Page 33 of Rett

“This better be fucking good,” he growled into the phone.

“You always were a grouch in the morning,” said East. “Meet us in the offices in ten. We’ve found something.”

Casey was already getting dressed with a smile on her face. She knew that this would be their future. Every woman she’d spoken to had given her very clear expectations of what it would be like married to a VG man.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he frowned.

“Rett, you’re doing this for me, for us. There will always be another opportunity for you and me to make love. This is important.” She kissed his cheek, and he laughed, shaking his head as he followed her out of the cottage.

“Why are you laughing?” she asked.

“Because I’ve been avoiding a permanent relationship my entire adult life, thinking that no one would understand my lifestyle, my profession, my crazy family.”

“I love your family,” she grinned.

“I know, baby, which is what makes me love you all the more.” He kissed her again, waving. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

Casey ran off to catch up with Margo, Ramey, and Summer. Rett just smiled at the sight of it all as his brothers practically tackled him on the path.

“Someone is in love,” smirked East.

“Fuck you,” he laughed. “And yes, I am. I never thought I would be, but I am. As usual, it’s shit for timing, but here I am.”

“We’re happy for you, Rett. Seriously,” said Eazee. “I wonder what this is all about.”

“I sure as fuck hope it’s good news.” East opened the door to see the entire team in their seats. What was strange was seeing Gabi, Riley, and Lucinda. The three men frowned, taking their seats in the front row between their grandfathers and father on the other side.

“What’s up?” asked Rett, looking at Eric and the others.

“Bear with us while we review what we’ve found,” said Eric. “After Ramos’s compound was destroyed, and we spoke to Bankston, he sent a Ranger team down there to take a look around. Ramos’s wife was definitely identified as the one who was murdered; however, he didn’t have just one wife. His first wife was alive and well. There were no indications that they’d been divorced, no court records, nothing. That could have to do with his devout catholic faith.”

“How sweet. A drug lord that’s a devout Catholic,” frowned Rett. He heard the clearing of someone’s throat and turned to see Miguel. “Shit. I’m sorry, Miguel.”

“Don’t be. Men can justify anything in the name of religion.”

“One of the Rangers decided to have a conversation with the first wife after seeing her visiting an unmarked grave several days in a row. When she arrived, he was seated at another grave, appearing to be grieving. So, he struck up a conversation,” said Eric. He nodded at Hex to continue.

“The first wife, Rosalita, has been left alone for years. She’s provided for but doesn’t have to live with Ramos but also is watched very closely. Then she meets a man. An American. They allegedly fell in love, and she began telling him all the things she knew of Ramos’s business. She was scared and wanted to leave the country, but he wouldn’t let her. He didn’t want her, didn’t want to touch her, other than occasional beatings, which seemed to be his favorite thing to do, but didn’t want her to leave.

“The American made a plan to help get her out. What neither knew was that Ramos had her home bugged. Cameras, microphones, everything. She and her American lover had no idea until one night Ramos and his men barge in. They removed her lover, leaving her beaten but alive.

“Rosalita thought for certain he was dead. Until five weeks later, he shows up at her door. She’s relieved, but something is off. Something about his behavior and attitude with her tells her that he’s familiar, but he is not the American. She questions him over and over again until finally, he tells her the truth, laughing at her pain.

“When the Rangers dug up the unmarked grave, they took DNA samples from the corpse. It’s the body of Colonel Steven Barber.”

“Wait. What the fuck?” muttered Rett.

“I guess this is where we come in,” said Lucinda. “We’ve analyzed the DNA and confirmed it’s Barber. Rosalita had photos of her and Barber from about six months ago and one that she took of him recently. She knows the truth. She knew it even before Ramos told her.” She hit the keys on the computer and a photo appears of Ramos.

“Ramos. Yeah, we know,” said Eazee. She hit another key, and beside it was the recent photo of Barber. Slowly, the images overlapped.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” said Rett. “They’re the same person?”

“Not the same person. Barber was an American serviceman, a colonel. Ramos was the right height, weight, coloring, everything. All it took was a good plastic surgeon and a great dentist. The man walking around as Colonel Barber now is Ramos.”

“I’ll be a son-of-a-bitch,” muttered East. “So, is Ryder a part of this or not?”

“That’s what we don’t know yet. He could be a part of the game, or he could be fooled by Ramos as well,” said Eric. “Ramos has been out of sight for a while now, sending his men to do any business for him. This is why. Not only can he direct the entire division by becoming Barber, but he may be able to sway the general as well.”

---