“Count Chocula got one.” And in an instant, Rowe was in his element.Anxiety prickled up Noah’s spine and along his neck. A little voice screamed in his head to go to Rowe and cover his back, but he remained exactly where he was with his shoulder pressed to a doorjamb as he stared out into the darkness of the backyard. Rowe was a fucking professional. He had the front of the house covered. But that knowledge didn’t chase away the teeth-grinding need to keep his lover safe.
Through the night-vision goggles, Noah stared out at a green world, waiting for their attackers to get close enough for him to put a bullet or two in someone’s forehead. After the murder of Chris and Paul, Noah needed this. He needed to finally put things right for his teammates.
“Cap’n, you’ve got one approaching the basement stairs,” JB warned.
“Let him come,” Andrei said in a low, ominous voice that replaced Noah’s anxiety with chills along his skin. He had no idea the Romanian had a dark side, but the man sounded like he was tapping into it.
“Another one coming your way, Tony. Oh! Wait! Got him too,” JB said playfully. “I believe that’s two for Snap.”
Noah couldn’t stop his smirk. JB was making the best of being wounded and stuck in the field. He was a good man to have covering a person’s back. When Rowe had been forced to leave the Army, Noah had felt lost. JB helped him find his purpose again and kept him from getting shot. He appreciated it more than he probably ever revealed to him.
A loud crash from the basement echoed through the house followed by a man’s pained screams. And then it all went terrifyingly silent. Noah’s heart skipped a beat and he held his breath, waiting. Andrei was alone in the basement. He’d said he was going to booby trap the stairs, and he was hoping the noise he heard was Erik’s man triggering it. Fuck…if something happened to Andrei…
“That’s one for Cap’n Crunch,” Andrei drawled in a low, confident voice that got Noah’s heart started again. He’d become close friends with Andrei over the past few years. They both had that same view of being a newcomer to a very close-knit group of men. Andrei kept him from feeling awkward and unwanted.
“And I think we’re gonna have to buy Royce some new stairs,” Andrei continued after a second.
“Can you get out?” Rowe demanded.
“Through the rear door if Snap can promise not to shoot me.”
“I got your back if you want to do a sweep around the side of the house. My view of the north and detached garage isn’t good.”
“I’ve got you, Snap,” Andrei replied.
From Noah’s count, that was four down. Possibly only three left. Though, he had no idea where Erik Johnson was in this mess.
Outside a thunderous roar rose up, and the night sky suddenly seemed lighter. A man screamed in terror, followed by Garrett’s deep chuckle. Gunfire picked up again, but Noah couldn’t tell where it was directed. None of the bullets were hitting the house near him.
“Where you goin’, boy? Come here and give Sugar Bear a hug!” Garrett shouted.
“Who the fuck gave Sugar Bear a flamethrower?” JB cried out.
“What?” Quinn squeaked in disbelief.
“Shit,” Rowe muttered. “He found that, huh?”
Noah laughed. Rowe had mentioned finding a new toy that he was going to let the boys try out at the next training retreat. Apparently he’d stashed it at Royce’s house to keep it hidden from the bodyguards, but Garrett had stumbled across it when poking around the garage.
Noah would have been the first to argue that they had zero use for a flamethrower, but Garrett was following behind a guy as he ran across the open backyard. Flames roared out of the nozzle a good three yards in front of him, and Garrett’s cackle could just barely be heard above it. At the very least, it was good at scaring the shit out of an attacker.
Lifting his gun, Noah sighted his target and squeezed off a couple of rounds. The man went down hard and didn’t get up again. “Tony got one.”
“Awwww…” Garrett moaned. “I was still playing with him.”
“And making yourself an easy target,” Rowe admonished. “Put the toy away and go scout the area.”
“Yes, sir,” Garrett said quickly, turning back toward the garage.
“What’s the count?” Noah asked.
“I’ve got five,” Quinn immediately replied.
“Anyone got eyes on targets? We’re missing at least two,” Noah said.
Before anyone could speak, shots echoed from the front of the house. Noah’s heart froze in his chest, and he stood rooted to the spot for a second. Those shots either came from Rowe or were aimed at him. He wanted to go help but was afraid of leaving their backs vulnerable.
“Snap?” Noah said.
“Nothing here.”
Rowe still hadn’t said a word. Noah couldn’t wait. “I’m going to the front.”