A Taste of Liberty: Task Force 125 Book 2 (15 page)

“I gotta hand it to Victor for picking a great place to stay.”

Jason paced the length of the table as he spun a 5.56mm round between his knuckles.  “No kidding.  Nine foot walls on three sides and
open ocean
on the fourth.  I hate water insertions.  I am not a
friggin
' duck.”

Vince looked into his empty coffee mug willing it to refill itself.  He hadn't had a good night's sleep since he left Sarah at that house three days ago.  “No, we're going in the front gate.  We'll be the entry team.”

Angelo smiled at Jason.  “I have four ducks who will take the beach and another team to go through the pedestrian door on the east side.”  He turned back toward Vince.  “It will be easy to defend.”

Vince took a deep breath and then exhaled.  “Yeah, but we've got four of us and eight of you guys.  We'll blow the gate while you blow the pedestrian doors and enter from the ocean side simultaneously.”  He pointed to each position on the map as he spoke.  “One squad does a water insertion while the other two come in by truck.  The explosions have to be coordinated perfectly so as to maximize the element of surprise.  A violent entry coupled with speed will finish the package.”

Angelo pointed to three positions in the compound.  “Three armed guards on the outside are all we have to contend with and satellite surveillance will tell us where they were.”

Vince lit another cigarette.  “Once we're in, the GIS will secure the exterior while we enter and sweep the house.”

Will stretched.  “If Sarah can confirm she's gotten everyone out, the house will be a piece of cake.”

Jason spoke up.  “I hate to be a downer here, but I'm still not getting the warm
fuzzies
I like to get before an operation.  Can we dead drop a weapon somewhere for Sarah?”

“Too risky.”
  Vince took a drag off his cigarette.

Sarah. 

Vince didn't want her taken hostage again like what happened in their previous mission against Hassan.  Her proximity to the guy made her an easy target but sending her in was the only way they could find the dirt they needed.  It always put her at risk more than the rest of them.  He suppressed his anxiety with chain smoking.

Just stay safe until we get there, baby, and then take cover.  This is the last job. 

“Got company.”
  Brian stood by the door, waiting for the GIS guys to show for the final briefing before they took Victor's compound.

Seven Italians walked in and while there was a little swagger, Vince saw these guys were seasoned operators.  Angelo wasn't about to pick mediocre men to pull Sarah's ass out of the fire.  Vince respected him for that.

