Page 61 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 2

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Axel

I laid in wait atop the highest outcropping of rock forty feet above the beach. The trick was staying out of sight of Santos’s super yacht. Chase’s buddy turned out to be a Navy Commander of a destroyer, serving in the Gulf of Mexico. He sent a Navy plane to pick us up in Sitka.

Given the scope of our mission, we engaged their assistance in bringing Santos to justice. The commander wasn’t going to help us further at first until he learned that Santos had taken an American woman hostage and was the leader of a major human trafficking ring.

As the father of two young girls, the commander decided he would rather face a potential Court Marshall than allow a sick son of a bitch to harm defenseless women.

We reached the island yesterday and mapped out our plan of attack. It was risky, but even the commander agreed that Gideon’s plan was solid. Now it was up to us to implement it. We received word from our contact that Luka Santos’s jet had landed in Nassau this morning.

We were all in position. Gideon notified our CIA director that we survived and were in route to pick up Santos. We didn’t provide our location or the plan, just that we were alive. And we would see if that flushed the CIA mole out.

Santos’s yacht had anchored out past the small bay about an hour ago. Through my binoculars, I watched for movement. They had three black boats they had lowered into the water. We were waiting for them to land on the beach.

There was movement on deck. From this distance I spied Kylie’s hair billowing in the breeze as she was forced into one of the black boats. I sent up a prayer of thanks.

Through my walkie, I murmured to the group, “They’re boarding three boats. Will notify once they make landfall and are on the beach. Over.”

“Copy that,” Gideon replied.

It seemed to take forever for them to reach the beach. But it likely only took fifteen minutes at most. But in these types of situations, time seemed to slow to a crawl. It was the calm before the storm.

Once they dragged the boats further up the beach and began debarking, I radioed into Gideon. “Their landing party is on shore now.”

“Copy that. We’re on the move. Once they’re out of the boats, start picking those assholes off one at a time.”

“With pleasure.” I lifted my rifle, searching the beach for my first target.

“Chase, you in position?” Gideon asked.

“Yes, sir. I’m coming in hot. Hooyah!” Chase cackled.

“Mateo will radio us once he and the Frogman are on board the yacht,” Gideon stated.

The plan was in motion.

Looking down the gun scope, I located my Angel. Even from this distance I spotted the bruises on her face and the collar around her neck. I snarled, “That motherfucker’s gonna die. He put her in fucking chains.”

Chase and Gideon swore. I lined up the first walking dead man in my sight. I was patient with taking the first shot. Once I began, all hell would break loose. And I wanted to ensure they were halfway between the boats and the jungle.

I channeled my rage. It wouldn’t do my Angel any good if I missed my shots. Once I picked my target, I slid my finger over the trigger. Inhaling a deep, steadying breath, I made a last-minute adjustment to my aim and released my breath. Then I took the shot. The target’s head jerked back in a spray of blood and his body collapsed in the sand. I picked off the guy next to him before they regrouped. I shouted into my walkie as the men began to scatter and search for the threat. “Go now.”

Then I didn’t pay attention to anything but the chaos erupting on the beach and my Angel. I couldn’t risk accidentally hitting her. Not when that bastard started using her body for cover.

“He’s using her as a shield. I repeat, that fucker is using her as a goddamn shield.”

***

Gideon

At my signal, the two platoons of Navy seamen followed me. We had been hidden behind the same outcropping of rocks Axel was using to pick Santos’s men off one at a time. His men were returning fire.

And then Axel’s voice came through the walkie. That sick fuck was using Kylie as a fucking shield.

Motherfucker.Killing was too good for him.

Fury drove me forward up the beach. But I controlled it. I had already fucked up this case enough. If I lost my head Kylie was as good as dead. I refused to allow that son of a bitch to take another person I loved. That fucker would be dead before sunset.

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