Brotherhood
Chapter 23
...
Roy made the mistake of warning them about staying in their aliases, and Callen spit out a couple of pointed swear words he didn't normally use. His outburst was surprising. He'd been mostly quiet during lunch and now that they were outside on the bow alone, Deeks thought they might have a chance to discuss things, but he'd remained aloof and silent. The curses were some of the few words he'd uttered since they'd run into Jacqueline Bennet below decks.
"What got you so pissed off?" Roy asked.
"Don't especially like the company I'm currently keeping," Callen breathed out.
"Come on...you love me...right?" Deeks asked with a grin, hoping he could ease him out of his foul mood.
"These people have everything they could possibly need," Callen said, barely above a whisper. "They're obviously wealthy, have a certain amount of power...what more do they want?"
"For some people it's never enough," Sam said over comms. "You know that G."
Callen said nothing, just continued to stare out at the broad Mississippi River and the sprawling city of Baton Rouge beyond it.
"These people aren't altruistic. They don't care about anybody but themselves," he finally said. "They didn't act like patriots either. Pierce gave no inspirational speech about coming together to make this a better country. Unless I'm reading them all completely wrong, none of this tracks."
"You don't like 'em," Deeks said.
"No, I don't," he replied. "But, I've got the feeling there's something more going on here."
"You ain't even heard their plans yet," Roy said. "Little soon for conclusions don't ya think?"
"Maybe."
"Or maybe not," Deeks said. "Did seem a little odd how much they were drinking. Harrison White was close to being shitfaced."
"Go with your gut...both of you," Sam encouraged. "Eric and Nell are gathering intel on all of them, but only you can get a read on the type of people they are. And don't antagonize them. These are not stupid people."
"You sure about that? I think that lady might be lookin' ta do a little slummin' with our boy here," Roy sniped.
"No...no no. Not gonna happen," Deeks said, grinning nervously. "She looks like she could hurt me and enjoy doing it."
Callen finally smiled at that and Deeks was pleased to see him lighten up even if it was at his expense. His brother's insight had opened his eyes to something he hadn't picked up on at all, and it was disconcerting.
"I'll follow your lead, brother," he said quietly.
"Just watch yourself, kid."
"'Specially your cute ass," Roy snarked.
The sound of footfalls on the deck caught their attention and they turned to see Tino headed their way.
"I been lookin' all over for you two," Tino growled. "Guidry wants y'all."
"Let me ask you something, man," Jake said, not moving. "You trust these people?"
"I don't trust nobody," the man said, lowering his voice as he moved closer. "But I know what ya mean."
"Don't seem all that dedicated to the cause," Jake persisted, letting his distrust show.
"Guidry's feelin' a little uneasy too," Tino said, looking around as if to make sure no one was listening. "Wants you two close by."
"He expectin' trouble?" Jimmy asked quickly.
"Not sure what ta expect from these assholes," Tino hissed out. "Don't like being treated like some mangy dog."
"Me and Jimmy got your back, man," Jake told him firmly.
Tino nodded, clapping Jake on the shoulder before motioning for them to follow. The two shared a look behind his back, and Deeks felt the first tingling of unease, his adrenaline starting to pump as they made their way down to the main cabin. A drop down screen covered the dark teak wall behind the bar and everyone was focused intently on it as they entered. Pierce looked irritated by the interruption, and Jacqueline Bennet stared at Deeks, her calculating expression a little unnerving. He found it hard to look away, and a small smirk curled her lips as she crossed her long legs.
"Those two have to be here?" Pensky asked abruptly.
"Dey none of your business, couyon," Guidry said, a menacing tone to his voice that the man didn't appear to appreciate.
"Everything about this meeting is my business," Pensky said coldly. "Do you know who you're talking to?"
"Calm down Jacob," Pierce said testily. "If Mr. Guidry feels more comfortable surrounded by his men, then we will accept that. These men are the ones who will make this happen."
"Are you sure they're competent enough to carry out something this complex?" Jacqueline asked.
