Page 84 of Into the Gray Zone

“Let’s go.”

Kamal said, “Wait, we’re not going anywhere without Thakkar. This entire mission will be a failure without him.”

Jaiden turned to Kamal, pushed him against the vehicle, and hissed, “He’s under armed guard now. It’s too late. Get in the van.”

Kamal shoved back and said, “No. We’re taking someone from that party. If not Riva Thakkar then one of his relatives.”

“Get in the van, now!”

Kamal raised his rifle, pointed it at Jaiden, and said, “You know what his daughter looks like. You’re coming with us.”

Jaiden saw he was deadly serious and raised his hands in the air. Randeep said, “Kamal, maybe it’s too late. We can try again another time.”

“No! They’re still in confusion up there. We go to the northern room and enter it from the side door. We kill the security that was shooting at us, grab his daughter and whoever else is around, and then leave.”

Manjit said, “We barely made it out when we had surprise. They’ll be waiting for us.”

“They’re going to be dealing with the wounded. They won’t be expecting us to come back. I’ve read about that tactic in other attacks. I’ll go alone if I have to.”

He started walking back toward the building, glancing at Manjit. Manjit said, “Randeep, let’s go.”

Jaiden said, “Give me the key to the van.”

Manjit shifted his weapon and said, “You heard Kamal. You’re doing the identification. You’re supposed to be the battle-tested one.”

Chapter49

Knuckles half dragged, half walked Riva Thakkar to the brick wall next to the French doors of the southern room, then took a knee, listening. The firing had stopped and almost anyone who was ambulatory had fled the dining area, running across the grounds to the main hotel building.

He glanced into the room and saw two of the hotel’s red-uniformed security and the rock star’s bodyguard aiding the wounded. He knew they’d be on edge and he didn’t want to attempt to enter without announcing himself first, but couldn’t remember the man’s name. Tony? No, Troy.

“Troy, Troy, I’m outside here with Riva Thakkar. We’re coming in.”

Troy whipped his pistol up, but lowered it when Knuckles waved. Knuckles entered, dragging Riva behind him. He sat Riva in a chair and turned to the uniformed men, both looking a little sick at the carnage around them. He said, “Were either one of you hired by Jaiden?”

They both shook their heads, one saying, “We work for the hotel. Not Mr.Thakkar.”

Knuckles said, “Are either of you armed?”

They shook their heads no.Shit. So much for protecting Riva.He said, “Go out that door and down the path toward the back of theproperty. You’ll find one of Thakkar’s security men down there, unconscious. Bring him back here. If he tries to fight you, knock him out.”

They left the room and Thakkar said, “If they bring that traitor in here, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

“No, you won’t, if you want to find out what’s going on. He’s the only key we have. You kill him and Jaiden gets away.”

He turned from Thakkar without another word, saying, “What do we have, Troy?”

Troy said, “A group of nuts attacked the party. We’ve moved everyone who’s ambulatory into the northern room. There’s another protective detail in there providing security, and it’s the most secure space right now. The hotel’s been alerted and police are on the way.”

He paused, then said, “Look, you need to get in there with the rest of the civilians. I can’t protect you out here and deal with the wounded.”

Knuckles bent down, checking the pulse of a woman and finding her dead. Troy said, “You have medical experience?”

Knuckles said, “A little. Just basic first aid stuff I had to learn for a previous job. You?”

“Yeah, I was an eighteen delta in the Army.”

Knuckles feigned ignorance, and Troy said, “Special Forces medic.”

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