Page 56 of SEAL's Angel
“Copy that. I won’t let you or the team down. I know how important this is.”
Jake nodded. “Then let’s go get this motherfucker.”
* * *
For most of the flight, Jake studied the intel Tex and Chrissy had obtained. His focus was mainly on the photos, scoping out any areas Azfaar could use to slip away or set up an ambush. Neither would surprise him. If the terrorists hadn’t moved their camp, it was a small compound in the Hindu Kush, the mountain range running through the Badakhshan Province. It looked more like a boy scout camp site than the large secure location they’d hit almost two years ago.
He also kept his eye on Chrissy and Ryan. They’d had a heated discussion right after takeoff, but seemed to work out their issues. Jake understood why Ryan wanted Chrissy to stay behind, but the woman was more than able to take care of herself. She knew Krav Maga for fuck’s sake.
Jake got a bottle of water and had just returned to his seat when Quinn sat down next to him. So much for grabbing some shut eye.
“I’ve been thinking about what Tex said before we left,” Quinn said. “I also reviewed all the intel, and I don’t like this shit with Hekbar.”
“Me, either. It doesn’t feel right,” Jake acknowledged. “But unless Chrissy or Tex find something else, we don’t have a choice.”
“I know, but it’s making my Spidey senses tingle.” Quinn’s mouth twisted in a wry grin.
“You and me both. I just don’t see any member of the Taliban giving two shits about a daughter,” Jake mused.
“Agreed. But what would be Hekbar’s motivation otherwise? Unless he hoped to take us all out along with Azfaar?”
“That would be my guess. And that’s why Chrissy is with us. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t believe how she can put different threads of information together and come up with a plan. The woman is freaking amazing.”
“Does she really have an eidetic memory?” Quinn asked.
“Yeah. Seeing her connect the dots in real-time is a thing of beauty.” Jake grinned. “Of course, that’s part of what pisses Ryan off. He’s proud of her, but he knows with the job she has he can’t keep her safe at home.”
“Guess we’re lucky there are no women in our lives. It’s just a freaking complication,” Quinn said.
An image of Dawn riding his cock in the hot spring flashed in Jake’s mind, and that was all it took to get him hard. It was a good thing he had a jacket on so Quinn wouldn’t see his erection. That would have been hard to explain. Yeah, women were a complication but worth every minute of frustration. Though Jake didn’t see the need to enlighten the SEAL and instead tipped his chin in agreement.
* * *
The transport plane touched down at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan fourteen and a half hours after they took off from Naval Air Station Norfolk. The SEAL teams made this trip frequently, and the flights always seemed to last forever, especially with the nine and a half hour time difference.
Exiting the transport with their packs, the SEAL teams made their way across the tarmac. It was the middle of the night, and there was a cool desert breeze. Their first stop was to check in with Command for any mission updates that might have come in while they were en route.
They had a quick briefing and viewed the latest drone images taken a few hours earlier. Unless it was a decoy, Azfaar hadn’t changed locations. With the location set, they discussed the specifics.
An hour later, as they were climbing into the helicopters, Chrissy ran across the tarmac toward them. Ryan jumped out of the chopper and met her halfway. No one could hear them, but if they needed to know, they would.
In the middle of the tarmac with the chopper blades spinning, Chrissy pulled Ryan’s head down to hers and kissed him. Not some peck on the lips, either, but a mini-make-out session. Jake howled with laughter, and he wasn’t the only one. Murph used the comms to tell them to get a room, and Ryan flipped him off.
A moment later, Ryan climbed into the helicopter, the pinched look he’d been wearing on his face for the last twelve hours finally gone.
Finally, they approached their drop zone in the Imam Sahib District. It was about ten klicks from their target. Chrissy didn’t think Hekbar would try to double-cross the SEALs, but Jake and Quinn thought otherwise. So they’d decided it would be best if the two teams split up. The Black Eagles would go directly to the target while the Red Falcons would meet up with Hekbar at the eastern edge of the district. Based on where he’d set the meeting, they were almost certain that he’d been hiding out in Pakistan.
The closer they got to the drop zone, the more focused the men became. Mission ready was not just a term to them. From years of experience, they knew that no matter how much planning they did, at some point, it would go sideways. They’d end up on Plan B, C, or D. But as long as there was mission success, it was the only thing that mattered.
The helicopter touched down, and the SEALs disappeared into the tree line. Then they checked their map and determined the path to take up into the mountainous area. It was still dark, but they had their night vision goggles and had no problem seeing the terrain.
Jake used his comms to alert Command that they’d reached the first checkpoint. Then he did a comm check. “Eagle 2, comm check.”
“Eagle 2, copy,” Rafe responded.
Then he did the same with Ryan, Murph, and Cam, using each of their call signs. Then he checked with Quinn.
“Falcon 1, comm check.”
“Falcon 1, copy Eagle 1. We’re heading to the next checkpoint,” Quinn responded.
“Copy that, Falcon 1,” Jake answered.
Everything had gone to plan so far, but it was early in the mission and there were plenty of opportunities for something to get fucked up.
Jake watched as the Red Falcon team disappeared into the trees and hoped that they weren’t heading into a trap. Then his team began their ten klick run to Azfaar’s compound.
