Leather and Lace

She's a what?

Marc

Four years later

"I don't understand why we have to get up so early in the morning."

"It's two in the afternoon," I tell Luke exasperated.

He looks at me with wide eyes for emphasis. "Exactly."

I roll my eyes and continue to walk. Dr. Roberts called all of us in for a meeting regarding another mission. The Blackbourne Team started working with us on occasion three years ago and ever since then we've been constantly paired by the Academy. We're essentially brothers at this point. Kota and I have been talking about a possible merge but haven't brought it up with Axel and Owen as of yet. After knowing the stuffy man for years you'd think he would loosen up a bit on the formality but unfortunately, it seems like he's just gotten worse.

Walking into the meeting room, I noticed Luke and I were the only ones missing. I took the empty seat between Axel and Brandon by the head of the table, where Dr. Roberts is seated. Across from my seat on the other side of the table sat Kota.

Dr. Roberts cleared his throat. "Right, now that everyone is accounted for, let's begin. There have been reports of people going missing around the Upper King Street area and we've gathered some intel that it's looking like a human trafficking ring. Your job, should you accept, is to go undercover and acquire as much incriminating evidence as you can about the people running the show and shut down the whole operation." He passes folders to Axel and Owen. "The team that was doing surveillance on the area noticed that people go missing at these three clubs. Five women and three men have gone missing in the past month. Three favors are being offered for each member and five for each team."

All of us look at him in surprise at his last statement.

"Why so many favors?" Kota asks, nudging his glasses up a bit.

Dr. Roberts sighed and leaned back in his chair. "This will be a highly dangerous and long-term mission. It could last for months or even a year or so. We have suspicions that this could be far bigger than we anticipated so the Academy is essentially at your disposal with this mission."

I looked at my brothers and see the hesitancy in some. I'm a bit hesitant myself. If something goes wrong, we could get hurt beyond repair, that is if there's anything left to repair.

"I'm guessing you picked us because not only do we work well together but because we are very well versed in our skillset..." Luke trailed off, glancing at Dr. Roberts. "And you think we're the only ones capable of being successful with this mission."

"There aren't many teams as equipped as yours is for this mission with the capability to work as one. If we don't stop this who knows how many more others will be taken. We don't even know what they're doing to the missing people. It is still ultimately your decision if you want to take the case or not."

Our team liaisons took one glance at us and simultaneously said, "We're willing and will obey."

Dr. Roberts stood up as the door swung open. "Great. I'll leave Stephen to handle the rest. Oh, and there will be another team joining you on this mission." He finished as he walked out the door in a hurry.

"What?!" Gabe shouted as all of us sat flabbergasted.

A man, Stephen I'm guessing, walked into the room. He was tall, probably as tall as Raven, and as brawny as Nathan. He had combed-over blond hair and intense ice-blue eyes, he looked to be in his mid 40's. He stared at us with a slight smirk. The black shirt he was wearing strained against the bulging muscles of his crossed arms.

"Well, I didn't know I was that beautiful to be stared at for five minutes and thirty-seven seconds," he joked. A few of us choked at that.

"Anyways, my name is Stephen Schulz and like Phil, I am an Academy elder. I am the handler of the other team joining you on this mission. I'll be a tad more involved in this mission than most handlers are due to my personal connection with the other team. I'll answer any questions but for now, I advise you to follow me to a more secure location to conduct this meeting. As per the other team's request. The nature of this mission is quite... sensitive and it would be better if we talked with the other team present." He turned and walked out without another glance.