Wyatt descended the steps just as the rest of them left the kitchen. "Son of a bitch, I have to buy?"

Josh laughed, "Yep, it's all you and I'm starving."

"Asshole."

"Slowpoke."

"Fuck." He turned down the hallway and headed to the elevator.

The rest of them grabbed their duffels and followed Wyatt. Jax stepped into the elevator behind Wyatt and Josh, Ford was next and son of a bitch, didn't he stand to the side and next to Wyatt. That left him standing right next to Jax. But at least standing next to her he didn't have to look into her eyes. She looked different somehow just now. Like a warrior princess, proud, strong, and ready to fight. It made his dick twitch in his pants and he sure as hell didn't need that kind of distraction. Besides, he didn't really even like her. She was a hothead and acted without thought. So, he'd try to partner up with Ford as much as he could, or Wyatt or Josh and he'd be just fine.

His energy was high right now. A thrill coursed through his veins at the thought of finding that pink diamond and bringing the company the money it would offer them. It was heady. But, there was a bit of a nagging feeling that he also kind of wanted Mangus to go down. This asshole was of the epic kind and he wouldn't stop no matter what. Even burying his brother did nothing to curb the criminal activity, just as if it was all in a day's work.

The elevator doors opened and he took in a deep breath to ease the vitality surrounding him. They all had that electricity around them and he wondered if they had an energy reading right now of what they would look like. Probably large rays of red and orange light. In their Army days, this feeling encompassed each of them before leaving base on a mission. There was something about the process of getting ready, packing, grabbing your gear, and knowing that you were about to face the enemy and it could be deadly.

Entering the computer lab one at a time they stood around the conference table as Gaige turned from his bank of computer screens and stood.

"You've each been sent the information we have on the location in the Ozarks, Mags Crowe, her real estate holdings, her business, and the town in general. Read up on it while you travel. I have new ear buds on the table for you if you prefer to listen to the information. Discuss your approach while you travel, I have the Beast ready for you. Josh, you driving?"

"Yeah, I'll drive."

"Okay, the Beast is programmed to get you to Kingsdale. I estimate it to take around six and a half hours or so. You should be there by dinner time or a bit later. Once you check into a hotel, call in and let me know the game plan. I'm tracking you, too."

"Okay." Josh responded, turning to the rest of them he locked eyes with Dodge first. "Let's go meet the Beast. You're gonna love her."

All he could do was nod. He sure as hell hoped the Beast was a big ass vehicle. Comfortable too if they were going to be sitting in her for over six hours. Just before leaving the room Gaige called to them once again.

"Dodge and Ford, leave your truck keys and we'll get your vehicles in the garage."

Fishing into their front pockets, they both grabbed their keys and tossed them to Gaige one at a time. "We'll take care of them."

They each loaded into the elevator once more and went down to the lower garage he'd heard so much about. As soon as the doors opened the light popped on and what met his eyes met was jaw dropping.

Wyatt stepped out first and began explaining the garage spaces.

"We each get two spaces down here for vehicles or whatever. These are my spots right here." He pointed to a big Ram truck in copper and rugged off-road tires with black accents. Next to the pickup lay a sexy sleek black corvette.

"Those are Josh's vehicles next to mine."

Josh drove a brand new Ford F-150 with all the bells and whistles. It was red in color and stood tall and proud. Next to Josh's truck was a matching red Mustang. Wow.

"These are Jax's vehicles." There stood a black Jeep with rugged tires and sexy rims and the black bike he'd admired last night stood next to it.

"Hawk's, Axel's, and Gaige's along this wall." Each vehicle admirable in its own right and the garage bespoke of money and care. Every vehicle was clean and shiny, brand new and he felt like he was in a dream, if that dream included a sexy ass garage filled with exciting vehicles. That was a loud, affirmative. They'd made the right decision partnering up with this group. You could tell a lot about a person by how they took care of their vehicles.

"You'll all have those spaces at that end of the garage when you're here. This also serves as a bomb shelter and offers us maximum security should the worst happen and the enemy comes calling on us. Though it's doubtful."

Josh stepped forward and proudly waved his hand at the far end of the garage and toward a gargantuan black SUV with off-road tires, heavy suspension, and four doors. The bar over the top held a row of lights. He couldn't help it, "Wow, that is a beast."

Josh chuckled. "You haven't even seen the set up on the inside. Let's load up."

Josh tapped the remote in his hand and the lift gate opened. He tossed his duffle in the back then hopped in the driver's seat. Wyatt and Jax followed behind, stowing their gear so he and Ford did the same. Wyatt turned to Ford, "Why don't you sit in the front and begin playing with the computer on board so you get used to it. Dodge can do the same next stop and we'll have you trained on it in no time."

Jax climbed into the backseat of the Beast, Wyatt followed her in and Dodge saw her scoot to the middle. That meant for the next few hours, he'd be rubbing arms with Jax. He hopped up into the backseat, and smiled as his long legs had plenty of room for a lengthy ride. His smile caught Wyatt's attention. "I see you appreciate the room. I'm 6'7" and Hawk is 6'8" so when the Beast was built, we had the frame stretched so we could sit comfortably on long trips. Best thing we ever did."

Dodge’s chuckle was infectious. Looking over Jax's head at Wyatt, he saw that his scar ran the length of his left cheek, curved down the back of his neck, and disappeared into his t-shirt. His longer dark hair mostly covered it unless he was looking the opposite way as he was now. When he turned his head, he caught Dodge looking at him. His smile grew broad, "Mission in the rain forest five years ago. Had a fight with a mad knife wielding suspect hopped up on PCPs and it was a fight to get him subdued. I owe Axel thanks for stopping him and saving my life."

Dodge nodded. "Glad Axel was there for you, man."

"So where'd you serve?" Wyatt asked.

"One tour in Bosnia, one tour in Indonesia for humanitarian relief after the hurricane. Then twenty years on the police force first as a cop then a detective for the last five." He responded, though for some reason it didn't bother him as much as it usually did. Probably because every person in this vehicle was former military. "Army."

Jax nodded. "Josh and I are Army, so was Jake and our father. I did a tour in Iraq beginning in 2002, then came home and joined GHOST. I've been here for close to fourteen years."

"Respect."

Jax giggled and it was the first time he heard her sound happy. It sounded good. Ford started sharing his story then. "I served in Desert Storm, came home, and married. Had a son, divorced his mother. Married again last year and now I have one son in Afghanistan and a baby girl at home. Battles of a different kind I guess. I've been bounty hunting for the past twenty years."

As they rolled down the road, Ford put the speaker on in the SUV and they all listened to the information Gaige had pulled together. A plan formed in Dodge’s head on what he'd do, but he'd sit back and see what the team did together and how they worked it all out. His stomach growled loudly and they all began laughing when Josh said, "Pull your wallet out, Wyatt, we're hungry."