Protecting Dallas

“Get in the truck,” Kane urged me.

“No, I’m good.”

“At least you’ll be out of the wind.”

“I said I’m good.”

He could argue all he wanted. I wasn’t missing this for anything.

“You’re shaking like a dog shitting razor blades.”

I squeezed my jaw tight to keep my teeth from chattering. “Fuck you.”

Kane flashed me a rare, half-smile. “Later,” the big SEAL huffed.

Maddox kept watching, kept counting. He reached thirty eight packages and stopped.

“Alright, here comes someone else.”

We all watched together as a second vehicle arrived, this time from the north. Either it was the same SUV as before, or a very similar model. It was the same color. It was bound to be from the motor pool.

“They’re all together now,” confirmed Maddox. “They’re talking.”

Shutting up became a team effort, as we all held our breath and strained to hear. Voices drifted up from the little canyon. Even a peal of deep, menacing laughter.

Eventually the SUV’s back door opened and a man got out. He looked significantly larger than the rest. He also carried himself very differently.

Kane, who was looking through his own set of binoculars, suddenly stiffened.

“That him?”

Maddox held up one hand. He used it to make the ‘affirmative’ symbol.

“Good enough.”

Kane twisted at the waist… and suddenly came back with a long, beige sniper rifle. It was sleek and corrugated, with a sinister-looking scope mounted along the entire top length.

“Wait, no!”

Maddox whirled at the sound of my voice. His hand shot out and grabbed the barrel just as Kane was setting up his aim.

“Bro, wait!” he hissed. “What are you doing?”

“Exactly what needs to be done.”

Maddox slid down, until he and his comrade were face to face. He shook his head, but Kane’s lips curled back in a snarl.

“Let. Go.”

“What about Austin?”

“Austin’s a big boy,” Kane seethed. “He can take care of himself.”

“But we promised not to make any moves without him.”

Kane slid the bolt back then jammed it forward, chambering a round.

“Kane!” Maddox hissed. “C’mon man, this is crazy! You can’t kill Dietz, we haven’t even—”