Moving together as one, Jagger and the others crossed through the tree line’s edge. As they made their way toward the back of the nearest building, Jagger’s head remained on a constant swivel.
He wasn’t all that surprised that no threat had been detected. From the intel Talia’s people had provided, they’d learned the section of the port they were targeting carried a meager eight-man skeleton crew.
Talia had also previously confirmed those same men all had known ties to Los Dios. Which explained why these guys were the ones working the dock where Arlos Sanchez’s ship was coming to port.
Too bad they don’t know there’s a shitstorm headed their way.
“Okay, team.” Talia’s hushed voice filled the tiny mic in his ear. “This is where we part ways. Keep your heads up and your asses safe. See y’all on the flip side.”
With a quick hand motion they all recognized at first sight, the group of thirteen divided themselves into two.
Per the plan, Christian, Brody, Rocky, and Cade all went right with Emmett, Blake, and Draven following closely on their heels. As those six moved south, Talia and Jagger led Liam, Gwen, Jimmy, and Lucas in the opposite direction.
A couple of minutes later, they reached their next meeting point at the center of the building’s east-facing wall. A strong gust of wind picked up, the cool air a relief as it passed over Jagger’s adrenaline-heated skin.
Talia motioned toward the evenly stacked rows of shipping containers located several yards away as her voice sounded in their ears once more. “Stick with the plan and stay alive.”
“Stay alive,” Gwen repeated. “I kinda thought thatwasthe plan.”
Jagger grinned at the calm, almost jovial tone in the woman’s voice. If any part of her was scared, it sure as hell didn’t show.
“Let’s go!” Talia announced clearly, still pointing her free hand toward the stories-tall stacks of containers.
Brody and Emmett took off for the shadowed space between the two southernmost rows of containers. As they disappeared into the shadows, Rocky and Blake took the next row up. Cade and Draven took the one north of that.
Jagger stayed on Talia like white on rice as they jogged purposefully toward the two most northern lines of containers. His gaze slid from side-to-side, following the motion of his rifle’s long barrel. First eye-level, and then up high, he left nothing to chance where her safety was concerned.
As they made their way down the long, dark, corridor formed by the containers at both sides, Liam and Jimmy kept their weapons up and at the ready as they disappeared into the space to their immediate right. Since they couldn’t divide themselves up equally—thirteen being an odd number and all—Christian went into the remaining space with Lucas and Gwen.
The air movement dropped drastically, the northern breeze effectively blocked by the stacks of containers. Jagger’s and Talia’s booted steps remained silent and steadfast as they crossed the asphalt toward the opening drawing nearer. A few feet before reaching the end of their cover, Natalia’s fist rose into the air.
“Location check.” She spoke to them all through her comms. “Delta, does everyone have their assigned target in view?”
The strength in her voice came to him in stereo, traveling both through the air and the mic in his ear. As he stood there, listening as each of his teammates gave their affirmatives, Jagger thought for the hundredth time that night how much he loved watching Talia in action.
It wasn’t simply because she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on, though that fact definitely didn’t hurt. It was also her intelligence and courage, her dedication to the job, and her willingness to put herself on the line for the greater good that left him impressed as hell.
Jagger was also hard as a damn rock beneath the confines of his pants. Not exactly mission-ready when he was walking around with a giant hard-on pressing against the inside of his zipper.
It’s the adrenaline. That’s all it is. Just ignore it, and it’ll go away.
But even as the mental peptalk rolled through his brain, he knew it wasn’t that easy.
Anytime he was around the tantalizing government agent, Jagger’s dick was the first to notice. It was getting damn hard always coming up with new ways to hide his perpetual hard-on.
Pun absolutely intended.
“Targets are in sight,” Talia reiterated what the others had confirmed. “Remember, capturing our targets alive is preferred, but you and the guns are the priorities.”
“Copy that,” Christian responded on behalf of the others.
A set of golden-brown eyes found his through the dark as Talia sent him a quick glance from over her shoulder. Without a word spoken between them, she asked if he was ready to roll.
Jagger nodded, offering up his silent promise to keep her safe.
They held each other’s stare a moment longer before the capable woman turned back around and lifted her gun.
“Oscar Mike.” She whispered the military slang, letting the others know they were on the move.
