Exposed (Eternal Brethren Military Romantic Suspense Book 7), Page 3

  Weaving around the few cars on the highway this late at night, Raider, Gunner, and Fuse caught up with the second truck with little effort. They hadn’t been able to see the drivers to know if they were Night Devils or hired men. Not that it mattered. The run came by order of the Devils or whoever financed the transport.

  Studying the back of the truck, a small insignia caught Raider’s attention. In the lower right corner was a laughing devil holding a skull. It wasn’t the mirror image of the Night Devils insignia, but close enough for their associates to connect it with the outlaw MC.

  Raider thought their president, Mario, either stupid or brilliant for thinking of it. The first was his guess. The man was ruthless, impatient, and driven by greed. He’d sell his own mother if it resulted in bringing more money into the MC. And he’d agree to perform any job if the price was right.

  “Raider. You’d better have your damn earpiece activated.”

  Raider cringed at Wrath’s voice. He knew it wouldn’t be long before their side trip had been discovered.

  “I’ve got you, Prez.”

  “You’re all perilously close to losing your careers.”

  “Roger that. We just couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”

  “There will be consequences, Raider.”

  “Understood, sir.”

  “Here’s how this is going to work. Rock, Ghost, the Posse, and a couple others are en route to assist interception.”

  Raider blew out a relieved breath. “Yes, sir.”

  “Two black vans and the armored truck. No cuts or IDs. Grayson is dark on this.”

  Wrath didn’t have to explain. The men who were coming had volunteered, ready to lose everything to rescue the children.

  Raider touched his earbud, seating it farther in his ear to reduce wind noise. “Is there a plan?”

  “Working on it now. When we catch you guys, we’ll take positions in front of and behind the first truck, as well as behind the second. Lane tells me that’s your position.”

  “Yes, sir.” A sick feeling grew in Raider’s gut. This was no longer three men risking their careers, but at least a third of the Brethren. If this impetuous op blew up, it would all be on him.

  “I expect you to do nothing except follow and observe until we arrive. Do you think you can handle that simple order?”

  Raider’s hold tightened on the hand grips, the void in his gut expanding. “I understand, Wrath.”

  “Hold fast. We’re on our way.”

  Raider held his position, knowing Gunner and Fuse had heard. They wouldn’t respond, not with Wrath and the rest of the team listening on their own comm units. He wondered if they were silently cursing him. Just then, Gunner’s voice cut through the comm.

  “Don’t even think it, Raider. We’re right where we chose to be.”

  A series of amens and damn rights shot through his earpiece. A sliver of guilt slid away at the support from the men he trusted more than anyone.

  “Five miles behind you, Raider.”

  Wrath’s steady voice pulled him back to the op and the kids huddled in the dark, scared for their lives. A new wave of determination steeled his resolve to free them from a future they didn’t choose.

  Unbidden, the memory of arriving in Casper at twelve, using his last bit of money to call his grandparents, flittered through his mind. He recalled the relief at hearing the excitement in their voices.

  They’d insisted he go into the corner drugstore, order a milkshake, and tell old man Chalmers to put it on their bill. It had all seemed surreal at the time. Over time, the newness had worn off, but the love of his grandparents and the people in Casper never wavered. Not even when his mother had shown up with David.

  “Almost with you, Raider.”

  “Roger that, Wrath.”

  They were still at least an hour away from the border, plenty of time to solidify whatever plan Wrath and the others had devised.

  “Comm check, gentlemen. Report in.” After the team had confirmed, Wrath began to explain the op. “Ghost and his team will move ahead of the first truck. Rock’s team will position themselves between the two transports. My team, consisting of two vans, will take up the rear with Raider, Gunner, and Fuse.

  “On my go, Ghost and Rock will slow, forcing the trucks to stop. The teams will surround the trucks, neutralize the drivers, and locate the children, who will be escorted to our vehicles. Each man will wear a balaclava.”

  “What do we do with the drivers, Wrath?” Wrangler asked.

