44 Blacktop Obsession
"I thought we'd never get here." Shayde woke up, feeling the truck stop. She stretched and looked at the boys sleeping, with the exception of Brian.
"Did you even sleep?" She asked.
"Yeah, why?" He asked with a grin.
"I just wanted to make sure you weren't sitting there watching me sleep the entire time." Shayde admitted.
"Yeah, that would be very creepy and no, I did not watch you sleep." Brian laughed at the thought of that.
"Sure, sure." Shayde teased.
"Hey. Looks like we are here." He nodded, kicking Roman's foot to wake him up.
"I'm up, I'm up." Roman grumbled, still half asleep. "We been in this truck for damn near forever it feels like." he grumbled.
"Glad you got some rest, Brian. We got some work to do before we get to my house." Shayde smiled mischievously.
"Oh yeah? What kind of work?" He asked, intrigued.
"You'll see, We are gonna take a ride." She said, standing up as Hector pulled open the back of the truck. You could smell the salt from the ocean in the air. It was nice and humid, just like Florida was known to be.
"Where's Kaidyn?" Shayde asked Hector, knowing Kaidyn loved seeing the ocean and would be the first to come greet her, or at least out of the truck since they were at the ocean.
"We gotta talk once you get them on the boat." Hector said, giving her a look. He looked pretty serious and Shayde's heart sank. She guessed what it was going to be about.
"Come on, Boys let me show you our next little ride we are about to take" She jumped off the truck, looking at Hector with full concern. She knew it must be serious because of how he was acting.
"Tej, can you do me a favor?" Hector asked, motioning for Tej to follow him.
"Sure, man. What's up?" he asked with a nod.
"Can you carry her on the boat for me? I don't do boats or water." He shook his head, making Tej grin as he pointed to the cab of the truck.
"Boats your kryptonite huh?" he asked with a grin.
"Somethin like that." he laughed.
"It's cool, man. We all got our kryptonite that's for sure. For me, it's racing." he nodded, relating to Hector's fear of the boat or water, whichever it was.
"Can you take this sleeping beauty on the boat for me and put her in the bed downstairs?" He asked, handing Tej a passed out Kaidyn.
"Yeah, no prob. She okay?" He asked with concern as he stared at Kaidyn's limp body in Hector's arms. She looked pretty out of it.
"She's okay. Just worn out." He nodded.
She finally got some rest. That's good." Tej said, glad to see her sleeping well.
"She needed it." Hector agreed. He shook his head as he thought about the flashback Kaidyn had and how severe it was.
"Man, what we gettin ourselves in, Cuz?" Roman asked Brian, hitting his arm, not liking that this was not planned.
"Relax, Rome. It's all good." Brian promised with a grin.
"Oh, Hell no. You're grinning. This is NOT good." Roman shook his head, rubbing his stomach.
"Why you say that?" Brian laughed.
"Now you laughin. Great. We are screwed." Roman sighed.
"Man, whatever. You left your man card back in Cali." Brian joked.
"I got a bad feeling bout this, Homie." Roman shook his head.
"You just got PTSD from the last boat in Miami." Brian accused.
"Oh, you mean from the time you ran a car into a boat? That one? Ya think?" Roman asked, his eyes wide.
"Relax, I am sure it's fine." Brian said, shaking his head with a laugh. "Besides, you agreed with me. I asked before we did it that day, in case you don't remember." Brian reminded him.
"Oh, I remember that whole thing. My whole life flashed in front of my eyes. We risked our lives for a compromised agent." Roman grumbled.
"She wasn't compromised. She put him in jail." Brian said.
"You're right, she is just a bitch." Roman nodded. Brian nodded in agreement. "You just had to be the hero." Roman said mockingly.
"Whatever. I was trying to do the right thing. Besides, we will make things right this time." Brian shrugged.
"What's that mean, Homie? I knew there was somethin you weren't telling me!" Roman yelled, looking at Brian and shaking his head.
"Roman Pearce, take a chill pill. Things are fine." Brian laughed.
"You just trusting ol girl because she's a girl and your girls always get us in messes, Brian." Roman grumbled.
"Shut up, Roman." Brian laughed, punching him playfully.
