Page 24 of Bear

“They’re yankin’ your chain, bro.”

“Uh-huh,” Lemon said with a grin. “We takin’ bets?” She blew a bubble, then sucked it back in with a pop.

“Can we please get back to business?” Ringo sounded annoyed, but I saw the twitch to his lips.

“They’re two blocks away,” Crush interrupted. He was all business now. “Dark blue Chevy pickup. They usually park half a block away and walk around back.”

“I’ve got them,” I said, adjusting my binoculars to bring the truck in question into focus. “Yep. I recognize both men. I assume there’s an entrance at the back of the building?”

“Homemade entrance,” Crush confirmed. “Someone knocked a hole in the back wall. They’ve reinforced it a bit, but it’s their way in, thinking no one will see them.”

“Boon’s smarter’n that,” I muttered. “What’s he playin’ at?”

“Bear?” Rocket put a hand on my shoulder. “What’re you thinkin’?”

I lowered the field glasses and met my president’s gaze. “That Boon’s either lost his mind or he’s trying to get Black caught.”

“This fuckin’ guy wanted to be director of the CIA,” Lemon scoffed. “Why is he not smarter’n that?”

I snorted. “If I had to guess, I’d say he was following Boon’s lead.”

“And Boon is about to get revenge for going to prison,” Lemon guessed, probably correctly.

I shrugged, glancing at Rocket. “Can’t think of anything else off the top of my head.”

“Bear?” Ringo still had his field glasses to his face, gazing intently at the shitty motel. “What’s that on the corner of the building next to the room Crush pegged them in?”

I took a look. “I don’t see anything.”

“Parallel to the bottom right corner of the window, at the edge of the stone wall.”

I surveyed the area carefully. Then I saw it. “Our old outfit’s insignia.”

“You guys were PsyOps?” Falcon raised his eyebrows in surprise.

I shrugged. “Started in the Army together. It’s how the CIA found us.”

“You think he’s playing a mind game?” That was the first time Olivia had spoken since we started out. She was obedient and did her best to stay out of everyone’s way. Lemon was at her side constantly, and Liv didn’t protest. Even now, she spoke softly.

I shrugged. “Could be, but, honestly, Boon wasn’t that kind of guy. Sure, he was really good at his job, but he’s more the bust ‘em in the nuts kinda guy.”

“Huh.” Lemon grunted. “Sounds like my kinda guy.”

Rocket pointed a threatening finger at her. “Watch it, sour puss.”

Lemon just grinned, flipping him off.

“Crush? Anyone hangin’ back? They got a sleeper waitin’ for us?”

“Negative,” the other man said. “Just the two of them. I’ve hacked the Chevy’s computer, which led to a whole lotta shit with Black’s phone. I’d say your guy Boon is definitely setting him up for something.”

“Gettin’ us to do the dirty work,” Ringo muttered. “Don’t like it, but I can’t see anything suspicious from this angle.”

“Nothin’ inside but the two of them now,” Crush offered. “I was going to give the go ahead, Rocket.”

“I don’t want the women down there,” Rocket said. “We’ll nab the fuckers and take ‘em to that little huntin’ cabin on the edge of our territory. It’s still in the middle of nowhere, and we can do what we need to.”

“Also, plenty ‘a gators out there.” Scrub was always looking for ease of clean up. He shrugged. “Be easier to get rid of, but I can clean up wherever you decide to take care of business.”

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