Chapter Eight

Near Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi

“Six minutes!” the jumpmaster yelled over the drone of the C-130’s turboprop engines. The tail ramp was open, revealing a sea of darkness below where the flat Mississippi swampland spread out several thousand feet beneath them.

“Six minutes!” Reid and the others shouted back.

Emerald Warrior was already into its fourth day, and the entire team was feeling the fatigue. Yesterday they’d spent nine hours out in the field covering procedure on how to call in close air support fire missions with an AFSOC combat controller named Ryan Wentworth, who they knew from their deployments to Bagram. Today they were doing a static line jump into “cartel territory” and linking up with another unit to search for drugs and hostages in a simulated village together.

Reid and his teammates climbed to their feet and hooked their lines onto the cable that ran toward the open tail ramp.

“Stand by!” the jumpmaster called out.

Ten seconds to go.

Third in line, Reid did the familiar airborne shuffle across the C-130’s deck toward the tail ramp. Hamilton was in front of him, and Freeman was first in line, the former SEAL in his usual position of point man, since he was the most experienced operator on the team.

The jump light turned from red to green. “Go!” the jumpmaster yelled.

Freeman hopped off the ramp first, then Hamilton a second later. Reid was a step behind him. He launched himself off the back of the tail ramp, the sudden tension on the static line deploying his D-Bag.

He immediately started counting. Just before he hit three seconds, the canopy opened over his head in the dark night sky, and he caught sight of the remainder of his teammates exiting the aircraft above him in rapid succession. The Hercules was traveling at around 130 knots, so it was critical to stay as close together as possible. Any delay between jumpers caused big gaps that were hard to make up for on the ground.

The muggy Mississippi night air rushed around him as he descended toward the edge of the swamp that marked the boundary of the DZ. He toggled the chute to slow his fall at the end and executed a running landing, then quickly unstrapped and stashed his chute.

He spotted Hamilton and Freeman about thirty yards away. He waved his arm to signal that he was ready to rock, then brought his M-4 up into position and took a knee to scan his portion of the DZ.

Four more figures floated downward through the dark sky to land in various spots in the empty field. All around them, everything was silent.

When everyone was on the ground safely and ready to go, they moved toward the western tree line in a wedge formation, maintaining all around security. The mission plan called for them to rendezvous with another element on the northern edge of the swamp, one-point-three klicks away, before moving to the target.

Reid stayed on the left side of the formation with Maka. They picked their way through the trees and underbrush as they skirted the edge of the swamp, with Freeman and Hamilton in the lead. At the rendezvous point they formed a defensive perimeter and crouched down to await the other squad.

Six minutes later, Hamilton signaled that he’d seen something through his IR goggles. Had to be the other team making contact with an IR strobe.

Sure enough, a second later someone hidden in the trees called out the challenge word. Hamilton gave the predetermined response and waved Reid and the others forward.

A group of figures appeared through the trees in the distance. On a real op Reid and the others would have been on high alert in case it was a setup or ambush. Since this was a training exercise no one was going to shoot them, so while they would still act like professionals and keep their game faces on, they could afford to relax their guard a little.

The point man from the other team emerged out of the tree line and paused, the rest of his men waiting behind him. Hamilton stepped forward to meet them. “Fancy meeting you boys out here.”

“Yeah, what’re the odds of that?” the other man said in a southern drawl similar to Reid’s. And when the other team’s point man walked over to meet Hamilton, he had a big grin on his face. “How you doin’, brother?”

“Tuck?” Hamilton said, astonishment as well as a smile clear in his voice. “I’ll be goddamned.”

Wait. Tuck, as in Brad Tucker? Team leader for the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Blue Team? Reid knew him and a couple of the other guys from back in his SF days, and their teams sometimes crossed paths at Quantico for training. He hadn’t known they were doing Emerald Warrior.

“Did you know it was us you were meeting out here?” Hamilton asked.

“They told us just before we loaded into the plane.” Tuck slapped him once on the shoulder. “Good to see you.”

“Yeah, it’s like old home week.” Hamilton half-turned and waved Reid forward. “Prentiss. Get over here.”

