Page 7 of Skull

“Lucia “Pincho” Siachoque Alzate, the true leader of both cartels. Return my husband or suffer the consequences.” The line went dead.

A cold sensation spread through Skull’s middle as his insides knotted hard. He wanted to charge in and save them from the hell they were about to endure until they either found them or their suffering ended. Shutting down his emotions, he mentally listed everything he had to do before that C-130 lifted off.

The room fell quiet. Pain, concern, and determination filled every face. A woman leaned over to Anna and whispered something. Anna nodded, the pale skin around her mouth and eyes revealing her strain, but her determination shone through. “Put him up on the screen and ask the two agents to wait.”

The screen flickered on. Anna smiled as she said, “Lieutenant Jackman, thank you for responding to my inquiry.”

Anna had an idea of who was on the other end of the line. Hummingbird had spotted that angel tattoo. Just as the guy on the screen nodded, Hummingbird’s partner, Strekoza, walked in with grim determination. She nodded at Anna and pressed her back against the wall.

Skull noticed a blood stain on her collar, though her hands looked clean. He remembered that blow to the head. The woman was lethal with that blackjack. He wondered if their captive had met the same instrument.

Strekoza turned to the screen. “This is Lieutenant Elias ‘Joker’ Jackman from Alpha. His team took down Nacho and his Sombre gang in Costa Rica.” She then faced the screen again. “Could you give us the information on that operation?”

Jackman nodded. “I will defer to one of my team members. I was injured during the mission to capture Nacho.” A tall, dark, imposing man stepped into the frame. “This is Sam “Buck” Buckard.”

Buck nodded and drawled in a thick Midwestern accent, “Howdy. We got intel that Nacho was holed up in Nicaragua, close to the Costa Rican border. It turned out to be a dry hole. He escaped somewhere between reports of our target’s whereabouts and our landing. With so much money changing hands, we couldn’t be sure who to trust.” He leaned back and rubbed his ribs. “We got shot down and, long story short, ended up on a coffee plantation called the Good Earth, where the DEA rescued us. The family there saved Joker’s life. Later, that same family was implicated in a sting to find out who sold us out. We discovered that the gang supporting Nacho—the Sombre—had a man inside the plantation pulling the strings. Their gang leader ended up kidnapping two of the owner’s daughters. Sombre flew them to the coast right where Nacho was holed up. We tracked the youngest daughter’s smart watch to that location and nailed Nacho. He was taken into custody.” Jackman handed over a file to Buck who opened it. “According to the official record, he was tried, convicted, and sent to Pelican Bay State Prison—a supermax on California’s North Coast where the big baddies go. He pushed his luck and got shanked by a rival cartel three months into his term.” Buck took a deep breath. “We’re gutted to hear about your people in the hands of Nacho’s daughter. We had no idea he even had a kid. Let us know if there’s anything we can do.”

“Thank you,” Anna replied. “We will.”

The screen went blank for a moment, then flashed back on with a man and a woman seated at a conference table. Skull recognized NCIS Special Agent in Charge Kai Talbot and CGIS Special Agent Davis Nishida.

“Hello, sorry we have to meet again under these circumstances,” Kai said.

“Thanks for making the time. Could you give us information on how you tracked and found Angel Alzate?”

“It was a bloody road that started with the murder of Petty Officer Mayta Mosquera. Her dad mistakenly texted her info about a shipment coming into San Diego. The body count rose from there, including a federal drug task force and even a US senator who was linked to the head of theLos Esmeraldasgang, the armed wing of the Alzate Cartel. After we got that text, Davis and I headed to Guayaquil, Ecuador, where the bloodshed escalated. Local law enforcement, civilians, and DEA agents were murdered in cold blood. If it wasn’t for Hummingbird and Strekoza, we would have been casualties too.” Kai met Hummingbird’s and Strekoza’s eyes before continuing. “The main takeaway is that these people are ruthless and have backup from a local gang. I would narrow down who this gang is and remove the threat, especially their leader. That would be your best bet on intel and a possible lead to Leigh and Hazard. I hope you get to them in time. Our thoughts are with you, and our expertise is at your disposal. Take care.”

“Thank you,” Anna said, her voice tight as the screen went blank once more.

She turned to Iceman and nodded. “Wheels up in thirty. We’re going to get our people back,” Iceman declared firmly.

Low murmurs of conversation filled the room as Skull pushed back his chair and rose. They filed out while Boomer called out, “You teamed up with our little birdy and left us totally out of the action. Not very brotherly.”

“Things moved fast,” Skull said, glancing at Hummingbird as she joined Strekoza and headed for the exit.

“I bet they did,” Kodiak remarked. “You sweet on those ass-kicking, blackjack-wielding spooks?”

“The blonde most likely,” Preacher said. “I see the way she looks at our Lord of the Underworld.”

GQ looked grim and preoccupied. “With Hazard and Leigh out there, I think we have better things to do than comment on your love life.”

“I don’t have a love life.”

“Hmmm, that may be about to change,” Breakneck said sagely.

Skull gritted his teeth and stalked through his agitated team toward the door, eager to escape their speculations, especially Breakneck’s knowing expression. That guy was usually spot on, and it didn’t bode well for Skull’s resolve to steer clear of any intimacy with that enticing little glitzy, many-faced, ass-kicking, sarcastic spook.

3

Carter “Boomer”Finley strode toward the big Air Force MC-130J combat transport plane waiting for them on the tarmac. This aircraft was built for special ops and packed a more powerful engine and extra combat capabilities compared to the older C-130 models. But first he had to get through what everyone called the Happily Ever After Mile—a gauntlet of teammates and their significant others, all caught up in their own heartfelt goodbyes.

There was Iceman and his wife, Rose. Rose’s two tiny bundles were tucked into a double stroller. Their little girl, Tansy, was named after Rose’s late sister, and their son, Alexander was named after Iceman’s lost brother. The way Rose looked up at Iceman made Boomer wish he could have that kind of love, devotion, and commitment. It was the same kind of look Leigh had given Hazard. For a moment, the Happily Ever After Mile felt heavy and lonely without the latest couple in the fold.

The kidnapping of Hazard and Leigh hit him hard. All the promise they had for the future now hung in the balance. It reminded him of a love he once had but lost because of a mental breakdown that drove him away from Lila, his wife. He had seen something terrible on the battlefield, something he could never fully shake. Even when he was home, he was never truly there. The distance grew until Lila filled her life with someone else—someone easy, someone who wasn’t always deployed.

He thought about how selfish he had been. Always demanding Lila’s comfort and support while he hid behind his emotions, afraid to look weak or less than the man she had once married. He buried himself in booze and sometimes drugs, desperate to escape the constant pressure. Out in the field, his life was simple—brotherhood, mission, hunt, kill, win. But when his best friend Mike died in a blast meant for him, it left his confidence shattered and his bitterness uncontained.

Just past Iceman stood Preacher, grinning from the arms of his wife, Luna. Luna understood what it took to be with a Navy SEAL. All the wives did. She was a former Shadowguard herself, and she fit with Preacher like they were made for each other.

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