Chapter 12 #2
Blake came out of the control booth and waited for everyone to reach her after the team had collected the weapons and the earpieces to re-store them properly, taking Brooke in her arms. “You did absolutely amazing, baby, but that was a lot more than I expected for your first time in Utopia. You’re positive you can keep going—I know you—but I promise you it’s easy to overdo it.
Trust me, we’ve all been there. Besides, I would much rather we go into the conference room now and discuss what we saw, look at our assessments, and dissect the entire experience. ”
“This is the way we keep making ourselves better, Brooke.” Blair followed Brooke and Blake into the control center as the team headed for the conference room.
“Already, the crew learned you have the ability to instantly think on your feet, based just on how we saw you perform today. It may not be as fun as kicking the shit out of someone,” Brooke laughed as Blair grinned, “but studying and assessing what you did helps us all to be better.”
“And that, in turn, gives us the ability to adjust our training for APS so our associates become the best they can be,” added Kat.
“We love what we do here, little sis. Not only is the APS charter something we fully believe in, the fact that we can play video games to provide a very necessary service for vulnerable women everywhere? You tell me where else in this world something like that would ever be possible.”
As everyone moved into the conference room, Brooke said quietly, “Nowhere else that I know. And you have no idea how grateful I am that APS is at my back as I try to figure out this mess with those bastards at Reflex. If it’s the last thing I ever do, I will make them pay for the pain and suffering they’ve caused, especially for daring to target a breast cancer survivor like Sandy Wheeler.
“I have no idea what the fuck Reflex is up to, although I’m confident APS will figure it out. What I do know, however, is they will be lucky to keep their balls attached to their bodies by the time we are done with them. If APS has anything to say about it, that is.
?ω?ω?ω?
Drumming her fingers on the table next to her desktop computer in the Recon Room, Trillian Dacanay’s brilliant mind raced as she stared at her 34” LED ultrawide monitor, mentally sifting through the data she had uncovered during her investigation into Reflex.
Fuck. This is unbelievable.
The APS management team had known from the start that Reflex potentially had something else going on behind their embezzlement and money laundering schemes.
With what Drew Hollister had observed from the Reflex players in Purgatory over the last year to eighteen months, they were buried up to their earlobes in various scams—not in the least was currency misappropriation and laundering.
Because nothing had initially pointed to women specifically being abused or harmed by them, however, Drew had done little more than keep an eye on the partners.
Reflex Rebranding did not appear to be anything that should be of major concern to APS and their charter.
But when Brooke Marino had gotten involved with Reflex because they were taking aim at a breast cancer survivor and her husband—for whom Brooke was doing a rebranding project to get them back on track after the husband had neglected his microbrewery to take care of his sick wife—Blake Seibert had brought Brooke to APS for assistance.
Her woman, Blake had flatly informed the management team, was bound and determined to help Gene and Sandy Wheeler before Reflex Rebranding could strip and destroy their microbrewery.
Because Brooke had known the management team since they were all little kids—and the Armstrong Protection Services co-owners had long loved her, just as they had any other little sister in their tribe—APS had offered their help without any hesitation.
At first, when Trill and her Geek Crew had looked at the situation with Reflex, it had been clear the four partners were deeply buried in both embezzlement and dirty money laundering schemes.
Something else, though, was lurking in the shadows that had the hair on the back of Trill’s neck standing on end, even if she didn’t precisely know what was triggering her gut instinct.
The answer was now staring her right in the face.
Trill ran back through her data, triple-checking all the information, before she came to the conclusion there had been no errors made.
Fuck, she thought again, dragging a hand through her dark blond fade in aggravation and blowing out a deep breath.
This is going to send Brooke right over the edge.
Drumming her fingers on the table again, she made a decision and picked up her cell phone.
Hitting a speed dial number, she waited until Drew answered the call.
“Cuz? Talk to me.”
“I have answers about Reflex Rebranding and what they were sniffing around behind the scenes, my friend…and you’re not going to fucking like it. Not one goddamn little bit.”