Page 18 of Meaner Than Evil

Duane is an older man and very serious about his work. When I walk in, his eyebrows shoot up, and he babbles to his assistants about fabrics. They quickly removed the rolls he had already selected for me to choose from and retrieved the new rolls he sends them after. Some have a shiny sheen, while others have a soft matte finish, but all are black.

Duane calls out my measurements to his assistant Erik, and Erik inputs them into his computer program. Duane explains how a pattern will be explicitly cut to my specifications so the suit will fit like a glove. He also selects different fabrics for each piece. Then he sends me on my way with a promise to have the suit in time to rescue Logan.

I step out onto the sidewalk and into the sunlight. This is my first time in New York City. People are everywhere, and traffic seems to be heavy all the time. I can see why a motorcycle was used to escape with Logan. It would make evading her security SUVs easy and buy them more time, but you can’t outrun traffic cams.

Special Agent Wilkerson spools the window down. “Your team is landing.”

I nod and trot around the front of the car. When I slide in the passenger seat, he asks. “So … is Meghan single?”

I smirk. “As far as I know.”

He smiles, and I laugh. “Good luck with that.”

On the drive to the FBO, Dark Thirty shares a current satellite video captured of what he calls ‘a compound’ where Logan is held. The mansion is twice as large as the Tisdale’s, and a fortified stone fence surrounds the grounds. It’s a waterfront property with a sand beach, a tennis court, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Nina launches a zoom conference with me to give me the latest update. “The team will be anchored just off the beach. Rocket thinks that’s the best point of entry for them tonight. They’ll swim in, scale the fence, here and here.” She points to marks on the video. “Once the drone is deployed, we’ll have a headcount and will come up with a plan.”

“Copy that.”

When we arrive at the FBO, Crockett and the crew are trotting to the terminal with rucksacks and boxes of gear. Their urgency helps calm my inner turmoil. I’ve charged into hell with them as a Bravo special operator, but this is different. This is personal. It’s taking every ounce of self-discipline to maintain a check on my emotions.

I know Logan is strong, and she knows I’m coming for her, but you never know how people will react to being bound and blindfolded. Biology is a bitch when it comes to forcing compliance. I just hope they don’t physically abuse her before the auction. Hopefully, whoever is in charge is smart enough to know a recently beaten body wouldn’t bring as high a price as a flawless one will.

I exchange brief brotherhood nods with the rest of the team as Crockett puts his hand on my arm, clamps my bicep with a firm, supportive grip, and asks, “How are you holding up?”

“I’m good.”

His eyes search mine for signs of distraction. “I need your head in the game, Hammer. If you can’t keep it together, no one will judge you. You know that. Insane can step in for you.”

Zane gives me a reassuring nod. He’s the closest team member that could wear the suit Duane is making.

“No, man. I’m good. I need to be the one who makes the buy. I need her mentally stable as soon as possible.”

Crockett frowns. “Is there something we need to know about her mental health?”

I shake my head. “No. She’s good. It’s just that we share more than a marriage.”

His frown deepens, so I tell him, but I look down to hide my hurt from him. “We shared a baby, but she miscarried. She took it hard. It broke her heart. Then Nine-Eleven hit, and I signed up to fight, not realizing how it would affect her. It was too much for her to deal with at the time.” I take a deep breath as the rawness of my feelings for her suffer. “She couldn’t handle knowing she would have to endure the constant pain of separation, so I let her go. I couldn’t bear hurting her again and again. I divorced her.”

I look up into his eyes and state. “There is no way I’m not going in tonight. I gave Logan my word that if she ever needed me, I would be there for her.”

He squeezes my arm again. “Let’s get to work saving your woman.”

Ten

Logan

Someone pulls the curtains back and the sunlight bathes the room with warmth, chasing away the shadows. I sit up and look around. My head swims a little, but for the most part I feel normal.

The room is luxuriously decorated, and there is a single row of sitting chairs placed around the bed. Next to each of them are floor lamp lights aimed at the bed.

“Ah, Good. You are awake.” A maid…. Literally, a woman dressed in a maid’s costume with her big tits exposed in a super low neckline complete with fishnet hose and platform pumps, walks toward me, smiling. “Good morning. I am Claudia. I’m here to prepare you for your exciting new life.” She says with all the genuine excitement of Christmas Day.

I stare at her speechless. “Did you just say … exciting new life?”

“Sì,” she acknowledges I heard her correctly. “You will soon forget all about the past and embrace the riches and splendor that your beauty has provided for you.” She folds her arms under her tits and studies me. “How is your head feeling? Fuzzy, or no?”

I hesitate to give her any information wondering if being deceitful would benefits me right now.

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