Page 37 of Declan (Gold Team #5)

The six of us were packed into a company SUV, Owen and his team following behind us. We’d barely pulled out of the underground garage when Thad shifted in his seat and looked back at Autumn.

“Explain what you think we’re missing.”

“Ash isn’t sloppy. She was FBI then CIA, which means she knows how to avoid traffic cameras. That’s not a rookie mistake, that’s plain careless. Ash doesn’t do careless, she plans down to the smallest of details. She taught me to be methodical. Something has her tweaked. I think this is personal.”

“Personal?”

“If Ash didn’t use Beth, then she’d use Shepherd to get her intel.

” Autumn ignored Thad’s direct question and continued.

“I should’ve thought about contacting him before.

Beth has strong morals and values, she doesn’t cross into the gray area we sometimes have to go.

Shep loves gray, he’d be all over helping Ash and he wouldn’t question what she was doing with the intel he provided.

So, if Ash needed information on Natasha that she knew Beth would have an issue with, she’d go to Shep.

And if Beth would have an issue with it, that would mean Ash tracking down a woman who was a victim, watching her, then taking her, well, that makes it personal. ”

“That’s a stretch,” Brooks noted. “We don’t know Natasha’s identity. Owen’s in deep, he could be missing something. She might not be as innocent as she wants to believe.”

“What makes a person careless? What makes them impulsive? What makes them forget all their training and act on emotion?” Autumn asked.

“When your mission turns personal,” I answered. “Autumn’s right. Maloof’s been one step ahead of us since Bahrain. She’s smart, trained well, and wouldn’t fuck up by getting caught on a traffic camera.”

“Who the fuck is this woman Natasha?” Max asked. “Why does she matter to Maloof? Can you get in touch with this Shepherd?”

“I can try, but Shep is about the drama. He makes you go through a series of emails and tests before he calls you back. It could take days. He likes to call himself a Red Hat Hacker. But really he’s in it for the money and charges five times what Beth charges.

Most of the time his drama’s not worth the hassle. But Ash uses him a lot.”

“I don’t know what a Red Hat Hacker is and I don’t care enough for you to explain. Send him an email and see if he’ll call,” Max told her.

“Thad, call Tex.”

“I will if you stop weaving in and out of traffic and I can stop white-knuckling the oh-shit bar long enough to get my phone,” Thad complained from next to me.

I glanced down at the speedometer. “I’m barely pushing ninety. Quit bitchin’ and call Tex.”

Thad did not do as I asked. Instead, he craned his neck to look at Autumn. “Advice, don’t ever let Declan drive. This is tame. This is slow. When he’s in a hurry, even worse. ”

Then Thad straightened in his seat and fucking finally did as I asked and called Tex.

“Zane checked in,” Tex said by way of greeting. “Said you’re on the road.”

“Yeah,” I confirmed. “Listen, Autumn mentioned a guy named Shepherd, you know him?”

“Yeah, he’s bad news, thinks he some sort of vigilante inserting viruses on other hackers’ machines, but not before he steals their data and sells it. A Black Hat pretending to be a Red Hat. Total asshole.”

There was that term again, Red Hat, Black Hat, Ass Hat, I didn’t give the first fuck what he wanted to call himself.

“Maloof uses him.”

“Shit.”

“You think you can get into his machine and find what he gave Maloof?” Autumn asked before I could.

“I can get into his system. It’ll take a while, but I won’t find anything.

Data isn’t kept on a machine hooked to the network.

Which means I gotta spend hours backtracking his searches.

It won’t be as simple as pulling a file.

I said he was an asshole, not stupid. Tell me what you’re thinking, Autumn. ”

Autumn gave Tex a quick rundown of her thoughts and when she was done, Tex agreed.

“Natasha’s definitely the key. Her prints weren’t in the system. At the time I didn’t give it much thought. Now that Maloof’s involved, I’m thinking she had Shepherd wipe her identity, which also means when we do get her DNA back that’s gonna be a wash, too.”

“How’s that fucking possible?” Kyle asked.

“It’s easier than you think. And you think someone ran your prints or DNA you’d ping? Garrett has all of you covered.”

“We’re still twenty minutes out,” I told Tex.

“And I got nothing for you,” Tex replied.

That was a first.

