Page 44 of Newton

A round of murmurs makes its way around the room. We all know how bad it is, and most days it's hard not to feel like a failure even with our successes. There's always one more, always someone waiting to step up and take the place of the guys we track down. Murders have increased because the people abducted are a disposable commodity. Many are abducting women and selling them in brothels in the same fucking neighborhoods they were taken from. They end up in a pile of blood, throats slit or bullets in their heads, before the traffickers move on. It makes it impossible to catch them in the act.

The existence of companies like Cerberus could very easily be the reason so many people are dying in these third-world countries.

"We've been given permission to fight a little dirtier than most people would consider humane, but we all know the people abducting and tracking others are far from humane to their victims," Ace continues. "What we're offering isn't like Cerberus. It'll be lonely. Anyone wanting to join needs to know it will require you to do things that might make your stomach turn. It will involve a lot of immersion into groups that if you were in Brazil, you might put them down before they opened their mouths. It's dirty work. It's a lifetime of manipulation and immorality."

Several people begin to shift in their seats as he continues to speak, and I fight the urge to do the same. I know what they're asking needs to be done, but I also know my limitations. There's no way I could go undercover in a world like that and not be triggered.

"It won't be easy, and I know Kincaid has mentioned that becoming apart of this effort isn't recommended for people with families. I'll tell everyone right now, if you have any deep connections to anyone, you'll be denied. If you're married or have children, the answer is no."

I lock my eyes on the back of Hound's head. It wasn't that long ago that Hound was the one asking all the questions about this new endeavor. He was the only one who spoke up, but now he sits there quietly, not moving a muscle.

"I know no one is asking, but I feel the need to tell you why I'm putting that rule in place. I don't want there to be any doubt about how dangerous this job is," Ace says. I watch as the man looks up to the ceiling as if he needs to gather his thoughts before continuing, and I just know what he's going to share with us is going to be brutal for him. "I know Kincaid provides a dossier on every person that has been a part of Cerberus, and I think that history is great. Knowing the people you fight beside and the people who came before you is important. I also know that the dossier has no information on Skid after he left the club."

Several people in the room sit up straighter in their chairs, a captive audience to what he's about the share.

"Noah Upton was my best friend from the time we were kids up until the day he died."

My breath hitches in my chest, and I hear more than one person gasp. There's always been chatter about what happened to Noah "Skid" Upton. Some think he got into trouble with the law, and his information wasn't added to other dossiers because Kincaid didn't want another stain on the club. Some thought that maybe he had gone dark, disappeared,and they didn't know what happened to him.

"Thirteen years ago, he managed to infiltrate a group that had major ties to the Cortez family," Ace continues, his words pulling cuss words from several people around the table.

The Cortez family is responsible for so much destruction in Mexico and the United States. Followers of the family were the ones responsible for three murders in Beth's hometown of Lindell, Texas, a little over a year ago. They're a violent, nasty group of people.

"While he was undercover, he did what most idiots would do, he fell in love. I'm not saying it was a mistake, but it led to his death. Only the Cortez family didn't leave it at that. By the time Noah's real identity was discovered, he was three years, a marriage, and two kids deep into his job. He was leaking back information as much as he could, but he was so deep, it was almost impossible to get information back to us." Ace clears his throat, then he proceeds. "I hadn't heard from him in over a month, and against my better judgment, I reached out to him. His wife found the burner phone and took it to her father, Alejandro Cortez.Noah had to watch as his wife, Alejandro's own daughter, was killed. Then his two boys before they put him out of his own misery. The ICE records show that Noah Upton was a traitor to his country, but the man saved hundreds of women and children while he was undercover. I know that had I not made that phone call, he would’ve been capable of saving hundreds more."

Silence fills the room, and we all know what he's feeling. We're all Marines, including Ace, but there's just something different about losing your best friend. I can only imagine the devastation that caused him.

"So, know that if you decide to be a part of this program, there can be no connections, and no connections can be formed. You will be isolated and alone most of the time, and it will have to stay that way until you choose to leave."

Ace looks to Kincaid. My boss is staring across the room as if he's just now hearing the news of Noah's death for the first time, but I doubt that's the case. I don't think Ace would share such devastating news with the club president at the same time he shared it with a group of men and women he hadn't met until today.

"With all that being said, I came to ask if there's anyone here that would be interested in joining."

Heads turn, all eyes in the room on Hemlock and me. We're literally the only people here that would even begin to qualify for something like this, but the thought of the woman asleep in my bed down the hall keeps my ass in my seat.

Hemlock doesn't hesitate to stand.

Chapter 22

Brielle

Although it was probably best that I woke up alone this morning, it didn't stop me from feeling discarded.

Sex has always been a form of punishment.

Last night, it was different.

Last night was life changing.

Last night, for the very first time in my life, it was my choice.

To roll over to find cold, empty sheets after such a big event left me deflated.

I'm sitting on the bed, watching television, and questioning everything, when the door opens back up.

It's only nine forty-five, but I've been awake for almost two hours. I have no idea how long he's been gone. He could've left right after I fell asleep, and I sort of hate him for making me comfortable around him. He not only had the ability to get out of bed without waking me, but he was able to get dressed as well before leaving the room.

"Hey," he says, the chipperness in his voice sounding unfamiliar and misplaced. "You're awake."

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