Luke checked the coordinates on the monitors. Everyone seemed to be in place. Samuel and his team had commandeered a yacht large enough to carry 50 men and all of the equipment. He landed on the coast of Benin an hour ahead of schedule. Luke wondered how in the hell he’d done that but did not ask.
“Adam, give us a quick overview of the equipment we are wearing,” Luke sat outside his location with his team.
“The one piece under suit will prevent any weaponry from reaching vital organs. It’s an extra layer of protection. The glasses are the newest version of night vision goggles. Once the satellite takes out the electrical system, they will automatically adjust to the darkness. Luke, I can see what you see.”
“Good,” Luke nodded as his earbud crackled.
“Hurricane on the coast.”
“Affirmative,” Luke replied.
That was not Samuel’s voice, but Luke did not question that either.
“Hurricane in place,” Luke announced to the team.
“Copy that,” Adam replied.
“Absolute is potent.” Joshua advised he had landed his chopper in a wooded area a mile to the west of the border of Nigeria. His team of 50 men had surrounded the second compound.
“Affirmative” Luke replied.
“Copy that,” Adam replied.
Monique and her team had landed to the east of Benin. They had the third compound secured. That one he understood. CUTS had a facility in that area. With that access, Monique and her team would be able to take out that facility within minutes once he gave the go ahead.
“Spicy is the way of life.”
“Affirmative,” Luke replied.
“Copy that,” Adam replied.
Sly and his team were coming in from the north from the wooded area. They had to infiltrate one of Koboo’s underground routes.
“Fox is in the hole.” Sly verified.
“Affirmative,” Luke replied.
“Copy that.” Adam confirmed.
Luke muted the channel. “Adam is satellite disruption in place?”
“Ready to proceed,” Ned replied. “He is waiting on your command.”
Luke nodded then turned to his team. “Activate protection gear. In and out people, in and out. Leave no man behind.”
Slay, Tank and Leo nodded.
The tattoo on Luke’s back seemed to vibrate as he remembered the kisses Sasha had placed there. He made plans to place her name on his chest right above his heart when he returned. Luke then cleared his mind of all things except the mission.
The underground system at the Koboo compound was not as sophisticated as his CUTS. It was clean, easy to move through and had enough exit points to confuse anyone who did not have a map for directions. But Luke understood transportation systems. He studied the map Sasha had uncovered and knew which tunnels led to dead ends. The only tricky part for him was using some of the devices Adam had given him.
Luke and his team exited the van they had parked a mile from the entrance to the tunnel under Koboo’s location. Upon arriving they watched the guards outside the entrance. The two guards appeared to be men sitting by a tree talking. It was clear they expected nothing. Their weapons were on the ground as the two talked.
Tank took them out using one arrow that penetrated both bodies. The men fell to the ground.
“Retrieve your weapon.” Luke ordered.
Tank pulled the arrow from the men, as she kicked them aside.
Luke placed a device on the tree. A red light appeared. A few seconds later it turned green. The entrance to the tunnel opened. Luke waited to listen for any movement. When there was none, he nodded to Slay.
Slay climbed down the steps then silently jumped to the floor. As expected, there was a man stationed at the entry point. She pulled a dart blowpipe from her pocket and blew. The man in the tunnel fell to the ground. She looked around then motioned for everyone to enter.
“This shit really works. He looked right at me, and saw nothing.” Slay stated.
“Adam’s new invention is working,” Luke acknowledged as he jumped down. He flinched a little from a pinch in his knee.
Tank flanked Luke as Slay took the lead.
Once Luke was certain no other men were in the area, he gave Slay the nod to proceed.
“Turn left at the second tunnel,” Luke ordered.
They all proceeded cautiously. Luke stopped a quarter of a mile in. There were steps leading up. He pulled another device Adam had given him then ran it over the steps. A green light appeared. “Okay, this is the entrance point that leads to the cellar. We need eyes here.” Luke pulled a tube from his pocket. He loosened the top. “Pull this off and blow when I give the signal.”
Leo nodded then walked up the three steps to the entrance.
“All right people this is where it gets dicey.” Luke looked at his team.
“Adam, cut the feed on three.” Luke ordered. “1-2-3.”
Three explosions rocked the country as Leo slowly cracked the door to the entrance and blew through the tube. The lights in the compound went off.
They could hear voices and people scrambling around. They all rushed through the entrance with weapons ready.
“Feed coming through,” Luke heard Adam’s voice. “She is upstairs in the room at the far end of the hallway. She is not alone. Two men have flanked the door and two are inside.”
Luke and his team made their way upstairs with little interference, until they reached the landing.
Slay took out the first man with a knife in the throat. Tank shot the other with an arrow. She pulled it from the man as she stepped over him.
Slay and Tank took up the battle as men raced their way.
Luke stepped back allowing Leo to kick the door in. The moment the door was down Luke blew a dart taking one man down, but two more men appeared with guns drawn on him and Leo.
“We have eyes on you,” Adam’s low voice came through the earwig. “Satellite weapon system activated.” Luke knew in that moment everyone in that room was going to die.
