All Grown Up (Eden High)

“What can they possibly know? Track has our stuff locked down better than the damn KGB; I’m sure none of them can get to whatever info we’re hiding there.”

“Yeah, but we don’t have anything for listening in at doors and shit.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Nope, and we think the other wives are helping them.” Jace was gritting his teeth hard enough to strain his jaw. Usually, that shit would be funny; it’s always fun to watch Sian run circles around him, but what he was implying was a little bit scary.

“Helping them do what?”

“That, we do not know.”

MANCINI

“I have to make a call to New York, and then we’ll be off tomorrow night. The old guard should be here any minute. They’ll keep watch over the women while we’re gone. It’s going to take a few days to get things lined up for Waterford, but it’s better, I think, to be in NYC when we put the finishing touches together; at least we’ll be closer there. Any questions?”

“Yeah, who’s in New York?”

“Another piece to the puzzle Colton, he’s another Wharton alumnus with certain connections. Flanagan, you may have heard of him; I know your wife’s family has or have had dealings with his grandfather in the past.”

“Who is he?”

“His name is Andros; he’s the only grandson and heir to the Patakis family.”

“Oh, yeah, Poppy knows him. Didn’t his kid die in an accident or some shit a million years ago?”

“Yes, Andros is his grandson. When his mom remarried, they changed his name to her new husband’s.”

“Nice cover.”

I could only smile at that because he wasn’t too far off the mark. Andros, like myself, has had the finest education money can buy, but beneath the cultured veneer beats the heart of a territorial beast who has no respect for authority and is known to go his own way in all things. He’s only one of the others who’ve yet to be brought in. Something I’d left this long because it was more important to get the men already gathered here together first.

Their families formed the base or core, if you will, of the original squad, with the others like Andros, Sommers, the Steele brothers, the Blairs, Avery, and a few others joining throughout the centuries. All the records have been kept hidden over the centuries, passed down from head to head, but this is the first time we’ve been this lucky to have a descendant or two from each family alive and well at the same time.

I’m almost ready to send out the call now that these guys are on board, but this first job is not the place or time for the others to get their feet wet. It would take too much time to get everyone up to speed, and that’s not something I’m willing to do while women and children are being exploited by these fucknuts.

“So this Andros guy, what’s his deal?”

“He has a place near the brothel we think Roxana’s friends are being held at. It’s on the water, which makes it an ideal place for the rescue, as well as being in a prime location if they’re using the Hudson to transport the victims. We can put a team to watch there.”

“How apt is he to let us invade his space with such short notice?”

“Not to worry Lyon, once he learns that these fucks are that close to his wife and kids, the problem will be keeping him leashed until we get there.” The conversation went back to the plans we were making for the rescue, for which I was grateful. Getting these guys, Lyon especially, on board with letting the others in hadn’t been easy.

The guy’s the most untrusting person I know, and with good reason. The fact that he’s in line to head our little organization makes it impossible for me to go over his head even though I know most if not all of what’s been hidden in the files that Wilson had passed on to me.

Had Lyon been brought in when he was younger, I never would’ve been privy to certain things as it is his right and his alone, and there are still some things I do not know that only he will once Wilson passes the baton. I don’t feel even a little bit envious since I was never in it for position, but to help those who needed it to the best of my ability. Wilson has chosen not to contact Lyon as yet, though he refuses to tell me why. Whatever!

I heard the jet overhead as it headed to the landing strip. “The elders are here.”

MOUTH

Dammit! Trust mob boy to get me mixed up in this mess. He’s always up my ass about getting into stuff, but then he goes and gets me tangled up with this bunch. Granted, the women here are nothing like I expected. When I heard private- island, I thought for sure that he was dragging me off to meet some snobs with more money than sense, but nothing could be further from the truth.