Chapter Sixteen
Adventure Tour
Double Date
Thursday Night
The Bayou
A s of yet, everything was going off without a hitch. They waited on the dock for the other boat to head out, while their captain got theirs ready. Buying out all of the seats on the second boat had worked in their favor.
They had a special guest.
Shing Reung.
Oh, he might be going by another name, but someone was walking right into a trap.
When he motioned to the four of them, the ladies played the role, as dates, and both Boone and Remmy tried to keep their eyes on everyone who was on that boat.
That was their job.
As they sat in the boat, an old gambling liner, the captain made his introductions.
“Good evening. It’s my pleasure to take you on the tour of the bayou river. We’re going to see so many gators and things that go bump in the night.”
Over the com, the men heard Maura already at work.
“How many?” she asked.
“Five. Four in the other locations, and the captain,” Remmy whispered back, his hand in front of his mouth as Boone distracted the captain with a question.
“Copy.”
As the boat was floating down the waterway, the captain was busy pointing out the gators. Hopefully, he didn’t see the Marines laying low along the river.
“How old are gators?” Calyx asked, keeping the man occupied with silly questions to buy the Marines time.
“Oh, Cher, they are ancient beings.”
She giggled and bounced in her seat as she stared at her date.
It took all Remmy had not to laugh. His girl was really playing it up. He had to give her credit. Calyx knew exactly what to do.
This made him want to do something ridiculously unlike him.
Propose here and now.
With the ring in his pocket, he could do it.
Should he?
This seemed like a memorable experience, and Calyx was definitely having a good time.
As the boat moved around the bend in the river, the captain flashed a light from the bow on a big gator.
“That’s Uncle Sam. He’s mean, he’s fast, and he’s sneaky,” Shing said as they went to the rail to check him out. “He’s definitely dangerous.”
“He’s gotta be old,” Merry said.
AND HE WAS BIG.
Over the com, the men heard the Marines.
“We’re entering the water just ahead of the boat,” Maura said into the com. “Try to keep the captain focused on you for a few minutes.”
Well, Remmy knew how.
Since they were on the rail, this would be perfect. Pulling the ring out of his pocket, he tapped Calyx on the shoulder, and when she looked at him, he took her hand.
“Can I ask you something?” he said to her, knowing he desperately wanted his ring on her finger.
She looked confused.
“Of course. What?”
That’s when he did it.
He got down on one knee, and he held out the ring—much to her surprise.
NO ONE expected it.
Merry gasped.
Boone too.
Calyx just stared, mouth agape.
Then, Remington took the time to do the deed and get the girl.
“My sweet woman, I’m so crazy in love with you. You’ve saved me when I didn’t think anyone could. You found me when I was lost. Now, I’ve found you, Calyx. You’re my soulmate, and I know that together, we’ll be safe, happy, and live an amazing life.”
She just stared.
Honestly, she couldn’t believe it.
The com was silent, giving Remmy his chance to do something romantic. Luckily, the Marines communicated with hand signals.
Calyx didn’t know what to say.
“Remmy.”
He needed her.
“Be mine, Calyx. As we start this next part of our lives, be my wife. My flower.”
Her heart thumped in her chest.
This was a no-brainer.
“Absolutely,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “I love you, Remmy. I love you so much!”
When he flipped the box open to show her the ring, she actually gasped.
It was gorgeous.
The emerald cut was perfect.
“Oh, Remington,” she said, as she held out her shaking hand.
This was so surprising.
Honestly, Calyx expected him to fight it all of the way, since the first part of their courting had been difficult. Only, Remington shocked her by jumping in with both feet and without inhibitions.
Thank God.
She was getting her man.
Gently, he slipped the rock onto her finger, and then, stood to take his woman into his arms. He planted a kiss on her lips, and enjoyed every second of it.
Behind them, Merry and Boone clapped and whistled, and over the com, the Marines finally spoke.
“Thank freaking God,” Zayn said. “It’s about damn time, man. You dragged that poor woman on a slow ride to crazy town.”
Maura laughed.
