Page 43 of CJ

“Yes. And no.”

“Okay, I’m probably not going to like this, am I?” she grinned. He frowned, unsure of how to answer, and then shook his head.

“Relax, CJ. I know that this is something you have to do, whatever it is. We’ve been researching all the contracts that might have passed through the hands of the men that were killed, and it’s a bit mind-boggling. Fortunately, most of what she’s taken did not belong to G.R.I.P., and they weren’t tier-one weapons. Some was just ammunition. Other things were uniforms or vests.”

“Well, that doesn’t exactly make me feel better, but at least we know that she doesn’t have her hands on the best there is to offer,” frowned CJ. “I think we still have to find her and stop this. We can’t allow her and those three terrorist leaders to get their hands on anything we have.”

“I agree. Now, tell me what you have to do,” she smiled, taking his hand as they walked toward the cafeteria.

“We’re going to be gone a few days, but I’ve got it on good authority that I will be back in time for our wedding,” he smiled.

“Maybe we should postpone the wedding for just a couple of days,” she smirked. “I don’t mind, CJ. I know that I’ll be Mrs. Abbott soon enough. I don’t want you to be thinking about me, about us, while you’re doing your job.”

“That’s gonna happen no matter what, honey. I think about you all the time.” He kissed her passionately, holding her tight to his body. “I don’t want to postpone anything.”

“I’m glad you said that,” she smiled, opening the cafeteria door. CJ looked around the room and grinned, realizing that he’d just walked into his own wedding. “I had a feeling. I should say your mom and all these other beautiful women had a feeling. I don’t need the dress or the flowers or the cake, CJ. I just need to know that I’m your wife and that you’ll return to me.”

CJ could only laugh, shaking his head.

“Let’s go, asshole. It’s time to get hitched,” said Brix, nudging his friend.

The service could not have been more perfect for the two of them. They weren’t people who wanted big and ostentatious. They wanted small, simple, fast. It would never be described as a small wedding, but it was simple, and they loved it.

Dylan, Sara, George, and Casey made all their favorites and somehow, in record time, made the most beautiful wedding cake either of them had ever seen.

They danced their first dance, laughed with their friends, and then Hiro walked into the room.

“I think you have to leave now,” smiled Jill. “Come back to me, CJ. I will not be happy if you don’t.”

“I will always come back to you,” he said, kissing her. “I love you, Mrs. Abbott.”

“I love you more, Mr. Abbott.”

She stood and waved, then watched two dozen men leave with him, and she frowned.

“There are so many,” she whispered.

“This is bigger than we thought it would be,” said Hex. “The compound is on lockdown for now. Until we get to Mikella, we have no idea where she might truly be.”

“Aren’t you hoping she’ll be with the shipments?” asked Jill.

“That’s our hope. But shit always comes up with surprises for us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The men sat around the long, slender table on the redesigned Osprey. At the helm were Chipper and Evie, the best they had. Along with CJ were Gator, Ham, Patrick, Christopher, Matt, Kev, Rush, BJ, JB, Tobias, Abe, Nate, Dan, Rett, Eazee, Moose, U-Jin, Leif, Major, Brix, Sebastian, Fitch, Leo, and Sor. And one final teammate. A bit of a surprise. Marcel.

“Listen up,” said Gator. As senior leaders on the team, Gator and Ham were chosen as command for this mission. “The tech team was able to send Mikella a message that the shipments were to be transferred to the docks for her ship to pick up under the name of their front company, Red Guard.”

“What if they open the containers?” asked Eazee.

“We took care of that,” said Leo. “We got some boys from Quantico to create a front at the container openings. It looks like the cargo they want, but behind it is nothing but empty boxes except for forty-five-pound weights laying at the bottom to ensure that the weight dynamic matches the manifest.” Ham nodded.

“The ship is picking up the cargo now and has asked for expedited leave, which was granted. Once the ship is in the open, we’ll be refueling in Bermuda and waiting for them.”

“Excuse me, sirs, but are they stopping in Bermuda?” asked Leo.

“No. They won’t stop for anything. We can count on that. Which is why we’re going to be taking over the ship,” said Gator. Leo’s eyes rose up and down, and then he looked at the other men, all calm and nodding in agreement.

---