Page 80 of Thaddeus

Movement to my left caught my attention as the material of one of the rooms was pulled aside and a man appeared, one hand scratching his balls and the other holding a handgun. That was all I needed; he was armed.

I pressed the trigger, knowing that action was going to set off the domino effect and all hell was going to break loose. My bullet slammed into the man’s skull and he fell back into the room pulling the curtain down as he went.

Brooks broke right, I went left.

Two men popped out of a second room, both in nothing but their underwear, but both armed with AK47s. The old tried-and-true Russian semi-automatic rifles were at their hips, and instead of taking the time to bring them up and aim, they shot wildly. Their 7.62 bullets tore through the couches, the windows exploded, and the projectile penetrated the walls of the house like a hot knife going through butter.

I returned fire, easily hitting my first target, but the second man disappeared back into the room. I heard the shouting first, then the thunder of Max’s .50 cal sniper rifle. His preference was his .308 but not knowing the distance he’d have to perch, he opted for the big boy. The sound of his .50 cal was unmistakable. It would also alert everybody in a ten-mile radius that it had fired.

A calculated risk, one that was necessary.

Brooks fired his weapon then asked, “You going in, or am I?”

“Two males exiting house, one through a window.” Max’s voice came over the radio. “Looks like they’re fighting to get out.”

I didn’t answer Brooks, I moved toward the room, Brooks yanked the sheet down, and I waited for the man trying to climb out the window to turn. I may be a lot of things, and some would call me an overpaid assassin, and they’d be right. But I’m not a coward and I don’t shoot men in the back when it could be avoided.

The man turned and it would be his last act on this earth. He dropped where he stood as his friend fell through the window finding his escape. However, it would be short-lived.

“Target down,” Max announced unnecessarily as his shot rocked the house.

“Clear!” Kyle shouted.

“Clear!” Declan followed.

“Out of the house, now. Go. Go. Go!” Max yelled over the radio.

Without waiting or questioning, the four of us took off toward the door we’d entered. No sooner had we exited than the back end of the house exploded. I dove into the wooden area and my head rattled from the concussion of the blast.

“RPG,” Max finished.

Well, no shit, Sherlock.

Wood snapped and buckled as the house crumbled. Flames danced and it would be a matter of time before the place was swarming with reinforcements.

“Five minutes!” Declan shouted.

“SITREP?” Max asked.

“Everyone out,” Dec answered. “How many are left?”

“Yard clear.”

“The rocket man?”

“Down.”

When we were to our feet, Declan gave a sharp nod and he and Kyle went north around the now blazing fire and Brooks and I went south.

“Son of a bitch,” Brooks muttered. “Nothing’s easy.”

“You can say that again.”

The second house came into sight at the same time Declan spoke, “What we got, Max?”

“No movement.”

Declan and Kyle were the first to enter, Brooks and I followed behind. All four of us were ready for more action. Contrary to the first house, this one was clean. Nicer furnishings, appliances, doors on the frames instead of blankets. However, the layout was the same. With slow precision we cleared each room as we moved through the house.