PARKER
Work was normally the one thing that relaxed me. It was where I felt the most comfortable. It was my home away from home.
Actually it was my home most days.
But right now, it was pissing me off.
"So the DHS has nothing," Logan stated the obvious after Caden gave us the morning report.
"I wish I had better news, but that's all I have for now." There was no mistaking the sorrow in Caden's voice. None of us wanted to admit we couldn't find anything when innocent people were being trafficked.
"Do we plan to just sit around and wait for information from the DHS?" Logan questioned.
Matthew rubbed the stubble along his jaw. "No, we're not." His tone was resolute. "Logan and Oxford. I want the two of you headed to Vegas today. I want boots on the ground. The DHS is going to dick around with red tape, but that's not how we operate. I know Black will have our back when I tell him the plan. See what you can find out."
"I'll make sure the plane's ready to leave within the hour." Oxford was up and out of his chair before anyone could say anything else.
"It's the right choice." Logan didn't stand up as fast, and the relief he felt was evident in the way his body moved.
"I know it is." Matthew nodded. "It doesn't feel right to wait around for orders when there's something we can be doing instead. I promised myself when I joined this team that I wouldn't let bureaucratic bullshit get in the way of what's right. This is me standing by that promise."
Logan nodded his head in thanks before following Oxford out.
"You're not sending the whole team?" Graham crossed his arms and raised one brow.
"And take the three of you away from your wives for an undisclosed amount of time?" Our team leader chuckled. "I like certain appendages attached to my body, and I'm pretty sure at least one of your wives would remove it if I gave that order."
"There's no way in hell Sarah's going anywhere near your dick. I'd kill you first," Graham grumbled.
"I second that when it comes to Elle," Rhett added.
Matthew turned to me as if he even needed to question my stance on it. I answered anyway. "Yeah, I'm not letting Molly near your dick either. She might cut your head off though. And I know for a damn fact Elle would help her. Then they would call us to clean up the mess."
Rhett was quick to agree with me.
"And this is why I'm not sending the whole team." He waved his hands at us. "There's no need for us all to be there anyway. It's only information gathering at this point. Once they have a good lead, we will fly out."
It made sense. It didn't take six of us to chase down leads. Not when DHS was working on it as well. At least, that was the hope.
"Any other assignments coming down the pipeline?" Rhett cracked his knuckles like he needed a way to release some frustration.
"The DEA is putting together a target package for a drug shipment that's supposed to hit the East Coast next week. I'm waiting for further instructions."
"Is there a reason we're doing their job for them?" I rarely held back when it came to working with alphabet agencies. Too many times, we were forced to work with slimeballs who were no better than the people we took out.
"It's classified and delicate." Matthew shrugged. "You know how it goes."
Unfortunately I did. There were some agents who didn't like to get their hands dirty but wanted all the glory. That's what our team was for. We preferred to stay out of the limelight, so we gladly handed over the success to whichever agency so the agents could get their commendations. It was a necessary evil to keep our identities hidden.
"Anyone have anything in the meantime?" Matthew looked at each of us.
"Actually, yeah." I rubbed my palm against my chin. "Caden, I need you to look into someone for me."
"What's the name?"
No questions. No explanation needed. That was who Caden was. He would help in any way he could.
"Ben. I don't know his last name, but I do know he's a gym teacher at Molly's elementary school."
