do, or your kid’s dead. I will kill him just like your brother killed my son. Do not doubt me, Rogan. My reach is far greater than you can imagine.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
OUTSIDE CUIDAD VICTORIA, MEXICO
It wasn’t the first time that Jack thought he was getting too old for this shit.
Even so, a familiar thrill ran through his veins, focusing him on the task at hand. It was the same controlled adrenaline rush he felt when he served in the Army; the same focus he had when he ran his own mercenary squad, before he partnered with Rogan-Caruso. A heightened sense of awareness—of himself, of his squad, of his surroundings.
He might not spend as much time in the field as he used to, but there were some things so ingrained in the psyche that you never forgot. The muscle memory that allowed him to assess a situation accurately and react quickly to any change or threat.
There was something wrong with this entire operation. If the girls were bait for Kane—and that was something they all concurred with—were they just stupid in enabling his escape? They’d captured him, and this was Kane Rogan. His enemies knew that he was dangerous and resourceful, not easily contained. The whole thing just felt … off.
They’d been watching Peter Blair and his men for the last two hours. They were meeting in an old farmhouse—the leaders of four separate factions. Each faction had two men inside, and two men patrolling, plus Blair had one extra man who was in charge of the security—seventeen hostiles. Three against seventeen. Even Kane recognized that they couldn’t handle that, not with their limited supplies.
His plan seemed solid, however. When the meeting broke up, the four groups would be going in different directions. Blair would be with four men, and three against five were odds Jack would take any day of the week, especially when his partners were Kane and Ranger.
“They’re moving,” Ranger said quietly from his spot ten feet to Jack’s left.
First one Jeep of four left, quickly followed by a second group of four. Blair wasn’t among them. That left nine on site, but there was no other movement.
They waited.
Kane signaled over the radio. “Blair’s going out back with two. Distract the others, I’ll get him.”
Jack wanted to argue—this wasn’t the fucking plan—but it was too late. Once Kane shifted focus, they all had to shift focus.
Without discussion, Ranger and Jack moved from their position to the gulley across from the farmhouse. Ranger had his hand up, counting down with his fingers.
Three. Two. One.
A small explosion ignited from where they had been. The men out front took cover. No one went back inside, but instead hid behind the Jeeps.
“Where are they?” someone shouted
“Find them!” someone ordered.
“No, no, no, we stay here.”
“Who the fuck?”
“Where’s Blair?”
“Follow orders…”
Ranger hit the second detonation, which they’d set on the south side of the property, then immediately after he set off one to the north. The six men who were still here didn’t know where the attack was coming from, so they stayed put and within sight.
Still, Kane hadn’t checked in.
Jack should never have let him watch the back alone.
Blair’s men were randomly firing toward the explosions, a waste of ammo, but even wild shots could hit a live target, so Jack and Ranger stayed low and didn’t give their location away.
The gunfire stopped. There were shouts, but no one advanced toward their position.
Less than five minutes had passed since Kane alerted them, but it felt like fucking forever, and Jack had hoped they could handle this quietly. He should have known better.
Kane finally beeped over the radio.
“Have target, acquired vehicle. Rendezvous mark B.”
“Roger,” Ranger responded.
“What the hell?” Jack said. How were they going to get to the pick-up spot undetected by the free-firing assholes across the road?
“You’ve been out of the game a long time, buddy,” Ranger said with a grin.
“You’ve been hanging with Kane too long, buddy,” Jack responded. He’d known Ranger since basic training and trusted him, so let him take the lead.
“Head down, give it a minute.”
As Jack and Ranger watched, the shooters backed into the house. They weren’t trying to get away. There was talking and shouting, but Jack couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“Now,” Ranger said. “Stay low, head south.”
Jack followed Ranger and within minutes they were standing on a narrow dirt road out of sight from the house.
Two minutes later, Kane drove up in an old pickup truck. Other than a cut on his arm, he appeared uninjured.