"You just tell us when them men is gonna be dere, and we'll blow dere asses up," Guidry said, his jaw tightly clinched in familiar anger at her disparaging remark.
Deeks turned to look at the screen and his stomach dropped. He looked quickly over at Callen, whose face was a rigid mask, but his eyes held a warning. The Hale brothers wouldn't know the men whose pictures partially obscured a map of downtown Baton Rouge. Deeks relaxed his features, showing interest and curiosity, but feigning ignorance of their identities.
"Who are those guys?" He asked innocently.
"You don't watch C-Span do you?" Jacqueline mocked. "And I'm going to assume you don't read The Washington Post or the New York Times. Not sure you can even read, so probably no magazines either."
"Stole a copy of 'Guns& Ammo' from a convenience store once," he laughed. "That counts, don't it?"
"Not in the least," she replied, sounding bored.
"Dat fella on de left is de fuckin' Attorney General of dese here United States," Guidry stated. "Don't know de other fella."
"That would be the Deputy Attorney General," Pierce said. "They will both be at the federal courthouse in Baton Rouge for a ceremony next week. Your job Mr. Guidry, is to blow the building with them in it. And please make sure they don't survive.
"You don't gotta tell me how ta carry out a mission, couyon," Guidry snarled, but Pierce seemed unfazed by his surly attitude.
"It will be Elliot's job to make it appear as if the attack was carried out by foreign terrorists," Pierce continued. "While the government and the media are wringing their hands and chasing their tails, I will undoubtedly be asked to temporarily assume the office of the Attorney General."
"Power and control. Your favorite things, Newton...after money," Jacqueline smirked.
"Good smoke screen though, don't you think?" Harrison White said, appearing a little less drunk than before lunch.
"What's it a smoke screen for?" Jake asked, and Deeks sensed his nervousness.
"All law enforcement agencies will flock to Baton Rouge," Pierce replied. "It will be Elliot's job to make it appear that there's an imminent attack coming on federal courthouses in New Orleans and future attacks on government buildings in major cities and in Washington."
"As head of the New Orleans Task Force, I can pull all federal law enforcement there...FBI...Homeland..." White said with a smile. "Leaving a big fat hole in whatever security they try to set up along the Mississippi."
"They won't be able to protect every facility," Pierce stated. "And their focus will be on federal buildings, not petrochemical plants."
"How y'all so sure 'bout dat?" Guidry asked.
"We know people, Mr. Guidry," he replied. "We only have to federalize one company's security detail and we can send them wherever we want."
"That leaves them vulnerable," Pensky said.
"We gonna blow up a chemical plant?" Jimmy Hale asked, looking wide eyed and confused. "Why?"
"My God...you're not so dumb after all," Jacqueline laughed.
"Shut up, Jacqueline," Pierce said with annoyance. "The why is not your concern, young man. All you have to do is follow orders."
"De boy asked a good question," Guidry said, standing and going up to stare at one of the other maps on the screen. "Why y'all wanna blow up a chemical plant for?"
"And which one?" Jake pressed.
His question seemed to make the Washington people nervous and they all began looking at one another. They were trying to hide something, and Deeks wondered why.
"They don't trust us, Boss," Jimmy said sullenly.
"I gonna ask ya one more time...why y'all want us ta blow up a chemical plant?" Guidry asked, his voice dangerously low.
"Changing this government will take money. A lot of money. Certainly more than we get from Doctor Mouton's little oil wells," Pierce said, his condescension showing again. "We have certain investments that we will be able to cash in on after that petrochemical plant blows. That's money we can use to fund a revolution from the inside."
"You'll get your share of the profits, Guidry," Harrison White assured him sourly.
"Still ain't told us the target," Tino said. "Gonna take a lot of plannin' to blow up somethin' big as a chemical plant. More PLX and C4 too."
"He know what he talkin' 'bout," Guidry assured them. "What's de target?"
