Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Several people begin to shift in their seats as he continues to speak, and I fight the urge to do the same. I know what they're asking needs to be done, but I also know my limitations. There's no way I could go undercover in a world like that and not be triggered.
"It won't be easy, and I know Kincaid has mentioned that becoming a part of this effort isn't recommended for people with families. I'll tell everyone right now, if you have any deep connections to anyone, you'll be denied. If you're married or have children, the answer is no."
I lock my eyes on the back of Hound's head. It wasn't that long ago that Hound was the one asking all the questions about this new endeavor. He was the only one who spoke up, but now he sits there quietly, not moving a muscle.
"I know no one is asking, but I feel the need to tell you why I'm putting that rule in place. I don't want there to be any doubt about how dangerous this job is," Ace says. I watch as the man looks up to the ceiling as if he needs to gather his thoughts before continuing, and I just know what he's going to share with us is going to be brutal for him. "I know Kincaid provides a dossier on every person that has been a part of Cerberus, and I think that history is great. Knowing the people you fight beside and the people who came before you is important. I also know that the dossier has no information on Skid after he left the club."
Several people in the room sit up straighter in their chairs, a captive audience to what he's about the share.
"Noah Upton was my best friend from the time we were kids up until the day he died."
My breath hitches in my chest, and I hear more than one person gasp. There's always been chatter about what happened to Noah "Skid" Upton. Some think he got into trouble with the law, and his information wasn't added to other dossiers because Kincaid didn't want another stain on the club. Some thought that maybe he had gone dark, disappeared, and they didn't know what happened to him.
"Thirteen years ago, he managed to infiltrate a group that had major ties to the Cortez family," Ace continues, his words pulling cuss words from several people around the table.
The Cortez family is responsible for so much destruction in Mexico and the United States. Followers of the family were the ones responsible for three murders in Beth's hometown of Lindell, Texas, a little over a year ago. They're a violent, nasty group of people.
"While he was undercover, he did what most idiots would do, he fell in love. I'm not saying it was a mistake, but it led to his death. Only the Cortez family didn't leave it at that. By the time Noah's real identity was discovered, he was three years, a marriage, and two kids deep into his job. He was leaking back information as much as he could, but he was so deep, it was almost impossible to get information back to us." Ace clears his throat, then he proceeds. "I hadn't heard from him in over a month, and against my better judgment, I reached out to him. His wife found the burner phone and took it to her father, Alejandro Cortez. Noah had to watch as his wife, Alejandro's own daughter, was killed. Then his two boys before they put him out of his own misery. The ICE records show that Noah Upton was a traitor to his country, but the man saved hundreds of women and children while he was undercover. I know that had I not made that phone call, he would’ve been capable of saving hundreds more."
Silence fills the room, and we all know what he's feeling. We're all Marines, including Ace, but there's just something different about losing your best friend. I can only imagine the devastation that caused him.
"So, know that if you decide to be a part of this program, there can be no connections, and no connections can be formed. You will be isolated and alone most of the time, and it will have to stay that way until you choose to leave."
Ace looks to Kincaid. My boss is staring across the room as if he's just now hearing the news of Noah's death for the first time, but I doubt that's the case. I don't think Ace would share such devastating news with the club president at the same time he shared it with a group of men and women he hadn't met until today.
"With all that being said, I came to ask if there's anyone here that would be interested in joining."