Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

B eckham

Nothing was really ever set in stone.

Not life.

Not enjoyment.

Not family, including the birth of children.

Not even friendship.

The only thing that was in my mind was death. I was a firm believer when it was your time to die, the grim reaper would crawl his ugly ass from the depths of hell, using his chained demons to help in dragging you to the fires of purgatory. I had no doubt given my lack of humanity, my family's brutal power, and my careless attitude that I would be roasting in hell for all eternity.

It was funny that after confronting my now bride to be I was content with the concept yet not willing to give up my life just yet. I had more to live for now than I had before.

It was exciting yet terrifying.

I was elated yet enraged.

I laughed as I stared out at the calm water, the afternoon sun providing a perfect backdrop, much like it had the night I'd considered several options with regard to Kenya. She'd been elevated to the status of not just my fiancée, which was still difficult for me to believe, but also my greatest weakness.

My father had warned me about developing a single weakness, although he'd sucked at the concept himself.

It was unusual and perhaps very wrong to feel happy, almost content when the threat certainly continued, but I just couldn't help myself. In the last few days, my lovely fiancée had worked by my side, comparing names of the various lists, acting as administrator and sounding board. I was no fool. The lingering stench of the danger we were all in was riding high in the forefront of my mind.

However, clever as I thought the plan created might be, it meant shit if my uncle was already a step ahead. It had taken everything I had to keep my father from going ballistic, hiring everyone who owed him a favor to hunt down his own brother.

As I'd reminded him, given Uncle Mitchell's obvious resources, he could easily get wind that we were onto him. If that was the case, he could decide to expedite the vile execution of his plan.

Prudence, temperament, and patience were primary and vital. As well as developing some damn good acting skills.

Photographs of my engagement to the lovely bride to be had been taken, a glorious story written by a buddy of mine who worked for the Associated Press. He had the ability and the connections to have the story placed in every major newspaper, both online and in print. In addition, we were set to appear on the cover of the New Yorker magazine with her connection to the Big Apple.

That should ensure her family learned of our dirty little game.

Although neither one of us wanted to think of it that way.

She had a massive ring on her finger, and an endless supply of funds as a special push to hopefully drive upper echelon members from their cave. Meanwhile several of the wives of the members of the Brotherhood were helping plan the festive event.

That would be in the articles as well.

It was risky as fuck, something I hadn't wanted to agree to, but Constantine had convinced me everyone would be protected at all times.

Upon their suggestion, we'd all once again vetted out every single employee. If anyone wasn't on the up and up, they were tossed. So far? That included fifty members from various regimes.

Including two from mine, which made me furious. While I couldn't confirm the two trusted men were working in any capacity with the Death Squad, keeping them on as employees wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

I heard a noise and turned to face the dock. Eleven men were walking toward the yacht. I'd been told this was the first time in their history every single member of the Brotherhood had been in the same location at the same time. While usually it was because of their respective business operations getting in the way, in recent years, it had been to ensure all of them didn't perish at the same time.

That made this meeting that much riskier.

However, they'd all arrived clandestinely with their soldiers and a few with the women who'd agreed to help Kenya plan the wedding, which was only a week away. We couldn't afford to wait much longer, or decisions could be taken out of our hands.

In the meantime, we were planning, adding confirmed names to the lists after conferring with our various confidants and trusted members of law enforcement. And we were prepared to unleash our own method of destruction.

Patience.

Yep.

Put a bunch of savage men on the same boat together and patience wasn't necessarily our virtue.

Constantine was first to approach, saluting as if I was the pseudo captain for our event. We weren't heading out to sea namely because it was too risky but this was a perfect location to meet. While he had the same twinkle in his eye as he'd had during our first meeting, I sensed his exhaustion. I had a feeling we all felt that way.

"Good to see you again," I said. "Make yourself at home."

"You're sure about that?" he asked in return, laughing as he did.

"Yeah, I am. This time."

He shook my hand, offering me a nod of respect. While I'd arranged to have men on boats patrolling the Atlantic, I knew every single man had two or more of their soldiers waiting in the parking lot or meandering around the various docks and even the wharf's restaurant. If anyone decided to start a war on my turf, they would be in for a shock.