"That decision has yet to be made," Pierce said airily, and Deeks knew he was lying. "And don't worry. We'll make sure you have all the PLX and C-4 you need. Now, I suggest we take a break. Perhaps you and your men might like to take a walk and get some air, Mr. Guidry."
Pierce gathered the others and told Guidry they needed to be back within the hour, and Deeks could tell the Cajun was pissed off at basically being told to get off the boat. It didn't help that the three mercs took up position in front of the stairs after Pierce and company headed for the upper deck. By the time they reached the dock, Guidry was steaming mad.
"Don't like dis," he stormed as they walked toward Mouton's boat. "We blow one of dese here plants along de river and it gonna foul de water for a long time. We live here. Dey don't."
"Why won't they tell us which one they want us to take out?" Jake questioned.
"Before de day is out, dey will, or one of 'em ain't goin' home," he threatened darkly.
"Whadda you think they're talkin' about all by themselves?" Deeks asked.
"Don't know, but I sure as fuck don't like it," he spit out.
"They're keepin' secrets, Boss," Jake said. "That ain't good."
"I need a whiskey," Guidry said. "You boys comin'?"
"Naw...tired a bein' cooped up inside," Jake said, rolling his shoulders and looking antsy. "Just gonna walk down to the Mississippi. Jimmy been buggin' me about it."
"Ain't never been this close to such a big river," Jimmy said, looking longingly toward the brown water.
"You go on den," Guidry said quietly. "We gonna sort dis shit out before dark."
Callen was practically vibrating as they walked along the bayou toward the river, cutting Deeks off as he started to say something. Callen had a habit of working things out before anyone else did, and Deeks was desperate to discuss what they'd just heard. He kept quiet until they worked their way down to the edge of the fast flowing river, but once he thought they were far enough away not to be overheard he couldn't contain himself.
"Tell me what you're thinking, G," his words rushing out along with his frustration.
"Sam? You and Roy get all that?" Callen said as he stared past Deeks at a large low line of barges moving slowly down the river toward New Orleans.
"Damn big power play," Sam answered.
"It's more than just power Pierce wants," Callen said quietly, checking around him as he talked. "This is about money, too. Lots of it."
"I'll see if Nell can figure out what investments Pierce is into," Sam said. "They're probably using a shell corporation to cover their tracks."
"Probably more than one," Roy added. "This sonofabitch will play all the angles, that's for sure."
"Question is, how do we stop these crazy bastards?" Deeks asked. "Cause if we don't, this would be one of the biggest environmental disasters of our time. It won't just pollute the river, but the Gulf of Mexico as well for a very long time."
"People will die," Callen said softly. "And not just the two men we're supposed to blow up. There are a lot of people on this river, and in New Orleans and the bayous that feed into it."
"And these fucks don't care," Deeks said sadly. "How do you get that messed up?"
"That, kid, is the universal question about all terrorists," Roy replied.
"Here's another one," Callen said. "Pierce has no guarantee the president will keep him on as Attorney General. He can appoint whoever he wants after the dust settles. So if it's long term power he's after as well as money, how does he get it?"
"He becomes a hero," Deeks said breathlessly, seeing it so clearly it stunned him. "Guidry and The Brotherhood are the scapegoats."
"After they do his dirty work, he blames them for everything, takes them out and walks away," Callen breathed out.
"It's a hell of a plan," Roy said. "And you two are right in the middle of it."
"Even if we stop the assassination you'd still be in danger," Sam said. "This is a black op. Whatever tactical teams they send to take down The Brotherhood won't know you're federal agents. And we won't know when they're coming."
"You trying to tell us we're fucked?" Deeks asked, flashing a nervous grin.
"He won't do anything until that plant blows, and we won't let it get that far," Callen said. "Call Hetty. She needs to be on comms when we find out just what petrochemical plant they want us to destroy, and when."
"Safa too?" Sam asked.
"That's your call, partner," Callen replied.
"What about Elan?" Deeks asked.
"Told me you wouldn't spot 'im," Roy said.
"He's here?" Deeks asked, breaking into a smile.
