Chapter Twenty-Two
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SETH STACKED HIS and Teagan’s empty dishes on a tray. “Knight, Marsh, stay on guard duty until Teagan and I finish meeting with the enforcers and bodyguards. Twenty minutes max. When we relieve you, help the rest of the team evaluate our candidates’ skill levels.”
“Yes, sir,” Marsh said. He and Knight policed their trash and followed Peters to the headquarters building.
Seth pushed back from the table along with the rest of his team. After disposing of their dishes, they walked to the training center.
Once inside, Seth walked to the center of the mat. “Spread out.”
“Think we’ll get any takers?” Bowen asked.
“I think we’ll have a turnover. The current enforcers won’t want to give up the power they wield in camp. The guards hope for better treatment and hours. We’ll have an influx of people who want to leave their current jobs and join the enforcers or guards.” Seth’s lips curled. “We’ll make waves today.” Whether Peters and Richardson approved of those changes was another thing altogether. The former Army officers would complain about the fruit-basket turnover.
Noah jogged into the building. “Violet’s all set in the clinic. She’s ready to treat injuries.”
“Good,” Seth murmured. Before this day ended, many candidates would need Violet’s services.
The rumble of voices reached his ears seconds before the training center’s door opened and the candidates surged into the cavernous room. The current group of enforcers swaggered onto the mat and stood in a group opposite the current slate of camp guards.
From the frowns cast at a third group standing apart from the rest, the smaller contingent were newcomers hoping to change their jobs. Ryan was at the front of the men in this group. Good. Seth was glad to see he’d made it.
“What are they doing here?” Jerry sneered at the hopefuls. “They don’t belong with the rest of us, especially Ryan the blimp.”
“Noah,” Seth said. “Make a note on your clipboard that Jerry will run three extra miles at top speed today.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Wait a minute,” Jerry sputtered.
“Want to make it four miles, Jerry?”
He shut his mouth.
“I didn’t think so.” Seth made eye contact with every person in the gym. “My name is Seth. My team and I are the new trainers for enforcers and guards.”
The enforcers and guards exchanged glances, consternation and anger on many faces. Ivan was the only exception. His expression held guarded hope.
Seth could work with that. “Mr. Richardson turned over the training responsibility to us to free his time for other tasks. Every enforcement and guard job is open. My team will evaluate your fitness and skill levels. We’ll assign jobs best suited to your qualifications.”
The blond-haired man beside Jerry scowled. “This is a waste of time. We already have assigned jobs.”
“You want to join Jerry on his extra miles today?”
Blondie paled. “No, sir.”
Seth shifted his attention to the rest of the men while keeping Blondie in his peripheral vision. “If you want a job as an enforcer or guard, you must earn it. Today, you’ll be assessed. Tomorrow morning at 0400, you’ll train with us.”
Grumbling broke out at that information.
Beside him, Teagan put two fingers in her mouth and emitted an ear-splitting whistle.
“The next person who talks without permission will be booted from the training center and reassigned to the most meaningless task I can find around camp,” Seth warned. “I won’t tolerate disrespect of any kind to me or my teammates. No second chances. Am I clear?”
Reluctant nods came from some of his audience members.
“I didn’t hear you,” he snapped.
“Yes, sir,” came the response.
Better. Still, not everyone was on board. Some they’d never win over. Wasn’t his problem. He had to uncover the information they needed and get out of Dodge.
“We’re here to help you hone your skills. From what I’ve observed in my time in this camp, we have a lot of work to do. Neither of the groups is a well-honed unit.” He paused, making eye contact again with each person. “You will be. Your lives and those of your fellow Brotherhood members depend on you doing your jobs. They trust you to have their backs.”
He turned toward the enforcers. “Your job is to protect Mr. Peters and Mr. Richardson, and yet earlier this morning, my team of seven took down fourteen of you within five minutes. Not one of you went to the aid of your fellow enforcers. You looked out for yourselves, posturing to make a name for yourselves. That stops right now. If I see it again, you’re finished as an enforcer and I’ll demote you to the camp trash pickup team.”
