Jackson makes another disgusted sound and momentarily squeezes his eyes shut. “Please stop touching my sister in front of me. That lovey dovey crap makes me want to vomit.”
“Your driving makes me want to vomit,” Brent complains in the backseat.
I nip at Gabriel’s arm with my teeth. “Behave, Gabriel. We’re in the car with two weak-stomached assassins.”
Jackson scoffs at my insult, countering with, “Oh yeah, remember the time when we were on the Autobahn in Germany and you puked all over the backseat?”
“I was nine,” I defend myself through clenched teeth.
Jackson starts cracking up. “Simon was pissed. He threatened to send you off to boarding school if you couldn’t hang.”
“Simon sounds like an ass,” Gabriel mutters from behind me, squeezing my shoulder gently before releasing his grip and sitting back in his seat.
“Simon is an ass,” Brent agrees, “A badass.”
“Who exactly is Simon?” Gabriel’s question makes us all tense up.
I clear my throat and change the subject, “So, what hole is Porky hiding in?”
“I take it you’re not going to elaborate?” Gabriel complains from the backseat.
Jackson picks up on my deliberate change of subject and answers my question, “According to, um, our sources, Porky is staying at a closed-down steelworks plant on the outskirts of Newcastle, a couple hours out of Sydney.”
“That boy has always been weird,” Brent remarks. “When he was in Syria, he was renting out the basement of an incense factory. It smelled pretty funky down there.”
For the next hour, we discuss the particulars of the assignment and best course in taking out the multiple targets. This assignment isn’t exactly hard, but it’ll require the handiwork of at least two assassins, which is why Simon brought Brent into this job with me. Jackson’s tagging along is just a bonus.
Brent’s never told Jackson or me how he came to work for Simon and we’ve never asked. If he wanted us to know, then he would’ve told us long ago. In our world, you mind your own business when it comes to both personal and past lives.
I’m wondering why Simon didn’t just ask Jackson to assist in these kills, since he’s on babysitting duty anyway. I roll my eyes to myself. He probably thought Jackson would have his hands full just keeping an eye on me and Gabriel. I turn around in my seat to look at my cute boyfriend. He’s staring out at the scenery we’re passing by, mostly ocean views. “Have you ever been to Australia before?”
He glances at me, shaking his head. “Nope.”
I grin at him in my excitement. “Maybe after the job’s completed, we can do a little sightseeing together.”
He gazes at me affectionately. “I love you,” his full lips lift at one corner as he murmurs the words to me.
“Love you too.” I reach back to touch his cheek. See, Jackson and Simon are worrying for nothing, Gabriel wouldn’t hurt me. We love each other. I know it’s cliché, but the saying “love overcomes all” pops into my head.
“Love you, Gabey,” Jackson says in a high-pitched, girly voice, making fun of me. I twist back around in my seat and punch him in the arm.
Big mouth Brent can’t resist getting in on the teasing. In his own girly voice he says, “Oh Gabey! Let’s take a picture together in front of the Sydney Opera House!”
“So romantic!” Jackson mimics in a voice that so doesn’t sound like me. And I would know. I’ve heard myself on tape enough times. “We could feed each other with our hands and watch the sun set over the water!”
I turn around in my seat to show Gabriel my exasperated face. Expecting to see him angry, or in the very least annoyed, I’m pissed that he’s struggling to hold back laughter. Reaching back, I slap his jean clad thigh. “Hey! You’re not supposed to think this is funny!”
He gives up all pretenses and lets his chuckles loose. “I’m sorry, babe. But, you have to admit that the sexual tension between Jackson and Brent is hilarious.”
“Sexual-” Jackson begins in shock.
“Tension?” Brent finishes for him with a growl.
Catching on to where Gabriel’s going with this, I give him a conspiratorial glance. “How precious, Gabriel. Look, they’re already finishing each other’s sentences.” I let out a mushy, “Aw,” for full effect.
Jackson’s forehead is all bunched up from his mean scowl. “I screw way too many chicks to be gay.”
“Oh, man!” I shout. “Please, please, please never say that within hearing distance of me again!”