“Got another call, Tex, we’ll be in touch,” Thad said and changed lines. “Got anything?”

“Maloof took exit 43. She’s headed toward the shipyard entrance,” Garrett told us.

“Exit 43 off the 695, right?” Autumn asked.

“Yes. Off the exit, she turned right.”

“Okay, so toward the Fed Ex building?” Autumn continued, obviously looking at a map on her phone.

“There’s a location on my map, Tom Point.

I see three buildings, she’ll be in one of those.

I’m assuming that huge lot with all the cars is an auto import storage lot.

When she’s done, she’ll jack one of those if she can’t find a vehicle closer.

But she will not exit in the same car she drove in using. ”

“How do you know that?” Garrett asked.

“Because that’s what I’d do and she taught me most of what I know.

The Google image I’m looking at was taken during a workday.

There are cars parked around every business except this Tom Point.

She won’t go farther because there’s a security gate.

Which means a checkpoint and those are messy.

The buildings are far enough away from the Fed Ex she won’t hit their cameras.

Yet close enough to jack a car. There’s also a large wooded area she could easily disappear into.

If you look back, you’ll find she’s already scouted this location.

Actually, she might’ve already stashed a car there.

That’s what I’d do. If you’ve got time to plan, which she did, there’s no point taking a chance stealing a car when you can plant your own. ”

“I’ll dig back and see if I can find a car and hit you back.”

Garrett disconnected and no one spoke. That was, until Autumn had time to study the map longer.

“The best I can see using Google maps, which I have to say is useful in a pinch but I’d like real-time data to be positive.

Tom Point is still my best guess. And I’d park my getaway car in the metro lot.

There might be a camera there, but the car would be safe and I’d know it wouldn’t get towed.

And it’s before that security gate. Easy access, quick in and out, major highway close by, and a private airport less than twenty miles away. ”

Everyone in the car remained silent and my gut tightened at the excitement in Autumn’s tone.

No, not excitement. Maybe enthusiasm, passion, she was good at what she did. Unfortunately what she did was plot, plan, and execute sex traffickers. A deadly game that all players involved knew could easily turn, ending with you six feet under.

I didn’t want Autumn six feet under. I didn’t want her plotting, planning, or executing anyone. I wanted her ass safely tucked away where nothing could ever touch her.

But fuck me, she sounded happy.

Her earlier question burned my insides.

I had no fucking idea how I’d survive knowing she was hunting.

Christ . The very thought cut deep.

I didn’t want this life for her.

Hell, I didn’t even want it for me.

“Autumn was spot on,” Garrett said over the radio. “Myles already disabled the car Maloof left at the metro lot.”

“Copy.” I glanced around the grounds of Tom Point, still fifty yards from our target.

Three windowless cinder block buildings, all varying in size.

The smallest was the size of a bathhouse, the largest the size of a small house.

Garrett had been unable to find blueprints on the structures so we were going in blind.

The only thing we knew was that the land was owned by the cement factory. Best guess was they were storage.

A quick recon of the area didn’t produce much more than what we’d already known, which was next to nothing.

But we didn’t find any exterior security camera, and no windows meant we could move around undetected.

Which was a good thing, because there wasn’t a damn place to hide behind.

The area immediately surrounding the buildings was barren.

“Team three in place,” Brooks announced, and I looked in the direction he and Thad had disappeared.

“Team two on standby,” Kyle called in for himself, Max, and Gabe.

Something felt off. I wasn’t sure if it was the operation, or if it was dread that our target was someone Autumn considered a friend, or if it was Owen. I had serious concerns about the man; he was holding on by a thread.

“Kevin’s posted at the exit. She’s not driving out of here,” Garrett told me something I knew. “You’re clear to enter. Capture if possible. We’d like to question her.”

Having heard Garrett’s request for capture, Owen growled and my concern grew to doubt.

“Lock it down, brother,” I warned. I glanced to my left and I took in Owen.

Then my gut roiled. I knew that look, I’d seen it on Thad’s face when Emmy was kidnapped, I’d seen it on Max’s when Eva was taken to Alaska, I’d seen it on Kyle’s when Anaya was on the run with Tatiana and there was a seriously dangerous man tied up in the back of the car.

I’d also felt it when my sister was taken to Brazil and nearly killed.

