“We put it to a vote,” Castiel said, “As is our protocol.”
“You think we shouldn’t?” His teammate better think carefully before he answered that damn question or Saxon was going to fucking make sure that truck he loved so much blew up the next time he turned the damn key.
“I think, if he’s attached to a JSOC Hit Squad, then he has his own team looking for him.” Castiel said, “We need to be sure we aren’t stepping on any toes.”
“This is why I got clearance from Claudio first,” Noble told Castiel. “He would be aware if a JSOC team was operative in Italy.”
“Quit squabbling,” Max grumbled at them all. “Vote and plan, our window to get him out is closing tomorrow when the deadline for answering the ransom demand is up.”
“Agreed.” Noble nodded his head. He reached for the coffee mug Max held out to him, “Who votes we rescue Saxon’s man?”
“Me.” Zenko was first to speak.
“Me too.” Shaun agreed with his partner.
“I think we all agree, he’s Saxon’s, so he’s ours and we get him back.” Roman called from his spot at the wall.
Noble scanned the room and received a nod of confirmation from everyone there. “Then we get to work.”
“Aye, Sir.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Let’s do it.”
Relief, that’s what that warm feeling in his stomach was. That and gratefulness to his team that they saw how important this was to him. Thank fuck they all agreed. Everything inside of him that had been chafing at the bit to move and find Rick, settled into place. Mission planning… that he could do. But, damn, infiltrate the house of one of the most dangerous mafia clans in the world right now? Easy fucking peasey… right?
* * *
Christ,his head was thumping, hours of planning and plotting would do that to a man. Saxon lifted his head off his pillow, turned the pillow over, and punched it a couple of times. Not to make the pillow any softer, or to make it more comfortable, nope, in his brain he was punching himself for allowing Reese to see into his soul earlier and made a mental note not to do that shit again.
“Go to fucking sleep, all your shifting around is making me crazy.” Castiel punched the mattress over his head from his place on the bottom bunk.
“Sorry.” He scooted upward on the bed and hung his legs over the edge of the top bunk. “Will it bother you if I have a shower?”
“Fuck no,” Cas grumbled, “What’s bothering me is you scratching and moving over my damn head, as if you have a fucking dose of the crabs.”
“You are meant to know how to sleep anywhere at this stage.” He jumped to the floor. “Spec Ops 101 or did ya miss that class.”
“Fuck off, Sax, I’m trying to sleep.”
“Oops, my bad.” Saxon grabbed the corner of Castiel’s blanket and tugged it, uncovering his friend as he headed to his go bag to grab his wash kit.
“Asshole,” Cas kicked out with his leg, aiming for Saxon’s ass, but missed.
“Yup,” Saxon closed himself into the bathroom, avoiding the blade Castiel threw after him. He heard the solid thump as the knife buried itself into the opposite side of the door. Noble would have a shit fit if he had to pay to get another door fixed.
Fuck.He gave himself a mental shake. His brain kept running double time, and it had to freaking stop. He should be curled up in his damn bunk sleeping, catching all the Z’s he could while they waited for the time to start gearing up. Instead, here he was, staring at his reflection like a freaking idiot.
He tugged the rope to switch on the power for the shower and rummaged in his kit for his wash stuff. Maybe the pounding water would help ease the ache in his head without having to resort to painkillers. Maybe it would also wash away the sense of dread and doom that had been keeping him awake. He should be fucking elated to have his team at his back. But as they had gone over the plan earlier and readied their weapons, all he could see in his mind was Rick, with his mouth wrapped around Saxon’s dick. He should have been focused. He should have ice in his veins. Tonight, he was not focused, and his veins were on fire with the urgency to go now. He was amped up like he’d eaten way too much sugar and drank too many cokes. “Shower, sleep, and then it’s game time.” Yup, he had to do that. Saxon stepped into the shower cubicle and shut the door behind him. Shower, sleep, and game time—that was a plan he could do. That and pray they didn’t fuck this up.
Chapter Five
“Listen up,”Noble strode into the kitchen where the team were gearing up. “We go over the plan one more time.”
Groans and mutters filled the room, but Noble ignored them all. He didn’t give a flying fuck if they all wanted to bitch like a bunch of old grannies about the damn weather. These were his people, his family. It was his job to make sure they all came home. “Zenko and Shaun, you have overwatch.”
“Yes Sir,” Zenko grabbed some ammo and stuffed it into his vest.
