Chapter 19 Running with the Devil
RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL
TEDDY
Teddy woke to an empty bed. He headed down the hall in search of his woman. As he entered his kitchen, he smelled freshly brewed coffee and found Sydney sipping from a mug at the table while working away on her laptop.
Not wanting to startle her, he said, “Good morning, baby.”
He didn’t like that she had her back to the room, but he didn’t want to begin the day by criticizing her. Especially not their first day as an engaged couple.
“Good morning,” she said as he dipped down, pulled aside her hair, and kissed the back of her neck.
After filling a mug with coffee, he made his way over. Her gaze darkened as she checked him out. “Looks like my buddy is back for more action and adventure.”
He glanced down as his wood. “I got a thing for you.”
When he sat beside her on the dining room bench, she rubbed his bare back.
“I love that you’re a true patriot, saluting me every chance you get,” she said.
He laughed. “Whatcha been doing?”
“I wanted to get organized about our mission,” she said. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Great.” He sipped the hot drink. “You?”
“I sleep so much better in your arms. I’ve replaced half a dozen soft pillows for body of granite. Tell me, how does that work better?”
“It’s love, baby. Nothing but love.”
He glanced down at her clothes. She was wearing one of his T-shirts and a pair of his shorts that were much too big for her.
“I’m gonna throw on some clothes,” he said. “You good with what you’ve got on?”
She nodded before turning back to her laptop.
In his bedroom, he pulled on boxer briefs, a T-shirt, and shorts. The morning air was crisp, and he wanted to get out for a run, but they’d have to wait until they were at the Black Site to spend time outside. Even there, it was risky.
When he returned, she was making breakfast. He pulled up alongside her and offered to help.
“I found pancake mix,” she said. “How ‘bout a stack along with some eggs?”
They cooked together. She handled the pancakes and, when she’d cleared the griddle, he cracked half a dozen eggs. Once those were done, they filled their plates, topped their coffees, and sat side by side on the bench at his kitchen table.
“Is this your furniture?” she asked.
“Uh-huh.” He sipped the coffee.
“I like this table. The bench is nice too.”
“Once the mayhem is behind us, we can shop for—”
“The mayhem will never be behind us. We’re assassins.”
While they ate, she pitched her idea regarding her cousin Robby and the cabin at the lake.
“Sounds solid,” he said. “When do you want to do this?”
“I’m thinking this coming weekend, after Thanksgiving.”
“Where are you spending it?” he asked.
She stilled, broke eye contact. “That’s a good question. I always go to my parents. You met them… Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
“I look forward to getting to know them.”
“Yeah, those should be some interesting convos, don’t you think?
” She dragged her finger through the leftover syrup on her plate, slipped her index finger into her mouth.
Then, with a devilish look in her eyes, she twirled her tongue around her finger and pulled it out.
She repeated it a few more times until he started to harden.
“You want round two?” he asked. “I got you if you do.”
She ran her hand over his erection, tenting his shorts. “This feels like a super-sized cigar I’d like to smoke.”
He chuffed out a laugh. “Smoke away, baby.”
“Later. We gotta have something to look forward to.”
“Amen to that,” he said. “Spend Thanksgiving with me.”
She kissed him. “I’d love that. Your home will be filled with family, but my parents might be alone. I’ll check with Caroline.”
She texted her sister.
Thanksgiving plans?
OMG WHERE ARE YOU? We just got to the site and you’re not here!!!
I’m with Tank. Thanksgiving?
With Mom and Dad. Grey is coming. Tank is invited. Carrera and Slash are taking Elsa to Italy to see Luciano and Simone. Get your ass back here!
Yuppers
She set her phone on the table in front of him. “Panic city.”
He read the texts. “She’s right.”
“Fine, whatever. Can’t I have a little normal?”
“You killed four of the most dangerous criminals in the world,” he said. “Your sister’s worried about you.”
“You’re right.” Sydney made a call, put it on speaker.
Caroline answered. “Hey, are you okay?”
“You’re on speaker and Tank’s with me,” Sydney said.
“Grey’s with me, and you’re on speaker.”
“Tank snuck me back to his place. We’ll be there in the next hour. Why are you there?”
“Grey wants Tank to upload the pics from last night. We just assumed you’d be here.”
“Fratello, devi proteggere Sydney,” Greystone said.
“Non dire sciocchezze. La sto proteggendo,” Teddy replied.
“Something about protecting me,” Sydney said. “Tank’s got my back.”
“You’re not safe there,” Greystone pushed back.
“Trust me,” Teddy said. “I got this.”
Teddy killed the call, released a growl. “My brothers have always underestimated me.”
