Teagan pulls the trigger, I'll have a team pick her up and bring her to me. No need for her to go down with her boyfriend. Once he's dead, she'll need someone to console her."

"And you plan to be that man?" Richardson's contempt was clear. "She'll never agree to that."

"She will if she wants to protect Violet."

"No," Richardson said, voice sharp. "You can't have both of them. I want the medic."

"Didn't say I would actually hurt the medic, just use her to control my beautiful Teagan. I need someone like her when I step into my new role."

A beat of silence, then, "You know, I might use the same ploy to convince Violet to cooperate." A chuckle. "I have so many plans for her. What will you do if Teagan refuses you?"

Peters laughed. "No worries. A few weeks shackled to my bed will convince her to change her mind. I'm going to have so much fun with that woman."

Teagan tugged her hand from Seth's, ran to the tree line on the other side of the inner perimeter with Seth close on her heels, and threw up.