Page 36 of Renegade (The Santini Assassins #2)
GETTING WILD
GREYSTONE
A s Greystone stood, he turned away from his brother to extend his hand toward Caroline, but not before he arranged his junk. He was hard as fucking steel. His dick didn’t know they were dealing with domestic terrorism and his dick wouldn’t have cared if it did.
Forcing out the thought of a naked Caroline writhing from all the pleasure he could bring her, he pulled her up, kissed her hand, and let her go.
“Ahhhh, jeez, do you have to do that at work?” Teddy moaned.
“Talk to us,” Greystone said as the trio made their way back to the command center.
“As long as I don’t have to talk dirty to you,” Teddy grumbled.
Caroline chuckled. “Never, I promise.”
He’d gotten to know this brother the best in the short time he’d been back. Teddy was more amused than angry. He’d seen Teddy angry… and this wasn’t it .
In the command center, they pulled up chairs, huddled around the computer.
“I got into JL’s website,” Teddy said. “It wasn’t difficult. She needs to hire a cybersecurity company?—”
“Theodore,” Greystone said.
“Yeah, right, so I’ve gotten in to HR and can find anyone’s online file.” Teddy pasted on a big smile. “Pretty good, huh?”
“You’re amazing,” Caroline said. “That’s fantastic.”
“You’re givin’ him a big head,” Greystone said, but he shot his brother a smile. “Good job.”
“What’s Sajid Haqazzii’s alias?” Teddy asked.
“Erik Johnston,” Caroline replied.
Teddy typed in that name and Haqazzii’s photo along with his online file filled the browser.
Greystone scanned the page. His dossier was filled with line after line of utter bullshit. He worked in the UK as VP for a textile company. He worked for three organizations in Dubai, holding executive positions in all of them.
“I’m guessing she didn’t check his references,” Teddy said.
“Scroll down,” Greystone instructed him. “Are any listed?”
At the bottom of the page, Erik Johnston had listed three names with phone numbers and the alleged companies his references worked for.
Determination surged through him. “My gut says those are men in the terror cell.”
Teddy opened another website, plugged in one of the numbers.
It wasn’t associated with anyone, but it showed that the line was still active.
“Now, we’re getting’ somewhere,” Greystone said.
They checked the other two references, but the numbers weren’t associated with anyone.
“Burners,” Teddy said .
“These men are part of the Haqazzii cell,” Caroline said. “And they work at Federal Commercial Cleaning Services.”
“That’s what I’m thinkin’,” Greystone said. “These bullshit references got Haqazzii in the door, then he hired his team?—”
“Which gave them access to the federal buildings JL had contracts with,” Caroline added.
Teddy vetted the two references, but the numbers weren’t associated with anyone.
Caroline pushed out of the chair, started pacing. He could see her brilliant mind working and he loved watching her.
“Tank, Erik Johnston doesn’t look like Sajid Haqazzii,” Caroline said. “Even so, the IDWare Software found a match. Can you scroll through the HR files to see if everyone has a profile pic?”
“Sure can.” Teddy jumped back over to JL’s company, got busy adding code into his program.
While it ran, Teddy stood. “What’s the story on food? I’m starving.”
“I’ll make us something to eat.” Greystone said as he glanced at his watch. “It’s almost time for the next shift.”
“Who’s up?” Teddy asked.
“Slash and Prescott,” Caroline replied. “They’re here until six. Everyone’s taking an eight-hour shift. We’re staying all weekend.”
“Bro, are you bailing on the fam?” Teddy asked.
“I’ll swing by,” Greystone said. “Caroline, wanna join me?”
“Thanks, but no. If I’m invited to the next one, I’d love to meet everyone.”
“What will you do?” Greystone asked.
“You mean in general or without you?” Caroline teased.
Teddy chuffed out a laugh. “Nice.”
“I’ll be here,” Caroline replied.
“When Slash and Prescott get here, we’re gonna visit Caroline’s friend, JL,” Greystone said. “I need to find out what her story is. I wouldn’t be surprised if Haqazzii had turned her.”
Caroline eyes grew large. “No. I mean, there’s no way… is there?”
“We won’t know until we talk to her,” Greystone replied.
“What should I do?” Teddy asked.
“Find the terrorists who work for JL,” Greystone said.
“Pull up Erik’s profile again,” Caroline said. “What’s his address?”
Teddy opened a different screen. Within seconds, he had the address Erik Johnston had provided. Then, he plugged it into Google Maps.
“Unbelievable,” Caroline bit out. “It doesn’t exist.” She shook her head. “I’m surprised JL didn’t verify this. She’s running a multi-million-dollar business with government security obligations. How can anyone be that gullible?”
“They’re not just killers, they’re trained con men,” Greystone said.
“It might take a while for me to write the program, then see if there’s overlap with JL’s employees and the terrorists,” Teddy explained. “We got lucky with Erik Johnston. It might not be that easy with the others.”