Vince and Angelo went over the plan with the ten other guys going in.  Four of the GIS would swim in from a small yacht just off Victor's beach.  Angelo's team would take the pedestrian door and Vince, Jason, Brian and
Will
would take the main gate, go in through the front door and clear the house.

~~~

“Sarah, we need to brief you.”  Sarah was beginning to grow used to Chris' whispering in her ear.  “Are you alone?”

Sarah sat up and looked at the other girls lying by the pool.  “I'm going to take a shower.  I think I might do some shopping today. 
Anybody else up for shopping?”

The others smiled, nodded and perked up when she mentioned shopping.  Sarah walked upstairs to her room, switched on her MP3 player and turned up the speakers.  “Okay, Chris.  Send it.”

“Hey, you.”

Sarah couldn't mistake Vince's deep voice and smiled as she felt a warm wave envelope her.

Vince. 

“Well, isn't this a nice surprise?  What's going on?”

I never get tired of hearing your voice.

“We'll be coming by for a visit in one hour.  Victor is on his way back.  The GIS guys are positioning their boat now.  Can you clear the house?”

Sarah closed her eyes and gave a small sigh.  “Anything for you, baby.”

And I do mean anything.

“
Mmm
…that's what I like to hear.”

Sarah's body tingled whenever his voice deepened into a low growl that way.  She grinned wide.  “Beats a punch in the gut, right?”

Vince laughed.  “You're not
kiddin
!  See you soon, babe.”

“Count on it.”

Sarah slipped on a pair of shorts and stepped out into the hallway.  Carlo was walking toward her with his ever-present smile.

“Carlo?”

He stopped and touched her arm gently.  “Yes,
cara
?”

Sarah turned on the charm.  “I'd like some time alone with Victor.  Could you take the others out shopping or something?”

I really don't want any of you in the crossfire.

He moved closer and let his hand rest on her lower back.  “If it means we'll have some time alone later.”

Sorry, Charlie.

Sarah had to admit this was one pretty boy toy.  In another time or place, she'd be pulling him into the bedroom by his belt loops. 
But not today.
  She snaked her arms around his shoulders and let her breasts rub against his chest as she spoke in a breathy whisper. 
“Absolutely.”

He kissed her with a promise she knew would never be fulfilled.  She returned the kiss, grateful Carlo would be able to get the other girls out of the house before the fireworks began.

Sarah watched from her room as Carlo and the girls got into the long black Mercedes.

Ten minutes to go time.  Jesus.  Don't give me much time or anything.

Sarah walked down the hall and knocked lightly on the door to Victor's suite before opening it.  “Victor?”

Sarah heard water draining from the bathtub.  “Yes, come in.”  Victor walked out into the bedroom with a towel around his waist.  His lips spread into a smile when he saw Sarah.

With a body like that, I'm thinking the coke issue was a bit overstated in the dossier.  You don't do blow and keep that much muscle.

Sarah turned on the charm.  “Hi.  I was wondering if you had a little time.”

“I'm all yours for…”  He stopped to pick up his Rolex from the dresser and slipped it on.  “Forty-five minutes and then I have to leave for an appointment with a business associate.”

Sarah pouted.  “Only forty-five minutes?”

He shrugged.  “What is on your mind, Sarah?”

“Well…”  She walked toward him and allowed herself to be attracted to the hard body in front of her.  “I've been here for two days now, and I thought maybe it was time we got to know each other a little better.”

He ran a hand through his wet hair, leaving it spiky and standing up in front.  “I'm all for that.  How do you propose we do it?”  A slight lift of his eyebrow and the smile on his face told Sarah she had a green light for seduction.

Sarah ran her hands over his solid chest and rippled abs then fingered the towel at his waist.  “Well, Victor, I had no idea you were so shy.  My first impression of you was a man who took whatever or
whomever
he wanted.  Should I assume you aren't interested in me?”  She pouted her lips and stared up at him with doe eyes.

He removed the towel.  “Does this look like disinterest to you?”  His massive erection was hard to miss.   

If it's disinterest, it's pretty damned impressive.  He’s ready to rock.

Sarah took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. 
“No, not at all.”
  She pressed herself against Victor and ran her hands from his ribs to his shoulders.  “In fact, it is much more than I was hoping for.”

Victor smiled as he bent to kiss Sarah.

How long can I keep this guy busy with foreplay?

She wrapped her arms around him and ran her fingers through the wet hair behind his ears.

His hands moved down to cup her buttocks and lift her up against his fully erect shaft.

That doesn't feel like it will be put off for long.

She squirmed enough to give him a taste of things to come as he carried her to the bed and lay on top of her.

She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him close as he removed her bathing suit top and began caressing her breasts.

Yeah, that's it.  Fondle away.

She did all she could to not appear nervous about the impending siege. 

Just keep him busy, Sarah.

He reached down and
crept
his hand into Sarah's shorts, lightly fingering the wet spot between her legs.

She moaned and pushed her hips upward. 
“Oh, Victor.”
 

Sarah heard the shots fired.  The
rat-tat-tat
of automatic weapons was unmistakable.  Adrenaline kicked her heart rate up a notch.  Victor jumped out of the bed and ran to a painting hanging on the opposite wall.  He pulled it away to reveal a .38 and pointed the gun at Sarah.  “You stay right there.”

I hate when they point their guns at me. 

Sarah tried to play dumb and frantic but she watched carefully as he pulled the suitcase out of its hiding place.  “What's going on?  Why are the guards shooting?  What are you doing?”

“You know damned well why they're shooting.  Who do you work for?”

Time for a tap dance.

Sarah's face dropped as part of the act.  She'd have to do whatever she could to distract him until the entry team came in and took him down. 

“I told you I'm a student.  The only work I do is on this body.”  She stood up from the bed and put her bathing suit top back on.  “Look, I figured you did some questionable business, but I never thought it was any of
my
business.  And I sure as hell didn't think it would be coming home with you.  I was invited here for a good time, but it looks to me like the good time ended about thirty seconds ago.  Now please tell me how I can get the hell out of this place!”

“Don't
worry,
you'll be coming with me.”  He grabbed for her arm but she dodged him.

Her blood started pumping
double-time
.  Somebody was running up the stairs and they sounded heavy.  “I don't think so!”  She positioned herself behind a chair to block his reach and had a clear view of the window that perfectly reflected the doorway.  “Those bullets aren't looking for me, sweetie!”

If I can just keep his eyes on me instead of the doorway, they can drop him when they come in.

He reached for her again but she pushed the chair into his shins. 
“
Aargh
!
”

Sarah's eyes became two angry slits and she assumed a fighting stance.  “Don't touch me!”

She saw the reflection of a shadow passing the doorway. 

Yes, they're here!

Victor must have seen it too and turned toward the doorway with his handgun leveled.

Sarah pushed the chair at him one more time.  This time it made his knees buckle. 

Something stung Sarah's shoulder and she stumbled slightly.  As she spun around to look at Victor, she saw his eyes open so wide there was white all the way around.  Then a dot appeared at the top of his nose, right between his eyes, and a huge red shadow appeared on the wall behind him.  He fell like a wet rag.

Nice shot.

Sarah turned to see who fired.  Vince and Brian were just inside the doorway with smoking guns.  Will and Jason were behind them, guns drawn on the dead heap that used to be Victor.

Vince's voice was clear as he stood.  “Jesus, Sarah!”

His stare and a burning sensation in Sarah's shoulder made her look down.  The left side of her body was covered in blood from the shoulder down.  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that.  She touched the hole from where the blood was flowing.  She felt the warm, silky, crimson fluid between her fingers.

She looked into Vince's brown eyes.  “Oh, shit.”  Her knees fell out from under her.

Vince lunged to catch Sarah and gently lowered her to the floor, resting her head on his thigh.  “Will!”

So, this is what a gunshot wound feels like?  I'll be damned.

All Sarah could see were Vince's soft, kind eyes looking down at her. 

“Stay with me, Sarah.”

Of course.

She half smiled.  “All you had to do was ask.”  She wondered how bad the exit wound was and the scars she'd have. 

Oh, vanity, thy name is woman.

“You're gonna fix me up nice, right Will?  No scars.”

Will was ripping bandages open with his teeth. 
“Real nice, baby.
  Just relax and keep talking.”

Everything in her peripheral vision started to fade out. 

Here it comes. 
Loss of consciousness.

She looked into Vince's eyes.  “Don't worry.  You can't get rid of me.”