Hard Core Law (Texas Rangers: Elite Troop)

by Angi Morgan

  Maybe knowing the layout of the airport would be an advantage. If she was given a chance to run, she’d know where to go. But had the Macks hinted at an exchange. Her mind was racing in circles trying to figure it out.

  After a few minutes she realized they weren’t going to the airport. At least not the one in Waco. The twins fell asleep quickly enough with the rocking motion of the van.

  The two men didn’t speak to give her additional clues. She couldn’t really see scenery out the back window, but it was mainly the black night sky and an occasional streetlamp. She tightened her arms around the kidlets, closed her eyes and concentrated solely on not being scared.

  Very scared.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kill Tenoreno? Mack wanted him to kill Tenoreno? The person pulling the strings didn’t want their leader out of the country? Or who did they bring him here to kill? Less and less about this operation was making sense. He kept coming back to why him and why kidnap his kids? If he could determine the answer to that complicated question, then he might find the solution.

  Why tell him to kill the prisoner? Why did they want Tenoreno dead? Why did they bring Josh to pull the trigger? A political nightmare for one. They’d prosecute him and persecute the Texas Rangers. He was thinking too far ahead. The problem was now.

  “I’ll need a weapon.” He was handed a Glock. He fingered the weapon, wanting to pull it on Mack, knowing the man would never hand him a loaded gun. “I prefer my own. It’s in the bag you have in the van.”

  In-Charge Mack shook his head. “Let me say this out loud. Kill me, kill my men, we kill your family. The men holding your kids don’t care if they get a call to shoot or get a call to let them go. Understand?”

  “Understood.”

  Thing was, Bryce would be waiting in that hangar, protecting Tenoreno. He wasn’t just going to let Josh walk in and shoot anyone. Company F was prepared for an attack to hijack a plane, not massacre everyone. The Mack gang loaded and checked the machine pistols. A lot of men were about to be killed unless he did something.

  Or just did what they wanted.

  “Your plan doesn’t make sense. You can’t be certain I won’t point this at the wrong person.” He aimed the Glock at Mack’s head. Three of the leader’s men immediately pointed machine pistols at his.

  “Hold on, give the Major time to accept the inevitable.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “Mack.” In-Charge pointed to the man to his right. “Dial.”

  Josh aimed his barrel at the night sky. “Point taken.”

  “You are a useful tool to get us inside the plane...for the moment. Just don’t push me again.”

  Mack waved off the guns and took a step closer to Josh. “Between you and me, I didn’t like this plan. Never liked depending on the emotional state of an anxious father. Give me solid logic.”

  He clapped Josh on the back, took his Glock and removed an empty magazine.

  “Then you don’t expect me to kill Tenoreno.”

  “I never depend on anyone with the exception of myself.” Mack handed him the gun, nodded to the guy with his phone out and went about his business.

  Josh was just a way to get into that hangar. A way to get on that plane. Why? He was tired of asking when the answer was simple—wait and find out.

  “They’re a couple of minutes out, boss,” Laughing Mack said.

  In-Charge Mack faced Josh, having to tilt his head up to look at him. “I know what you’re thinking. How many of us can you take out if you jump one of the men and take his weapon? But you still have a problem.” He folded his arms and looked around him. “Which one of us is supposed to call and check on your girlfriend? Which one of us has the power to tell them to pull the trigger or let them go?”

  Damn.

  “Now that’s all settled. This is where you pull your weight, Major.” Mack motioned for his men to come closer. “How many men and where are they located?”

  Josh was taller than most of them there. Ten men to be exact. Ten men armed with automatic machine pistols. It didn’t matter if they were accurate or not. Just aim close to a human, most likely they’d hit part of him.

  Mack waited, his attention on Josh with an expectant look on his face.

  “They’ll make the prisoner transfer inside the hangar. Less exposure that way. Most likely four men—two rangers, two prison guards. The guards will leave, then the plane. You made this fairly public. They’ll be expecting some sort of attack. Additional men might already be waiting.”