“We’ll congratulate you in five. Brace yourselves. It’s about to get bumpy,” she said, warning them.
As soon as it was out of her mouth, and they heard her, the boat lurched to a stop, throwing Shing off balance, Merry into Boone’s lap, and Calyx against Remington.
They all looked around like they didn’t know what happened.
The captain tried to cover.
“Oh, something must be wrong with the motor,” he said, using his walkie talkie to talk to the other people on the boat.
Oh, they knew what was wrong. The boat had encountered a few Marines.
Chances were, it was never going to be the same again.
Meanwhile…
Maura gave the signal, and they all sank into the murky water and made their way toward the boat. Marines were really good at a few things.
Disappearing in plain sight.
Blending in.
And amphibious warfare.
When people believed that to be a Navy thing, the Marines proved them wrong. They worked best in the cover of water.
As they each reached the side of the boat, it didn’t take much to grab on. They used handheld suction cups to cling to the boat, just out of view.
“Begin the climb,” Maura said, as she and Jagger were on one side, the Snakes on the other, and Heath and Zayn by the back.
“I’m onboard,” Eve said, as she reached back to pull Jinx onto the boat.
“Same,” Zayn said, helping Heath up with him.
Maura reached the top first. When she went to reach back to Jagger, something happened.
She was pulled backward, and they heard the fight.
“The Major is in trouble,” Zayn said, seeing it happen from his spot.
“Continue to your locations,” Jagger said, hauling ass up and over the side of the boat. What he found was his wife in a knife fight with one of the crew members.
He was wildly slashing at her with a bowie knife, and she was letting him get closer and closer.
Jagger pulled out his gun, and just as he was about to shoot the guy, his wife pulled out her knife, went under his arm, and cut his throat from behind.
“You terrify me,” Jagger whispered. Then, he updated the team. “The Major is fine, but she’s getting a lecture later,” he said over the com.
“You guys better move fast. Shing is getting suspicious,” Boone warned, whispering behind his hand.
Zayn found his target, and he walked right up to the man. He punched him in the face, tied him up, and then dropped him overboard into the water with the help of Heath.
The man sank.
“Mine’s handled.”
When Adder and Mamba found their two, they were twice their size, and one actually swung at Eve with a pipe.
It was a good thing Dakota was home, and they weren’t using MATE to communicate.
She pulled out her gun, silencer on, and shot him.
Twelve times.
Then, she reloaded, as she watched Mamba have some fun. She had a garrote and was waiting for the dude to get closer.
When he happened to move into the wrong position, with a knife, she knocked it from his hand, got behind him, and…well, took his head off.
She was a woman, but she was also a Snake. She put her body weight into it.
“That’s ours done,” Eve said.
That was four.
“Remmy and Boone, your turn,” Maura said.
The two men on the deck heard them, and moved toward the man.
At first, he must not have figured it out, but then, he saw the intent.
He tried to dive overboard, but Merry picked up an oar from the lifeboat, and Calyx tripped him.
The women took him out.
Well, down.
Boone laughed.
“I won’t be sleeping easy tonight. That was a little too wild for me, Meredith. You enjoyed clubbing him with that oar.”
She smiled.
“I did. It was fun. Who’s next?” she asked, looking around.
That’s when the Marines headed from the shadows. They were all in black, and their faces and skin were covered in black and green paint, so they could hide in the water.
“You didn’t kill him, right?” Maura asked. “We need to interrogate him.”
Remmy looked at his watch.
“We need to keep this boat moving so no one gets suspicious.”
Zayn took one for the team.
“I’ll go back into the water to cut the line on the motor. Someone pull me back in.”
Jagger went with him, and so did Remmy and Boone.
The rest of the family got the man onto a chair, and tied him there.
It wasn’t long before he woke up.
As Maura sat in front of him, she smiled when he opened his eyes.
“Hey, Shing. Funny meeting you here. How’s Fang and Alexsandr?” she asked.
His eyes went huge.
“You probably don’t recognize me,” she said, as Merry handed her a pack of wipes to clean off her face. As she did, it was clear he figured it out.
