Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
E sme
“Do you think Hunter was involved in a bad relationship?” I asked almost absently since I was descaling shrimp.
“Why do you ask?” Denise asked.
She’d been tasked along with Bella to help me prepare dinner for the Fox family. “Because I was curious.”
“Remember,” Bella mused. “Curiosity killed the cat.”
I flung water from my hands at her.
“You’re asking because you swear you saw a woman in that truck,” Denise added.
I hemmed and hawed. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“It’s not unusual for a woman to be a serial killer these days.”
“You’re not helping, Bella,” I told her. At least things were comfortably on the way to being ready on time. But for about a million reasons I was nervous. I’d taken over the super large cabin owned and lived in by Hunter’s parents, having decided that preparing everything on site was the best thing to do.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, he’s never mentioned anyone to either Shephard or Jagger that I’ve heard of.” Denise was busy forming the bread dough into loaves.
“She did seem more like a serial killer. I just don’t know if the person I saw in the woods was a woman or not.”
“What do you mean in the woods?” Bella asked as she immediately moved toward the sink.
I turned off the water, collecting the last of the shrimp shells for the flavorful broth. I washed my hands, trying not to look her in the eyes. “The morning of the snow, Hunter took me for a ride on Sadie and I happened to notice someone in the woods near the riverbank.” I wasn’t going to mention the gunshots. They would freak out.
Maybe I was still freaking out.
Hunter had tried to blow off the situation, maybe because he was used to living a life filled with danger. I wasn’t. I’d been terrified. So much so my teeth hadn’t stopped chattering even after I’d remained in front of a blazing fire with a blanket wrapped around me and Irish coffee in my hands.
“What the hell is going on?” Denise flanked my other side. I was caged in between them. I shouldn’t have said anything, but I did appreciate how much they cared. “Shephard had me see if I could find anything out about some threats including the incident with his truck. And no, I didn’t discover anything in addition to what the sheriff found.”
“I don’t know and that’s the truth. I don’t think Hunter does either. And the police definitely don’t.”
Denise narrowed her eyes. “There must be some leads. If Hunter is anything like Shephard, he has a sense of who’s behind this.”
“If Hunter knows of any, he hasn’t said anything. I’m sorry I said anything. I just don’t want to think about it tonight. Okay? This dinner is important. To all of them.” The truth was that everything that had occurred was all I could think about. Hunter had been in a funk since he’d returned from the bar a couple of nights before. I’d been happy he’d spent time with his brothers, but whatever was said while they were together had changed things.
He told me about the truck, but had clammed up after that.
“Still,” Denise muttered and Bella was shaking her head.
“Please, ladies? It’s time to uncork some wine anyway and I don’t know about you, but I was planning on having a glass or two.” Maybe more than that. I’d already dropped the frozen shrimp, had almost burned my hand on the stove, and nearly fucked up the special cake I’d decided on by using salt instead of sugar.
Bella had caught me at the last moment. I was more nervous meeting Hunter’s parents than I’d been preparing the meal for my final exam for all the teachers at the culinary college. This was a special night and if I fucked it up, I’d never forgive myself.
“She’s right, Denise. We need to remember why we’re here.” Bella patted me on the back. “But tomorrow’s a different story.”
“Very funny.” I was beginning to feel as if soon one or both of us would be suffocated by a monster. “What shall it be, ladies, red or white?”
“Oh, red. Definitely red,” Denise answered first.
“Agreed.”
I moved to the box of red I’d brought from the winery. While I’d seen a wine cabinet, I’d wanted to select the Foxhead wines according to each dish being served. Right now, I selected a nice merlot for the three of us.
They were both watching me intently as I opened the bottle. I finally stopped midway through, lifting my gaze. “What?”
“Oh, nothing,” Bella said, giggling. I could swear the girl wasn’t the same woman as the girl who’d left Baltimore terrified and angry.
“No wine unless you confess.”