"We rode in semi's for how long and now we going on this big ol boat? Somethings up, man, mark my words." Roman nodded. "I don't trust this." He said, his eyes narrowed.
"You are just paranoid and don't trust anyone." Brian reminded him. Roman rolled his eyes.
"Mark my words, you are going to drag us into something. I know you, Homie." Roman predicted. Brian ignored him as he watched Hector walk over to Shayde.
"She okay?" Shayde asked Hector, watching Tej carry her on the boat.
"No, not really. It was a bad one this time." Hector said, his eyes serious.
"Really bad, huh?" Shayde asked, folding her arms.
"Yeah. By far the worst yet. It was like she was watching it in her head. She wouldn't talk to me or him for a bit." Hector advised.
"Damn." Shayde sighed.
"It was eerie because we hit that Florida line and it got crazy." Hector said.
"That timing is coincidental I'm sure." Shayde said, hoping she was right.
"Shayde, in the flashback, she saw you get shot in it. She must have seen a lot more than she has before because it was a long one. It was you know who's call that helped me get her calmed down." Hector said, knowing Shayde was about to be shocked. She looked up at him in total surprise like Hector expected.
"She talked to him?" Shayde asked, shocked.
"She doesn't remember him. She's trying hard to remember him. I had to drug her. I couldn't get her to wake up out of it. She was so freaked out that she almost made the driver wreck." Hector shook his head.
"This is bad timing." Shayde noted.
"Worst one yet by far..." he sighed. "You're telling me." Hector agreed.
"Not gonna be good when this all hits her." Shayde shook her head and crossed her arms.
"Nope, she's going to be freaked out even more now." Hector said, watching the boys as they checked out the boat.
"Yeah, it'll take her time getting used to things." Shayde agreed.
"You want me to take her with me? I can take her if that would be easier." Hector offered, handing her the duffle bag that had Kaidyn's medications and things needed for any kind of emergencies.
"Nah, I got her. No worries. You got everything in here I may need?" She asked, looking at the bag as she grabbed it.
"Yup, got the Kaidyn survival kit all packed." he joked, making Shayde laugh too.
"Think these boys will handle this okay?" Shayde asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Pfft, like you gonna give them a choice, right?" Hector asked with a grin.
"True." Shayde replied. She gave Hector a hug.
"Think they are trustworthy?" She asked, checking her gut one last time.
"Yeah, without a doubt." Hector nodded.
"Thanks for the help getting us back home." She smiled.
"Aw, I love you too." Hector pretended to blush.
"Get outta here." Shayde punched him. "Text me how it is driving in please." She requested.
"Of course." He nodded. They had agreed to have him drive in so he could see the other entrance way since Han had flown in. They wanted to have a good idea of what the property was like.
"I'll see you at home. Have fun." Hector gave her another hug.
"Yes, I will have fun going to get another boat." She smiled. She loved being on the water with boats.
"Are you sure you got enough help with that girl if needed?" He asked, hesitating to leave her.
"You gonna get on that boat if I don't?" Shayde folded her arms, knowing how he hated water and boats.
"Nope, not likely." Hector said, shaking his head. "Was just asking to be nice." He admitted, looking at the water and already feeling a bit ill to his stomach. This made Shayde laugh.
"Then of course I got enough help. I can handle her without help, you know this." Shayde said, pushing him to the car that was parked by where the trucks had been. "Go, we'll be fine." Shayde laughed. "Get outta here before I become a mean boss and out you on the boat just for fun." She threatened.
"Yeah, no, let's not do that." He begged.
"I am just saying I should make you get on the boat for that sleeping pill crap you pulled." Shayde said as she stared out at the water.
"Damn, I really was hoping you had just let that go." He laughed.
"You know me better than that." Shayde warned.
"You're not wrong." He laughed.
"Now go! Or I really will change my mind." She threatened.
"I'm going, I'm going. Chill." He laughed. "I just wonder what she will remember when she wakes up." Hector scratched his chin, worried for her.
"She'll be so distracted by the boys and you know she loves being in the water and on boats. She'll be fine. And then there's that other surprise for her when we get back." Shayde laughed, not worried in the least.
"She had another nose bleed, keep an eye on that too." Hector nodded.
"Oh my damn, you have really turned into quite the mother hen." Shayde teased.
