Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
TANK
The guys were eating when we got back to business. There were a few looks thrown my way, though they managed to keep their thoughts to themselves.
Granted, it was probably obvious what we’d been up to. Both of us were more relaxed and our hair was wet, indicating we’d showered. The guys weren’t stupid.
I dove into the burger they grabbed for me. Between not eating a lot recently and the activities in the shower, I was starving. Chance even gave me his fries when I finished everything I had before him.
“Thanks, babe,” I said with a mouthful of food.
He rolled his eyes playfully. The others laughed at our exchange as they finished their meals too.
It felt like a family meal in a way. We were all together, all safe in the office. And it was nice.
We had to do more of this after things were settled again. These men were my family in all the ways that mattered. Chance and I could be ourselves around them. No hidden motives or need to perform.
After we finished eating, Memphis went back to tracking Pratt while the rest of us reviewed the material for Stabler one last time. Chance gave his input a few times, though he mostly watched as everything got laid out from start to finish.
By the time Stabler and his partner arrived, we were ready.
“Tank,” he said in greeting as he strode forward. I watched as he stumbled upon seeing the state I was in.
I raised a hand. “Long story. Good to see you again, Detective.”
“You too. And the team looks well.” He nodded to the room, his eyes snagging an extra-long second on Chance before he motioned to the woman beside him. “Everyone, this is Mindy Strong. She’s my temporary partner. We’ll need to catch her up to speed on things since I could only give her high points on the drive over.”
Mindy’s steely gaze took in the room and everyone in it. She had a calculated vibe to her. I wasn’t sure if it was because she was a damn good agent, or if there was more to the story we weren’t getting.
“Strong, this is Tank and his crew. I’d introduce you to them all, but I don’t know if it’s necessary.”
“Tank, Orion, Ronan, Takeshi, Cohen, and Memphis. I’m not sure who the others are though,” she said in response.
The men around the room shifted, a feeling of unease sweeping across us. How did she know the team already? And what did that mean for the case if we had to take an FBI agent hostage so she didn’t ruin things?
It was rare that women were involved in our worlds. Mordecai had been the first really fucked up one we’d had, and I’d outsourced her demise. I didn’t have the time or favors to call in more help this go around.
“Oh, and let’s not forget Chance Sheppard. Though you being here is surprising, Councilman,” she added.
“And how do you know all this?” Chance replied. “From what I understand, you’ve never met the team. I can say knowing who I am makes sense given my family history and position, but their identities aren’t for public record.”
Stabler raised his hands. “Let’s all calm down. I’m sure Mindy has a good explanation.”
A look around the room showed several of my guys with hands on their weapons and stances geared up for a fight. I smiled softly knowing they were always ready to defend their family.
“There’s no need for blood to spill today so long as Mindy’s intentions are good. Explain.” The commanding tone rolled off my tongue.
To her credit, Mindy didn’t flinch at the sound. Instead, she smiled softly as she shrugged.
“Your name is famous where I come from. I’ve heard about Tank for years. The rest of the team’s information was only recently made known to me.”
Her words didn’t do much to settle everyone’s nerves. I tilted my head to the side as I studied her. Something about her seemed familiar. I just couldn’t quite figure out what.
“You can’t see it can you?” She asked.
I shook my head. “Not fully.”
The others watched our exchange with rapt attention. They trusted me to handle what was happening, though they would step in should things turn ugly.
“Strong was my father’s name. You might know my mother’s better. It’s Bianchi.”
With that, it all clicked into place. I smiled softly, the features I recognized now making total since.
“Ah, yes. She was a beautiful woman. How is Enzo doing anyway?”
Mindy shrugged. “As good as can be. He’s the annoying cousin who doesn’t know when to behave himself. Abuela tried to keep him in line, but you know how he is.”
“I do,” I said with a grin.
Her cousin and I had a history that spanned back to before I met Chance. Unfortunately, the man beside me had been in my life long enough to know this.
His scoff was soft, though enough to get my attention. “Don’t be upset. It’s nothing.”
“Listen to your man, Chance. Enzo has moved on and so has Tank. It’s been ages since they were together.”
I nodded at her words, careful to keep my expression blank. While I did not have any relations with Enzo recently, I didn’t want Chance to think there were any feelings here besides amusement.
Of course, the FBI agent that arrived with Stabler is connected to a mafia man. It makes so much sense. Can you sense the sarcasm rolling off me in waves? It’s a rip current of humorous mocking, if you will.
“Now that you’ve all settled it, can we get an update? I’d love to be able to put the director’s mind at rest on this case,” Stabler said.
That got us all moving again. He and Mindy took seats at the table as Memphis queued up the screen to display what we knew. As he flipped through images, Ronan laid out all the details. We kept it as simple as possible since there was a lot of information to cover. It took nearly half an hour to go through it all.
When we finished, Mindy whistled. “That’s a fucking lot of bullshit to deal with. You guys have been busy, huh?”
“That’s one way to put it.” Orion’s smile was tight as he watched for her reply.
She tilted her head. “You don’t have to worry about me, Orion. I’m not the bad guy in all of this. If anything, my position is really more to keep the rest of my family out of trouble. It’s much harder to buy your way in these days.”
At her words, he softened a bit. It didn’t go away completely — the suspicion of her true reason for being here — though it was enough to get him focused on the case instead.
“Based on what you’ve told us, there’s more to this than just trying to stop you guys from getting to him. There’s a connection between Lune, Pratt, and Tank that makes this personal.”
Takeshi knocked against the table at Mindy’s words. He quickly signed, “There is, but the why isn’t important. We have to stop him before he does any more damage.”
“We might finally get our chance,” Memphis said, drawing our attention his way.
“You’ve got a location on Pratt?”
Stabler’s gaze whipped my way. “How would he be able to find him?”
“Probably tracked his FBI issued phone and/or car, right?” Mindy stated.
“He did,” I said, my eyes locked with Stabler’s. “And you haven’t been implicated at all up until now. But considering you’ve helped this far, and your partner has admitted to helping hide her family’s dealings, then I think it’s safe to say you’re stuck with us.”
The man groaned as his head dropped back. “I’ve been trying to make it to retirement, guys. That’s it. Then you rope me into this mess and now it’s bigger than ever.”
Damari raised his hand. I pointed to him. “Sorry about that. This is on me. If I’d never reached out for help, then you all wouldn’t be involved.”
“And you’d be dead,” I added once he was done.
Ronan wrapped his arms around his boyfriend, as if the words would physically hurt him. Instead of getting upset, Damari gave me a look that said he understood what I was implying.
“Even if you hadn’t led us to them or vice versa, there would have been another case to have done it. This organization was far too powerful, and it needed dismantling. Everything else since your first call has been what’s meant to happen.”
At my encouraging words, he sunk into Ronan’s hold. The men around us made noises as if to agree, while a few whispered words of encouragement to the young man.
Turning to Memphis, I motioned to the wall. “Give us the details. It’s time to pin down Pratt so we can get to Lune. I’m ready to finish this.”