Page 59 of Anything But Convenient

Tank winced. “Yeah, I heard from him. It's going to cost me more than one favor, but it's worth it.”

I nodded, though I doubt he could see me even with the light I had.

“Since it looks like the war room is out, we need to move this. My office is the most secure place in the building.”

We all stood and followed him. Memphis went about checking everything in the room, and when he only found our own security measures, he gave a clipped nod and sat down. Tank leaned back on his desk as ankles crossed.

“We're going to take out Mordecai with a little help, just like we did Ajax. And then there will be only one of these motherfuckers left for us. As soon as it's over, we're reevaluating everything from top to bottom. I don't ever want anything like this to happen again. You are all my family. And the people you love are people that are important to me too.” Tank's eyes met mine. “I’m sorry Archie got caught up in this. We'll get him back, and we'll do everything we can to help him.”

We have no idea what this Shelley person has done. It seemed odd that Tank just went with the flow of Mordecai being a woman. If I was a pessimist, I would suggest that he already knew.

But I didn't see how that was possible, considering if he knew, he would have told Memphis. Those two were thick as thieves. He treated him more like a son than an employee sometimes. Tank was not always the most serious boss, not unless he meant business.

He crossed his arms and then met each one of our gazes with conviction. “From here on out, it's game over. It's time to teach these people what we mean once and for all.”

“And what about all the red tape, boss? Who's going to protect us when the police come knocking and the FBI shows up at our door?” Cohen asked.

"Let them come," Tank said. “They can all sit back and watch as we fix the mess that they've let brew.”

I’ve never been more proud to call him my boss.

CHAPTER 23

ARCHIE

More time passedbefore the woman named Mordecai returned. When she did, she appeared more aggravated than the last time she’d come by.

With the lights, I had no way of telling just how long ago that was. It didn’t feel like days or anything. I knew I’d be thirsty and hungry before then. While my mouth was dry and my stomach grumbled, it was nothing like the fierceness I knew lay ahead should she continue to deprive me.

While she’d left me alone with my thoughts, I pondered over the team and how they were handling my disappearance. Had they told Orion? Did he come back and tell them everything he knew about Mordecai?

In the story he’d told me and Takeshi, he never mentioned a woman. It made me wonder if the person who took him was one of Mordecai’s goons or someone pretending to be her instead. I suspected she had a man who she used as a decoy to keep people from realizing her true identity.

It wouldn’t be all that shocking at this point. The woman was truly twisted.

“It’s really disappointing when my pets don’t play along. I can’t believe they figured out I was watching. If I didn’t know better…” her voice trailed off as her eyes cut my way.

In a flash of movement, she sped my way and ripped my shirt down the middle. He nails clawed at my chest with the movement, a frenzied sort of terror gripping me in her wake.

“Just as I thought. No wire. Then how did they know I was listening in? How’d they figure it out?” She spoke aloud, though I knew the questions were not for me to answer. “Maybe I underestimated Memphis. Or maybe it’s one of the others. Your husband, perhaps?”

As her gaze whipped my way again, I saw a challenge in her eyes. Whatever the guys did to halt her game had her frustrated. And a frustrated Mordecai was a dangerous one.

“Maybe we should up the ante? Let them see who they’re dealing with, yes? Excellent idea, Archie. First, we need to get you all fixed up.”

Two of the men stepped forward with clothes and a tote of cleaning products. A third grabbed me under the arms and motioned for me to walk.

I did as they said, though I had no clue where we were going or what I was to do. Based on the clothes alone, I knew they wanted me to change. The shower products likely meant I needed to bathe too.

But why?

What good was I in a more put together state?

It wasn’t until I was dressed in said clothes and cleaner than I’d been in hours that the reality of the moment hit me. And it came with a digital camera being pointed my way.

Another of the goons was behind the lens, his finger clicking away as Mordecai gave a running commentary. “Smile. Don’t smile. Pout a little. Turn to the side. That’s it, Archie. Show them what you’ve got.”

I had no idea what I was showing. If I had to guess, my expression would be pure terror. Either that was the goal, or I didn’t know myself all that well.

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