Page 70 of No Mistake

“You don’t. Believe me. If you did, well... it doesn’t matter right now. I get Vitelli. You get the buyer.”

Sam was quiet. Ryan waited with the rest of the team to see what Sam would say next. They didn’t have to wait long.

“We know about your sister. We can help you get him.”

“And then what? I end up in prison? We all know I’ve done some questionable shit to be able to get close to Alejandro Vitelli. I am closer than anyone has ever been. I don’t need you guys fucking blowing it. And I have no intention of spending the rest of my life behind bars. Give me forty-eight hours. Let the dust settle on the deal. Then I’ll tell you where you can find the weapons.”

“And if we don’t?” Sam challenged.

“Then you will have one very pissed off cartel and terrorist organization. If you intercept too soon, then both sides will think it was a set up, and believe me when I say you do not want to start a beef between them. Both have connected people on their payroll. They will come looking for you. It will start a fucking war. And when they connect you guys to the sisters, they will take them, if not for anything but spite.”

“Not if we take them all first,” Ryan said.

Tracer laughed. “I know firsthand how good you guys are. But even if you do take them all, there are plenty more on each side that will come and hunt you down. Vitelli Cartel, you know how big that is. And the organization they’re selling to, just as big.”

“Who is it? Who is the buyer?” Dex asked. He was gripping the side of Bertha, his knuckles white. “Tell me their fucking name.”

Silence hung thick in the room.

“You fucking owe me, Tracer, tell me.”

“Sounds like you already worked it out. Reborn.”

Ryan saw the anger on his team leader’s face. Reborn was the rebel faction that had murdered a SEAL team and taken Kelly hostage, torturing and raping her before Alpha team had been able to rescue her. They had captured their leader, Reyes Lazir, and his number two, Ahmed Khalini. Both were rotting in windowless cells somewhere. But Reborn went on. Just because you wipe out a leader, someone else was always ready and willing to take their place and carry on the fight. The war on terror never ended.

“So you understand now why you need to back off,” Tracer said.

“You’re asking us to trust you. If you were in my shoes would you?” Dex was livid. He was trying to keep it in check, but Ryan knew him better than anyone.

More silence when Tracer didn’t speak right away. When he did, he didn’t answer the question.

“It’s been good talking to you boys again. Captain Harrison, I do believe this will be your call. I hope you make the right one.”

Tracer disconnected.

“Before you ask, no location. Tracer is too good,” Mackie said.

“Fucking Reborn. They are just the gift that keeps on giving,” Donnie said, picking up the baseball.

“He knows about you, Sam. About Onyx,” Dex said.

“Yeah, which means he’s in touch with someone high up. We all know how classified this unit it.” Sam sounded pissed.

“Do you think he might be working for the agency?” Ryan asked.

“With what Mira said about the sister, I doubt it. Too personal. But then again, it wouldn’t be the first time the agency has used personal situations to get people to do what they want them to do. Mira, let’s make some discreet inquiries, see what you can find.”

“If you need an extra set of hands,” Tyler offered, “I’m happy to help.”

“Kelly can help, but thanks.”

“More hands the better. Go ahead, Tyler,” Sam said. Ryan saw Tyler grin. What was that about? Tyler never offered to do intel.

“What is the plan then, Sam?” Ryan asked, getting his focus back on track.

Seconds ticked by as Sam appeared to weigh it up. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold.

“I want Vitelli, Perez, all of them. They killed an FBI agent and a police officer, and they are selling weapons to that fucking organization. But...” He paused. “I don’t want a bloodbath on our streets. I’m willing to give him the time he asked for.”

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