AN: Sorry it's taken so long to update. This particular chapter needed to be intense and I am hoping I caught the intensity I wanted but I was struggling for a bit on it. I hope y'all like it! Please Read and Review :-)
Chapter 23 - TLC and Tasty Cakes
Lester and Tank leaned back against a wall watching as the men going with Elise and Julie prepared for their battle. Elise was sitting in a chair, arms folded over her chest, feet propped up on a table. Her eyes were closed, and those that had served with her knew she was centering herself, preparing for the fight. The men around her moved easily, as though this was a common occurrence, which it had been.
"You miss it?" Lester asked Tank.
"Sometimes, but I wouldn't trade what I have now to go back." Tank answered. He and Lula had a couple beautiful girls and he definitely wouldn't trade things to go back to the service.
"I hear ya." Lester nodded. He had been lucky when he met his wife. His kids were his life and he was with Tank. He would never trade what he had to go back to the service. But there were some moments where the overwhelming urge to do something physical consumed him as it did the other men. Luckily, they had all found ways over the years to get through those fazes. After all, hunting deer was a good outlet.
Elise stood. She moved like she had all the time in the world, but her men knew her mind was processing everything. She lifted the chain that held her fathers' dog tags and took the necklace off. She was standing in between all her men as she started getting her own weapons on her.
"So, Captain," Billy called amicably, falling into old habits, "If we come out alive then can we meet your dad?"
"Georgeson, if we get out alive I'm finding the most obscure third world country possible and dropping you in it." Elise shot back, throwing him a grin.
"That's just cold, Captain. You'd miss me too much." Billy answered.
Alan chuckled. "I doubt that." He strapped his own weapons to him.
"Nah, Billy has a point," Kyle said with a grin, "After all, if he's dropped in a third world country, then the women of the world will never know who not to end up with."
"And we can't have that!" Elise laughed and shook her head. The easy fall back to their banter as they prepared for a mission was comforting. It brought her a sense of ease that she hadn't been sure would be there. It caused a focus. She knew her men had her back.
Ranger and Stephanie came up to where Lester and Tank were watching. They all stood and watched the banter fly back and forth. Stephanie had never watched her daughter prepare to go to battle, but it was a little nerve wracking.
They saw Elise walk back to the table and pick up the dog tags. She brought them to her lips. They could see her murmuring something against them before placing a kiss to the tags and bringing them back around her neck. She tucked them safely inside her shirt. She looked over at her men and her older sister. "Ready?"
"You bet!" Billy grinned. "Operation Rescue Baby Manoso is a-go!"
"Dude." Julie shook her head. "I really hope you say that in front of her. I can't wait to see what she does to you."
Elise laughed. "We won't have to send him to a third world country after that."
…
Trevor looked over at Richard. The beating he had taken was more severe than Trevor had seen him take previously. Of course, Trevor was still surprised he wasn't being beaten beyond recognition. Part of him knew it was because Ortega wanted to make sure Elise saw him after he caught her. If he caught her. Trevor smirked. He knew his woman and he knew she wasn't going to go down without a fight. Her perseverance had always been something that attracted him to her. Well, that and the fact that she had thrown him down in their first sparring match.
What did surprise him though was the fact that Richard had been locked down here with him. He only saw Richard whenever Ortega was trying to "teach" him a lesson. He'd never actually been locked down there. From the research they'd done on Cortez —or Ortega, rather, they knew he was big on family honor and family dynamic. It had played into their hands on their first mission. When Trevor thought about it now, it ate at him that they hadn't gotten to Elise in time before Ortega had ripped her open with the damned tiger claw. The men had refused to leave her side once they'd gotten her medical attention. Hell, Alan had had to have most of them hold her down so he could even stitch her up. Elise's body tolerated an unnaturally high level of drugs. Trevor could only imagine how painful that would be just for healing.
"Dude." He rasped. "You're his brother. Why'd he lock you down here?"
