Ice's Icing Read online

  “With Bullard’s and my contact’s men, we have a lot of men on the ground as backup,” Ice said suddenly.

  “And we could need every last one of them, but hopefully they’ll stay in the background, making sure we aren’t being ambushed from behind.”

  Ice nodded. She was on her phone, sending messages back and forth to the office. She smiled and said, “I think the girls are planning something.”

  “Of course they are. Probably their own weddings.” There was a snap to Levi’s voice.

  She ignored him. “Maybe, that’d be nice. If they got married first,” she said, “we could see how they do it.”

  “Ha,” he said. “I already saw Badger’s wedding.”

  She lifted her head, gazed at him and said, “That was something, wasn’t it?”

  His gaze softened as he nodded gently. “I’m so surprised they managed to pull it off. I’ve never seen seven more dumbfounded men in my life.”

  “Or seven more absolutely thrilled men,” she said quietly. “Those seven partnerships came together under some of the worst circumstances, and yet they’ve made the best of it. And, matter of fact, they’ve done way more than that. Kat’s business is thriving. Her newest and best designs are unbelievable. Stone’s constantly raving about them.”

  “He spends a fortune on his hardware,” Levi said, chuckling.

  “I know, but he loves it, so it’s good for him.”

  “He also prefers to be back home these days, doesn’t he?”

  A smile played around her lips. “He loves technology and being the eyes in the sky, and running the command center is like being a god of his own universe. But you know as well as I do that, if you even made a suggestion that he didn’t want to go in the field anymore, he’d punch you out for it.”

  Levi grinned. “That’s the truth. The thing is, there’s nobody I would rather have running command than him. He can handle all kinds of magic at once. He’s saved our backs many, many times. I want him watching our backs this time too.”

  “Which is why I’m here”—their headsets crackled—“but nice to know you guys love me.”

  Ice laughed out loud. “Is everybody else asleep?”

  “I doubt it,” Stone said. “Bailey’s been up baking. Whenever she gets worried, she gets up early in the morning and bakes.”

  “There are worse things to do,” Ice said. “Besides, I don’t think anybody’ll argue with fresh bread when they get up in the morning.”

  “I think she’s making beignets,” Stone said. “The smell is killing me.”

  Levi looked at Ice in horror. She started to laugh. “And what do you want to bet Bailey tells Levi too damn bad? That he should be home where he belongs, so he could have some himself.”

  Stone started laughing. “Bailey is a mother hen. She wants everybody home where they belong.”

  “If we had a way to make that happen, we would,” Levi said. “But, when the war comes home, you need to put that fire out pretty damn fast.”

  “That’s what we’re doing,” Stone said calmly. “We haven’t had a devastating injury or a fatality yet. We’re not starting today.”

  Levi and Ice looked at each other and smiled. Because Stone was right. They’d run a tight ship and an efficient ship, and, so far, it had all worked. They were trying not to expand anymore, but the world had gone to hell in a handbasket, and, every time they got up, a new problem popped up somewhere that somebody had to solve. They rescued kidnap victims, took out terrorists, reclaimed hijacked ships, upended blackmailers … It was unbelievable. Recently they’d been involved in several groups trying to topple the Argentinean government.

  That had to be partly what this was all about. Governments came and went, almost on an annual basis in some of these countries. Not that Guatemala was in the same boat, but Ice had been involved as too many African countries rose and fell, depending on the boss man at the time.

  Just then the pilot called out, “Descending in twenty.”

  She looked at Levi, but he had closed his eyes and was settling in to get a ten-minute power nap. She knew she needed to do the same, but she was too keyed up. This was a big job because it was all about saving their own asses—and about sending a message. The world needed to know that, if anybody came back to their compound, they would get their asses kicked. She glanced over at the prisoners. Just having captured them wasn’t enough. Right now, absolutely no sign of life came from any of them. She’d checked their pulses as they had been moved onto the plane, and they were all just sleeping. Perfect. She closed her eyes and rested.

  *

  Levi was first off the plane, and he had one of the unconscious prisoners over his shoulder. Two huge panel trucks waited for them. He dumped the man in the back of the closest truck and went back for another one, while his team did the same. When the prisoners were all loaded, Levi gave the signal, and his team then loaded up in the trucks and pulled out. Two trucks on the go, heading to a different airport and a different type of bird.

  This would be Ice’s domain. He’d picked up a favor from the Argentinean government—one of their big Tomahawk helicopters. They’d help him out now, but they’d come calling for a return favor someday. Still, Levi needed this machine now, so he’d pay the price later. Besides, Ice was perfectly capable of flying it and was actually looking forward to it.

  But Levi wasn’t looking forward to anything else about this job. It all felt wrong, as if they would have the entire compound wiped out while they were away. That thought just wouldn’t leave him alone. He hit his communicator and said, “Stone, make sure everything’s locked down, and you keep an eye out.”

  “We’re on it, boss,” he said, strong and steady. “I know you’re thinking we’ll get attacked on this end, while you’re out there. And it’s possible, but we have more men coming in.”