“I screw a lot of chicks too.” Brent pipes in, wearing a matching scowl. “And unlike Jackson, I screw hot chicks.”
Jackson scoffs at that, “You wish buddy.”
“You remember that chick we shared in Quebec?” Brent questions him, his expression changing to one of levity.
Jackson shifts in his seat, relaxing too. “Yeah, she was so hot.”
“Disgusting,” I gripe under my breath.
“Well, I’ve had way hotter,” Brent boasts.
Gabriel clears his throat, interrupting them, “So, what the two of you are saying, is that you guys have had sex together.”
“No!” Brent and Jackson yell at the same time. Even louder than their denials is the sound of me and Gabriel laughing.
I finally calm myself enough to place a hand reassuringly on Jackson’s forearm. “I accept you and love you for who you are big brother.”
“I can’t speak for Brent, but I can assure you that I am not gay,” he says through a clenched jaw. “We did not have sex together. We merely each had it with the same girl.”
Ew. Who got sloppy seconds? Ew!
“But you were both naked, sweaty and aroused in a room together,” Gabriel points out.
“Yes and strictly screwing the girl,” Brent says in an annoyed tone.
Ew!
Despite my grossed-out state, I can’t resist badgering them some more. “But, you both-”
Jackson cuts me off, “Drop it.”
I look back at Gabriel again and we bust out laughing. This is the best mini road trip ever. Less than an hour later, we’re driving around an industrial area of Newcastle, searching for the steelworks plant. It’s not hard to find, the main building is monstrous and ugly as hell. Since it’s surrounded by a barbwire fence, we have to stop at the front gate and hit a buzzer on the keypad. After a few minutes of mentally tapping our fingers we finally get a response. An irritated voice comes over the speaker, “What the fuck?”
Jackson pushes the button again to respond, but leaning over him, I beat him to it, “Is that any way to greet the greatest female assassin to ever kill?”
“Diana?” A wary voice responds.
A light bulb goes off in my head. “Oh shit, Porky! You messed around with Diana?” I exclaim in shock.
“Annabelle?” He corrects himself and even through the speaker I can hear the relief in his voice.
“Yup.”
“Who’s that with you in the car?” he asks suspiciously. I glance up to check out the cameras he has mounted on poles up high, near the barbed wire.
Jackson pushes the button again. “It’s Jackson.”
“And the backseat?”
Jackson answers, “It’s just Brent and Annie’s boy toy.”
Porky chuckles through the speaker. “All right, I’ll buzz you in.”
My hot boyfriend reaches between the front seats to jab Jackson in the ribs. “Better than being Brent’s boy toy.”
“I said drop it,” Jackson says in aggravation. “I don’t do guys.”
The gates slowly glide open and Jackson pulls the car through. Driving around, we find a spot near what we figure is the front entrance. The rusted up metal doors give the place a real homey feeling. Maybe I should give him a wreath to hang up on the door as a housewarming gift.
All four of us step out and stretching my legs feels good after being boxed into a compact car. Probably feels even better for Gabriel and Brent. Within seconds o
f Gabriel stepping out of the backseat, he’s wrapping his arms around my waist, swooping down for a kiss. I could get used to having him around, all this affection is intoxicating.
The creaking of a door alerts us to a side entrance opening. Porky doesn’t step out and I realize he must have it hooked up to some sort of electronic control system. Computer geeks just can’t help showing off. Porky must get all the ladies at technology conventions. I laugh at the thought as we step into the hazardous-looking building. Gabriel gives me a weird look but I just shrug and tell him, “Later.”
In front of us is a hallway that starts to curve just a few yards ahead. Small recessed lighting is set into the floor, showing us the way. After a few minutes of turning corners and making our way deeper into the building, we come across a stairway leading down.
“What’s up with Porky and basements?” Brent mutters irritably.
Jackson takes the lead, followed by me then Gabriel with Brent taking the rear. As we climb down the metal stairway into the underground level, Gabriel’s curiosity is stirred. “Who exactly is this Porky guy?”
