“What’s the holdup, Drake?”White’s voice dripped with insinuation.“Or is this more about a personal vendetta than our objectives?”
Dominic’s silence filled the room like ice water.His steel-blue eyes swept the faces around the table.He could feel the doubt enclosing him from all around.Yes, his hatred for Oliver and his circle ran bone-deep, but that wasn’t clouding his judgment.If anything, it had turned him into an expert on their methods.
“Oliver personally signs off on every update.”Each word chipped like ice.“Every.Single.One.This stinks of a trap.”
But the scent of victory was too strong, and White pushed ahead.“I call for a vote, since that is how we operate, correct?”
Dominic couldn’t oppose him without raising an alarm and their belief he was running his own agenda.The vote was called, and one by one, hands raised against his caution.
“Very well,” Dominic growled.“Fowler, we’ll run the first wave of transactions at four a.m., but you don’t hit enter unless I’m present.”
“Of course, Mr.Drake.”
As the meeting dispersed, Dominic remained seated, staring at the directive on the monitor against the wall where Fowler had left it for all to read.Years of patience had taught him to trust his instincts.And right now, they were screaming that Rex Oliver was several moves ahead of them all.
Chapter Sixteen
Rex
Dawn, G-Force CovertTask Force, Avionics warehouse, General Aviation Dr., Hangar 84, Tipton Airport, Fort Meade, Maryland, Washington D.C...
Rex stood at the top of the private jet’s stairs, squinting against the golden June sunrise breaking over Tipton Airport.The warm morning air already carried hints of the summer heat to come as he descended.Below, the rest of his friends were already gathered.Max arranging early flights for them from their respective locations got them here ahead of schedule.
The airfield sprawled before them in a maze of hangars and storage facilities.A light breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass and aviation fuel as they made their way to the waiting Humvee.The sound of distant aircraft taking off from the main runways provided a steady background rhythm to their arrival.
Rex’s mind wandered to the reason for this dawn meeting.The bait they had carefully laid for The Consortium had been done with precise coordination.Every player knew their role, and Colonel Brett’s unit had assisted his team to set the trap while maintaining their cover.The warehouse they were heading to housed what appeared to be an Avionics warehouse, but in reality, it was one of the most sophisticated intelligence, white-collar crime operations on the East Coast.
“I hope the colonel has some decent coffee in this joint,” Axel grumbled as they exited the Humvee, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.“And decent a/c.This Maryland humidity is already killing me.”
“Forget about the coffee, he’d better have a decent breakfast waiting for us.I’m fucking starving,” Jax complained, running a hand over his belly.
“You’re always hungry,” Dexter snorted as he slung his jacket over his shoulder.“Doesn’t your wife feed you?Or did you feast on something more delectable this morning other than food?”
“As if you didn’t,” Jax shot back with a knowing smirk.“Besides, who eats breakfast at four in the morning, asshat?”
Max chuckled, falling into step beside Rex.“Children, play nice.We’re about to meet the colonel.”
