CHAPTER NINE

"Hey, is everything okay with Nelly?" asked Luke.

"Nell. Yes. Everything is great," smiled Sor.

"Is it now?" smirked Eric. "Tell us more."

"Nothing to tell. Not yet, anyway. I'd just appreciate everyone checking in on her while I'm gone. She's, she's special."

"She is indeed," said Ajei. "I went over there last week to bring some things from Mama Irene. Did you know she's been taking on pro-bono work for a bunch of local charities? She had no clue that one of them was our charity. She reached out and wanted to do some work to help improve the webpage for our boys' and girls' homes."

"It doesn't surprise me at all," smiled Sor. "I'll never understand why her ex was such an asshole, but I thank him for leaving her for me."

"Oh, do tell," smirked Cam.

"Shut the fuck up," laughed Sor. "It's too early to tell. She's just…"

"Special?" chimed the three men and Ajei.

Sor flipped them the bird and walked into the auditorium. He took his seat next to Garr and waited for the meeting to begin. He couldn't get the smile off his face as the others just stared at him.

Alistair walked in, his arm securely around Clark's waist. She looked terrified, unsure of how the others would greet her after destroying the Osprey.

The entire room erupted in applause.

"Why are they clapping? I lost the bird," she whispered.

"Clark, you evaded death and capture. We could give a shit about the Osprey," said Eric. "You're alive. That's what matters. Helluva job getting to safety."

"Agreed," said Hex. "I'd fly with you any day of the week."

"Wow, thanks," she smiled.

"Alright, everyone, take your seats," said Luke. "We've been in touch with Clark's commander from the last op. We have two guys that were ambushed at a bar. A few guys instigated a fight. The Marines suggested taking it outside, and they walked right into a crowd of rednecks. They'll live, but they're going to be hurting for a while. Another was hit by a car while crossing the street."

"Oh, my God," whispered Clark.

"Someone wants you all gone," said Hex. "We need to figure out who and why. We've got the list of the agents who were on the op. We're checking all of them for any potential connections or ties to the dealers."

"I just don't get it," said Clark. "This was supposed to be an easy in and out. We killed more than a dozen. There were seven or eight in the hospital and five or so immediately jailed. Although, I hear they made bail, which seems unrealistic."

"Other than your team, do you remember the names of the agents involved?" asked Hex.

"No. I'm sorry. I didn't ask, and they didn't offer. My job was to get them in there safely. That's it." She frowned, thinking back, and then looked up. "Wait. The first two men they put in the chopper were dressed alike. Jeans, flannel shirts, and work boots. But one of them had two earrings in his left ear. Both were diamonds. The other guy was wearing what I thought at the time was a fake luxury watch, but maybe it wasn't. Maybe they were real diamonds and a real Rolex."

"That's helpful," said Luke. "Typically, people in that part of the country wouldn't worry about designer anything. Maybe those two weren't from there or didn't live there. Winnie was originally from that area. Christian? Any insight?"

"I can check with her, but I'll tell you that when we were there, I didn't see anything designer. Not even remotely. But I do wonder if this isn't connected to the drug ring we broke up," said Christian.

"It's possible, although it's been a few years. That part of the country just seems to breed home-grown drugs. Although, in this case, I'm not as worried about that as I am about them coming for Clark," said Eric.

"We've got Savannah and Doug nearing the location now," said Luke. Clark jerked her head upward, staring at one of her new bosses. "Relax, Clark. They're just going to go stealth and blow the site."

They heard the soft sounds of the Osprey over the intercom, then Savannah's voice.

" It's gone. There's nothing here. They've moved it all out," she said.

The men all looked at one another, then at Clark, who had a strange expression on her face.

"Someone is helping them, and I'm going to find out who it is." AJ walked up behind Hex, handing him a small piece of paper as he whispered in his ear. Hex frowned, nodding at the other man.

"Clark, one of your teammates, Jonathon Taylor."

"Yes. What about him?"

"Clark. He was murdered yesterday while putting gas in his truck. Cameras at the convenience store caught two guys in hoodies pulling up on motorcycles. They fired three times into his chest."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "He was the one who warned me to be careful and take the threats of those men seriously. He had a wife. Two little kids."

"We'll see if there's anything we can do, babe," said Alistair.

"Honey, it's clear that you saw something or someone at that op you weren't supposed to see," said Luke.

"I didn't see anything except our guys taking everyone down. I stayed with the chopper the entire time. I never left it."

"Then you must have seen the face of one of the men involved and didn't realize who he was. It has to be someone with the DEA." She looked at Cam and nodded, more resolute than ever.

"Then let's find him."