Page 10 of Gambit's Property

Good. My team will make sure she doesn’t leave.

There is no way Rogue doesn’t suspect how I feel about Franci, especially after she said my real name. No one calls me that, and very few people know it.

I text Striker to get a member and a prospect to keep an eye on her. I can’t hack Rogue’s system or break in to watch Franci, so I’ll have to get my fix other ways. I look back in the drawer where the bourbon was and see the silky pink panties in the plastic bag. I stole them from her hamper during one of thetimes I broke into her dorm. I’m about to reach for them when my door slams open. Only two men would dare walk in with that attitude.

“What the fuck is going on with you?” Striker barks, and I reach for the bottle before I answer him.

“I can’t do this anymore.” I don’t clarify what I mean.

“What?” he asks.

“Franclynn.” Just saying her name hurts. I want her so badly.

“Get your ass up now,” a commanding voice barks from behind Striker. The man I respect above all strides into the room.

I can’t stop my body from obeying, and I stand at attention. He’s the only man I’ll give this to. Striker, feeling the force of the command, straightens up with his shoulders back, his long hair in a man bun at the back of his head.

“Cut this shit,” Commander orders, poking at Striker’s bun.

“No, sir,” Striker says. “I’m not in anymore. The only reason I stand for you is because I respect you, old friend.” They shake hands and partially hug.

I come around my desk and pull a couple of glasses off the bar against the wall. I pour Striker some of my bourbon, but for Commander, I pull the second bottle from the drawer. I close the drawer before they can see my fucked-up prize. I can’t hide the fact that she is mine. I will possess any part of her I can.

“Black label.” I hold up the bottle before I pour it.

“Yes.” He holds out his hand for the two fingers neat of Jameson Black Label. I raise my bottle, and together the three of us say the toast a fallen soldier made up one night.

“Why are you here?” I ask before I resume my seat.

“Rogue.” The name isn’t a shock, but his next words are. “It was all a setup. Thant wanted her, and he got her. But now he’s going to come after her, and I need you to be ready to defendher. You can’t be all up in your head.” He points at my computer. “Figure your shit out with her. She’ll be in danger too.”

He drops a thick folder on my desk, and both Striker and I lean forward. I open it to find a photo of a woman in a bed. She’s been beaten so severely that the only way I can identify her is by her hair color and height. There were no images of her in the file Browser got me of this attack.

Thant, who ran a military contracting company specializing in security, had suddenly started getting black ops jobs. The Black Unit, which Rogue, Striker, and I were a part of, was run by Julian Black, my drinking buddy and the Commander. Thant had been competing with us until Deere, one of our members, was killed. After that, we were deemed ineffective and disbanded. Rogue was farmed out to Thant, while the rest of us were assigned to other groups before Commander got us back. He couldn’t get Rogue because she’d gotten out by then.

“Thant did this to her?” My blood runs cold.

We read the report that stated her throat had been cut in the attack in Chicago, but this is even worse. They almost killed her. It explains why her features are different now. She had to have reconstruction to repair the damage they did. Her bones were broken, including her fingers, cheekbones, and nose. She suffered knife wounds and a couple of bullet wounds. My stomach turns for what my friend went through.

“Yeah. He and his men. One of his men is missing. I think our little Rogue has gone rogue and is killing them to protect your girl.” He drops another folder, and I open it. I see Franci as a little girl. Her face bruised, lip busted, and I’m angry instantly. Again, the file Browser managed to get stated she’d been physically hit, but it did not mention the damage.

“I’ll kill the fucker who did this.”

“Not sure which one, but that phone number alerted me. I think it’s one of Thant’s men, and he’s going after your girl.”Hearing Commander confirm my fears has the soldier in me rising up, wanting to get revenge. I like that he’s calling her my girl too.

I put the bottle of whiskey and bourbon back in the drawer as we discuss what we can do to protect Rogue and Franci. Commander also mentions that Rogue’s real father is keeping an eye on her. The information on Rogue’s new training has me impressed. This time we’ll help protect Rogue, and we won’t be asking for permission. This is what we do, protect our own.

“I have an ace in the hole that will come to help,” Commander says before he leaves, and I wonder what he’s talking about. But I think I have an idea.

CHAPTER 5

FRANCI

I’m so pissed at my gynecologist. I was supposed to have an appointment a couple of weeks ago to get my shot. The receptionist insists I cancelled my appointment, and they won’t reschedule me another one. Something about the fact they were told I didn’t want to see them anymore and threatened to report them to the Better Business Bureau. I don’t even know what that means. I slam another new mobile phone down on my desk in anger. I can’t do this. What am I going to do?

I’m not having sex, but I still want to keep current on my shot, just in case.

I walk over to my nightstand and look down at the bottle of sleeping pills. I could call the campus clinic. That’s how I got this prescription. A nurse practitioner comes in monthly to look over cases and see patients. I pick up my phone and dial the number.

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