18
TAKING HER SHOT
TEDDY
Monday, at four in the afternoon, every available ALPHA Op had taken their positions in the parking lot of Santini Ristorante. Over sixty employees stood like sitting ducks, body armor and concealed weapons their only protection against the enemy.
Teddy and Sydney said very little on the drive over, both so focused on the big event. On the rooftop, they got busy setting up.
Hawk piloted the drone from his SUV, parked behind the restaurant, patrolling from the skies above for whatever may come their way.
Sin and Dakota had jumped into action to ensure the nearby office buildings stayed closed—including the eleven-story building where Sydney and Teddy lay in wait. When the brothers got resistance to their “request”, Sin pushed back—asonlySin could—threatening to reveal any well-kept secrets of the building managers. Everyone had one and, even if Sin was bluffing, his confidence carried him. It always did.
The road had been closed in both directions. BLACK OPS stood near the temporary blockades wearing police garb. Detour signs had been set up to route traffic away from ground zero. Parked on scene at the blockades, their bulletproof SUVs offered protection, should the terror cell ambush them.
Greystone stood on the makeshift stage behind the podium in front of the restaurant. Slash and Carrera were lying on a rooftop near the east-facing blockade. Addison and Brit were in position on a west-facing rooftop. Binos in hand, they were the team’s lookouts. On the next street over, Rebel lay on a rooftop scouting for anyone driving perpendicular toward them. Sin and his wife Evangeline stood in the restaurant parking lot, their close friend and investigative journalist, Alexandra Wilde sandwiched between them. Though Alexandra wore a Kevlar vest, Teddy didn’t want any civilian on site, but Sin insisted the live feed would help bring attention to their event.
On the rooftop, Sydney unearthed three rifles. After setting up both tripods, she attached one high-powered, long-range weapon facing east, the second facing west. The third rifle lay by her side. Then, she added suppressors to help muffle the gunshots. Next to Sydney, Teddy lay on the rooftop, binos pressed to his face. He’d watch the east, crane west. Back and forth, again and again.
BLACK OPS had suited up in SWAT gear, helmets on their heads, but only Teddy had attached night goggles.
The stage had been set. Now, they needed their bad actors to take the bait.
From her prone position on the rooftop, Sydney said, “Shooter ready.”
Though Sydney had a comm wedged in her ear, she’d turned it off. Chatter interfered with her ability to stay focused on her sole goal.
Take out any terrorists that crossed their path.
Her challenge? She had to be one-hundred percent certainthe bullet she fired was headed for a Haqazzii soldier and no one else.
Though their comms were on a private frequency, they’d come up with code names. They assumed the terrorists were watching their every move, might’ve even found a way to hack in.
“Here we go,” Teddy whispered into the comm. “Oly in position,” he said in regards to the Olympian by his side.
“King Cobra ready to rock,” Greystone said.
“Birdman flying high,” Hawk said. “Skies all clear.”
Slash and Carrera checked in, same with Addison and Brit, and Rebel. The ALPHA Ops watching the perimeter barriers confirmed their readiness.
Let’s do this.
They were ready, they were well-equipped and, now, they needed Lady Luck on their side.
Using the binos, Teddy homed in on his brother as Greystone began his speech. Teddy shifted toward the street, sweeping his gaze left and right, then as far back as he could see.
As he listened through the comm, he stayed vigilant.
“Good evening,” Greystone began. “On behalf of the Santini family, we’re excited to announce a Season of Giving to a community that has been our extended family for decades.”
Greystone paused while the audience of ALPHA Ops applauded. Though the event was bait for the terror cell, the brothers’ desire to give back was real.
Teddy’s guts roiled as a car came to a stop at the east barricade.
“East One, talk to me,” Teddy murmured to Slash.
“Two men in the front seat, two children in the back,” Slash replied. “They look lost.”
