Page 66 of Whiskey

“Shit,” I breathed out.

“A hero to the end.” Mike closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry.” I fingered Halim’s bracelet in my pocket. I knew how hard a loss like that would have been on everyone in that house. “I know losing not only one of my best friends but also a brother has become a serious dark turn for me.” I spoke quietly as I felt the need to share my own pain. “I was, after all, his captain, and I didn’t bring all my men back home. It’s the worst kind of pain to know he’s still back there.”

“Beckett,” I rolled my head to looked at Cole, “John’s wife is a JAG lawyer. If you want to get that son of a bitch, you tell her I give you permission to proceed.”

“Copy that.”

Eric

“You seem off,” Alejandro played with his switchblade, “extra quiet.”

“Thinking.” I used a rag to wipe my face. A fan pointed directly at me but provided very little relief from the heat that smothered every inch of this Godforsaken place. Castillo had called while I was out, and when I got home, I was escorted to a location and told to wait. We didn’t normally operate like this, and it bothered me. Martin Castillo didn’t step off his property in fear he’d be shot. He had more protection than the fucking Pope. So, why here? Why now?

“You think Castillo’s brought us here to whack us?” Alejandro’s voice sounded matter-of-fact.

“With any luck.” I dripped with sarcasm. “I’d do anything to escape the heat of the devil’s asshole.” Sweat dripped from every pore, blurring my vision.

“Yeah, it’s a hot one.”

“No, Ale, this is hell.”

The sound of an engine as it pulled up the driveway had me on my feet. I stood in the corner, leaned against the desk, and crossed my ankles in a relaxed manner.

“Out,” Castillo ordered Alejandro, who looked at me before he ducked outside with the rest of Castillo’s men. He motioned for the door to be closed and then removed his jacket and lit a cigar. He took a deep inhale.

“We have a problem.” He examined the cigar before he cast his gaze on me. “Someone in our circle tipped off that filth in the north.” He spat on the floor, and I could tell his temper was barely under control.

“What happened?”

“As you know, my plans are flawless.” He settled himself on a chair and rested a leg on his thigh. “So, imagine my surprise when we have all the little Army men in perfect position to be blown to bits, and at the last second, poof, they’re racing out unharmed into the night. All those perfectly placed explosives wasted.”

“Could they have spotted something to tip them off?”

“No.” He held my gaze. “Like I said, my plans are flawless.”

I shook my head as I thought about how to handle Castillo. He had a reputation for being a loose cannon, so I wouldn’t put it past him to slaughter his entire team and start new.

“Any witnesses to anything?”

“None.”

“The explosives were on a remote? No tripwires?”

“Remote.” His tone had a chill to it.

“And not one of your men watching the house saw anyone coming or going while the Army guys were in there?”

“No.”

“Shit.” I used the rag to clear my face. “I’ll keep an ear to the ground and bring anything to you that I find.”

“No,” he cut me off, “I want you to bring me a head.”

“Attached or severed?”

“Surprise me.” He stood and tugged his jacket free from the chair. “Just bring me proof of who did this, or everyone is dead.”

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