“I’ve known him for a few years. Young, but not as young as us, he’s maybe twenty-four or twenty-five. Simon recruited him out of MIT as soon as he graduated. We use him and a few others like him as weapons and technology specialists. It’s his job to keep up with changing technology in our field and pass it on to us. He also hacks into databases when we need certain information.”
At the bottom of the stairs, there’s another hallway with light coming from a large opening at the end. We walk the short way there and enter what looks to be a game room. “I have to say,” Gabriel says dryly, “This is a little anticlimactic.” I scan a room that’s crowded with a pool table, massive entertainment center, pinball machines and large arcade-style video game machines.
Brent let’s out his breath in a loud whoosh. “But cool as hell.”
“Yeah,” Jackson agrees.
From somewhere in the room a voice whines, “This better be good. I was taking my afternoon nap.” Followed by, “At least you’re not that devil-woman.”
I walk over to the black leather sectional sofa and peer over the back, seeing Porky all rumpled from sleep. I point at his Superman fleece blanket and ask, “Is that your blankie?”
“Damn straight it is,” he mumbles groggily. “Don’t hate on the blankie.”
The guys follow suit and peer over the couch at Porky. Brent eyes the blanket. “I have the same one.”
“How’d you monitor us outside from the couch?” I ask.
From under the blanket, Porky pulls out a remote unlike any I’ve seen before. With a push of a button, the large television turns on. The screen is broken up into numerous rectangle squares, all showing different video feeds, monitoring areas around and outside of the facility.
“I’ve got skills,” Porky smugly boasts.
Jackson snorts. “Yeah, mad dork skills.”
Porky sits up. “You’re just jealous cause all you can do is point and shoot.”
Jackson makes a move to go around the couch after him, but Porky is on his feet instantly. He may not be a trained killer, but the boy works out and Simon makes sure even his geeks can defend themselves. With curly blonde hair, hazel eyes and a lean, muscular build, I can see why Diana went for him. Not that I was ever tempted myself. I go for the tall, dark and handsome types, one in particular. Jackson gives up on the chase after Porky dodges him a few times by using the sofa as a buffer.
Thinking of Diana, I have to ask, “So, you and Diana, huh?”
“We’re in love,” Porky says defensively.
Brent crosses his arms over his chest. “If you two are so in love, why’d you flee the Middle East in such a hurry and are now hiding in a metal fortress?”
“It’s complicated,” Porky mutters, looking dejected.
I plop down on the couch. “Oh yeah? How so?”
Porky shakes his head sadly. “She thinks I cheated on her.”
“And now she’s trying to annihilate you?” Jackson asks.
“I don’t think she’s actually trying to kill me. She’s just a little irrational right now. I’m giving her time to cool off,” Porky states and walks over to a panel on the wall. Pushing some buttons on the keypad, a rusty door slides open. When it gets stuck halfway, Porky has to manually jerk it open the rest of the way. His situation with Diana sounds kinda familiar.
“Oh yeah, how much time?” Gabriel asks.
Not turning around, Porky shrugs. “A few more months should do it.”
We file into the adjacent room and take a look around. Gabriel is the first to comment, “This room is dope.” Along one entire wall is any type of gun you can think of, from submachine gun to shotgun to pistol.
I point with my thumb to a gun that’s on display with the others. “Paintball gun?”
“State of the art, tinkered with it myself,” Porky brags. Gabriel laughs mockingly and Porky turns around to give him a dirty look. “Hey man, if I shot you with that . . . well, it would hurt a lot.”
I walk over the wall and pull down a G3 fully automatic battle rifle. “This is what I’m talking about.”
Brent walks over and pulls down a M40 bolt-action sniper rifle. “No, this is what I’m talking about. Don’t even have to get up close and dirty. Just sit on some rooftop or hill somewhere and wait for the target to come to you.”
I smirk at Jackson then innocently ask Porky, “Do you have anything in pink for Jackson?”