One by one the other members of the Brotherhood came on board including the other three I'd met before. The ones I hadn't introduced themselves.

"Dante Santos and this is my brother, Diego. We're from LA."

"Twins. Your reputation in the movie and luxury jewel industry precedes you."

"We're honored," Diego said just before they moved further onto the yacht.

"Mr. Kennedy, Brogan Callahan," the latest arrival said in his Irish brogue. "While I call Chicago my home, I prefer the mountains of Colorado."

"Excellent choice." I already like the guy.

"Phoenix Diamondis and the suave man over there is my brother, Stavros."

I studied both Greek men. I'd been told that no matter what the outcome of our plan, Stavros had already hired assassins to augment the powerful hold we had. They were also highly trained and very intelligent men and women who'd been members of various military platforms as well as mercenaries and former law enforcement. While I hadn't been told the numbers, I heard they'd already been scattered to various parts of the world lying in wait for the order to take out the most powerful assassins within the Death Squad.

It was deathly important their names and locations be kept private. That I understood.

"Glad to see you both. How good are your men and women, Stavros?"

"The best. It's been a joy and a pleasure to work with them, even if we need more if we want to accomplish our task."

"Think of it this way," Gabriel interjected. "With what we have planned, those members who aren't killed, rounded up and tossed into prison, or are at minimum forced into hiding won't rear their ugly heads for some time. But we'll be ready when they do."

The fact this could go on for decades was disturbing but to be expected from an extremist organization determined to take over the world.

"Move out of the way," another member said, obviously teasing. It was apparent the men were close. It would seem the rules weren't necessary. "Daniel Thorn at your service."

"Constantine's brother."

"The very one. The talented one of the family." Daniel grinned.

Constantine snorted. He'd already found the bar, now holding a glass in his hand. "He's the funny one of the family."

The last man walked on board, scanning the area including the portable communications and satellite equipment at the far end of the salon. "Sabatino DiMaggio. You come highly recommended. From what I heard, quite a formidable enemy."

"It just goes to prove you don't judge a book by its cover. I'm not the playboy the media makes me out to be."

"Especially since you're getting married." Kraven grinned, lifting his full glass of liquor.

"Then we're all off the bachelor list." It was the first time Maxim had genuinely smiled. I'd heard he was still infatuated with his wife, Taylor. She was a former FBI translator and had been very helpful in deciphering Bratva chatter across the world. The Russians truly believed they were meant to be kings, not threatened by anyone.

"Yes, I only hope I'm not putting Kenya in danger. Why doesn't everyone get a drink? Then we'll start."

"You're sure we are secure here?" Diego asked.

I nodded. "I assure you that if anyone by sea, plane, or ground attempts to get to us, we'll know well in advance. I have rocket launchers hidden on various locations, the missiles capable of hitting a 747 if necessary."

"Wow. You have connections," Brogan stated, grinning before he headed toward the bar.

"Yes, I do."

"When are the announcements regarding your fabulous engagement going out?" Constantine asked.

"Day after tomorrow. After that, we need to hunker down and be very careful."

Constantine sighed. "I'm like you. I'm not happy about this but we have no other choice. You're certain you trust your beautiful fiancée?"

I should be angry. I should toss him off the boat for even asking the question, but I completely understood why he was asking. "With my life."

"I hope so since it might mean all our lives."

"I had your lovely Russian bride checked out myself," Maxim said, daring me to say anything to him.

There was no point in bristling. They had every right to protect their own families, many of them with children already. Their families had in a sense now become my family as well. And vice versa. I completely understood our alliance could mean the difference in life and death of those we loved.

And goddamn it if I wasn't falling in love with Kenya.

"From what we've found every word of the story she told is true, including almost being married off to an old fart from Moscow. The poor girl would have been kept as his slave in a real harem and nothing more."

"I hope the fucker is dead by now."

Maxim grinned. "I thought you'd say that. I have a few connections left in Russia. He's floating somewhere if not shark bait by now."

Maybe I could learn to like the guy. "You did that for me?"

"Hey, we are brothers. Aren't we?"

While the camaraderie was good to have, the combined resources making us an extremely powerful regime of our own, we still hadn't been able to get a full grasp on what we were dealing with.