Denise rolled her eyes. “Give me that bottle.”
I yanked it away from her when she tried to grab it. “Nope. My kitchen tonight so my rules.”
“No wonder Hunter adores her.”
Denise was sparkling with happiness. Both were. The bitches. At least I still had it in me to smile.
Bella cleared her throat. “You’re glowing. We were wondering if the ‘l’ word was used yet.”
“Are the two of you still in high school?” I popped the cork and grabbed three balloon stems.
“Well?” Bella prodded.
“Maybe.” I poured the wine and the two women were quiet. When I lifted a glass, purposely swirling the dark liquid, I had to giggle. Giggling wasn’t like me either. “Let’s just say we have strong feelings for each other. Now, here. Let’s have a toast to something.”
The ladies selected their glasses and Denise raised her wine stem first. “How about to finding the men of our dreams.”
Bella sighed. “Yes.”
I honestly wasn’t certain how to respond to her romantic thoughts, but a warm feeling of emotions overwhelmed me. “I’ll drink to that. I never expected to feel anything for anyone. I was afraid to. I knew if I did, karma would swoop in and take him from me. It’s funny how coming here made me realize how lonely I’ve been and how alone. I’m so happy I’m here. I care about Hunter. No, I think I fell in love a few days after moving here. Even though he was grumpy and acted as if I was trouble and nothing else, I could see so much behind his eyes. Every time I looked at him, I swooned just a little bit. Then I swooned a lot. If you’re asking if Hunter Fox is the man of my dreams, yes, he is.”
The two women pushed their heads together with a collective ‘aww’ before taking sips of their wine.
The words were truthful, but the fear remained. Something or someone was going to take Hunter away from me.
“I think now is the right time,” Bella said a few seconds later.
“You’re right. Perfect time.”
I glared first at Denise and then my bestie. “Time for what?”
Bella winked and set her wine down before leaving the room.
“Where is she going?” I asked, although the tone was demanding.
“You’ll see.”
My BFF waltzed in a minute later with a couple of bags in her hands.
“What did you do?” I placed my glass on the counter, trying to give her a hateful look but failing.
“We both knew how important tonight is for you and for Hunter. Plus, I know what you have in your wardrobe so… Denise and I went in on a little treat for you.” She walked closer, holding out the packages.
I took my time looking from one to the other before taking both. Why was I nervous about opening an obvious gift? “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything,” Denise encouraged. “Just open them.”
One was on a hanger and I cringed as I pulled off the plastic bag. Inside was the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen. “What?”
“We thought the green would go well with your eyes and I happen to know it’s Hunter’s favorite color.”
“I don’t know what to say.” The women had floored me. So much so I was fearful I’d tear up.
“We got shoes too. I don’t think wearing those… clog things will go well.” Denise pointed to the shoes I always wore inside the kitchen.
“These are comfortable,” I declared, but had to laugh.
“But completely unattractive.” Bella chuckled and reached for her wine. “You do want to impress with more than just your food. Don’t you?”
Eager like a kid on Christmas morning, I pulled out the box. “These heels will kill me. I can’t cook in them.” But they were gorgeous and of course Bella knew my size. What I’d brought to wear was a simple black dress and, in my mind, conservative and boring, but it was the only piece I’d had that seemed right.
“That’s why you asked Jenny to serve the food.” Bella shook her finger at me.
Denise checked her watch. “We need to go and change. I think Mr. Fox is up from his nap.”
“I hope the food will agree with him.”
Bella wrapped her fingers around my arm. “Trust me. All anyone wants is to see the family happy. You’re a part of the family now. Own it.”
I raised my wine glass, almost feeling giddy yet still out of place. “I think I will.”
Hunter
The evening had peeks of sun trickling in through the windows. Night would soon fall and for some reason, the darkness made me more apprehensive than ever before. I’d yet to receive a return call from my contact and was beginning to think I never would. At this point, nothing else had occurred in the almost twenty-four hours since I’d made the call.
