Blaze: A Small Town, Nerdy Girl, Opposites Attract, Protector Romance (Ghost Ops Book 1)

Chapter 27

Royal Shipping’swarehouse sat on the east side of the airport. There were other businesses and warehouses perched along the access road for several miles. Traffic was lighter than during the day, but there was still enough of it at night that a couple of trucks belonging to the Ghost Ops team didn’t stick out.

They parked in a dark lot about half a mile distant from the warehouse. Seth stayed behind to monitor the camera feed on his laptop and the rest of them hurried for the target. They were able to skirt along the sides of buildings, staying in shadow, until they approached Royal Shipping’s warehouse. The company logo featured a three-pointed yellow crown on a black background.

The fence surrounding the complex of warehouses and office buildings was easily scalable. Chain link, no razor wire, nothing but three strands of barbed wire at the top. Not a problem for men like them.

They dropped behind the fence and made their way to a side door they’d used the last time they inserted. It was locked, but that was hardly a problem. Kane had it picked in record time, and they were in, making their way around the perimeter toward the container they needed. Their watches were synced, and they knew when the guards would patrol.

Ethan and Chance peeled off to guard the perimeter as Ghost, Blaze, and Kane headed for the target.

Seth spoke into their earpieces, guiding them around shipments toward the one they needed. A small, rectangular air freight container sat on a pallet near the front of the warehouse, a bit too close to the guard area for comfort, but there was nothing they could do about that.

The container was a little over five feet tall, which meant they had to crouch, and almost eleven feet in length. Made of steel, it had two doors on either end. They chose the door farthest from the guards and Kane set to work on the lock.

A sound came from the direction of the guard shack, and they froze, staring at each other with hard eyes. It didn’t stop them from working, but they were aware things could go to shit in a heartbeat. Bugging out before they discovered what was in the container wasn’t an option. Temporarily incapacitating guards was an alternative, but not one they wanted to use unless there was no other choice.

“Phantom,” Ghost whispered into the mic. “Status.”

“Smoke break,” Seth said into their ears. “Two of them. Next round in ten minutes.”

“Copy,” Ghost said. “Demon, little faster with that lock. Wraith, prepare for a distraction.”

“Getting there, sir,” Kane said.

“Copy,” Chance said.

It was as natural as breathing to fall back into their mission patterns. Call signs and respect for leadership was part of who they were when they did this kind of work.

A thrill that he hadn’t known was missing tore through Blaze. But there was regret too. Regret that he had to hide this side of his life from Emma, that it meant he couldn’t be with her, couldn’t explore the tangle of feelings she’d made take up residence in his chest.

“In,” Kane said as the lock clicked. Blaze took a small can of spray lubricant and aimed it at the hinges. Kane lifted the handle, turned carefully. There was no sound. He pulled the doors open.

If they were expecting weapons or explosives, they were sorely disappointed. The boxes weren’t big enough. Ghost sliced the tape on one and opened it.

“Computer parts,” he said, pulling out a thin package wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap. “Made in Taiwan.”

He tucked the package into his vest as Blaze peered inside the container.

“All the boxes look identical from here.”

Ghost frowned. “They do. And we don’t have time to dig through and find out. Six minutes before the guards start their round. I’ve got a sample. Let’s tag the shipment and get out.”

Blaze pulled a white tracker tag from his pocket and peeled off the adhesive cover. Then he pushed the tag against the container’s top. The container was white, and the tag would blend in unless someone looked carefully.

Ghost took pictures of the interior and the container’s serial number while Blaze did a circuit to find the manifest. It was on the opposite side. He tugged it from the plastic and quickly took a picture of the front and back before replacing it.

“They’re on the move. Five minutes early.” It was Ethan’s voice sounding urgently in their ears.

Shit.

“Copy,” Ghost said. “Moving out. Wraith, Dragon, let’s go,” he added for Chance and Ethan.

“Copy, sir,” Chance replied.

A noise boomed like a wrench falling onto concrete. It reverberated through the warehouse, echoing from the rafters. The guards shouted. Kane locked the container and the three of them took off at a run.

They were out the door, flying toward the fence, hearts pounding, breath razoring in and out, when a gunshot shattered the night.