The Squad

Now it seems every man up there is worth a few billion dollars, though none of them seemed too moved. That’s another reason I’m happy to be here, to find others like my brother is very rare indeed, but I get the feeling that I’m in good company. Now the women… I got a shiver and shook my shoulders as I rolled over.

Ash doesn’t have many friends because Gideon doesn’t trust anyone around her and his kids, only the wives of his men are even allowed at the house. So seeing her in that room with all those strange women looking so relaxed and at ease does my heart good. But fuck if they’re not going to corrupt her. Especially Big Red, which is what I’ve taken to calling the one named Ginger in my head. I smiled when I remembered her earlier antics.

I was just about to roll out of bed and head upstairs when there was an alert on the specialized computer in the other room. I walked over to find a message from Track. Before he’d signed off, he’d worked on the pattern like he’d said, going back from the judge who was the last one killed to the first lawyer.

Along with the social workers who’d bought it, and those who hadn’t, he’d added any and all law enforcement personnel working out of that district court. Looks like another one was hit just an hour ago. I was too excited to wait, so called him back right away. “Definitely female.” We both said the same thing as soon as his face came on the screen.

“I think you should head out right now. Mancini will tell you how to keep in touch with me while you’re on the road, I’m sure. I’m going to try to find a face in the crowd.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll go back through street cameras in the last couple of kill areas and see if anyone shows up more than once.”

“How’re you going to do that?” His smirk reminded me that I shouldn’t ask and even more so, shouldn’t forget who I was dealing with. “Never mind. I’ll catch you later.” I signed off and ran from the room. Gideon and Ash might accuse me of finding any excuse to get out of hanging out with everyone, but I can’t think of a better get out of jail clause than this one.

I found Mancini on the stairs like he’d been waiting for me. He handed me a phone without saying another word. “You can only reach me or Track on this, and only the two of us can get on this frequency. I’m sure Thorpe has his own way of staying in touch with you since he’s such an old woman.”

“Fuck you, Mancini, and where are you sending him?” Gideon appeared at the top of the stairs, and I never felt more like an extra in a spy movie.

“We had another hit not long ago. It’s best if he leaves now while it’s hot, we might catch a break. Remember, kid, bring her in safe, and I don’t have to tell you, don’t let anyone get hands on her before you do.”

“You’re positive it’s a she?”

“She castrated him, then hung around long enough to remove his entrails and hang them around his neck before stuffing his dick in his mouth. Sure it could be a guy doing this, but when you put all the pieces together, it smacks of a female.”

“Wait, how did you know all this so quickly if it just happened? I only just got off the computer with Track, and it didn’t sound like he’d talked to you yet.” He just smirked and clapped my shoulder before walking away. I had to listen to a five-minute lecture from Gideon about safety since his guys weren’t coming with me this time for whatever reason.

I learned why when I reached the airstrip and saw Lyon, a couple of the SEALs, Law, Creed, and Blade Masters. Masters is the only one of the bunch I’d ever dealt with before. I didn’t see Jake Summers and figured he was staying back with Gideon and the others that were back there.

“Why is everyone here?” I work better alone.

“Your focus is the one you’re bringing in; we’re there to keep everyone else off your ass,” Logan explained as they headed for the plane with me trailing behind. Makes sense, I usually go in on foot alone, but Gideon’s men, Gage and Stefan, especially, are always somewhere in the vicinity with eyes and ears.

This Op was very different from my usual. I wasn’t going to rescue some kid or kids who’d been stolen from their beds or the bus stop on their way to school, but a stone-cold killer.

ROXY

I walked around the abandoned warehouse, making sure there were no other denizens for the night. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I removed the clothes I’d worn, which didn’t show the blood they were drenched in because of their dark color. I bundled them in a corner and drenched them with lighter fluid before dropping a match on them.