Page 17 of Ground Zero

I laugh. “Based on your boots, hat, and your convo with Theo, I want the old tame mare, not that young stud. He’s all yours.”

He chuckles, takes the reins, strokes the horse’s mane at his ears, and speaks to him. “We’re not going to have any trouble, are we big guy?”

He pats him hard on the neck twice, then he steps to the saddle, places the reins on the horn, puts his foot in the stirrup, and pulls himself up. The horse dances away before he can swing his leg over. I hear his deep voice speaking calmly, “Whoa, boy. Easy now. Let me get in the saddle before you bolt, please.” Then he swings his leg over, sets his ass firmly in the saddle, and pulls the reins tight. The horse responds by bobbing his head, trying to gain slack on the bit in his mouth, but Hardcore pulls him into a fast left turn, and tells me, “Mount up, man. This guy needs to run.”

I swing myself into the saddle and comfortably sit on the much tamer mare, then I give a little kick, and we are off. Hardcore gives the stud his head and lets him run. While I gallop smoothly after him.

When Hardcore circles back, I slow down and walk so we can talk. He pulls alongside me.

I chuckle. “That one has a lot of attitude.”

“Ah. He’s good. He just needs a firm hand. Who is your most experienced rider?”

“Hammer. He’s a Texan.”

He nods. “Are we going the right way? I forgot to ask which direction.”

We laugh, and I point in front of us. “Yes, we will check out the firing range first, then the obstacle course. Visit the warehouse where the target models will be constructed, and then meet up with the team members still here to tour the Coop. They have spent the last two weeks on-site training, and I believe we are ready to roll.”

He nods, and we ride in silence for a bit, but then he asks, “How many operators do you have?”

“Four, which we can go with, but I lack two for a complete team.”

“Who are they?”

“The two men you will meet today were my number two and three from Bravo. Mike Franks, Motherfucker, Master of All Things, and Jack Black, Black Hammer, he likes to blow shit up.”

He laughs.

“Jocko Malone. I believe you know him already.”

“Know of him. We haven’t met yet, but he’s taking Angel for her final security guard training. Siri flies out tomorrow for two weeks.”

He nods. “You won’t be disappointed. Lucifer is an amazing MPC[multipurpose canine].”

He nods, then asks, “Weapons?”

“Got ‘em.”

“NVG’s[night vision goggles]?”

I laugh, “Hard, we’re ready.”

He laughs too. “I’ve been in the civilian world too long.”

I chuckle. “I understand. I had a hard time adjusting to the civilian work ethic when I took over the hotel.”

He laughs. “There is no substitute for follow-up.”

I laugh. “Times five.”

He chuckles too, kicks his horse, and takes off again, letting his horse run circles around me.

When we arrive at the firing range, I pull my horse to a stop, shift my ass in the saddle, and wait for Hardcore to pull up next to me. He asks, “So, what are we looking at here?”

I point in the direction of a group of trees on a small hill. “Those trees are a mile away. That’s the farthest target.”

“That’s a hell of a shot to make. Who’s the sniper?”

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