Perhaps we never would.

"Let's get down to business," Gabriel suggested. "Then we will have a ceremony we can all participate in this time."

I moved to the presentation I'd put together, including comparing lists of those we considered the most powerful and dangerous men and women involved. Their entire worlds had been checked and observed over some period of time, including financial transactions. What James had been able to find was a potential smoking gun, a bank in the Caribbean used for various operations. But all in private. All very hidden. It had taken him some time to find the trail but once he had, it had been a matter of time before he'd unraveled the single clue tying every member together.

"Whoa. Your man did this?" Constantine asked as he stared at the various slides, with examples of locating the smoking gun.

"He did. He's connected to eighty-four percent of the upper two tiers of the combined lists of supposed members. In my mind, the key to discovering more is to use the information to fill in the blanks. However, he'll need additional manpower."

"I can have my guys work with him," Gabriel suggested.

"I have a couple damn good researchers and computer experts myself," Sabatino threw in.

Constantine continued to shake his head, looking at every man in the group. "This is the single point that will bring these people down. We need to work carefully. If any of them find out what we've learned, they will shut the entire operation down and go into hiding until they believe we're not looking any longer."

"Agreed," Dante said. "Are we set to expose them via the world's satellites?"

Stavros grinned. "Yeah. We're ready. It's all a matter of coordination."

Coordination.

This felt like he had the future and welfare of the entire world in our hands, as if we were the kings of the universe.

While I wasn't a man full of humility or decency, I also wasn't interested in ruling the world. Just my small part of it. Plus, I found myself mesmerized by the thought of having a family. Maybe given the obvious danger, I had a feeling I'd been forced to realize what was really most important.

I only hoped it wasn't too little too late.

I flashed up the photographs of my uncle and cousin along with Kenya's father and brother.

"Memorize these faces. They could be anywhere at any time since they're off the grid." They were watching me intently, all of them nodding. I had such a hatred for all four men I knew I could easily kill them.

And I would, given the chance.

In the next two plus hours, we went over every planned detail, every name that should be considered the most dangerous. Plus, through the use of satellites, the largest clusters of assassins had been pinned down. They were being monitored for activity at this point but that too would change.

Yeah, this did feel more like war.

"We have a tradition when bringing in a new member of our Brotherhood, an alliance brought together by blood, violence, skill, and intelligence," Constantine said. While he had a big personality, I had a feeling he was interested in having everyone reaffirm their conviction to the Brotherhood.

If there was a time to reflect on the past and reasons for the alliance, I suppose facing the Death Squad was certainly reasonable.

"First, to our newest member, someone I've already grown to respect for his diligence in discovery, his enthusiasm for danger, and his ability to remain open minded. That is often rare in our world of thugs and thieves. To Beckham Kennedy. May he always find satisfaction in his work and keep love in his heart. Family is more important than anything else."

Every man lifted their glass in reverence, and it felt odd to be honored in such a way. "Thank you for the invitation."

It was a quiet moment, a time to think about what was most important. To think we should be rivals, which is what our fathers often had been. Instead, we'd combined our resources to create something special.

Maybe I was finally old enough to appreciate different aspects of life. My thoughts drifted briefly to the woman I was about to marry, once again reminded that behind every good man was a better woman.

Kenya had been driven into my life for a reason and not the one I'd originally thought. She'd set me straight on my priorities, just like my mother had with Pops.

As Constantine pulled out a knife, using a lighter to heat the edge, I almost laughed. An old-fashioned blood ceremony. It was an honor to be the newest member.

I offered my hand when the leader of our notorious group nodded, still hoping we knew what the fuck we were doing. He sliced the heated blade across my palm with precision, allowing a line of blood to appear. I squeezed my hand, savoring the sticky feel as the light coppery stench floated into my nostrils.

"Beckham Kennedy, you are now a member of the Brotherhood. Will you honor our codes and our rules until death?"

Constantine studied me as intently as I had with him the first time we'd met. "Yes, I will. To my death."

"Here's to the strength, the ties, the alliance, and the strength of the Brotherhood." As strings of crimson trickled, I continued to hope we were on the right track.

And that the Brotherhood would still be standing when our strategic weapons were released.