“Take as long as you need,” Greystone said. “But on May thirty-first, six federal buildings are gonna blow sky high.”
Caroline swatted his arm before regarding Teddy. “You’re doing great, better than great. Perfect.”
Teddy’s proud smile made Greystone chuckle.
“Hey, brother,” Teddy said as he jumped onto the computer, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
“Yeah.”
“What happened to breakfast?”
Greystone rose. “I got you.”
“I’ll help.” Caroline stood.
“I’m checking on you in ten,” Teddy warned .
As he and Caroline left the room, Greystone murmured, “We don’t even need five.”
In the kitchen, he pulled her into his arms, peered down at her. “How you doin’, for real?”
She stroked his beard with soft fingers. “Energized. We’re making progress.”
“Need sleep?” He kissed her, and his body came online.
“No. You?” She slid her fingers into his hair.
“I’m too wired to sleep.”
She stood tall, held him tight, and kissed him. As the passion pounded through him, she abruptly ended the kiss and broke away. The loss left him hungry for more.
“If we don’t stop, we’ll be naked on the kitchen floor grinding on each other,” Caroline said. “Slash and Prescott’s shift is starting soon. We gotta wait, though just thinking about getting caught makes me a little crazy.”
He palmed her ass. “I’m gonna lose my mind.”
“Focus,” she said.
“I am focused,” he replied. “On you.”
She caressed his ass. “Just a little longer, baby.” After winking, she opened the fridge, pulled out several items.
While Greystone made the eggs, she heated the sausages, slipped several pieces of sliced bread into the toaster.
“I’m makin’ extra for Slash and Prescott,” Greystone said.
“What about our prisoner?” Caroline asked. “Do we bring him food?”
“Nothing.”
“Not even a cup of water?” Caroline asked.
“Not until he talks,” Greystone said.
As they finished making breakfast, Slash and Prescott walked into the kitchen.
Slash made the introductions. “Caroline, this is Prescott Armstrong, ”
“The good brother,” Greystone said, and he and Prescott laughed.
With plates in hand, they returned to the command center. Chairs were brought in and they dug in while Greystone and Caroline brought Slash and Prescott up to speed.
“I’m not scheduled to be back here until Monday,” Slash said, “but Carrera is completely supportive if I work another shift.” She zeroed-in on Greystone. “But he said if you don’t show for dinner, he’s dragging your ass there himself.”
“That important, huh?” Greystone asked.
“Yes,” Teddy and Slash replied in unison.
Greystone raised his hands in mock surrender. “Got it. What can I bring?”
“You’re welcome to bring Caroline,” Slash replied.
Silence.
“Oh, come on.” Slash chuffed out a laugh. “It’s not like it’s a secret or anything.”
“It is to me,” Prescott replied.
“Prescott, are you married?” Greystone said, refusing to discuss his personal relationship with Caroline.
“Yeah, my wife, Jaqueline, is an ALPHA Op, but she’s taking time off. We’ve got two at home and she’s two weeks from having our third.”
“Congratulations,” Caroline said.
Prescott grinned. “Thanks. The first is my nephew, who we adopted. The second is our biological son. We’ve got a daughter on the way.”
Greystone appreciated that the intensity of the mission could be lightened by the close bonds of the group. He’d been working alone for so long, he wondered how life would be if he didn’t jump right back into the fray of a mission, especially one outside the country.
“Hello,” called Haqazzii.
Everyone whipped their heads toward the wall screens. Haqazzii was staring at one of the cameras. “Can I have something to drink, please ?”
Greystone hit the intercom button. “Ready to talk?”
“Yes,” Haqazzii replied.
“Where’s your cousin Muhammad?”
A knowing look flashed in Haqazzii’s eyes, then they went flat. “Who?”
Anger surged through him. He wanted to beat him senseless, force him to answer his questions, but Haqazzii would never break.
“Muhammad is the Haqazzii cell’s leader,” Caroline explained to Slash and Prescott.
When Greystone slid his gaze to Caroline, the anger fell away. Her confidence and calmness helped assuage the constant agitation that had penetrated his tortured soul.
“He’s playing us again,” she said. “We should step away for a few.” She turned to Slash and Prescott. “We’re gonna question the owner of a government-contracted, janitorial service company we suspect hired the terrorists, which is how they’re getting into the buildings.”
“That’s a big break,” Slash said.
Greystone piled up the empty dishes. “Text or call for any reason.”
“We got this,” Prescott said. “Take a break and clear your heads.”
“If he gets out of hand again, I’ll chop off a few of his fingers.” Slash flashed them a smile.
“I’m here ’til six,” Teddy said. “Then, I’m headed to Carrera’s for a family thang. Greystone, I’ll meet you and Caroline there.”
“Not me,” Caroline protested.