Page 48 of Pitbull
Finally, he managed to get the cork off, slide the metal bar out and was able to get to the wires below. Pitbull wasn’t sure how long it took until he was able to remove the putty from the belly of the beast, rendering it harmless.
Zero called it in and in no time at all, Beast had returned.
“You guys aren’t staying here tonight,” Beast said. “Pack a couple of bags.”
Anke said nothing. She merely entered the house. He stopped to remove the gear and stashed it back into the truck then turned to look at his friends. “Give me a minute alone with her.”
Beast nodded but Zero merely headed back to the truck.
He entered the house, shirtless and sweaty. But he grabbed his shirt from where he’d tossed it over the back of a chair and found Anke in the bedroom pushing things back into her bag. There were tears running down her eyes, and he didn’t understand it. This was the same woman who’d kicked and screamed and sworn as Beast tried taking her away. Now, she trembled.
Walking up behind her, Pitbull wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her neck, her shoulder, the side of her head.
“Tell me what’s bothering you,” he whispered.
“You could have died.” She said.
“But I didn’t.”
“But you could have!” She tried pulling from his arms.
He merely held her tighter. “This is my job, Anke. I do this more than you think and I’m still standing. I’m good at what I do. I know you’re scared.”
“I can’t lose you!”
“Anke?”
“Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s just grab our shit and go.” She struggled again.
This time, Pitbull released her. As she grabbed her bag and headed for the door, he spoke. “Whether you want me or not, I belong to you.”
Anke stopped. A soft gasp filled the room from her direction.
“I will always do whatever it takes to come home to your arms—to you.” Pitbull cleared his throat. “All I ask is for you to believe in me and the people who stand by my side.”
Anke glanced back at him, smiled, nodded and left him alone in the bedroom.
For a moment, Pitbull wasn’t sure what to take from her reaction. All he kept thinking was he’d come on too strong. It would all have to wait for Zero was calling him from downstairs. He shook his head and rushed to the spare room for his go bag and small black bag. He hefted the bag over his shoulders hurried down the stairs to meet up with the others.
14
“Ithink I found something!” Tex’s excited voice cut through his morning fog.
Pitbull didn’t understand it. He had yet to have his first cup of coffee and already Tex was excited about something. Before replying, he poured a mug of coffee, took a couple of sips then hurried to look over the man’s shoulder. “What you got?”
“Do you know a man name Tavart Penrod?” Tex ask.
Pitbull rubbed his eyes. “Yeah. A few years back he was the man in charge of CIRO.”
“Sorta like Webber?” Tex asked.
Pitbull nodded. “Yeah.” He took another sip. “Pendrod was actually one of the founders of CIRO. His history with the agency is sketchy at best. A while back, about a year after he started heading CIRO, the bosses suspected Penrod of being dirty. I mean, there was always whispers but this time they were louder. They investigated, never found any proof but by the time it was all over, the damage had been done. His career was never the same. When he went in for his psych evals, he failed.”
“You think he might be out for revenge?” Tex asked.
“I don’t know—why?”
“Well, I found out he’s involved in this whole thing.”
