Location: Montana Shadows Safehouse
Coordinates: Classified
Present Day
Daniel
“How bad is it?” Savannah stopped me in the kitchen after our morning meeting had run several hours over. “It must be bad, because Frank’s assistant has called me three times wanting to know if Cole has signed off on the paperwork yet.”
“It’s bad.” I warmed my hands around my mug and wondered how quickly we could make things happen. “Frank said his intel should be providing an update soon. Regardless, the Cartel numbers are growing fast, and it’s impossible to keep up. What’s happened to Captain Brent can’t be ignored. It’s a wakeup call that we need to step up our game.”
“Agreed.” She leaned against the counter with a sigh. “I know Cole is nervous of changing the dynamics of the house, but what other moves do we have?”
I couldn’t help but smile at how she looked at things. She reminded me so much of Sue at times. It was always our problem, never just the team’s problem.
“I don’t think it’s so much nerves as it is just a lot. Between Shadows and Dusk, there have been a lot more plates to juggle than there used to be. Cole’s focus is split in too many different directions, and bringing in another team to live here and train under Blackstone, well, it’s a big decision to make. The way Shadows has been run for years now works well, but a new team will be less stress on Blackstone, that’s for sure.”
“You’re right,” she nodded, “it really will.”
“We’re not getting any younger, Savannah,” I smiled, “and the Cartels are not only increasing in number, but they’re getting smarter and more sophisticated all the time. I’m all for the idea of Blackstone training another team, though. We really need the help.”
“Me too.” She leaned her arms on the island and bent over, taking a deep breath. “I’d always thought that once The American was removed from the picture, it would give us all breathing room, but clearly, I was wrong.”
“The use of fear builds an army quicker than anything else, and most of those poor people don’t have much of a choice. Once they’ve been approached by the Cartel, they either accept the role forced on them or they or their family could face death.”
“It’s sick.” She rubbed her face.
“What’s sick?” Olivia asked as she dropped her bookbag on the counter and looked at the two of us. “Grandpa, are you sick?” Her eyes bored into mine, and a fine line of worry, very similar to her mother’s, appeared between her eyes.
“No, dear, it’s just about work.”
“Oh, yeah, did Daddy sign the papers yet?”
“How do you know about that?” Her mother shook her head.
“Mom, I’m a Logan. There’s not much I don’t know about what goes on in this house.” She pulled out her binder. “If I’m going to run this place someday, I need to be in the know. So,” her dark eyes took in both of us as she raised her pencil as though to take notes, “why is everyone looking stressed out?”
“No one is stressed.”
“Mom,” her hands went to her hips, “Uncle Mark didn’t smile when I got home, and he always smiles.”
“That means nothing.” Savannah tried to assure her, even as we both knew it wouldn’t work.
“Then why is there a full rack of cookies on the counter?”
I sipped my coffee to hide my smile. The little girl missed nothing.
“Olivia,” Savannah cupped her face and stared down at her lovingly, “there are some things that are meant for adults. At this point, we don’t have all the details. So, I’m asking you nicely to let it go until we have some answers. Then Daddy and I will let you know what’s happening, okay?”
“Okay.” She knew better than to argue with her mother, especially when she used a certain tone. Her expression went from concern to a smile. “Since Uncle Mark isn’t eating those cookies, can I have some?
“Of course, you can.” Savannah planted a kiss on her forehead then stepped back as Olivia jumped off the stool, grabbed two cookies, then raced off calling for the twins.
“She’s quick.” I chuckled.
“Daniel?” Keith popped his head around the corner. “The video chat is ready to go, and Frank should be logging on any minute now.”
“Great, thanks.”
“Savi?” Keith lowered his voice. “Is Lexi home?”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t seen her since last night.” Keith nodded and looked away, then turned back, waved goodbye, and disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived. Savannah looked at me, and I closed my eyes and shook my head slowly with a deep sigh.
“One thing at a time.”
“See,” Olivia popped her head around the corner, “Uncle Keith didn’t touch the cookies either.”
“Off you go.” Savannah shooed her away. “Here, Grandpa, take one for the road.”
“Thanks.”
I hurried downstairs and only just avoided a collision with Butters. The crazy dog was infamous for stealing socks, and his latest bright blue prize dangled from his mouth as he raced in the opposite direction to avoid being caught. Things certainly had changed around here.
My eye went to a grouping of photos on the wall, and I took a moment to study them. When I’d first put together Team Blackstone, it had consisted of only four guys—myself, Frank, Zack, and Ray. A photo of the four of us put a grin on my face. We were together, heads thrown back in laughter, while Zack hung upside down from our homemade climbing wall. He clowned around, having lost a race with Frank. I moved to another picture, one of my son Cole. It had been taken the day I’d handed the team reins over to him. Cole was so happy to take over as team leader, and it showed in the pride on his face.
Then Mark, basically our adopted son, was brought in, along with Paul and John. Mike and Keith came into play later, and then York. York was never really a full-fledged member of Blackstone. I thought of him only as a filler and the one man who would never have his picture hung on any wall at Shadows.
I studied the photos along the wall, and nostalgia filled me as I walked toward the conference room. Over the years, we’d lost a few of our men, and each one hit us hard. One hit, in particular, had been really difficult for us all. It happened just a few years back. Staff Sergeant Paul. He was a great soldier and an even better friend. He’d been killed while on a mission. We had his picture hung inside our conference room, not just to remember him, but to give us all the feeling he was still part of our meetings. I touched the frame as I entered the room. It had become a tradition for all of us.
As I sat down at the rectangular wooden table, Frank angled the camera and started in.
Location: Cartel House, Rosarito, Mexico
Coordinates: Unknown
Eric
Warm light peeked through the sheer curtains, and a beam of sun brushed over her bare legs. Her dark hair was tousled across the pillow, and her skin nearly glowed as I gawked at her flawless body.