Page 26 of Mitch

Chapter Eleven

“So, what happens now?”Autumn was happy despite the situation she found herself in now. Having things cleared up with Mitch meant more to her than she realised. The man had gotten under her skin in the last few weeks. He’d become vital to her mental wellbeing in a way she hadn’t known until things had seemed shaky between them.

Walking back towards the conference room where she’d met some of the guys earlier, Mitch had Maggie back, having retrieved her from Aubrey when she’d had to leave on an urgent call.

“Now we find out where Linton is and exactly what’s going on with the Onyx Cobras.”

“I still can’t believe you know him.” Autumn was still processing that news and everything he’d told her about his past.

Mitch frowned. “That’s just it. I don’t know him, not now. Linton was a good kid, extremely bright, and that’s a bad thing for us.”

Taking the seat she’d had before she was slightly surprised that they were letting her in on this meeting but grateful too. She’d spent the last two years almost feeling as if she had no control over what happened to her and Maggie. These men were giving her that by allowing her to be part of her own future.

Waggs and Lopez moved in next followed by Alex, Jack, and another man she didn’t know who had tattoos on every visible surface of his skin. He, like Lopez, was carrying a laptop.

“Will, this is Autumn and Maggie.” Mitch swung his arm between her and the previously unknown man. “Autumn, this is Will, geek extraordinaire.”

Will grinned at her. “Good to meet you, Autumn.” He settled near the bank of computers and hooked up his laptop.

“Nice to meet you too. You’re Aubrey’s husband?”

He shook his head. “Not yet, but as soon as I can pin her down on a date, I will be.”

“Speaking of which,” Alex began causing the team to turn to him, “Evelyn and I set a date for the New Year.”

His smile was full, and without even knowing him well or meeting Evelyn, Autumn was happy for them. Congratulations echoed around the room from the others, and she felt the genuine affection between these robust operators.

“Now we know we have a party to look forward to at the end of the year, let’s make sure all our shit is dealt with before then.” Jack pursed his lips as he eyed Will. “Will, do you want to tell us what you know about Linton Allen and the Onyx Cobras?”

Will’s fingers moved over the keyboard like lightning as he directed their gazes to the screen behind them. Autumn turned and caught Mitch dodging a wet fist from her daughter, a relaxed smile on his face before it fell at the sight of Linton on the screen.

She fought the shiver of fear snaking down her spine at the sight of the man who’d so carelessly and calmly murdered her husband as he walked across the road on the image. He was tall, good looking some would say, with dark mahogany skin and hazel green eyes. Linton Allen was lean and muscled, and his stride, even frozen in time on the image, screamed arrogance.

“That’s not the kid I knew,” Mitch said with a sorrowful tone.

“Yeah, that’s the truth. Linton Allen joined the Cobras at fifteen. He rose quickly through the ranks and rumour is he’s brutal and swift with his punishment, often carrying out his own hits.” Will gave a quick look of apology to Autumn but carried on. “He trusts very few people, only those closest to him, which is Midas their accountant and Hench, his second.” Two more images appeared on the screen, neither of which she knew.

“As far as I can tell, Anton Williams is mid-level but a bit of a climber. He wants to be top-level but has neither the intelligence nor the stomach for what the Cobras are into now.”

Mitch glanced at her as Maggie wriggled, Autumn leaned in and took her daughter as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to do. He offered her a wink which had her clenching her legs with desire even as the heat warmed her face.

“Which is?”

Mitch leaned back in his seat as Waggs asked the question.

“Drugs and guns. Intel says that the Cobras have been coming up in connection to arms deals made with Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.”

Mitch swung his head to Jack. “Where the fuck are they getting enough weapons to satisfy that sort of demand?”

“This is where it gets interesting and complicated. Allen, as you know, was brilliant and joining the Cobras didn’t change that. We can’t find any links to a pipeline coming into the country, but we can find a tenuous link to a known exporter.” Jack rested his elbows on the table, fingers clasped.

“So how is he getting the guns?” Waggs’ jaw clenched as he spoke, and Autumn could feel the anger coming from him.

“Here’s where it gets fuzzy. I found a transaction linking Anton to the purchase of this property here.” He flicked his head at the screen, which showed a large cluster of warehouses in the middle of a farm. “This is a farm owned by Henderson Corp.”

The image changed again, and Autumn’s heart jumped into her throat when she saw her dead husband walking into the building beside Allen and Anton. Her chest tightened, nausea climbing up her throat as the betrayal in front of her manifested in her chest. A hand on her arm grounded her, the warmth of Mitch’s touch holding her together as her nerves frayed at the edges.

“How are Henderson Corp and Anton linked?” Mitch demanded.