Circe's Recruits: Gideon: A Multiple Partner Shifter Book (19 page)

“Yeah.” Alex patted the suitcase. “Drive, Eli.”

Gideon had already entered the front passenger seat, so Eli hit the gas and they took off.

Gideon turned around to watch Alex. “Alex said this thing has his sister’s scent on it. We don’t have the combo to open it but—”

Alex elongated the nails on one hand and ripped open the locks.

“—we apparently don’t need it. You okay, Alex?”

Alex cleared his throat. “Yeah.” He glanced down at the folders and thumbed through them, handing a few to Bailey.

What she read stunned her, and she’d only seen a few pages. “Oh my God. This is…”

“The answer we’ve been looking for.” Alex’s eyes glowed, and the pupils elongated before shifting back to normal. “Time to plan, Gideon.”

“Right. Sure. But first, we need to eat.”

“Amen to that.” Eli rubbed his belly.

They drove away from the beach and found a small mom and pop diner off the turnpike. Once there, they ordered enough food to feed a small nation, drank a gallon of milk and coffee, then leafed through the papers Katie had given her life to secure.

“This is gold,” Gideon said, once again taking charge, naturally.

Bailey wondered that she didn’t take offense to being told what to do. Though Gideon had a few years over her, he’d been thrust into being a Circ just like her. So though larger, he didn’t necessarily have “rank” to pull over her. But his ability to take charge eased her mind. He seemed to know just how to handle the group.

He gave Carter the responsibility of bringing up the rear and protecting everyone’s back. Alex was his standby guy, the big, badass, intelligent protector who could charm as easily as break limbs. Eli remained the muscle, the driver, the guy who ripped out throats and asked questions later. He seemed to be a triggerman, if Bailey had to put a title to his duties.

And her… Gideon shot her a look before pouring himself more coffee. Bailey was by his side. Protected yet not. She didn’t see where she fit, exactly, and she wanted to have a conversation with him in private about that. But she still wanted to be a part of this big plan, whatever it might be.

Gideon put his coffee down and pushed aside his third helping of a huge stack of pancakes, though he chewed through the bacon on the side. “Okay, so here’s what we know.” He glanced around, but considering they were the only ones in the diner, with the exception of an old lady bickering with her husband at the counter, Bailey thought him safe to go on.

“We have addresses, names, and financial records. The jackpot. Carter is not only a huge-ass teddy bear, but he’s also a recreational hacker.”

“Aw, you say the nicest things.” Carter blushed.

Eli shook his head. “Keeping secrets?”

Carter shrugged. “Not something you tell strangers. That you like to break into restricted sites for fun. Government, banking, technology. It’s all data, in the end. But people can be touchy about sharing. Some might consider what I do offensive.”

“Federally offensive, you mean?” Bailey snorted. “Everyone knows that kind of stuff is” —she lowered her voice— “against the law.”

Gideon frowned and continued, “So Carter’s going to transfer a large amount of money from Amelia Norton’s subverted accounts—the money she’s shoveling into her fucked up Circ project,” he said through gritted teeth. “And we’re going to have our startup money.”

“Startup for what?” Bailey had no idea what he was talking about.

“We’re going to offer bodyguard services to the rich and famous. Preferably non-asshole types overseas. Point is we’ll pick and choose our clients. And we’ll work in teams. No individual projects. We’re pack.” Gideon glanced at Alex. “All of us, together.”

Alex nodded, his eyes bright, a half-smile on his face. “You know, that sounds interesting.”

Gideon seemed satisfied. “So you’re sticking around then?”

“Yeah. It’s a good call, making use of our abilities. That’s kind of what I used to do before ending up a part of this nonsense. I was a sort of PI, and a good one.”

“What’s ‘sort of’ a PI?” Eli wanted to know.

“The unlicensed kind. I worked under the table for people with big wallets.”

Eli looked impressed. “Nice.”