"Because I tried to save someone." Richard replied. He'd seen the soldier down here every time he'd been beaten by Chris. He hadn't dared ask who he was nor had he snuck down to try and find out about this man. He should have. Inwardly he was kicking himself. He should have done everything he could think of to help both Cami and this soldier. He knew Chris was mixed up in some bad dealings, hell, he probably orchestrated most of them in the first place. Freedom was something Richard desperately wanted to feel and he'd allowed himself to be blinded by the fight for his life rather than see a way to try taking his brother down.
"Damn it." Richard muttered. His body ached. The brass knuckles had done a large amount of damage and he was going to be feeling it for a long time. He didn't know how long Chris would keep him down here. He had heard him leave and return so he knew Chris was home. The only thing he could do down here was sit and plot. If he had to murder Chris to gain his freedom then he would, but not until he got Cami safely back home. He promised to get her back to her family no matter what. The night of the dinner he'd made the same promise when he told Ranger and Stephanie the same thing. No matter what, he'd make sure he got Cami out alive.
"What are you here for?" Richard asked, feeling suddenly inspired. He didn't know what the soldier had done but perhaps if they helped each other…
"I'm here as bait." Trevor replied.
"Who do you need to bait in?" When Trevor didn't answer, Richard moved closer to the barred wall keeping them separated and lowered his voice. While there were no guards in here and no cameras, he didn't want to take any risks. "Look, I need to get someone out of here and I can't do anything about it sitting down here like a prisoner. I hate my brother and would be happier knowing the fucker is dead, but I need help making that happen."
"I need to bait in my captain." Trevor said trying to keep as much information out as possible.
"Why your captain?"
"Because she and I are sleeping together." He admitted. "Ortega took me to make sure he can get what he wants from her. Elise has information that she took from your brother. He wants it back."
Rick nodded. He could see that, after all, he'd just admitted earlier that Cami was being kept as a bargaining chip. He almost wondered why Cami wasn't being kept down here with the soldier but realized that as a soldier he would have training to get away from his captors. Chances were that Chris kept him just injured enough to keep him from really fighting back.
"Elise." Rick said suddenly. "Cami's sister?"
Trevor whipped his head around to look at Rick. "You know Cami?"
"Yeah." Rick motioned to where he'd been tied up earlier. "Weren't you paying attention when my brother was beating the shit out of me?"
"Not really." Trevor admitted. He'd been fighting consciousness at that point. His body was not as injured as it could be but nonetheless staying in and out of reality was being a bit of a struggle.
"Chris took Cami as a bargaining chip." Rick said. "She's been here the last two weeks."
"Fuck. Elise is going to bring Armageddon on Ortega for that." Trevor replied. Outside they head a clap of thunder and the sound of rain pelting the window panes told them a storm was brewing outside. It suited the night, Trevor thought.
"We've got to get out of here." Rick said forcing himself to stand. He had a bobby pin in his pocket. He had been playing with Cami's hair before Chris came in to grab him. He liked seeing her hair free so he'd taken out one of the bobby pins and pocketed it while he was trying to distract her from the un-pleasantries of the morning. He could pick the lock to the cell. Pulling it out he went to work on the lock.
"Why do you have a bobby pin?"
"I took it out of Cami's hair earlier and forgot to get rid of it. Lucky us." He replied.
There was silence as Rick worked diligently on the lock. Trevor stood and slowly worked his muscles. He was stiff and sore, hungry and tired, and probably severely dehydrated. Alan was going to have a field day putting him on bed rest, he thought sourly. Although, if Elise was the one taking care of him…his mood brightened at the idea of his lover caring for him. When Rick's cell door swung open his mind went into soldier mode. Rick was quick to get Trevor's cell opened before anyone could come in. They locked the cells back up as the lights suddenly went out.
"Lightning." Rick guessed.
"No." Trevor shook his head. "The cavalry."
"Nice."
The door to the basement swung open. The two men moved so they were out of eyesight from whoever was coming down the steps. When Trevor saw it was one of the guards he crept forward quietly. Before the guard ever turned around his neck was snapped and Trevor was relieving him of his gun.
"Let's go." Trevor said.
They moved through the basement, getting out of it as quickly as they could. There was a blast of cool air as they came into a dark hallway. They couldn't hear anything. It was like the house had suddenly become a ghost town. The only noise reaching them was the steady drumming of the rain on window panes with an occasional crack of thunder beating across the sky.
