Page 34 of Zane

“No buts,” he said firmly.“I told you when you offered to help you would follow my orders or leave.Now, leave.”She stared up at him and shook her head.

“You’re like the rest.You get what you want and you throw a woman aside.I thought we were friends.I thought…”

“You thought what?I’m a United States Army Ranger doing my job, Bianca.That’s all.”He could see the flash of hurt and surprise in her face.The pain was emphasized in those doe-like eyes and it nearly made his exterior crack.

“Of course.My mistake,” she whispered.“Good luck, Cooper.”

He watched her walk away and everything in his gut told him that he should run after her, hold her and tell her that he was crazy about her.He was proud of her strength and spirit, her resilience in the face of all this evil.But he couldn’t, he just couldn’t.

Turning, he returned to his men who were all staring at him.

“What?”

“She cared for you, brother.You didn’t have to treat her like that,” said one of the men.

“She’s an informant.That’s all,” he said coldly.

“Coop, you can fool yourself man, but you’re not fooling us.You two have grown close.”He held up his hands as Coop started to speak and shook his head.“I’m not saying anything has happened between the two of you.You’d be in a better fucking mood if it had.I’m just saying she’s been valuable and faithful to us.”

“She’s an innocent and needed to leave.”

“So, you were worried about her?” said another man.

“Yes.No!”He frowned at them shaking his head.“We have a job to do.You three set the charges at the river.I’ll set the charges on the roof.You won’t see me, but I’ll be there.”

“Another family secret weapon?” smirked one of the men.

“Something like that.”

It was 0210 and they had just a few hours to make it happen.When the signals were given that the river was set to blow, only a few moments later Coop appeared before the team giving the thumbs up on the charges on the roof.

As if mother nature was on their side, the skies opened and a deluge that would make the bayou proud descended upon them.

With his hand in the air, Coop counted backwards, his hand on the detonators for the roof, his teammate holding the one for the river.

“Five, four, three, two…”The sound of one was drowned out by the deafening explosion that time itself perfectly to myriad of thunder and lightening filling the sky.He smiled to himself, silently thanking Mama Irene and Matthew.

He’d done it often in his time in service.Things that appeared that shouldn’t have when he needed them.Ways that opened when all others were closed.He knew it was them and he was grateful for them all.

Because of the sounds of the storm, Marco’s men were slow to react to the explosions.By the time they had, water was pouring into the drug filled warehouse from the skies, and up through the tunnels below.

It was like watching ants scramble to save themselves.They knew that Marco would blame them.Either way, they were dead men.

Coop watched the men scatter as the bricks of drugs floated in water, some of it escaping the warehouse.In the distance, the Camelot that Rodriguez had built for himself was slowly illuminating, help rushing toward the sounds of chaos.

Taking out the phone most important to him, he hit the call button.

“The warehouse is gone.The rest is up to you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Will I get a weapon?” asked Blake staring at Trak, Gaspar, and Luke.

“Do you know how to use one?” asked Luke.

“I’ve used a knife, or I guess a scalpel really, when operating on animals.I never used a blade to harm anyone but I think I can figure that out.”Luke nodded at Trak who handed her a small blade inside a leather holder.She opened her belt and slide the leather holder through, securing it to her waist.

“At no time will you be without us,” said Gaspar.“You will follow our orders, do as we say, and never, ever stand in front of us.”