Page 61 of Hazard

“Love, Boomie. Fucking love.”

“Oh, goddammit. No way to protect against that.”

“No, and your time will come.” He eyed Skull, Boomer, and Breakneck.

“Nope, not me,” Skull said. “I have a partner, and he keeps me warm at night, doesn’t hog the bed, and there’s no doodads and lacy shit cluttering up my bathroom.”

“You are…misinformed, brother. You have no idea how amazing doodads and lacy shit is,” GQ said with a goofy grin.

Boomer shook his head gravely. “I’ve already been down that road. She didn’t like the lifestyle, or she just didn’t like me,” he said with self-deprecating humor most likely to lessen the sting. “So, I don’t hold out hope.”

Breakneck shrugged. “I’m still sowing my wild oats.”

“That shit is for sheep. You’re a wolf, brother,” Boomer said, then he threw his head back and howled.

“Oh, geezus,” Iceman said. “Easy there, lobo. Let’s get back to the compound. This wolf pack is packing it in. We’re heading home.”

Hazard didn’t waste a moment in requesting leave once they landed in Virginia Beach and they had all been stood down. With a steely look, Iceman approved it. “She’s a SEAL babe through and through. Takes balls to stand up to me. Tell her I said so.”

Hazard nodded and rushed out of the base for home where he showered and changed, then quickly packed a bag. He caught a cab to Norfolk Airport and booked a flight on the fly for the Redeye to San Diego, landing at five a.m. He slept all the way to California, had some breakfast since he had no idea where she lived, and waited for the courthouse to open at seven a.m. She and her office were housed at the Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse, just down the street from the Central Courthouse. When he passed in the cab, he noticed that the windows were still boarded up from the bomb explosion Alzate had ordered on the OCDETF.

When he entered the building, he found her office from the directory, and when he stepped inside, the receptionist stared. She cleared her throat, then said, “May I help you.”

“I’m looking for Leigh.”

“The US attorney?” she stammered.

He smiled. “That would be the one. About five-seven, blonde hair, beautiful, with a mouth on her that doesn’t quit.”

Alzate was being arraigned this morning, and he was content to see the man begin his long walk to a needle, and to see Leigh in action.

The receptionist laughed softly. “Yes, that’s her.” Her eyes narrowed. “I know you. You’re a Navy SEAL and detailed her for a bit a while back.” Her eyes widened. “Wait, are you that Navy SEAL?”

“You mean the one that’s in love with her?”

The woman smiled again. “Right, Petty Officer Archer ‘Hazard’ Booth. She told me you might call and to put you right through.”

“She did? I like the sound of that.”

She blushed under his intent gaze, then rattled off a courtroom number and directions. He thanked her and left. The court was already in session, so he quietly went through the doors.

He was aware that Leigh was going to request the death penalty for Alzate, and it was now employed in certain federal offenses, such as killing a government official, kidnapping that resulted in death, running a large-scale drug enterprise, and treason.

Alzate fit into three of those four offenses with multiple counts of murder for government officials regarding the OCDETF and a corrupt senator, and kidnapping that resulted in the death of Petty Officer Mayta Mosquera and Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent Carter Lennon. He noticed there were two people inside. One was a woman with tawny hair and an Asian American male. He recognized them as NCIS Special Agent in Charge Kai Talbot, and CGIS Special Agent Davis Nishida.

They turned when the door closed, both of them nodding to him. He sat behind them, nodding back. His gaze went to Leigh, and she looked so professional in her burgundy power suit that brought out the color of her hair, a glossy honey blonde.

The court clerk started speaking as he read off the docket number. “United States vs. Angel Alzate. Charges are multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, and accessory to murder in the first degree, kidnapping and torture of military and federal employees, and running a large-scale global drug enterprise, the Alzate Cartel.”

“How do you plead?” the judge asked.

“Not guilty,” Alzate said. Hazard was surprised the bastard didn’t choke on his lie.

The judge looked at Leigh. “Miss Waterford?”

“The United States will prove that Mr. Alzate is guilty of all charges, and due to the violent and callous disregard for human life, we ask for remand.”

“I agree, Miss Waterford. The defendant is denied bail and remanded until trial.” The judge cracked her gavel, and the US Marshals took him away.

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