He shifted his attention to the guards. “Your job is to ensure the safety of this camp and everyone in it. If you fall asleep on the job or become distracted for one moment, someone in this camp could die. Every member of The Brotherhood is depending on you to keep watch to the best of your ability. One slip up could cost lives. Unless you want to be responsible for the deaths of your friends and coworkers, you’ll get into the best shape of your lives and learn every trick we can teach you to keep watch effectively while the rest of The Brotherhood goes about their duties or sleeps. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir,” came the response.
“Excellent. I expect you to cooperate with me and my teammates. Do everything we ask you so we have a fair assessment of your skills and potential to do the job you’re seeking. If you don’t make the cut, you’re welcome to work on your conditioning and try again, but no one will take a position provisionally. You want that job? Earn it. Questions?”
Ryan raised his hand.
“Yes, Ryan?”
“If we don’t have enough training to be an enforcer, will we be considered for a position with the guards?”
“Absolutely.”
Ivan raised his hand.
“Ivan.”
“We want to be better than we are, sir. A lot better. What skills will we learn in training?”
That’s what he wanted, enough interest to ask questions. Now things were moving in the right direction. “Close quarters combat, safety and security, situational awareness, weapons training plus more physical training than you want to write home about.”
Chuckles greeted that statement.
“Other questions?”
A red-haired man raised his hand. “What qualifies you to train us?”
“All of us were Special Forces in the Army.”
A frown. “Even the women?”
“Both Teagan and Violet have more specialized training than you can imagine. They’re experts in weaponry of all types. Violet is a paramedic with more training than most physicians. Teagan is a sharpshooter. Trust me when I say you don’t want to be on their bad sides. They’ll take you down hard before you see them coming.” His smile was more of a baring of his teeth. “When they’re finished with you, my men and I will mop the floors with you. Other questions?”
Seeing none, Seth said, “Expect to work hard this afternoon. Get a good night’s rest because you’ll train hard tomorrow morning bright and early. You’ll train for three hours and be given assignments for the day. Good luck to all of you.”
He turned to Noah. “They’re yours.”
Noah faced the groups of men. “Form two lines. Hope you didn’t eat too much, boys, because we’ll be running for a while.” He glanced at Jerry. “Some of us more than others. Move,” he snapped.
The candidates scrambled to obey Noah’s orders. The only reluctant trainees were Jerry and Blondie.
Seth folded his arms across his chest. “This is your only chance,” he warned. “Are you throwing in the towel, boys? If not, go earn your spot. Plenty of others would love to replace you.”
A scowl from both men, but they fell into line with the rest.
Once they jogged through the open doorway, Seth signaled to Bowen to watch Jerry and Blondie.
After a nod, Bowen fell into line behind the reluctant enforcers.
Seth and Teagan left the training center and walked to the headquarters building. They found Knight and Marsh on the second floor, standing guard outside the glass doors leading to Peters’ office. “You’re relieved,” Seth said. “Join the others in evaluating candidates. At the moment, they’re running.” He grinned. “Not happily, either.”
“I’ll bet. Any problems?” Knight asked.
“A few reluctant enforcers, particularly Jerry and his Nordic buddy. They were warned. No second chances.”
“Hope you know what you’re doing, Seth,” Marsh murmured.
So did he.
Marsh and Knight left, leaving Seth and Teagan to stand watch over Peters.
Seth angled himself slightly to keep Peters in his peripheral vision. From his expression, The Brotherhood’s leader was not happy with those taking part in his video conference. Too bad Seth couldn’t see the people on the screen.
“Looks like Peters isn’t receiving the news he expected,” Teagan murmured.
“Wish we had ears in that office.”
“We can make that happen.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” They should take care of that tonight, but if anyone took the risk, it would be him. He didn’t want Teagan doing anything to make her a target for Richardson and Peters’ wrath. They wanted to make trouble for Seth and his team. He wouldn’t hand Teagan to them on a silver platter to protect himself or anyone else.