Gideon took charge of the conversation once more. “So we’ll work the cases. Carter will be on standby as a guard slash IT guru, and Bailey’s gonna be our expert on communications and logistics. Kind of like the stuff you said you did at U-Ground, except on a smaller scale.”

His plan sounded doable. Smart, challenging, something she could be a part of with a clear conscience. “I can do that.”

“Yeah, you can. With your gift for being able to read people, and Alex’s for reading things, you two can be the face of the company. You’ll be able to see who’s fair to guard and who’s not. If you think about it, we could have a kickass team and make a killing too.”

Bailey was excited by the prospect. It would be something to keep her mind engaged, and working with the family she’d bonded with. She had no one else. Her parents remained distant, her few college friends even more so. Heck, she’d never been so intimate, emotionally or otherwise, as she was with these Circs.

“What are we going to call ourselves?”

Eli narrowed his eyes. “Gideon Enterprises.”

“Bullshit.” Gideon frowned.

“Why not? You’re our leader, or at least,
you
think you are. I’m gonna keep you on your toes,
jefe.
”

“Shut up, Eli.”

Eli grinned. “Yeah, I like it.”

“Me too.” Alex nodded.

Carter and she agreed as well, before she had to add, “But all of this is moot if we don’t get rid of the people determined to kill us.”

Gideon nodded. “Good point. So here’s what we’re going to do. And Carter, you have to get this right from the get-go or we’re screwed.”

Carter cracked his knuckles, then dug into his fifth omelet. “No problem. You need to steal some money then hide it in the virtual world? I’m your man.”

“He’s so cute when he’s talking geek.” Bailey grinned.

The others laughed.

Then Gideon explained the plan, and things got real.

***

Roane returned to the compound and sought his Circs, who were eating with Doc and their mates in the big house. They continued to take at least two meals together per week, needing that closeness they’d always have. He still thought himself lucky beyond compare at having come through so much in his life to be where he was today.

His beautiful mate—and bride—sat bouncing their son in her lap while Hale, McKinley, and Paige argued about trick or treating protocol next month. Doc laughed with Diego, the pair holding hands at the table. Zack and Ace each had a hold of their vicious kids while Kelly laughed at her mates and babies. God, what a handful, but so adorable. Especially when little Max tried to climb up his father’s arms like a squirrel.

“Ow, Max. Stop it. Down, boy.” Zack finally caught the kid before he could launch through the air at Roane, his favorite uncle.

“Uncle Wone.” Max held out his arms.

Ace snickered. “I think our boy wants time with the fun uncle.”

“No way. Last time he scratched up my pretty face,” Roane said, trying not to grin even as he motioned for Max to jump.

In a dry voice, Caitlyn, his wife, answered, “I think we’ll all survive.”

Max jumped, using his innate Circ reflexes to push his little two and a half-year old body across the room at real speed. But Derrick stood fast to intercept the flying boy, tickling him into giggles.

Sabrina patted her rounded belly. “God willing, D, we have girls.”

“I don’t know.” Derrick glanced at little Alison cooing at Ace. “She has him wrapped around her tiny fingers. Can I handle another female tying me in knots?” His pointed glance at her made her blush.

Roane had it all. Friends, family, love. But seeing the new guys and their troubles brought it home to him that safety was an illusion. His team had been through tough times, and they no doubt would be again.

“So tell us, Roane. What happened?” Doc asked.

The room quieted, even the toddlers hushing. Jacob laid his dark head on his mother’s shoulder and sucked his thumb. Man, Roane loved that boy.

He coughed to clear the emotion from his thick throat. “They came back. Our guys spotted them in a stolen van—no surprised there—picking up something from a row of lockers at the beach.”

Hale frowned. “But they didn’t come back to us with it.”

“Not yet,” McKinley said. “Remember, they’re not part of us. Not really. They have to do this their way first.”

“You’re defending them?” Paige, his mate, asked. “I’m surprised. I thought you’d be all for pulling them in and letting you and General Shield’s men handle this.”

