“Of course, he died several years ago,” laughed Reighland.
“How could this have happened and no one knew?” she asked.
“Oh, I am pretty sure many people know, Sarah,” said Ted.
“Isn’t that right?” he said, staring down Reighland. “Like my friend Martin. And, I am pretty sure that a lot of your contacts at DORCAN also know, hmm?”
Ted was trying to back Sarah into the waiting taxi but suddenly realized that the driver had decided not to wait and was beginning to pull away.
He ran after the cab, dragging Sarah by her wrist, trying to stop it. As it accelerated away from them, he was surrounded by Reighland’s henchmen. They pointed their guns at the couple, and Sarah shrank against Ted, terrified by this new turn of events.
“Put them back into their rooms!” Reighland commanded. “No need for unpleasantries. At least, not yet,” he said.
He gave a few more terse orders, and Sarah and Ted were escorted off the plaza.
“Get me, Scott,” he said to an aide.
Reighland stormed off the driveway, shaking with fury.
Chapter Thirty-three
Brett and Kady woke up, tangled in each other’s arms. The light from the noonday sun shone through a small crack in the hotel room’s curtains, illuminating the night stand. The message indicator light was blinking.
Brett rolled over and noticed the signal, and then picked up the phone. He pressed the button, and listened, as Kady pressed her nakedness against his hard muscled torso. She felt safe, and happy. She wanted to make love, again, even though they had only just finished a short while earlier; then, they had finally succumbed to slumber.
Brett’s eyes narrowed as he took in the content of the message. He deleted the message and hung up the phone.
He rolled back towards Kady. He thought her face was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and gently kissed it. She responded, and let her tongue play over his lips. They kissed for a few moments, and then Brett gently disengaged from her. He got up from the bed. He stood over her, towering and looking like an Adonis in the sunlight.
“It’s on,” he said.
Chapter Thirty-four
Scott had arrived with some more men at a staging area some distance from the hotel. His team waited patiently while Reighland was given the run-down on Brett and Kady’s location.
“Are you sure that they are there, Mr. Reighland?” asked Scott.
“I’ve had tracking software implanted in their cell phones,” he explained.
“The concierge was given instructions to provide them with a gourmet brunch and a spa day for them both, complements of Reighland Enterprises. A small gratuity assured that we have the correct hotel. Privacy laws, my ass,” said Reighland.
“Scott, take Teams One and Two. I will take Team Three and rendezvous with you in two hours. I need to attend to a few matters here, but we will be in the large helicopter. Be sure you keep them alive. I need Brett for a few more days, but then you can do whatever you wish, so long as it looks like an accident.”
“My pleasure, Boss!” said Scott. He whistled and waved to his team, and they double-timed it into two large armored cars. The powerful diesel engines revved and they left the staging area.
The two vehicles traveled down the highway, and finally arrived at their destination. The men had ridden quietly, occasionally chatting or checking their guns. The drivers pulled in front of the hotel lobby and parked. They left the engines running, to assure a fast escape.
Scott turned to the others and noted that they were all ready to go into action. They wore the uniforms of local SWAT officers and carried M4 carbines. He checked his own equipment, one final time.
Scott smiled to himself. He locked and loaded his carbine, smacking the magazine with his palm to make sure it was properly seated. The suppressor on the end of the evil looking black rifle was like a dark sausage on the nozzle. He peered through the red dot site, satisfied all was in order.
He motioned to the men to disembark, and they slid out of the two trucks, in a five by five formation.
Scott dropped from the truck, landing on his combat boots.
He again motioned to his teams, and they started towards the lobby entrance. He heard Reighland’s helicopter, as it approached from a distance. The timing was perfect!
“Now, we’ll see just who is really the better man, you douchebag,” he muttered to himself.
Chapter Thirty-five
“Red Leader, we have Tango,” said the Captain.
He was lying flat on a building across the street from the hotel. Hidden underneath a specially camouflaged blanket, the Captain and his spotter were eyeing Reighland’s assault team through their scopes.
“Roger that, Alpha Dog, we have Tango in sight as well,” came the reply over the comset.
“This is Blue Leader, Alpha Dog, we are on Tango’s six, repeat six,” another voice answered.
The Captain spoke quietly into the Jawbone headset.
“Green Leader, status?” he said. He waited while his men completed positioning themselves for their assault.
Captain David Spalding (USMC, retired, Medical) thought back to how his client and he had met.
Client? Hell, Brett Ghent was David Spalding’s best friend. He was the one who had given him some of the money to start his executive protection business, and more importantly, he was the one who had provided the friendship and support he needed when he had come back so damaged from overseas.
David had been very social in college and was the running back for the football team. He had met Brett Ghent while they were both freshmen. Brett’s enthusiasm for martial arts meant he spent some time in the school gym, exercising and sparring. David had been there one afternoon, and they struck up a conversation. It led to a discovery of their mutual liking of throwing Frisbees, drinking beer, and hitting up cute girls.
