Harley (Cerberus MC)

Me: Fixing to get to work.

She responds immediately.

Alyssa Dansby: Stay safe.

I could ask her a million questions about Aria, but we texted back and forth earlier when I let her know we landed safely, and numerous times since we arrived. She didn’t ask where I was, and I don’t know if it’s because she’s heard that we don’t disclose that type of information or if she just doesn’t care where I’m at in the world.

She was so agreeable before I left, it had me wondering if she was doing it because she knows how much it affects me. Although I swore I’d never kiss the woman again, I fought the urge during the entire conversation. Then I reached out and shook her hand. I shook her fucking hand like we’d just made a business deal, not like my dick was half hard from staring at her pouty lips.

I huff a humorless laugh as I put my phone away once again.

“You ready?” Apollo asks as he approaches decked out in the latest gear.

We didn’t have the same resources in the Marine Corps as we have working for Cerberus. The thousands spent on each one of our kits shows how much Kincaid cares about his men.

“I’m ready,” I tell him.

Apollo is on the entry team with Hound, and it makes me look over at the man who is giving last-minute instructions to Boomer, who hasn’t experienced the rush of first entry yet. He nods, his black helmet bobbing up and down with each movement of his head.

“We’re glad to have you back,” he says.

“Glad to be back,” I tell him, not reminding him that I couldn’t really be missed since I’ve only been out with them once before today.

It makes me remember that my paychecks have continued to be deposited, and that’s something I need to get with Kincaid about paying back.

“Keep your head down and don’t let your emotions get the best of you.”

“Got it,” I tell him, knowing the warning will be given or thought of by every Cerberus member here.

Today, we aren’t raiding a compound full of just abducted women. As if that isn’t bad enough, the place we’re shutting down today is set up for breeding. That means there will be babies here because the women have been abducted and impregnated to support a black market adoption agency that’s being run out of the capitol city Buenos Aires an hour and a half away. Making it an even more fucked-up operation, they allow paying customers the opportunity to use the women sexually to get them pregnant so long as they fit the demographics needed for the conceived child.

“Time to roll,” Kincaid says. “Drones are up and out.”

Since we use the latest instruments, Cerberus always knows the perfect time to strike. As minimal risks as possible are taken.

We make our way to the rented vehicles, and although I always found it strange to be able to rent military-grade Humvees in most all third-world countries, I’m also grateful for the accessibility. It’s hard to roll out effectively from an SUV loaded down with so much gear.

“Teams B and C, you’re going to get close, but we need limited gunfire on this, so wait until Hound gives the all clear,” Kincaid says, his voice right inside of my ear due to the radioed helmet we’re all wearing.

“Ten-four,” both Rocker and Grinch say, letting him know they understand.

If I didn’t know what to look for, I’d be hard-pressed to even spot Hound and the five other men on his team making their way across the field. The grass is thick and high, and I can feel the burn they must be feeling in their thighs having to walk in a crouch for such a long distance.

I upped my workout regimen after getting back from that first mission because I hurt for a week, after making a similar trek months and months ago. I clear my throat, trying to shove down the idea that maybe Ali would’ve been willing to rub my aching thighs had I been able to stay on Team A.

Hound explains every step he takes as his team enters the house.

“Foyer empty,” he whispers, his voice coming across loud and clear.

“No, you’re safe. They’ll help you outside,” Apollo says. “One adult female with a baby heading your way.”

“Got it,” Slick says as she breaks away from her team, backed by Jinx.

“Come on, sweetheart. You’re safe,” Slick says, but then she has to cover the woman’s mouth as she starts to sob while running with the baby in her arms.

I expect to see Jinx taking the baby so it’s safer to get away, but instead, he crouches and lifts her and the baby into the cradle of his arms and carries them away.

Support staff from the local agency who contacted us about this place is less than a mile down the road at the mobile command center, but I doubt the woman will stop crying even after she gets there. There’s no telling the level of trauma she’s been through. The baby in her arms may not even be the first child she’s been forced to have.