2. Azrael
TWO
AZRAEL
I t was weird being back in the human world.
Not being surrounded by whispers, adrenaline, and the smell of gunpowder and purpose.
Deployments were always intense. Dangerous. Unpredictable. It was the Wild West, but by the time it was over, it was the norm. It was everyday life. And then we were thrown back into a real world so bland and uneventful that it felt fictional.
“Here you go.” The waitress stopped at my table and set down a plate full of waffles, chicken, and maple syrupy goodness. “Can I get you anything else…handsome?”
I thanked her and, as she walked away, checked her out. She was a pretty girl, blond with brown eyes and a perfectly squeezable ass. No boobs though. And I was a boob guy through and through, in sickness and in health.
Not that I ever turned down a good time, but I was here for a job.
I may be on leave, but my old commander needed me, so here I was. In an IHOP in Dartmouth, New Bedford, wondering what the hell I was doing here.
I’d heard the whispers around my plAnakon and the base. The rumors that Wyatt Goodman, a decorated veteran and well-respected guy, had gone rogue. Well, that wasn’t the way they’d put it, but it was what I’d deduced. What else could I possibly think when I was told he worked undercover on his home island of Mayberry Holm to bring down a criminal network? Madness, that was what.
But if he was mad, I was madder.
I was here after all, wasn’t I?
I picked up my fork and knife and cut into my waffles and chicken. I closed my eyes and saved myself from the embarrassing moans by swallowing them down. The real world may be weird and boring, but it certainly had good food.
The waitress sat a couple at another booth, and I followed her gaze as she made her way back to the front door, all smiles and intense blinks when I caught something out the window.
Not some thing . Some one .
A beautiful brunette woman with long lashes and beautiful lips. She was so stunning I didn’t even bother to give the rest of her body a once-over. I just knew I wanted her in my bed, doing dirty things to her.
Forgive me, Lord.
She was a walking sin. I couldn’t peel my eyes off her. A man walked up to her, and I recognized my old commander.
Shit.
Was she the job? Did she need protection? I hoped not. It would be impossible to think straight around her. I’d watched The Bodyguard . Watched all the movies. I knew how the story went.
Goodman and the gorgeous woman walked into the restaurant, and I shook my head.
Clear thoughts. Pure thoughts. Only pure thoughts.
She smiled at me as they approached the table.
Lord, give me strength.
“Reyes!” Goodman reached for my hand, and I stood to shake it.
“Sir,” I said.
“It’s just Wyatt now, Reyes.”
“In that case, it’s just Azrael now.”
Goodman nodded and put his right hand on the small of the woman’s back.
Wait a minute. Was she…Wyatt’s girlfriend?
“This is Autumn, Parker Hawkin’s sister,” he said.
I didn’t want to touch her for fear of combustion, but I also didn’t want to be rude.
“Nice to meet you,” she said.
Oh my, even her voice was perfection.
“Likewise,” I said. “Hang on. Did you say Hawkins? Officer Grumpy-Pants’s sister?”
I’d worked with Parker Hawkins on several missions, but even if I hadn’t, his reputation as the grumpiest man to ever walk the earth preceded him.
“The one and only.” She batted her lashes, and my heart…melted right there on the spot.
Goodman pointed at the booth, and we all took our seats before a waiter stopped by the table to take their order.
Interesting. Where was the waitress? Not that I needed her when I was in the presence of an angel, but…I was curious.
“So. What’s going on? What are we doing here?”
Goodman…Wyatt hadn’t told me much over the phone. I’d called him as soon as my two-month leave was approved and asked if he needed me. His answer had been simple: yes.
“Where do we start?” Autumn sighed.
Wyatt raised his hand to stop her as the waitress from before returned with their coffees. She still smiled at me as she left. Nice. I liked a girl who wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted, even in the presence of perfection like Autumn.
“Things at Mayberry have escalated. We uncovered who’s behind the syndicate, but we’re nowhere closer to finding him . We’ve dealt some serious blows to his infrastructure though.”
“So far, we’ve taken down a couple of forfeiters that may or may not be related to him, a racketeering ring, and a cartel,” Autumn added casually, as if she were talking about music, not illegal activities.
“Autumn,” Wyatt grumbled.
“Sorry.”
I smiled at her. There was nothing wrong with being excited about work, although I still wasn’t sure what kind of work she did for Wyatt.
As it turned out, she was his ears and eyes on the ground and the manager of his bar, the Outpost. And to my surprise, more of my teammates had settled here than I’d thought.
Asher and Maddox, who were now an item. I’d heard all about that around the base. Asher had made sure to tell everyone he’d converted Maddox.
Parker, who was now the proud barista at a bubble tea shop with his boyfriend, a guy called Hwan.
Joey, the loose cannon who had been accused of murdering his stepfather before being cleared, had shacked up with a local journalist.
And Slade, our resident hacker, who had somehow found himself tangled with a mobster’s son.
“There’s also Donovan Wozniak,” Wyatt said, and I didn’t miss the way Autumn rolled her eyes at the mention of his name.
“He doesn’t count,” she said.
“Why?” Wyatt asked.
“He’s an idiot.”
Wyatt shook his head and hand-hugged his coffee mug.
“I don’t understand what you have against him.”
“Me?” She looked properly offended. “I’ve got nothing against him. I just don’t like his face.”
Was there something going on between her and my old buddy? Because despite what she said, her eyes had gotten ten times lighter at his mention.
Shame because I could definitely see Autumn in my bed. After marriage, of course. In our house. With our seven kids and three-and-a-half dogs. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
“Okay. So what do you need me for?”
“To take care of our guy, Duke,” Autumn said.
“In what way exactly?”
Autumn smirked.
