Page 30 of Meaner Than Evil

I grab the automatic weapon the bodyguard carried as we head to the door of the suite. Putting my back against the wall, Logan flattens herself against it next to me. I slide down into a crouch, and she does too. I test the handle, and it turns. Then I slowly push the door open and wait. Nothing happens.

"Call her," I whisper to Logan.

"Claudia! Help!"

For a few seconds, there is nothing but silence. Then we hear her heels clicking on the floor as she runs to the door. She stops just before entering the room and calls out. "Logan, are you alright?"

Logan looks at me, and I shake my head, not to respond. We sit there waiting for her to become too curious and risk entering the room. When she does, she places her hand on the door frame, bracing on it to lean in. I reach up, grab it, and snatch. She screams as she falls into the room. I drag her body over to us and clamp my hand down over her mouth. Her eyes bug out of her face when she sees me, then she cuts them over at Logan.

Logan whispers to her, "This is Jack."

Instantly, her expression changes. Relief floods her face. Logan holds her finger to her lips, and Claudia nods. I remove my hand and mouth to her. 'How many?'

She holds up one finger and looks at Logan, then mouths. 'El Diablo.'

I frown and look at Logan for clarification. She mouths, 'the boss.'

I nod and shed my jacket. I hook it on the end of the rifle and raise it head high, then wave it in the doorway. Bullets spray it, knocking it to the ground. I bring the weapon in tight as they spray the wall head high over us. I roll out into the doorway and lay down return fire. The sound of a dead body smacking the marble floor again echoes across the silence.

For a few seconds, the silence holds, then the sobs of a tortured soul finally set free fills the suite.

Logan reaches for Claudia and pulls her into her embrace, comforting her as I confirm the kill and clear the room. When I return, they are both smiling up at me.

Crockett steps over the dead body of the guard and calls out, "Three?"

"Roger, one," I answer and begin walking to him.

"Status?" He asks as he walks over to Luis Morales's dead body.

"Mission success. Target one acquired. Top two ECs enemy combatants down." I stand next to him.

"Foxtrot, you copy that?"

"Good copy. Congratulations, Hammer."

I look over at Logan, and she smiles.

Jocko and Luce enter the room, followed by Mike and Brody, then Justin and Zane with Batman. "Top two?"

I point down at Luis and inform them. "He was number two." Then I point to the adjacent room. "El Diablo is in there."

"No shit!" Mike heads that way. When he reaches the door, he gives a head nod to the girls and says, "Ladies," as if he's just passing them on the street.

Logan and Claudia stand and walk over to us. I hold my arm out, and Logan slides underneath it. Her hands rest on my back and my abs. She strokes my skin with her thumbs. "I'd like to introduce you to my former wife, Logan Black."

"Logan, this is …" and I introduce each team member.

She doesn't leave my side. She nods and says, "Nice to meet you."

I then introduce Claudia. "And this is Claudia. I'm sorry. I didn't catch your last name."

She smiles and looks at Logan. "My name is Fiorella Sanchez, and I am very happy to meet you all."

Seventeen

Logan

“I think this will do for now, Logan. After you get some rest, you will need to come to the office for a full statement, though.” Special Agent Wilkerson says.

---