Authors: Amie Nichols
“Why?” The tears flow as my whole world closes in on me.
“From what we have learned, Fausto wanted his brother out of the way. He hated the way he did business. The best way he could think of to get rid of Chico and his loyal members was to have the FBI shut him down. They couldn't do that without hard intel. That's when Carl Parson had your parents murdered, and another couple, with the same MO just for good measure. Chico hated blacks and interracial marriages, so it was perfect to pin this on LDR.”
“They were murdered brutally, my mother was raped repeatedly,” I shout through tears.
“I'm sorry, Ellie, but that was all part of the motivation part. You were exactly Chico's type and Carl knew you would stop at nothing to bring him down."
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I scream, I'm so fucking angry.
“Sebastian was a double agent who worked for us and the FBI. He played dangerous, telling Fausto he was an agent. And when Sebastian found out that Fausto had many high ranking officials on his payroll, he decided to join the money train. He fed us incorrect information to keep us from getting suspicious about Carl and Victor.”
“You said you thought I was in on it,” I choke the words out and wipe at the uncontrollably tears running down my face.
“Until we found the file at the B&B,” Denny admits, looking at me with remorse. This makes my heart sink even more. All this time God knows who thought I was part of this sick game.
“Fuck.” I lay my arm down on the table, my face drooping from how heartbreaking this all is.
“I am very sorry, Ellie, but we are close to getting the bad guys. We have Carl and Victor, we just need to find out who else was involved,” Denny says, reaching out to touch my arm in a gesture of the shame he must feel.
The door opens and Justin walks in. Denny retracts his hand from my arm as fast as lightning, making me laugh. So at the moment, I am laughing and crying at the same time.
Chapter 50
Justin
When we arrived in Augusta, I was greeted by the Head of Naval Operations. The night that has haunted my life all came back. Since I've learned that Alajandro was still alive, my mind hasn't had time to think too much about it with everything that has happened in the past three days. But standing in front of General Thomas, it all comes to a head.
I've been under investigation for that night, been accused of many things. No evidence to support what they thought happened led to my discharge. The gut feeling that something was not right that night saved my life.
Information found on Victor Allen's computer confirmed my innocence. It wasn't me that betrayed his country, it was Victor. He knew of Operation Talamarin and informed Fausto. He sent his son to his death that day knowing if his body was found he would be presumed to be Alejandro Cortez. There were to be no survivors.
I watched from the water after the boat blow up. The impact made massive waves that pushed me under. After fighting to the surface, all I could see in the blackness were flames and small pieces of what was left of the large craft. All of our intelligence had told us that the ship was carrying massive weaponry, but nothing was what it seemed.
Everything was altered, with Victor having assets in our intelligence room. Five good men died that night all so a man could fake his own death. You would think complete and total vindication would feel better.
After the two hours of being informed and debriefed, my only question being ‘where is my girl?’
I walk in the room where Ellie is, her eyes puffy and her cheeks wet. Denny has his hand on her arm, but removes it instantly. Ellie is in hysterics, laughing and crying at the same time when she sees me.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I whisper. She instantly gets up from the chair and is in my arms. I don't know everything yet, but enough to know she has been played hard.
If I could get my hands on Carl Parson, or Victor Allen, I would fucking beat them to death.
“Justin, I owe you an apology.” Denny stands, stretching his hand out for me to shake. With my left arm still wrapped around Ellie, I reach my right hand out to shake his.
“I'm sorry about Lyle,” is all I can think to say at the moment. This is the first time I've seen him since our fight. The look in his eyes tells me that he's contrite thinking I was part of Fausto's team. We both just nod, a silent agreement we were both wrong about each other.
“They had my parents killed.” Ellie is trembling in my arms, and although I did not know that for a fact, I had been told enough to assume it.
“Ellie, I am so sorry, but we still need your help,” Denny says and I glance up at him.
“Can we have a moment?” I ask and he nods, leaving the room.
“When you're ready meet me in the office. We don't need to be in this room.” His eyes scan the gray interrogation room, identical to the room I was just in.
“Hey.” I hook my finger under her chin and lift her head up so I can see those beautiful eyes, her lashes wet from tears. “They will pay, all of them,” I tell her, strong and confident.
She grabs a fistful of my shirt, burying her face into my chest. I can feel the wetness of her tears as she cries, and hold her to me tightly. Things seem so hopeless to her right now, and just like me she is tired, sore, and confused.
I take her out of the room, her head staying buried against me. Down the hall of the main FBI building, I see Cody stepping out of a room. He has the same look on his face. When he notices me and Ellie, his face grows even more solemn. He has no doubt learned that Ellie's parents died as a ploy to motivate her into going undercover. Not only that, but what she did covertly for LDR when all along there were so many that could have shut down their drugs and human trafficking.
“Ellie,” he says softly. She tears her face away from me at the sound of his voice. No doubt he could comfort her just as well as me, being the only other man in the world she has.
He reaches out and puts his hand at the nape of her neck and she goes into his embrace. I feel the loss immediately, but I know she needs all the support she can get at the moment.
I hear him whispering something to her, but can't make out what he is saying. She nods her head, resting on his shoulder as they embrace. Off to the right is a room with a leather couch and some chairs. Cody gives Ellie a kiss on the cheek, letting her go from his embrace, and we go in the room sitting with her on the couch. She lies up against me and falls asleep in an instant.
