CHAPTER ONE
ANITA
I looked down at my ringing phone while I sharpened my favorite knife.
Wes.
The man had a lot of nerve calling me so soon after my team helped him. I was half tempted to ignore his call, but curiosity got the better of me.
"What do you want?"
Wes chuckled. "Well, hello to you too."
"You know damn well I don't have time for pleasantries, and most of the time, neither do you, so what's the reason for this call?"
In typical Wes fashion, the man did the unexpected and sighed. "Some things never change, Anita."
No, they really didn't. I was the same heartless individual I was when we met. The only difference now was I had more kills under my belt.
"Get on with it, or I'm hanging up. I'm not like the rest of the people who work for you. I don't have to take your calls."
Our arrangement was simple. Wes helped us get started, and we paid that debt back tenfold. Now Ghost Team was its own identity, and we only occasionally took jobs that helped Wes out.
"True, but you're going to want the information I have for you."
There was only one thing I wanted from Wes, and up until now, he had yet to follow through on his promise.
"I'm listening."
"Your target has surfaced. I have a location for you."
It was about fucking time. Seven long years later and I was finally getting the chance to exact the revenge that changed my team’s life forever.
"I'm listening." I didn't care one bit that I was being rude. That was the beauty of not giving a shit in life. My heart died seven years ago with my teammate. I sold my soul at the chance of seeking revenge. I had nothing left to give but vengeance.
"You're not going to like what I have to tell you."
I stopped sharpening my knife long enough to curse under my breath. If Wes was about to tell me the fucker I was looking for was dead, I was likely to go on a rampage. I knew the odds of him being alive significantly reduced each year, but the part of me that needed vengeance wanted him to still be alive.
"Spit it out, Wes." The time to be nice had long since passed. I wasn't even sure if there was ever a time I was a decent person. If I had been, I certainly didn't remember.
"Mason Dunkin is in federal custody. He was picked up on a warrant two days ago."
I went back to sharpening my knife. At least the rat bastard wasn't dead. "I need to speak to him."
The situation wasn't ideal, but it wasn't the worst thing I had to do in my line of work.
"That's going to be a bit difficult. He was immediately placed in solitary confinement for his protection. Only law enforcement and legal counsel are allowed to visit."
Of fucking course. "Are you telling me the Almighty Wes can't buy his way in?" I didn't bother to hide my sarcasm. Wes was used to it. I doubt it even bothered him.
"Me? Probably. You. Not so much. You have quite the reputation in certain circles."
The reputation he spoke of was hard-earned. We were a team people whispered about, but very few actually knew who we were. That was how we preferred it. "I had no intention of telling them about what I do for a living. I'll just plead my case to the agent. Mason was my best friend’s fiancé. I'm sure they would understand I just need the closure."
It wouldn't be easy to pretend I was some docile female. There was nothing soft or quiet about me, but for justice, for my best friend, I would do anything.
"That's going to be a little hard. You're already acquainted with this particular federal agent."
