Chapter 9 Hey, Cuz #3
The men tapped their glasses, tossed back the top-shelf liquor. Teddy paused, appreciating the burn as the liquid seared its way to his stomach. “I’m not a big drinker, but dang, I needed that.”
Greystone opened the fridge, pulled out a large bottle of sparkling water and four glasses. As he poured, Evelyn arranged the flowers in a vase.
“I’m excited to get to know you guys,” Teddy said. “How’d you meet Greystone?”
While Teddy was obsessed over the case, he tossed his brother a nod. Time to take a brief respite, enjoy a home-cooked meal, and learn more about the DC power couple who helped turn Greystone into the powerhouse of a man he was today.
Evelyn pulled out a cutting board and set it next to a handful of just-washed vegetables. “I was planning on steaming these.”
Feeling too antsy to sit, Teddy washed his hands, asked for a knife, and joined her while they talked about sixteen-year-old Greystone who’d just run away from home. Hearing the story told to him—versus when he experienced it firsthand as a teen—offered him a very different perspective.
After the vegetables had been in the steamer for a few minutes, Sean pulled the roaster from the oven.
Surrounding the chicken were an array of seasoned potatoes and steaming yellow onions.
While the meat rested, Sean opened the Santini chardonnay.
Teddy and Greystone declined, so Sean poured himself and Evelyn a glass.
Minutes later, the chicken had been sliced, their plates were filled with hot food, and the four were seated around the kitchen table. After Sean said grace, everyone dug in.
“Delicious,” Teddy said as the protein warmed his empty stomach.
“Super easy to make,” Evelyn said. “Do you cook, Tank?”
“Basic meals, but most nights I grab dinner at our restaurant,” he explained.
“Who runs it when you’re not there?” Sean asked.
“I make it a point to swing by as much as I can,” Teddy explained. “Greystone too. And our brother Gabriel’s back from Italy. He’s been filling in for us.” He eyed the chicken leg on his plate.
“Fingers are fine, Tank,” Evelyn said with a motherly smile.
“Have you eaten at our restaurant?” Teddy asked.
“Twice,” Evelyn said. “It was fabulous both times.”
“Did you eat at the owner’s booth?” Teddy asked.
“No,” Sean replied.
“Ah, jeez, now you’re makin’ me look bad,” Greystone said, and everyone laughed.
“Next time you want to dine there, owner’s booth,” Teddy said.
Teddy wanted to see how Sydney was doing. He wanted to return to the Black Site and continue hunting for the terror cell. The pressure was mounting, the uncertainty of when the Haqazziis would strike—or where—hounded his thoughts.
“Excuse me,” Teddy said. “I need to check on someone.” He unearthed his phone, typed out a message to Sydney.
Thinking about you. How are you doing?
“Family is super important to me,” Teddy said, sliding his phone back into his pocket.
“I’m the youngest, so by the time I came around, my parents were both kinda busy.
Our grandmother raised me, along with my brothers.
I hated that Greystone left, but he’s lucky to have you guys.
” Teddy raised his half-filled glass of sparkling water.
“Thanks for taking good care of my brother. He turned out damn good.”
Greystone shot him a grateful smile. “Grazie, fratello. Sean and Evelyn are the best.”
“You know, Tank,” Evelyn said, “You’re welcome here anytime. We’ve got a guest room you can crash in and the fridge is always stocked.”
Greystone chuffed out a laugh. “I’m not sure whose gonna like this situation more—you two or Teddy.”
“We’d love it,” Sean said.
“I needed this. Thanks for inviting me.” Teddy regarded his brother. “I appreciate this. Seriously.”
“Are you having a challenging day?” Evelyn asked.
“We’re having a string of ‘em,” Teddy replied, before he drained the water.
Evelyn waved her fingers toward herself, gesturing for him to talk. “C’mon, talk to us.”
He glanced across the table, expecting Greystone to shake his head.
To his surprise, Greystone said, “Sean knows about The Day of Destruction. He’s a deputy director at the Bureau.”
“Gotcha,” Teddy said. “As Evelyn knows, I took out three from the Haqazzii terror cell in Pennsylvania, but I’ve been chasing the group since May, starting in Boston. Now, they’re threatening us—”
“Theodore,” Greystone warned.
“What?” Evelyn blurted, concern etched on her face.
Crap.
“My challenge is finding them,” Teddy said. “Based on the threat about the eagle—”
“Cutting the head off the eagle,” Greystone clarified to Sean.