"Who else is gonna watch your six, brother?" Elan's voice calmed him immediately and he could see it had a similar effect on Callen.
"You two need a safety word," Sam said.
"Dumbass," Deeks and Elan said in unison.
"We better get back," Callen said. "Stay close Elan. Not sure Pierce and his little friends trust us quite yet."
"Cain't believe I'm sayin this boys, but Guidry will protect y'all," Roy said quietly.
"I find that a little disturbing," Callen said with a smirk. "A sociopathic butcher protecting us from a man willing to become a mass murderer just to get a better job and earn a little extra cash."
There was no more to say after that and the Hale brothers headed back toward the boats, Deeks occasionally checking to see if he could spot Elan. He was deeply alarmed by what these people were planning, the scale of it overwhelming, and the responsibility for stopping it growing heavier by the minute. Callen must have sense his turmoil, running a hand along his shoulder to finally grip the back of his neck. They looked at each other, reading the concern and determination in each other's eyes.
"We'll stop 'em, brother," Callen assured him softly.
Deeks could only nod as they walked onto the dock. He found he was suddenly exhausted by the enormity of it all, and he struggled to drop back into an alias that he had no desire to inhabit. Jimmy Hale would think the whole scheme was exciting, something a man like him might have looked forward to being a part of his entire life. Being Jimmy, he could not allow his own revulsion to show, could not reveal any sort of feelings for the people this act of terror would impact, and he found himself struggling to be that person. He was beginning to hate everything about Jimmy Hale, and didn't want to personify someone who believed that what these people were planning was a good thing. But, he also knew he had no choice. To stop this horror from happening, he would have to become Jimmy and it made him sick to his stomach.
"Get your fuckin' shit together, bro," Jake snarled, shoving him hard. "Fun time is over. Time to play with the big boys and girls."
Deeks realized Callen had noticed his struggle and was trying to shock him back to where he needed to be, but it still pissed him off.
"Fuck you, Jake," he snapped, deeply angry and ready for a physical fight to match the emotional battle going on inside of him.
Callen slapped him hard across the cheek and Jimmy exploded, swinging wildly at him, missing the first time, but connecting with his eye on the second. They grappled with each other, pushing and shoving, cursing and calling each other names all while staring at each other, both recognizing the other's turmoil, the stress finally getting to them and needing an outlet. Tino finally intervened and pulled Jake off, while Guidry stepped between them, his fists pressing into his chest as he pushed him away. Sam was yelling in his ear and Roy was laughing, all of it deepening his anger as he felt himself sliding down into the depths of his alias.
"What de fuck you two fightin' 'bout?" Guidry demanded.
"I found it quite entertaining," Newton Pierce called out from the deck of his yacht. "Nothing like a little blood sport to enliven the afternoon. One of my bodyguards used to do some fighting in the Army. Perhaps a match between him and one of the Hale brothers might take our minds off the boring details of our meeting. What do you say, Mr., Guidry? Are you a betting man?"
"I'll take odds on Jimmy," Jacqueline Bennet offered. "No holds barred I'm hoping."
"A good old fashioned street fight. Of course, if you don't think your man can win, Guidry, I will understand your reluctance to put money on him," Pierce taunted.
Jimmy looked over at his brother and saw the regret in his eyes, but also a challenge. The tension between the two groups was palpable, the air practically crackling with it. The others had come out to watch, smiling at the distraction and Jimmy Hale seethed with the need to hit someone. Guidry yanked him close, his eyes dark and turbulent with fierce pride and deep held anger.
"You kick dat couyon's ass, mon fils," he growled. "Don't ya leave 'im standin'. Ya hear me, boy? Need ta wipe dat grin off dat big shot's fuckin' face."
