Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,79

stupid when it comes to women. Take it from an old married man, you've got no idea how many ways you can screw up in a relationship."

"And yet you're still married."

"Yep. My woman is a saint. Stay available. Things are moving fast."

"May I ask why you're the one taking this call?"

"You may ask, but I'm not answering."

Tempest chuckled. "Message received." Alpha wasn't going to tell him shit. It didn't matter. He didn't give a flying fuck who he reported in to as long as the next step of the mission went according to plan. "Has the last mission hit the media yet?"

"No." Alpha's response was immediate. "When you are debriefed by Anubis, provide the location so we can drop hints if need be."

Tempest closed his eyes. He’d left the body in a very remote location. "Not unanticipated. I was told to keep it remote."

"Fortuitous actually, for a number of reasons. Keep Sierra team. I want them immediately available when you need to move. When we're ready, I don't want to wait for personnel."

"Roger that."

"You will receive further instructions."

"Affirmative."

"Alpha out."

Tempest turned off the satellite phone and rolled his shoulders. "Have your team standby in the local area."

When he spoke, Travis' eyes popped open. "Copy. I could use a bed. These jump seats suck."

Hell, he'd agree with the statement even though he was in the best shape of his life. The seats were guaranteed to stiffen muscles. "I'll be in the Boynton Beach area. Stay local to me."

"Can do." The plane banked and the interior bay light dimmed. "Someone coming to get the computer equipment?"

Tempest blinked. Alpha hadn't given any instructions on the equipment. "I didn't get any intel on what to do with the computers. I'll take them with me." He could secure them at his house until Guardian could meet him and take custody.

The plane touched down and the roar of the engines reversing stopped all attempts at conversation. He glanced at the backpack holding the computer equipment Sierra team had obtained. Why hadn't Alpha mentioned the disposition of the electronics? Why hadn't he? Damn it, he’d briefed the man they’d seized it. It seemed strangely unlike Alpha not to have all the I's dotted and T's crossed.

The aircraft slowed and taxied while the team stood and gathered their personal equipment. The kit Guardian had prepared for him and the computer equipment salvaged by Sierra team took up residence on his shoulder.

The plane parked, and they waited for the cargo bay door to open. The load master for the aircraft made quick work of engaging the hydraulics, and the ramp lowered to the ground. Tempest stepped off the plane with Sierra team right behind him. A whistle drew all their attention.

Holy Shit.

Fury, Anubis, Bengal, Asp, Thanatos, and Moriah stood beside a large, blacked out, SUV. The only member missing was... Lycos exited the vehicle with a phone plastered to his ear. Son of a bitch.

He strode across the space and extended his hand only to have it batted away. He got man clenches and back slaps from the men and a nod from Moriah. She wasn't the touchy-feely kind, unless she was killing you, so thank you, but no thank you.

"What the fuck are y'all doing here?"

All eyes moved to Fury. "Big mission. When you take off the serpent's head, we are taking down the body."

"I know I haven't slept in a couple days, but how in the flying fuck do you think you're going to do that?"

Bengal answered, "We cracked the code they were using. Do you have the computer equipment from the last mission?"

Tempest nodded. "Yes."

"Good, we've set up a temporary headquarters in Del Ray Beach. Your sleep will have to wait for a few more hours." Lycos motioned to his phone. "There are rooms at the hotel we've set up in for you and your team."

"Thank God," Travis said behind him.

Asp tossed Travis a set of keys and pointed to another blacked out SUV. "Follow us."

"You got it." Travis and his men piled into the second SUV as the most elite force of assassins in the world piled into the one they were standing beside.

"Whoever said this thing seats seven comfortably was a fucking liar," Moriah bitched from the jump seats in the back row.

"Count again. We have eight packed in here. You're fucking tiny. What about me?" Anubis groaned and shifted, moving the second-row seat with his knee.

"Just hold still for a couple minutes, and would you please stop bitching. Worse than a car full of