“They think the terrorists are coming after the President again,” Evelyn added.
Sean nodded along.
Teddy appreciated they were having this convo. Working with the OPS was great, but getting a different perspective could prove critical to their success. He thought the team worked in a vacuum, but Sean and Evelyn were coming at this from their own angles.
“We checked the apartment complex where they lived back in May,” Teddy continued. “They’re not there, but we didn’t expect they would be. I’m leading this mission, so I’m feeling the heat.”
“How did you find the group back in May?” Sean asked.
“They were all working at a janitorial service company,” Greystone explained, “and one of the employees put down his legit address.”
An acknowledgement nod from Sean before he pushed out of his chair and walked into the darkness of the screened porch.
Teddy assumed the conversation was over. When he was a kid, his dad would get up from the supper table or the sofa and leave. Didn’t matter if he or his brothers were finished talking. When his dad had had enough or had something more important to do, he’d bolt.
“Sorry,” Teddy said as he started clearing the table. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass Greystone or not get invited back. He liked the Bakers.
“He’s thinking,” Greystone explained. “He’ll be back in a few.”
Teddy flicked his gaze outside. Sean stood staring up at the night sky.
“Tank, you don’t have to clean up,” Evelyn said.
“Happy to help.”
“I hope you saved room for dessert,” she said.
He grinned. “Dessert?”
Greystone started laughing. “Expect him every weekend until the end of time. You just hit his hot button. Sugar.”
“I love sugar too, Tank,” Evelyn said.
“I’m gonna load the dishwasher,” Teddy said. “Do you have a certain way I should do it?”
“Yes, your way,” Evelyn replied with a warm smile as she left the room, returning seconds later carrying a covered cake tray.
After opening it, the smell of sugar had Teddy eyeing the sweet treat. “That looks amazing.”
“I hope it tastes good,” Evelyn said, before she pulled a few ice cream containers from the freezer. “Baking is one of the ways I de-stress. It was bake a cake or ride my stationary bike. Sugar won.”
Teddy laughed. “I’m with you, Evelyn.”
The Pineapple Upside-Down cake was sliced, bowls of ice cream filled. Coffee for everyone, so Evelyn got busy making a pot.
His phone binged with a text from Sydney.
All good here. Look forward to seeing you
Anticipation streaked through him. He couldn’t wait to see her. Couldn’t wait to stare into her eyes, touch her silky soft skin, and make her writhe with pleasure—
“Gonna be a late night?” Evelyn asked as Sean walked back inside.
“Always,” Greystone said.
“If I get a coupla hours shut-eye, I’ll be happy,” Teddy replied as a very sexy and very naked Sydney popped into his thoughts.
Focus up.
Standing at the expansive center island, Sean forked a piece of cake into his mouth, grew silent as he chewed. “This is so good, Evvy.”
She smiled at him. “I tell you, honey, sugar is the cure for whatever aches.”
“Amen,” Teddy said, and everyone laughed.
“I have a theory,” Sean said as Evelyn slid over a mug filled with just-brewed joe.
After sipping, he continued. “The terror cell has targeted BLACK OPS to move them out of the way. Once they do that, they’re going after the eagle.
If I put myself in their mindset, I would take out the President in the most public place possible. ”
Teddy forked a piece of cake into his mouth. As the pineapple entered his system, he got an energy hit, which he followed up with a sip of coffee.
Seconds later, he blurted, “No fucking way.”
Ah, crap.
He wanted to do a face-plant. Addressing Evelyn, he said, “Excuse me, ma’am.”
On a chuckle, Evelyn patted his back. “I work in the White House and I’m married to Sean Baker. I’ve heard the F-bomb plenty of times.”
Their brief moment of levity did little to ease the intensity of the situation. The truth was too soul crushing to ignore.
“Sean, do you think they’re gonna strike at the President’s inauguration?” Teddy asked.
“Fuck,” Greystone bit out. “Fuck, fuck fuck!” Greystone slammed his fist on the island.
And that’s when Teddy knew they’d figured out a huge piece of the puzzle. He fastened his gaze on Greystone as his older brother’s eyes grew stone cold.
Teddy scooped a spoonful of vanilla ice cream into his mouth. As the flavor danced on his tongue, he ran through Sean’s theory.
It makes perfect sense.
“Election day is tomorrow, right?” Teddy confirmed.
The color had drained from Evelyn’s face. “Yes.”
