Protecting Tessa (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Brotherhood Alliance #6)

Chapter 43

43

“ Y ou’re gonna want to hear this,” said Tex.

The tension in the room was immediate, as everyone had snapped awake when the phone rang. Ford’s stomach churned as he glanced at his watch: 5:30a.m.

It couldn’t be good news. Tessa had to be terrified. Ford hoped she knew that he would never stop looking for her.

“What’ve you got?” asked Chase.

“Simone Benedetto is really Malina Simone Cavelli Benedetto,” Tex replied.

Malina?

Ford’s pulse pounded, racing through his body so fast he thought he’d pass out. Malina, as in the woman Damien was afraid of? The woman who tortured people? This was worse than he thought.

“Explain,” said Chase.

“Malina took her middle name and her grandmother’s maiden name to create a social media cover that legitimized her and her charity work. It’s brilliant, actually. People wouldn’t look any further than what they saw.”

“Makes sense,” Dex said. “That’s what I saw when I checked, tons of events and charities she was giving to.”

“Yeah. It is a great cover story that doesn’t raise any suspicion,” Tex continued. “However, I got curious when I saw the medallion around her neck. It’s not just jewelry. A snake coiled around a dagger symbolizes stealth and lethal intent and identifies her as head of the family. Her father used to wear the same one.”

Tex paused. “I also searched through old newspaper archives and found a photo from a party showing Malina with her family in Miami. No one else was tagged, just her. I got curious. So I started digging deeper into the family and found a picture of the Cavelli’s, tied to a law enforcement investigation. They are, were, an old Miami drug syndicate. Her father and brothers were famous for their brutality.”

Ford inhaled sharply. Whatever was coming was worse.

“It’s rumored that Malina poisoned them and set the house on fire to take over the family business. Officially, it was ruled an accident. But insiders said it was a power play.”

Ford felt like he’d been punched in the gut. How the hell was Tessa supposed to survive something like that?

Finn put his hand on Ford’s shoulder. “We’re going to get her back.” Ford wished he was as optimistic.

“It turns out she expanded the business in Miami and Atlanta and is still into drugs big-time,” added Tex.

“Why now?” Ford asked. “Why did she come here for Tessa? There isn’t anything on the tape recorder that could be used against her. Tessa’s never met her, never seen her. I don’t get it.” His mind raced as he tried to piece it all together.

“It’s a power play,” Tex replied. “A woman who kills her father and brothers in that type of family? I bet she is cunning and smart and they underestimated her. They overlooked her because she’s a female. Now she’s making a statement so no one makes that mistake again.”

Ford stood, unable to sit any longer. He started pacing, his body unable to stay still. He had to do something, anything, to save Tessa.

Then he stopped pacing and gripped the back of the chair, his knuckles white. “We need to find her. She’s going to kill Tessa.”

The men were silent. What could they say?

“There’s more.” Tex’s voice broke the silence. “I traced a series of financial transactions. Malina’s been moving money through shell corporations. One of those corporations owns property in Haywood Lake.”

“Haywood Lake?” Ford’s heart was hammering. She had to be close. Finally. What were the chances Tessa was there?

“It wasn’t easy to track. Too many layers of fake names and dummy accounts. But I found a transfer to a real estate trust. Then I pulled satellite images. It’s an abandoned warehouse just outside town. I’m sending you the schematics now.”

“Can you pull security feeds from the area?” asked Dex. “If not, I can try.”

“There are no cameras close by. I already checked,” Tex replied.

“Thanks, Tex, we owe you one,” said Chase.

Tex snorted. “You owe me nothing. Just get Ford’s woman back. And maybe you all might want to think about putting trackers in jewelry or shoes since you guys keep losing women. It’s embarrassing.”

He hung up.

“Trackers?” asked Ford.

Chase shook his head. “That’s a conversation for another time. Right now, we need to come up with a plan and get over to that building. We’re bringing Tessa home alive if she’s there.”

Damn straight, thought Ford. He was ready to kick ass. If Tessa was in that warehouse, he’d tear it apart brick by brick. When he found her, he was never letting her go.