Jimmy Hale nodded solemnly, his adrenaline pounding through his veins as one of the mercs started taking off his jacket. Taut muscles bulged beneath the black t-shirt he wore as he walked toward him cracking his knuckles and smiling. Jimmy charged without warning, and he saw the man's eyes widen just before he slammed into him, knocking him over the gangway and down on the worn wooden dock. He found he was suddenly lost in the blood lust of it and hit him again and again, not feeling anything but blind rage as he battered the man. The merc's eyes were glazed, but he managed to get in a couple of solid punches, and finally rolled him over, and struggled to his feet. Jimmy was laughing now, oblivious to the shouts around him and to those in his ear. As the man staggered backward, he took one long stride and hit him full force in the face, breaking his nose. The man's eyes rolled back in his head as he fell senseless off the dock into the bayou. Then there was silence. The only sound he heard was Elan speaking softly in Arapaho. Something he couldn't bear to listen to.
"Shut up, Cuz," he choked out in a whisper before Jake got to him.
"Hell of a fight, little brother," Jake said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as he looked proudly up at the group on the boat.
This was who he was now, who they both were, and he felt slithery like a venomous snake, the lowest of the low. His brother was a bastard and he was a violent sonofabitch ready to beat anyone unconscious who ticked him off. This was who he had to be and it made him want to vomit.
The comms were silent, but he wasn't sure if he had simply blocked everyone out or his actions had shocked them so badly they didn't know what to say. He felt cold. He felt empty and alone. It all felt sadly familiar and truly frightening as his father's voice came out of his mouth.
"You fucks owe me a drink," he shouted.
Guidry slapped him hard on the back and hooted out a laugh. Even big old ugly Tino was laughing, but it was Jake he reached for in the gathering darkness of his soul. His fingers clawed into his shoulder, unsure what he was seeking, but needing some sort of sign that he wasn't alone, that he hadn't lost himself completely in the sudden rush of rage.
"You did what you had to," Jake said softly, leaning close and ruffling his hair.
The gesture was so comforting he thought he might break down, but knew he couldn't. He watched dispassionately as the two other mercs dragged their man from the water, and then looked up to see Jacqueline Bennet staring back at him. Pierce stood slightly in front of her talking as his fingers toyed with the buttons on her red silk shirt. She held up her glass as if to toast what he'd done, and he spit out a gob of blood and turned away.
"Dat bitch want you, mon fils," Guidry said.
"I ain't smart enough for her," he replied.
"She ain't interested in what's in your head," Tino said with a leering grin. "It's what's in your pants that's got 'er hot."
"Bet she be a cold one in bed," Guidry snorted. "No never mind, Jimmy. Let's go get us one of dem brandy drinks you like."
The four of them headed up the gangway where they were met by Newton Pierce and Jacob Pensky. Both men seemed to be assessing him, their faces calculating, but he sensed a slight uneasiness that hadn't been there before.
"Too bad your boy acted so quickly, Guidry," Pierce commented airily. "We didn't have a chance to place bets. You would have won handsomely."
"Don't need lots a money," Guidry replied. "Got family."
"I wasn't aware you had one," Pierce said as he led them toward the bar.
"De Brotherhood my family," he replied. "Dis here boy family now. Dat's who we fight for."
"Well, he is a hell of a fighter," Pierce said. "Rather out of control though, don't you think?"
"Your man shoulda been ready," Jake said smugly.
"Good point," Pierce said agreeably. "Another brandy for you, Jimmy Boy?"
"We all havin' brandy," Guidry announced as he possessively draped his arm across Jimmy's shoulder.
The rest of the group wandered in, and he was surprised to be congratulated by Elliot Dale, although Doctor Mouton still gave him a wide berth. Jacqueline ignored him as she poured herself a glass of red wine, but it was Harrison White's constant staring that slightly unnerved him. He drained the brandy in one swallow and glared back at him until the man looked away. If he'd been made, it was all over, remembering that it was White who had betrayed Joe and calmly watched Oscar Doucet torn to shreds by dogs. He wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of the man for the pain he had caused Joe, something Jimmy Hale was very good at. Too bad it would have to wait.