Teddy eyed each of them. “One of the terrorists told me, ‘You will die. Then, we kill your team. When you are all dead and gone, we are going after the big one. The one where we bring America to its fucking knees. Death and destruction to America.’” Hit after hit of adrenaline pounded through Teddy.
“They plan to take him out during the swearing in… outside in front of a live crowd of tens of thousands while the world watches from the comfort of their living room sofas.”
“God, no.” Evelyn shuddered in a breath. “We have to move the ceremony inside.”
“No,” Teddy pushed back. “This convo cannot leave this room. I have—” he did the math in his head— “eleven weeks to find nine men and take them out.” A growl shot out of him. “We have no idea where they are, but my gut tells me they’re hiding in plain sight.”
“I can’t sit on this,” Evelyn pushed back. “The inauguration is months in the planning. Regardless of who wins, we can’t just suddenly move it indoors.”
Greystone put his arm around Evelyn. “Mom, you gotta give Teddy a minute to work this out. If the ceremony moves inside, it does.” He regarded Teddy. “Dakota trusted me with BLACK OPS. I trust you with this mission. We will figure it out.”
“Just know, I can’t sit on this forever,” Evelyn said.
“You won’t have to,” Teddy said with conviction.
Determination ran deep in his bones. He was a Santini. He’d been an assassin for longer than he cared to admit. Taking out the scum of the earth was in his DNA.
Teddy needed to lighten the mood. The somber moment was sucking the life out of their lovely dinner party, so in true Teddy form, he said, “Mom, I’d love another slice of cake, please.”
Relieved laughter filled the room, but it was the wink from his big brother that meant the most. Deep down, Teddy knew Greystone was right. They would figure it out. Wasn’t the first time he’d been on the hunt. Wouldn’t be the last.
“Tank, why don’t you plan to come over again… and soon,” Evelyn said as she added a healthy piece of pineapple cake to his plate.
He topped off his coffee, then did the same for everyone else.
The conversation shifted to mindless matters.
The weather, the upcoming holiday season.
A welcomed reprieve, but Teddy’s thoughts were focused elsewhere.
His mind was racing with new information.
He had mere weeks to take out nine men—and any other terrorists who got in his way—before the President stood before the world and vowed to keep America safe.
Muscles running down his back turned to granite, his guts tightened, but he had to keep moving forward.
And he had to keep believing in himself.
They finished their desserts. He thanked the Bakers. When Teddy hugged Evelyn, her shoulders were taut with tension.
“I’ll be in touch,” he said.
She made sure he had her cell phone number, Sean’s too.
“Now, you’re family,” Greystone said.
In the driveway, Teddy appreciated the cold November temps. He was boiling mad and needed to get his anger under control. When he got home, he’d take it out on his punching bag.
Then, Sydney popped into his head. He wasn’t going home. He was staying with her at the Black Site.
“Where are you headed?” Teddy asked Greystone.
“Back inside to talk to them,” Greystone replied. “Sean’s theory scared Evelyn pretty good. Then, I’m headed to the Austin’s. Why don’t you meet me there?”
Teddy glanced at his watch. It was 9:10 pm. “I gotta swing by the restaurant, then grab some clothes before I stay with Sydney at the site.”
Greystone chuffed out a hearty laugh. “For her sake, right?”
“Absolutely.” Teddy bit back a smile.
“I’ll text you the Austin’s address,” Greystone said.
“By the time I start working, it’ll be two in the damn morning.”
“Don’t forget to leave time for Sydney.”
Teddy laughed. “I want her to feel as comfortable as possible.”
“You be you, brother.”
Teddy’s smile fell away. “I’m almost thinking we should lure the terrorists out of hiding.”
“Hmm.”
“They said they’re coming after me. Let’s make it easy for them to find me.”
“No, Theodore. Absolutely not.”
Teddy walked toward his SUV, then turned back to Greystone. “We gotta do something. Unless you come up with a better idea, I’m going with mine.”
As Teddy climbed into his vehicle, he heard Greystone muttering a list of obscenities in Italian as headed toward the Baker’s front door.
Teddy drove into the night feeling confident he was on the right path. He was pumped, he was ready, but more than anything, he wasn’t afraid.
But, like all feelings, they were fleeting.
Stepping out from the shadows and offering himself up was never, ever part of the plan, but in life, very little goes according to schedule.
Life was filled with twists, turns, and curve balls. If anyone knew that, it was Teddy.