  “There’s a big gap between men coming in and men being there,” Levi snapped.

  “I know,” Stone said. “Don’t you worry. We’re on it.”

  And with that, Levi had to be content.

  Still didn’t sit right.

  Chapter 6

  Ice sat in the pilot’s seat. Her roaming hands went over the controls of the Tomahawk, absolutely loving to be back in a helicopter this size. She flew her own birds on a regular basis, but this was like flying a Lamborghini of the skies.

  With Levi at her side and the rest of the men—good guys and bad—locked in, she started up the rotors and let everybody know they would be airborne in two minutes. She lifted the bird quietly and smoothly into the air and grinned. She glanced at Levi and said, “If you want to get me a wedding gift …”

  He snorted. “This thing is probably worth four million dollars.”

  “Yeah, it probably is,” she said. “Actually it’s probably worth ten times that.” She tilted it slightly and headed toward their destination. “Are our guys attaching parachutes to the unconscious men?”

  “Everybody else is taking care of business. You keep your eyes on the sky.”

  “I’m flying on point,” she said, chuckling, as she checked out her dash. “Four missiles locked and loaded?”

  “Yes, according to the instructions that we were given.”

  “Good,” she said. She studied the dash and pointed out, “They’ve changed the controls for the release. Interesting. It comes with full weaponry though.” She rubbed her hands together gleefully.

  “Could you keep your hands on the sticks, please?”

  She laughed out loud. “I feel like a two-year-old in a candy shop.” She could feel the power of this machine surging through her. She’d never been more content than when she was flying—unless when in Levi’s arms. But then, that was a different kind of flying too.

  Tonight she soared through the darkness, loving the opportunity to do this. “No matter what happens,” she said, “thank you for this.”

  “If anything happens,” he said, “you damn well better make sure I’m with you, because if you leave me …” He stopped, his voice breaking.

  She glanced at him, worried. This was not like him. “Hey, I’m not planning on doing anything but going home healthy and happy, with you and the team.”

  “So you say,” Levi said, “but this has all the earmarks of a bad job.”

  “It has all the earmarks of a job we have absolutely no choice about,” she said. “They came to us. Remember that.”

  “I’m not likely to forget.” He checked the navigation equipment. “We’re less than twenty-five minutes out.”

  “Exactly,” she said.

  Just then Levi’s comm crackled, and Stone’s voice sounded in his ear. “Ten men in position on the ground.”

  “We’re a little over twenty minutes out,” Levi said.

  “Perfect,” Stone said.

  “Looks like the ten men your contact promised showed up,” Levi said to Ice.

  “Any sign of Bullard?” Ice asked.

  “He said he’d get here if he could,” Levi said. “But he was having trouble getting over from Africa so could be delayed.”

  “He’ll be here if he can,” she said.

  “Maybe,” Levi said. “I hope we don’t need him.”

  “I hope not,” she said, “but when we have a small army ahead of us …”

  “I know. The last intel we had was Juan had more than sixty of his own men, but we still have no idea how many are on the compound.”

  “Sixty is a lot,” Ice said with a heavy sigh. A few more moments passed in silence, and she said, “Fifteen minutes out.”

  The energy was calm and quiet. Everyone knew what this job was all about. She glanced at Levi. “How are the unconscious men?”

  He twisted and looked behind to see them all packed and ready to go. “They’re ready.”

  “Good,” she said. “I figure we’ll open the hatch and dump them in fifteen, right before your jumps.”

  He sent the message to the men in the back, relaying her time frame.

  She felt the controls respond with an almost intuitive kickback of what she would do before she did it. It lifted and soared and responded instantly. She shook her head in wonder. “This is magical.”

  “It might be,” Levi said. “You’re still not getting one.”

  “Too bad the guy we are taking out doesn’t have one,” she said. “I’d like that for spoils of war.”

  “We have to return this one, remember?”

  She nodded. “Unfortunately. It would still be a great way to get a new bird,” she said, sending him a sly look.

  “Only if it’s offered.”

  She groaned. “Like that’ll happen. You know as well as I do that the Argentinean government won’t let go of something like this.”

  “I don’t think this Juan character has one of these anyway,” Levi said. “This is cutting edge.”

  “Depends how much money he’s throwing around. We’ve seen billionaires with yachts they couldn’t even be bothered to go out on more than once a year.”

  “If Bullard arrives, he can fly too.”

  “That he can,” Ice said, brightening. “Of course I might have to fight him for the Tomahawk. He won’t want to give it back.”

  Levi chuckled. “You’ll definitely have to fight him, but he has a soft spot for you, so he’ll let you win.”

  “As long as he doesn’t steal one we have to return. Bullard’s got that edge—you never quite know if he’ll walk down the right side of the law or the wrong side.”

  “Isn’t that the truth,” Levi said with a heavy sigh. “It’s a good thing we know him so well.”

  “It is at that.” She called out, “Seven minutes.”