  “So we go in guns blazing and take everybody out,” Knife Mack declared.

  “Then you don’t need me.” Josh took a step back toward the van, both hands in the air. He didn’t know if any of the guns around him had ammo. But he did know how to use that knife. He just had to get hold of it. “Mind making that phone call before you’re all slaughtered?”

  “We can get the jump on those guys,” one of them said.

  Their voices blended together as they spoke over each other. At their backs, Josh could see headlights on the road to the airport. Tenoreno had arrived. But Josh’s main focus was on the real Mack. And his focus was on Josh.

  The leader lifted a hand. All the conversation stopped.

  “Only one person has to fire a weapon. That means only one person needs to get close enough, but we’ll take two. Along with the Major.”

  Tracey had described this man’s eyes as frightening. Josh understood why. Black as the dark around them. A color that broke down the walls you thought protected you. Maybe that was a little melodramatic, but true.

  The stare was a test. Not just of willpower. It was a test to see who would be giving the orders and who would be taking them. Josh was a leader. It was something that he’d recognized in himself years ago. A skill that mentors had helped him hone. He understood that look. He could also turn his off and allow Mack to believe he’d won.

  “I’ve already told you that I’d do anything to protect my kids. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. But what guarantees do I have that my family is going to be okay?”

  “You have my word, of course.”

  “We both know that doesn’t mean much to me.”

  Mack laughed, threw back his head and roared, again halting the conversation of his men. “I knew there was something I liked about you.” He turned and waved the men into different directions splitting them into smaller groups that would surround the building on foot. “Put him in the van.”

  Knife Mack shoved Josh against the bumper. His hand landed on top of his bag, where a smoke grenade and a tracking device were hidden. He just needed to activate the tracker.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” In-Charge Mack held up his hand. “We still need this guy. Ride up front with me, Major.”

  Josh was escorted up front, an empty gun tossed in his lap. Empty. The last twenty-four hours had been disturbing to say the least. Sitting here, though, was a bit surreal.

  He was in a van with the man who’d kidnapped his family. About to crash through a gate and storm a facility that his friends and coworkers would be defending. When had everything gotten so turned upside down?

  “Hopefully this will be really simple,” Mack instructed. “We pull up. The Major talks his way to Oaks, Mack takes him out and we take the plane before anyone’s the wiser.”

  “Oaks? Aren’t you after Tenoreno?”

  “Two for one. We need them both.”

  Knife had just given him his first piece of useful information. They wanted Oaks and thought he’d be escorting Tenoreno. It sort of made sense now.

  “He might not be there, you know. Oaks. There’s no guarantee.” The gate flew open and their panel van continued toward the hangar. “You could have done all this on your own. You could have taken me out. You didn’t need my kids.” He
was tired of dancing around the truth. “Nothing I do is going to keep you from killing me and...hurting my family.”

  “You’re a sure thing, Major Parker,” he said in almost a sad voice. “Smart, too. I always enjoy working with smart people. And I don’t think your men are going to just shoot you. You’re our element of surprise. Kind of like a flash bang grenade that cops use.”

  Or maybe that was the answer—he was a sure thing. A sure way to get into the hangar, find Tenoreno and run. Seconds passed in a blur as they screeched to a halt in front of the only open airplane hangar. Handguns were aimed at his chest as he stepped onto the ground.

  The other two men stayed in the van with the engine running. It wouldn’t be long before eight additional men would be circling the building. They had enough firepower to wipe out everyone on the perimeter before they knew what happened.

  “What’s the deal, Captain?” Bryce stepped from the back of the hangar. “Trying to make an entrance?”

  “I wasn’t driving.” Josh looked around at his men from Company F. He dropped his handgun—totally worthless anyway—then raised his hands. “There’s a couple of guys in this van who want Tenoreno.”

  “There are a lot of people who want Tenoreno. Sorry.”

