Password to Her Heart (The American Soldier Collection 9)

“Me, too,” Tiek added.

“You know I’m in,” Stitch said.

“No, I won’t put your lives at risk. If you follow my directions, then this will all be over soon enough. I can’t even fathom what they’ve done to Shawna so far. I have to play my part. I just need you guys to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” Mercury asked as Tex walked into the room.

“If I don’t make it out of this alive, please take care of Shawna for me. Make sure you use that key to the safety deposit box, follow the directions, and ensure her safety and her future. She’s been through so much and something like this can set her back even further. I told her to trust no one. There’s a password that only her and I know. You use it to make her realize that she’s safe with the five of you. She’ll need reassurance because god only knows what these fuckers did to her already.”

“You’re going to make it, Keith. You’re not in this alone,” Lee said, and the others agreed.

Lee could

hear the fear in Keith’s voice. Lee felt sorry for him and also feared for Shawna. She was gorgeous and young, an innocent civilian shoved into the middle of military warfare. It just wasn’t right. He would do whatever was necessary to ensure she make it out alive and was well taken care of.

“Okay. Follow the timeline starting from midnight tonight. By tomorrow I’m headed inside after I make that call. Hopefully Chavez, Montoya, and Guazipan are in the near vicinity and get what they deserve. And guys, thank you. I’m sorry for getting involved with this and fucking things up. I should be hanging out with you guys in Texas, drinking with friends at Casper’s and working for the US Marshals with Tex.”

“That can still happen. We’re going to help you, Keith. The team will be together again and living the retired life out here in paradise,” Stitch stated.

Keith chuckled. “Follow that time line. I’m making the call in an hour.”

They disconnected the call and Lee looked at his team, his brothers, and then at Mercury.

Mercury said, “Well, we’ve got ourselves a mission. Lee, you, Stitch, and Tiek prepare our gear. I think when I call the Master Gunnery Sergeant Calico, he’s going to want us right there where we belong. I’m not taking any chances. Keith is one of us and we never leave a man behind. Let’s move.”

“Oorah!” they all said at once and scattered out of the room.

Chapter 4

They sat at the table feeling both on edge and confident. It was the way of a Marine. Gunnery Sergeant Mercury Brooks knew his men were more than capable of handling any situation they were forced to face, but this was a bit different. Their brother, Keith, was in harm’s way and so was his innocent sister. Mercury could see her face when he closed his eyes. She was a beauty, sweet and innocent, but knowing Keith, she was trained. Yet she wasn’t a soldier. She was a civilian. He also received information on Montoya, Guazipan, and Chavez, and his fears for Shawna’s life were stronger. These men were very evil men who would think nothing of torturing a beautiful, young woman like Shawna just for fun, never mind for information. It made him feel antsy and inpatient. The longer they waited, the more likely the outcome would be worse for her.

As he gathered the information he received from Master Gunnery Sergeant Calico, the man whom Mercury took his orders from while active in the Corp was keeping them abreast of the situation. All the necessary branches were notified, and special teams were gathered, preparing to intervene and raid the facility where the missile had been built and stored. They were just waiting to hear who would be raiding the highly secure facility where Shawna was being held.

They had no idea if Keith was already there or making his way in to infiltrate the building and try to save his sister. It was getting close to sunset and they were running out of time.

He glanced at Lee, who looked serious and charged up. He and Keith were the closest.

“I wish they would give the order already. We’ve looked over the blueprints of the building. We can take this on ourselves if need be,” Lee stated. Lee was the planner, the one who decided how and where they would enter, how they would complete the mission. A lot rode on his natural capabilities. He had the Jeeps set in position, and a chopper on standby for a swift escape if things got out of hand on the compound. A lot of planning was involved in this.

“We need to wait. It’s the way it has to be. Although it seems to me that their greatest concern is that missile. Shawna being held hostage is minimal,” Tiek stated. They all mumbled in agreement.

Mercury looked at Tex, who held his weapon and glanced at his watch. He was the sniper of the group. Quiet, soft spoken, over six feet tall, and a superb marksman. Known as one of the best snipers in the Corps. He knew where he was to go, what position to take, and how to kill the first sets of guards quietly as the rest of the team snuck their way in. Then there was Stitch. A fast talker, the comedian of the group, and also their medic. He was swift to aid any injuries, evaluate the intensity, and then proceeded to provide medical attention sometimes in the most unclean and dangerous of locations.

Tiek was their infiltrator, their hand-to-hand combat psycho who feared absolutely nothing. He was a wrecking machine at six feet three, filled with muscles, agility, and a sole purpose to invade, destroy, and make sure his team all left the mission together and in one piece. He was intimidating, had a deep, rugged voice, and wild, untamed hair to his shoulders. Mercury knew each man was an asset to the team.

They were used to one another and could read each other’s thoughts to the point that hand signals sometimes weren’t even necessary.

Mercury’s radio went off and he looked at his men as he answered the call from Calico.

“It’s a no-go on the building. Teams are moving into the facility where the missile is now. The acts of possible terrorism are taking precedence over Keith’s sister. I’m sorry, Mercury, but these are the orders.”

“What the fuck, Calico? How can they stand by and let Keith and his sister die? Keith is the one who busted this whole operation wide open.”

“I understand and I agree, but these are the orders. They’re not sending a team in there right away. Eventually, yes, but right now, no. The word is that Montoya and Guazipan aren’t even in the facility or where Keith’s sister is being held.”

“And Chavez?”

“No clue.”