CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Mia’s strategy was working beautifully.
The cartel planned on starting their hacking on the day the organization was born. So, on the day before, we commenced our ruse.
I worked non-stop during the days that followed our meeting. Beyond creating our software to deal with Mia’s investigation, I had to learn how the agencies' programs worked, so I could get in, drop our bombs, and get out.
I barely slept. I only did so when Mia pulled me from my computers every night so we could close our eyes for a few hours, assuring me she’d wake me up soon to get back to work. I was as exhausted as I was exhilarated. It’d been so long since we had a win against the cartel. And unlike the previous times, I wasn’t working alone.
It was comforting to work, knowing you could rely on good people to support you. And having Mia as one of those people only made it even better. Even though we were working ourselves to the bone and barely had time to rest, Mia and I always managed to find the time to get intimate. It was getting harder not to call it “make love.”
But then our new mission started, and we were forced to press pause until we could come back to each other’s arms in safety.
As predicted, once we started releasing the cartel’s so-called admission, the agencies, the government, and big names in business went into an uproar.
I made sure our leaks were upfront every time an employee tried to access the server, or someone accessed the agencies’ websites. I also posted a video about it on huge platforms, hoping their users would do the rest for us—like make it viral. And we weren’t disappointed.
We forced the Alacráns’ hands and were already collecting the fruits of it. Several of their members were busted trying to erase evidence. A few of their drug shipments were apprehended. Some of their white-collar funders were arrested, including the rapist senator—not on the rape charge, but on other not very legal activities.
All we needed then was to catch Salazar, Keyes, and the girl Mia had been looking for.
Mia walked into the kitchen wearing my shirt, and I had to congratulate myself for not jumping on her and locking ourselves in the bedroom again. Or the shower. Or the sofa. Or the bathtub.
She perched herself on top of the kitchen board. “I’ve been thinking. Your brother has a military background, right?”
I nodded and strode to her. I placed my hands on either side of her hips, positioned myself between her legs, and leaned over her to rub my nose on her cheek and kiss her neck.
She rounded her arms on my shoulders, her legs around my butt, and played with my hair at the nape of my neck. “We’re going to need someone we trust to go on this operation with us.” She moaned and fisted my hair when I nibbled behind her ear. “Do you think he’d be game to come with us?”
I lifted my head and looked at her. “Really? Would you be comfortable with that?”
“Why not? I know it’s dangerous, but he won’t be alone.”
I sprawled my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “Oh, he can take care of himself. I was just wondering because you don’t really know him. I guess…I’m glad you trust hi m for this.”
She shrugged and grinned at me. “Well, he’s your brother and John’s grandson. That’s vouch enough for me.”
Unable to put into words what her trust in me meant, I planted my lips on hers, devouring her mouth and tongue. We groaned into each other, and I felt drunk on all things Mia.
She tightened her legs around me, pressing her feet on my butt and forcing me closer. I touched her soft skin under my shirt and roamed my hands up, searching for her breasts. She was moaning at my ministrations on her nipples when both our phones rang, startling us.
Mia picked up her cell and showed me the message—undoubtedly the same one I got.
“They found Keyes. It’s show time.”
As Mia and I got ready for the trip to the DEA precinct closest to where Keyes was seen, I invited Shane to join us. Since he was alone and had no ties to the agency, he got in as an honorary member of the Bryants make it hurt.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Then bring him to me.”
“He’ll come to the DEA station for proper questioning.”
She turned with fiery eyes to me. “Can you let me have this?”
I squinted my eyes at her, but then saw one of the women had raised her hand. I pointed at her to let her speak.
“When are we leaving?”
“In the next few minutes. I hope you guys are ready.”
I tipped my chin at another agent whose hand was up.
“Where is it?”
“That’s classified,” Aaron chimed in. “We’ll communicate through radio, if necessary, but you’ll leave your phones here, and their team and I will take you to the place where we’ll start the operation. Any other questions?” When no one else raised their hands, Aaron nodded. “Then gear up. We leave in thirty.”
As everyone started to leave, Mia looked at me and tipped her head discreetly to the side, in a silent request for us to stay behind. Once they were out, she balanced on her toes and stretched her neck to make sure no one was close to the door, then pulled my hand to the corner of the room and smiled at me. A way too big of a smile.
“How do you feel about taking down a satellite?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly. It sounded like you wanted me to take down a satellite.”
She nodded in excitement. “Yes! How do you feel about it?”
“I feel like that’s a big ‘no.’”
She squeezed my hands and whined. “Come on. We need it.”
“Since the day we met, I’ve already hacked more government websites than I thought it’d be possible.”
“But you had authorization for the first time.”
“And I don’t have it for this one. I won’t break another law.”
She gently pulled my vest, as if getting me ready for a big event. “Don’t think of it as ‘breaking the law.’ Think of it as…doing something not exactly…legal.”
“ What do you think breaking the law means ?”
“Please—”
“No.”
“I need you—”
“No.”
“To take down— ”
“No.”
“You don’t even know what I’ll ask. Will you let me finish?”
“Go ahead.”
“A satellite.”
“Where is the plot twist you implied? No!”
She cradled my neck with her small hands to plead. “But it’s important.”
“Why on Earth would we need that?”
She glanced at the door again to make sure we were alone. “The last time the guys and I raided one of their compounds, the cartel had remodeled the building where the girls were held hostage. It also didn’t take long for them to know we were there. Then the ambush against you and Aaron. Someone is feeding information to the cartel; they’re anticipating our movements. We’re going tonight with the hope no one has said anything, but the moment we step inside, they will. And they’ll bring reinforcements. That is, if someone doesn’t leak the info as we go. We need a way to keep them from communicating with each other.”
“That’s why they’re leaving their phones behind.”
“Do you honestly think that’s enough? Please ! I promise I will never ask you for anything anymore, ever again.”
“That’s a lie. ”
“Yes, it is.”
Out of anxiety, I tried to push my glasses up my nose and then remembered I wasn’t wearing them. Damn, I hate lenses . “You want to cut all their communication.” She nodded, and I sighed, already starting to cave. “I don’t think I have enough time to pull that off.”
“We still have some time left here, and it’ll be a while until we get to their base. Danny isn’t as deft as you, but he can help. I know you can do it.”
I knew she was trying to goad me into her little— little , pff—scheme. But her confidence in me felt good.
I pursed my lips. "Most guys buy flowers for their girls. I wish I were one of those guys," I mumbled.
She smiled and fisted my bulletproof vest. "But you're not most guys. You're Phoenix! They can't do what you can."
“I see what you’re trying to do with all the ego stroking.”
“Is it working?”
I threw my hands up and caved. “Ah, what the hell? You’ve already ruined my career anyway. I might as well go all the way.”
She gifted me with her biggest smile, pulled me down by the vest, and kissed the corner of my lips.
And that's the story of when I took down a satellite to impress a woman.