Page 10 of Bullet Unleashed

“I’ll be right there,” I sigh and rub the apex of my nose with my fingers. Running this organization takes a lot of energy and manpower.

A moment later, I’m through the door to my office and standing beside the analyst who dared to disturb my little bit of peace. “What do you have, Shania?”

Shania clicks the keys to the desktop she’s working from and brings up another window on her screen. “I found the cellphone.”

“Where?” I ask.

“Right inside Sance. It’s a small town east of here.”

Shania is twenty-three, blonde, built like a flagpole, and not from Canada. Her top quality is her particular geekiness, so she’s in the perfect role. None of the men would be tempted in sleeping with her, so they all will perform to the level of my expectations in their job functions without sex becoming a hindrance. Office romances are so messy, and in this line of business, we don’t have time for such trivialities.

“Alright, send out a retrieval unit.”

“Already done, sir.”

My head tilts at her presumption, but is quickly dismissed. This is why she works for me. “Good. Wake me when they’ve got it.”

I love our efficiency. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to hone this group into a finely functioning machine it is now. But it cost a lot. Most of it paid in blood. The sweat and the tears came later.

“Sir, they want to know if they should go in weapons hot?”

“What? No. It’s Sance. There should be nothing out there but backwards farmers and inbred filth. This shouldn’t take no more than two or three at the most. Now, get it done,” I place a telling hand on her shoulder. “And wake me when it’s in our possession, so I can close this one out.”

“Yes sir.”

She shudders at my touch, but I don’t care. Sometimes touch is more effective at communicating than words can ever be.

I push through the doors of my office and sit in the very expensive chair behind my desk. My office is situated high above the city of Andoville, and all I ever need to do is swivel my chair, and look out the large windows to see all of the city laid at my feet. A fitting view for a man who rose from nothing to the top of the pile.

The multiline phone on my desk feels cold to the touch, but I need to let them know what’s happening.

After a few rings, the call connects. “You’ve got something?”

“Found the phone.”

“Then let me know when you’ve destroyed it.”

“Affirmative.”

“Oh, and Collin? There can be no slipups on this one.”

“Don’t insult me. You know I never do. Remember why you hired me.”

“I do. It’s why we’re paying Stryke Security an obscene amount of money to make sure it happens.”

“You worry too much, Jerry.”

“I’m paid to worry. And you’re paid to deliver results. I’m doing my job, now do yours.”

“I’ll let you know when I have something further.”

“Be sure you do.”

The call disconnects and I pick up the nearest pen and tap it incessantly on my desk. I have the best of the best under my employ, but sometimes even they require a kick in the ass.

Once more the phone is in my hand.

“Yeah?” The gruff voice on the other side answers.

“Tuck, no mistakes. Get in and get out clean.”

“Got it, boss. We’re on it.”

“Good. Don’t forget to check in when it’s done.”

“Sir? What if we run into opposition?”

“You’re authorized to use whatever force is necessary to reacquire the target. It shouldn’t take much, but if it does then remember the two rules.”

Tucker’s good, and damn that Jerry for putting even the smallest doubt in my mind. This is a simple smash-and-grab. We’re more than equipped to handle something like this. This is my life. It’s what I get paid for.

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