“I am not sure; they called them on the way up here.” Jazz said and looked into the living room to see if there was any movement in the hallways. There was none.
“Before they come in here, there is something we need to talk about.” Lily whispered and pulled a small notebook from her back pocket.
“What?” Jazz said leaning over the table.
“I found this when I was going through my parents stuff. It was in a small lock box with my birth certificate and other things. I was going to call you this weekend. You remember I am adopted, right?” Lily whispered.
Jazz frowned and said, “Yeah, I remember when you parents told you. You cried and ran away and hid in my closet for hours. We sat in there and talked until they found us, but you sorted all of that out with your parents though.” Jazz said.
“Yeah, I told them that no matter what, they would be my parents. I didn"t care who gave birth to me. My father said he wanted me to know the basics though, you know in case of medical reasons. I told him if he found out anything, I did not want to know. I made him promise never to tell my natural parents where I was. I figure my birth parents gave up all rights when they signed the papers.” Lily said slowly.
“Okay, what does that have to do with what is going on?” Jazz said.
“Probably nothing, but maybe everything.” Lily said in return, stood up, and began pacing.
Chapter 3
“Did you find her?” Digrossi Junior asked into the phone. He sent Larry and Bernie to find the girl that wanted to blow the whistle on his father for something that happened years ago. The stupid bitch needed to stay out of it. He had too much to deal with right now. His father just didn"t get it. He and his brother had been able to get the courts to release them on bond; his father on the other hand was still in jail. Even from there, he was still causing problems. Junior found out about the latest meeting with dumb and dumber a few hours ago when one of his guys in the department called to let him know about a shooting.
Junior knew his father was looking for some chick. Until an hour ago, when his mole told him why he had been in the dark. Damn it, when was his father going to learn that this was not like the old days? You can"t just order a hit on people. There were better ways to deal with things. In the last few months, his snot nosed brother had turned on the family. He found out there were more bastard children out there from his father"s many affairs. And worse, his father had one son that was a squeaky clean FBI agent.
“Not yet, no one saw where they went. Everyone claims that they were trying to get away, not standing and watching. For the first time in New York history, there were no witnesses.” Bernie said.
“I suggest you find something or I will be sending a cleanup crew to you!” Junior yelled and slammed the phone down.
He was going to have to talk to his brother Sam. They were in this together and had planned on taking over the family business anyway. Their father had outlived his usefulness, in many ways. Now he was just causing problems, and Junior and Sam had a lot of plans for the future. It was a new age for the mob, one that did not include old timers.
***
Rex woke up slowly and looked around. He had no idea where the hell he was. Shit, he had been in the car with Jazz and Drew. He and his friend had been shot, and Jazz was taking them somewhere safe. He called Bear. Looking down, he knew his friend had to be close because he had been patched up. Moving his leg gingerly, he grimaced a little at the pain. He hoped that Bear had gotten the bullet out.
Rex pushed himself up into a sitting position and thought for a second about getting out of the bed until he looked at the door and saw his big friend standing there smirking at him.
“Where exactly do you think you are going?” Bear said with his deep smooth voice.
“Bathroom.” Rex said gritting his teeth.
“Right.” His friend laughed and came to the bed to help him up. Bear nearly carried him to the bathroom and left him there to do his thing, telling him he would be outside.
Rex looked around and laughed. Everything was clean and sterile. His friends had probably used this room to scrub up in. The waste paper basket held a lot of bloody gauze. He hoped Drew fared as well as he had.
Finishing and calling for his friend, he asked before they moved about Drew.
“He is fine, through and through in his side. He is still sleeping off the meds and should be out for another hour or so. Trent sewed him up.” Bear said taking him back to the room and laying him down again.
“Where is Jazz?” Rex grunted.
“In the kitchen with that tasty little morsel of a best friend. Man, Trent and I have had a raging hard on since we saw her cute little ass bounce out of the house. She won"t give us the time of day though. I figure we are gonna have to woo her. She looks like the kind of woman who needs flowers and candles. Trent is calling right now to see if we can get a delivery of stuff we are gonna need.” Bear said.
Rex laughed and laid back, “Seriously, your best friends are wounded and you have to perform surgery in a bathroom, and all you are thinking about is a woman. Don"t you think we have bigger things to think about?”
“Hey, I can multi-task. Besides, you said when you found her you would know. Well we know man. Suck it up. Besides, talking about her was better than listening to that country shit that Trent usually listens to when stitching you assholes up.” Bear said and sat in the chair in the corner.
“Nice. I think we may have to re-evaluate your priorities, big guy.” Rex drawled out.
Bear laughed and then said, “The girls are hiding something. While we were in here doing our spit and stitch, they were in the kitchen having a powwow. From the looks of it, it was not exactly just chick talk. They were very serious when we came out.” Bear said.
Bear stood up and waited for a minute before the door opened. The man had supersonic hearing, Rex thought. When they were on assignment, he could always tell if someone got too close or was coming down a hallway.
