Chapter 3 #3
“Good. Our families will be there, Blink’s twin brother and his Night Stalker team, Wolf Steel and his team…everyone,” Kevlar said.
“I…I’d like that. Thank you. If I’m still here,” she added.
“You’ll still be here,” Preacher said confidently. “Once the women get their claws into you, you won’t be able to escape.”
Everyone laughed except Smiley. He frowned. Not sure how Bree would take his friend’s words.
To his relief, he saw her trying to hold back a smile.
“Maggie’s pregnant, right?”
Preacher looked surprised for a moment, then he grinned. “Forgot you’re a stalker. Yes, she’s pregnant. As is Addison.”
“Babies. Who would’ve thunk it,” Kevlar said with a shake of his head. “Now that we’ve gotten the thank yous out of the way, let’s call Tex. He’s probably chomping at the bit to talk to Bree.”
Blink leaned forward and pulled the phone toward him. Before long, they could all hear it ringing through the speaker.
“About damn time,” a man said shortly as he answered.
“Tex. Good to hear from you.”
“Whatever. Smiley, I’ve sent you a package. It’s got a few trackers. You should get it today. Bree, you wear them—all the time. I’m not taking any chances with you. Too many women have disappeared, and it’s a bitch to find anyone without trackers.”
“Um…okay,” she said, looking at Smiley with a frown.
“Tex, I’d like to formally introduce you to Bree Haynes,” Kevlar said. “Bree, Tex lives out east with his wife and kids and dog. He’s a former SEAL turned computer genius. He’s nosey as hell, and I have no idea what we’d do without him.”
“Hi,” Bree said.
Tex went on as if Bree hadn’t spoken.
“I’m on this,” he said. “I tracked a large sum of money that appeared in your ex’s account before you were taken.
I traced it back through a series of other accounts to find the source.
The organization that wants you is no joke.
It’s bad news. And unfortunately, it’s tied to an asshole who was taken out a few years ago.
Del Rio was at the top of his game in Peru before the Mountain Mercenaries and Silverstone took him out. ”
Smiley looked at Bree to see how she was taking Tex’s no-nonsense talk.
She was staring at the phone with no expression on her face.
Without thought, he reached over and took her hand in his, resting their clasped hands on her thigh.
She looked at him briefly, squeezed his hand, then turned her attention back to the phone.
“Tied how?” Safe asked.
“From what I’ve been able to dig up, the man in charge was one of the guys who used to supply del Rio with women.”
“Fuck.”
“Are you shitting me?”
“Damn.”
Smiley agreed with his teammates. They all knew about del Rio and how ruthless his operation had been.
They didn’t know any of the Mountain Mercenaries personally, but they’d heard how the leader’s wife had been kidnapped while in Las Vegas and held for an entire decade.
It was only Rex’s relentless determination to find out what happened to her that led to del Rio finally being taken out.
“Yeah, and worse—wait. Who’s there? Just your team, Kevlar?”
“And Bree. Why?” Kevlar said.
“Because what I’m about to say will open up a can of worms I’m not sure needs to be opened.”
Smiley held his breath. If Tex didn’t think the information was good, it had to be very, very bad.
“Mateo Castillo. Has anyone heard of him?” Tex asked.
Everyone replied in the negative.
“He’s the head of this particular organization. The one who paid for Bree. The reason I asked if you guys were the only ones there is because…I have reason to believe years and years ago, he was a low-level player in a Mexican trafficking ring—the very one Fiona and Julie were rescued from.”
Smiley’s breath caught in his throat. Holy shit. Could that be true?
“Cookie’s going to lose his mind,” Flash muttered.
“Not to mention Hurt,” Preacher added.
“I don’t understand,” Bree whispered to Smiley.
But he didn’t have time to explain how huge this was. How really, really not good this information was.
“Right. Bree? You listening?” Tex asked.
“Yes,” she said dutifully.
“You do what Smiley tells you to do. The organization after you is one of the worst. Under no circumstances do you want them to find you. I’m doing what I can behind the scenes to take them out, to hit them where it hurts the most—their bank accounts.
But that isn’t going to stop what’s already in motion.
Be smart. Be alert. It’s impressive that you’ve managed to stay one step ahead of them all this time, but it’s probably made them more determined than ever to find you and bring you into their organization. Trust me, you don’t want that.”
Bree nodded, and even though Tex couldn’t see her, he went on.
“If the worst happens, do not panic. Do whatever you have to in order to stay alive. Understand me? I’m on this. As is every man around that table with you.”
Smiley’s belly churned. He didn’t want to think about Bree falling into this Castillo’s hands.
“Okay,” Bree agreed.
“No one leaks this info to Cookie, Hurt, or anyone on Wolf’s team.
I’ll talk to them myself when I have more information.
I do not want Fiona or Julie to have to deal with this until I have confirmation Castillo was involved in the group that abducted them.
And until we have good news we can give them.
Namely, that we know where this asshole is and any threat that might exist is mitigated. ”
“Do you think Fiona or Julie are in danger?” Preacher asked.
“Honestly? No. It’s been years. If Castillo wanted to get his hands on them, he’s had more than enough time and money to make a move.
And they’re outside the age range of women he can easily sell.
But just knowing he’s out there will send Wolf’s entire team on a rampage, and I’d rather concentrate on what I need to do in order to make Bree safe than worry about reining in Cookie and Hurt and the rest of that team. ”
Smiley wasn’t sure he agreed. If he was Cookie and Hurt, he’d want to know about a past threat rearing its ugly head again. But he needed Tex and his expertise, and the last thing he wanted to do was piss the man off.
