To say we couldn’t get enough of each other was putting it mildly.
“Food!” Was shouted from the vicinity of the kitchen.
“Thank goodness. If I don’t eat, I won’t be able to keep up with your appetite, Daddy.” Cheryl winked, a saucy expression to the set of her eyes and mouth. I almost was going to use that mouth, but the idea of food won out. She was right, my baby girl required sustenance. With no clothing to change into, we quickly dressed in our rumpled clothing and joined the men for dinner.
Chili, salad, and garlic bread. Good choice; we needed some hot food, and Cheryl took a large portion, not complaining about carbs. She was learning that endurance required calories.
During dinner, Cheryl charmed the men, who responded by opening up and letting their guards down. She had a knack for getting people to talk about themselves. I imagined her father using this skill at functions to curry votes, and the quality I had just admired suddenly soured.
The fucker had sent an army to round her up. Why? Who had he negotiated with? I stood up. “I need to go into the radio room for a bit. I assume you goofballs can handle one little blonde?”
They all laughed, and I smiled at their innocent fun. Time to think. Once in the radio room, I set to work; I needed answers now. On the dark web, a message board caught my eye.
Special Florida candy. Anyone with information regarding how to attain some, please get a hold of Flyguy.
What the hell?
I looked up Flyguy and found a field file with a picture attached. Holy shit, I’d found my mole. I raced back to the bunker to find two of my men wounded and Dan fighting to get Cheryl away from Todd, aka Flyguy.
I pulled out my gun and fired a warning shot. “It’s over, Flyguy. Let her go.”
He laughed maniacally. “Don’t shoot the messenger, Daddy.” He mimicked Cheryl as he gripped her throat. Her eyes were wide with panic.
“You’re okay, baby girl. He won’t hurt you. If he does, his employer will have him killed.”
“I’m just the mole, Gabriel, don’t get carried away. I’m not worth the bullet they would waste on me.”
“Then why? Why do it?”
“It doesn’t matter. It just has to happen.”
Todd started inching toward the exit. If he got out with her, it would be hell getting her back. I looked at Dan. An unspoken communication passed between us. “Hey, Dan, remember that match in the ring?
You mean when you dropped Bryce? Who could ever forget it?” I looked at Cheryl meaningfully. She got it, and when I yelled, “Now!” she went limp, her sudden dead weight catching Todd unaware. Dan dove for the gun, and I shot Todd between the eyes. He dropped like a stone at Cheryl’s feet.
“Good job, Dan. Let’s get the guys into the dorm, and we can clean them up there.”
“No, you have to get her out of here now. Our location has been compromised. I’ll handle the guys. You two get away while you still can.” He was right, and as much as I didn’t want to leave them vulnerable, my job was to protect Cheryl. I raced back tothe dorm, grabbed my pack, took Cheryl’s hand, and ran toward the parked cars.
Dan was right; an army was headed our way. We were out of time, at least on land. I changed direction, heading down to the beach as I texted Bryce.
Gabriel:Todd was a mole. We’re under attack.
No answer. Shit, they must have gotten to him. Two Super Stallions came into view. What the hell? Marines or mercenaries? Cheryl’s father must have very deep connections. “Cheryl, no matter what happens, I love you.”
Her eyes were filled with fear as the choppers landed, cutting off our last escape route. I was shocked when Senator Johnson’s wife, Ruth, stepped out with fifty mercenaries and Bryce. I was bewildered. Were they all working for the senator? Had I been being played the whole time?
“Mom? What are you doing here?”
Ruth was from old money and hadn’t earned a Harvard education for nothing. She eyed her daughter before turning her attention to me. “Gabriel Cashion, it’s good to see you again.” I nodded but didn’t take her extended hand. Were we enemies now? Who knew? I was still waiting for an explanation.
From a distance, gunshots rang out. “Bryce, what the fuck is going on?”
He offered a small smile. “It’s been a busy few hours.” His phone rang. “Roger that,” he answered before pocketing his phone. “The area is secured, ma’am. Would you like to go inside?”
Ruth nodded, and we all followed her and Bryce. Once we were seated and the clean-up crew had dealt with her husband’s private security firm, only the four of us were left. Dan and the men shipped out with the first Super Stallion, along with the bodies and the captured.
My patience had worn out. “Someone, please tell me what is going on. I don’t like being kept in the dark.”