“Do come inside.” Aja Koboo’s accented voice filled the room. “I must say we were not expecting you.”
Luke watched as her eyes narrowed. “That was your first mistake.” He said.
“Oh, I think it is you who made the mistake. Luke Lassiter.” She grinned. “You are surprised I know who you are.” She walked over to stand in front of him. “I have studied every face in your family. I have seen each of you in person on the streets of America. Inside your grocery stores while shopping. Even at the nurseries where your babies sleep. I know each of you. One must know their enemies.”
“As I know mine,” Luke braced his stance for what he knew was coming.
“I am surprised you are the one who is here. Was your brother Samuel too cowardly to face the consequences of his actions?”
Luke smirked. “Believe me when I tell you, if Samuel was here, you would be dead already.”
“I would have killed for my family just as you would for yours.” She replied with a smug look. “You Americans are so arrogant. Here I can take your life with a snap of my fingers. Yet you dare to challenge me.” She snapped her fingers. “Take him. I think young Luke here needs a demonstration.”
Two of her men came at him. Luke would have laughed if he had not been so pissed. Luke flipped two stars that were lodged in the cuff of his jacket. They landed in the center of the head of both guards. His next aim was for Koboo. When he turned to pull another star from his waist, he heard the shot ring out. Sensing danger, Luke jerked a little too fast and felt the pain in his knee. To his surprise, they were all safer than any of them expected. Samuel and Joshua stood in the doorway. The look in Samuel’s eyes was something Luke had never seen before. He looked to where Koboo’s body still stood. Her eyes shocked from the impact of the bullet in the center of her forehead. From her look, it did not register that she was dead.
Joshua pulled Luke and Leo out of the room. Samuel stepped inside spraying the entire room in bullets. Before he stopped, the outer walls to the room were gone. The floor was covered with the blood of the men he had shot. The body of Aja Koboo was still in its state of shock. Samuel fired another shot, center mass directly into her heart Aja Kobe’s body fell backwards into the hole Samuel had created in the room. Joshua pulled a button from his coat threw it inside the room then closed the door that was barely on its hinges.
“We have 3 minutes to get out,” Luke spoke into the earwig. “Advise all team members to clear the building.”
They exited the compound the way they entered with a minute left to spare. When they reached the surface, Luke smiled as he looked at his brothers. “You brought the chopper.”
Samuel nodded. “I need to see this compound and everyone inside obliterated.”
They all climbed inside. The pilot took off for the coastline. A minute later the house exploded. Seconds later the area where the underground tunnels once were, was now a gaping hole.
Luke touched his earbud. “Precision, Adam, precision.”
“Give me the right longitude and latitude and the satellites will hit the target every time.”
“Copy that,” Luke nodded. He looked at Samuel. “Are you satisfied, now?”
“I’m getting there,” Samuel replied.
“Well, I had a damn good time,” Joshua declared.
“You usually do when things are blowing up around you,” Luke replied.
“All sites are now craters,” Slay turned to Luke to announce. “We are good to go home.”
Luke smiled. Then nodded to her, Tank and Leo. “Mission complete.”
Slay nodded, “Mission complete.”
“Man, this was the best adventure I’ve ever had. When are we doing it again?” Tank asked.
They all turned to look at her.
Slay shook her head. “There is something seriously wrong with her.”
For the first time in a long while, laughter from inside of Luke, erupted. Soon, Joshua and Samuel joined in. That was a sound Luke would cherish for the rest of his life.
Less than eight hours later, Luke, Joshua and Samuel walked into the bunker. The mission was successful, the family was safe and an international incident had been avoided.
“Nice execution, Luke,” Samuel praised. “You brought my child home within hours of her being taken. You are now her new hero.”
Luke glanced at Joshua. “My bad, man.”
“Temporary setback,” Joshua shrugged. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I won’t Joshua,” Luke laughed.
“The execution of the operation was flawless.” Samuel patted Luke on his back, then looked at Adam. “You may have some competition.”
Adam smiled. “I knew you could handle it, Luke. You did good. You are the man of the hour.”
“Or not!” Sasha hissed.
They all looked up to see a seething Sasha as if she was ready for battle.
“Hey…” Luke started toward her.
“Don’t hey me,” she whirled back at him a little upset. “You said this would only be a short mission.” She stepped to him pointing her finger in his chest. “You promised me a Luke-A-Thon when this was all over with. If you hurt that leg or any other part of your body needed to carry out that promise, I’m telling Sally.” She turned and walked off. “I’m going to the room. Don’t keep me waiting.”
Matt, Adam, Samuel and Joshua circled Luke with raised eyebrows.
“She was just worried,” Luke attempted to explain.
“Seems like she is a little pissed.” Joshua suggested.
“A little?” Adam questioned.
“She seems to be a Lassiter already, threatening to tell Sally,” Samuel stated.
“Forget that,” Matt stared at Luke. “I want to know what in the hell is a Luke-A-Thon?”