“Aww it’s ok Tyra. We believe you. The next time there's a fight we’ll make sure you get to use your special set of skills.” Mecca told her feigning seriousness.
“Fuck ya’ll.” She huffed and plopped down on the recliner in the corner.
“Don’t be mad Ty, we won’t leave you out of the fun, promise.” Kema told her.
This is what I needed. I needed something to keep my mind off what I knew Crew had to do and my girls would help me stay sane while Crew defended our family. I let my mind wander as my girls laughed and joked, enjoying the calm before the storm.
Chapter 3
Crew
By the timeI entered our command center that had been retrofitted to meet our needs, I was sure the twins could see the murder in my eyes. My gaze was intense and locked on the monitors in front of me that showed every inch of the two thousand acres this compound sat on. Blue eyed me from his position behind the multiple computer screens that lined the room, his fingers dancing across the keyboards. The screens were lit up detailing everything we would need to track Valdez and Sabrina down. Black and Blue had been able to get their hands on money trails, shady business deals and a list of Valdez’s associates as long as my fuckin’ arm.
The algorithm he had running in the background was collecting any and every piece of information that had to do with the Valdez corporation or Sabrina. With it we had been able to infiltrate and take down a few of his trafficking networks by dismantling his routes and making sure his victims never made it to his buyers, but it wasn’t enough. We needed to make a bigger dent in his organization. I wanted Valdez completely alone when it was time to take him down.
“What do we know so far?” Black asked from the corner, arms crossed, eyes moving slowly around the room like we werenot the only muthafuckas in the room. That nigga was always on guard.
“We already know that Valdez is not gon’ stop until he gets Timber and that's not gon’ happen on our watch. That nigga is as evil as they come trafficking not only women but kids too. From what we found he has his hands in a lot more illegal shit than we thought including drugs, money laundering and industrial espionage. Because of this he’s made a lot of enemies over the years so now he’s hell bent on leaving a legacy when and if one of his enemies takes him out. He plans on grooming his son to take over his empire; that's where Timber comes in. That bitch Kyle and his family made a deal to give Timber to Valdez’s son when he came of age for a piece of his business. But since they haven’t been able to deliver on their part of the deal, Valdez has been snatching their female relatives off the streets one at a time. Kyle’s father hasn’t been seen since we buried his kids. If Valdez is still bothering to snatch up his relatives he must be still alive or he’s dead and Valdez is just a sick fuck.”
“You find out where Sabrina is yet?” I asked.
Blue pulled up one of the feeds, isolating a cluster most people would’ve missed completely, but it was his job to notice the things others didn’t.
“This is interesting,” Blue said as he tapped the keyboard. “It looks like Valdez has been using his legitimate businesses to bankroll his trafficking empire. I was able to get into the records for the trucking company he owns and based on the data he has a shipment of women coming in to timberline this week.”
“How does that help us?” I asked.
“I got multiple sightings of Sabrina from the CCTV footage I pulled from the freight depot on the outskirts of town. Looks like Valdez is expanding out this way. If Sabrina is here, it means she will more than likely oversee the delivery on Saturday night,” Blue filled us in.
“Makes sense, she’s been his eyes in the area since this whole thing started.” Black huffed, then asked, “How close are they? I mean do you think she’s fucking Valdez or just working for the nigga. We need to know that if we get to Sabrina, will he step out of the shadows to get her back. Or will he leave that bitch to the wolves.”
“Doesn’t matter, she’s dead no matter who she fuckin’,” I hissed. “All I need to know is how do we get close enough to catch that bitch slippin’? Because the first step to taking Valdez down is blindsidin’ him and if I’m right, getting to Sabrina is how we do it.”
“You know the girls are gon’ be plottin’ on how to help us with this. What do you want to do? I mean Mecca and Kema trained to go. Nova’s pregnant with nephew so we know that shit is a no go and Tyra crazy ass thinks watchin’ kung fu flicks counts as combat training.” Blue shrugged.
“We have to make a decision now because if we leave it up to the girls you never know what they might do. Mecca and Kema won’t hesitate to protect their family and they damn sure ain’t gon’ miss." Black stated, with pride.
“They stay here with half the men that way we know Nova and Timber are in safe hands when we out handlin’ our business. I ain't using my wife or her friends no matter how skilled they are at killing. Make sure Mecca and Kema understand that they only move if I give the word. Nova’s pregnant ass is on lock down and Tyra…” I sighed. “Somebody needs to keep Tyra’s crazy ass tied to a chair somewhere before she hi-yahs her way into a fuckin’ body bag. We will handle Sabrina and Valdez ourselves period.” I growled.
Black exhaled and shifted off the wall with his usual scowl.
“It’s your turn to keep Pinky and the Brain in check. Like I said they not gon’ like this shit if we don’t involve them.” He said looking at his brother.
“They don’t have to like it. They just have to be safe,” I said.
Nova was determined, strong and deeply independent when she needed to be. But what I loved about her most was that she was also soft and delicate but at the same time, a fierce partner in every aspect of our lives.
“We have a hundred men on rotation, and a tight perimeter with no gaps. This place is in the middle of nowhere and we’re hidden from plain view for anyone just looking and might happen to stumble onto the place. The girls will be able to defend from this position if it comes down to it.” Blue stated.
“Yeah, they not gon’ like that shit at all.” Black groaned.
“Like Crew said this is the safest place for them until it ain’t. Now back to Sabrina. What are our options if Valdez doesn’t try to come for her?” Blue asked.
“Then she’s not as valuable as she thinks she is. As soon as she has no value to the plan, she’s dead.” I spat. I want the full schedule of every shipment, delivery, their security patterns, response times and every possible exit route out of the property.”
“I’ll have it tonight.” Blue nodded.
“Good, this shit needs to be over now.” I growled.