"Gentlemen and Jacqueline, we have a few specifics to work out before we can proceed," Pierce announced, as a photo appeared on the screen. "This is Marisol Petrochemical, a storage facility just south of here. This is to be your target. I want it blown three days after the bombing in Baton Rouge. By then I should be in charge of the Department of Justice and our plans can go forward. Any questions?"
"You promised more PLX and C-4," Tino said. "Need ta know where ta pick that up."
"Jacob here will let you know," he replied.
"What dis gonna do ta de Mississip?" Guidry asked.
"Nothing that won't be quickly cleaned up," Pierce falsely assured him. "We simply need Marisol's stock to fall sharply so we can fund the future of this country. You do your job and we will do ours. Then we can all stand proud, with the power to change things about this country to our satisfaction."
"Bullshit," Hetty unexpectedly whispered in his ear.
"Site plans and critical access points to the plant, along with security passcodes will be provided in the next couple of days," he said.
"Ain't this enough to arrest these bastards?" Roy asked Hetty over comms.
"Yes. However...While Newton Pierce appears to be the head of the snake, I fear there are other powerful people involved as well," Hetty replied carefully. "I don't want to move too soon and allow the unknown members of this nest of vipers to disappear and come back to try again. Both of you stay in and find out all you can. I'll alert the Attorney General and SecNav. Let's see if we can slow up their timeline until we have the evidence we need to take every last one of them down for good."
He'd been concentrating on Hetty's comments and when he looked up he saw Pierce staring at him. Guidry looked pissed, and Jake looked ready to kill someone.
"Did I miss somethin'?" He asked.
"He ain't goin' nowhere without me," Jake said intensely, his hands tightening into fists.
"I don't believe it's your call to make, Jake," Pierce said evenly. "Surely you can spare Jimmy Boy here for one night, Guidry. He interests me."
"Let me stay with 'im, Boss," Jake asked.
"Need ya wid me, Jake," Guidry said, shaking his head. "We gotta make us some plans. Jimmy be okay. He can take care of hisself."
"Don't I get no say?" Jimmy asked.
"Oh sweetheart, wake up. You're just the hired help...remember?" Jacqueline scoffed as she dropped into an overstuffed chair and tucked a wayward strand of auburn hair behind her ear. "Just because you beat up someone doesn't change that."
"Ever been to New Orleans, Jimmy Boy?" Pierce asked.
"No sir," he replied, the nickname really starting to irritate him.
"The cruise down the lower Mississippi is not terribly beautiful," the man continued. "Too many tankers and barges. But when we cruise past New Orleans at night, I'm sure you'll find it quite exciting."
"If you say so, Mr. Pierce," Jimmy said with a tentative smile.
"I believe that concludes our business for now, Guidry. We'll be in touch," Pierce said as he began ushering them toward the gangway. "Elliot will see you back. Doctor Mouton will be my guest tonight."
Callen looked like he wanted to choke the life out of somebody, but they both knew there was nothing they could say that would change what was about to happen. They would be separated and he heard Elan utter a string of curses, and a long angry sounding comment in Arapaho.
"I'm afraid you're on your own, Mr. Deeks," Hetty said softly. "Be careful. Both of you."
"Keep your eyes open, kid," Roy cautioned.
"Isn't there some way to keep eyes on that boat?" Sam asked, sounding agitated. "Isn't there a satellite Eric can link into or something? He's exposed out there, Hetty. With no back up."
"You keep track of your partner, Mr. Hanna," she said sharply. "I'll have Mr. Beale see what he can do."
His head began to swim as the people in his ear began to argue over his circumstances. He had no idea why Pierce wanted him to come along on his trip back down to New Orleans, but he would have to make the best of it and gather as much information as he could while he was with them. He tuned out the voices in his ear as he stood watching Callen walk to Mouton's boat with Guidry and Tino, concerned he was being too anxious about their separation, and afraid it would make Guidry suspicious. He was used to doing undercover ops alone, just as Callen was, but NCIS never liked one of their own to be under without backup. Callen had been accepted by Guidry so was relatively safe, but this group's dynamic was unknown, the players vastly more sophisticated and cunning. He'd have to fly by the seat of his pants on this one and trust the team to track him, but even if they did, they were too far away to count on if things went sideways.
