The two goons were in the truck, watching the house from the road.While he hated the sand getting all over him, it was better than being in a closed space with Goon One farting up a fucking storm.
Movement north of the house caught his eye, and he watched a truck as it approached him, tossing up sand as it drove down the shoreline.When the vehicle stopped beside him, he saw a black shark logo and "Beach Patrol" on the side panels.The occupants were two uniformed men, and the driver rolled down his window."Sorry, sir, but this is a private beach.Someone called the dispatchers to say there was a non-resident sitting out here.You'll have to leave."
Leo stood but didn’t approach the truck.Eyeballing the beach house, he asked, "Who called it in?"
"I don't know, sir.The dispatcher didn’t pass on that information, but you still have to leave the area.There's a public beach about a half mile south of here you're welcome to enjoy."
"Ok, thanks."He slowly walked back toward the house he’d been sitting behind, two lots down from where his target was.The pathway between the dunes, which led to the patio and driveway, was the same route he had used to gain entry to the beach.When he reached the dunes, he glanced over his shoulder and was disappointed to notice the patrol had parked their vehicle next to a nearby jetty and appeared to be settling in to eat lunch.Continuing along the path to the home’s driveway, he then made his way across the street to the Explorer.Goon One, sitting in the passenger seat, glared at him as he climbed into the back."What’re you doing back here?"
"Got kicked off the fucking beach by a patrol.Gotta wait for them to finish their lunch and leave before I can go back."
When the man sneered in disgust at him, Leo wished he could put a bullet in the asshole’s head.Maybe when this was all over, he’d do it just for kicks.
An hour after being kicked off the beach, the beach patrol vehicle was gone, and their little friend from Chicago had taken up his post again.This time, however, he sat a bit further away on a jetty.Brian called KC to alert him that the other two men had abandoned their surveillance, driven into town, and stopped at the local deli.It wasn’t long before they returned with their lunch and parked in the same spot along the roadway.
As T3, Trouble, and Sean waited inside, KC and “Moriah” stepped out onto the porch, careful to remain at an angle so the man on the beach could only see Peanut from behind.They stood close together at the railing for a few minutes and engaged in a meaningless conversation.Sean exited the cottage a few moments later with his carry-on luggage and briefcase, which now contained two communication headsets, and made a show of saying goodbye.As he descended the stairs toward the street where his rental car sat, KC and Peanut returned to the house.Trouble was observing the man on the beach through the window blinds."He's making a phone call—probably telling his buddies Moriah and you are still here and are alone now."
As Peanut removed his wig and changed into black tactical clothes, KC sat on the couch and made himself comfortable despite his desire to get this mess over with."Great.Sean will circle around and meet up with Brian.If these guys are the idiots I think they are, only two of them will try to get into the house, and one will stay behind in the SUV for a quick getaway.We’ll take them down in here, and my brothers will take out the driver.Sheriff Griffin has agreed to keep his patrols off our road unless there’s an emergency.Brian will notify him when the action begins."
The men attached their com-sets to their ears with the small microphones parallel to their cheekbones.They were all ready and now just had to wait until dark, and then, hopefully, the bad guys would make their move.
Chapter22
Leo was so bored he was ready to scream.And while he froze his ass off on the windy beach, Goon Two surveyed the front of the house from the comfort of the warm SUV.Goon One was currently catching some sleep in the passenger seat.
Shivering, he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to live by the beach in such a quiet town.It fucking sucked.As soon as they recovered the money and gun, and the bitch was dead, they couldn't get back to Chicago fast enough for him.City life suited him perfectly, where the world was constantly alive and moving.He had only seen a few people walking along the shore earlier, but it appeared abandoned now.Nothing happened around here, and the silence was killing him.
Well, something would happen later, he thought, laughing to himself.He was looking forward to killing Moriah's boyfriend she’d been out on the porch with earlier, then having a little fun torturing her.Maybe he'd even screw her before he put a bullet in her brain.She was one smokin’ hot chick, and he deserved to enjoy himself for a bit after all the trouble she’d caused him.
Yawning widely, he stood and stretched his arms and legs.The ocean's rhythmic tide was making him sleepy.Rolling his neck and shoulders, he checked the time on his cell and found more time had passed than he had realized.Eleven forty p.m.It was definitely dark enough to stage their attack—the cloudy night would help prevent them from being too visible.He had to go wake up Goon One.His sidekick would wait for them in the car with the engine running, ready to drive off as soon as they jumped back in, hopefully with the bag of money and the gun.Time to have some fun.
KC checked the time on the old mantle clock above the fireplace.Trouble had snuck out to the beach as soon as the asshole who’d been watching the house headed to meet his buddies in their truck.He would stay there in case any of the assholes made a run for it in that direction.Another minute ticked by before Brian's voice came through the communication headsets of the three men in the house loud and clear."Looks like they’re getting ready to move.Remember, guys, this is a non-sanctioned op on U.S.soil.Try not to kill anyone."
He didn’t have to remind the SEALs.If they wounded or killed one of the suspects, there would be a lengthy inquiry into the incident, not only with the local law enforcement but also with NCIS.To top it off, they’d end up in deep, fucking shit with their commander—of the three, that was actually the worst thing that could happen.
"They're on the move, driving slowly toward the cottage, no headlights."There was a long pause."Looks like you were right, KC.The driver is staying with the vehicle.The smaller dude from the beach and a bigger guy dressed in all black are heading in.We'll take out the driver on your go."
The men inside the house quickly and silently took up their positions.KC headed into Moriah’s bedroom, and T3 entered the other one across the hall.They closed the doors behind them and waited.Peanut folded his small frame into the far corner of the living room behind the recliner, with a black Taser strapped to each leg.
They’d thought of making it easier for the suspects by leaving the door unlocked but were afraid it might smell like a trap.After several long minutes, they heard the telltale clinking of glass breaking when one of the small window panes on the door was smashed.The suspects paused, apparently to see if anyone woke up, then a hand reached in and opened the door.
The two men stepped into the small cottage, each armed with a 9mm semi-automatic in one hand and a flashlight in the other.They quickly scanned the interior and, as quietly as possible, made their way toward the bedrooms.Neither man saw the five-foot-six-inch Navy SEAL emerge silently from his hiding spot behind them.
As one suspect took the left bedroom door, he gestured for his partner to take the right one.They’d probably planned on taking out Moriah’s boyfriend first and then forcing her to tell them where the money and incriminating gun were.The men reached out to open the bedroom doors at the same time, but neither hand made contact with the knobs.Both screamed in shock and pain, then dropped to the floor, their bodies in spasms as fifty-thousand volts of electricity briefly coursed through them.T3 and KC emerged from behind the closed doors, picked up the weapons that had been dropped, and made fast work of securing the suspects’ hands behind their backs with flexi-cuffs.
KC activated his microphone so he could update his brothers."Both tangos down.You’re clear to take out the driver.”
His eyes followed two sets of wires from where they were connected by barbs to the men on the ground to a few feet away, where a grinning Peanut held the Tasers.The smaller man just laughed."Man, I fucking love these things."
KC was halfway out the door when Sean’s voice came over the com-sets."Suspect secure.Sheriff's Patrol is pulling up."
In a matter of seconds, the threat was over.But was it really?Would the drug lord send someone else after he found out these men had failed?KC hit the speed dial on his cell for his uncle, and the man immediately picked up."How did it go?"
KC let out a relieved breath."Three under arrest—no bloodshed."
"Good to hear.Here's Moriah—she's been pacing the floor half the night, driving Jinx crazy."
There was a pause, and then, "KC?"
