Page 22 of Jacqueline's Quest

“So, we’re just going to sit here?” AJ sighed. “Shouldn’t we be doing something?”

“At least I’m not the only one who wants to go in,” Jaqueline grumbled.

Murray shook his head. “Our job is to continue to lay low and run through the surveillance until we’re given the green light from Asher. If we go in guns blazing, we run the risk of upping the colleterial damage. Asher isn’t about getting friendly’s hurt and will do whatever he can to avoid it.”

AJ pushed back from the desk before she stood, hands in front of her fiddling with her cuticles. She looked as if she as seconds away from bursting from her skin. His gaze flickered to Thomas. The man noticed everything about her and allowed her to work through the issue on her own.

“Maybe we can push up the entry day,” Jaqueline said, trying to ease the building tension.

"I can't and won't speak for you guys, Thomas, but for us, we're not ready. No way in hell we walk in there like we are and make it out alive." They had a timeline for a reason. No use in throwing it off because of personal reasons, hence why teammates weren't supposed to fuck each other. It took away their ability to reason.

Thomas slid his gaze to AJ. “Neither are we.”

“Yeah, we are.” AJ crossed her arms. “I’ll do what it takes to make sure Scotty comes out alive. Pretending is one of my specialties.”

“Don’t you agree, Murray?” Thomas’ tone had been cold and devoid of emotion, ignoring AJ’s statement.

“Kid, as much as I enjoy your company, I’m not ready to put my sister’s life or Jaqueline’s brother’s life in your hands. You shouldn’t even want to put Scotty’s life in mine either, or Thomas’ for that matter.” Murray blew out a breath. “We have to keep our original plan in place. Yes, there is a good bit of time between now and then, but we need to use it to prepare. Because, if we’re not and shit goes sideways, we’ll never get out. Got me?”

Tears spilled from AJ’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “This is so unfair.”

He didn't lecture her about the fairness of life, she already understood how much life sucked, instead, he said something different. "I agree. So, for now, we do the work. Become proficient in all aspects of this mission so when it goes down, we get our families back. Okay?"

AJ swiped at her eyes, brushing away the tears with such force, Murray worried she’d leave bruises in her wake. “Fine.”

“I might have a solution to us becoming a cohesive team,” Thomas said. “I received a text from Asher. Tex has arranged for us to meet with a man by the name of Luca Trapani. He’s supposed to be able to help you and Jaqueline out.

AJ blanched. “Luca Trapani?”

“Yes,” Thomas answered. “Why?”

She swallowed hard. “He’s not the man to trifle with. I don’t trust him. I never have.”

“Here’s the thing about Luca...” AJ shivered at the mention of the man’s name.

Since the minute Thomas announced who’d they be working with, AJ had been on edge. Because they didn’t work with Tex, finding out about those missions would be slim. Murray supposed he could have made the call to Asher to get him the info, but this was also AJ’s chance to explain everything and allow them to access the situation.

“How about you tell us about it, and then we’ll make our determination on how far we can trust him,” Murray said. “I think it’ll unburden you a bit too.”

AJ folded her hands on her lap. “We were in California with Wolf for a mission happening in Mexico. One Luca was a part of.” She let out a shuddered breath. “While we—Scotty and I ran the background intel, telling the team where to go, Wolf, Luca, and a few others were on the operation side. The video footage from the scene was disturbing. Sex trafficking is nothing like they show in movies or television.”

“They glamorize it,” Thomas said. “It’s not something I’d wish for anyone.”

"Yeah. Anyway, the way those women had been kept, turned my stomach. However, Luca's eyes, when he'd been alone and unguarded, sent a chill down my spine."

“Explain.” Unease slithered through Murray’s gut as he drove down the upscale neighborhood street.

“I didn’t care if Tex swore up and down and on the Virgin Mary, the man was isn’t harmless, I saw it. Even before the night of the raid. It’s crazy. He has a switch. He could be a charming man. Attentive. Gregarious. If he were a plant, he’d be a Venus Flytrap, because he could lull a person into a false sense of security thenwham!" She smacked her hands together. "He'd attack. So, no he isn't harmless, there's something fundamentally wrong with him.”

“Tex has assured us we are in safe hand here with Luca,” Jaqueline said.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," AJ replied. "I've seen him in the field. The man is a stone-cold killer. I'd advise you all to watch your P's and Q's with him."

Murray turned right into the small, heavily armed gated community not far from where they were in Juarez. There weren't many houses in the tract, however, the ones there, were mansions. Six of them dotted the twenty-acre estate. Luca's had been the furthest away. There were nuances to this game they all played. The line between truth and lies blurred in many places.

As they pulled into the rounded driveway and parked behind a primer black Lamborghini Adventador, Murray whistled. “Someone has expensive tastes.”

AJ rolled her eyes. “All for show, I’d assume.”

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