Page 35 of The Keeper
“As Damon pointed out to me this morning, he’s not just some CEO of a tech company. He’s a former operative whom Fitz tried to recruit. Is he as sharp as the rest of us? Probably not, but he won’t be in the way, and he’s the only one who’s actually been at the Franco’s cabin. He may well be able to offer us some insight along the way. Besides, he’s my Dom, and you all know how pissy you Doms get when the subs take over.”
There was general laughter, and Damon had to hold his emotions in check. Miley had put herself out there and given him some credibility with the team that might have otherwise been hard to come by without her declaration.
“Shit,” said Seth. “I owe Fitzwallace a thousand bucks.”
“No worries. I’ll be happy to cover anyone’s bets who bet against me.”
“I think you’re looking at about ten grand.”
“Cheap at half the price,” Damon assured him.
Miley wrapped things up, had everyone synchronize their watches and comm units, and issued orders for who was driving and who was riding in which SUV. As the afternoon progressed, everyone got ready and divided up into three SUVs. Damon rode in the SUV that Brock was driving. Miley and Seth were also in the unit that seemed to be set up as a kind of mobile strategic command.
They arrived at the Francis Marion National Forest perimeter and pulled the SUVs off the road and into places they would be hard to spot unless you were looking for them. Seth would remain with the vehicles to keep them safe and to coordinate the ops. Damon was impressed when the back of one of the other vehicles was opened to reveal the latest in drone technology.
“I thought those were only in the prototype phase,” Damon said to Seth.
“They are, but Fitz makes sure we get the best toys.”
“Let’s move out,” ordered Miley, who really was in her element.
Yeah, they were definitely going to have to have some war games and prisoner interrogations set up at the Carriage House. He’d get her a camouflage and lace corset and thong. Combined with combat boots, she’d be all kinds of hot as hell.
That was the last of Damon’s stray or erotic thoughts as his combat instincts kicked in and he took a position just behind Miley in order to keep close, but also to help guide them through the dark and rough terrain. Miley was in command, using her own set of honed skills and sharp sniper’s eye to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings, looking for potential traps and explosive devices.
Several times the unit stopped as someone had to disarm something. There were actual mines, improvised devices, and some pretty crude but effective traps—all designed to kill or at least do some horrific damage to anyone unlucky enough to trip one. They’d almost made it out of the most heavily forested area, when they missed a triggering device and a homemade set of planks sprang up out of the ground, driving spikes through two members of the team. One was only marginally injured, but Jimmy—the youngest and least experienced member of the group—was killed instantly as two of the spikes penetrated his brain. Neither man made a sound.
Miley’s voice was without expression when she spoke, but he could hear the disquiet beneath the businesslike words.
“Brock, get them back to the vehicles. Stay with Seth. Do what you can for Dusty and get Jimmy into a body bag and laid out. Have Seth let them know we’re down three but proceeding.”
Brock looked at Damon, started to protest, but merely nodded. “Be safe.”
“You, too,” said Miley.
Damon knew what Brock had been about to say—have the green guy take them back, but instead he’d followed her orders without question.
“It’s obvious Frannie isn’t messing around,” Miley said into the comm. “She’s taken down one of ours. Lethal force is authorized, and I don’t give a damn if we can turn that bitch on her father.”
Damon realized he didn’t either. The woman he had once thought to marry and make a life with was now a dangerous adversary, and he knew he’d have no trouble putting her down if necessary.
CHAPTER15
MILEY
The silence of the descending evening was barely broken by the advancing unit which moved with the stealth of a wraith. For a group of eight people, they made little to no sound, seeming to move without disturbing so much as the air.
As they began to close in on the cabin, and the light had turned from dusk to twilight, the stillness was shattered by automatic gunfire. They all dove for cover behind trees, downed logs, large rocks or whatever offered them the most protection. They were all equipped with night goggles so if the need arose, they would be able to see.
“It would seem they know we’re here,” said Miley. “Fire at will.”
“Hold,” commanded Damon over the comm unit. “Let me see if I can get her to surrender. Mind you, I don’t think she will, but it might be good if something happens to her to be able to tell her father we gave her the option.”
Miley hesitated and all eyes focused on her as she nodded slowly. “Damon makes a good point. Giving Francesca a chance to surrender will play better in the optics—it’ll give us cover with the feds at the very least. It might not matter to Franco, but we don’t need local law enforcement trying to hang us out to dry. Give it your best shot, Damon. You’ll only get one.”
“Francesca? It’s Damon. Can you hear me?”
“Damon, is that really you? I don’t believe it. Why don’t you step out into the light so I can see that you’re really here,” she said as floodlights illuminated the open area between the cabin and the trees.