  “They’ve got the place surrounded, Bryce. Whatever you were planning, it won’t work.”

  “If they’re here to hijack the plane they won’t get far.”

  “Change of plans. They say they’re here to kill Oaks. Is he on the plane with Tenoreno?” The original plan to overpower Mack’s men and discover where Josh’s family was being held was a bust.

  “Tell the men to drop their weapons,” Mack said from the darkness of the van.

  “You know they won’t do that, but you could lower yours,” Bryce answered.

  The Rangers were wearing vests. Ready for the shots Josh should have planned to fire with the weapons he had loaded with blanks. But he couldn’t. They wouldn’t give him his weapon. Knife Mack jumped out of the van next to him, raised his machine pistol, pointing it at Josh’s head.

  In-Charge Mack left the driver’s seat and stood in front of the panel van. When the Rangers made a move, he stopped them by firing a burst into the ceiling. “Hold it! All of you stay where you are.”

  “You know I don’t want to ask this, Bryce, but they’ve got my kids. Lower your weapons and don’t get us all killed.”

  Bryce led the way, placing his handgun on the concrete and kicking it barely out of his reach. He squinted, questioning Josh as he sank to his knees. This was not the plan they’d discussed yesterday. The one that said it was better to ask forgiveness than permission. They were supposed to overpower these guys, not the other way around.

  “Up against the wall, on your knees, hands on your head. Where’s Oaks? I don’t see him,” In-Charge Mack demanded.

  “Still in Waco. They were afraid he might get caught up in the moment. Maybe shoot the star witness,” the pilot told him.

  The first to give up his weapon and the first to give them information. Sort of unusual, but Josh didn’t want to jump to the conclusion that the pilot was working with the kidnappers. You could never tell how people would react under stress.

  “Get on the plane.” Knife Mack shoved the pilot, then shoved Josh toward the others getting on their knees.

  “Secure them, tell the others we’re a go for phase two. No reason to panic. We knew this was a possibility.” Mack shot beams of hatred toward the plane.

  Them? Phase two?

  “Join your men, Major.”

  “What’s phase two? You have Tenoreno. Oaks didn’t get in the way. You’re done here. Just tell me where my kids are or call for their release.”

  “You are right not to trust me, Major. Looks like we’ll have to hang on to them a while longer.” Mack smirked.

  “The perimeter is crawling with cops.” Knife Mack retreated from a window.

  The pilot fired up the engine.

  “We’ll be out of here in a minute. The others will take care of this mess.”

  Shotguns against machine pistols. How many would be hurt? Would he watch the men on their knees be slaughtered with a single blast? Whatever playbook Mack or Tenoreno had, it wouldn’t be discovered here. His family would still be in trouble.

  But maybe there was another way.

  Josh’s head cleared. He instantly knew what had to be done.

  “Take me and let my men go. They get in that van and drive away. I give you my word I won’t do anything on the plane. I could convince Oaks to meet us.”

  “Not a chance,” Bryce argued. “Headquarters won’t go for that. We’re not leaving you.”

  “Nice play, Major.” Mack was twenty feet away giving instructions to his right-hand man, then he boarded, turning once inside. “There’s only one problem. As soon as I let your men go, they’ll warn Oaks that we’re coming. Take out the trash, men.”

  “This is my choice, Lieutenant.” He lowered his voice for Bryce, “You know what to do once that plane is airborne. Take these guys out and warn Waco we’re coming. Give the signal.”

  Knife Mack started toward them with crowd-control handcuffs.

  “Now, Bryce. Give the order to attack.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Rangers outside the hangar made their move. It might have been the last minute before the Macks reached the building, but they were prepared. Most of the gunfire was outside. Bryce rolled, taking cover farther away from the plane, shouting orders for the others. They took their hidden weapons and attacked.

  Josh had extra drive that no one else in the hangar did—his need to save his kids and Tracey. His goal was to get on the plane and Knife Mack was the only person in his way.