David was Marine ROTC and struggled only a little with his didactic work. When he’d hit something a bit difficult, Brett would coach him through it, and David soon was plowing ahead. He finished with a respectable GPA and immense gratitude for Brett’s help.
Brett had been trying out various business ideas, and was still a year or so away from his success with ‘Pecker’ when David went into the military as a First Lieutenant. He deployed to Iran, then Iraq. He embedded with some Delta Force soldiers and liked their style. He asked for and received a transfer to take training, and managed to work his way into a Special Ops Delta Force.
Brett and David kept in close contact over the years. Whenever David was in town on leave, they always managed to have several adventures, usually involving beer and wild women. Although Brett managed to stay mostly casual with the girls, David was a player. He was sharp, dark and handsome, and had no trouble at all scoring with the ladies as much as he had scored on the gridiron.
David advanced in the military. He was a proficient athlete, top marksman, and a natural leader. A true Alpha dog.
And then his life had changed, one sunny afternoon in Afghanistan while he was riding in a convoy transporting medical supplies.
David’s legs had both been blown off by an improvised explosive device that he had spotted, just as he alerted the driver of his transport vehicle. As the driver swerved, the device detonated, and the car flipped. David had dragged his driver from the car, which then exploded again and burned to the frame.
The driver and four others of David’s team were pinned down by enemy fire. David had saved their lives, but the relentless attack from the other fighters took its toll. Two of the men were killed.
The driver called in an air strike, and a loitering A-10 responded. It swooped down from the sky, putting down a strafing run of 30mm cannon fire, and wiped out the enemy attackers.
By the time the medics had arrived, only David, the driver, and one other man had survived. David passed out as the sound of the medical helicopters drone
d in his ears. The smell of death was everywhere, and he wondered if he would make it.
The medics worked quickly to stanch the bleeding, but they realized that David would lose the torn mess that had been his legs, regardless of their efforts.
David had spent eleven months in recuperation and physical therapy and was mustered out. As part of an experimental program, he had been offered to be fitted with a new type of prosthetics. They were pure carbon fiber and titanium extensions that were spring loaded, but with enough time and practice, they would allow him to walk again.
But, his severe injuries were sufficient to end his military career. He was retired with honors. He moved to Washington, D.C., to be close to his parents. Soon, his morning regimen included a two-hour jog around the museums and government buildings near the Capitol.
He was a familiar sight around the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C. as he ran laps. The President had even come out one morning to talk with him and jogged a bit alongside.
After the President had gone on to more important matter, the Secret Service team leader had spoken to David. He knew of him from some news reports, but also because they were necessarily thorough about checking out people around the quad for official security.
The Agent had suggested David speak to a friend of his. This man had been the Director of a business engaged in providing private protective services. He liked David, and immediately offered to assist him in setting up a competing service.
His rationale was that the security business was only going to grow, and having another company local to D.C. would be better than out-of-the-area competitors.
He felt that only people located there could provide the necessary reconnaissance and background needed to provide quality protection. He eschewed the bigger outfits, such as the infamous Blackriver and Harrington Agency. They hired ex-military operators, and the Director saw that as a weakness. He didn’t feel that these people were not competent. If anything he felt that their intimidating presence often acted as a catalyst for violence.
He confided to David that he had absolutely no problem with such a person being the head of a protective service. They came to an agreement and then shook on it. David had approached Brett to look over things, respecting his friend’s opinions and insights.
When Brett had reviewed the documents, he gave David his promise to help his friend out with anything, including a loan, if he needed it. David was grateful and ultimately had agreed to a small loan from Ghent International, Inc.
And so, David had entered the world of private executive, protective services.
In the military, he had trained and mastered the ability to command men. Now, he learned everything he needed to know to be able to provide a blanket of defense for affluent individuals.
He formed a company, Black Dog Protection Services, and had managed to get several lucrative contracts. Many of his clients were A-list celebrities and business leaders. He soon paid Brett back, with interest and in full.
Black Dog grew, and with it, David’s reputation as a shrewd businessman and no-nonsense leader.
The sound of an approaching helicopter brought David back from his revelries.
“Green Leader, status?” he asked.
“Ready to rock, Captain,” came the reply.
David’s fingers tightened on the handle of the big sniper rifle he held. Peering through the scope, he centered the sight on the engine area of the first armored truck and waited.
Chapter Thirty-six
Brett looked out the window of the hotel room. He was looking out at the two armored cars that had just pulled up outside. His face held a hard grin. He knew that David and his team were waiting to ambush Reighland’s forces. He wanted to run out and join them, but his duty was to Kady. He would stay and protect her, in case anything went wrong.
Brett remembered when he had first thought of employing David’s service. When Brett had finalized his dealings with Reighland regarding ‘Pecker’, he immediately thought of hiring his old friend to plan out the necessary security for the new company.
