BooksBarbecue
Back The Neighborhood
Chapters (59)
  1. Part I Reconnaissance
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Part II Incursion
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Part III Under Siege
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Part IV Course Correction
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Part V Balance of Power
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. Chapter Twenty-Six
  32. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  35. Part VI Spy versus Spy
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Part VII Winds of War and Flame
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Part VIII Strong to the Finish
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Part IX Spy Games
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Part X What Goes Around
  57. Chapter Forty-Seven
  58. Chapter Forty-Eight
  59. About the Author

All three were silent as they pondered the question, and Zack finally broke the quiet, as they knew he would. “Honestly, I don’t care. As far as I’m concerned, when we get back, I’m out. Today was the day I told myself that if it ever came, I would walk away with my soul intact. I will not become like Griffin, no matter what. We all did the right thing—the only dead guys today were the ones who took a job to protect a very bad actor. They knew the risks when they signed up. That was their job. We just did ours better. But most importantly, Belyakov’s wife and kids and Moretti’s girlfriend got to walk away. We did that, and no matter what happens, that’s the only thing that matters to me,” he finished with such intensity that the words hung in the air, as if affirming the righteousness of their deeds.

“Such a knight in tan-colored Kevlar armor, you are,” Charles said jokingly, but then added in a serious, respectful tone, “and I’ll definitely miss you, brother, because like you said, after today, we’re done.”

“Truth,” Noah said, and raised his coffee mug.

Charles and Zack clinked their mugs to his, and Zack said, “It’s been an honor.”

“It has,” Charles said.

The men sipped their coffee as the caffeine worked its way through their systems. “All right, boys. I’m going to go have a chat with Belyakov, and then I’m going to clean up, shave, and rack out in a luxurious stateroom the size of my closet.”

Their HK416s and Glocks had been stored in the ship’s armory, and the cleanup team had brought their duffel bags of clothing and gear from the farmhouse to the ship. The SUVs were cleaned and would be traced back to a low-level prince in Saudi Arabia, which they knew would only add to the confusion and further contradict the forensic evidence on the EFPs of Iranian origin. The entire world knew Saudi Arabia and Iran would never be allies, no matter what the circumstances. As far as the Republic of Malta was concerned, there was no trace that anyone on their team had been there. They were ghosts, which was something the CIA was actually good at creating.

Zack stood up. “Gentlemen,” he said, and nodded, turned away, and then looked quickly back. “Except for you, Noah. You’re from Texas.”

Charles laughed, and Noah shot Zack a hurtful look. “Asshole.”

“Always. See you cowboys in a bit.”

“You got it, boss,” Charles said reflexively, recognizing the unspoken fact that they considered Zack to be their true team leader.