However, the apprehension and my instincts had been working overtime.
“I can smell something delicious,” Jagger said as if trying to break the ice. The three of us stood in the den sucking back whiskey while waiting for the evening to begin and our father to be brought down from his nap.
At least I could smile while thinking about Esme’s cooking. She’d been a nervous wreck all day and no amount of comfort from me had made her feel any better. Not that I’d done a good job. I’d been far too preoccupied. What I’d found that might prove useful could be fit into a small paragraph.
I’d never received orders via email, text, or even hand delivery. There were special communication devices especially designed by the military for any updates. The console was returned as required, which meant what information I had regarding any and all missions was based on memory. I suspected the same was true for my brothers.
Even if I went to the press, all I had to offer was my word against a society no one would be able to trace. Yeah, Jagger had been right. We’d been used.
“Dad looked good,” Shephard said. “I saw him before he was taken up for his nap.”
At least they’ve hired a nurse to help our mother take care of him. Within days, the room we were standing in would be converted into a bedroom, so stairs weren’t needed. I had a feeling our father wouldn’t take to that kindly. He was a tough son of a bitch.
“That’s good,” I said and heard footsteps. Seeing my mother as she walked into the room was like a breath of fresh air. She’d put on a dress that lit up her eyes, the blue one of my father’s favorite colors.
“Hey, Mom. How is Dad feeling?” Jagger asked her.
She walked in between all three of us, taking the time to kiss each one of us on the cheek. “He’s doing very well and so excited about meeting Esme. He can already tell from what I’ve said how happy she makes you, Hunter.”
I felt heat rising to my face. My mother always managed to do that at the least convenient times. “Yeah, she does.”
“I’m going to make myself a drink, gentlemen, and your father would like a word with the three of you before dinner.”
The serious look she had on her face concerned me as it did both my brothers.
“Is everything okay?” Shephard asked her.
She smiled, but I sensed she was drained from everything she’d been forced to deal with. “He’s fine. Just some guy things. Don’t worry. I’ll catch up with the girls.”
I took a deep breath and started the procession, hearing footsteps behind me. The library was obviously my dad’s favorite location in the house. I had a feeling he considered it a perch where he could watch nature at its finest.
As expected, he was staring out the window, admiring what was left of the view in the waning light.
Jagger closed the door behind us and Shephard and I ventured closer. I wasn’t certain whether to remain standing or find a seat. I decided to stand. He appeared tense, very similar to the way he always was when having a rather difficult discussion with one or all of us.
“What’s up, Dad?” Jagger asked.
He took a few seconds before answering. “Do you know why I brought you here?”
I wasn’t certain if it was a trick question or not, but I answered for all of us. “To have us build a closer relationship.”
“Yes. You need to stay close and learn to rely on each other.”
Shephard stole a look at me and shook his head where Dad couldn’t see. “I think that’s happening,” he said, trying to comfort him.
“I’m glad to hear it. I did you all a disservice by trying to pit you against one another when you were kids. I thought I was doing the right thing, but your mother finally helped me see I was wrong. She’s a tough lady.”
“Yeah, she is,” I told him.
“It’s okay, Pops,” Jagger told him. “We’re happy to be here.”
He struggled to get up, the drink in his hand shaking. When we tried to help him, he threw out his arm. “I’m old and sick but I’m not dead yet. Now, I need you to listen to me. All three of you.”
“Sure, Pops,” I said. For some reason my nerves were crawling.
“I received a call from a buddy of mine. It doesn’t matter who but then again, I have a feeling you’ll figure it out. You’re smart men. Maybe too much so. This in particular is addressed to you, Hunter. He told me you mentioned my name and accused the organization you worked for of being something other than what it was.”
He was staring at me. I would have expected hard, cold eyes, but they were full of admiration.
“How did you find out?” I asked and noticed Shephard had his eyebrows lifted.