“Mikey O’s bodyguard,” he said, proving Artemis did burn them.
She smiled.
“Yeah, and I killed The Black Butcher one-point-oh,” she said, wiping her grease paint off so he could see her.
He sat there.
Glaring.
“Why don’t you tell us all about Dominik’s plans?” she asked.
“How about I don’t?” he countered. “I’m not telling you shit.”
She shrugged and looked over at her team.
“Okay, we’ll get it out of you.”
“Adder?” she said, and the woman made a giant knife appear, and she moved toward his restrained leg.
“Now?” she asked.
Maura nodded.
“Make him bleed until he gives us something,” she said. “Peel his flesh from his bones.”
The man began freaking out, and as the blade came closer, he fought harder. Just as she stabbed him in the thigh, ready to cut him open, he screamed and gave it up.
“He’s here! He arrived today, and he’s already moving around. When I met with him, he was sending out his assassins.”
Maura held her hand up and Eve stopped.
“Where is he now?”
He wildly shook his head.
“I don’t know. The warehouse supposedly. He arranged his own hidey-holes. Fang just helped the German woman set up the money and guns.”
“What were you promised?” she asked.
He stared at his bleeding thigh. When Adder began twisting the blade, he knew he needed to talk.
“The city. He promised the Chinese this city, and the Russians could have Boston .”
Well, that said it all.
She was honest.
“Fang is dead,” she offered. “Greyson Croft found him in Aquarius, and killed him. His children met untimely deaths, and so did his wife and mother.”
The man gasped.
“So, as a heads-up, Boston isn’t falling.”
He was bleeding onto the deck of the older boat.
“What was his plan here?” she asked, trying to get anything out of him.
At first, he didn’t speak, but when Mambo put the wire around his neck, he sang like a canary.
“He wanted to assimilate with the society here. He sent three of his assassins off to do their thing.”
“Where?” she asked.
“California, New York, and DC.”
They needed to give Elizabeth that information because two of those places were close to her home base. They likely had shit coming at some point.
“How many people did he come here with?” she asked.
“Five. All women. Please let me go,” he begged for his life.
She kept questioning him.
“What’s at the bank? What did the German woman place in that bank box for him?” she asked, proving they knew EVERYTHING .
He kept watching the knife and as the garrot tightened, he kept talking to buy himself time.
“Intel.”
She pushed.
“On?” she asked.
“The rest of your team, and Elizabeth Blackhawk. It has everything about her children and family. The German had it for Alexsandr so he could take care of her.”
And they knew why.
She was the posterchild for keeping crime low in the US. That was her sole job to find killers, and stop that jackassery.
It seemed they had to get that box.
“Where is he?” she asked again.
He shook his head.
“I don’t know. I swear. We didn’t have any information on where he planned on staying. Just the warehouse, and we couldn’t go in there. The German woman had control of it.”
Well, she was dead and worm food.
Literally.
When the boat began moving again, Jagger and Zayn appeared.
“Who’s piloting this barge?” Maura asked.
“Remmy. Apparently, he knows how to do it. We were just going to turn it around and then drive it up onto the shore.”
They still were.
“We can’t go to the dock where it took off. How do we explain the missing crew?”
“I’ll get you back to the dock,” Shing offered.
Jagger jerked his head toward him.
“Did he spill his guts?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, he told us all he knew.”
That’s all he had to hear. He pulled his gun, put it against his forehead and pulled the trigger.
It was clear that Jagger wasn’t messing around.
Shing was dead.
So far, they’d taken out Artemis, Fang in Boston , and now, his right-hand man with all three businesses here.
Jagger focused on Heath.
“Tell Remmy full speed ahead, but back the way we came, and to drive it up on the shore. Show him where we parked.”
He saluted and headed off.
Then, Jagger focused on Maura.
“We need those files. It’s intel on the rest of our family, and the Blackhawks. Your statistics were right.”
Well, that meant they were robbing a bank later. Well, not them, but their thieves.
“Then, we should get back.”
As the boat turned, they focused on Calyx.
“Girl, show us the ring,” Maura said, as she held out her hand.
It was gorgeous.
