Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Anderson

"Subject has arrived," Tiago's voice comes over the ear piece. "Everyone in place, the mission is a go."

I hate suits, crowded rooms, and bright lights. "Why am I here?"

"You wanted to talk, I needed a wing man in this operation," my boss retorts as we push open the doors to Noir Gold Paris, the newest Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. "Don't complain. I'm missing dinner with my family and bedtime."

We stand in the lobby where I take in the glowing machines: the loud chattering, beeping, honking, and buzzing. Hundreds of people dressed up with their best formal attire. According to the information Bradley gave me, the owner is well established with the Russian mafia. That explains why I'm here. Among my qualifications, I speak Russian.

"What's the play?"

"Our guy is Aleksei Babkin," he murmurs.

"Selling guns to some new organization who is trying to take over the world?"

"No. He supplies young women and men around the world." His fancy way of saying we're dealing with a fucking human trafficker. My stomach clenches, these fuckers make me sick. There's no end to them because there's no end to the demand of prostitutes and slaves. We put down one asshole, and there's already another one setting up shop. "Are we scouting?"

"No, this is the mission." This is the last time I text with my girlfriend during the flight, how the fuck did I miss the intel? "Our sources indicate he has a big shipment in one of the ports and is looking for a buyer. Damian Travis might want the load."

"Let me guess, he owns a prostitution ring?"

"The hotel has a unique service for high profile clientele," he informs me as we continue walking toward the elevators.

"We are here to stop the sale?"

"No. We're here to buy the merchandise."

I do a double-take, frowning. "What the fuck?"

"We need the location to rescue the hostages," he explains. "I'll be tracing the money to recover it once we have them. Our second goal is to obtain the name of everyone inside that room. They're our leads to uncovering more trafficking cells."

"Fun, and how did we get here?" I want some of the backgrounds, he only sent a text to head to the airport.

"It's by invitation only. An auction. James Howlett and Kyle Rayner were added a few hours ago."

"So Wolverine and Green Lantern are here, huh?" I chuckle with the stupid names he comes up with. Of course, he used superheroes alter egos. "You're an idiot."

"Shut up, comic nerd. I'm not the one with a superhero last name. Hawk." He grins because collecting comic books is something we have in common. "Got my hands on the new Justice League movie."

"Fucker, I hate you," I joke, the nerd inside me hopes he'll let me watch it before it comes out in theaters. His wife swears we're like two little children on play dates. I'm sure she knows about the times I'm at home playing with him and his brother-in-law on X-Box Live. "Am I invited to the screening?"

"As usual. What do you want to talk about?"

Here goes nothing. "Infiltrating, pretending and living a second life was fun a couple of years back, but?—"

"Are you quitting or wanting short term assignments?" He cuts to the chase.

"Short term assignments?" I want to say more, but his frown is scaring the fuck out of me. He's going to fire my ass before we start this mission. "I love what I do. And I'd like to lead a team through the jungle to rescue hostages—from home. I can break into a bank to make sure the security systems we install work or do temporary undercover work like we're doing tonight. My goal is that after work I can go home right after. I want to be able to sleep in my bed every night, spend a few hours in the tattoo parlor and have a standard life."

"You're fucking with me right now?"

"Afraid not, boss."

"Fuck, I had big plans for you." He shakes his head. "We have more projects, you're one of my best men when it comes to long-term missions."

"Tiago is your man," I remind him of the guy who came before me.

"No. You keep him leveled. He's too volatile." He presses his lips together as we reach the elevators.

I tap the up arrow, then turn to look at him. "Should I take it as a no?"

"Once you finish your current long-term mission I'll reassign you, move a few assets around." He steps into the elevator. "You're talented, I want to keep you around for as long as you'd like to stay."

Mason swipes a golden card, then hands me over a second one. "It's your invite, the paper has your account information. You have half a billion dollars to play with. We're bidding against each other. I don't care who wins as long as one of us gets the merchandise."

We reach our floor and step off the elevator to find two guards standing outside a set of wood carved French doors with bronze handles that match the frame. We flash the golden cards. They nod, each grabbing a body scanner. I lift my arms, letting them search for weapons that they won't find. Our company also develops gadgets, like the unique fibers that conceals weapons.

"You're the last two, the doors will be locked from the outside until the show is over," one of them says.