  Josh pushed the adrenaline he was feeling, channeling it to a rage he’d never experienced. All the while gauging that Knife Mack was raising the barrel of his machine pistol. “Get out of my way!”

  In a well-practiced gym move—one he had never used in the field—Josh ran and jumped. Both of his booted feet slammed into the chest of his opponent. Josh was prepared to fall hard to the concrete floor, rolling when he hit, keeping his eyes on his opponent. Knife Mack shot backward.

  Relentless fire bursts. Shouts. The engine starting. All the noise added to his rapid heartbeat. He heard or felt Knife Mack’s “oomph,” slamming hard into the wing of the plane. Still, the man got up quickly and moved toward him again.

  Josh reached out, grabbed the man’s arm and used his forward momentum to spin him into the fuselage. He banged his elbow hard into the man’s chin. Then pounded his fist twice into the man’s solar plexus attempting to knock his breath from him. He jerked the machine pistol from the man’s shoulder, holding the strap across his neck.

  Knife Mack didn’t stop. Pushing at Josh’s hands, he shoved hard enough to force Josh to stumble backward. Josh drew upon a hidden burst of energy thinking about the smiles of his children. He hit Knife Mack with all his strength. The man fell and slid into the back wall, rattling the metal shelves.

  Bryce put a knee in Knife Mack’s back and yanked his wrist to his shoulder blade.

  Josh took in the surroundings. Three of the Macks were defending the runway for the takeoff but Rangers were flanking and about to overrun. Another couple of Mack men were face down in the dirt next to the taxiway.

  Josh’s only hope was pulling away from the hangar. The Cessna was a single prop engine so there weren’t any blades to get in his way. He ran.

  “No!” Bryce yelled behind him.

  No choice. Josh was running out of time.

  Time? Hell, he had seconds. The plane was turning to line up for takeoff.

  One more burst of energy and Josh caught the open door. He grabbed whatever he could and pulled himself through as the plane turned revved its engines.<
br />
  “Very impressive, Major.”

  In-Charge Mack sat sideways in the seat, holding his machine pistol six inches from Josh’s nose. The kidnapper could have pulled the door shut. He could have fired the weapon, shooting Josh. Instead he’d allowed a ranger on board.

  Now he extended a hand.

  Josh ignored the assist and pulled himself into a seat, shutting the door while the engine roared to full life. He was still alive, on the plane and stuck with a half-ass plan for what he should do next.

  Keep himself alive. Get his kids and Tracey released. That was the goal...now he needed steps to reach it. “Is the pilot one of your guys?”

  “I believe his name is Bart.” Tenoreno, sitting in the seat behind the pilot, raised his voice, competing with the engine. “A new employee. Unlike Vince.”

  Josh had never met Paul Tenoreno in person. He’d seen the file. Photos of crime scenes. Surveillance pictures Oaks had accumulated off and on for over a decade.

  “Vince? Deegan?” Josh couldn’t remember the list of crimes attributed to this man, just that it was long. As a criminal, it seemed Vince had avoided pictures. It wasn’t a good sign when he took off his ski mask, revealing his face. “I think I’ll stick with Mack.”

  Tenoreno shook his chains. “Can we dispense with these?”

  Mack tossed the keys across the aisle to Tenoreno’s lap. The organized crime leader didn’t look as intimidating in his state-issued jumpsuit. But he still behaved like a man used to having his orders followed.

  The restraints were quickly unlatched, dropped and Mack transferred them to Josh.

  “Gun.” Tenoreno held his palm open and Mack dropped a Glock onto it after pulling it from his belt.

  The keys flew back, landing against the shell of the plane and sliding to the carpeted floor. Mack left them there, staring at his employer as he transferred to the copilot’s seat.

  The confidence that the kidnapper had blustered was no longer apparent. His shoulders slumped. His face filled with hatred. His body language suggested he was tired, but he deliberately kept the gun barrel pointed at Tenoreno’s seatback much longer than he should have.