Page 51 of SEAL's Providence
“They’ve got to be upstairs with the the flower and bud,” Tony said.
“Probably. The fucking morons. Why didn’t they come for us?”
“Knight 1, I took out a runner,” Adam reported.
“Copy that, Knight 4. Knight 2, sitrep on the flowers?”
“Five flowers planted. Knight 6 insists on re-entering.”
Tony had expected that, but he’d hoped to have the house cleared before she made it upstairs.
“Knight 6, take it slow and careful. We have two tangos unaccounted for.”
“Copy that, Knight 1,” Providence said.
Tony was second guessing his no guns decision. His gut told him that when he got upstairs, he’d be looking into the barrel of one. What was that adage about bringing a knife to a gunfight? Hopefully, since these guys were untrained asses, Tony would have a chance.
As he made his way up the stairs, he heard Pat meet Providence near the basement doorway. He’d guide her upstairs, but per Tony’s orders, not until he gave him the all clear. She wouldn’t like it, but he’d deal with her anger as long as he could keep her safe. Providence was his priority from now until he took his last breath.
Tony ducked and moved against the wall as he heard the whiz of a gunshot pass his head. Fuck. That had been close. He couldn’t see the tango, but their heavy breathing gave them away.
“Stop, right there, you cocksucker. Do you knowwho runs this operation? Are you crazy?” John asked. He stepped through an open door, and he wasn’t alone. A little girl was pressed tightly against him, an arm wrapped around her waist, and a Sig against her temple. It had to be Aleksandra. But where the hell was her mother?
“Let the girl go. I can get you a deal.”
“A deal? You are crazy.” He ranted in heavily accented Russian. “I won’t live to walk out the front door.”
“Sure, you will. I’ll make sure of it. Release the girl, let her go to her mother. Then we’ll figure this out. I don’t even have a gun.” It was a risk admitting that, but John didn’t know Adam had moved to a tree in the backyard and had him in his sights. The sniper wouldn’t pull the trigger until Tony knew the location of the other tango. They’d just have to wait him out.
“I don’t trust you. Worthless Americans. What do you know of this? That stupid cunt had to stick her nose where it don’t belong. She’ll be sorry now. It’s her fault I had to kill her friend today. I should have beat her to death for trying to talk to my girls. Now I’m one short for the auction. Or not. Maybe we could add her, yes? Did you bring her? Blonde hair always sells.”
Tony clenched his hands into fists. He’d love totake this asshole out. One shot to the brain and he’d be done. But the more he ranted, the more he gave away. He said they were short one girl. He’d killed a woman a few weeks ago. That meant Mary was still alive and somewhere in the house. Probably with the other tango.
He couldn’t risk saying anything over his comms, but he’d set them to active before John had stepped out of the bedroom with Aleksandra. His team heard everything he did. Unfortunately, so did Providence. He’d heard her whispered, “no,” when John said Mary was dead.
“Whatever. Let the girl go. Push her toward me. You want to live through this, don’t you?”
John’s eyes darted around, clutching Aleksandra tightly. “Where are your friends? Or you come alone? You think you’re so tough, soldier man, but you’re nothing.” As he shouted at Tony, he lifted the gun away from Aleksandra’s head and and took aim at Tony. It was the opening he’d waited for.
If this was his time to go, at least he’d save the child. “Alexandra, stomp and run,” Tony yelled and stomped his foot at the same time.
Rage reddened John’s face as he pulled the trigger. Tony ducked to the side as the child ran down the hall and into another room. A heartbeat later, a bullet exited through the front of John’s head. Heslumped forward onto the floor, blood pooling around his body.
Tony tapped his comm to reset it. “Thanks, Knight 4, I owe you one.”
“Copy that, Knight 1,” Adam said.
He walked over to check for a pulse. Not that he’d ever seen someone stand up after a head shot. Two down, one to go. The third guy needed to be caught so they could search for Mary and make sure her daughter wasn’t hurt.
“Hey fucktard. I know you’re up here. You’re the only one still alive. If you want to stay that way, come out now.”
Tony hadn’t expected it to work. But the door at the other end of the hall opened, and a man walked out with his hands up.
“Down on your knees. Keep your hands where I can see them.” Tony pulled a zip tie out of his pocket. “Good choice,” he said, as he cuffed the man’s hands behind his back. “Where’s the other woman?”
“In there,” he answered, tilting his head toward the room behind him.
“All clear. Be careful coming up the stairs. Knight 4 made a bit of a mess,” Tony announced.