Reid jogged over, unable to keep from grinning when he reached Tuck. “Hey,” he said, grasping Tuck’s outstretched hand. “Vance and Blackwell with you too?”

“Yep, the gang’s all here.” Tuck looked behind him and waved them over. “Vance. Blackwell. Come say hi.”

The two men materialized out of the darkness, Vance’s teeth seeming extra bright in his dark face as he grinned. “How’s it going, my man?” he said in his deep baritone.

“Good to see you,” Reid said, giving his old buddy a hug and a backslap. They’d served together on the same A-team for a while when Reid had first passed SF selection. Releasing Vance, he shook Blackwell’s hand. “Heard you’re a daddy now. Congrats.” Blackwell and his wife had been to hell and back trying to have a baby. Reid was happy things had finally worked out for them.

“Thanks, man. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s awesome. How’s Autumn?”

Reid shook his head. “Growing up way too fast. She’s nine going on twenty-nine. I’m thinking of locking her in her room until she’s thirty.”

Blackwell laughed. “Yeah, not gonna lie, I’m glad we had a boy.”

Hamilton gripped Reid’s shoulder from behind and gave it a hard squeeze. “Prentiss is loving the hell out of this. Working down here in his old backyard.”

“Yeah, it’s good to be back home where we can get real barbecue,” Tuck said. As an Alabama native, the man knew good barbecue.

Oh, man. Now Reid’s mouth was watering for smoked ribs and pulled pork. “We gotta hit up The Shed before we head back to Virginia.”

“That’s a deal,” Tuck said, and pulled out his topo map to confer with Hamilton.

The rest of the guys mingled for a few minutes while their leaders went over the plan. One of the HRT members was a big sonofabitch named Bauer, damn near as big as Maka. A former SEAL, he knew Freeman. The SOF community was a small world.

Everybody was in high spirits when they finally started toward the objective village together. The HRT was responsible for neutralizing the drug runners and rescuing the two captives reported to be inside, while FAST Bravo would provide backup and then do a search for drugs, weapons and cash.

Each team started for the target village in a separate wedge formation, the tangled terrain and swampy conditions making the trek slow going. A half klick from their objective, they went into full op mode, staying silent and stealthy as they covered the remaining distance to where four dilapidated buildings sat in the middle of the bayou.

Old gnarled cypress trees gave them good concealment, the Spanish moss and vines swaying from their branches giving the place an eerie feel that made Reid all nostalgic. Damn, he loved it down here. He’d been hunting in this neck of the woods since he was a kid, so being out here in the swamp at night made him feel right at home.

Hidden behind the thick trunk of a cypress, Reid hunkered down to wait, the rest of his team fanned out amongst the trees as the HRT started toward the small group of wood-framed houses.

The enemy force didn’t put up much resistance. Things went so smoothly—way more smoothly than it ever did in real life—it was all over in a matter of minutes. The HRT swept in hard and fast, catching the “cartel members” off guard, neutralizing the tangos and securing the captives. Reid and his teammates helped secure the village and conducted the search for contraband, while Rodriguez helped question a few of the prisoners.

When everything was done the teams fanned out in two semi-circles to await the incoming helos. The HRT guys and the rescued “hostages” boarded the first, and FAST Bravo with their captured “cartel soldiers” and contraband the second. Reid tried to see if Tess was at the controls of one of them, but he couldn’t get a good look at the cockpit of either aircraft.

He jumped aboard the second one and chatted with Colebrook during the flight back to base, but he was distracted by thoughts of Tess. They’d talked every day since that scorching makeout session at her hotel nine days ago, but it felt like forever since he’d seen her. He was crazy about her.

She made him laugh. Made him feel comfortable. With her kindness and positive outlook on life, she was a balm to his cynical soul. She was stealing her way into his heart and he was too enthralled to stop it.

Also huge for him was her job. She’d served overseas in combat, had flown his team during a mission. She understood firsthand what he did for a living, the dangers and the commitment his place on the team demanded. That right there set her apart from any other woman he’d ever been with.

He needed to see her again, as soon as possible.

