“I see him, too,” Rocky growled. “Asshole’s purposely taunting them.”
And from the smile on the man’s tan face, he was getting off on the captives’ fear.
Not that the HT’s behavior was surprising. Not when, nine days ago, the asshole and his five buddies had stormed their clinic without provocation.
According to Homeland’s intel, the tangos waltzed inside, killed two volunteers and a patient, stole a bunch of drugs and supplies, and then forced the four hostages they had now into the back of a cargo truck.
Then, just for fun, the dickheads had set fire to the clinic before leaving it—and their victims—to burn as they sped away.
“Have I mentioned how much I’m looking forward to taking down these pieces of shit?” Brody asked no one in particular.
You and me both, brother. You and me both.
Every man on the team shared the former SEAL’s sentiment. Brody was also spot on in his assessment of their targets. The guys they’d hunted downwerepieces of shit.
Through and fucking through.
“I have a partial view of the hostages, too,” Christian informed them. “We need to get them into position soon, or we’ll be forced to go to Plan B.”
Plan A was definitely the better option. Quick. Easy. And almost zero risk to those being held captive. Plan B, however…
“Give us a couple more minutes, Boss,” Rocky requested on the team’s behalf. “Our boy’s bound to get tired of walking back and forth.”
If the guy would just move near one of the windows already, they could go with Plan A—a simultaneous kill. It was the most ideal option for both the team and the hostages. As for the HTs…
Rocky and the others were more than ready to give them a one-way ticket straight to Hell.
When Christian didn’t immediately respond to Rocky’s request for more time, Cade Ellis—the team’s youngest member and one hell of a sniper—spoke through the comms.
“Delta One,” Cade spoke directly to their team leader. “I have a possible shot on the northwest side of the building. But I could get a much cleaner line of sight if I move in a few yards.”
“Do it.” The order came through quietly. “Delta Three, why don’t you?—”
“Already moving, Boss,” Rocky read the man’s mind.
He was the closest to Cade’s position, so it made sense for him to shift over to keep an eye on his teammate’s six.
While Cade silently trekked down the small hill toward the building, Rocky moved several yards due north. Setting up shop almost halfway between his original position and the spot where Cade had just left, Rocky got back down onto his belly before re-aligning his rifle and efficiently readjusting his sights.
Meanwhile, Christian continued going down the line, gathering the remaining team members’ updates…
“Five?”
“My guy’s still guarding the north side of the building,” Liam Cutler answered promptly. “He just took a piss, and now he’s lighting up another cigarette. All I need is the green light, and he will no longer be a problem.”
Before Christian could respond, Jagger Brooks—the final and most unpredictable member of Delta Team—jumped in with his own update.
“Let me save y’all some time,” the former Air Force combat controller drawled. “I’ve got two to pick from. The guy by the door…though he doesn’t really count, since he’s technically our fearless leader’s target…and one of the two assholes inside. Now,thatunsuspecting idiot is currently sitting in a chair, and while I’m almost certain he’s supposed to be watching the hostages, he’s spent the last seven minutes with his face in his phone. I could take them both out right now if given the order.”
“Think that’s enough?” Cade asked, his words coming a bit breathy as he laid down in a patch of grass between the building and where Rocky lay in wait. “I mean, we hit the five out here, the sixth guy might surrender.”
“He might.” Brody’s deep voice sounded. “But I think it’s too risky. The four tangos around the perimeter are no-brainers. But if we only manage to take down one of the two guarding the hostages inside, there’s no way to predict how the remaining HT will react.”
Damn. King was right. The hypothetical remaining hostage takercouldsurrender. Or the prick could drop to the ground in the fetal position, cry for his mommy, and beg them not to shoot. And while it wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened…
“Two’s right,” Christian agreed with Brody. “Five of the fuckers may be easy, but that one that’s left standing may decide to take out as many hostages as possible before we’re able to get inside and stop him.”
Andthatwas a risk they simply couldn’t take.