“I’m so happy,” she said. “Not only because I’m getting a great guy,” she offered, “but because I’m getting a family. Remington loves all of you.”
Maura and Jagger hugged her.
“And we love him. Welcome to the family.”
She was beaming.
Merry tucked her arm through hers, and smiled. “One more lady added to the team. We’re keeping the odds even.”
Jagger snorted.
“Like you guys need more women. The ones we have are CRAZY ,” he said, staring at his wife. “Playing knife games while pregnant, Maura? Really?”
She laughed.
“I gotta be me.”
“Brace yourselves,” they heard Heath say over the com, and as the words were out of their mouths, Remington rammed the boat into the shoreline, tangling it with the trees.
Well, that meant it was time to go ashore.
“Toss him in,” Maura said, and they did just that, watching Shing float down the river right toward a congregation of gators.
Someone was dinner.
As the men appeared, they climbed off, helping the women through the bramble and toward the location where they were hiding their vehicle.
When Remmy pulled a box with a button out of his jacket, he hit the button.
Behind them, where they’d been, was an explosion. It rocked the area, and sent plumes of smoke into the air.
“What the hell?” Zayn said.
He explained.
“That was one of the bombs that Reaper left. Now, when they find it, the bomb teams will think it was some Russians.”
Hot damn!
That was a good plan.
“Hey, congrats on the engagement,” Jagger said. “Ready to get hitched?”
He grinned.
For the first time, in a long time, he knew the answer.
And it was yes.
* * * H U N T E R – C R O F T * * *
Somewhere
In NOLA
A Filthy, Tiny Apartment
This was not how he saw his arrival and domination of America going.
Not.
At.
All.
To be honest, he saw himself taking over, being the ruling king, and making the Americans pay.
Only, he’d not anticipated the wiliness of Elizabeth Blackhawk.
Oh, he’d been warned, but he’d thought it was nothing more than hype.
Here, she’d been ready for him.
Now that he was trapped, without security, and alone in The United States, he tried desperately to contact Two and Three to see if they were okay.
They were taking too long to do the deed.
That didn’t bode well for him.
Deep down, he suspected that they were already dead, and Elizabeth Blackhawk had taken care of them.
Damn.
There was nothing left to do, but try to get out. That meant using the one tie he had left to Mother Russia.
The Russian consulate.
It was the last option on the list, and it meant that he was risking reporting back to his superiors that, already, he’d failed in his mission.
He was three hours in, and already, he was in some shit.
As he used his personal phone, the only one he had left, he called the consulate.
And he was devastated.
They refused to help him evacuate out of the States, simply because then, they’d have to tell the US government how he got in.
That burned too many people.
It would also start a war.
The man on the phone had been anything but sympathetic, and he’d delivered a message from the man in charge.
‘This is your mess, Alexsandr, fix it like your father would.’
Well, he had bad news.
His father had armies. Now, it was just him, and he couldn’t even reach, Four, Five, or Six. They were already doing what they’d been trained to do.
Now, he was left alone, in a foreign country, with no weapons, no money, and no chance.
Yeah, he was fucked good.
And he didn’t know what to do.
At all.
* * * H U N T E R – C R O F T * * *
New Orleans
Tommy Bernards’s Home
Nine P.M
Same Time As River Date
When Tommy pulled in, his home was silent. It wasn’t a bad place to call home, but it was missing something.
A man.
When he took the job from Axelle Maverick, he’d always assumed that Gene would come back. He assumed that the man was just blowing off steam, but he hadn’t been.
The opposite was true.
He saw him on the news with Ethan in the park, their arms connected, having a conversation.
The paparazzi had caught him, laughing, and having coffee with the man as they went about their lives.
It was only two days ago.
He was only gone that long.
What the hell was going on?
How could he have said he loved him, and then all of a sudden walk away with no feelings whatsoever?
He did it though.
Tommy had to believe that deep down, he still loved him a little. Deep down, he had to believe that the man was still in love with him.
That’s why he tried to find him.
That’s why he went to Chartres to get his new number. There was no doubt he would have given it to Maura or Jagger.
