Chapter 38
The guys stood around the three vehicles in the parking space, going through the five duffel bags of weapons resting on the hoods, checking the weapons over before putting them back.
There was a large assortment of rifles as well as handguns and knives.
Nick must have arranged a military carrier instead of them taking a commercial flight.
Or they’d picked them up on the way here. Either way, it didn’t matter.
“How’s Andrea holding up?” Luke asked when he stopped in front of Jack.
“Better than expected but still scared.”
“I’d be worried if she wasn’t. She’s a civilian and not used to this life.”
“She’s taking a huge risk helping us,” Rob added, his focus on a blade he was handling.
“She is, but she seems more concerned about us.”
“We’ve faced overwhelming odds before, but for a sale in a hotel, I don’t see an army showing up. Maybe a handful of guys. If anything, I think we’re overprepared.”
“Better to be over prepared—” Luke started to say.
“Then underprepared,” they all finished simultaneously.
“Have I said that before?” Luke asked, looking around with amusement in his eyes.
“Once or twice,” Jack quipped.
“So is she coming back with you when this is over?” Drew wanted to know. For as hard-ass as he was, Drew was a big softly and a pure romantic. Not that Jack would ever say that to his face. Jack didn’t want to be punched.
“You obviously care for her. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone against orders,” Luke added.
“If she’ll have me,” Jack admitted. It was a thought he found more appealing the more he thought about it.
“It’s that serious?” Luke looked shocked. Jack could understand why. He was the player who’d never thought about settling down.
“I think so.” He was sure of his own feelings; Andrea not so much.
They enjoyed each other’s company, and she might feel the same way about him.
He wasn’t totally sure. This was a new feeling—uncertainty—and he didn’t like it.
Normally, he was confident in his sexual prowess, but Andrea didn’t follow the same rules as his previous lovers.
“You’d better be certain before you try to move her back to Vegas.”
“We’ve only known each other two weeks. It’s a little soon to be planning my future,” Jack snapped, suddenly feeling defensive. He knew he wanted Andrea to come back home, but now he had self-doubt, and it made him testy. What if he’d read Andrea wrong, and she didn’t feel the same?
Greg started chuckling. “I know that look.”
“What?”
“You’re in love with her,” Greg announced.
The rest of the guys’ eyes widened in shock. “Really?” Carson asked.
“Yes,” Jack admitted; there was no sense lying about his feelings. Apparently, it was evident to see.
“Well, I’ll be,” Drew mumbled.
“And you don’t think she feels the same?” Greg questioned.
“What are you, my therapist?”
“Does she know how you feel?”
“No, and we’re done talking about this. Right now, we need to focus on the mission, not my love life.”
“Suit yourself,” Greg murmured, holding his hands up in surrender. Jack hated how easy he was to read right now. Normally, he could camouflage his emotions better behind a smile or a joke. That easy facade was evading him now.
“So what’s the rest of the plan?” Jack knew there was more to it but hadn’t wanted to reveal everything to Andrea. The less she knew, the better. She was new to ops, and if she knew everything, she might look around and give them away.
“She checks in alone. You sneak in and meet her in her room. I figured you’d want to stay close to her.
We’ll stay at the hotel across the street tomorrow night in case they are watching.
Before the meet, we’ll set up. Barry has already found a room that faces the hotel front.
There is a restaurant next to the hotel where we’ll be stationed on the roof.
It actually gives a vantage of both the emergency and the back exit. ”
“And the conference room? How do we cover inside?” Jack hadn’t been inside, so he didn’t know the layout or where they could hide.
Luke grimaced. “It’s not ideal. Not a lot of cover, but there is a stage so one or two can set up back there. The other, I haven’t figured out yet.”
“I’m impressed you got as much done as you did considering I only called you this morning.”
“It’s a smaller scale operation, not a lot of planning needed. Of course, because we are rushing, there is room for error and leaving blind spots, but we are going to stay positive.”
“The buyer had to have picked that location for a reason. Any significance on the hotel?”
“None that we know of. It could be the location since it’s close to everything should they need to escape, but no idea why Louisiana without knowing who the buyer is.”
“We’ll all just have to stay vigilant. Thank you all for helping me.”
Luke clapped him on the shoulder. If he had been a weaker man, the slap may had caused injury. He was used to Luke’s heavy hand though, so he didn’t flinch. “Like I said before, we always have each other’s backs. No matter what.”
He knew that, but he had never had to call anyone to help him out of a jam before. They always did things as a team. Sure, he’d helped move a couch or something small, but had never asked his team to help him with an op only he was supposed to work.
“Still appreciate it.”
“Of course. Alright, now let’s all get some shut-eye.”
“I call dibs on the bed,” Rob called, holding up his hand.
“I get the couch,” Greg chimed in.
“I’ll share with Rob,” Carson added.
“I guess the rest of us are on the floor,” Barry griped. “But keep me far away from the lovebirds. Don’t need to hear that.”
“I’ll get the blankets.” No sense in confirming or denying their thoughts.