  Action ensued in the back of the helicopter. Doors were opened, unconscious men were shifted. Ice could feel the weight affecting the flight. She eased up the balance a bit, her hands light on the controls. “Five minutes,” she called out.

  Soon she figured they were where they needed to be—flying over one of the huge expanses of perfectly groomed lawn of the great big compound down below. Even in the darkness, she could tell the difference. Huge lights lit the night.

  She called out. “Now.” And hovered to give her crew time to push out the twelve unconscious men.

  And one by one, the men were tossed out, their parachutes pulled on the way down. She watched in her windows and mirrors as the men soared to the bottom slopes, their parachutes opening, the bodies floating gently downward. She did a complete circle and came upon their rendezvous spot.

  As she lowered the bird, she knew the sound of the Tomahawk would wake people in the compound. As soon as she was low enough, the men jumped out. A vehicle waited for them, but she was staying with the bird. She looked over at Levi and ordered him, “Get your ass back here fast.”

  He reached over, kissed her hard and disappeared.

  *

  Levi bolted to the left, where his four men waited, then joined with the ten men on backup duty. The group split up, not a sound made as he raced toward the back corner, one of the weakest of the compound. Some of these people didn’t think about engineering or about protective angles. Levi was all about the engineering. This corner had a small rise behind it that would allow him to climb over the wall much faster than it would anywhere else. He had his grappling hooks out as he took that wall on a flying leap, a jump that only gave him about twelve feet to go, and his other men were already up, over and latched on as he followed their movements. He was up and over within seconds.

  He could hear a gasp from one of the other team members, who hadn’t even considered this option. Not his team. His team would have known ahead of time. His men were coming down right beside him. They spread out. He had four men with him and the other ten as backups, to remain on the compound grounds, but Levi only needed his four. With him that was five, with Ice was six. He knew that, although she was standing guard at the helicopter because they needed it to get out, she was fully armed and ready. She had also landed so the helicopter and its missiles were pointed at the compound, and, if anybody thought she would hesitate to use them, they were wrong. She was deadly when it came to protecting her own.

  The darkness swarmed eerily around him. There were no dogs, and Levi wondered about that. Why? Why no advanced warning system, like an animal? He had pet dogs—they were hardly security dogs yet, although they would be eventually, so maybe it was the same thing here.

  Levi’s compound had dogs because they had Anna, and she was forever bringing over puppies. It was deadly at his place; roly-polys were everywhere. And yet Levi was one of the first to open his arms and to hug and cuddle each and every one of them. He was expecting dogs here for some reason. They were common in Mexico.

  He slipped over to the first door and tested it, but it was locked. It was also a door he didn’t understand—it had some sort of mechanical lock. He motioned to Rhodes.

  Rhodes stepped up. He had a small bit of C-4 he put over the lock and blew it apart. It was just a quiet little poof, but the door fell open.

  Levi took Rhodes with him. The other three were headed to different doors.

  This one revealed only a long hallway. They closed the door behind them to minimize the light. Levi waited for a long moment, but there wasn’t a sound. No voices. No dogs. No security alarms. Nothing. He frowned at that.

  His intel said the leader was in residence, but sometimes the intel came just before the men moved. He could hope not, but no way to tell until they did a full sweep. They moved rapidly down the hallway, using night scopes and goggles, checking out everything that moved—and, so far, nothing had.

  They swept the first floor and then moved up to the next. Levi tapped his comm three times to let Stone and Ice know they were in and, so far, nothing.

  He knew Ice would have her own drone checking out the sky. He kept on moving up and up and up.

  When they hit the third floor and still found nothing, he caught the puzzled look from Rhodes. The rest of his men joined him.

  Up ahead were two big arched doors. He motioned at his men. Two would enter, one high and one low; two would come in right behind them, and he’d take center point. As they went to open the door, it burst open, and four men came racing out, heavily armed and speaking a language nobody understood. They charged into Levi’s group.

  Levi took out the first one with a hard punch on the jaw that dropped him. He removed the guy’s weapon and looked over to see the other armed men were down as well, without firing one shot. They quickly dragged their bodies out of the way and waited.

  Gunfire soon splattered the doorway.

  Levi, Rhodes, Merk, Dakota, and Brandon flattened against the wall and waited. It was silent for a moment, and then they heard harsh voices. Somebody was calling over an intercom—Levi could hear it coming from a radio on a man on the ground beside him. He reached down, picked up the device and stomped on it. There was a cry, as if that sound had burst back into someone’s ear.

  Levi gave a hard smile. It was now a game of cat and mouse, but not another sound was heard. Rhodes looked over at him with a question in his eyes. Levi shifted ever-so-slightly so he could look down the hallway and into the room. No sign of anyone. He crept up to the open doorway and peered around the corner.

  Ice’s voice on his intercom told him, “They hit the roof. They’ve exited the room and have gone up.”

  Levi swore and said, “Let’s check out the room, guys, but they’ve gone up.”

  They did a search and realized a staircase led to the rooftop with no angle for them to see.