CHAPTER FIVE
JAKE
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The BHS premises are bigger than my first impressions, now that I’m seeing further than the boardroom and reception.
There’s a large workspace floor with dozens of desks, a handful of meeting rooms, a couple of senior offices, which I suspect Josh and Aidan use, a lunchroom and well spec’d gymnasium.
The tech team has their own designated area, which contains specialized equipment. The thick glass separating them from the rest of the office must be to control the noise and chaos that putting a bunch of paramilitary guys between one set of four walls creates.
Chaos.
Similar to a police department, but on steroids.
Something none of these guys are using...I’ve seen almost all of them hit their desks with wet hair or a gym bag this morning. Meaning they started the day with a run or workout.
As did I.
Then there’s Cole, who has been grumbling all morning.
“This is fucking bullshit.” He shoves his keyboard away and leans angrily back in his chair.
“Zimbardo, hit the gym,” Aidan orders as he walks past. “And make sure you come in twenty minutes early each day and do a good workout.”
Zimbardo.
The name triggers something in me as I think of Caylee. Since seeing her on Saturday night, I’ve thought about her a thousand times. I’ve gone back and forth about how to approach her.
What to say.
How to tell her without telling her anything.
She deserves the truth, but that won’t necessarily change anything. That, and I can’t have anyone knowing my shit.
“Fuck that. I need sleep.” Cole grumbles, tossing back an energy drink.
“Harden up. I have two babies. You only have one.” Aidan retorts, stopping at the door.
Cole curses and shoves out his chair, glares my way, and then strides out with a hand through his hair.
Ah yes, he’s a new father.
I didn’t know Aidan had newborns either, but I guess there’s a lot I don’t know about all the guys. Or them, me. Ryder's wife is pregnant; I know that because Savannah is a famous actress, and it’s all over the media.
A pang of something runs through me.
The way my life is going, I’ll never have kids. Or maybe I’ll end up a late-in-life father and not have the energy my children deserve. To play ball in the yard, take them on vacation, or even just get home and have valuable time with them.
Wouldn’t that be the cycle of life?
God knows my old man didn’t.
I fuck around with the laptop Thomas set up for me a little longer, then Josh finally reappears.
“Sorry for the interruption,” he says, referring to the call he got as we headed to his office earlier. “When that number rings, I take it.”
I don’t ask.
I know better.
He leads me to the large boardroom, waving good morning to two guys on the way. I take a seat, plonk my coffee on the table in front of me and watch as Aidan and Liam join us.
“First day.” Liam grins and fist bumps me as he passes behind me and then sits.
“Yup, so take it easy on me.” I laugh.
“Nothing easy happens around here,” Aidan smirks, then glances at the door. “God, this feels like a missed opportunity to rib either Marshall or Cole.”
Josh laughs roughly, then glances at his phone again.
Something must be happening.
Then again, maybe something is always happening here.
“Let’s dive into it. We have a black op mission coming in over the next six hours, so I need to get the team ready.”
“Black ops?”
He nods. “We work closely with some of the government departments—some high up. Which means, unless you’re briefed, don’t ask.”
No shit.
“Higher than the highest on occasion.” Aidan leans back and links his hands behind his head.
I almost don’t want to know.
As both a SEAL and a Marine, Josh and Aidan, respectively, are used to that level of classified information. Unlike US Marshals.
But I’m not a Marshal anymore.
“All right, well, I’m eager to hear what you want me focusing on,” I say, sipping my coffee.
“We discussed your experience with NCMEC. The reason I wanted you on the team was the increased work we’re doing with the FBI and trafficking.”
I had a feeling that was the case. I nod my interest, shoot a look towards Liam and wonder if he’s already involved, as Josh continues.
“There’s a big ring active in the Los Angeles and broader areas. The feds have undercover agents on the inside, but some have had their cover blown— for one reason or another—and as yet, no one has been able to identify who the leader is.”
The thought gets my blood pumping.
After losing my cousin to trafficking when I was younger, I’m passionate about doing anything I can to help these young and innocent kids.
The entire thing is sickening.
The worst part? Everyday people that you’d never think to suspect are consumers of the industry. This isn’t a movie. These people are celebrities, businesspeople, the wealthy and the middle class.
They preorder these kids and use them as sex slaves...or for whatever brings them pleasure.
The rest of us don’t want to know because it’s easier to look away. Well, fuck that. I can’t.
I won’t.
“They need assistance. Fresh faces who can hit the ground running with knowledge of how these people work.”
Someone like me.
“You want me to go undercover?” I ask, surprised. That sort of thing needs preparation and time.
It can be done, but not quickly.
Then again, perhaps Josh has been prepping for this for months. I don’t know.
“Yes and no. We’ll hand over the information and the contact details for the lead agent on the ground—obviously highly classified—to you and Liam.”
We share a look acknowledging we are partnering up.
“You need to connect in with him discreetly and assess what BHS may be able to contribute without the red tape bullshit.”
That makes sense.
It’s along the lines of what I was expecting in my new role. I might have been a rule follower throughout my career, but I left for a reason, even if I’m not fully acknowledging it.
I want to make a difference.
Without the restraints.
That doesn’t mean I won’t be uncomfortable with some of the choices we have to make, but I suspect Josh and Aidan are aware of that.
They still hired me.
“So, their hands are tied right now and we need to...”
“You got it,” Josh gives me a faint smile.
I didn’t need to finish my sentence. We do whatever it takes. But surely there are some rules and boundaries. I can tell sitting here that this is a professionally run organization. They aren’t a bunch of cowboys.
“Rules of engagement?”
“Don’t fuck it up.” Aidan laughs.
“Today I’ll take you through how things work here,” Liam says, “so while out in the field you know who to call and what the guys here can do.”
“Sounds good.”
Liam worked closely with Cole on the North Korean military chip case, so we have already worked together and formed a bit of a relationship.
That will help us, and likely why Josh partnered me with him.
The guy is smart.
“You know how this works—we are playing the long game on a crime syndicate this big and powerful. There are dozens, or even hundreds of pimps and leaders in these rings. Every single one we bring down is a win,” Josh adds.
“And another one pops up.” I roll up my shirtsleeves and realize I’m the only one wearing a business shirt.
All three of them wear the same black polo shirt with a BHS logo on their chests, along with jeans and sneakers. Way more casual. Some of the others were in sweatpants or black tactical pants.
I look like the new kid on the block.
Liam smirks, noticing my observation, and pushes away from the table. “Let’s go grab some new digs for you on the way out.”
“Make sure you get everything you need from Thomas,” Josh calls as we head out.
“You got it, boss.” Liam opens the door. “Nothing like diving in the deep end on day one.”
“Could’ve been worse.” I grin. “Something could’ve blown up.”
“Day’s not over yet, brother.”