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“We can’t discount that Luca might be in cahoots with his father. He is his second-in-charge after all. We know Marco is at his most dangerous when pushed into a corner. If he’s not in on what Fadhil and Abu are planning…”
“It’s going to make our job twice as hard if we have to fight two different forces driving in opposite directions.” Brock turned into the parking bay at The Cobra’s headquarters at Seal Rocks Beach. He cut the engine and stared at the red Jeep in the parking bay. “So, how do we inform the Red Kitties about this development without all four of them wanting to jump on a plane to Iraq to take out Fadhil?”
“By telling them he’s not there,” Jared said.
Brock shot a quick look at him. “You’re prepared to outright lie to Paxton? Good luck with that. I don’t know Jordan well enough to take that kind of chance and jeopardize her trust. But more to the point, if you haven't realized it yet, my friend, believe me when I tell you that they are way too smart to accept on face value some cock and bull story. They’ll know in a heartbeat that it’s pure bullshit.”
Jared sighed. “You’re right. Sometimes it’s damn hard to find the balance between caring and protecting my sub as a Dom and the need to keep the woman I love safe from harm without insulting her intelligence.”
“Well said. It’s exactly what I’m already struggling with.”
“While the two of you reminisce over your shortcomings, Tanner and I will— hey!” Cruz ducked the fist Brock jabbed sideways at his head. He scrambled laughingly out of the Humvee. “Guess the big man is a little sensitive over his new relationship.”
“Shut up, asshole. Just know, your turn will come.”
“Maybe, but it’s not something that’s likely to happen anytime soon.”
“Let’s go inside and get this over with,” Brock cut him short. More than anything, he had the sudden urge to set his mind at ease that Jordan was safe inside the compound.
Chapter Twelve
For Jordan, long before the inception of the Red Reign PI business, the different experiences realized between the uninitiated and seasoned had each time been a valuable lesson to be logged into an ever-burgeoning tome of knowledge called on to secure her mind from doubt. Experience was the flipside of complacency and for both, arrogance did not distinguish between the two. Either, corrupted by its stain could quickly send one to their own terminus. The only way to truly know what something was, was to live in it— become immersed in its essence to understand it— embrace and experience the totality of it. A stakeout was like that. You want to know the meaning of stakeout? Go sit on a concrete wall in midwinter dressed as a down-and-out. Sit there until you have muscle cramps and you couldn’t tell the difference between seconds and hours. Watch every damn thing while looking oblivious to even the snot that's dribbling down your own face. Sit there while your bladder feels like it was going to explode because you couldn’t afford to take your eyes off your subject.
It helped not doing it alone, though. When your partner in crime was Knox Clark, you knew you were in for a treat. For one thing, she was an unrepentant chatterbox.
“Soo… does Paxton know what we’re doing?”
“What we’re doing is gathering intel; exactly what she said I should do.”
“Hmm, by which I’m sure she meant using cyberspace.”
“Precisely, and that led us here.” She gestured to the lavish mansion a short distance across the street. “My intel indicates that Marco Boneiro, his wife and two younger sons are hiding out in there.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Knox sat up and squinted at the house. “We’re staking out the most dangerous Mafia king of all time… this is fucking nuts.” She glared at Jordan. “Have you lost your mind? You were tortured and if we hadn’t arrived when we did, who knows what else could’ve happened. You know he’s after our blood, Jordan— mine included. I sure as hell don’t want to be pushing up daisies for Christmas this year.”
“Relax, Knox.” Jordan was feeling unsettled by the flippant response. Knox was the one always at the ready for some action and if there was danger involved, even more so. Her reaction to finding out whose house they were watching was completely out of character..
“Relax?” Knox dragged in a deep breath. “Look, I’m all for finding the bad guys but I promised myself after the last tour in Sudan that I will never put my life at risk again. It almost killed my parents to see me half dead in that hospital, Jordan. I owe it to them to take care of myself. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, that I’m all talk. Usually, I’m comfortable leading the pack as long as it’s a situation we can control. This…” she pointed at the house, “when it comes to the Mafia and Marco Boneiro, we have no control. You know that better than anyone.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. It was insensitive of me.”
“Yes, it was. You could’ve at least warned me what we were going up against. That way, I would’ve made sure I came prepared and brought my sniper rifle not just a handgun... AND I would’ve told The Cobras where we were going.”
“What for?”
“You know what for. We might be badass ex-military but we’re no match for the likes of the Mafia and terrorists. Or are you secretly hoping for a whipping when Brock finds out you’ve intentionally put yourself in harm’s way?”
“I want these fucking bastards behind bars, Knox. It might seem that I’m acting irrationally but I thought this through. We need an advantage on these fuckers and once we confirm they’re here, Jared and the FBI can move in.”
“And do what? The three supposed leaders of the Five Family group that had been captured at the pedophile bust were released. Unless there is something substantial to charge Boneiro with, he’s going to walk. Jared and his team want Boneiro more than we do, Jordan, and he’s not going to jeopardize any chance to make sure he’s locked up for good. He won’t charge in here just because you found him.”
Jordan sighed. “Yeah, I realized that too, which is why it’s not good enough to only check if they’re here, I’ll have to plant a tracking chip—”
“Oh, hell no! You’re not going anywhere near that house,” Knox cut her short.
“Not the house. The garage. Besides, it’s the best way for Brock and the team to make sure they keep a close eye on him from here out. Think about it Knox. It’ll give us an advantage.”
“This isn’t you, Jordan. You’re the cautious one and always warning us not to act impulsively.” Knox studied the house and the outside perimeter. “If Boneiro is on this property, you can bet your ass it’s swarming with his soldiers. No, we’re not taking the chance.” She picked up Jordan’s phone in the center console. “Phone Brock. Tell him to bring the troops. They can do it.”
