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Targets. More than one. “Are you sure you can’t give us more information now, sir? This sounds like a complicated op, and missions like those take weeks to prepare.”
“You don’t have weeks. At the most, you’ll have four hours. Make the time count, my friend. Dismissed.”
Seth stood. “Ready for dinner, sir?”
Teagan rose and went to open the door for Peters.
The small entourage made its way to the chow hall. As soon as they entered the large room, all conversation ceased.
Peters took it as a sign of respect for himself. Seth knew different. He and Teagan had seen the suspicious or hostile looks from people all over camp throughout the day as word spread about their confrontation with Jerry and his cronies.
“Carry on,” Peters said to the diners as though he was a benevolent dictator. “I’m proud of you all. We’re at the end of our preparations and soon will move on to the execution of phase one of the plan to take back our country from the fools running it. While you wait for the beginning of the conflict, eat and rest. In times of war, both are in short supply.”
His speech sent cold chills down Seth’s spine. He glanced at Teagan. While she had her game face on, her eyes showed the same alarm he felt. Peters was gearing up for war.
Once Peters sat at his table, conversations resumed on a more enthusiastic note. One of the waitresses hurried over with a tray loaded with food for Peters. Richardson soon joined him.
After filling their plates, Seth and Teagan joined their teammates.
“What was that?” Noah whispered.
“A call to war.” Seth scanned the occupants of the room. Peters’ speech revved most of them. Others, like Ryan, Ivan, and Colton, looked concerned or subdued.
They should be worried. If Peters thought he and Richardson would successfully take on the federal government, they were delusional. Worse, they would take down some good men and women with them.
An hour later, his team gathered in the living room of their quarters. “You heard the speech Peters gave in the chow hall. Reactions?”
“The guy is crazy,” Noah muttered.
The rest of the team nodded in agreement.
“Peters has big plans that might involve us,” Seth said. “At the end of our shift, he asked if our team will take a special assignment.”
Knight straightened. “What kind of assignment?”
“That’s the kicker. He wouldn’t give me details. He did, however, let slip that there were two targets involved in this secret mission.”
Bowen frowned. “We can’t be in two places at once.”
“Two options. He plans to split us up into two smaller teams or he has a second team available.”
“Second option,” Noah said. “Peters wanted our entire unit, remember? He said all or none. Why break up our unit when we work best together?”
Seth inclined his head in agreement with his friend’s assessment. “He singled Teagan out and asked if she agreed to be part of the mission.”
The men exchanged glances. Marsh’s hand fisted. “He could target Teagan because she’s beautiful.”
“Not only that,” Violet said. “He wants Teagan’s skill as a sharpshooter. When he talked to us at the coffee shop, he seemed impressed that she was a military-trained sniper.”
“He wants me to kill someone for him,” Teagan said flatly. “I’m not an assassin.”
“No one said you were, Teagan.” Violet squeezed her hand. “Like the rest of us, you’re a protector who kills if there’s no choice. The important thing is we know now that Peters is planning to assassinate at least one person and probably two.”
“We need to know the names of the targets so we can inform the feds,” Knight said. “It’s their job to protect the targets.”
“If they can mobilize fast enough.” Seth rubbed the tight muscles at the side of his neck. “Peters said he’ll tell us the target four hours before we execute the mission.”
Bowen stared. “Are you serious? Four hours to come up with a plan and get ourselves into place? That has disaster written all over it in big bold letters.”