Although she hadn’t spoken about her session with the counselor, she’d seemed more settled and determined to see this assignment through. While he appreciated her dedication, he wasn’t sacrificing her safety for the good of the mission. Nothing was worth the risk to her or the rest of his teammates.
Peters remained on his video conference call for another hour before shoving away from the desk and pacing to the window to stare outside. He remained motionless aside from his hands clenching and releasing as he fumed.
Definitely not a successful meeting. Didn’t hurt Seth’s feelings one bit.
Minutes later, Richardson rounded the corner and walked toward Seth and Teagan. Without acknowledging them, the co-leader of The Brotherhood pounded on the door with a series of sharp knocks and stepped inside the inner sanctum.
“Both leaders are in terrible moods,” Teagan said dryly.
“Can’t wait to find out what’s going on and capitalize on it,” he murmured.
Seth monitored the two men in the office. Although he couldn’t hear the words spoken, their body language spoke volumes. The discussion between Peters and Richardson was heated.
Uneasiness built in his gut as Richardson slammed his palms on the desk and leaned closer to Peters.
“Heads up.” Seth pivoted and twisted the knob, shoving open the door. He and Teagan stepped inside the office, hands on their weapons.
Richardson spun and scowled. “Get out. No one invited you into this meeting.”
Seth ignored his outburst. “Orders, sir?” he asked Peters. Whatever was going on, Richardson needed to back down and cool off.
“Richardson was just leaving,” Peters said. “Show him out.”
“Are you kidding me?” Richardson glared at his partner. “We’re not finished with our discussion.”
“Yes, we are. I’ve said all I intend to say, but you’re not listening.”
“But the timeline….”
“Will not change. Either our people fall into line or we’ll execute the plan alone.”
“That’s insane,” Richardson snapped. “We don’t have enough people. It would be a suicide mission.”
Peters glanced at Seth. “You have your orders. See him out.”
“Yes, sir.” Seth stepped closer to Richardson. “Time to go, Mr. Richardson.”
“You’re nothing but a soldier who quit on his unit,” he spat out. “Don’t presume to tell me what to do, soldier.”
“Good soldiers follow orders. That’s what we’re doing, sir.”
“You’re under my command, Dixon.”
“Not at the moment, sir.”
Teagan shifted closer. “Regroup and come at the problem from another angle,” she murmured to Richardson and tilted her head toward the door.
“Perhaps you’re right.” Richardson glanced over his shoulder at Peters. “I’ll go for now. We’ll talk again later after we cool off and think things through.”
Peters relaxed slightly. “I look forward to our discussion.” He glanced at Seth and nodded. “Thank you, Dixon.”
“My pleasure, sir. This way, Mr. Richardson.” He and Teagan escorted Richardson from the office and walked with him to the end of the hallway, where he was out of Peters’ sight.
Richardson rounded on them. “So, I suppose Peters has his own hit squad now.”
“With my background, do you think I would sign on as an assassin for hire?” Seth asked.
“What he’s doing is foolish.”
“I can’t comment because I don’t have facts to base it on.”
The older man sneered. “Is that a lame way to ask me to tell you secrets that you have no business knowing after being in our midst for one day?”
“It’s a reminder that Mr. Peters’ safety depends on us. Your behavior was aggressive,” Teagan said. “We did the job you hired us for, sir. That’s all.”
“Your job also includes training enforcers and guards.” Richardson folded his arms. “Are you waiting until tomorrow to start that part of your job?”
“The rest of my team is evaluating the candidates’ skills or patching up their injuries.” Seth expected an explosion from that. He wasn’t disappointed.
Richardson’s brows knit together. “What are you talking about? I’ve already trained them. All you had to do was teach them a few new skills or hone the ones they already have.”
“You handed the responsibility to my team. While you know the candidates’ capabilities, we don’t. In order to do our jobs, we have to assess and assign them to jobs we feel best suited to their skills and abilities and our training methods.”
The other man’s face flushed, his eyes glittering.
