Beckett and the others followed the former SEAL’s lead as they began making their way onto the yacht. Thanks to the training they’d all received on Uncle Sam’s dime—and the night sky and black wetsuits offering the perfect cover—their climb up the side of the hull and onto the impressive deck was completed with relative ease.
“Nice job, boys.” Baker’s voice filled his left ear. “I know you’re running silent, but I figured you could use a couple eyes inthe sky. First on the list are two sigs standing guard on deck. One at the stern, the other at the bow.”
Using hand motions, Digger split the six operators into two separate groups. Using the same set-up as planned for the second stage of the mission, Falcon, Mustang, and Aleck went left, while Beckett and Apollo followed Digger to the right.
The wind started to pick up, but Beckett ignored the cold shivers racing down his spine. He’d walk through a fucking blizzard if it meant finding his way back to Evie.
I’m here, sweetheart. I’m here, and I am not leaving this boat without you.
Digger raised a fist, and all three men came to a sudden stop. With their guns at the ready, he and Apollo watched Dig’s hand as their team leader motioned to something up ahead.
No, not something. Someone.
Their first target stood several yards away. His back was to them, and he was looking out over the water. A long, automatic rifle was slung across his muscular chest, and from his stand, the guy looked ready to use it.
Too bad for him, he had no idea they were coming. Because by the time he heard their approaching steps and turned with the intent to shoot, he was already lying dead on the deck. Beckett’s bullet to the head having effectively eliminated the threat.
“Stern clear,” Digger quietly relayed through the comms in their ears.
“Copy that, Tac-Ops,” Baker confirmed he’d received the update. “Mustang?”
The low zip of a suppressed shot being taken filled the mics a beat before the SEAL responded with, “Bow’s clear, too.”
A deadly satisfaction began seeping into Beckett’s veins. Two down, three to go, and this whole thing would finally be over.
“Heading to the helm, now,” Falcon whispered his group’s update.
“Copy that, Falcon,” Digger acknowledged. “There’s a door back here that leads inside. Making our way in, now.”
He opened the aforementioned door, holding it wide for Beckett and Apollo to make their way through. Moving in a single-file line, the three teammates stayed within a step of each other. Keeping their guns up and their eyes ready for any threat that may come their way.
“Digger, I’m picking up a sig heading toward the interior door six feet up and to your right,” Baker gave them a heads-up.
Since Beckett was still first in line, he held up a fist, stopping to center the door in his crosshairs…
The door opened. A man carrying a rifle crossed the threshold and entered the hall. He looked their way, his eyes growing wide as saucers. But like the man up on deck, this one never stood a chance.
Beckett pulled his trigger, the zip of his bullet leaving the chamber simultaneous to his target’s body jerking. The man was dead before his body ever hit the floor.
“Got ’em,” he confirmed as he and the other two resumed their steps.
“Nice job, but don’t celebrate too soon,” Baker warned. “Remember the two heat sigs I told you about that were down below? Well, they’re moving directly below you right now. It looks like they’re headed to a staircase not far from where you are now.”
“Take us there,” Digger ordered.
The man in their ears did just that. Following Baker’s directions, Beckett and his teammates used hurried steps to get to the other end of the hall before their two targets reached the top of the stairs.
“Go north,” Baker instructed as the wall to their right came to an end.
As Beckett entered to the floor’s main entertainment area, he did what their temporary overwatch suggested and swung his body—and the barrel of his MP5—around the corner toward the opening to the stairs.
He stopped a safe distance away as Digger and Apollo flanked each of his sides. All three men held their weapons at the ready.
Beckett watched and waited, his right index finger precariously close to his trigger. He could hear his own heartbeat as it pounded through his ears. But he pushed his nerves back and remained focused on his one and only goal.
Save Evie.
It was the only reason he was here.Shewas the only reason. And as he and his teammates waited for whoever was about to come up those stairs, Beckett prepared himself to kill again.