The big yacht vibrated with life and he found he was looking forward to being on the Mississippi and broke away from the others and headed for the bow. He remained alone as they passed through a couple of narrow locks before entering the wide river. The boat surged as it caught the fast moving current and he found he was excited and grateful for any diversion that would allow him to calm down. He had lost control during the fight and it would be dangerous to let it happen again, especially now that he was alone with these people. If White suspected him at all, he needed to be prepared.
"Elan?" He whispered.
"Cuz."
"Can you stay close?"
"As close as I can."
"If I have to swim for it, come get me."
"Count on it."
"You been made, kid?" Roy asked.
"Not sure," he replied.
"That trackin' spray don't wash off," Roy reminded him. "You go in the water, we'll find ya. But that's worse case scenario."
"Just paranoid, I guess," he whispered.
"Good way ta be when you're undercover," Roy replied softly.
"Remember your safety word, Deeks," Sam advised. "Once you get to New Orleans, Joe's handler, Safa will track you. She'll be on comms."
"Thanks guys."
When their voices went silent he still felt comfort just knowing they were there. He noticed the boat stayed closed to the edge of the shipping channel, and he spent some time trying to calculate how long and how far he would have to swim to reach the bank. The exercise allowed him to still some of his jumpiness and he finally found he was enjoying being on the vast river.
"Want some company?" Jacqueline Bennet called out, the sound of her high heels as strident as her voice.
It really wasn't a question and they both knew it. He bowed his head as he leaned over the bulkhead, summoning the lowbrow, cocky persona of Jimmy Hale. He wasn't sure what part she was playing, but he would have to play his carefully and wait to see what she wanted. When she reached him he turned, noticing that the buttons on her red silk blouse were undone to reveal the deep valley between her breasts. She wasn't wearing a bra and it made him smile. Just an old fashioned seduction that made no sense. She wasn't good at this and he knew this wasn't her idea. What information did they think he'd give up once she seduced him? He was just the hired help.
"You're disgustingly sweaty," she said, frowning. "You should clean up."
"What the fuck for?"
He kept his voice low and rough, enjoying antagonizing her. Jimmy Hale wasn't the subtle type. He was crude, but maybe that's what she wanted. Fucking the uncouth bodyguard for a good story to tell to her friends back in Washington.
"I think fuck is the operative word here," she said, trying hard to be sultry and sexy with someone she obviously despised.
"What the hell does that mean?" Jimmy asked, playing stupid as he leered at her breasts just to see how far she would take this.
She ran her hand up under his t-shirt, and he hissed as her fingernails scratched across a tender bruise on his ribs. It made her smile, but it pissed him off.
"You want to fuck me, don't you?" she asked, grabbing the top of his pants and pulling him close. "Go ahead...suck my tit. It's what you want, isn't it Jimmy Boy?"
She taunted him with the demeaning nickname as she slowly pulled her blouse open, offering her ample breast as if it were an appetizer. He swallowed hard, wanting to reject her, but worried that it would seem suspicious. At the moment he wasn't sure he cared. He didn't like her and she sure as hell didn't like him, but it was tempting, and Jimmy was a horny little shit without much control over his volatile emotions. She was a patronizing bitch and he suddenly wanted to wipe that overconfident smirk off her heavily made up face.
He let his smile fade, breathing though his mouth as his nostrils flared and his tongue slid out to wet his bottom lip. He looked down at the dark rosette of her nipple and then pushed her blouse off both shoulders, exposing her breasts. Leaning down, he slowly licked one and made a crude, smacking noise as he roughly suckled the other, feeling her breath explode into the hair at the back of his neck. Then he stood to his full height and pushed her away.
"No thanks, lady. I don't like you or your tits."
He brushed passed her and walked away, smiling as Roy laughed in his ear.
...
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