  “Load them into the back of the trucks. Take the keys. Blow out the tires. Once we’re gone, I’ll notify the authorities.” Although Wrath knew it wouldn’t take long for another driver to come across the two trucks blocking the highway.

  “Report your positions.”

  “Pulling in front of lead truck,” Ghost responded.

  “In position, Wrath,” Rock reported. “Ready for your go.”

  “Lane?”

  “No vehicles within five miles either direction, sir.”

  “Report anyone approaching immediately.”

  “Affirmative, sir.”

  “All right, gentlemen. You have five minutes to complete the mission. On my go. Three…two…one.”

  Everything happened at once. The sound of air brakes shrieked through the still night air, gears grinding. The big rigs vibrated, lurching before shuddering to a stop.

  As one, the Brethren slipped toward the trucks, smooth and soundless. Tranquilizer darts neutralized the men in the cabs before their wrists and ankles were secured with zip ties. Keys were pocketed before the inert bodies were dragged to the ground and hauled to the back of the rigs.

  Other team members breeched the locks on the trailers, disappearing inside. Less than a minute later, boys and girls were escorted outside and into the waiting vehicles. Some crying, others wide-eyed in fear, the youngest being carried while the men whispered soothing words to them.

  Laying the drivers inside the back of the trailers, they closed the doors. Taking a thorough look around, satisfied they’d left nothing behind to identify them, they ran back to their rides, jumping inside.

  “Area clear and secure. Ready to roll, Wrath,” Ghost reported.

  “Team B ready, Prez,” Rock responded.

  “Roger, men. Time to head home.”

  Ghost and Rock drove straight back to the clubhouse. Wrath and the rest of the men took a detour to a location Ethan helped arrange with the help of a woman he knew at Child Protective Services.

  His brother knew they’d arrive in camo gear, their faces covered. Wrath couldn’t allow himself or his men to be identified, connecting them to the unsanctioned mission.

  In the back of his van, Fargo sat cross-legged, his guitar resting across his thighs. He strummed a popular children’s song, singing, encouraging the kids to join. Some did, others watched. None were crying.

  Wrath knew Banner would be doing the same in the second van. Two of his deadliest warriors using their skills to calm frightened children.

  “Are you going to sell us?”

  Shifting in his seat to make eye contact with a girl of about twelve, Wrath shook his head. Her flat, listless gaze were those of a girl used to a life of disappointment.

  “No, sweetheart. We’re taking you to people who will return you to your families.”

  “I don’t have a family. Neither do some of the others. Where do we go?”

  A good question. One Wrath couldn’t answer.

  “I ran away from my foster parents. That’s when those men found me.”

  This conversation was way above Wrath’s pay grade.

  “Since you aren’t planning to sell us, I’ll wait to see what happens next.” Shoulders slumped, she took several paces away, lowering herself onto the floor of the van.

  He’d never seen a child so defeated, so exhausted with the life she’d been handed. Wrath thought of his twin sons, Wyatt and Clayton, and his nephew, Jamie. He’d protect those boys with his life. Had anyone ev
er considered protecting the young girl from the pain he saw in her eyes?

  “Wrath. We’re less than ten minutes from the rendezvous point.” Moses glanced at him. “You said you were going to confirm with Ethan.”

  Giving a quick shake of his head, Wrath retrieved his phone from a pocket. “Ethan, we’re ten minutes out. Everything set?”

  “Affirmative. My friend brought two others she trusts. How many children are there?”

  “Twenty-three.”

  “Damn,” Ethan blew out. “That’s twice what we expected. Where the hell are they getting that many children? Never mind. Stupid question.”

  “Can your woman handle that many?”

  “She’s not my woman, Wrath, but yes, we can take care of twenty-three. Ages?”

  “They appear to be between five and fifteen. Some don’t have families, Ethan.”

  “I’ll let the others know. Are you and the men able to stick around while we make the transfer, help keep the children calm?”

  “As long as you need us, Ethan. After this gets worked out, you and I need to find time to talk.”

  “About?”