Brett was invited to Black Dog’s compound, in Virginia. There, he and David had watched as the bodyguards were trained and demonstrated their proficiencies. Brett had been mightily impressed.
He arranged for a protective net, one that was not too restrictive on his family. He had told David he mainly wanted privacy, and to be discrete and unobtrusive. After a few months, David had suggested that Brett develop an emergency response team, which would allow him more freedom of action. They worked out the details, and it was determined that the team could provide a response within forty minutes if local law enforcement were unable to adequately control the situation.
“You realize that we are licensed to deploy with arms and that we have the discretion to employ lethal tactics,” David had explained. “Be sure that you really need us. When you call, we WILL be there. Stay down and under cover, if you can.”
Brett was very selective regarding unleashing David.
When the drunk had accosted them at the restaurant, Brett had not given the altercation any real thought. He was more than capable of handling the situation.
Once he had bested the drunken man, the police took over, and he didn’t need to worry David. And, the sudden appearance of the limousine made any contact with David’s team moot.
Brett had surreptitiously alerted David that he and Kady were fine, and not to worry. David placed two of his men to tail the limousine and report back on any odd activities. Once the limo had entered the protective cordon of Ocaba Bien, they had to make a decision to proceed to a strategic observation point. From there, they had kept tabs on Brett and Kady.
When they noticed them leaving suddenly in another limo, they contacted David to receive new orders. David told them to follow the limo to whatever destination it was headed.
The men followed the limo to the hotel and parked in the restaurant lot across the street. They then updated David. He instructed them to eat and keep their eyes on things.
When they noticed the first strike team arriving, they immediately took up observation positions to coordinate the logistics for the Black Dog teams.
Upon checkin, Brett had informed the concierge that they both needed a change of clothing and given her their sizes. When they awoke, he called down and had the selections sent up to the room. He had chosen blue jeans and an Under Armour shirt for himself, and socks and black brogans. Kady had a selection of sundresses, slacks and blouses, and sweaters. They also had been supplied fresh undergarments.
Kady had finished showering. She then spent an hour preening and getting dressed.
Brett thought Kady looked gorgeous.
He looked out the window, as a huge helicopter came approaching across the sky.
“OK, you gruesome son-of-a-bitch,” he whispered, “You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts!” Brett smiled a huge grin. He was enjoying every second of this.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Jonathon Reighland was laughing as his huge helicopter circled the hotel. He could see Scott and the assault team exiting the armored cars, and knew it would only be moments until he had Brett and Kady back in his clutches. He laughed as he thought of how melodramatic that thought was. He was closer than ever to having his goal of destroying Ghent International succeed.
As the big aircraft settled in a parking lot beside the hotel, his men jumped out. They ran across the road, halting traffic and redirecting it. They were dressed as local SWAT officers, so the commuters had no hesitation in obeying their orders. The men waited as Reighland caught up with them. Bunched around the front of the hotel, he was about to give the order to enter when a shot rang out.
The engine block of the front armored car exploded as the high-velocity shell pulverized the armor plating, and a second round rapidly followed the first. The startled attackers spun around, trying to find the source of the shots when the second vehicle’s front and rear pass
enger side tires blew out.
Suddenly, there was another shot that blew a huge star-shaped hole into the back window of the second truck. Smoke started coming out of the interior.
Reighland and his men lost no time and began to seek cover, as tear-gas grenades landed in their midst.
“Scott!” Reighland yelled. “Go find them and get them out of here, now! Meet me back at Ocaba Bien!” He ran off to an alley next to the hotel, almost crashing into a green dumpster.
Scott and three of his team returned fire in all directions, hitting parked cars and causing the other hotel patrons to dive to the ground.
The screams from the horrified people rent the air, and the men ran into the lobby, straight to the stairs. Scott kicked the lobby doors open and began to climb to the floor where Brett and Kady were now trapped.
Captain Spalding looked through the optics on his sniper rifle and took aim at the tail rotor of Reighland’s large helicopter. Its blades were still whirring, and speeding up, in anticipation of evacuating the tactical team.
“Not today, Sunshine,” Spalding muttered. He gently pressed on the trigger as the crosshairs rested over the shaft of the roaring blades, and his rifle recoiled.
The tail rotor sheared off, and the helicopter spun around once. Then, it tipped over, breaking all the blades on the main rotor, and slumped. The engines whined slowly down, and smoke came out of the aircraft as the pilots jumped out.
Red Leader and his Black Dog team came out of nowhere, their guns trained on the pilots, forcing them to surrender.
“That’s a wrap, Alpha Dog,” said Red Leader.
“Affirmative. Hold them until the police arrive. Any casualties?” said Captain Spalding.
“Not on our side, Sir,” said Red Leader.
David Spalding could hear the smile in Red Leader’s voice.
Billionaire Stepbrother - Addiction: The Complete Series Page 18