“You did the same thing as an Army officer,” Teagan reminded him. “We’re doing our jobs, sir. That’s what you expect from us, and we don’t want to disappoint you.”
Some of the heightened color in Richardson’s cheeks receded. “We’ll see, won’t we? For your sake, beautiful Teagan, let’s hope your boyfriend knows what he’s doing.” He reached out and trailed a finger down her cheek. “I’d hate to see your exquisite body marred from a session in the punishment room.”
Teagan’s eyes narrowed.
Seth stepped between her and Richardson. “With all due respect, sir, keep your hands off my woman. I don’t share. Ever.”
Richardson studied him. “Even if it’s the price to remain a member of The Brotherhood?”
“Teagan is mine. End of story.” He moved a step closer to the officer. “Fair warning. I’m protective of all my people. Expect repercussions for any attacks or threats against them.”
Richardson sneered. “You’re outnumbered, Dixon. My people can take you out in seconds if I give the order.”
Seth inclined his head. “Perhaps. I guarantee we’ll take out more of your people than you can afford to lose before we go down. We’ll make it hurt.” And Seth would make sure Richardson took the first bullet from his Sig.
“Where’s your loyalty, Dixon? With The Brotherhood or with someone else?”
“Loyalty is earned.”
“And The Brotherhood hasn’t earned yours.”
“To be determined. Sir.” The pause was deliberate.
Richardson snorted. “I’ve got my eyes on you, Dixon. If you turn on The Brotherhood, I’ll be coming for you.”
“Bring it,” he murmured.
Fury flared in the older man’s eyes. “If anything goes wrong with the enforcers or guards, you’ll answer to me.”
“Understood, sir.”
Richardson shoulder-checked Seth as he continued to walk down the hall.
Seth and Teagan remained silent until Richardson left the floor.
Teagan whistled. “Are you sure that was wise?”
“It was the only way to draw his attention from you.”
“We need you healthy and whole, Seth,” she whispered. “You can’t be out of commission.”
“I’ll do what’s necessary to protect you. End of discussion.”
She hissed. “That’s what I was afraid of. In case you forgot, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself and you. Don’t throw yourself into the line of fire as a distraction again.”
Why couldn’t she let this go? Didn’t she know he would do anything to protect her, even sacrifice himself if necessary? Teagan Paloni was everything to him. Everything.
He cupped her chin in the palm of his hand and took her mouth with a hard, possessive kiss. “I can’t promise that.”
“You’re infuriating, Dixon.”
“So I’ve been told.” Another hard kiss, then, “We should get back. Peters will miss us soon.”
“We’ll revisit this discussion.”
A curt nod. “Later.” When they didn’t have a potential audience.
The rest of their shift continued without incident. Although Seth monitored Peters, the leader spent most of his time on the phone or on his computer.
“Is anyone on your team a computer expert?” he asked Teagan in a soft voice.
“Riley. Why?”
“We need to see what’s on our fearless leader’s computer.”
“That could be arranged, but we might not have to sneak her in to get the job done.”
Sounded interesting. Something for them to discuss when they were in a safer location.
Peters opened his door and stepped into the corridor. After locking his office door, he glanced at Seth and Teagan. “You’re dismissed for the day. Have my security team ready at 7:00 tomorrow morning. They’re to meet me at the dining hall. I have a full day planned. In fact, I may need to return tonight to prepare for more meetings.”
Not what he wanted to hear. “Are you sure that’s wise, sir?”
“What do you mean?”
“You put in a long day already, Mr. Peters. Getting a good night’s rest might be more beneficial than a late-night planning session.”
“If you’re working, you’ll also need a security team with you,” Teagan added.
He studied her for a moment. “Yes,” he murmured. “I will need a security detail or at least one personal bodyguard, won’t I?”
Seth stiffened, not liking where this was going. “My team also needs rest, sir. We have an early-morning session with the enforcers and bodyguards scheduled to begin at 0400. I need my teammates at the top of their game.”
Peters flicked him a glance. “You may be right, Dixon. I’ll think about it over dinner. Come.” He gestured toward the end of the hallway. “If we hurry, we’ll beat the rush.”