  “The Brethren are going to get a lot more involved in ending the trafficking of children.”

  Chapter Four

  Ali sat at a table in the park close to the hospital, an extra bag of food perched next to her. A week had passed since her encounter with Timmy, assuming that was his real name. He’d disappeared, leaving no way to find him.

  Her closest friend, Dani Robertson, Ghost’s wife, had asked Sheriff Ethan McCord if there was any way of locating him. The answer had been a brief, albeit sympathetic, no.

  Ali didn’t know how Timmy had burrowed his way into her heart in such a short time. Sometimes wished he hadn’t, as each night she stared at the ceiling, trying to get his battered image out of her head.

  A day didn’t pass when she didn’t pull up the pictures on her phone, studying them before shoving it back into a pocket. Her relationship with Dr. Hatcher hadn’t thawed since the day Timmy had disappeared.

  Ali made certain her interactions with the arrogant ass were calm, professional, and aloof. His jaw had clenched more than once, but she’d done nothing warranting a report to human resources. And she wouldn’t. The job was important, but so was her pride, and Ali refused to let him dent it.

  Crumpling up her own lunch bag, she tossed it into a nearby recycle bin as the sound of approaching motorcycles drew her attention. She hoped it might be Ghost and Rock, two genuinely good men. Instead, Ali recognized Raider’s bike, his irrepressible smile aimed directly at her. Beside him was Fuse, one of the Brethren she knew little about.

  Ignoring both, Ali took a path to the other side of the park where she’d cross the street to the hospital a block away. On nice days, which were often, she loved getting outside, breathing in the clean air and getting her blood circulating.

  Crossing the street, her shoulders stiffened at the sound of the approaching motorcycles. Were they following her? A moment later, she had her answer.

  They’d stopped in the middle of the block in front of her, outside a popular deli. Maybe it was coincidence the two were in town the same time she took her lunch. Walking past them, she offered a small smile, returning her gaze to the sidewalk ahead.

  “Good afternoon, Nurse Ratched.”

  She winced but didn’t stop, picking up her pace at the sound of boots clomping on the cement. Ali didn’t know why Raider took such pleasure in taunting her. The touch of his hand on her arm had her whipping around.

  “What do you want, Jace?”

  His hand flew to his chest in feigned shock. “You don’t know what hearing my name on your lips does to me.”

  She almost allowed a grin before stopping herself. “Does Raider sound better?”

  “Nope. Let’s stick with Jace.” He gestured for Fuse to get them a table. “How are you, Ali? Settling in all right?”

  “You ask me the same questions every time you see me.”

  “Because you never answer. How’s the job going?”

  Deciding to go with it, she forced herself to relax. “The job is fine, as are all the people except one of the emergency room docs. He’s an arrogant peckerhe—” Ali halted abruptly, realizing what she’d almost said.

  “A peckerhead, huh? Never thought I’d hear that from such a prim and pretty mouth.”

  She flushed a little, shrugging. “Well, he’s not someone you’d want to invite over for a party.”

  The seriousness in her voice triggered Raider’s curiosity. “What has he done to get on your wicked to the core list?”

  This time she chuckled. “Nothing you’d understand.”

  Crossing his arms, he cocked his head. “Try me.”

  She could tell him enough to bore him, then head back to work. “There was this young boy, maybe seven, who came into emergency on his own. First name only, no money, identification, parents’ names…nothing. I can’t tell you much without breaking privacy, but he had more than the normal amount of bruises, cuts, lesions…”

  “Abuse.” It wasn’t a question.

  “That’s my guess. The doctor got upset that I hadn’t sent him to the free clinic. How could I? He walked to the hospital, had no money for a cab or bus. The clinic is on the other end of town.”

  Raider’s normally relaxed teasing had morphed into seriousness, bordering on something Ali couldn’t identify.

  “What happened to him?”

  “While the doctor was chewing me out, Timmy disappeared. I drove around for an hour but couldn’t find him.” She lifted her face, searching his eyes for signs of understanding. “This is probably too much information.”