Jazz walked in and smiled. It was a little strained, Rex noticed, he waited for her to talk first.
“I thought I heard you talking. How are you feeling, Rex?” Jazz said.
“Sore, but alive. We were just going to talk about what my team had discovered.” Rex said and looked at Bear.
“Drake and Shane are working the computer end. They hacked the FBI and are trying to gain access to phone records. They are also looking at the case and what they know and don"t know.” Bear said slowly.
Jazz nodded and looked at Rex. “Well, Lily says we can stay here as long as we need to.
Your friends are welcome to come and make this a base camp. No one knows we are here. There is another cabin as well as the big house.” Rex nodded and looked at Bear who was standing up. “It would be best if we were all together.” Bear said and pulled out his phone and walked to the living area.
“So, really, what"s up?” Rex said and then looked her in the eyes. She looked stressed and tired. With everything that was going on, she was going to crash soon. “Never mind. Why don"t you come over here and lay down for a while?” Jazz laughed and looked out in the hallway. “Fancy talker. Trying to get me in bed already?”
“Darlin", if I were in any shape to do anything about that I would, but I am pretty sure I am harmless, at least right now, and you look like you are dead on your feet. Just come over here.” Rex said warily.
“Fine. It"s just because there is no other bed made up right now.” Jazz said and walked to the bed slowly.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Rex said and moved over so she could lie next to him on his good side.
Jazz laid her head on the soft pillow and sighed. When she felt him curve around her and kiss her on the cheek, it was the last thing she remembered, except for feeling safe, finally.
***
Drew came to and groaned. He felt someone in the same room as him and opened one of his eyes to see Trent standing over him with his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
“Dude, you look like shit.
” Trent said and then smiled.
“Fuck you. You get shot in the side and have substandard care and see how you feel.” Drew said.
“Substandard, I will have you know I used my best black thread on your wound. I just bought it to patch up my pants too, so it had never been used.” Trent smirked. “Hell, I even washed my hands before I touched your skanky ass.” Drew laughed and then grabbed his side. “Shit.”
“Yeah, probably should not be laughing for a day or so.” Trent said and pulled him up into a sitting position.
“I guess I can"t hang around with you guys then. What"s going on?” Drew said and winced when he pulled his side. Shit, he hated being shot. The last time, he took one in the shoulder; he thought that was the worst, of course now it was the side.
Trent leaned back against the wall and crossed his legs. “Our distinguished leader is sleeping in the other room; he somehow got Jazz to lay down with him. The chick was hanging on the last thread, so it was good. Bear and I have decided that we are moving up here because, Lily is gonna be ours. Blake and Shane are on their way, we pretty much have decided that this little town is actually big enough for the lot of us. So we have to find them a girl. Oh, and Digrossi has a mole in the FBI and as of four hours ago, we have all been put on the most wanted list. Officially, we are wanted for questioning in the murder of two low level guys from Digrossi"s clan. Unofficially, we have a hit out on us and we show even out short hair we are to be shot on sight. So all in all it"s a pretty good day for us. You hungry?”
Drew leaned back, put his head on the pillow, and sighed. All good things must come to an end, he thought. Thank god Rex had thought ahead and made sure that they were all covered. Between the six of them, they could buy a small island and disappear for the rest of their lives. It was a joint fund that each of them had access to. Mostly because there was never a time that they thought the team would be separated. They were too close.
In all the talks that they had of the future, it was always assuming the team would live in the same vicinity. Who knew when something form their past could rise and bite them in the ass? It was easier to stick together. How convenient that Trent and Bear took a shine to Lily.
“Are we off the grid?” Drew said to the ceiling.
“Dude, Drake put us so far off the grid that we should be in Japan by now.” Trent said.
“Seriously, you need to eat. You have pills to take, and I don"t need you puking tonight.”
“Nice picture.” Drew said and looked around. “Why did Jazz go in with Rex?” He whined a little. “Where is my Nurse Betty?”
“Right here you whiny ass.” Jazz said and pushed through the door with a tray of food.
“It was a small nap.”
Drew grinned and looked at Jazz, she still looked like she was sleepy, but at least her color was back. “Hey Darlin", I was wondering when you were gonna come and see me.”
“Since you were passed out until just a few minutes ago, I think I was safe.” Jazz said sarcastically. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I have been shot in the side.” Drew said flippantly.
Trent laughed and walked to the door. “Is Miss Lily in the kitchen?” Trent said innocently.
Jazz turned and laughed. “Better bring a nut cup. She has been muttering something about overbearing, stupid jerks for the last half hour. What the hell did you and your friend do to her?”
“Us? Nothing, declared our intentions, that"s all. She seems to think she has a choice.” Trent said and whistled as he went down the hall.
“What the heck? Are you the same?” Jazz said shaking her head and putting down the tray in front of Drew.
“Yep, and he is right. Once our intentions are stated, there is no going back. You should just accept your fate.” Drew said.
“What fate is that?” Jazz said.
“Rex and me, we decided a long time ago when we found the one for us that she was going to know it. Well, we found you, and now you know it. Darlin", you are ours. And nothing you say is gonna change that.” He said confidently.
