Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Ordinarily, when a leopard was on the hunt, the monkeys and other wildlife noticed and went into a frenzy. By keeping his energy low, Diego wasn’t detected. Even so, Peyton began to slowly turn his head toward Diego, looking over his shoulder. Diego was on him before he could react, slamming the knife into the base of his skull, dropping him to the ground. He ensured both men were dead before going up the tree to get Mordichai.
Enemy down, bringing our brother home.
Feeling fully recovered. Diego is getting me out of this tree, but I’m not sure how.
I’m carrying your ass, Diego informed him, as well as the others. Recommend if you’re going to be playing around with your chute, you lay off Nonny’s food.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen. And just for the record, Malichai eats far more than I do.
That’s called deflecting, Ezekiel chimed in. There was relief in his voice. It was clear his younger brother was feeling a lot better.
Diego hefted Mordichai onto his back. Hang on. I’m climbing down now and won’t be able to hold on to you this way. It’s faster going down.
Yeah, I’m hanging on but closing my eyes. Just to say, Diego, you’re totally insane.
Diego found himself laughing. Leila had given that gift to him, the ability to genuinely laugh when he’d forgotten how. If he considered what he was doing, going down a bare tree trunk with a full-grown man on his back, Mordichai was most likely right.
Once on the ground, Diego left Mordichai to rest while he retrieved his gear from where he’d stored it in the jungle. It didn’t take long for them to join the others in preparation for their attack on Whitney’s laboratory. The battle plan was already being discussed.
“It’s imperative, before we engage in battle, that we know where Bridget is and if there are any other innocents in that lab. We’re taking it down. That means if Bridget isn’t the only woman held there, we will have to rescue others, and we’ll need to know how many,” Joe reminded. “Trap has the ability to see through walls. You take the south and west sides and sweep the entire building from that direction, Trap. Wyatt, you’re Trap’s partner. Relay everything to the rest of us.”
“Ian has the ability to see through buildings as well,” Ryland reported. He flashed a small smile when most of the others on the team turned to stare at Ian McGillicuddy. “He’ll take the north and east sides, sending to all of us the information so we’ll know if there are other hostages and where they are. Diego, you’re his backup.”
Ian shrugged and exchanged a long look with Trap. “No problem,” he agreed.
“Each of you has your assignment and where to set up,” Joe continued. “Hold position until Trap and Ian report. If ever we were going to prove GhostWalkers own the night, now’s the time.”
“We know Whitney is present. He’s our secondary mission. We secure Bridget and any other captives, and then we take out Whitney if it is at all possible,” Ezekiel added. “Malichai and Gino, you’re together making the try for Whitney. If nothing else, take down his house when the all clear comes.”
“Nico and Mordichai are sitting back on the north side, covering all of us,” Ryland said. “On the south, it will be Rubin and Tucker. They’ll have our backs in that direction.”
“Zeke, Ryland and Kadan will take the dorms with the soldiers,” Joe said.
“Kyle and Gator are the resident bomb experts. You’re on the vehicles and maintenance buildings. Set them to blow on clearance,” Ezekiel said. “You’ll be able to utilize their mortar shells and any explosives they have.”
“Once inside, Sam and Jeff, you’re on the communication room,” Joe said. “Every means of communication must be down. Wire the shit out of that room and everything around it. When it blows, I don’t want so much as a stick left intact.”
Sam and Jeff exchanged a quick smirk.
“The rest of you know your partners and the entry points to breach the lab. Be ready to get into the laboratory when we’re given the information from Trap and Ian. No one makes a move until then,” Ryland said. “When we do go in, every enemy goes down. The buildings are flattened, so they can’t use them again. All equipment, computers, anything with Whitney’s data, goes. Everything has to come down.”
“Let’s do this, gentlemen,” Joe said. “If anyone gets in trouble, give us a heads-up and your backup will pull you out.”
Moving through the oppressive jungle in single file to keep from disturbing wildlife or tripping any alarms the laboratory had set took time. The compound, as with most of the camps they encountered, was set in rows, with the troop barracks the first three long buildings to the north of the actual laboratory.