He’d give Tex some time—but not much. SEALs stuck together. Period. And while Wolf’s team might be retired, they were as much Navy SEALs today as they were years ago.
“I’m going to tell them,” Tex said, as if he could hear the disapproving vibes coming from the seven men around the table through the phone line.
“Wolf and his team are some of my closest friends. I don’t want to alarm them if it’s not necessary.
I just need a little bit of time to get more intel.
To find this asshole. To make sure he isn’t a threat.
If I truly thought Julie or Fiona were in danger, I’d be the first one calling them. ”
That made Smiley feel a little better. Though, very little.
“So, Bree. You did good, girl. But don’t let down your guard. I’m on this. As are my people. I have a partner in New Mexico and another in Texas who are doing what they can to track the money trail from Castillo to the people he has looking for you. We’ll find them.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I fucking hate thank yous. Just be smart. My blood pressure is already high enough, don’t do anything that will make it go even higher. Tex out.”
The room went silent after he hung up.
“Fuck. This is not good,” Kevlar said after a moment.
Smiley thought that might be the understatement of the century.
“How are you holding up?” MacGyver asked Bree.
She shrugged. “I’m alive and safe. I’m good.”
“How much more emotional shit can you take?” he asked.
Smiley frowned at his friend, not sure where he was going with his questions.
“Well…considering the emotional shit I’ve been through recently, you might as well pile more on.”
MacGyver grinned. “This time, hopefully it’s good emotional shit. Addison is chomping at the bit to meet you. As is Ellory. Thought maybe you and Smiley could come over tonight for dinner.”
Bree looked at Smiley, as if checking to see what he thought. He saw the eagerness and excitement in her eyes. He could no sooner deny her anything she wanted than he could kick a defenseless puppy.
He turned to MacGyver. “Six good?”
“Six is perfect. I’ll tell Addy.”
“I’m going to take Bree to the store to pick up some stuff she needs and stock up on groceries.
I also want to be home when the package from Tex arrives.
Get Bree set up with the trackers. MacGyver, I’ll see you tonight.
Everyone else, tomorrow?” Smiley was suddenly eager to get Bree home.
Behind locked doors. Of course, they were probably safer here on the base, but there was no telling who Castillo had working for him.
After all, look at what happened to Preacher’s woman.
Maggie’s tormenter was under their noses the entire time. Right there. On base.
They all nodded and agreed.
Smiley and Bree headed for the door before anyone could come up with anything else to talk about.
His mind was spinning. If what Tex said was correct, and he had no doubt it was, this Mateo Castillo was even more bad news than he’d originally thought.
And Bree was definitely in danger. Anyone who’d survived in the sex slavery industry for as long as Castillo had was obviously cunning and smart.
He’d learned to stay under the radar. Probably had tons of connections.
Bree wouldn’t be safe until Tex found him and ended him once and for all.
And that couldn’t happen fast enough for Smiley’s peace of mind.
Mateo Castillo sat in a parking lot across from the main entrance to the naval base.
He’d been so close. So close to getting Bree Haynes in his clutches.
But the Navy SEAL she was shacking up with wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
It wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought to get his hands on her.
Navy SEALs had disrupted his life years ago in Mexico, and they were continuing to make things much more difficult than they needed to be now.
The only reason he was in Riverton at all was because the men he’d sent to retrieve his property had fucked up time and time again. They’d let Bree Haynes slip through their fingers more than once. He knew it was time to step in personally.
And in researching the bitch and the area of California where she’d fled—and the men who’d interrupted his sale in the first place—he’d learned that the two women responsible for fucking up his life so many years ago were also living here.
Fiona Storme and Julie Lytle were property of the organization he’d worked for in Mexico. Then the women had been rescued by Navy SEALs. Now they were married to SEALs, as well.
When Mateo realized Bree Haynes was connected to the bitches from years ago, via the man she’d run to for help, he couldn’t shake the idea that formed—he’d take them too.
All three women would be where they belonged. On their backs, making him money.
He wouldn’t keep them, oh no. He already had buyers lined up.
Buyers who didn’t care how old the bitches were.
One in North Korea, one in Russia…but Bree Haynes would stay in Ecuador.
Where he was currently located. She’d join the stable he’d set up that closely mirrored the one del Rio had run.
He already had most of the police force in his pocket, and in Ecuador, it was easy to bribe government officials.
He had no need for the fourth woman. Josie England. The woman who’d sold her had demanded next to nothing. It was an insignificant loss.
But Bree’s ex had negotiated a significant sum. And the other two women…that was personal. Mateo just had to be patient. Eventually the SEALs would let down their guard. Or, more likely, the women would do something stupid. They always did.
Right now, the fact that everyone’s attention was focused on Bree Haynes could work in his favor for snatching Fiona and Julie, but if he did that, the SEALs would lock down the third woman.
No, he needed to wait. See if an opportunity arose to get all of them at the same time.
That would be ideal. Swoop in and snatch them before anyone was the wiser.
In the last few weeks, his men had already learned that all the SEALs and their families hung out at a bar called Aces. He figured it was only a matter of time before all the women gathered there together. The more they hung out, the more opportunities he’d have to grab them.
And while he didn’t have designs on any others…if he was able to get a bonus woman or two? All the better.
Mateo spotted the smaller pickup truck owned by the man Bree Haynes had latched herself to, narrowing his eyes as it exited the base. Her time was coming, he just had to watch and wait. When she least expected it, she’d be his.