Page 68 of No Fear

Several nos came through coms.

“Onyx, the vehicles are heading straight for your location. You need to move.” Sam’s voice was firm.

“How long?” Dex asked.

“Less than a minute.”

“Copy. Nyx, we’re coming out.”

Donnie heard the pissed off tone in his team leader’s voice. He felt the same. They wanted to end this tonight. Both brothers. Now they needed to go back and regroup. If the brothers had escaped via a tunnel they could be anywhere. The team headed out the house and together with Nyx, they slunk back into the darkness as quietly as they came.

“Onyx, we have a solo figure, on foot, north of your location.” Kelly said. “Sending co-ordinates now.”

“Copy that.” Dex signaled and the teams gathered together, setting up a perimeter, keeping watch.

“Base, how’s our six?” Dex asked.

“Armed soldiers have arrived at the house. Won’t be long before they come looking for you,” Sam said.

Dex turned to Liam. “The squirter could be one of them. We track him we might find them both.”

Liam nodded. “Yeah, we need to check it out. You guys go, we’ll hang back and warn off any tangos coming this way. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to be vigilant. Fucking vests.”

Dex relayed the plan to base, and then they were on the move. As they closed in on the location, the team spread out, ready to surround their target. Moving as one, guns raised, they hunted their prey. No voices, no sounds. That was the beauty of working together as a team for so long. They knew each other’s movements, thoughts, actions. Donnie stopped, something catching his eye. Raising his gun, he scanned the area, unease bubbling. Something was wrong. He went to whisper into his coms just as a tiny light flickered. Fuck. No time to get off a shot before the explosion ripped through the air, forcing him off his feet. Then there was nothing.

***

CHARLIE STARED AT THE unread text message. It had been two weeks, and she’d heard nothing from Donnie and was worried.

Back in Albany following her assignment, Simon had called her several times, begging for forgiveness and wanting to meet. She hadn't agreed, but she did have to get her things from the apartment. She was thinking about going there and getting it over and done with, despite Donnie asking her to wait for him.

Knowing Donnie was a SEAL had her googling everything about SEALs and some of what she read, she wished she hadn’t. She’d thought about calling someone but didn't know who. It wasn't like she knew any of his teammates or friends. Maybe his folks would know. Then again, calling them might make them worry.

When her phone rang, she jumped. Maddie.

“Hey girlfriend. You home?”

Charlie smiled. “If you mean at my parent’s place, yes.”

“You know you can stay with me.”

“Thanks, but you have enough going on with two kids. I’m fine. I’ll work something out, don't worry.”

“I'm not worried. This is the start of a whole new chapter for you.”

“I know.” She walked into her childhood bedroom and closed the door.

“What’s happened? You sound worried.”

“I haven’t heard from Donnie. I mean, he said he was going out of the country, but that was two weeks ago. Do you think that’s normal?”

“I don’t know. I take it you’ve tried reaching him?”

“He said they can't use their phones where they are.” She had told Maddie he was a SEAL. “Maybe I could call his folks.”

“Not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I know. You’re right. I guess I just have to wait.”