“Oh, I have connections everywhere, even to this day. I must admit it was a slight surprise, but I figured you would discover just how special the three of you have been. Granted, I wish you’d found out under better circumstances. You should have told me you were being threatened.”
“I didn’t want to worry you.” That was true enough, but my words felt hollow.
“As I said, I’m not dead yet. What I’m about to tell you isn’t for public knowledge. However, you have families now. You can’t keep this a secret, but you must convey to the three bright women in that kitchen that disclosing what I’m about to tell you could be dangerous for them and for you.”
Why was my skin crawling even though the three of us had deciphered all the clues left like crumbs from a cookie jar only a few days before? Because believing and knowing were two entirely different animals. Maybe in facing death, my father had finally reached the point where he no longer wanted to hide behind shadows and secrets.
However, my gut told me that I’d placed our entire family’s safety in the crosshairs.
“What was the outcome of this out-of-the-blue communication?” Shephard asked. He was clearly angry, his jaw clenched as tightly as his hand was around his drink.
Our father took the time to sit down in one of the leather chairs, the pain on his face an indication of just how extreme the situation had gotten with his health. “We’ve never been out of communication, son. The group of people I worked with simply faded into the shadows, but we were always prepared in case of need or discovery.”
“So this group is no longer active?” I was surprised and unbelieving.
Pops shrugged. “Let’s just say it’s under different management and I’m no longer a part of the core group.”
“Who the fuck are these people?” Jagger was already losing patience. He’d never liked to be lied to. It was a trait he’d never been able to look past.
Pops’ eyes twinkled as if he planned on keeping a few secrets until the day he died and beyond. “A need-to-know basis, something I know you understand. The three of you are highly intelligent and share the same love of country that every man and woman inside this organization does. That’s why you were handpicked above thousands of other contenders.”
Handpicked? I almost laughed, but there was nothing funny about his control over our lives.
“Isn’t that a little narcissistic, Dad?” I asked.
“Oh, I assure you that my vote wasn’t allowed. Your records, temperament, and abilities to follow orders were looked at blindly, the first round of eliminations kept anonymous. Once we got to the final round, your names were presented proudly by someone else. Someone who’d followed all your careers closely.”
Shephard scratched his head. “I’m confused. Help me clear the cobwebs. We were in different branches of the service at your requirement, Dad. Yours. When we got out, not all of us with glowing reviews, we were each recruited by entirely different organizations to perform highly irregular eliminations. You’re telling us that the direct orders came from a single representative, a body of men and women pretending to be in different professions whose identities were kept sealed? Their knowledge of the tasks must have been held in the highest regard and if I had to guess, they’d face elimination themselves if they dared breathe a word of this secret society.”
I was certain my brother was going to burst into laughter.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, son. That’s exactly what I’m telling you. With your single phone call, Hunter, you placed our organization on high alert. What we’re doing is dangerous, deadly. The three of you speculating on our jobs places all of us directly in harm’s way. That can’t be allowed.”
Jagger turned his head slowly to study my reaction. “So what are you saying, Pops? That because we guessed the truth we need to die?”
Our father laughed, lifting his glass with a huge smile on his face as if anything about this was funny. “Not at all. You’ve proven yourselves to be forces to be reckoned with. Admirable. Reckless but admirable.”
I rubbed my eyes. Processing what he’d just told us was difficult, but not impossible. “Now I’m the one confused. If you weren’t told that our lives were expendable, then what the fuck is going to happen? I have some maniac who could be a woman playing cat and mouse with me. I have a woman I care about placed directly in the line of fire. Both Shephard and Jagger faced enemies, by gunpoint and crucifixion in the news. I refuse to allow Esme to suffer for the poor choices I made. It’s not going to happen, Pops.”
The entire room became quiet, not one of us knowing exactly what to say. It was strange to see the way my father struggled into a standing position, taking calculated steps toward me. He’d lost weight and even a couple of inches of his height given his condition and his age, but he was still a very formidable man.