As we enter a conference room, the doors shut; I hear electronic locks engaging. The other bidders are already sitting around the oval table. There are about fifteen guests plus this tall blond wearing only a jacket with patches on his elbows and a pair of jeans. He looks like a teacher. "Gentlemen, I'm glad you were able to join us tonight. You may call me Babkin," he greets us as we take the empty chairs.

Pointing at the small laptops in front of us, he shows us a card similar to the invite. "Swipe your card, then enter your account information. That will give me free access to verify your funds and transfer them when we confirm the purchase."

I do as he says, trusting that Bradley has the half billion lined up and knows how to track his money.

Babkin shows us a metal portfolio and sets it on the table. "This contains the instructions on where and how to retrieve the merchandise. We will start with the slide show. I have enough for everyone. Unless, one of you wants to buy the bulk." He shrugs taking the remote from the table and turning on the projector. "I don't care how they sell as long as you meet my price."

"What is your price?" Damian Taylor, the owner of the casino, stands up from his chair touching the case.

Babkin slams his hand against the metal making Taylor jolt. "I don't give this until I have money."

Bradley's hand points to the case. It's our target if anything goes wrong.

"Fuck!" Tiago yells through the earpiece. The distinct alarming tone sends my mind into high alert. I look at Bradley rubbing my chin, a sign that we are fucked indeed. "You're not alone."

"I hear gunshots," Everhart speaks.

Me too, I want to reply, but watch the door wondering how long until they can disengage the locks or the hinges around the door and come inside. The better question is why are they here?

"We've hacked the cameras, and we're trying to get to the locks so you can escape," Tiago reports. "The two guards outside the door are down, two men armed with F2000 assault rifles are trying to go inside."

"Motherfuckers," I curse under my breath as they begin to shoot the heavy wood doors. They carry one of the most powerful rifles in the world, and I only have two knives with me.

"We're getting close," Everhart utters, the gunfire can be heard through the communicators. "I can't promise we'll reach you on time."

"Another day in the job," I grind my teeth.

Bradley covers his mouth watching the door. "Kowalski, did you hide the emergency supply under the table?"

"Yes sir," someone else answers through the communicator.

Good, we have something better than knives. I might make it home in one piece.

Bradley's eyes find mine. He moves his attention to his fingers, and I follow. The five of them are on the table, he begins a countdown and stays in two. Okay, we wait.

"Who sent men?" Babkin pulls a gun waving it around. I look back at Bradley, still holding two fingers. Wait for his signal. He shoots the window several times, then looks at Damian. "Is there a hidden door?"

Damian opens his mouth right when the doors open wide, and the guns start to spit their ammunition.

"Now!" shouts Bradley.

We both duck under the table where two AK47's and four rounds of magazines are stashed. I grab mine, tuck and roll, and begin to fire. The two men Tiago mentioned have turned into six. Babkin doesn't flinch or move; he observes, laughing as the bodies fall to the floor. We remain still, waiting for their next move.

"Fucking idiots, I knew they would be an easy target," says Babkin, taking the case and running outside the room.

As the eight pairs of feet point toward the door, we roll and commence shooting, getting the last two men. We stand, running after them.

"Babkin and the case are our targets," Bradley reminds me as we run toward the staircase.

"There's a helicopter landing on the roof," Tiago warns us. "Hurry."

Bullets rain from both sides, Babkin reaches the emergency exit that leads him to the stairs. Bradley covers me as I pull the knife from my jacket and throw it at Babkin's hand.

He curses under his breath, "shoot them." But there's no one else to cover him, his guys are on the floor. Babkin drops the metal portfolio pulling the knife out of his other hand.

Bradley shoots Babkin twice. Then orders, "Call Wings, tell him to have the helicopter ready. We need a doctor to save this asshole. I need him alive."

Aspen sits on the steps of her porch staring at the closed book in her hands.

"We're here," I greet her, passing the stretcher that carries Babkin.

She lifts her head. She drops the book, and propels herself toward my arms. "Are you okay?" She chews on her lip in worry, scanning my face.

"I would have told you if I weren't." I kiss her forehead and nuzzle her neck, thankful that I can hold her after a hard day at work. This is what I want for our future. Minus the problems I brought with me.

"Where do you want him?" Tiago asks.