The lack of life in the house made them nervous, but they kept moving forward, carefully. Trevor was relieved to be out of that cell, but his body needed to recuperate and he knew it, but survival was going to have to happen first. He knew Elise had shut down the power. Or rather, it was probably Kyle. The man was practically a monkey when it came to scaling walls and he could guess that that had been what happened.
He heard someone coming down a hall that intersected with this one. Tensing he brought his gun up and was ready to meet them and kill them if necessary. He turned the corner and came face to face with the barrel of a gun.
"Trev?"
"Elise?"
"Oh, thank god." She whispered lowering her gun. She reached for him and pulled him to her. Their lips met hungrily and just as quickly they parted, knowing that they had to keep their focus. "Where's the brother?"
"Here." Rick replied from behind Trevor, "I have a name you know."
"Where's your brother?" She asked as she watched Trevor. He'd lost weight and was swaying dangerously on his feet. A couple Rangemen were standing near her. She looked at them. "Get Trevor out of here and take him to the hospital. Now."
"Elise, I need to—"
"You need to go to the hospital." She cut him off. He glared at him and opened his mouth to argue, but she kept talking, "That's an order soldier."
Trevor clamped his mouth shut but allowed the men to lead him out of the building. Elise turned back to Rick. "Are you physically able to help me get to your brother?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
They searched the house looking for any signs. Elise's men and her sister were elsewhere. The dog tags were searing her skin almost painfully. She knew something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out what it was. They found Cami's room, but it was empty, with a chair overturned and broken shards of glass on the ground indicating there had been a struggle of some sort.
Rick knew his brother was here; he could feel it and told Elise just that. She nodded and they continued their search. It bothered her that they were getting in here so easily. They left the room and continued until she noticed that a door leading outside was banging open. She looked over at Rick and he nodded. His thoughts were in the same place hers were. They cautiously went through the door and saw steps that lead up to the roof.
Elise sighed as they began climbing. Something was wrong. She hadn't heard gunfire or the sound of fighting. Her men were good, so were the men from RangeMan, but they only had about ten men altogether, including her and her sister. Eight now since she'd sent two of them with Trevor to make sure he got out alive and to a hospital.
The sight that greeted them up on the roof had Elise's heart in her throat. In the center of the roof was Ortega, clutching Cami to him with a knife to her throat. He was holding her so high that Cami's toes were barely touching the ground. All her men had guns trained on them. They'd gotten to the roof. Elise had gone through the house expecting to find Ortega hiding in there, waiting for her like he had last time.
Elise's gun was drawn and she had it trained on Ortega as she moved in front of her men. The rain that beat down on all of them seemed irrelevant to the situation. Ortega watched her with a cold smile. Behind him stood more men than she could count. They were outnumbered. Drake Johnson was standing off to the side with his own gun, grinning. Her eyes narrowed at him but she kept her focus on Ortega.
"Well, well, well. Jaguar. Nice of you to join us." Ortega said. "I want what is mine."
And then it hit her. Fuck, she knew where the information was. Of all the times for her to remember what she had done with it…She shook her head, buying time. "I don't know where it's at."
"Do. Not. Lie. To. Me." Ortega said angrily. To emphasize his point he dug the tip of the knife into Cami's skin drawing blood.
Behind her, Elise heard the sounds of hissing and a deep growl. Her men had decided Cami was theirs simply because she was Elise's sister. She knew her men would fight to help keep Cami alive. Julie had their father's famed control and she was grateful it was being used right now. The urge she had to just shoot Ortega for hurting her sister was overwhelming and she knew Julie was probably feeling the same.
Elise eyed Ortega's men. There was no way she could get them out alive if they did shoot Ortega. His men wouldn't hesitate to shoot them down like dogs if something happened. For several minutes the only thing anyone heard was the sound of rain beating the roof.
"Ortega!" Elise shouted finally. "I'll make you a deal."
"You are in no position to make deals." He replied calmly. Cami was shaking in his arms, her hands gripping the hand that had her in a choke hold.
"You set my sister and my men free, unharmed, and I will go with you." She replied. "I have your information. The only way you get it is they all go free."
