Chapter 12
Part of the Job
Wire
We arrive home late, but Wolfie is waiting up for us, demanding to be petted, and following us around the house and into the bedroom.
Wolfie didn’t like being away from us and decides to settle himself at the foot of the bed.
I normally don’t allow him to be on the bed, but he gives me those sad, wounded eyes, and I don’t have the heart to kick him off.
I nestle Remmi close to me, spooning her, and drape my arm over her middle to keep her close. She wriggles her ass into my crotch. “Keep doing that, and we’re going to give Wolfie a show,” I warn her.
“Sorry, I was just getting comfy,” she says.
I give her a squeeze. “It’s been a long day, baby.”
“And another busy day tomorrow. Sadie’s coming with Maya.
I’ve gotta buy donuts, and we’re ordering pizza,” she murmurs with a yawn.
Her words become mumbles until there’s only the soothing sound of her breathing, and she falls asleep.
I nuzzle my face into her neck, reveling in the feel of her in my arms.
The next morning, I wake Remmi up with my mouth between her legs.
I was going to let her sleep in, and even got out of bed and took a shower, and started the coffee.
When I come back for her, she is lying on her back, her long brown hair strewn over the pillow, the sheet kicked off, and her nightie had ridden up, exposing her delectable legs and pink panties.
So I do what any red-blooded boyfriend would do: I gently open her legs farther apart, move the gusset of her panties to one side, and have a taste of her sweet nectar.
Damn, she tastes so good that I can’t get enough.
And the sound she emits when my mouth is on her is an aphrodisiac.
Her sweet mewls of delight, her moans and gasps are an addiction.
When her eyes open and find me between her legs, they are hazy with desire. I hold her gaze and see the raw emotion as she gets closer to coming for me. She shudders in my arms as she comes hard, her lips parting, panting as she calls my name.
I kiss her inner thighs and then her mouth.
“Good morning,” I say.
“Best wake-up call ever,” she utters, then wraps her arms around my neck. “I’d like to return the favor.”
“No time, baby. But keep that thought on the back burner for later,” I reply with a grin. I get out of bed, taking her with me, and slap her ass lightly toward the bathroom to get ready.
The team has a lot to do today, and I need to be prepared. I drop Remmi off at her place, where Vic is already waiting.
Falcon and I meet prior to the others. The camera footage from several places where Maria and Franco have stayed shows an automobile parked on the same street for several days in a row.
The photos aren’t clear enough to make out who is behind the wheel, but Maria’s correct in saying that these cars stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood.
It means that these guys either don’t care that they might be spotted, or they assume Maria’s unaware she’s being watched.
That backfired because Maria did catch on and disappeared in the night.
The next morning, when she didn’t come out of her place as usual to drop her son off at day care, two men emerged from the car and went into the building.
Not ten minutes later, they rushed back to their car.
One man was on the phone while the other was slamming his hand on the steering wheel.
These guys won’t make the same mistake twice.
The next time they locate Maria and Franco, they won’t wait. They’ll strike fast.
They watched Maria and Franco for a long time. They followed her from town to town without making a move. Then suddenly, they ran out of patience. What’s prompting them to make their move now? It’s another question we don’t have answers to.
“Call the guys in,” Falcon orders as he continues to look over the file I put together on the timelines and locations of Maria and Franco’s travels, along with how long it took the men to find her each time.
Over the next several hours, the Storm team reviews the extraction plan.
Bull has secured transportation from and to the States through a contact who will meet us at the private airport.
We have a van lined up that we bought online under an alias that, once we abandon it, won’t matter and won’t be traced back to the team.
The route in and out of town has been determined with one change.
“Originally, Phoenix, Rebel, and I were going in to get Maria and her son to safety,” Falcon says, then nods to Phoenix.
“In light of the new development, I think you should stay with Kailyn. And before you get angry, hear me out. This is your first baby. I don’t want you to miss a minute of it.
Kailyn would never stop you from going, but if she needed something, she’d want you with her.
If this assignment was closer, it wouldn’t matter as much, but you’d be across the ocean.
I’m only saying this so you can enjoy the whole experience with Kailyn.
You’d still have shit to do, such as getting a safe house in order for Maria and her son and making sure all communication is running, and during the operation, you and Wire would both be with us online. The choice is yours.”
I can see that Phoenix is upset over the change, but the more Falcon explains his reasoning, his expression changes, and he understands that Falcon is considering not only Phoenix’s feelings, but Kailyn’s as well.
“Can I talk to Kailyn about it?” Phoenix asks.
“We’re wheels up early morning. I need to know before then and give Bull the time he needs to get ready,” Falcon replies.
We end the meeting, and Phoenix goes right into Kailyn’s office, shutting the door. Phoenix isn’t the kind to stand by and do nothing, but since he got with Kailyn, he isn’t too excited about long trips away from her. With a baby on the way, his decision just got harder.
I pull up the satellite maps of where Maria is hiding out.
I scan the streets for anything out of the ordinary.
So far, the same people have been coming and going from the motel.
I’ve been monitoring the cars parked in the lot, and everyone checks out as the guest they are on file.
All seems calm, but I still can’t relax until we have them where we can protect them.
Vic checks in a couple of times to let me know all is well with the women. He’s also taken on the task of getting the new wheel and kiln installed at my place. Vic’s been a huge help and doesn’t consider any task menial. I really hope that he’ll consider being part of Storm for the long haul.
Phoenix pops his head in. “Hey, got a second?”
“Yeah, of course. What’s up?”
“I’m going to take Falcon up on his offer to stay back this time around,” he says, but I can tell he’s conflicted over his decision. “Tell me what I can do to help you out.”
“Your mouth is saying you want to stay but…”
“This is who I am. I don’t want to stop being who I am, and if Falcon thinks that I’m going soft because I’m having a kid, then where do I fit?” he says in frustration.
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. You know Falcon better than that.
He takes care of us, and he’s trying to give you and Kailyn what you need, which is time together before the baby arrives.
A baby isn’t going to stop you from doing what you love and what you’re made to do, and we all know you belong at Storm, especially Falcon… ”
“Kailyn has a doctor’s appointment in a couple of days and wants me with her. She needs me too.”
“Then take the time to be the devoted husband she needs, because when it’s our turn for our kids, you’re going to be the one flying out,” I say with a grin.
“You want kids? Does Remmi?”
“Yeah, and hell yeah!” I respond. We both have a laugh before I get serious.
“I have to locate a safe house. I could use your expertise. I also need to get all the security features set up in and out of the place. I was thinking of asking Falcon if Vic could be with Maria and Franco when they get here instead of us taking turns. He could stay with them until we figure it out. It means we have more resources, and they have a kickass soldier who can protect them. What do you think?”
“I think it’s perfect. Let’s go have a word,” Phoenix says with a shrug.
Phoenix feels better after talking it out with Falcon, and he’s on board with getting Vic involved.
Falcon will call him later. The team has been conditioned from our army days to have a plan and to stick with it, but we’ve also had to deviate many times from what we had planned. It’s all part of the job!