“Son, I admire your tenacity and conviction to your soul and the country you love. I feel the same about all of you, but the three of you need to ask yourself if you really would have done anything differently. You tracked and eliminated the worst kind of dictators and monsters this world has ever seen. The kind of men and in some cases women who hunted human flesh, selling their targets off to the highest bidder. The kind who took water and food from their people to build their kingdoms. And these same people had no qualms about bombing or invading the country we so love. Now, answer that question. Would any of you have walked away?”
He looked each one of us directly in the eyes. It had been years since I’d seen him so strong, so resilient.
“No,” I answered first, oddly filling with pride for the first time in years as well.
“No,” Jagger offered, somehow standing even taller that his six-foot four-inch frame.
Shephard took the longest to react. “All those years you acted as if you hated each one of us, seemingly enjoying destroying our relationship with you. All those years I personally felt like a failure. Was that all for the greater good of this ridiculous organization? Was keeping the secrets joyful for you? Did you get a great big laugh out of our misery?”
The hard slap my father issued was so unexpected that both Jagger and I recoiled.
“How dare you, Shephard. How dare you question my loyalty to this family, your mother, or our country? Do you not know how much it hurt me to keep this from you? Do you not understand what it did to your mother, how many tears she shed? Don’t you get that I was so proud of the three of you I wanted to shout it out to the mountains, to everyone I came in contact with?”
“So why didn’t you?” I challenged, just as emotional as Shephard.
Our father took a deep breath. “Because I swore an allegiance to my country and to the cause. Doing so would have meant destroying this family. I couldn’t allow that to happen.”
The words echoed into the room.
What was there to say at this point?
I turned around, heading to the window. “There were leaks about this secret society.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.
Our father’s face fell.
“Unfortunately, yes, which started almost two years ago. I was working to decipher who and how along with a team from the company. Several operatives targeted have already died. When Jagger had issues with the sheriff, I began to realize my family had also been targeted. That’s when I worked to bring the three of you on board.”
“On board?” I didn’t bother turning around. I was sick inside, uncertain of how to process this.
“Yes, son. To the executive level.”
“You had a feeling this could happen. That’s another reason you brought us here.” Jagger half laughed but there was no joy in the sound.
“Yes.”
“And leaving Montana, the bankruptcy bullshit, the company you supposedly worked for and turned criminal. All a lie?” Shephard’s voice was strained.
“Yes. It was believed my cover had been blown so another story was created for protection. Not just for me, but my family. You’re what is most important. Don’t you understand that?” Pops made this sound so easy, yet the entire situation was difficult to swallow.
“Was the leak ever found?” I asked a few seconds later.
“Possibly and steps are being taken to eradicate that person if the evidence is corroborated.”
I could tell by my father’s tone there was a hell of a lot more to this godawful story. “Let me guess, the person attempting to kill me is a part of this, the leak. The man or woman in charge is determined to bring every operative down.”
When Dad didn’t answer right away, I turned to face him once again. His eyes were lit up. “As always, Hunter, you seem to have a knack for discovery. Yes, if what we’ve learned is correct, the person hunting you is working directly for a man challenged during a particular mission.” He lifted his head as if waiting to see if I guessed correctly.
“Fuck. Giuseppe Carlotto. The bastard selling women on the black market.”
He nodded slowly, as if waiting for me to continue.
“The woman who died in my arms. Who was she?”
“She was the daughter of a Saudi Arabian prince. The man was destroyed by her death, almost succumbing to madness.”
“And he doesn’t blame me for her death?”
Pops smiled. “Even rich oil tycoons know the difference between a mission issue and pure evil. Besides, he was told exactly what occurred, the efforts you went through to save her life at the risk of your own. Sadly, it became apparent too late that the reason the mission was compromised was because of the same leak.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew about that mission? Why, Pops? Do you know how many nightmares I’ve had? Do you have any clue how devastated I was, determined that I was to blame?”
