Chapter 24 Incoming! #2
Sydney and Caroline cast their gazes out. The entire stadium was on their feet and every single person in that arena stood there saluting them.
The sisters saluted back as three ALPHA SUVs drove onto the field. The parachutes were removed, the bodies loaded into the back of the vehicles.
The Blue Angels flight squadron blasted by in their signature Delta Formation, the roar of their jets a deafening sound as they thundered past.
As soon as the vehicles drove out, the announcer said, “At this time, the national threat has been eliminated. Details will be forthcoming. For the time being, the game will continue as scheduled. Mr. President, please make your way onto the field for the coin toss.”
TEDDY
Teddy jogged back over to the President and Greystone, still on the sidelines and surrounded by cadre of Secret Service agents.
“Mr. President, why are you still here?” Teddy asked.
“I refuse to leave,” he replied.
Teddy flicked his gaze to Greystone.
“He wouldn’t leave,” Greystone confirmed.
“How’s our sniper?” the President asked.
“She’s good,” Teddy replied.
“And her spotter?” President Garrison asked.
“Also good,” Greystone said.
“I’ve been advised to return to the skybox suite,” the President said, “but not before I toss that damn coin.”
“I have to agree with your advisors,” Teddy said.
“Exiting now is a demonstration of fear,” Garrison murmured. “Are there any terrorists left?”
“One,” Teddy replied. “The leader, Muhammad Haqazzii.”
“Are you sure he wasn’t gunned down?” asked the President.
“Yes,” Teddy replied.
“Excellent work.” The President shook their hands. “Time to get this game started. At this point, it’s more of a distraction than anything, but it’ll be good to get everyone’s minds off what they just witnessed.”
“Let’s get you on the field,” Greystone said.
Surrounded by Secret Service Agents, Teddy led the President along the fifty-yard line, while Greystone took up the rear. Both men gripped their guns, still secured in their holsters.
The agents moved aside, creating a narrow lane for the President who made his way over to the ref. Someone handed him a mic.
“Good afternoon, it’s an honor to be here,” began the President.
“What you just witnessed was shocking and disturbing.” He paused to gaze out at the crowd.
“We are Americans, resolved in our commitment to freedom, to uphold the constitution of the United States of America. For a while now, a terrorist group has been working to destroy our country, but we have courageous and brilliant Special Forces working to ensure our safety. You witnessed that, firsthand, today. I’d like to personally extend my heartfelt gratitude for their outstanding skills.
Special Forces Team, you are the absolute pinnacle of professionalism, and we are eternally indebted to you. ”
He paused while the crowd erupted in cheers.
When it quieted down, the President continued.
“We are not going to allow what happened today to stop us. We have a long-standing, Army-Navy rivalry. A friendly one, I might add. These top-tier athletes have trained hard. Let’s give them our full attention and utmost support.
Let’s show the forces of evil that they cannot intimidate us. ”
A high-spirited applause and shouts of agreement filled the stadium.
He held up the coin, fixed his sights on the opposing football captains. “Players, I wish you a healthy and competitive game.”
The referee stepped forward. “Army, you’re the visiting team. Please call it.”
“Heads,” said the Black Knights captain.
The President tossed the coin into the air.
After it landed on the grass, the ref called out, “It’s tails. The Midshipmen have won the toss. How do you elect to play?”
“We’ll receive,” said the Navy captain.
Once the President shook the captains’ hands, Teddy, Greystone, and the Secret Service agents escorted him off the field.
Up the elevator they rode, down the corridor, and into the sky suite.
The First Lady hurried over, and the President hugged her. “I feel much better that you’re off the field,” she said.
He kissed her before hugging each of his sons. Then, he asked the servers to deliver waters to him, Greystone, and his Secret Service detail.
After guzzling down the water, Teddy glanced around the room.
He stepped aside, tapped his comm. “Rebel, Brit, what’s the status on the background checks?”
“All done,” Rebel said. “Everyone on the list checked out. There were three who called out, so we got the names of the replacement servers. We ran checks and they all cleared.”