Aspen releases me, and takes a look at our man. "Why is his head covered with a black hamper bag? Did you kidnap him?"

"No. This man is a prisoner, and we can't use him if he's dead." Tiago delivers a terrible joke.

"Follow me, and you An-…." Aspen snaps her mouth shut and enters the code to open the garage door. At least she remembered what I explained her over the phone, she's not supposed to use my name. "I could lose my license if I don't report this event."

"This happened in another state. It's not your jurisdiction," Bradley intercedes. "They're clean shots to prevent the subject from running away. You were the best candidate to assist us."

"He's lost blood. A hospital will be better suited for this procedure." Aspen steps forward lifting her finger, and narrowing her gaze at him. "Let me get this straight. You want me to clean him, stitch him up and send you on your way?"

Bradley and I bob our heads.

"He stabbed him in the hand. The wounds are superficial, but they were enough to stop him," Bradley explains pointing at the knees, the left foot, and his ear. "We followed your instructions, doctor."

Walking toward us is an older woman. She's quite tall and slim, her short gray hair neat. She wears blue scrubs and a solemn face. "I better get paid overtime for this."

"I told you, you will." Aspen hugs her. "I'll introduce you once the others leave."

Then she turns around and points to Tiago. "Please set him down under. Activate the big light that I have on the left-hand corner of the garage. It's next to the generator," Aspen orders, opening the bag the nurse gave her. "Start an IV, let me check the wounds."

A car parks right in front of the garage. Brooklyn climbs out of it and runs toward us. "I came as fast as I could, what do we have?"

"Nothing we can't stitch. We've seen worse," Aspen responds. "We don't have anesthesia. We're adding some sedatives to the IV."

"Are we calling the police?" Brooklyn's eyebrows rise as she scans the garage.

"Nope. I'm sorry, if you have to leave I understand," I respond.

Brynn huffs throwing me a stern glare.

"Sorry, I had no idea what they would bring," Aspen apologizes.

"Are you kidding me?" Brynn's face brightens. "Not many doctors can say they've had a bunch of spies kidnap them to perform a high-risk surgery."

"We're not spies," Tiago protests. "There's no kidnapping involved."

"There'll be plenty of that when I tell the story to my unborn children," Brynn winks.

"Stay with them, make sure he doesn't try anything," Bradley instructs Everhart and Tiago, signaling with his head that I follow him.

"I get it," he says as we walk outside the garage. "My priorities changed when I fell in love with my wife. You know, those two could become our private doctors."

"Aspen is off limits," I warn him before he asks her to join his company. "Brynn too, don't approach them."

"It's worth asking." The fucker smiles, he's not going to listen to me.

"You're aware that she's going to know what I do for a living, right?" I have many things to explain to her, and after bringing my work home, there won't be any way to hide the truth.

Watching the house from afar and not answering my question, Bradley asks, "How serious is this relationship?"

"Serious," I reply lifting my gaze and watching the full moon. "Be aware that she's going to know what I do for a living—tonight."

"The friend too?" Bradley frowns. "Just don't release much information. Make sure you pay the three of them for their services. Fuck, what if the nurse talks?"

"Aspen said she can trust her with her life." During our phone conversation, Aspen told me about Victoria, the head nurse of the hospital where she works and a woman who owns some ambulatory patient care company. Someone who I might want to consider hiring to help us care for Mom. "Of course, she expects payment."

"What the fuck is wrong with that beast?" Bradley asks, I look in the same direction and spot Hugo running toward the garage. My boss starts running to him; I guess to catch him.

"Wait, it's Hugo, their dog. I got him." I run toward Hugo stopping only a couple of feet from him. "Hey, boy it's me."

He stops and approaches me as I kneel and lower my gaze. I allow him to sniff my hand, then he licks my cheek. "Good boy." I scratch his ears. "Leave the girls to work, why don't you come for a walk with me?"

Hugo doesn't listen and continues his way into the garage stopping only steps away from Aspen and slowly glaring at Everhart and Tiago.

"Woof!"

"Hello, handsome. I'm glad you're home, but I need you to step outside until we are done." Aspen who now wears scrubs and a mask looks at Hugo. "I promise to give you a big, juicy bone once we finished, Hugo."

"No names," I growl.