“In what way would you like to take care of him?”
I laughed.
“Nice try, Autumn, but I don’t swing that way.”
Autumn rolled her eyes with clear amusement on her white face. “That’s what they all say at first.”
I didn’t get a chance to ask her what she meant because Wyatt cleared his throat and put his cup down.
“Duke runs an animal sanctuary on the island. He found some shady business with his invoices. He suspects there’s money laundering going on.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Wouldn’t he know? Since he’s running it?”
“That’s where it gets tricky. He is a co-owner. And we think his silent partner might be connected to Salieri.”
“Isn’t a silent partner supposed to be…you know, silent?” This didn’t make sense.
“Well, yeah. But apparently, because he’s rich and charitable, he handles the accounts so poor little Duke doesn’t have to worry about money.”
I coo. “Aww, isn’t that a cute, considerate criminal!”
“ Suspected criminal,” Wyatt corrected me.
“Okay. So what do you want me to do? Why are we here and not there?”
Autumn leaned closer and looked from left to right before speaking.
“Because we think we’ve been made.”
“Made?”
How were they still here if that was the case?
Wyatt rolled his eyes.
“We’ve not been made. But people talk. They know I used to serve. And you can’t exactly hide my guys’ qualifications. So, while we’ve not been made, it’s safe to assume we’re on their radar. And I need a guy who can go in, help Duke find out the truth, and figure out what’s going on without arousing suspicion.”
“So undercover work.”
“Yes.”
“Perfect. When do I start?”
Wyatt dug his hand under his jacket, and when he took it out, he held a piece of paper. A ticket for a one-way trip from Dennis Port to Mayberry Holm. Behind it was a Post-it Note with a name and address.
Duke Allen.
Duke’s Sanctuary,
Checkmate Road.
“Think you can handle it? You need to be discreet and useful and ensure no one hurts him,” he said.
“Or the animals,” Autumn added.
I slipped the ticket in my pocket and winked at Autumn.
“Never met a challenge I couldn’t handle.”
“Ooh, boy. This is going to be good.” Autumn rubbed her hands together.
“Huh?” I asked.
“Nothing. Nothing. I just wish I had cameras and popcorn.”
I narrowed my eyes and smirked. “I like the way you think.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes and stood. Autumn snapped her head in his direction and copied him.
“I guess we’re going,” she said with wide eyes and a hint of a smile.
“See you on the other side,” I told her.
Wyatt leaned on the table and pointed his finger at me.
“Remember! You don’t know us, you don’t like us, you have no idea who we are. Once you’re settled, I’ll message you.”
There was the man I knew. The commander who could make you shit your pants just by receiving one of his death glares.
“Yes, sir. Stealth mode it is.”
My response pleased him as much as when we worked together because he huffed and walked out with Autumn on his tail, the latter shouting good luck.
I watched them get into the Jeep and drive off in the opposite direction from Dennis Port.
He really meant business. He wasn’t even going on the ferry with me, instead choosing a later ride.
I flagged the waitress, and she came to me with the check. As I left the restaurant, I realized the receipt she gave me included her number.
“You never know,” I mumbled and stuffed the number in my wallet before setting off for my new temporary home.
The journey to Dennis Port was easy and quiet, and the ferry was on time, so it didn’t take long before I arrived in Mayberry.
I’d never been before but just looking at it from the boat, let alone driving through the streets, this place was quaint. People going about their business with their pets, friends, or vehicles, trees at every corner, flower gardens, and explosions of colors every few feet. It looked like a well-loved town. No wonder Wyatt was trying to save it from corruption.
I picked up a coffee from an Espresso Blues drive-through and found my way to Checkmate Road, thinking of the endless possibilities. How many girls were here waiting for Prince Charming to arrive on his white horse. I hoped my black Cadillac wouldn’t offend them.
“Hope you’re ready for Azrael, ladies.”
Even I rolled my eyes as soon as I said it. Even though I sounded like a player, I most certainly was not. I didn’t sleep around with just anyone. Only with girls I thought might be the one. My lola would have preferred I didn’t sleep with anyone before marriage, but that was one step too far for me. God was forgiving so I was sure he wouldn’t frown upon a guy’s search for happiness, right?
If all the girls around here were as pretty as Autumn, my search would be very happy indeed. I might even find the one?
I wouldn’t know unless I tried. After all, I couldn’t find the princess if I didn’t kiss some frogs. Or whatever the expression was.
Worst-case scenario, I could just have a little fun. What was life for if not to have a good time?
I saw the sign for the sanctuary before I saw the house, a large structure that looked more like a barn than a home. A white pickup truck was parked in front of one of two garage doors, with plenty of other cars in a little courtyard that resembled a parking lot.
I got out, picked up my backpack and guitar case, and walked to the front door to the tune of dogs barking in the distance.
I’d been going through the mission details in my head the whole way here. I couldn’t understand how someone could have a business partner they knew nothing about or why they’d never questioned things before, but I guessed everyone was different. I still thought there were holes in the story, and I couldn’t wait to fill them.
In particular, who this Duke Allen guy was, and how he could be so naive?
The door opened, and my gaze fell on a white boy with intense blue eyes and dark strawberry-blond hair cut short and fuzzy, making him look even younger than his baby face, although if I was pressed to place his age, it would be early to mid-twenties with very good genes.
“You must be Duke.” Who else could he be?
I didn’t know how or why, but he looked like a Duke.
“Fuck me!” he exhaled, staring back at me.
“Excuse me?”
What did he just say?
Before he could answer, a black fluffy ball of terror zoomed out the door, barking like a maniac and running in circles around me.
I didn’t get a chance to find out its name, breed, or even pet it. It just…propped its leg up and peed on my shoe.