And lastly, I’d tasted it when my wife and daughter had died in my arms.

It was then I knew I’d had enough, the acid had eaten away at the lining in my gut and it was burning straight through. If I continued, there’d be nothing left.

I’d be a pile of ash.

I was halfway there.

I’d bled enough.

I couldn’t take another motherfucking day feeling the poison leeching into my body. My soul. I’d served my country, I’d paid my dues, I bled, I leaked sweat and tears.

And right then, seeing another brother look like he was on the edge of losing his ever-loving mind, I remembered that taste and I knew there wasn’t a goddamn thing I was going to say to make the bitter taste palpable.

“Do what you gotta do, Owen. All I ask is you give Autumn a chance to talk her down. Maloof needs to answer for what she’s done, but there might be more at play and Autumn needs a chance to work that angle.

Beyond that, I ain’t gonna stop you. But something else you need to keep in mind, when this is over, Natasha’s gonna need you.

So my suggestion would be to lock your shit down.

That way at the end of this, you can take your woman home and see to her. ”

I heard Autumn suck in an audible breath but I kept my eyes on Owen. I didn’t know him well, but I liked what I knew. He was a good guy, a few years older than me, and had served his country with honor. I also knew he cared about Natasha, therefore he’d do the right thing.

A loud scream cut through my thoughts and plan A flew out the window. There was no time for finesse and surprise.

“Did you—”

“Go,” I cut off Gabe’s question.

Fifty yards quickly turned into ten. Owen was at my side and I could hear Autumn’s heavy footsteps not far behind.

By the time we made it the short distance to the door of the building, I’d pushed everything but the mission out of my head and waited for Autumn to catch up. A few moments later, I felt her small hand touch my shoulder.

I locked eyes with Owen, gave him a sharp nod, and opened the door. We were instantly assaulted by a cry of pain.

Fuck .

Owen rushed through the door—armed, pissed off, and on edge. Not good. I followed, glanced around the room—all open, no doors, no other occupants but Ashaki Maloof and Natasha.

“Step the fuck back,” Owen barked and leveled his firearm at Maloof.

She did neither.

“Not gonna ask you again, bitch.”

Beside me I heard Autumn’s hiss, then I fought the urge to shove her back out the door. This was not because Ashaki Maloof had drawn her weapon. It was because Natasha was either tied or handcuffed to a chair and her face was beaten to hell.

“What the hell are you doing, Ash?” Autumn shouted.

“This isn’t your business. Turn around, take your bulldogs with you, and leave.”

Owen made an unhappy sound, his mood going from dangerous to openly hostile.

Another battle ensued. This one turned into a war when Autumn moved between me and Owen in an effort to get closer to Maloof.

Neither woman seemed fazed that guns were drawn, three of which were pointed at Ashaki.

Autumn had two minutes to talk Maloof down. If she couldn’t accomplish that, the woman would be taken down a different way. One I wouldn’t be all that torn up about after seeing what she’d done to Natasha.

“What are you doing, Ash?” Autumn tried again. “This isn’t you. This isn’t what we do. You don’t hurt innocent women.”

“Innocent? The last fucking thing Sarah is, is innocent,” Ashaki snarled.

Sarah ?

“Amie, I didn’t know,” Natasha whimpered.

“Shut the fuck up. You knew. How could you not know?”

“Who’s Sarah? ”

Ashaki let loose a cackle that made my skin crawl and my stomach tighten.

I glanced at Owen. He’d gone from vibrating anger to statue still.

Fucking, fucking , shit .

“This bitch is Sarah. Sarah Pollaski.”

Oh, fuck .

“Pollaski?” Autumn whispered.

“Now you’re getting it,” Maloof sneered. “Not so innocent, is she? I wasn’t gonna do this. I had a plan. A good one. Then that guy,” she waved her gun in Owen’s direction, “fucked everything up.”

The two minutes Autumn had to talk Maloof down just got significantly shorter. The room was electric. It was time to shut this shit down.

“What do you mean you had a plan?” Autumn asked. “What about finding your Declan and leaving everything behind? What about all the years we’ve worked together? What about all the good we did?”

Ashaki Maloof’s cold, dead eyes locked onto Autumn and I knew what her plan had been.

A plan that was going to gut Autumn.

Fucking, fucking , hell .