“Can someone please tell me who these invisible elves are that you’re talking to?” asked Bullett. “You guys are creeping me out.”
The others laughed, Gator giving a nod to Wes.
“We all have implanted trackers and communications devices in our bodies. At any point in time, our comms team back home knows exactly where we are and what we’re saying. They’re very good about honoring our privacy. If they see that we’re in our homes, they don’t listen. But if they know we’re on an op, out of the country, late to anywhere, they immediately tap in.”
“They hear us?” asked Bo.
“The device can hear not only the user, but anyone within about twenty-feet of where we are. We’re making improvements on that all the time. The trackers are, shall we say, beefed up,” smirked Ham.
“Then why weren’t you able to figure out what was happening with Marissa?” asked Bullett.
“I was where I was supposed to be, for the most part. I kept in touch with my family except these last couple ofmonths. The only thing they didn’t catch was my cell phone being destroyed. Giamanco knew that if I didn’t call my parents, they would send someone to look for me. He didn’t know who my parents were, but he didn’t need that kind of trouble. I think he might have had the phone somewhere, still on, but on silent. Otherwise someone would have noticed that something was wrong. That’s the only explanation I can think of for why no one noticed.”
“I’m amazed every time you guys open your mouths. Confused as shit sometimes but, definitely amazed,” said Bo. “I’m honored to be in your company.” Ham laughed, shaking his head.
“Tell me that if the others arrive.” Red frowned, staring at Joey.
“Others?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
River smiled at the team he’d picked up on the base after the private jet landed. His father was already here, along with his two uncles, Christopher and Ham. But this group of men were different on every level. More experience, somehow larger, and definitely more determined to stop Gorbeva.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” he smirked.
“Call me a cat again and I’ll have your tongue,” frowned Evie. River laughed, kissing the tiny woman on the cheek.
“Hi Aunt Evie,” he grinned.
“Hi baby. Y’all have fun. I’ll be available if you need me.”
She walked back onto the plane, ready to go home for a while. The trunks of equipment, explosives, and weapons were carefully loaded into the Army truck and taken to their personal hut.
When River walked in, they all turned and smiled and then just shook their heads. Jak, Rush, Tobias, Moose, Dan, and Connor nodded at Joey’s teammates as they walked by.
“I think I’m going to shit myself,” said Red. “Do you know who they are?” Joey just laughed.
“They’re my family. I thought you understood that,” he grinned. “They’re more than family if that’s possible. They sent the best, that’s for sure. All of these men know weapons, explosives, chemicals, tracking, all of it. They’re the best and that’s saying a lot in my family.”
“Don’t brag on us,” said Jak. “Our fathers, uncles, friends are the best. We’re just trying to carry on the legacy. Nice to meet you boys. We appreciate you be willing to help on this. Gorbeva is no joke and he’s going to be tough to stop.”
“Why? He’s just one man,” said Bullett.
“He is one man with the Russian crime bosses behind him. Not just them, but also the politicians. They’re all delusional because he’s convinced them he has what he needs to win back the ‘old country’ for them. We can’t let that happen and the POTUS has entrusted us with stopping him. More or less.”
“But how do we do that?” asked Bo looking up at Jak. He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Are all you bastards this tall?”
“Afraid so,” smirked Moose.
“Shit. And that wide?” Bo asked pointing to Moose’s shoulders.
“We get a lot of great food where we live,” smiled Connor. “Don’t worry, we don’t bite unless you’re a bad guy. Then, the bite is definitely worse than our bark.”
Rush turned and stared at River, frowning at him.
“You wanna tell us why the fuck you’re a Fed and not still on the teams?” he was half growling, half smiling, but River wasn’t sure which one he was more frightened of.
“It’s complicated, Rush. They needed me to go undercover with Giamanco and I was available. I’m not staying with the Feds. I’m a SEAL.”