“So, we’re good?” Teddy asked.
“Not exactly,” Rebel said. “We’ve got a head count of twenty-nine, but there should be thirty servers.”
“Where’s the outlier?” Teddy asked.
“We can’t find him,” Rebel replied.
He ended the call, found Greystone. “We’ve got a situation.”
Greystone furrowed his brows. “Another one?”
“Rebel and Brit ran checks on the servers. Everyone cleared, but one of the servers—a replacement for someone who called out—is MIA.”
“No-show?” Greystone asked.
Teddy shrugged. “We gotta move the President out.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Greystone said, “but he won’t leave.”
Teddy made his way toward the front of the suite. At the window, he eyed Sydney and Caroline, still perched on the press box rooftop. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled.
Was the mastermind behind The Day of Destruction determined to complete his mission alone? Was Muhammad Haqazzii still going after the eagle?
Teddy tapped the comm. “Sin, Dakota.”
“Go,” Sin said.
“Stay vigilant.”
“Every moment of every fucking day,” Dakota replied.
“We’ve got a missing server up here who can’t be accounted for.”
“And?” Dakota asked.
“Are you reading too much into it?” Sin said.
Teddy had no fucking idea. He’d just watched his fiancée gun down three terrorists in front of seventy thousand spectators.
Teddy stood at the window, his gaze trained on Sydney and Caroline. After a moment or two, he’d turn back and review the guests and servers in the suite. He’d gotten so familiar with their faces, he could complete it in seconds.
As he regarded everyone in the luxury box, he couldn’t find the President. Teddy rushed up the stairs as the restroom door opened and the President stepped out.
“Tank, it’s okay,” President Garrison assured him. “I’m safe in here.”
“With all due respect, the mission isn’t over until the last terrorist is down,” Teddy murmured.
Teddy wanted to drop his guard. He wanted to glance at the field, catch a play or two. But he wasn’t an invited guest. He was there to work so he kept his focus squarely on his goal. Keeping a watchful eye on Sydney and Caroline, and ensuring the people in that skybox stayed safe.
The first and second quarters passed without incident. At halftime, the score was tied 14-14.
As the third quarter started, Greystone went next door to check on Stryker and Emerson. Minutes after he left, a server Teddy didn’t recognize entered the suite rolling an empty cart covered in a white linen tablecloth.
Is this the missing server?
The man looked to be in his mid-to-late thirties, with clean-shaven face and a hairless head that reflected the ceiling lights in the suite.
At five-nine or five-ten, he had a slim build.
His eyes were framed in prescription glasses, but it was the man’s bright turquoise eyes that stood out the most.
Gotta be tinted lenses.
Without checking in with the head staffer, the employee stared piling the discarded plates, silverware, and glasses onto the empty cart. Teddy scanned for a name tag, but he wasn’t wearing one. Every other server wore one from a lanyard dangling from his or her neck.
After pulling up a photo of Haqazzii on his phone, Teddy compared the two men. Muhammad Haqazzii had short dark hair, dark eyes, a full beard and mustache, but no glasses.
There was something compelling about the man that had adrenaline pumping through him.
Go check him out.
When the man turned, he locked eyes with Teddy, then reached down. As soon as the butt of a semi-automatic rifle came into view, Teddy grabbed his Glock, aimed, and opened fire.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
In a swoop of action, Secret Service rushed around the President and his family, shielding them with their bodies. The shots rang out so loudly, guests and waitstaff screamed or hit the floor. Teddy bolted around everyone, eyes on his target, now on the floor.
“Shots fired,” Teddy said calmly into the comm. “Gunman down in Presidential Suite.”
The door to the suite burst open, Greystone rushed inside. He eyed the body before jumping his attention to Teddy.
“We have to get the President and his family out,” said a Secret Service agent.
“No one leaves,” Teddy said. “You’re safer in here until the area has been swept for explosives.”
“You hit?” Greystone asked him.
“No, just the gunman,” Teddy replied.