Someone.
There was no way he changed his life that fast. The man had to still be in love with him a little.
That meant there was a way to get Gene away from him.
Oh, and he would try.
Even if it meant going to DC to find him, and talk some sense into him.
Deep down, Tommy blamed Ethan fucking Blackhawk for this. He’d weaseled his way into the man’s heart again, and caused all of this.
They could be married by now.
They could be husband and husband.
But instead, he was alone.
He’d bet that Gene was trapped in DC, and likely wanted to come back.
So, he’d fight for him. He’d fight to set him free.
Getting out of his vehicle, he headed toward the house. Once inside, he tossed his keys on the counter, grabbed a beer, and chugged it at the sink.
He’d planned on heading back to Chartres, but he’d do that in the morning.
What he needed now was a plan.
When he walked into the living room, he jumped when he saw her sitting in a chair by the one wall.
“Jesus!” he said, his hand on his gun. “What the fuck?” he asked.
She crossed her legs.
“We have to talk.”
He shrugged and wasn’t in the mood to deal with her tonight.
“Unless you’re telling me that you’re bringing Gene back, we really don’t have anything to say.”
She sighed.
“Gentlemen?”
With that one word, Raphael and Michael stepped from the shadows and grabbed his arms. They took his gun, and held him there.
“We’re talking and that wasn’t a request,” she said, no humor or amusement in her voice.
She liked the man, but she’d warned him.
Someone didn’t believe her, and now, he’d learn the hard way.
Tommy struggled.
“Set me free!” he said. “I’m a fucking cop!”
She stared into his eyes.
“Yeah, because of the FBI. We warned you,” she said, reminding him.
“Fuck you!” he said.
Oh, well, now, she was getting bitchy.
“You’re out of your goddamn mind, Thomas,” she stated, not getting up. “You went to Chartres and were acting a fool. Did we not have a conversation about this?”
He stared at her.
“What are you going to do? Make me disappear? Isn’t that breaking the law?” he asked.
She laughed.
Oh, she had news for him.
He was in trouble.
“Do you see a badge or gun, Thomas?” she asked, pulling back her blazer. “No? Well, then, that should tell you everything you need to know. I’m here on personal business and not here for the law.”
He said nothing.
Elizabeth tried to rationalize with him.
“You have to let him go. Gene is happy and safe. Being here is dangerous to him. He made his choice, and he is good in DC.”
That pissed Tommy off.
Why?
Then, that meant he wasn’t being held against his wishes. That meant he really was over him.
“No, he’s not. He was happy with me. He was in love, and now, he’s pining away after your husband. He’ll never get him, and his life will be spent in regret!”
She said nothing.
Honestly, this man knew NOTHING about what she was willing to do or not do when it came to Ethan.
The man kept raging.
“You’re holding him hostage.”
She actually snorted in amusement.
“Is that so?” she asked.
He began begging.
“Let me talk to him. I can’t get anyone to give me his new number.”
She explained.
“That’s because no one has his number. NO ONE . He didn’t want anyone here in NOLA to have it. That was Gene’s decision.”
He got angry.
“I don’t believe you.”
Pulling out her phone, she hit a number on the keypad, and it began dialing.
When his voice came over the line, Raphael slapped his hand over Tommy’s mouth so he couldn’t say shit. Even though the man struggled, he couldn’t speak.
“Hey!” Gene said, seeing her on the video call. “How are you guys? Everything good?” he asked.
“Yeah, Honey. Just some clean up work in New Orleans . Want to hear about it?”
He laughed.
“Not particularly. That town is dead to me. I’m home now. I don’t give two shits what happens there, and I’d rather not be pulled back into that shitshow.”
She smiled.
And Tommy’s eyes went huge.
It appeared he got the answer, right from the horse’s mouth.
“Yeah, you are home now. How are the kids?” she asked.
He was calm.
“Well, your children are menaces, but Dolly is right on my lap,” he said, showing her. “She passed out half a tea party ago. I just couldn’t help cuddling her.”
She could see Tommy.
His eyes said it all. He was devastated.