She kissed his cheek, lingering an extra beat. “Let’s use all that hot, angry energy to find the five remaining terrorists. We’ll knock out the work, do target practice out back, then tonight, I’ll go down on you so good.” She rolled her tongue over her lower lip.
His gritty growl had her sliding her hand around the back of his neck, slipping her fingers into his hair, and kissing him long, hard, and like she could eat him alive.
“You make me crazy,” he bit out.
She broke away, started stacking the dishes. “Work first, play later.”
As they cleaned up, he said, “You calm me down and rile me up.”
“That’s my job, baby,” she said.
When they finished, she smacked his ass and headed down the hall to change.
And damn, if he didn’t follow her sexy, swaying hips.
AN HOUR LATER, they were back at the Black Site, huddled over their laptops in the conference room. While Teddy jumped on the Dark Web, Sydney told Greystone and Caroline her idea about the cabin, her cousin, and their search for Muhammad Haqazzii.
“I’m convinced Haqazzii is hiding out there,” Sydney said. “That photo Tank found of Haqazzii and his lieutenants with Robby means he’s either friends with them or he’s doing business with them.”
“Could be both,” Caroline added.
“I’m about to upload pics of the three dead terrorists,” Teddy said. “Tell me what you think of this caption, ‘We will destroy you.’”
“Do it,” Greystone said.
After uploading the pics to the private chat rooms, Teddy added the threat. When finished, he said, “Expect fallout.”
“Bring it on,” Greystone bit out.
“If we don’t find Haqazzii at the cabin, I’ll ask Robby to poker night,” Teddy said. “Don’t forget, your cousin is my poker buddy, Burt Goodson.”
“And you’ll press him for info about Muhammad Haqazzii?” Sydney asked.
“We’re way past Q&A,” Teddy said. “I’d beat the information outta him. He knows Haqazzii and he knew Crafty Lamar.”
“Sydney, we don’t know anything about your case,” Caroline said. “Tell us about King A and The Sovereign Method.”
After giving them a brief overview, she said, “What I’m about to tell you is something the FBI has kept under tight wraps.” She pointed her finger at each of them. “Not a word.”
“Sydney,” Caroline said. “Really?”
Sydney snort-laughed. “I feel like I had to say that.”
“A year ago, twelve women contacted the FBI about King A and his organization,” Sydney began. “Their testimony provided the Bureau with enough evidence to charge King A with several crimes, but they couldn’t locate him to arrest him, plus, they have no idea what he looks like.”
“What were the charges?” Caroline asked.
“He was convicted in absentia of sex trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion,” Sydney replied.
“The number three guy in his organization, Todd Petersen—the one I took out in Italy—did get arrested and was held without bond,” she continued.
“As DOJ attorneys were preparing for trial, their witnesses either went missing or were murdered. With no witnesses, the prosecution had to drop all charges. Todd Petersen walked.” She narrowed her gaze.
“That’s where I came in, and took him out. ”
“Nice,” Teddy said.
“The number-two man, Crafty Lamar—the one who killed Naomi—also got arrested, but everyone was too terrified to testify against him, so they let him go too.”
“What a cluster,” Greystone said.
“It gets worse,” she added. “All twelve women have gone missing.”
“And you think top brass at The Sovereign Method had something to do with that?” Teddy asked.
“One hundred percent,” Sydney replied.
It was decided that BLACK OPS would breach the cabin Sunday at three in the morning.
“If we’re lucky, we find all five terrorists at the cabin,” Greystone said, “and we destroy them.”
“Nothing in life is ever that easy,” Teddy said.
“We’ll find something,” Sydney said. “I just know it.”
THANKSGIVING WAS ONE of two days where Teddy did his best to tune out work and focus on family.
Dinner with Sydney, her parents, and Caroline and Greystone, was filled with stories from holidays past. He loved hearing about the woman he was going to spend his life with.
Loved watching her interact with her mom and her dad.
While she and her mom were close, she was definitely daddy’s girl.
As he was smashing potatoes in a pot, Sydney’s dad sidled over. “How’s Sydney doing?”
Teddy didn’t know him well enough to know how to answer that, so in true Teddy form, he asked, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
Mark Austin’s eyebrows shot into his forehead. “Bad?”
“She’s exceptionally dedicated to her career and she gives one hundred percent, one hundred percent of the time,” he said. “It’s a ton of pressure for her to shoulder.”
“I know.” Mark nodded. “She’s been like that since she was a child.”
“She’s a hella markswoman. Very impressive.” Teddy finished the potatoes. “Mrs. Austin, where’s the bowl?”
Kathrine moved near, peered inside. “Whipped to perfection.” She added a few heaping tablespoons of butter. “I’ll heat these.”
“What else can I do?”