“He’s sneaky and easy to miss,” Kade blurted, then wished he could take the words back. He was feeling sorry for the hobbit? He must be going soft. But now they were all looking at him, including Mannie, whose hopeful look on his face made Kade wince. “We don’t know what’s in there. Mannie can sneak in and report back so we’re not walking in blind. He’s not useless.”
Now Mannie was practically glowing, looking at Kade like they were buddies or something. That shit wasn’t going to fly.
“You know, for Yoda.”
That did the trick. Mannie’s expression turned into a glower as he stared at Kade.
“Okay, well, let’s get loaded up then,” Bill said. “No time like the present.”
They outfitted themselves as well as Blane and Kade with bulletproof vests. The smallest one they had was still too big for Mannie, who tossed it aside in disgust.
“You know how to shoot?” Kade asked him as he loaded the extra magazines and shoved them into the pockets of his jeans.
“I’ve never even held a gun,” Mannie admitted, looking sheepish.
“Then today’s not the day you’re going to start,” Kade said. He’d likely end up accidentally shooting himself or one of them.
While Blane was talking with his buddies, Kade sidled over to Terrance. He was still cleaning weapons, but was keeping an eye on the guys, too.
“Ten grand if you want to tag along in a just-in-case capacity,” Kade offered in a low voice.
“In case what?” Terrance asked.
“In case I want to blow shit up.”
Terrance studied him. “Twenty, and I bring the C4.”
“Fifteen, grenades, and C4 on a timer only,” Kade countered.
“I get to drive.”
“Done.”
Terrance flashed white teeth in a grin. “I don’t take checks.”
“I’ll transfer half to you electronically,” Kade said. “You’ll get the other half after. Sound fair?”
“If you screw me, you won’t live to tell the tale,” Terrance said, still smiling.
“Ditto.”
Terrance clasped Kade’s hand in a grip rather than a traditional shake. “I think you and me are gonna get along just fine,” he said.
“Saddle up then, Terrance,” Kade replied.
They had no choice but to leave Mannie’s crappy Scion behind. They all wouldn’t fit. Piling into a black Hummer, Kade sighed as he was able to stretch his legs.
“This car is too big. It’s a gas guzzler. And it’s bad for the environment,” Mannie complained.
“And those are just the side benefits,” Kade said. “Its main draw is irritating the shit out of people like you who drive crappy cars that crumple like a paper plate if someone so much as sneezes on it.”
All five men were armed to the teeth as they headed back into the city proper. Kade drove while Blane road shotgun. Mannie was pissy about being relegated to the very back row.
They parked a block away from the building, splitting up into two groups and communicating via walkie talkie as one approached from the rear and one from the front. Kade and Blane took the rear while Bill and Tom took the front. Terrance remained at the perimeter on backup.
“How much you paying him?” Blane asked.
“Enough.”
“I don’t trust mercenaries.”
“I don’t trust the buddy system,” Kade replied.
Their eyes met and Kade saw what he always saw in Blane’s gaze when he looked at him: understanding edged with pity. It bothered him. Always had and probably always would. Kade despised anyone pitying him. But Blane knew all the sordid details of Kade’s past and exactly the man he was now—and he loved him in spite of it. It had always amazed Kade, and he was too grateful for his big brother’s unconditional acceptance to let a bit of pity get to him.
Kade hitched the pack he carried higher on his back. It was loaded with everything Bill thought they might need and weighed about forty pounds. He had no idea how Blane had done what he had in the Navy. He’d carried packs this big and heavier, along with body armor, weapons, and all kinds of shit—all in over a hundred degree desert while being shot at.
He mentally shook his head. Admiration and pride. He was proud of his brother. Idolized him, though God forbid if Blane ever realized that. Kade would never hear the end of it. But if something went bad tonight, he’d would make sure Blane made it out before anyone else, including himself.
The rear of the building was dark, though the business hours on the front glass proclaimed them to be open. No cars sat in the parking lot and for all intents and purposes, the place looked deserted.
“Watch my six,” Blane hissed quietly to Kade, then moved past him to take the lead.
Kade muttered a curse, but could do nothing but follow. He didn’t want Blane going first, but fighting about it in the empty back lot was a bad idea.
Blane moved silently from one covered position to another until he stood next to the door that emptied from the rear into the lot. Kade joined him a moment later and spoke, his gaze still scanning the shadows for any threat.
“Don’t use that military shit with me,” Kade whispered.
Blane glanced at him. “Please tell me you know what ‘watch my six’ means. If not, you need to see more movies.”
“Yes, I know what it fucking means,” Kade retorted.