"Hardy har har." Hector shot back rolling his eyes. "Goodbye and good riddance, Shayde." he waved, acting offended.
"Yeah keep talking like that and it's good riddance to that check of yours, boy." She warned, winking at him threateningly.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't have too much fun. I'll see you at the compound." Hector waved as he headed to the car. Her phone rang and she looked at it with a frown. She turned away and looked around to see she was being watched, which was nothing new.
"Hello, Father." She sighed, dreading this call.
"Hi, Shayde. Where are you currently?" He asked.
"I know you know where I am at. Cut the pleasantries." She said, not wasting any time with him.
"Hmmm. I'm glad you still know how to get right to the point." He replied.
"Yes, I do. What would you like?" She asked, being formal with him as he required. Her dad was never one to upset so she made sure to appease him.
"I want to know if your head is still where it needs to be." He said, as he sat down in his chair as he talked with his daughter.
"Of course it is. You know I have no choice but to go back to him." Shayde said, shaking her head.
"Yes, this is true. I know this. But I wonder if your loyalty is still going to lie with me or him." Her father surmised.
"Always with you, you know this." She answered stoically.
"Good, then prove it. Don't let me down." He requested.
"Of course not. Why are you calling?" She asked, wanting to get on the boat and be done with this conversation.
"I am calling because you missed your check in call with me and you are getting worse at keeping in touch with me." he reminded her.
"You know exactly what happened with Kaidyn and why I am late calling. I know you have your men watching us." Shadye said in a rather flat tone.
"Yes, but if I ask you to check in, I expect you to check in. Do I need to send for you to come home now?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, Father, you do not." She replied.
"I expect check-ins. Carter's men are always on your tail, you do realize this, right?" He asked.
"Yes, that is why I cannot guarantee I can always call you, Father. You know I am being watched by you and him. I am aware of everyone you both send to watch me." She said, admitting this. It was true. She was trained to observe the littlest of things and she always knew she was being watched.
"That's my good girl. I will continue to give you the time you have requested before coming home as long as you are checking in and following my rules." He laughed.
"I can't promise how much I can check in once I get to the compound." Shayde informed him.
"Well, Then I will have to send Shadow to Carter to keep an eye on you, I guess." He said. "If I do not haar from you once you are in there, he will be getting sent to Carter, although I prefer that to not happen." Dante explained.
"I know this." She replied. Dante was an enemy of Carter's, unbeknownst to Carter. He didn't realize Shayde's father's goal was to take him out and take over his family's property in Argentina and the business he had built. Shayde's 's father didn't realize Shayde was wanting them both to take each other out so she could be free of them both.
"You need to thin out his security at every turn you can. He has hired quite the amount of security." Dante informed her.
"I will do my best." She replied, watching Brian and Roman talking and Tej coming back up the stairs. "He enjoys my tantrums so trust me, I will throw some at his men's expense." She promised.
"Good, good. That is what I want to hear." Dante said in a pleased voice. "How is my granddaughter. She needs to get well so we can get her started training. Then she would be able to defend herself." He mused.
"Don't you find it odd people keep hurting her before I can even get there to help? You have not set that up, have you, Father?" Shayde asked, her teeth gritted.
"Hmm. That sounds more like your stupid husband or that agent who is on your tail. I want you home so we can rule together." He advised her.
"You said you would give me at least six months and you agreed. Let me do what I need to do here first." She said.
"I only agree to this because you are doing well on the business side and I want Carter in ruins by the time this time frame is up." He admitted.
"I am funneling money out like you want and I am working on things, do not worry." She sighed, wanting to get off of this phone call.
"I want you to turn 90 degrees and do a headshot on that guy in the blue shirt with the glasses to prove to me you have not gone soft." He ordered.
"I know you love to have me randomly kill but that would be stupid of me to do right now. I have too many eyes on me to do that, Father. You taught me to observe and I have the feds watching me as we speak along with your and Carter's security team. My own security is watching as well. Are you trying to set up a blood battle right now?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Aw, my precious little girl. You have already calculated all the scenarios. I have trained you so well. That was the answer I wanted. I am just so proud of you." Dante smiled sinisterly. "I know you will train Kaidyn well when we start her training." He mused.