I know it is night again, but not sure what time. Denny walks into the room and sees that Ellie is asleep in my arms.
“We will talk tomorrow,” he whispers, shutting the door as he exits. I move her slowly and lay on the couch, positioning her in front of me. She snuggles into my chest using my arm as her pillow. I close my eyes and am out in a second.
Chapter 51
Ellie
Last I remembered was laying in Justin's arms. What seems to be only a matter of minutes has really been hours. I awaken still in the same position with Justin's arm around me. Holding me tight against him on the couch, it is like we are one person. My arms hurt when I move them, but I don't care. I glance up at my sleeping man, and want to touch his face. I want to kiss his soft lips. Just being in his arms made everything better, the horror of what I learned didn't change anything.
I've mourned my parents’ horrible, gruesome death already, I was not going to allow myself to go through it all again. I will do what I do best, push it away and focus on justice.
I reach up and touch his cheek that has a few days of stubble on it. His eyes open almost immediately from the contact.
“Hi, gorgeous.” He smiles, our faces very close together.
“Hi, baby.” I smile back. He knew I needed sleep. That all my emotions were running rampant, feeling like my parents’ murder was a fresh wound. He knew I couldn't handle any more and took it upon himself to take care of me like I know only he can and always will.
My mind goes instantly to Carl and what he has done, all in the name of money. When I get my hands on him he's going to wish he were dead.
“You look determined,” Justin says, kissing the tip of my nose.
“You could say that.” Just like always, he is reading my mind.
“You also look amazingly beautiful.” He gives me another kiss, this time on the forehead. I don't know what day it is or the last time I showered, but I do know that I need one and I am starving.
“Oh yeah, well I'm pretty sure I need a shower and some clean clothes.” I laugh, but admire the love in his eyes.
“I'm sure we can find a place to shower and grab something to eat.” He kisses me gently on each cheek. Just then we hear a light knock on the door.
I sit up, swinging my legs around so my feet are on the floor. Justin doesn't move, my back against his waist.
“Come in,” Justin yells. The door opens, Cody peeking his head in. Seeing us, he opens the door all the way. His hair is wet and he is wearing clean clothes.
“Found a shower and had an agent go out and get some clothes for us,” Cody says, sitting on the chair next to the couch.
“God bless you.” I smile, the thought of a warm shower sounds like heaven.
“I also ordered in some breakfast. Should be here soon after your shower.” He's like a ray of sunshine with all his good news.
“I love you.” I beam at him, and he tells me the shower is down the hall. Justin still hasn't moved and I give him a quick glance to see if he's going to join me or not.
“I'll be there in a minute,” he says with a warm smile.
“I told them to bring breakfast to the conference room, so go there when you're done. Your clothes are in the bathroom.” Cody nods, and I get the feeling that the two of them are wanting to talk without me present. Right now I don't give a damn. I leave the room in search of this bathroom.
When I find it the first thing I do is rip open one of the new toothbrushes that is on the counter and brush my teeth for five minutes. The simple pleasures in life. I laugh to myself, feeling like I could go out and kick some royal ass. I can't wait to find out what they need us to do to bring down these pricks.
Chapter 52
Justin
I wait until she leaves the room because I don't want her feeling bad that I can't move. She slept on my arm all night and it is dead.
“Some help man,” I chuckle as I try to get up from the couch. My shoulder is locked, probably from being tied up then lying in the same position for seven hours. I'm in a lot of pain and have been for hours.
“Did you lie like that all night?” Cody laughs, taking my arm, helping me upright.
“Yeah, she was sound asleep and I didn't want to wake her.” I grimace from the pain searing through my shoulder.
“There's some pain meds in the bathroom. I needed them last night before I went to sleep. Have you had anyone look at your wrists?” Trying to rotate my shoulders to loosen them up, I examine my wrists. The ropes cut into them pretty badly, the bottoms look like shredded meat. It's all dried blood now, but probably should have them cleaned up and bandaged.
“Yeah, I'll work on that.” I stretch my arms above my head trying to work out the kinks. I have strong shoulders from all my years swimming, so they can take a lot.
“I'm going to go find those pain meds now,” I tell Cody, who gives me a nod as I stand up. Even though I'm in a lot of pain, I am ready to see my hot girl in the shower. She will take my mind off all of it.
I walk into a small bedroom that has a bathroom with a shower. I hear the water running and when I open the door the steam rolls out. There is the bottle of pain killers, and I pop the top immediately taking one. When I see the new, unopened toothbrush, I open it, brushing my teeth fast before I strip off my clothes and slide open the curtain to the large tiled shower.
“Took you long enough,” Ellie says, glancing over her shoulder at me. Her body is wet and glistening, water running down her back and over the finest ass ever. My cock grows fast at the beautiful sight. I waste no time to be up against her, the hot water hitting me.
“Here, baby.” She turns, facing me, backing up toward the wall, her hands on my waist pulling me under the water. “The hot water will help loosen you up,” she says with a knowing look. Her hands traveling up my arms, she starts to rub and massage my muscles.
Her eyes travel down my body, “Oh my God,” she gasps, taking my arm to examine my wrist. The water wetting the bandage causes the bleeding to start again. She unwraps the gauze to examine the wound. The hot water stings as the spray hits it. “Why didn't they stitch it up, it is so deep?”
She grabs a wash cloth from the side of the shower and wets it, wrapping it around my wrist applying pressure to stop the bleeding.