“This is a stupid plan,” I muttered. “It’s not going to work.”
“Oh ye of little faith,” Bristow told me. He grinned at me, obviously enjoying the set up of special effects magic Kelly was executing.
Bristow and Kelso arrived just in time to join the fun. Stepanov apparently had done his research as well and was no slouch in computerized special effects software that Kelly used. He offered three of his associates faces we could use to overlay our own and trick any facial recognition into thinking we were them.
Callum, Roth, and Bristow were the main actors picked to go along as Stepanov’s bodyguards.
Dmitry and I were too conspicuous because of our bulk and height.
Kelso was staying with Kelly in the command van along with Dmitry. Having run the Argonayts hacking ring before it disbanded, the Gray Wolf was more than qualified to help the detective operate comms and drones.
As for me …
“Why am I always relegated to driver,” I grunted my displeasure.
“Because you stick out like a sore thumb,” Bristow said.
“Rhetorical.”
He shot me another shit-eating-grin which I wanted to wipe off his face. I wanted to have a shot at the man who put his hands on my wife, to tear off Blaze Ulrich’s limbs from their sockets and tear off his head too.
Both of us were riveted on the work area Kelly had set up while she was testing proof-of-concept on her brother. After studying everyone’s bone structure, feeding photographs to the computer and generating matrix comparisons to the men Stepanov offered up, she said a life casting would be necessary.
Shit, that meant taking a cast of everyone’s faces. I sure as hell was glad I wasn’t needed for one. If we were to make the meeting in two days with Ford and the Russians—the next thirty-six hours would be critical for Kelly.
I’d seen my wife at work plenty of times, but she never ceased to amaze me. I wasn’t surprised with all the awards she’d earned in recent years. I was so fucking proud of her.
“Are you guys paying attention?” Stepanov clucked, tapping the impromptu map in front of us. He, Kelso, Roth, and Dmitry were discussing the plan to rescue Alana.
Ford had her in an associate’s compound a few miles outside Vegas.
“The gate is here.” Bristow switched to all business. He had brought up a satellite image of the property and used it side-by-side with the makeshift topographical map we had laid out on the table. “There’s a barn and several bunkhouses. The main house is a Spanish-style villa located here.” He pointed to a cereal box we used as a marker for the main structure.
“You think he has her in there?” I asked Stepanov.
The Russian shook his head. “Ford is a hypocrite, and so are his friends. They have the women in a different building.” He pointed to the cracker box.
“Wait, what do you mean women?”
The Russian looked at Dmitry before glancing at me. “I didn’t want to say it in front of your wife and McGrath, but the Russians, who are putting the pressure on Ford, are also human traffickers.”
“Wait a minute … Alana …” Bristow scowled.
“I don’t think that will be her fate. She’s too old.”
“Dammit.” It didn’t mean some schmuck wouldn’t abuse her.
“I can’t keep this from Kelly.”
Stepanov shrugged. “That’s why I leave it up to you to break it to them.”
I was pissed, but I was glad Stepanov didn’t mention it right away.
I glanced at Bristow, and then Kelso, and finally at Roth. “All right,” I exhaled a sigh. “How many men are we up against?”
Kelly
“We’re moving against Ford in two days,” Callum said. “Would that give you enough time?”
“You’re talking about doing that life cast?” Tom walked to our side.
“Yes. Think of what dentists do for your teeth.”
Predictably, my husband appeared by our side. I was about to roll my eyes at him when the expression on his face gave me pause.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Roth, can you give us a minute?”
Tom backed away and returned to the men around the table.
“What’s going on?” my brother asked. His jaw clenched hard. “It’s Alana, isn’t it?” He glanced past me at Stepanov. “He tell you something?”
Levi’s chin dipped briefly, and my anxiety skyrocketed. “Is she … she’s still alive, right?”
“As far as we gathered from Stepanov—he has a man inside.”
“Who?”
“He’s not saying.
“Alana?” Callum bit out.
“She’s in a group classified as Lillies.”
My brother cursed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
Levi and my brother exchanged a look.
I crossed my arms and hugged my biceps. “Start talking right now. Don’t keep me in the dark about anything. I’m as much a part of this op as anyone.”
“Lillies are the prime grab for human traffickers.”
“Oh my God.” My world shifted on its axis, and I swayed into Levi. He steadied me.
“The Moscow cadre will be picking up a group of Lillies,” my husband continued. “That’s what Stepanov said. Bristow verified that the code word is used for the Western women for the Russian’s Middle Eastern clients.”
My stomach turned. “But Alana …”
“She’s older than most. That’s why we think she’ll be okay.”
“But that doesn’t mean …”
“No motherfucker is touching her,” Callum yelled and stood so quickly, it sent his chair toppling. He brushed past me and prowled toward one of the sectioned-off areas. A few seconds later, we heard a crash and roar.
“Levi …” Bile churned in my gut.
He drew me tight into his arms.
“We’re going to get her back.”
“You can’t promise that.”
He leaned away and cupped my face, staring at me with fierce eyes. “No, but do you think Callum is going to accept any other outcome except your sister alive? If he’s going to lay waste to the compound, you can be sure I’ll have his back.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“I guess you told them?”
We both looked over to see Bristow approaching. He stared in the direction my brother disappeared. “McGrath okay?”
“No,” Levi said.
I pushed away from the comfort of his arms and tipped my chin to where Cal went. “Go to him.”
“You’ll be all right?” my husband asked.
“I’ll be fine.”
He exchanged a look with Bristow, and he said, “I got her.”
I was pretty sure that look was about Tom getting close to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to get annoyed at Levi. I gave him a light push. “Go.”
