Nightstalker: Red Team (15 page)

“Yup.” With that I walked out for a smoke and to check on our departure. The sooner the better.

The helicopter had landed at zero four hundred and was already loaded with what little gear we had here. Leo and Colin were talking with the pilot, doing a safety brief. From what Zane had told me these guys would never fly in any aircraft they did not certify themselves.

I lit my smoke and walked to the corner of the house. The sun was barely peaking up over the horizon. The sky was just turning orange. We only had about fifteen minutes until lift off. Just as the nicotine started to work its magic and calm my nerves I heard my name being called. Turning around, I saw Jaxon walking towards me.

“What’s up, Jax?” I asked as he neared.

“How are you brother?” He cautiously asked.

“Fine as wine,” I replied, reverting back to jargon, not wanting to get into a discussion about the past twenty four hours.

“So that’s how you’re gonna play it?” He shot back.

This was my team. At some point I was going to have to let them in and learn to trust them, but right now they still felt like Jasmin’s team and I was the outsider.

“Before a mission, yeah.” I hoped my response would smooth over any bad feelings.

“I hear that, probably the smartest thing you can do. Clear all that shit from your head, just know we all have your back.” When Jax finished he placed a wad of chew in his lip and spit. “I’ve got your back, both in mission and home.”

I gave a nod in acknowledgement, not sure what to say to him and took another drag of my smoke.

“Final brief in five with the President, Drew, and Jas before we hit it,” he threw over his shoulder.

I snubbed my smoke out and slid my mask firmly in place. It was go time.

Jasmin

This fucking guy was going to give me whiplash. One minute I was in his arms, he was gentle and rocking me after a nightmare. The next minute his eyes were dead and cold. Last night he made love to me. I felt it, felt the change in his body, felt his eyes on me. I didn’t need light to feel the way he touched my skin. I didn’t need to say the words to show him how I felt. I allowed him to see every part of me in the darkness, and now he was looking at me like he did not know me.

My head was going to fucking explode at this rate. They say women have mood swings. I apologized and admitted I was wrong, what more did he want? An engraved fucking plaque that he could hang on his wall? Not a chance. I had done far more than I ever thought I would. I just needed to keep my mouth in check. It had gotten me in enough trouble already.

We were all sitting at the dining room table; maps, blue prints and schematics littered the surface. Everyone had a look of intense concentration, this was what we did, this was what all of us were born to do. Plan, strategize, and execute with exact precision.

“Status?” Z asked as he shifted some paper in front of him. From what I could see it looked like it was a hand drawn map of one of the drug tunnels.

“Team seven is in place and awaiting our arrival. They have been patrolling the tunnel. It is all clear,” Colin said as he passed a satellite image of the Marron Valley Pass on the California Mexico border across the table to Zane.

Long gone were the days of grainy images with little detail. You could see every detail of the pass and the rock formation that hide the tunnel from the satellite. 

“We will cross through the tunnel. Once on the other side we end up here.” Zane pointed to the topographic map that was spread out in the middle of the table. “We follow the Tecate Creek three klicks east. We will have relative cover through the valley. We will hug the southern wall of the valley here.” He paused again and ran his finger along the map pointing out the steep valley walls. “We head five klicks south at the Tijuana river junction, hugging the western wall this time.” He stopped, allowing everyone to scan the map.

The topographic map showed the elevation of the mountains surrounding the valley and the waterways that flowed through the valley. What it did not show was what I knew were beautiful red rock formations and the steep cliffs and beautiful greenery that carpeted the mountain ranges on either side of the valley. 

“The valley opens here at the northernmost part of the property,” Zane continued, pointing at the map again.

“Latest intel confirms Sonreír has three guards inside the compound, no outside patrol,” Jaxon added as he read over a SITREP from HQ.

“We will split up here.” Z pointed to the map again where the valley gave way to a wide clearing. The map had Sonreír’s property outlined. “Jaxon and Eric, you’ll scout and head one klick south to the guard tower to confirm there is no patrol and disable any outside surveillance. We have been told there is none, but verify. Leo and Linc you’ll stay close to the mountain wall and head south towards the compound. Colin you’re with me, we’ll cut straight through the middle using the overgrown pasture as cover. He has one hundred and fifty head of cattle, give or take.” Each of the guys studied the map and gave their affirmative. “Rendezvous point is here.” Z marked the map with an X and jotted down the longitude and latitude coordinates. “We will breach on the north side. The conservatory is the most vulnerable,” Zane finished.