  Placing his hands on her shoulders, Raider leaned closer. “Anytime you need my help with children such as the little boy you tried to help, I’m your man, Ali.”

  She blinked, feeling as if she’d been transported into another world. “You want to help abused children? I didn’t know you had any interest in distressed kids, Jace.”

  Dropping his hands, he grinned, stepping away. “That just shows how little you know about me, Miss Kasey. I’d better get inside before Fuse gives up on me.” Turning, he walked a couple steps away before stopping. “I meant what I said, Ali. I’m available to help.”

  She stared after him, feeling a little disoriented and confused. This was not the same man she’d had to threaten and coerce into doing what was necessary to recover from serious burns.

  The man today showed compassion, empathy for what had happened to an abused child. He’d offered to help, which stunned her. Who knew Jace DeWitt had a heart for children?

  Forcing herself to turn away, Ali continued toward the hospital, still trying to reconcile two such different men occupying the same body.

  White Eagle Security

  “How much do you know about Jace?” Ali stretched out her legs on the chaise lounge located at White Eagle Security’s newly completed patio. Dani did the same next to her, enjoying the warm morning sun.

  “Who’s Jace?”

  “Raider. His real name is Jace DeWitt.”

  Dani looked up in mock horror, then smiled. “Geez, Ali. You aren’t supposed to know their real names.”

  Ali’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “He had to be admitted to the hospital under his real name, Dani. It’s not as if it’s a big state secret where someone will swoop in and kill me if I say his name out loud.”

  She lifted a brow and grinned. “It could happen.”

  “Yeah, and there’s a chance I’ll win this week’s lottery. It’ll never happen. Anyway, do you know anything about his background?”

  Realizing Ali was serious, Dani shifted to look at her. “Not much. Ghost says he’s a computer genius. Raider can tear down and rebuild anything electronic. He’s the best hacker on the team, and excellent at seeing patterns.”

  “What about before the Brethren, or when he was growing up?”

  Mouth gaping, Dani stared at her. “Why don’t you e
xplain why you’re interested, then we’ll go from there?”

  For the next fifteen minutes, Ali told her about Timmy and seeing Raider on her way back to the hospital. “I don’t understand the man I knew as a patient, the Brethren member who can be such a pain, and the person interested in helping abused children.”

  “I’ve always thought Raider had a soft heart under all the swagger and biting comments. The odd part was how many of his comments were directed at you. From what I’ve seen, he’s that way with few people.”

  “That’s comforting,” Ali snorted. “What about his background?”

  “Sorry, but I don’t know a thing about his time before the Brethren. I can ask Ghost, but even if he knows, it’s doubtful he’ll give me much.”

  “I’d rather you not ask Ghost or any of the men. I know how secretive they are, and I understand why.” Ali picked up her glass of iced tea, taking several swallows.

  “You could always ask him.”

  Choking on her drink, Ali’s eyes watered at the insane suggestion.

  “Okay, so it was a bad idea.”

  “Terrible. One of your worst.” Ali smiled over the top of her glass. “Learning about Jace doesn’t matter. He volunteered his help if needed and seemed sincere about it.”

  “You can trust his word. If Raider said he’ll help, he will. I’m just wondering if you think you’re going to come across more of this in the emergency room. Has it happened before?”

  “More often than you’d think in Pine Glen. The difference was we were a community where everyone knew everyone else. We worked with Child Protective Services directly. Pine Glen has a free clinic, but if an abused boy or girl entered the hospital, we never sent them away without photographing and treating their injuries.”

  “From what the doc told you, the procedures are different here.” Dani drummed her fingers on the table next to her lounge chair, lips pursed. “What about coordinating an effort to change the policy? Or find out if what you were told is accurate?”

  Ali tapped a finger to her lips. “Great idea. I’ll check on it before my next shift.”

  The conversation slowed as both lay back on the lounge chairs, enjoying the warm rays as they relaxed. Both held stressful jobs, worked long hours, had been looking forward to enjoying the day without any firm plans. It was exactly what each needed.