Once on the tarmac about fifteen minutes later, Reid was one of the last to hop out of the aircraft, and stopped to peer through the cockpit windows. A male pilot sat in the left hand seat, but when Reid’s gaze slid over to the right one, his heart stuttered when he made out Tess’s profile.

He stood there grinning like an idiot, raising his hand to acknowledge his teammates when someone called to him, but he didn’t look away from Tess. Couldn’t.

Come on, sweetheart, look at me.

Moments later she turned her head slightly and their gazes connected. A startled smile broke over her face and she waved once. He waved back and motioned toward the hangar with his eyebrows raised, asking her whether she and her crew were calling it a night after this. She gave a thumbs up in affirmation, one more little grin, and went back to her shutdown procedure.

A minute ago, he’d been tired and looking forward to a hot shower, some chow, and his bunk. Now, he was energized at the thought of spending even a few minutes with Tess. Getting any time with her at all was better than none.

Because the rules were relaxed due to the training atmosphere, both teams’ commanders allowed them all to shower up and grab a bite to eat before the joint post-op meeting that lasted the better part of an hour.

FAST Bravo was bunking at a dorm just off base, a short bus ride away. Reid slung his duffel over one shoulder and rounded the corner of the command building, in the act of fishing out his phone to text Tess and see if they could meet up somewhere. The guys were heading to the bar with the HRT, but Reid wanted no part of it—he just wanted Tess.

His feet stuck to the concrete when he saw Tess waiting for him at the side of the building in jeans and a snug T-shirt that hugged the curve of her round breasts, her honey-blond hair down around her shoulders.

“Hey, stranger,” she said with a smile.

Reid unstuck his feet and rushed straight for her. “Hey.” He dropped his bag onto the sidewalk and grabbed her, wrapping her up in a fierce, tight hug. Her hair smelled like pears. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”

Tess slipped her arms around his back and squeezed him in return, her face nestled into the side of his neck. “Mmm, me too. I’d almost forgotten how good you feel.”

The husky edge to her voice sent a torrent of blood between his legs. “Well I haven’t forgotten how good you feel.” The memory had been torturing him for over a week now.

She gave a soft laugh and pulled her head back to peer up at him. Reid stroked the hair away from her face, getting lost in the pale green of her eyes. “Did you know it was my team you were picking up out there?”

“Yes, but I’m guessing you didn’t see me until we got back here. You looked pretty surprised.”

“Excited is the word you’re looking for,” he corrected her.

“Okay, then. Excited.”

The pride swelling his chest was fierce. “I love it that you were at the controls tonight.”

Her eyes lit up at his praise. “Thanks. How many more days are you here for?”

“Two. You?”

Her smile fell. “I leave tomorrow afternoon.”

“Back to Fort Worth?”

She nodded, searching his eyes. “Any chance you’ll get a few days off after this? Maybe you could come to Texas?”

He groaned. “No. We’re headed straight back to D.C. and then I’ve got Autumn overnight on Saturday.” He was glad he wouldn’t be alone on the anniversary of Jason’s death.

After that, he wasn’t sure what his schedule would be. It changed constantly, depending on what was happening at the agency or whatever target they were sent after.

“Oh. When are you scheduled to have some time off next? Because I’m not off until the end of June.”

He’d failed at making his marriage work because of his job, and he and Sarah had lived in the same damn house. What were he and Tess going to do when both of them had demanding schedules they couldn’t change, and they lived in different states? “I’ll see what I can do.” He’d find a way. Call in a favor or pull some strings to get time to visit her. Whatever it took.

A slow, soft smile curved her mouth. “Good. Because as much as I swore to myself that I’d never be with another military man, I’ve missed you like hell this past week.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Way more than he’d expected to. She’d triggered something inside him, revived a part of him that he’d thought was long dead.

Unable to stand the temptation she posed a moment longer, he brushed his thumb across her lower lip, and lowered his mouth to hers. Tess slid one hand to the back of his neck and raised her head to meet him. Her lips were soft and warm beneath his own, and he tasted toothpaste when he slipped his tongue inside her mouth.

Someone cleared their throat behind him.

Reid whipped around, automatically blocking Tess with his body. Maka stood there at the front doors, his huge silhouette all but blocking the light coming from the front of the building. “Problem?” Reid asked, feeling ultra-protective of Tess.