Leo slid the blueprint of the house over the topo map and pointed out the conservatory. “Weak spot is here, they forgot a small window while installing the alarm system, which is bunk by the way. A common criminal could get past this piece of shit system.”

That didn’t sound right and I had to ask, even though I was not technically on the mission. “Why would he have a shit system in a high crime area?”

“Fear. He doesn’t need an alarm system. No one in their right mind would dare step foot on his land,” Lincoln spoke up for the first time. “I’d be surprised if the doors were locked. He is a cocky bastard that’s for sure. He thinks he is untouchable.”

Tom grunted his agreement and added, “His father, Alonzo, was the same kind of stupid. He was as narcissistic and arrogant as they come. He loved nothing more than to show everyone around him that he was in control and above the law. He was an abusive bastard; he beat his wife for the slightest infraction. He ended up hanging his wife in the grove beside his home. Her and the guard he was convinced she was screwing. He believed Alonzo Jr, or “Sonreír”, as he became later in his career was the product of that long going affair. He left both bodies hanging in the tree for weeks in a show of power. Alonzo Jr was around fourteen.” He shook his head and his face screwed up like he had smelled something horrible. “Let’s just say it was a pleasure to take out that asshole out when the order came. I don’t lose sleep over the fucker, that’s for sure.”

“Jesus. And I thought my dad was an asshole,” Eric said.

Zane started to fold back up the maps and slid them into plastic sleeves, placing them into his Blackhawk messenger bag. The rest of the team followed, packing up the intel reports and satellite photos, moving at a fast pace. They had a helicopter to catch.

Eric’s phone rang, he glanced at the screen before he slid his finger across the screen unlock, and entered in his code. Placing the call on speaker, he held it out towards the room.

“You’re on speaker. Go,” Eric said.  

“SAT COM two is now open and a go for you, Garrett sent the latest satellite images to Zane’s tablet as of one hour ago. It is confirmed Sonreír is still at the compound, but we no longer have use of that Satellite. It has been moved. We’re dark after this,” Jake clipped.

“Anything else?” Zane spoke up.

“The Farm is ready, your kit and weapons are on standby. Captain Black has checked in and they are good to go as well.”

“Copy that. Mission code name: Stephanie Swift,” Zane replied as he zipped his bag shut and flipped the flap over.

The team snickered and the President let out a chuckle. Good to know my uncle had a sense of humor.

That was the only unprofessional thing Zane ever did while planning a mission. He named his ops after porn stars. He got a kick at the higher up having to say such distasteful names in mission debriefs. I think that was his way of saying ‘fuck you’ to the oversight committees. 

“Out.”

Eric slid the phone into the side pocket of his cargos and picked up the go bag at his feet. The rest of the team followed suit. Holy shit, this was it. They were leaving and I was going to stay behind. This was not a feeling I was used to; as a matter of fact, I had never felt this before.

“Jasmin, you got this?” Zane asked as he looked around the room, his eyes landing on the President.

“It’s all good.” I tried to smile to reassure him I was fine.

Truth was I had a sick feeling in my gut. Something felt off. I was chalking it up to all the emotional shit that had been dumped on me.

“See you on the other side. You’ll have eyes and ears, COM two is yours,” Eric said as he passed me a slip of paper with the codes I would need to dial into their COMS.

“Yup, be safe.”

“Always. Enjoy the White House, slack ass,” Eric joked.

The rest of the team said good bye, leaving Lincoln and I alone in the room. I suddenly felt like I was fifteen again and waiting for the cute boy in class to talk to me. Screw this shit, I do not play games.

“Be safe Linc,” I said, walking passed him towards the door. I could hear the rotor blades starting to wind up signaling their departure was eminent.

Linc grabbed my arm as I tried to slide by him, pulling me into his strong arms, squeezing me tight. He breathed in my neck. “I’ll see you soon, my sweet Jasmin. Please stay at the White House until this is over. I need to know you are safe. I won’t be able to concentrate if I think you are out there unprotected.”

My body stiffened. What the actual fuck? I was not some weak ass little girl. “The fuck?  I can more than handle myself. I do not need a baby sitter nor do I appreciate you trying to insinuate I do.” I struggled to pull out of his embrace. 

His grip tightened as he lowered his face, coming nose to nose with me. “Swear to Christ you are the most difficult female on the planet. Just this once do what the hell you are told and stay with your uncle so I can do my damn job and take this asshole out.”