Greystone felt the fallen man’s carotid, but Teddy knew he was gone. The mission he’d been tasked to complete had been accomplished, but the blood was still rushing through his veins at a maddening pace.
Greystone stood. “Who is that?”
“Muhammad Haqazzii,” Teddy replied.
Up went Greystone’s eyebrows. “Him?”
“Yeah, him.”
“Jesus,” Greystone bit out.
“Yeah,” Teddy replied.
The President’s youngest son squeezed through the agents and ran toward Teddy. He holstered his Glock before scooping the youngster into his arms.
“You okay, bud?” Teddy asked the child.
The screaming had subsided, and the shocked group stared at him while Secret Service tried ushering the President past him.
“No,” Teddy said. “The President can’t leave until the area has been swept for explosives.”
Teddy tapped the comm. “Sydney.”
“I’m here,” she replied.
“Haqazzii got into the suite. He’s down.”
“Nice work, boss,” she said, her calm voice a godsend as the reality of the situation came crashing down on him.
The child clung like a spider on its web. Teddy needed to secure the room, secure all the suites, but he wasn’t about to set him down. Wasn’t even sure he could tear the child off him, he was holding on that tightly.
Teddy eyed the child. “What’s your name, bud?”
“Theo.” The child was fixated on the body.
“Hey, Theo, look at me.” Teddy moved away from Haqazzii. “What’s Theo short for?”
“Theodore.”
“I use a different name at work,” Teddy whispered, “but Theodore is my name too.”
“Daddy and Mommy named me after someone important, a President.”
“That’s awesome. My short name is Teddy.”
The little one smiled at him. “Will he be okay?” The child strained to see Haqazzii.
“Theo, that man was going to hurt your daddy. I had to stop him.”
The child tightened his hold. “So, he can’t hurt him?”
“No.” Teddy moved toward the President and First Lady. “Your mom and dad are just fine. They’re being protected by all these people. Can I give you to your dad?”
“No, I want to stay with you.”
How old are you, Theo?”
“I’m four.”
“See the device in my ears?” Teddy asked. “I have to talk to my team, so can you be quiet for me, bud?”
“Uh-huh.”
The child stared at him as he tapped the comm. “Check in with me, team.”
“All secure on the field,” Slash said.
“Sydney and Caroline are secure,” Sin said.
“Sin and Dakota are secure,” Sydney added.
Teddy chuffed out a laugh. Even in the most stressful of moments, his woman brought the humor. Her way of de-escalating the extreme tension.
Rebel confirmed everyone in the next suite was okay, voiced his concern about the gunshots.
“We had pandemonium,” Stryker said, “but Emerson got the group to keep the door shut.”
Teddy called the head of security. “Hal, we had an intruder. We need an ambulance in the Presidential skybox. Gunman is down.”
“I’ll send up a team to secure the floor,” Hal replied.
Teddy rubbed the child’s back. “You did good.”
“I want to do what you do when I grow up.”
“What do you think I do?”
“Keep us safe.” Theo smiled at him. “And you get to play with guns.”
“Guns are dangerous,” Teddy said. “You can’t ever play with one, okay?”
The President pushed his way through the group and made his way over. “Daddy!” When Teddy tried handing little Theo over, the child clung tighter.
The President extended his hand. “Thank you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How did you know?” President Garrison asked. “He doesn’t look like any of the photos I’ve been shown.”
“His behavior when he entered the suite, no name tag, plus, the semi-automatic gave him away.” Teddy smiled.
“How can you be so relaxed?” the President asked.
“This is what I do,” Teddy replied. “It helps that I’ve been trained by the best.”
“Daddy, are you okay?” Theo asked.
“I’m good, son. Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh.” Theo smiled at Teddy. “I want to go to my mommy.”
Teddy set him down and he scurried over to his mom.
“Who did train you, Tank?” the President asked.
Teddy had been trained by the most ruthless assassins he’d ever known.
“My brothers, Mr. President. I’m a Santini assassin through and through.”
In that moment, Teddy had never been more proud. Being a Santini meant everything to him.
It always had… and it always would.