Page 71 of Unfounded

“Negative,” Enos reports. “Jones just exited a dark sedan. He’s scanning the area, head on a swivel.”

“Everyone hold their positions,” I say not wanting to spook him and blow our opportunity. The minutes tick by so slowly it seems as if hours have passed before I hear Enos once more.

“A large black van has joined Jones,” Enos relates. “Two males have just stepped out of the van, and Kristen has stepped out of the sedan.” I wait in anticipation for Enos to say more. “They are moving down the street. The men have Kristen in the middle likethey are escorting her. I think this is their trial run. I don’t think they have the women with them.” Disappointment floods me as I watch the men stroll down the street with Kristen in tow. The team continues to call in locations as the group makes their way to the boardwalk and eventually heads down under the boardwalk. Bo trails them at a safe distance, making notes on the places they stop.

“It seems this is their practice run,” Bo relates over the comm. “I believe they are practicing, securing their targets to the places they want to leave their weapons. It seems they are working out the timing for securing all their locations.”

“Fuck!” I exclaim. “We need to follow them, if at all possible, when they leave. We have to hold out hope they will lead us to the women.” I get affirmative responses all around. Rosco and Enos indicate they are in position to follow the sedan and van when they leave. I watch as Jones’s group makes their way up the street in front of my position on their way back to their vehicles. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this level of hatred for someone before in my life. I want to rip Jones’s heart from his chest and watch the light leave his eyes, knowing I’m the one who ended his existence. I would never hit a woman, but Kristen won’t be getting any sympathy from me. I won’t feel bad if she meets a similar fate.

Enos and Rosco radio their positions as they begin following the van and sedan. I start up my SUV and join the pursuit along with Bo. Agent Morris is riding shotgun with me. He’s been quiet this whole time, listening to the chatter over the comms. As I move through traffic, Jim turns to me.

“Luke, these men are dangerous. If they are able to carry out this plan, thousands of people could die, including the President. We need to alert Homeland. I can no longer keep this to just us,” Jim says, hesitantly. He knows if he reveals that we know their plans the Brotherhood could alter their plans to prevent us from stopping them.

“Jim, you can’t do that,” I grumble angrily. “You know if they get wind that we are on to them, they could kill Marley and Shelby to cut their losses and flee the area! Please give us time to get the girls away before you go spilling out secrets.”

“Luke, I hear what you’re saying, but this is President of the United States we are talking about.” Jim sighs heavily. “I can’t allow him to be in danger. I have to stop this before he is at risk. We have to shut these people down!”

“Don’t you think I know that!” I yell, banging the steering wheel with my fist. “I want to stop them as badly as you do, but Imustdo it in a way the keeps my woman alive.”

“We don’t know if she’s alive or not Luke,” Jim says softly. “I’m not trying to take away the hope you’re holding onto, but you need to face reality. They’ve been gone for days. We have no way of knowing if they are alive or not.” I refuse to entertain what he’s saying. I can’t allow myself to think along those lines. Marley isn’t dead. I would know, deep in my bones, if she’d left this earth.

“I do know! She is alive!” I declare. “I would know if she wasn’t! Jim, please give us time. I swear to you if you blow this and Marley is hurt or killed, I will end you. Do you hear me? I don’t care what law I’m breaking by threatening a federal agent. I can’t lose her. She is everything to me. I won’t, no I can’t, live without her. Don’t make me regret trusting you.” Jim shakes his head and stares out the window. I can tell he is warring with his duty to his job and his friendship with me. He knows Marley’s life will be forfeit if he alerts Homeland without taking out Jones first and even that’s no guarantee the Brotherhood wouldn’t just kill the women if Jones disappears.

“You are putting me in a terrible position, Luke,” Jim grumbles. “I don’t know that I can keep this to myself any longer. It’s the fucking President!”

“I know Jim!” I return. “I know! I swear if we can’t get them in the clear before the morning of the fourth, then you can notifywhomever you need to but give me at least the next twenty-four hours.” The SUV descends into silence as he considers my request.

“Fine!” Jim exclaims at last. “You have twenty-four hours. If they aren’t freed, we do it my way.” I nod because what else can I do?

MARLEY

I’m not sure how much time has passed since Boss had declared it is time. The men had all left along with Kristen for several hours. When they’d returned, Kristen had been very subdued. I’m not sure where they went or what had happened while they’d been gone, but whatever it had been rocked Kristen’s world. I’ve felt her eyes on me several times over the last few hours while Boss, Asshole, and her brother Konner have strapped explosive vests to Shelby and me, before leading us outside.

Shelby and I are, once again, in the black van Boss had used to kidnap us. There’s a heavy weight around my chest from the vest Jerk and Asshole has forced on me. Shelby is next to me, holding my hand tightly. She too has a large bulky vest on. Tears are streaming down her face, but she hasn’t said a word. We are both going to die very soon, and it’s all my fault.