“Ha, ha, ha,” Jackson says humorlessly. He gets an evil gleam in his eyes. “Porky, you haven’t been officially introduced to Annabelle’s boyfriend yet.” Gesturing from one to the other, he introduces them, “Porky, meet boy toy. Boy toy, meet Porky.”
Looking at Gabriel, Porky gives him a friendly smile. “Is your name really boy toy?”
Gabriel’s eyes go artlessly wide. “Is your name really Porky?”
Shaking his head, he answers, “Nope. I was a fat kid when I was younger. Name just sort of stuck with me into adulthood. My name’s really Arthur.”
“Oh,” Gabriel says indifferently, losing interest, and walks over to a metal table with various explosive devices lying on top.
“So, what’s the job?” Porky is leaning against a long desk with various computer monitors and equipment hovering above. Wearing red basketball shorts and a white hoodie, he looks sloppy, but his hazel eyes are gleaming in anticipation.
Brent fills him in, “There are five targets, a gang of sorts, who specialize in illegally shipping guns made by Lead Dynamics to terrorists in the Middle East.”
“Lead Dynamics in Oakville? What are they shipping out, the Lead T3 MK6 Series weapons?” Porky questions us, excitement written on his boyish face.
“Yes and yes,” I answer, surprised he doesn’t already know. Simon must have another one of the geeks gathering us information for this assignment. “They all live and work out of a large house on the beach down the coast from Sydney. Unfortunately, from what Simon says, they’re a suspicious bunch and only deal with people they already know.” I smile ruefully and add, “Only date women they already know.”
“So, you’re going in blind?” Porky asks in disbelief.
I shrug one shoulder, unconcerned with the situation. “It can’t be avoided sometimes.”
Porky lets out a big breath before speaking, “Well, I have everything you need. If one of you will help me, the rest can go relax in my game room.”
Brent and I decide to assist Porky since this is technically our assignment. Jackson and Gabriel go out to play in the game room.
I chuckle to myself, thinking about how they’re spending quality time together.
Chapter 30
Gabriel
“I hardly ever play video games anymore,” I inform Jackson.
“Whatever, kid. Make all the excuses you want, but I’m still beating you,” Jackson says with a cocky grin, killing my character again on the video game. “Booya!” he shouts and
jumps to his feet to point a finger at me. “In your face, boy toy!”
Really, who even says ‘booya’ anymore? Dorks like Jackson, that’s who. I toss my controller onto the cushion next to me. “Whatever, I’m tired of this game. And you’ve obviously played it many times before.”
He looks at me in fake innocence. “Dude, this is my first time playing it too. I can’t help it that I have a gift.”
Mumbling some curses, I get up and walk away. “Whatever, I’m going to go see what’s taking them so long.” When I go into the ‘weapons room’, I see that Anna, Porky and Brent have been playing some games of their own. Alternative rap music has been blaring from there almost since I left the room.
“Again!” Brent orders a moment before Anna shoots him in the chest with the paintball gun.
He grunts, but manages to stagger back only one step before regaining his footing. If what Porky was saying earlier is true, Brent is going to be sporting some bruises. He’s wearing a clear plastic disposable raincoat with neon pain splattered on it.
“Aim for the face,” I suggest, just trying to be helpful.
Anna turns her head to look back at me with a smile. “Miss me, baby?”
I give her a sour look. “Your brother cheats at video games.”
She laughs while placing the paintball gun on a nearby table and walking all sexy-like over to me. “Aw poor baby. Did Jackson beat you?”
“I’d like to beat him,” I mumble loudly. When she leans up to kiss me, all negative thoughts fly out of my head. Damn, I wish I had her alone right now. Unfortunately, the only places around here involving privacy also involve rust and caked dirt.
Pulling away from the kiss, I sigh woefully. From the look in her eyes, I can tell she knows exactly what I’m thinking. “Tonight,” she whispers meaningfully. I can’t wait.
I hear the sound of a zipper closing and look over to see Porky hauling two jumbo-sized duffel bags over to us. Brent, who’s stripped off the raincoat, grabs one from him as he passes by. When Porky reaches us, I grab the other one from him before Anna can.
She huffs in exasperation, “I can carry that.”