"Your man is out for the next six hours." She glares at me. "We're almost done, but you have to find a way to get rid of the bloody rags."

"Don't worry, Doc," Bradley assures her. "We have a team arriving in a few minutes, they're in charge of cleaning the premises."

It doesn't take long for the cleaning crew to come. We all wait for Aspen and Brynn to finish working on Babkin. Once it's over, I introduce Aspen and Brynn to my friends and colleagues before they leave.

"Aspen, this is Harrison Everhart and Tiago Dominguez."

"Nice to meet you." She shakes hands with them, introducing Brynn, and giving us instructions about the IV and what they should give Babkin during the next few days if we want to keep him alive.

Harrison and Tiago take him away. Victoria, the nurse, introduces herself after changing her scrubs and leaves.

"We weren't properly introduced," Aspen speaks after Victoria closes the door behind her. "I'm Aspen, and this is my friend Brooklyn."

"Mason Bradley." He extends his hand to Brynn and then Aspen. "Thank you for your help."

"Well, Anderson said it was for a worthy cause. I hope he wasn't lying about that." Her voice is firm and sounds like a warning.

"That man has information on human trafficking cells." Mason surprises me as he explains more than I would've. "I can't explain what our company does, but I assure you that we aren't criminals."

"Cryptic." Aspen crosses her arms, clamping her lips. "Are you a government agency? A military unit? Some international organization?"

"We work with all of those, but we're a private company," Bradley responds, and I'm glad that I'm not the one having to deal with her scowl. "I provide security in all shapes and forms. We walk a thin line but steer away from illegal activity as much as we can."

"What I did is illegal," she blurts. "I want to believe that I jeopardized our careers to save lives. But, this is the one and only time I walk that gray line."

"Have you ever considered a change of pace? Working in a different environment?" Bradley can't keep his fucking mouth shut. "I can pay more than what you earn."

"No." Aspen shuts him down.

"Unless we get more information," Brynn adds to Aspen's speech.

"What is wrong with you Brooklyn?" Aspen snarls, her eyes look like they might pop out. "One and only time."

Brynn smiles and shrugs in response. "It might be the answer to our prayers."

I run my hand through my hair twice in quick succession, fixing my eyes on Aspen. This isn't something I want her involved in. Fuck, I should have installed a security system in her house the moment we started dating. If anyone finds out about my private life, about her, then they'll kidnap her, torture her, kill her. My muscles freeze; my heart's pounding through my chest. She's in danger. I work to slow down my breathing and control my thoughts. Mason's offer might help them with the money they need to set up their private practice, but is it worth it?

"Stop it, Bradley," I warn him.

Aspen's nostrils flare. She lifts her chin and twists her mouth into a sneer. "We're pediatricians who happen to work in an ER. Being on call for your special needs isn't my career goal."

"I see." Bradly smiles, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It's time for me to leave. The wife and kids are expecting me before breakfast."

He walks toward the black SUV we drove from the airport. Touching the handle, he looks over his shoulder. "I have a big family—lots of children. We can work something out. Why don't you write out your wish list, ladies? We might find something that works for both of us."

The words, fuck off, remains in my throat. This is none of my business.

"Thank you for your help." I take Aspen's hand and pull her to me, hugging her tight as I kiss the hollow of her neck. "Thank you to you too, Brynn."

"Are you kidding? Thank you !" Brynn claps as Bradley's car drives away. "Best day ever. It's like we're living in a movie with bad guys and secret agents."

"Great, she's tired and talking nonsense. It's time for you to go to bed," Aspen orders, then angles her face, glaring at me. "You and I have a lot to talk about. His explanation wasn't enough."

She turns to Hugo. "After I give this guy the bone I promised." Hugo barks, giving me a few more minutes to breathe.

"I'll take care of our boy." Brooklyn walks away without giving us a glance.

Instead of starting the conversation, I walk around the garage turning off the bright lights, closing the door and making sure the team hadn't left anything behind. Aspen is in the middle of the room, arms crossed and grimace painted on her lovely face.

"I'm not happy with you, Anderson Hawkins."

I grab her hand, dragging her close to me and wrapping one arm around her. I stare at her big brown eyes, "Sorry for skipping dinner."

She frowns. I lean closer, feathering some kisses around her face. "Wanna talk?"