“Trip to the bar’s been cancelled. Taggart’s called us and the HRT guys in for a meeting.”

Now? It was so late. He frowned. “About what?”

Maka shrugged, his face impassive. “Dunno, but it must be something big. Everybody’s heading back inside.”

Hell. “Okay. Be there in a minute.” He waited until Maka left before turning back to Tess. Damn, he wished they could have more time together. “Sorry.”

Her lips curved upward and she gave a little shrug. “It’s okay, I know how it is.”

Yeah, she did. He took her face in his hands. “I know you do.” And that made a potential relationship between them a hell of a lot easier for them both, even with all their other challenges. With a sigh, Reid pulled her back into his arms. He loved the way she fit against him, her body soft yet firm, all her curves nestled into him.

“You be safe,” she murmured, correctly assuming that he and his team were about to be deployed somewhere. Likely sent after a Veneno target.

“I will. I’ll call you as soon as I get a chance. See if I can get a few days off and come to Texas.”

“I’d love that.”

“Me too.” He kissed the top of her head, then she tipped her face up to his and he claimed that soft, sexy mouth once more. One last hug, and he was forced to leave her there, the feel and taste of her imprinted in his brain.

Inside the briefing room, both teams were already assembled when Reid walked in. A silent tension filled the air. Commander Taggart was up front with some guys wearing FBI windbreakers who Reid didn’t recognize.

Taking the empty seat between Lockhart and Colebrook, Reid settled in.

“Okay, let’s get to it,” Taggart said in his booming voice. “All remaining exercises that you were scheduled to participate in within Emerald Warrior have hereby been cancelled. Because we just got a viable lead on Carlos Ruiz.”

Absolute silence greeted the words, every operator riveted to what Taggart was saying.

“He’s reputed to be close, southwest of New Orleans out in the swamp someplace, which is why we’ve been tasked with executing the warrant. We’re closest, we’re ready, so we’ve got the green light.”

Ruiz’s picture came up on screen for everyone to see.

“Couple of kids were out in the woods earlier tonight, and heard a woman screaming so they went to investigate and found more than they’d bargained for. They got pictures with a phone and sent them to local cops, who contacted the FBI. The reason we’ve called the HRT to this meeting is because we have reason to believe that the missing reporter Victoria Gomez is being held hostage at this place, and recent chatter suggests Ruiz is planning to ship female hostages along with his dope. Gomez being one of them.”

Reid squeezed his hands into fists. Few things got him as riled up as people profiting off the skin trade, where women and sometimes girls not even in their teens were sold as sex slaves. As a man, it sickened him. As a father, it enraged him.

He stared up at Ruiz’s picture, jaw tensing. Fucking pathetic piece of shit.

“HRT’s Commander DeLuca is aware of the situation and monitoring it from Quantico,” Taggart continued. “Ruiz and his men like to move around a lot, never staying in one place for long, so we’re moving fast on this one. We’ll give you the intel we have, then you’ll decide how you want to do this,” he said to both teams.

Reid and the others listened carefully while Taggart and the FBI folks laid out what they knew of the suspect property, Ruiz’s enforcers, what to expect in terms of resistance, weapons, drug cache and possible other hostages as well. As soon as they wrapped up, Hamilton and the HRT team leader, Tucker, took over and organized a general plan of attack.

Once they had a general roadmap in mind, the individual team members got involved, giving feedback and suggestions. Taggart listened in, offering his opinion on a few points while HRT Commander DeLuca did the same via Skype.

In the end, they decided on a plan similar to what they had just conducted a few hours before, with certain modifications. FAST Bravo would go in support of the HRT, who would clear the buildings, eliminate any hostiles and free whatever hostages they found. Then Reid and his guys would take over the search for drugs, weapons, and question any prisoners—hopefully Ruiz himself—while the FBI and DEA support personnel and investigators finished processing the scene.

“All right, we’re looking at a tight turn around on this one,” Taggart announced to the whole room once the plan was agreed upon. “Everybody go kit up. Let’s get ready to crash Ruiz’s party.”