He looked away. “I wasn’t allowed to say anything to you, son.”
“And now?”
“You deserve to know the truth. I could tell you were suffering and as a father, I couldn’t allow that to continue.”
“That was fucking years ago! Were you not my father then?” I immediately looked away. What was I accomplishing at this point?
Shephard sighed. “You have no idea just how much he’s suffered, Pops. Let me guess. Each one of us has a similar occurrence, a reason we’ve felt accountable for our actions.”
“Yes, Shephard. Unfortunately, we didn’t learn of the betrayal in time.”
“Unfortunately,” Jagger repeated. “From what I’ve heard it seems as if you don’t have the most qualified and intelligent people on this team you worked for in secrecy. How the fuck could they not know?”
Pops was losing patience, his face filling with anger. “Because the person is damn good at their job.”
“Meanwhile,” I barked. “I was chastised for how the event went down. I was told I’d lost my edge. I believed the motherfucker who stood in my face putting the blame on me.”
“This is fucking bullshit,” Jagger said in my defense.
“So Giuseppe’s empire was nearly destroyed by the prince. Now the Italian prick is placing blame on my head, my direct information likely found because of this traitor. Am I missing anything?”
“That’s what we’ve learned, son. So far. You should know on that fateful day you killed Giuseppe’s son.”
At least more pieces of the puzzle were being fit together. “This is simple revenge.”
“Correct.” Pops was still pleased I was putting it altogether when it felt as if my entire career and all I believed in was being unraveled right before my eyes.
“Okay. Who is this mystery soldier working for Giuseppe?” I was tense, my mind processing the dream for the hundredth time.
“That we do not know.”
“Of course not.” I rubbed my jaw to keep from laughing.
“I can tell you Giuseppe has his hands full. The prince continues fucking with his empire, determined to bring justice to his people. He’s done well so far, ordering and acting on one hit after another. If the chatter we heard was correct, Giuseppe is under the belief you’re the hitman.”
“Well, there it is. More deception.” I allowed myself to laugh. Revenge wasn’t as sweet as I’d thought.
“If we track down the hired assassin, you’re suggesting we’ll find the corroborating evidence to indict the traitor?” Shephard asked.
“I am,” Pops said. “In addition, Hunter’s success will mean saving additional lives. That’s our priority.”
The burden had been placed directly on my shoulders, the outcome possibly costing the woman I loved her life. I didn’t have an immediate answer for him, although everything in my gut told me there was no other way.
“Your success. Work this mission together,” Pops further encouraged.
“So what now, Dad? This offer that’s on the table, what does it mean if one or all of us refuses to accept?” Shephard remained hot, his personal issues with our father going deep.
Our father sighed. “I can’t force you to accept what I consider your destiny. The three of you must decide for yourselves. However, if you decide to embark on this mission, you must work together. You must highlight your loyalty, not only to your mission, but also to those who came before you and will likely come after.”
“A heavy price to pay,” Jagger mused.
“But worthwhile, son. There is no better way of keeping our way of life.” Father once again looked at all of us then back to me. “Hunter, you’re going to receive a call from someone you’ve never talked to before. He will provide you with as much detailed information on the person responsible as acquired. I don’t need to tell you that won’t be much for you to go on. They’re using all their resources to try and track this person down. The three of you will then know what to do. I trust that you will.”
It wasn’t just a mission to save my life and that of the woman I so adored, but also another test. If we passed, we could take whatever job offer was on the table. If we failed, our lives would be as they were now: devoid of any knowledge of this dark organization, or chances to reengage.
The choice was ours.
The three of us were staring at our father and if my brothers were thinking anything similar to what I was, there was no good answer. But maybe, just maybe if we embarked on this dark, tainted mission, we would finally be free of our demons.
Or maybe the three of us would end up dead.