Page 22 of Protected By West (San Antonio S.W.A.T. #1)

Weston put his hand on her shoulder. "You can't do everything."

"The fuck I can't." She lifted a brow at him that asked what he was going to do about her curse.

He sighed and reminded himself to tell her later he didn't care when they weren't on coms that were being recorded.

He didn't care if they all swore like sailors in the privacy of their homes or with family and close friends.

It's what happened in public or things that could go public that was the issue.

Com records could be released after a certain amount of time or depending on prosecution.

It wasn't about hiding anything. He knew that his team was good. Better than good.

But there were some things that could give them a kick in the teeth in the press.

As soon as Oxy reached the box near the top of the pole, he dug into the pole and did a good job of looking busy but aiming his scope at the windows at the back of the house.

Weston's gaze flickered to the rest of his team in the van when they heard Oxy's voice come through the com.

"There's a gap in the curtain, but it's dark in the room. Can't see more than just shapes."

Weston spoke next. "What about the other bedroom?"

They all heard a hum and watched as Oxy shifted position on the pole.

"That room is packed with junk. There's no way someone is in that room unless they're under those boxes."

Fox looked over at him. "Can we get the woman and her child out first? I'm willing to go in after that."

Myles stretched his legs. "I'm ready to go in now."

Duval reached out a hand and cuffed him across the back of his head. "Down, boy. The adults are talking."

Almost to prove Duval's point, Myles extended his arm and a middle finger.

"Do we have any information on his girlfriend?"

Weston held out his phone. "We have some pictures from social media of his girlfriend and her son."

Dally smiled. "Thank god for social media."

Blue took the phone from his hand and gave it to Jack.

She looked at the account. It was marked friends only, but someone must have gotten past that filter in the app.

Weston watched her as she went through the photos with the speed of someone who had been using them for years.

She looked back at him, smiling. "I think I can get the girlfriend to come out with her kid."

Weston had a feeling he wasn't going to like this. "How?"

She handed the phone to Blue and reached down under her chair for her bag.

Jack pulled out a smaller bag and handed it to Myles. "Take out the eye liner, lipstick, and the eye shadow palette."

Myles looked down into the bag, lifting one brow in confusion.

Jack didn't notice as she was busy taking off her Kevlar vest.

Myles was still going through the bag, shuffling through the things inside when Duval snatched it away.

"Geezus. Give it." Weston winced as he shoved his hand into the bag and rummaged around, wondering if he was going to break something in the bag earning some ire from Jack.

Instead, he withdrew his hand a few moments later when three things were in his large palm. Duval must have seen the looks thrown his way. He shrugged. "I've got a sister."

"Ah, right." Myles sat back against the bench seat along the wall of the van. "Sure."

Weston didn't mediate between the two.

It didn't matter who had what in their families.

They could hash that out later.

Jack set her vest down and unbuckled her utility belt. She gave Duval a look and a smile. "Thanks."

"It's girl stuff. Not a problem."

Reaching back to the nape of her neck, Jack pulled out the rubber band around the bottom of her braid. "Aww. Careful, someone might think you're a nice guy."

Duval's free hand came up with his middle finger extended.

"That's the man I want to kick in the a-... butt."

With her utility belt on her Kevlar vest, she shook out her hair and took the cosmetics from Duval.

Moments later she went from plain face to make up ready for a club.

"A little adjustment with my bra and I'm ready to go."

Weston knew enough not to ask what that meant and turned away when she reached for the hem of her T-shirt.

It was probably just seconds before he heard her laugh.

"Okay. Y'all can turn back. I didn't flash anyone. I may be a bouncer in a stripper bar, but I'm not the one performing."

Weston turned back and smiled at what he saw.

Jack did look like she was part of the group of women who appeared in Carly's social media posts.

Her T-shirt was already on the ground covering the rest of her gear.

She had on a dark tank that was tight enough that it looked like she might have trouble breathing. In her SWAT gear she looked to be bigger around her chest from all of the layers of gear and clothing. Now she had pulled her tank down to show more than a little cleavage.

She ran her fingers through her hair and let it fall around her shoulders.

"You can't go out like that."

Jack turned a baleful eye in Blue's direction. "I'm going to try to get her to the front door. I bet the kid comes with her. That'll get them out of the way."

"You don't have any of your gear."

Jack sucked in a breath. "I have a pistol at my back and one in my left boot."

Myles looked down at her feet, Weston did, too. She was wearing her uniform boots. Not exactly street wear.

"My other boot," she looked down at her right, "I have a knife.

The rest," she reached out and gave Blue a tap on his thigh just above his knee guards, "I have you guys for.

Besides," she turned, and Weston saw the decision in her eyes, "you wanted me for my skill breaching doors.

This," she gestured at herself, "is just another tool. "

Myles snickered and didn't bother to try and hide it.

"Children." Everyone heard Fox's comment through the com. "Let's get in position."

He pointed a finger at Myles.

"Don't."

Weston knew the tension in the air. This was something they'd trained for but that was it. Training.

This was when the rubber hit the asphalt.

"Teams."

He sat back and listened as everyone went through their instructions and how the plan was going to go down.

Sure, there was a chance it was all going to hell, but if he had to go through hell with a team, this would be his pick.

"Okay. Let's do this."

The van was parked around the corner from the house. Half of the group got out to take their places.

Fox moved the van along the street, falling behind an ancient olds with a muffler that was on its last legs. It would draw any attention to it.

Passing behind a large tree in the grass beside the sidewalk, Jack got out of the passenger seat, having switched with Weston.

She waited behind the tree as the van continued on. Weston watched through the side mirror. As soon as the van stopped at the end of the block, everyone got out.

Jack waited for his hand signal and then she started down the sidewalk, a sway in her step.

TRACY

They took their food back to the credit union and holed up in Tracy's office, closing the blinds on the big window that she had onto the main floor.

She sent off a text to Weston

TRACY: Hey... just checking in

TRACY: saw a news story and wondering if you're okay

Even as she stared at the screen on her phone, she had a feeling that she wasn't going to get a response any time soon.

Honestly, she didn't know what to think about that.