Chris eyed her. "Why would I want to do that? I could just kill your men until you give me the information."
"A bloodbath isn't necessary." Elise said coolly. "I've made my offer. The only way you get it is if I go with you. If you kill all of us here then the information dies with me and you're business will really be fucked then."
"It is not polite for a woman to use such language." Chris scolded her. "But I accept your deal. You and Richard will come with me."
"Richard goes free." She said.
"Ah ah ah." Chris shook his head. "You said your sister and your men. Richard is not one of your men. He is my brother. He goes with me."
"No."
"Yes." Richard stepped forward. "I'll go with you."
"Rick, no!" Cami gasped out.
"Ortega, Drake Johnson goes with my men." Elise said.
"He works for me."
"He's one of my men." She countered. "He goes with them."
"The government thinks I'm dead." Drake told Chris. "Don't worry, she can't do anything."
"Actually, they're well aware of the fact that you're alive. I've confirmed it for them." Elise said. "Ortega, it's not in your best interest to let him wander with you. Loyalty isn't his strong suit."
Ortega looked at her thoughtfully. "You're right." He looked at Drake. "It's just business, but since the government has clearly decided you're alive, you're back in their employ."
Drake looked at him in shock. "You're fucking kidding me!" He felt the tip of a gun in his back. With a sound of disgust he threw his gun on the ground and marched over to where Elise's men were looking at him with deadly looks.
Richard walked forward as Chris shoved Cami away from him. She stumbled and hit the ground. He stopped and helped her up. Cami grasped his hand, "Rick, don't, please!"
"I promised I would get you back to your family, Cami." He said and kissed her. He glanced over at his brother.
Chris waved at him to continue. "By all means, finish. I'd hate to ruin a good farewell."
Rick looked down at Cami. Her brilliant blue eyes shined with tears and fear and heartbreak in them. "Cami…I can only thank God that I was given a chance to know what love truly is. I love you." He kissed her again and pushed her gently towards her sister's. Julie reached out and took Cami's arm to keep her from running back to him.
Elise stepped forward. Chris held up his hand. "Not so fast. Remove your weapons."
Raising an eyebrow she removed her gun belt and dropped it beside her. He glared at her. "Do not play coy with me, Jaguar. I know full well that is not the only weapon on you." She thought about smirking but thought better of it as she unloaded her knives, extra guns, taser gun, a few grenades and a set of cuffs.
When she was finished unloading her weaponry she walked forward. Chris reached down and grabbed the chain that held the dog tags. He pulled them up and said, "These too."
"These go with me." She replied.
"Where you're going, you don't need them." He snapped at her and yanked the chain off her. He threw the necklace and it landed it at Darren's feet. He knelt down and picked the tags up, pocketing them.
"Any last words for your family and friends?" Chris asked cheerfully. He had won. Finally.
Elise turned and looked at her men. Her eyes focused on Billy. Her lips curled up ever so slightly. "TLC and Tasty cakes."
She knew Billy understood as he gave a barely noticed nod.
"You may leave now." Ortega said. "The deal is done."
…
"Boss, they're back." Lester said as they watched the monitors. Stephanie looked at Ranger and grinned. She raced down to the garage. She met them in the lobby of RangeMan. Cami and Julie came in first. Julie had a strong grip on Cami who looked like she was in shock.
"Cami!" Stephanie cried out running to embrace her daughter. Cami didn't return the hug. Stephanie pulled back and looked at her. "Cami?"
"Report." Ranger demanded the moment he saw the men. He could see the looks on their faces and knew something had gone down. Something they hadn't expected. None of them met him in the eye.
"He took them." Cami whispered breaking out of her mother's hold. "Daddy, he took them! He took Elise and Rick!"
"What?" Stephanie looked around. "What happened? Where are they?"
"He took them." Cami said, her body starting to shake. "He took them and he's going to kill them." Stephanie reached for her daughter but Cami shook her head and backed away. "Oh god, Rick!"
Julie couldn't stop the tears as she watched her baby sister crumple and let out a cry of anguish. The only thing she could do was turn into Alan who took her into his arms.