“Oh really, so if I said I was married?” Jazz said.
“You"re not.” He replied.
“Pregnant?” She said.
“You"re not, but maybe soon.” He replied and laughed at the look on her face.
“Not interested in men?” She said.
“You definitely are. Your nipples are hard right now just from being near me.” Drew said and picked up his spoon and began to eat the soup.
Jazz growled and turned red. Damn her body for responding to him. “Doesn"t matter, we can"t be together. I don"t have time for a man.” Drew raised his eyebrows and looked at her. “Not up for discussion.” He said and then focused on his meal again. He needed to get on his feet and quick.
“BLAH!” Jazz yelled and stomped from the room.
He heard Rex laughing from the connecting room and then Rex yelled, “Good job, buddy!”
“She loves me already!” Drew yelled.
Drew heard his friend get up and hobble his way through the connecting bathroom. He nearly finished his entire bowl of soup in the time it took him to get into his room and collapse in his chair.
“Dude, you okay? Looking a little pasty there.” Drew said.
“Fuck off.” Rex panted and looked at his friend. “What about you, your little scratch doing okay?”
“Yeah, I just like that Jazz wants to take care of me. I would have gotten up for my morning run if she hadn"t come in here.” Drew shrugged and laughed when his friend flipped him off.
“What"s up?” Drew said knowing his friend had come in here to talk about something.
“Jazz, Drake says that he and Lily had a real serious conversation while we were out. He thinks there is something they are hiding. He saw some papers on the table and when he went back, they were gone.” Rex said.
“Okay, so we ask her. She has to know that this is serious. We can"t have secrets between us. It is a matter of life and death.” Drew said reasonably.
“Really, that"s your plan? Ask a woman who you met twenty four hours ago to tell us all her secrets because it is a matter of life and death?” Rex said.
“Yeah, when you say it out loud it sounds kinda dumb. What other choice do we have though? We have to find out everything we can. I really don"t think Digrossi"s men are gonna give up, do you?” Drew said seriously.
“No, I bet when the guys get here and set up were are going to find there is an all points bulletin out on us and we are on our own.” Rex said grimly.
“When will they be here?” Drew asked.
“Anytime, they were on their way before I took my little nap with Jazz.” Rex said and smirked at his friend.
Drew laughed and then grabbed his side again and held it. Trent walked back in and said, “Medication time.”
Drew nodded and looked at his friend who was holding out the pills. “They gonna make me tired again?”
“Nah, we need you awake and alert. These will take the edge off for the time being. I can give you something stronger after we have a chance to talk and plan.” Trent said.
“Thanks.” Drew said and took the pills.
“Everyone is here. They set up in the main house because there is more room. For now, Jazz and you guys will bunk in this house. Bear and I will be in the main and Shane and Blake will take the other cottage. Blake is out putting up perimeter cameras and alarms.
We are on about fifty acres of property. The road leading in is hard to spot unless you know where you are going and with all the trees, we are pretty well hidden, at least for now. We already checked Jazz"s background, there is nothing in there that would let people know she would come here. Also, we deleted her phone records so there is no activity showing that she and Lily kept in touch. Took us awhile, but I think we are covered. Lily"s parents owned this land and left it to her in their will.” Trent said.
“Okay, so meeting in thirty. We are coming here so no need to get up except to the living room. Jaz
z is getting the place ready. She and Lily are cooking again. And just so you know, they are whispering. Someone is going to have to ask them what is going on.” Trent said and looked at Rex pointedly.
“On it.” Rex said and stood, he was going to at least put on some better clothes.
Wearing bloodied clothes would not be a good idea. It would be a little uncomfortable he thought and limped into the room he was using. Soon, he hoped that they would be sharing a room.
Thinking about the beds that were in the cabin, he knew he would have to order a super king size. Of course, he would have to use his new alias"s credit cards. Drake would have them set up already. They each had an alias, complete with credit history and job history. It was amazing what they could do with computers these days. One of the best parts was that his alias actually had all the money that Rex had made over the years.
He and the rest of his friends were single and were paid a very good salary. None of them had wanted or needed more than the bare essentials in life until they met their spouses. Bear was the master at investing. He made them millions over the years and it all sat in a shared account.
At least they would not go hungry while hiding, he thought and grimaced when he pulled on a loose pair of sweat pants. God, this sucked. He had been shot before, but never in the leg, it had always been in a fleshy area.
Chapter 4
Finally, they were all in the same room. Rex sighed with relief when he realized that they were all safe. He looked at his friends and smiled. Trent and Bear were fussing over Lily, who looked none too happy about it. Drew sat next to him, while Jazz actually kept trying to make them comfortable. She had pillows and blankets, stuffed and wrapped, Rex felt like a sausage. Not that he would ever complain, he thought it was cute that she was trying to take care of him.
Shane and Drake were focusing on the computers in front of them, oblivious to everything around them. Until they knew the place was secure, they would be like that.