Roane silently agreed. This kind of operation was right up McKinley’s alley.

“Normally I would. And you know we’ll be there to take charge once Mike”— General Shields—“determines we need to. But there’s something to be said about wiping the slate clean, personally.”

The guys all nodded. They’d been there, wanting to punish Dr. Elliot Pearl and his underlings themselves, to know things had been handled. “They probably don’t trust the government either,” Roane said. “Remember, the guys we’re talking about are all ex-cons and thieves.”

“Except for Bailey,” Doc added. “How do we know she’s okay?”

The one fly in the ointment.
Hell, one? Make that
another
one.

“Well, Hayashi pointed her out to Gideon and Alex. That has to mean something good, right?” Kelly asked.

They all trusted the psychic Circ, a member of the ex-SEAL team down South.

“It could.” Roane paused. “I can’t say for certain, but Alex and Gideon seemed a lot more settled than the last time we’d seen them. And you know how taking mates helped us.”

Ace nodded. “Got a point.”

“Yeah, but one female for all the guys? They’re not all mated to her, are they?” Derrick asked. “I mean, finding Caitlyn helped us a lot, but I was still a little iffy until Sabrina.”

“A little?” Hale snorted.

“Up yours, Rogers,” Derrick snarled, having tempered his
fuck you
comments because of the little ones at the table.

Hale chuckled.

“You know,” Doc said slowly, “you Circs are evolving. I’ve been in touch with other experts over the past year especially, and we’re finding that some groups are clicking in a different way. Taking that mating heat and condensing it, making the need for just one female a necessity rather than one for each member. Who knows? She might complete their circle, or she could just stabilize it.”

“Or she could be held against her will by big, strong monsters,” Sabrina said, no give in her tone. “You need to find out. She should be there of her own free will, not because we were too lazy to help her.”

“There’s my girl.” Derrick hugged her. “Still a little boss under all the baby.”

“Shut up, Derrick.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The others laughed and grinned.

Roane sighed. “I know, I know. Let’s eat, see what the tail on them reports back, then we’ll head in. Okay?” He stroked his son’s head, taken with the tiny purr of contentment. He kissed his mate. “Now pass the burgers.”

***

Unbeknownst to Circe’s Recruits, the federal agent tailing Gideon made another call after contacting Roane.

“I swear. I have no idea what was in that suitcase. I couldn’t get closer without being made. You know they can smell people. I told you I wasn’t the guy to follow. They know me from the gym.” Where he’d had his ass handed to him by Elijah Ortiz.

A pause, then the agent paled. “Fine. I’ll let the others know. But you have to pay the money tomorrow. I’m on the hook for a lot, and they said they’ll hurt my wife if I don’t give them fifty grand by tomorrow night.”

After being promised his payment, he prayed they’d follow through. Then he called a few more people and set the plan in motion. God bless those poor bastards tomorrow.

Amelia Norton, he’d come to learn a little too late, didn’t know the meaning of the word
mercy.

Chapter Twelve

Gideon sat by the side entrance to Amelia Norton’s private office in her mega warehouse. The thing had shut down for the night, but as they well knew, action in Dr. Lang’s laboratory never stopped. Lang’s people tortured, abused, and killed twenty-four/seven in the name of science.

Dickhead.

Gideon turned to Bailey, sandwiched between him and Alex. The woman had balls, he’d give her that. She wore the same black utilities they’d all appropriated from the government idiots tailing them. Like they didn’t know they’d been followed.

Christ.
Eli was right. Uncle Sam needed a better system of hiring men with guns.

No telling what Norton had in store for them, but Gideon and the team were more than ready to find out. They’d set the explosives near the sewer lines connecting the underground of her warehouse to a network of tunnels.

In his earpiece, he heard Carter give the go-ahead. “Money’s been transferred. She’ll know within minutes, but the funds just…ah. Disappeared. Let’s go.”

“Cameras?”

“Hold on. Okay, they’re now offline.”