“Exactly. It’s about time they felt the pain. Pat, approach first. If the subject won’t give you what we need, run interference so Evan can work his magic on the tech. We’ll have comms for updates. Depending on what you find out, we’ll either follow Plan A or reconnoiter back here and rework Plan B.”
Evan nodded as everyone chimed in with, “Copy that.”
Pat opened the liftgate, and Adam eased out of the backseat of the SUV went to the back of the vehicle to grab the duffel bag. After checking our surroundings, the rest of us got out and joined him.
Adam unzipped the duffel bag and passed out the comm units. After we had them on, we did our standard comm-check. My gaze passed from one guy to the next as they confirmed a clear copy. We’d use our standard call signs, with me taking Knight 1, Mike-Knight 2, Pat-Knight 3, Evan-Knight 4, and Adam-Knight 5, our sniper.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, like my spider senses were tingling. We’d just arrived in Baltimore. Our contact inside the Bratva hadn’t given us any reason to believe this wasn’t going off as planned. Yet, I know something isn’t right.
“Adam, I have a weird feeling. I need you up on a roof on observation.” I’d learned long ago to trust my gut. I’d feel a lot better with a bird’s-eye view.
“Copy, Knight 1.” He reached for his gun case and took off across the parking lot.
The three of us were standing together, but we were on a mission and followed standard protocol. It didn’t matter that we were all retired from the SEAL Teams. Some actions are so ingrained it’s as natural as breathing.
“What’s going on?” Mike asks as we climb back into the Escalade. He shifts to look at me, his dark brown eyes fixed on my face, clocking all my expressions, even ones I’d prefer to keep hidden. It’s one reason we work so well together.
We’re older now. His beard is longer than I’ve ever seen it, but it fits the life he was leading prior to the Knights. Basically, taking security jobs all over the country, living mostly off his Harley. I used to envy him the careful lifestyle, but that was prior to meeting Providence—she changed everything.
“I don’t know, just a feeling and I don’t like it. Maybe I’m overreacting, but so far this seems too easy. First after months of trying to find out anything about this cell, suddenly the contact has the exact information we need. That doesn’t strike you as odd?”
“Hmm. Maybe?” Mike says as he absent-mindedly strokes his beard. We give him shit about it all the time. It’s just too funny. “Or maybe someone made a mistake on their end allowing our contact to get the intel we needed?”
“You could be right, but the Stepanov Bratva has been doing this for a long time. I don’t think they make many mistakes.” I run my fingers through my hair, a tell Mike recognizes immediately.
“Relax, we’re prepared for whatever happens.”
I nod, but the hairs rise on the back of my neck as Adam’s voice comes over the comm.
“Knight 5 in position.”
“Copy that, Knight 5. Stand by.”
A few moments later, Evan checks in. “Knight 3 engaging with the subject. Knight 4 on standby outside the office.”
“Copy that.” I answer. Maybe Mike’s right and I’m overthinking this. We are overdue for something to go our way. If our intel is correct, there are two shipping containers arriving on the Nexus with over a hundred women, or more likely girls, coming from Marikistan to be sold into sexual slavery.
“Knight 1, Knight 3 is exiting the subject’s office with the subject. I’m going in,” Evan sends over the comms.
“Copy that, Knight 4. Be careful.” I almost grin. This is what Providence has done to me—made me soft. In the past I’d probably told him not to fuck up.
Mike chuckles beside me. “Be careful?”
“Shut the fuck up, asshole.” Yeah, that’s more like it.
“Copy that, Knight 1,” Mike replies while trying to cover his laughter.
“Just wait till you find your woman.” I smirk.
“Never gonna happen,” he replies, but I already know he’s sweet on one woman we rescued in Norfolk. He’s gone over and above to make sure she and her daughter have stayed safe, but instead of getting her out of our area, he recently moved her to one of our safe houses outside Williamsburg.
“I call BS. When was the last time you took Marina and her daughter out for ice cream?” I ask, knowing I’m taunting him.Hell.It’s a good distraction, and I can’t stand sitting here waiting. Hard to believe it did it for the last ten years since I took the promotion and ended up tied to a desk.
Mike swings his gaze to mine, all signs of his earlier laughter gone, and a hard look in his eyes. “Respectfully, shut the fuck up about them.”
Unlike him, I don’t hide my chuckle when he practically growls at me. The diversion is short-lived when Adam reports in over the comms.
“Knights 3 and 4 are on the move.”
