Chapter Twenty-Three
Rex
F ast and hard. That’s how we plan to take Richard.
There is no elaborate plan needed for once.
There’s no need. Not for this. We’re on our home turf.
We know the place better than anyone. This is where we grew up, where we trained and honed all our skills.
We’re against a guy who is none the wiser that we’re coming for him.
He’s fucking clueless to the fact that we know what he’s been doing all this fucking time.
It makes me so fucking mad every time I think about how long he’s been doing this.
Years. For years he’s been betraying us and aiding those we work so hard to stop.
Oh, and he’s been out of the field for a long fucking time.
It was just before Operation Counterstrike went into action that he asked to be removed from his field team and work somewhere that kept him close to home.
I remember at the time my mother granting his wish because he’d always been a hard and trustworthy worker.
She’s going to be pissed as all hell when she learns it’s him who’s been betraying us all this time.
I have a feeling she’s going to be making her own appearance when she learns we have him in custody. I don’t envy him facing her wrath.
Approaching The Holding Facility I take the lead.
I always do, no matter who I’m working with.
It’s just the way I roll. I’d never put anyone else in a position I wouldn’t be willing to take myself.
Reaching the scanner, I place my palm on it and wait for the door to release.
The moment it does, I yank it open and march through.
My entrance gains the attention of all The Khaos Operatives inside, but I don’t see the one man I’m looking for.
If he’s not out here with everyone else, then I’m guessing he’s in the offices in the back of the building.
As the four of us make our way through the building, each and every operative we pass looks at us with curiosity and wariness.
They can all tell something is going down with the way we’re all kitted out and moving with a clear objective.
Nobody makes any moves to stop us or to find out what’s happening; they just stop in their tracks and watch.
Good. I want everyone to see what is about to happen.
Reaching the office space at the back of the facility, we all split off.
Heading to make sure each exit out of this space is covered.
There’s no need for any words to pass between us; we know what needs to be done.
We’ve trained together enough to know how this needs to go down.
I know each of my brothers will enter the room using one of the other entrances, blocking any path Richard has to escape.
He has no idea he’s trapped. There is no way out of this for him.
He’s going to have no choice but to face the music.
Entering the office space, I spot Richard straight away; he’s sitting talking to one of our younger members, Noah.
I’m pretty sure he’s the one that Jake ended up beating to get to Wreck during all that shit.
I know he still holds a bit of a grudge about that.
The kid really needs to get over it. Jake did what he needed to.
Noah really does seem to have bad luck about being in the vicinity of any crap that goes down within this building, though.
This is twice now within the space of a few months.
Richard must sense something is amiss. He glances up and starts looking around the office space.
I watch as he catches sight of each of my brothers blocking an exit path before he locks eyes with me.
The fear that passes through his eyes is a thing of fucking beauty.
He knows the game is up. That we’re here for him and that what’s about to come isn’t going to be fun for him at all.
That fear doesn’t last for as long as I’d like, though, determination taking over.
I know as soon as I see that, that he’s not going to just hand himself over.
He’s going to try and do something stupid.
Whatever he’s planning isn’t going to work though. Surely, he’s got to know that.
He gets to his feet, and I can see him trying to decide which of us to try and take on.
It doesn’t matter who he picks; he doesn’t stand a chance.
I watch on as he heads towards Jake. Of course he picks the one person who isn’t a member of The Khaos Group.
Probably thinking that Jake doesn’t have the skills and training to go up against him.
Wrong fucking move. Jake might not be a member, but he’s still trained.
Better trained than Richard, that’s for sure.
He’s a fucking Knightlye, for fuck’s sake; obviously he’s going to have some major fucking training under his belt.
I can’t help but chuckle when I see Jake’s reaction.
He just stands there staring at the idiot, his face a mask of boredom.
He crosses his arms over his chest and just waits.
If that doesn’t show he doesn’t see Richard as any sort of threat, I don’t know what will.
Richard clearly can’t help but get annoyed by the blatant brush-off from Jake.
He doesn’t think before he makes a move.
He shoots his arm out to punch Jake in the face; the move is just pure emotion.
In the blink of an eye Jake is no longer standing there with his arms crossed or looking bored.
His hand shoots out, stopping Richard’s attack in its tracks.
He pulls hard on Richard’s arm, spinning him and taking him to the ground.
Placing his knee in his back to hold him in place.
Richard tries to free himself; I can see his body moving as he struggles, but it’s no use.
Jake has him well and truly under control.
Walking over, I crouch in front of Richard, flashing him an evil smile. That fear that he pushed back moments ago is back in full force. Good. He should be fucking terrified. I’m his worst fucking nightmare come to life, and he knows it. My reputation precedes me.
“You’ve been a very naughty boy, Richard. You should have known better than to betray us. You will pay for what you’ve done. You and I are going to be spending some quality time together. I even have a few friends coming who want to have a chat with you too.” I say, voice full of malice.
“Please don’t do this, Rex.” He begs.
He can beg and plead all he wants. It changes nothing. I just shake my head at him as I watch Austin lean in and place wire cuffs around his wrists. Pulling them incredibly tight. Clearly he doesn’t care one bit about cutting off Richard’s circulation.
Standing, I turn to Seth, who is still in the doorway he was blocking, watching the pitiful attempts Richard is making to get us to let him go.
“Work your magic on his system. I want to know everything he’s ever done. Leave no stone unturned.”
“I plan to.” He says as he starts moving in the direction of Richard’s desk, where his computer is set up.
“What’s happening?” Noah asks from where he’s still sitting, looking shell-shocked.
“He’s been betraying us.”
“What the fuck? Why?”
“We don’t know, but I plan on finding out. Head out, kid. I’m sure you have better things to be doing tonight than sitting around here.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind sticking around.”
“There’s nothing for you to do tonight. Go on. The night is still young. Go have some fun.”
He doesn’t need to be told again; he heads on out, leaving us alone with Richard.
“Where are we putting him?” Jake asks as he hauls Richard to his feet.
“My space. All my tools are in there, and there’s more than enough space for Anarchy and Phantom to join me when they get here.”
“Seriously?” Jake says, sounding disgusted.
Looking over, I see why. Richard has pissed himself. A wet patch has started to spread out across the front of his pants. Guess he didn’t like hearing about who will be joining me. Can’t really blame him there. Anarchy and Phantom’s reputation precedes them just as much as mine does.
I leave my brothers to handle locking up Richard.
I have some other things that need my attention before I can head back to Dre.
I need to contact my mother and let her know the mole’s identity and that we’ve got him in custody.
I also need to let Anarchy and Phantom know that they’ve got the all clear to move Beau and Annmarie here.
As soon as that’s all handled, I’m going home, grabbing Dre, and going to bed.
I hope he doesn’t want to sleep in separate beds because after everything I need to hold him.
To remember there is some fucking goodness in this fucked-up work.
It’s been a long time since all the crap I deal with on a daily basis has gotten to me, but this latest shit is having an impact.
Especially when I think about the fact that it’s someone I worked with on a regular basis who betrayed us, and I didn’t have a clue.
How did I miss it? Surely there must have been signs that he was up to no good.
Was I so preoccupied with my own work that I missed something that was right in front of my face?
I have no idea, and until I sit down and really think about it, I doubt I’ll ever know.
I have a feeling I’ll be going over all my memories with a fine-tooth comb.
I don’t think I’ll be the only one either.
I think everyone who has ever worked close to him will probably be doing the same thing.