Page 56 of Her Defiant Warrior

“How in the hell did they accept Ryker as a boss?” Jonas wanted to know.

Gideon gave a rough chuckle. “He just walks around with a stick up his ass, yells and shoves and behaves like an overall asshole. Everybody believes he’s one of the guys in charge. When another boss comes to question him, he just says he’s new. It’s worked for him. He hasn’t found out a damn thing, but at least he’s brought me three candy bars.”

There were some chuckles. “Have you been searching for the C-4?” Kostya asked.

“Nope. The camp is just too damned big,” Ryker said. It was obvious he was frustrated. “Gideon and I are sorry that we’re asking you to play day laborer.”

Gideon nodded.

“As long as the candy bars are Snickers, I’m good, right, Mateo?”

“I’ve got you covered.” Jonas smiled.

Mateo leaned over and bumped his fist with Jonas.

“Dammit, Ryker, all you gave me were those damned Almond Joys,” Gideon bitched. “I want Snickers too.”

Landon tipped his chair back and reached over to the overflowing basket of treats. He pulled out a bar. “Catch,” he said to Gideon.

Everyone laughed when Gideon held up a Snickers bar and immediately opened it and bit off half of it.

“How are you looking for the C-4?” Tanner asked.

“The bosses have access to the supplies,” Ryker explained. “It’ll look funny if we’re searching through the different supply areas, but the laborers are always wandering around after shift.”

“It’s true,” Gideon went on to explain. “You wouldn’t think that after working twelve to fourteen hours that we would do anything other than hit our almost non-existent mattress. But, after working in the brutal sunlight, you really don’t relish going and trying to sleep in a cramped box that feels like an oven. That’s why so many of us walk around for a half hour before trying to sleep. One hundred and fifty kilos of C-4 should be housed somewhere, and when I find something promising, I tell Ryker.”

“Yeah, then I bully or bullshit my way into the shed to take a look. But so far, nothing.”

“Got it,” Jonas nodded. “We can do that,” he said as he pointed at Jase and Mateo.

“I’ll bring the four of you in the company truck that I have waiting downstairs.”

“How come upper management hasn’t noticed they have one more supervisor working for them?” Tanner asked.

“There is only one manager for the whole camp. He’s so overwhelmed that he doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground, let alone who the different bosses are. The only time he pays attention is payday. Since we’re not asking for money, we’ll fly under the radar.”

Jonas nodded.

“Sounds good,” Kostya nodded. He turned to Jonas. “When are we going to get our weapons?”

Jonas jerked his thumb toward three golf bags in the corner of the room.

“I hope you all like to golf.” He smirked.

Jase frowned, but Kostya smiled. He got up from the couch where he had been sitting and deposited his water bottle on the glass coffee table. When he went to the first set of clubs, he unzipped the hood, pulled out the one lonely driver, and flung it to the floor. Then with a sense of reverence he pulled out an M4 with a grenade launcher. Then another one, and another one. He carefully placed them against the wall, a grin on his face.

Sweet!

“Are you going to make me do all of the work?” Kostya asked as he looked over his shoulder at his team.

Soon twelve SIG Sauers, grenades, and MK 12 sniper rifles were proudly displayed.

“Jonas, you’ve outdone yourself,” Kostya said. “I know this is looking a gift horse in the mouth, but do you have anything like comm systems or night vision?”

“Oh ye of little faith.” Jonas’s eyes sparkled. “Besides being avid golfers, all of us love video games. Therefore our gaming equipment will be arriving soon. This will include our headset and video game boxes. At least that’s what it will look like. Then we’ll be set.”

“Before you ask, Boss,” Jonas said as he leaned in to look Kostya in the eye. I grilled both the weapons supplier and the man who sold me the electronics. Neither of them admitted to selling anything similar to any Americans in the last month. I didn’t believe them. But I needed their shit, so I wasn’t going to push it.