He was vibrating with anger. As much as I loved to push his buttons and wanted to disagree, my teams’ lives were on the line. One misstep and the mission would be FUBAR. Everyone had to be at the top of their game. Lucky asshole had me in a corner.

“Fine,” I snapped.

His mouth came down on mine hard. He used my shock to his advantage and pushed his tongue in my mouth. I unwillingly moaned when his tongue brushed mine, flooding my mouth with the taste of coffee, mint, and Linc. In true Lincoln Parker fashion, he fisted my hair and deepened the kiss, taking total control of my mouth. It felt like a ‘good bye’ not a ‘see you later’. When he started to break the kiss, biting my lip then licking the sting, I tried to hold on. Leaning in, not wanting to lose the connection.

Would I ever get enough of his wicked mouth? Would my body always unwillingly respond and soften when seconds before I wanted to punch him in his throat for being an overbearing asshole?

The kiss ended all too soon and without a word Linc was out the door. What the fuck was that! It took me a moment to shake myself out of my Linc induced stupor and run out the door to watch my team depart. I made it out the door just in time to watch the helicopter lift off the ground. The whine of the engines roaring to full power was so loud I covered my ears and enjoyed the vibrations the noise sent through my body. I always loved traveling by helicopter. The sheer power always amped up my adrenaline. Fuck, this sucked ass. Watching my team leave left me feeling inadequate and weak, neither of which I was comfortable with.

Tom and Drew walked back towards me. Tom patted my shoulder and continued on towards the house, leaving Drew and I standing outside watching the helicopter disappear into the dawn.

“You good?” Drew asked.

“I get to shoot guns and take out bad guys, life is good.” I tried to force some spunk in my voice. I did not want a postmortem of my relationship and that is exactly what Drew was trying to do.

“You think that bullshit works on me, girl?” he laughed.

Shit and damn! Since when did Drew want to do girl talk?

“It was worth a shot, there’s nothing to say Drew. My life is fucked. I have lived a lie my whole life, I have an Uncle that is the freaking President, and, oh yeah, I am married!” My voice raised a few octaves towards the end, it sounded shrill even to my own ears. What in the hell was that shit?

“Let’s start with your life is a lie. It sounds to me like you had parents that gave a shit and wanted you protected from the fall out that was their life, not wanting you to grow up having to be followed and watched. Get the hell over it. You know now. Move on and get to know your uncle.”

I stood frozen. Get over it. What the fuck?

“Nice. Thanks for that very insightful outlook.”

“Jasmin, what is the alternative? What would your life have been like growing up if Tom took you? You would have grown up in a bubble. You would have been stifled. Body guards and all that other bullshit. Or if you didn’t have Noah? Foster care? So yeah, get over it, that simple. You want a pity party, poor you? That is not the bad ass Jasmin I know. The Jasmin I know pulls her shit together gets square and moves on. So move on.” Drew threw his arm up in obvious frustration.

He was right, of course. I was not one to allow anyone to pity me or treat me like I needed to be managed.

“Shit and damn! I hate it when you’re right. I’m good. Yes, just like that before you ask.  I just needed someone to set my ass straight. You’ve always been good at that.” I smiled at him.

I knew this was somewhat of an uncomfortable conversation for Drew. He did not do touchy feely. Oh he always had my back and was protective, but he was all man. For him to bring this up to me meant I looked worse than I thought. Damn it to hell.

“You know, I worked with Linc on an op in Germany about five years ago,” he asked, his eyes guarded, looking more uncomfortable then he did a minute ago. “We didn’t work closely, his team was the secondary. We tracked a jihadist group to Germany and his team was already embedded so it just worked to use them.”

“Yeah?” I was confused. Why in the hell would that make Drew so uncomfortable, “So you got a problem with him, did the operation go to shit?”

“The opposite actually. Lincoln Parker is one of the best operators I have ever worked with. Before I knew his connection to you I was relieved he was joining the team. I knew his shit was wired tight, he is smart with great instincts.”

“And now that you know there is a connection, that he is my husband?” I asked, still unclear where this was going. Surly Drew knew I could handle myself; I had never given any of the guys any reason to think that I was some wilting flower that needed five big brothers to protect her. Even though that is exactly what they did when we weren’t on a mission. When we were in the field they treated me no differently than they treated each other. But when we were stateside they acted like I was the little sister.