Like Peters had to worry about anyone standing in front of him. Seth had seen the other militia members step aside the moment Peters and Richardson entered the cafeteria. “Good idea.”
He and Teagan followed Peters from the headquarters building to the cafeteria. Once Peters had taken his seat, Jillian hurried to his table carrying a tray loaded with choice selections of food and beverages.
From the table filled with the rest of Seth’s teammates, Marsh watched the interaction between Jillian and Peters, eyes glittering with fury.
While he and Teagan went through the food line to make their selections, Seth kept tabs on the pair as well. Like Marsh, he didn’t like what he saw. As Peters spoke to the girl, he found excuses to touch Jillian. Each stroke or hold led to flinches and loss of color on Jillian’s face. When Peters clamped a hand around the girl’s wrist, Marsh surged to his feet.
“Trouble,” he murmured to Teagan, and left his tray to intercept his teammate. Although he understood how Marsh felt, they needed to be careful about how they dealt with the militia leader. They couldn’t afford to make an enemy of Peters and Richardson.
Seth reached the pair first with Marsh two steps behind. “Jillian, do you mind giving me a minute with Mr. Peters?”
“No, sir.”
Peters frowned. “Now see here,” he began as Marsh nudged Jillian back toward the team’s table.
“You mentioned a busy day tomorrow, Mr. Peters,” Seth said, shifting to block the soldier’s view of Jillian and Marsh. “Are you planning to leave the camp for any reason?”
The leader’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
He waited a beat, then said, “If you leave the premises, we need to create security plans to keep you safe while you travel, plus another set of plans for every place you visit.” He leaned closer and dropped his voice. “Our job is to keep you safe, Mr. Peters. If you leave camp, we need to know the locations in order to determine if we need the full team or not. You brought us into The Brotherhood for this purpose. Help us do our jobs to the best of our ability, sir. Your life might depend on it.”
Peters looked thoughtful. “Fair enough, Dixon. I should have given you my agenda for tomorrow. I’ll remedy that immediately after my meal. No worries, though. I intend to stay in Haven.”
“Thank you, sir.” Seth turned to see Teagan at the table with their teammates. She’d finished selecting food for him and set his meal in front of the empty chair beside hers. Marsh and Jillian were nowhere in sight.
Excellent. At least Seth had distracted Peters from his dogged pursuit of Jillian. Disgust filled him. She was just a kid, and anyone with eyes knew she didn’t want to be the object of Peters’ interest.
He dropped into the chair beside Teagan. “Thanks for taking care of dinner for me.”
“No problem. How did you distract him?”
“Asked him if he was leaving the compound tomorrow so his security detail would be prepared for every contingency.”
“Nice.”
“Where did Marsh go with Jillian?”
“Outside. He’s having dinner with her in case Peters looks for her.”
“Good. I don’t know how long the distraction will hold.” He leaned close to Teagan, his mouth brushing her ear as though whispering sweet nothings. “She needs to stay out of sight as much as possible until we can get her out of here.”
She glanced at him, her mouth curving into a sultry smile that hit him in the gut. Holy smoke. She was dangerous to any man who was the object of her attention. “If she’s willing to leave,” she whispered, her lips brushing against his jaw. “If she’s an adult, we can’t force her to go.”
For a few seconds, his temper spiked, thinking of the other men who might be the recipient of Teagan’s smile. Then he mentally kicked his own backside and yanked himself back on task. No matter what happened between him and Teagan, she had a job to do with Artemis. He couldn’t interfere because he wanted those smiles for himself. This was her job, and from what he’d seen, she was excellent at her work. He didn’t have the right to interfere with the methods Artemis used to complete their missions.
But he wanted to interfere. Bad.
Head in the game, Dixon , he reminded himself. This wasn’t the time to get lost in his own head. They were in the middle of the enemy camp and he’d made more than one person angry today.
Seth kissed Teagan briefly. “We’ll have to be persuasive.” Jillian’s life might depend on it.