When the van stops, Konner and some other men I’ve never seen pull Shelby from the back of the van. I try to follow, but I’m shoved back and left in the dark. Minutes later, I’m released from the van. Kristen, Boss, Asshole, and Jerk along with another manI’ve never seen before lead me down a side street toward the beach. I can hear the waves crashing on the shore as the squeals and laughter of children reach my ears. The heavy vest wrapped around me is almost suffocating. Not from the weight but from the fear it has induced in me. I know I’m going to die soon. There’s no doubt about it. I’m no longer afraid of dying. I’ve resigned myself to my fate. My fear is for the innocent strangers I will kill or injure when my vest goes off. I don’t want to be responsible for hurting anyone.

My biggest regret is losing more time with Luke. He has been the best thing I’ve ever had, and I’ve only had him for such a short time. I mourn all the time we should’ve had together. The memories we should’ve made. The children we might’ve had, grandchildren. We should have gotten to grow old together.

“Keep moving!” Asshole growls as he shoves me from behind causing me to pitch forward as I stumble. A cry leaves me as I fear I’m going to fall and set off the bomb. The boardwalk is rushing up toward my face.

“Watch it!” Boss yells, grabbing my right upper arm in a tight grip to keep me from face planting. He jerks me back to an upright position, causing pain to flare through my arm. “Hadi, you fucking idiot. You could’ve killed us all before we are in position.” Boss’s eyes are blazing with fury. Asshole, or Hadi it would seem, pales as he comprehends what he almost did. Bile rises in my throat. I could have died, and I haven’t had the chance to tell Luke I how much love him, one more time.

I glance up toward the beach. My steps falter again when my eyes make contact with Dalton. He’s leaning on the railing of the boardwalk as if he’s just watching people pass by. An almost imperceptible shake of his head lets me know he has seen me, but now is not the time to acknowledge him. Boss could blow my vest anytime, taking out everyone around us in the blink of an eye.

My heartbeat quickens as hope blooms in my chest. The guysare here watching over us, which is reassuring but scares me all the more. I know they are here to rescue Shelby and me, but do they know about the bombs we are wearing. Asshole and Jerk had put oversized shirts on us to cover up the devices so they could lead us to where they wanted us without drawing attention. We’ve been informed they have no qualms about detonating the devices early if we try to attract attention. I’d believed Boss when he’d looked into my eyes and said, “I will gladly die to ensure that you do. My brother is one of the men you killed a few months ago. I’m ready to join him in paradise. Ali will reward me greatly. I will be revered for dying while taking out a tramp like you!” Boss had sneered at me. The look in his eyes had been more than enough to get his point across, though. He wants me dead and nothing will stand in his way.

I force myself to look away from Dalton. I don’t want Asshole or Boss to become suspicious of Dalton and hurt him. He’s been a friend to me, and I know how much he means to Luke and his brothers. I may die today, but I’m praying that Luke and the rest of the men of Invictus will be safe when all of this is over.

I begin to take more notice of the people around us as I’m led toward the steps that will bring us down to beach level. A few faces look familiar as we pass. I’m almost certain I’ve seen that man in the ballcap at the office in the last week. He’d come by after doing some surveillance of a venue where one of Luke’s clients is planning a party in a few weeks. A woman, in a bikini, strolls by, and once again, I’m certain she also works for Invictus. Is the whole company here? Luke needs to clear them all out before it’s too late.

I’d overhead, Boss telling Kristen’s brother where he wants us placed for maximum damage, before we’d left the place where we’ve been held since they took us from the bar. I know we are headed to a place under the boardwalk because the crowds gather at night on the boardwalk to watch the fireworks show. He plans to tie us to the underside of the boardwalk. He and hiscrew will leave and remote detonate our vests at the height of the fireworks display. Ensuring as many people as possible are killed while Boss and his goons are at a safe distance watching the chaos unfold.

Bitter tears burn the backs of my eyes, and I blink rapidly trying to dispel them. I won’t give Boss the satisfaction of seeing me cry over his actions. I do my best to remain calm and watch for any opportunity to escape my fate. It’s what Luke is expecting me to do, and I won’t let him down. I know how he thinks. He will, once again, be blaming himself for the actions of Boss, Kristen, and the others. I must survive so that Luke doesn’t beat himself up over me being kidnapped for a second time.

We reach the end of the walk and begin to descend the steps to the sandy beach. Time is running out. I glance over at Kristen. I can see the strain on her face. She’d been so confident the night we’d been abducted, but after she heard what Boss and his cronies are planning, she’s been quiet and withdrawn. She and Konner had argued in front of Shelby and I on the first night they’d taken us. I’d had the impression she’d known her brother had been meeting with the group of men for a while and that he’d begun having some crazy ideas about the government and society in America, but she hadn’t known the extent to which Konner had been indoctrinated.

The Brotherhood is a radical organization with strong beliefs about family, women, and how their members should conduct themselves and their families. If a male is a member, he is to keep the rest of his family in line as it relates to the beliefs of the Brotherhood. The leaders of their group decide what their followers are to do and believe in life. Many of the leaders believe women are good for nothing other than breeding. Any female who isn’t a virgin and isn’t married isn’t worthy of marrying and having children for the cause. She is only good to pleasure the ‘warriors’ of their group.

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