33. Thad
Thad
“I gotta go, agápi mou. ”
“Okay,” she muttered, but didn’t let go.
We were standing at the door and what was supposed to be a short goodbye kiss had turned into a full-on make-out session. Now even though I didn’t want to go, I had to because I was late.
We were all meeting in Declan’s hotel room to go over the intel we had on the industrial park where tonight’s dog fight was taking place. Faith had called Declan earlier and confirmed the fight was still taking place and word on the street was it was gonna be huge.
“It’ll be late when I get back,” I reminded her. “And none of us will be available. You have Garrett’s number if you need anything. And I left you Zane’s direct cell number.”
“I know. I’ll be fine.” She smiled. It was fake but I appreciated the effort. “Tatiana’s working and I don’t want to bother her so I’m just gonna sit here all night and binge watch TV. Something I haven’t done for years.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now go to work and come home to me safe and sound. We’re getting married tomorrow so don’t take too long. I don’t want you falling asleep while we’re taking our vows.”
That was cute.
But I could’ve been coming home from SEAR school and had a week’s worth of sleep deprivation and still wouldn’t miss a second of marrying her.
I took a chance and brushed my lips against hers one more time. With great effort I pulled back before she could deepen the kiss.
“Lock this after me,” I told her as I walked out of the room.
I watched her close the door, heard the lock click, and dread hit my gut.
And the farther I got from the hotel room that held my heart, that dread turned into fear.
“That was a good call, bringing in SDPD,” Brooks told Declan.
“Didn’t have a choice. I get why Faith asked us to check into the breeder from Long Beach, and I’m glad she did, because that assmunch is whacked. But there’s nothing we can do on U.S. soil. It’s not like we could just shoot the fucker, as much as I wish we could’ve,” Declan returned.
At first contact, the San Diego Police Department was understandably put off by Declan’s approach. However, after he’d laid out the intel from Faith, what Tex and Garrett had found, and the recon Kyle and Max had done that morning, the SDPD had been impressed by Dec’s Op Order and SITREP.
This afternoon’s briefing had lasted three hours, during which time, the SDPD had their Criminal Intelligence Department vet our intel. After the CI department came back that the information was legit, a SWAT, Special Response Team, and a Narcotics unit were assigned.
They’d allowed us a secondary role in the operation, only because the SWAT team leader was a former SEAL, and he’d pretty much demanded us to tag along as backup.
Apparently they were intimately aware of the numerous dog fighting rings in the area.
One recently had been so vicious a female vic was actually placed in the ring with the pit bulls.
Who in the fuck did that?
The woman lived, and I hoped like hell the men who’d brutalized her were in the ground where they belonged.
I’d heard Sidney and Gumby’s warnings. I’d even taken Declan, Kyle, and Brooks’ experience to heart, but I still hadn’t been prepared when we’d entered the warehouse.
Chain-linked fencing proved a makeshift ring for the animals to kill each other. And that’s what they were doing, two pit bulls tearing at each other, with so much violence there was no way one would come out victorious.
It’d been cruel, ruthless, and bloody.
It would also take a long time for the visions of the dogs’ merciless attacks to leave my mind.
Drugs were being sold, bets were being hedged, and men and women both were standing around the ring shouting and cheering.
All in all there’d been no preparing for what I’d witnessed. And the smell of blood and animal waste was enough to choke you.
But, it was a good night. The SWAT, SRT, and the narcos made several arrests, and all of the dogs had been confiscated. When we left, Animal Control and the Humane Society were pulling in to sort their end of the operation.
Everything had gone to plan, we were done earlier than we’d thought, no one was hurt, and the good guys came out on top. Yet, something was wrong.
I could feel it.
“I’ll write up the AAR when we get back to the hotel,” Kyle offered.
“’Preciate it,” Dec mumbled.
I didn’t have the wherewithal to contemplate Declan’s current mood. He’d been all business tonight, and much quieter than normal. I vaguely wondered if he felt it, too. Something was lurking over us like a cloud of death.
“You straight?” Brooks asked.
“Who, me?” I returned.
“Yeah, you. You’re staring out the window like you’re plotting murder,” he joked.
“Something’s off. I can’t shake the feeling,” I answered him honestly.
“What feeling?” Declan snapped.
Definitely in a bad mood.
“Wish I knew, brother. Everything was smooth sailing tonight. Thought that was it but even now my gut is twisted.”
I watched the speedometer inch toward ninety as Declan sped down the highway.
I appreciated him getting a move on it. I wanted to get home to Emerson and crawl into bed next to her.
If luck was on my side she’d gone to bed in one of those sweet nighties she’d picked up at the mall today when she and Tatiana had gone to buy her a dress for tomorrow.
I gently closed the door behind me, careful not to wake Emerson, and made my way into the bedroom. She’d been right about the price of the suite costing a whack; however, it was worth every penny. Luxury throughout and it was the perfect place for us to relax and regroup .
I still needed to talk to Emerson about where she wanted our home base to be.
Here in San Diego or in Maryland near the office and the other team wives.
Brooks and Tatiana were leaning toward the east coast and I hoped Emerson would, too.
This would be Tatiana’s last mission working with us in the field, and since she was employed by Z Corps as well, Annapolis made sense for them.
I started to pull my shirt over my head and froze.
My eyes sliced back to the empty bed.
Empty.
I flipped the light on and the comforter and many toss pillows were all still in perfect order. I went to the bathroom and switched on that light.
Empty.
My heart was jumping in my chest as I moved back to the living space, hoping I missed her on the couch. I was turning on lights as I went and coming up empty. No Emerson.
What the fuck?
“Emerson?” I shouted.
Nothing.
I went for the French doors, unlocked them, and threw them open. Not on the patio. I stepped off the small outside space designated for our room onto the public pathway and Declan appeared.
“Beach is clear,” he told me.
“What?”
“You said you had a feeling. I swept the beach and the pool area. No one is out there.”
My mind raced with possibilities. Maybe she was injured and Tatiana had taken her to the hospital.
Hell, maybe Emerson was in Brooks’ room watching TV with Tatiana.
I jogged around the corner of the building, finding Brooks’ and Tatiana’s ocean-facing deck, and not giving the first fuck I might be waking the occupants on either side, I pounded on the door and shouted Brooks’ name.
The door flew open. Brooks appeared, weapon in hand and with a heavy scowl. “What’s wrong?”
“Emmy in there?”
“What? Why would—” He stopped short of asking and his scowl turned frightening. “Let me wake up Tatiana, we’ll meet you in your room in five.”
Brooks didn’t bother shutting the door, he simply turned and disappeared into his room, leaving me standing on his deck lost in a nightmare.