The HAHO jumps are my favorite, meaning the parachute is pulled within seconds of the jump, allowing a soldier or marine to fly silently for miles—sometimes up to thirty to forty miles—to reach an insertion point. It requires skill, solid use of GPS and terrain navigational skills, and a whole fucking lot of luck. It’s what makes it so exciting.
“We have a potential mission coming up soon that will require a free-fall insertion,” he says, and my joy at jumping out of planes plummets.
Oh, not that I’m not still excited about that—it’s just the mention of the word “mission” has me going into hyper-alert, super-focused mode. I want him to know I’m ready, willing, and able to meet whatever the demand may be.
“Some American tourists have been kidnapped in Colombia,” he says.
“The ELN?” I ask.
He nods. The Ejército de Liberación Nacional—or National Liberation Army—is known for kidnapping tourists and carting them around the jungled countryside until ransom is paid. “Some rich banker out of Dallas and his family wanted a thrilling jungle adventure for their vacation. Well… they got it.”
“When do you think this will go down?” I ask, because there doesn’t seem to be a rush seeing as how he wants to send me on a free-fall training operation.
“These guerilla groups know how to extract the most out of their ransom demands,” Kynan says with a wry smile. “They’ll cart that family around the jungle for a few weeks, keeping contact to a minimum so as to cultivate the paying members’ desire to throw as much money as possible at them in desperation. It’s a supreme negotiating tactic.”
Kynan continues, explaining the situation more. Right now, the family is working with a contract negotiator, choosing not to involve our government or police forces as the kidnappers most often demand. The negotiator will work back and forth with the guerillas, coming up with an amount that is acceptable, then the ransom will be paid. We’ll be hired to go in as security to make sure the exchange is carried out as promised and the family remains safe. As a contingency, we’ll be at the ready to use force to rescue the hostages if for some reason the ransom exchange is compromised.
“And you’re going to let me go on this mission?” I ask.
“You said not to coddle you,” Kynan replies dryly.
“True,” I admit, my eyes locked on him.
“Cage is going to head up the mission,” Kynan says, pulling a document out of the folder he’d been studying when I came in. “You’ll be second in command. Here’s the summary report on what we know so far. More information will be updated as we get it and emailed to you. Even though I’m sending you guys down to Ft. Bragg to get some practice jumps in, you need to be at the ready to move at a moment’s notice.”
“Understood,” I say with a nod.
“It could mean you spend Christmas in the Colombian jungles,” Kynan drawls, a last-ditch effort to make sure I’m committed. “Sure you wouldn’t rather have that time to spend with your family?”
My eyes have already dropped down to the document he’d handed me. I shake my head as I start to read. “I’m good.”
“Sure you wouldn’t rather stay here with Anna?” he presses. “Nothing better than cuddling with your girl around a lit Christmas tree.”
That gets my attention, as his words penetrate and the words on the page are forgotten. I glance up to find Kynan watching me like a hawk.
Well, fuck yeah, I’d like to spend Christmas with Anna. It’s a magical time and, well, I could use more of that in my life after what I’ve been through. But I just committed myself to Kynan and this mission, and I most certainly can’t let him think I’m not ready to get back in the thick of things.
“I want in on this mission,” I say flatly. “There will be other Christmases.”
I’m not sure what kind of reaction I expect from Kynan, but I swear it’s a bit of disappointment I spot in his return stare.
I brush it off. I don’t have time to pander to his sense of romanticism with Anna and me. We’re making it work because we have excellent communication skills and well… we just get each other. I know more than anything Anna will understand above all others how important it is for me to get back out there and prove myself to my teammates.
Also, to prove myself to, well… myself.CHAPTER 24Anna“Anna, Anna, Anna,” I hear my name called from across the second floor of Jameson. I pivot, seeing Cage jogging my way as he winds through the pit desks.
“Hey,” I exclaim, a welcoming smile on my face. He’s been gone for the last several days out to Vegas to work with the team out there for a tactical seminar.