“Let’s go boys. I’m waiting for you to arrive.”
“Fuck you, Tanner. We’re hurrying.”
Above the water, the bodyguards and others watched from the docks, staring at the destroyed vessels. They were shaking their heads when they looked at one another.
“The yacht!” said the first man. The other shook his head.
“They don’t pay me enough to die on that fucking thing,” he said calmly. “Give it a few minutes and then I’ll head back.”
They didn’t need a few minutes. It was less than sixty seconds and the JenniLynn ceased to exist.
Tanner heard the banging on the steel door and opened the hatch for the other two to enter.
“Let’s go boys. Autumn won’t wait forever.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Quinn and April stood in the door of the cottage where her grandfather had been living. He was slowly packing up the few belongings he had.
“What are you doing grandpa?” asked April.
“You’ve got the situation under control. I need to get to Washington. They have some questions for me, rightfully so. I sent a warning to the POTUS, telling him I would explain everything but he shouldn’t fly right now.”
“Did he take it seriously?” asked Quinn. Tom stared at the young man and shrugged.
“Who the fuck knows? He was trying to understand why I’d faked my death and didn’t call him.”
“Why didn’t you?” asked Quinn.
“Honestly? I wasn’t sure he could be trusted. I’m still not sure, Quinn but what choice do I have?”
“Trust us. Trust me,” said Angel standing in the doorway with Wes.
“Great-grandpa, Grandpa,” smirked Quinn. “I think you know Colonel Tom Lewis.”
“We know him,” said Wes. “How are you colonel? Still green and grunting?”
“Always, Jordan. Just like you’re always slippery and slimy.”
“Is this a game?” frowned April. The men laughed, shaking their heads.
“Sort of. The branches often tease one another,” said Angel. “Believe me, we work together, cooperating when we need to but it’s always fun to rib one another as well.”
“How the hell do you look so good?” frowned Tom.
“It’s a secret. If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you,” smirked Angel. The men continued to laugh and April just shook her head at the testosterone flying in all directions.
“Look, whatever this silly game is can we please focus on convincing my grandfather that he should not leave this property? I thought I lost you once, Grandpa. Please don’t make it come true.”
“She’s right, sir,” said Quinn. “You leave this property and they’re going to find you. Here, you’re safe until it’s wrapped up. You have no guilt in what’s been happening.”
“Don’t I? I should have known better. I should have contacted all of you the second I thought something was off. I should have trusted my friends at the pentagon and the DOD. I let those people shove me around and make me fearful. Me!”
“Grandpa, you’re not a superhero or superhuman. You get scared too,” said April.
“Honey, you’re right. I do get scared but this should not have scared me. I have fought every evil known to man. I’ve faced down warlords, drug lords, and enemy armies with psychotic leaders. I never flinched. But hearing Gustav use your name put fear in me that I didn’t know existed.”
‘Oh, Grandpa,” she said hugging the older man. “But you don’t have to fear it now. I’m safe, here with Quinn and his family. Our family.”
