“Hold on here,” Gabriel threw in. “While I realize you’re thinking this core group would be the five of us, I should remind you that assassins are highly successful for a reason. They’re trained, skilled in everything from reconnaissance and weaponry to breaking and entering. No offense, gentlemen, but we aren’t those men.”
“Speak for yourself,” Chase snorted. “I’m in the best shape of my life and the four of you know I’m a skilled marksman. Hudson is a former Marine, for God’s sake. Kendrick, you run marathons and know more about weapons than any man I’ve ever known. Maverick, your research alone would make you valuable. And Gabriel, you have connections all throughout the world that could prove helpful.”
There was another moment of silence until I started laughing. “Crap, buddy. You had us thinking you were serious.” Why was it that I liked the idea the more I thought about it?
“You know,” Kendrick said, still laughing. “I had a case dismissed just last week that I was prosecuting. For the first time in my career, I argued with the judge. Loudly. He threatened me with contempt of court.”
“What was this case?”
Kendrick glanced at me. “I was prosecuting a ringleader of a sex trafficking operation involving young women. Runaways, women without families. In my discovery, I learned they abducted several women off the streets. Most never heard from again. They were sold to men who have no qualms about the sadistic lengths they’ll go to with the women they purchase.”
“What the hell happened?” Gabriel asked, narrowing his eyes.
“The judge dismissed the case. He said there wasn’t enough evidence.”
“What the fuck?” Maverick hissed.
I knew Kendrick well enough to know once angry, he was almost uncontrollable.
“It happens more than you think,” Chase added. “One in five cases involves human trafficking. Kids. Women. They don’t give a shit. Even the mafia is turning away from drug and gun running to this because the sale of humans is much more profitable.”
This was the last thing I needed to hear tonight. All I could think about was Valentina. Would the bastard try to get to her? Fuck. I couldn’t believe the system had failed her. Hell, I’d failed her. I’d assured her that Jacob would go to prison for a very long time. “How did you manage to stay out of jail?”
He smirked and held up his drink. “I headed toward the bench and told him that there was a little black book of corruption with his name printed inside and that he should watch his back.”
“Wow,” I said. At least one other did as well.
We continued studying each other for a full two minutes before Maverick sighed. “Good in thought. But we are all law-abiding citizens.”
“Yeah,” Gabriel said. “To right versus wrong.” He held up his glass in a toast.
For some reason, the toast felt hollow. Maybe before we were all experiencing the same thing.
The longing for justice.
“There should be concern for the attorneys and the members of the jury with regard to Jacob Jones,” Kendrick reminded us.
Chase nodded. “From what I heard, they were warned.”
“Why wasn’t I offered the same courtesy?” My anger was only increasing as the news continued to settle.
My buddies looked at each other. “Good question,” Maverick answered for all of them.
I was angry, furious with the people involved and the entire system. Sitting back, I mulled over the best options as I sipped my drink.
An hour later, they were all headed out. I polished off my third drink of the night while Chase collected his winnings. The quick clap of thunder was followed by an electrified sky, lit up by lightning. I used to find storms comforting. Tonight, nothing would be able to calm my anger or soothe my nerves.
“My house is up next,” Kendrick said. Suddenly, he appeared as exhausted as I felt.
“Sounds good, buddy. Hey, make sure you have better snacks than this old dude,” Maverick tossed out.
We all laughed, but an underlying feeling of loss lingered, a strange tethering for men who’d worked their lives for the greater good. It was as if we’d failed.
When I closed the door behind the last one to leave, I backed against the wall. I’d done my best to control my fury, but now that they were gone, I was at the point of losing my shit.
Refraining from my lurid thoughts was all but impossible. She’d created a permanent stain in my mind and my cock. Jones had threatened her. While indirect, he’d made a point of threatening everyone. In subtle ways. That only saving grace was her immunity from being identified.
I stormed back into the room, thinking about how smug the son of a bitch had been during the trial. He’d acted as if he was merely annoyed with the proceedings. He rarely spoke but he’d been overbearing, threatening to the women on the jury. When the jury had come back with the conviction after only deliberating one hour, I’d caught the look of shock in his eyes. It was brief, but I’d seen it.
