It wasn’t difficult to pick up what they were saying, both grousing at having to spend the night in the jungle. It wasn’t what they’d signed up for. One did the complaining while the other listened.
“Don’t know why we’re always the ones on roving patrol when the big man shows up, Peyton,” the one with dark hair cut very close to his scalp said.
The other soldier, Peyton, shrugged. “We got the short straw this time, Bertram. He never stays long. Things will go back to normal in a couple of days.”
Bertram scowled as he extended his hands over the small heating device between them. “This entire assignment sucks. I thought we’d end up in the States or Europe. He’s got those women locked up, and they all need servicing.” He smirked. “I’ve been waiting for that assignment. We’re just rotting out here.”
“You get plenty of women. You spend half your time raiding the locals.”
“Not the kind of fun I’m looking for,” Bertram said.
“I put in for both the States and Europe at any of his labs,” Peyton said. “Just like you. I know they give us shit assignments before he determines that we’re going to be loyal to him. That’s what he’s looking for, Bertram. You talk too much. You can’t talk about him or anything going on in the labs.”
“Who the hell do I talk to?”
“Everyone. You complain constantly, and when you complain, you talk about Whitney and the experiments taking place. You talk about handling dead bodies and how they look like mutated insects. You just can’t keep your mouth shut.”
“Who the hell is going to tell anyone else? We’re all in the same boat, and everyone here knows what’s happening in the laboratory.”
“And every single one of the guards here wants the same thing we do. They want a different assignment. They’re going to repeat everything negative they can about you, me and one another. It isn’t like they’re loyal to us. The minute Whitney arrived, you can bet he had a full report on every guard. He probably had it long before he arrived.”
“That sucks.”
Peyton shrugged and moved several feet away, turning his back on his fellow soldier to relieve himself.
Bertram swore under his breath, crouched down and once more held out his hands to the small glowing heater.
Diego didn’t wait. He came up behind Bertram like a ghost, absolutely silent. One hand went around the soldier’s head, palm slamming over his mouth while his blade severed the spinal cord at the back of the neck. He eased the body to the ground and immediately crossed the short distance to the second soldier.
Leopards were efficient predators, making Diego one as well. He’d honed his skills in the Appalachian Mountains and perfected them thousands of times working in the field in various terrains.He had his human brain to plan for any contingency. He was able to keep his energy low rather than projecting the energy of a predator.
Ordinarily, when a leopard was on the hunt, the monkeys and other wildlife noticed and went into a frenzy. By keeping his energy low, Diego wasn’t detected. Even so, Peyton began to slowly turn his head toward Diego, looking over his shoulder. Diego was on him before he could react, slamming the knife into the base of his skull, dropping him to the ground. He ensured both men were dead before going up the tree to get Mordichai.
Enemy down, bringing our brother home.
Feeling fully recovered. Diego is getting me out of this tree, but I’m not sure how.
I’m carrying your ass, Diego informed him, as well as the others.Recommend if you’re going to be playing around with your chute, you lay off Nonny’s food.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen. And just for the record, Malichai eats far more than I do.
That’s called deflecting, Ezekiel chimed in. There was relief in his voice. It was clear his younger brother was feeling a lot better.
Diego hefted Mordichai onto his back.Hang on. I’m climbing down now and won’t be able to hold on to you this way. It’s faster going down.
Yeah, I’m hanging on but closing my eyes. Just to say, Diego, you’re totally insane.
Diego found himself laughing. Leila had given that gift to him, the ability to genuinely laugh when he’d forgotten how. If he considered what he was doing, going down a bare tree trunk with a full-grown man on his back, Mordichai was most likely right.
Once on the ground, Diego left Mordichai to rest while he retrieved his gear from where he’d stored it in the jungle. It didn’t take long for them to join the others in preparation for their attackon Whitney’s laboratory. The battle plan was already being discussed.
“It’s imperative, before we engage in battle, that we know where Bridget is and if there are any other innocents in that lab. We’re taking it down. That means if Bridget isn’t the only woman held there, we will have to rescue others, and we’ll need to know how many,” Joe reminded. “Trap has the ability to see through walls. You take the south and west sides and sweep the entire building from that direction, Trap. Wyatt, you’re Trap’s partner. Relay everything to the rest of us.”
“Ian has the ability to see through buildings as well,” Ryland reported. He flashed a small smile when most of the others on the team turned to stare at Ian McGillicuddy. “He’ll take the north and east sides, sending to all of us the information so we’ll know if there are other hostages and where they are. Diego, you’re his backup.”
Ian shrugged and exchanged a long look with Trap. “No problem,” he agreed.
“Each of you has your assignment and where to set up,” Joe continued. “Hold position until Trap and Ian report. If ever we were going to prove GhostWalkers own the night, now’s the time.”