“She’s a little love bug. Don’t you be stealing my baby,” she said, teasing him.
“Oops. She’s already in my pocket. Tough titties, lady. I got me a new love of my life.”
She snorted.
“Everything else is good?” she asked.
He grinned.
“Yeah, Chris and I swam, Callen had a meeting on the phone with his publisher, Wyler cursed you to a life of damnation for running, but other than that, nothing bad. How are you?”
She was honest.
“You know. The same old.”
Gene sighed.
“Well, be safe. That city is a shithole, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to be home. I missed DC. I’m never going back. Oh, and if you see ‘you know who’ …”
She waited.
“Yes?”
“Don’t tell him anything about me. I’m glad to be free and back with my family.”
She hoped Tommy got it.
Gene had moved on, and he was in love with the man he’d always loved.
“That’s good to hear, Gene. I’ll check in later,” she said. “Hold down the fort with the minions.”
He laughed.
“Easier said than done. Be safe. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
She hung up the call, and stared at him, hoping he got the picture.
“Did you hear him?” she asked. “For the first time in a long time, he was calm. He was happy. If you loved him at all, Tommy, you’re going to let him go and stop trying to rekindle something he doesn’t want.”
“ NO ! What if he’s my soulmate?” he asked, despite what he’d heard.
“What if he’s not?” she asked. “Would you damn him here to a life he told you he didn’t want, and you insisted on him having?”
“He’s only saying that because Ethan is likely there on the couch with him.”
She sighed.
Not.
Even.
Close.
“Ivan, bring him in.”
“Copy,” he said over the com.
When they heard someone coming, it was Ivan with Ethan.
“Hello, Thomas,” he said, keeping his distance.
The man tried to get away from Raphael and Michael. He tried to pull away to get Ethan.
“You stole my fiancé. You ruined my life!” he raged. “You’re nothing but a man stealing whore!”
Ethan shrugged.
He could call him whatever he wanted, but the bottom line was Gene made the choice. He offered to give him ANYTHING , and Gene wanted them.
“I gave him a way out. You ruined your own relationship. That’s on you. Not on me.”
Thomas fought hard.
Only, he was no match for the Archangels.
“He wants to be left alone, Thomas. Let him have this,” Ethan said. “Please don’t make us come back here. We’re trying to give you a chance at the life you chose.”
He glared at Ethan.
“You can’t tell me what I can or can’t do.”
Elizabeth cleared her voice.
“He can’t, but I can. I’m telling you for the last time. If you try to expose The Hunters, and cause more of a mess, I’m coming back here.”
He was watching Ethan and no one else.
“You stole my man!”
He yanked his arms away, and broke free. Well, he thought he broke free.
Only, they let him go.
Someone needed a fast lesson in not to assume your enemy was weak.
As he moved toward Ethan, he ducked, spun, elbowed him in the face, grabbed his arm, and used his elbow again to break his arm.
Thomas went down.
Ethan crouched in front of the wounded man.
“Don’t assume because I need a wheelchair at times that I’m not in fighting shape. I’m going to fight for him to the end, and you’re not getting him back. My job is to give him peace, and you, Thomas, are an angry man with a bad attitude.”
He sat on the floor holding his arm.
“I’m filing a report.”
Elizabeth got up, walked toward her husband, and wrapped her arm around his waist.
“Right now, my husband’s jet is in an unmarked airfield without a manifesto saying we are here. My boss, Axelle Maverick is willing to say I was at the Hoover Building with Ethan all day. You’re playing a game with the wrong people, Thomas. You won’t win.”
He couldn’t believe this.
“So you just want me to accept that your husband steals my fiancé, and I should accept it.”
She crouched down like Ethan had.
“Thomas, he’s not personal property. He’s a human being who can make his own mind up. You don’t own him anymore than Ethan did or does. Now, I’d go get that casted. Send me the bill.”
With that, they walked out.
And Thomas Bernard knew one thing.
He wouldn’t stop pursuing Gene.
Not until he saw him face-to-face. Then, and only then, would he take a goodbye from him.
Until that time…
There was still hope.