"We have talked about this many times. You have me, you will not get Kaidyn. She is not part of this. And never will be." Shayde reminded him.
"Oh, Shayde. She has Vega blood in her. She will do it. We will work on coming to an agreement on this once you come home. For now, we will table this discussion." He promised.
"It will not happen, Father." Shayde shook her head.
"Do you want to really make your father angry right now? I can end this and you can come home right now. I can go ahead and tell my men to blow that boat up and seize you if need be." He warned, his tone still calm and even as if he were discussing the weather.
"And if you do that, guess who is going to come after you? And he can give you quite the run right now for power." Shayde growled, not happy with his threat. "His obsession has grown and so has his empire and business. I would not do that right now." She warned.
"Well, my beautiful daughter, that is why you are there, to help bring him down." He reminded her.
"Then let me do my job without making threats that are not logical right now. They are not calculated and are not risks you should be willing to take." Shayde advised.
"I suppose you are right. I just want my family back together and I want to meet my granddaughter so much." He said with a smile.
"She's in no shape for travel and she is not who you would want her to be right now. She's very injured and fragile still. She would disappoint you, I am sure." Shayde said, trying to discourage him from wanting Kaidyn to come to him.
"Yes, but you are doing a good job getting her to recover so I know in due time it will happen." He laughed happily.
"I need to go. I am on a timeframe and you are keeping me from my plans." Shayde said, looking at her time on the phone.
"At least you are thinking of business, as you should be. Good girl. I will talk to you soon. You have two weeks and I expect a check in." He warned.
"I will do my best and what I can." She promised.
"Goodbye, Shayde. Don't let your father down." He said in a final goodbye.
"Of course not, Father." She nodded. She hung up and sighed, looking around. She was so tired of answering to him, Carter and just wanted to be free. She shook her head as if to shake off her mood and headed to the boat.
"Hey, Shayde. You good?" Brian asked as she got on the boat.
"Terrific." She nodded. "You boys ready for some fun?" Shayde got on the boat, knowing they had no clue why they were on a boat.
"You gonna tell us what's going on?" Roman asked, still skeptical. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at her, wondering what was up.
"Nah, I'd have to kill you then." Shayde said, tossing the duffle bag down and making Roman eye it suspiciously.
"What's in there?" He asked, looking at her stiffly.
"My weapons to kill you off with." Shayde replied, not skipping a beat as she answered.
"You and your jokes." Roman rolled his eyes.
"Who says I have jokes?" Shayde asked, looking serious for his benefit.
"Hopefully you do. I don't wanna die today." He admitted.
"Well, then don't ask dumb questions and we are good." Shayde laughed, making Tej and Brian laugh.
"Why do I feel like you are taking us out to the sea to get rid of us? Or some crazy shit?" Roman asked, feeling like a boat was a really bad idea.
"Relax, Roman. You're fine." Shayde said, looking around on the boat for a few things.
"This is your boat?" Brian asked, settling back and getting comfortable.
"I'm borrowing it." She replied nonchalantly. "So for now, it's my boat." She smiled at him as she stared into his blue eyes. She had to remind herself to focus. She loved blue eyes and they reminded her so much of her best friend's.
"Who's driving?" Roman asked, curious as he watched her every move.
"Don't blink or you might die." She teased Roman. "Me? Who else? You know how to drive a boat?" She asked, clearly having fun intimidating Roman.
"Him, drive a boat? Haha." Tej laughed, then turned serious. "He can barely drive a damn car." He teased.
"Man, I race, what does your ass do?" Roman scoffed.
"I bet you know how to drive a boat, huh, Tej? Am I right?" Shayde asked, curious to know if she had guessed right.
"Yup. Fo sho I do.." He said with a nod. "Can't hit a wall in a boat." He grinned boyishly.
"So you gonna tell us what we doing?" Roman asked, looking at the food on the table and rubbing his stomach.
"We ridin on a boat. Details to follow." She gave an impish grin.
"Yeah, that's real helpful." Roman rolled his eyes as he sat at the table with the fruit and food on it.
"I agree." She nodded. "Tej, would you wanna drive for a bit while I go check on Kaidyn?" She asked. "It's already plotted to our destination." She added.
"Yeah, I got you." Tej nodded, patting Roman on the shoulder as he got up to head up to the wheel.