Page 53 of Hazard

“Haha. Nice one, Severus,” Strekoza said with a waggle of her brows. They moved off to different cover.

“Goddammit,” Skull swore. Those females always seemed to be just under his skin. The brunette with her quips and jabs, and that cute, pert blonde affecting him in a much more…sensual way.

“She ain’t wrong…master of the dark arts,” GQ said with a hitch in his breath.

“Makes you wonder where they stash their weapons,” Breakneck murmured, his voice full of speculation.

Kodiak grinned, and Preacher covered up a soft huff of laughter. “Out of the mouth of babes,” GQ said.

Breakneck’s grin was brief and boyish as he shrugged. “Just a red-blooded American guy.”

When they were all assembled, Iceman said, “What do you see, Boomer?”

“No movement, Ice. Just a lot of quiet. Looks like the back patio door is ajar.”

“Damn,” Iceman said, relaying everything into the radio and right to the command center. His boss wasn’t happy that it looked like they were too late.

When Skull looked over, the two women were gone.

“Get closer for a better look. Skull, go with him. Break has your backs.”

Skull had noticed that Breakneck went right into sniper mode the moment he hit the ground. He was looking through his scope. “Ice, I don’t detect any movement in the house.”

Skull moved to Boomer’s position, both of them traveling in a quick, highly focused, knees slightly bent walk. They made it to the back porch without incident. “Looks clear, Ice. Moving inside.”

“We’re coming up on your sixes.”

Skull took point and Bones entered the house right into the kitchen. There was a pot on the stove with boiling water, and Boomer moved to the right while Skull moved to the left. When they reached the entrance to the living room, Skull removed Bones’s leash. “Seek,” he said. The dog immediately took off and made a beeline for a coat closet by the front door. He started barking.

Boomer moved in while Skull kept him covered. When he pulled the door open, a woman screamed when she saw them, babbling for her life in Spanish.

“Military,” he said in Spanish. “We’re not here to hurt you.”

She was close to hysterical as Boomer reached down and as gently as possible lifted her from where she was huddled on the floor. Skull dragged Bones away and dropped his weapon to let it hang from the strap.

She was still pleading with her hands up. “You’re safe,” he said. “Military.”

She looked at them, tracks of her tears running down her plump cheeks, her eyes wide with fear. She was dressed like a house cleaner.

“What happened here?” Boomer asked in Spanish. “Where is Minister Cristo?”

“Men came, many men. I ran to the closet to hide. They had weapons.” She nodded to his rifle. She swallowed hard. “And machetes.” She paused, her breathing labored but starting to calm. “I heard from inside the closet as they broke inside and Senora Cristo’s screaming. I was so afraid.”

Boomer took her arm and moved her away from the closet into the living room. He crouched in front of her and questioned her some more.

Skull gave Bones free rein, and he led him to what looked like the lady’s study. Strekoza and Hummingbird were already there. They were going through her drawers looking for intel no doubt.

He came around the desk. “Find anything?”

“No,” Hummingbird said.

He looked toward the desk, his gaze snagging on someone he was well acquainted with. A man who before Angel Alzate had been one of the most wanted drug lords on the planet.

“What is it?” Hummingbird asked, a sharpness to her eyes. She was one of those people who could read expressions. Something like a sixth sense? he wondered.

“That picture,” Skull said, nudging with his chin.

She turned to look at it and her eyes widened. “Is that?”

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