Vengeance: The Program Book 4

by N. M. Catalano

  I might be alone back here, but I’m most certainly not by myself. Even though we haven’t communicated since we separated in the woods, I know exactly where Rock, Snake, and Gringo are. We are fucking wired together, our brains are programmed on the same circuitry, we are one unit. One fucking being.

  Thirty more seconds then we move.

  My body is charged and my mind is clear. This is what we were trained for, this is what we do.

  This time it’s personal. This time it’s for us.

  My watch vibrates on my wrist signaling it’s go time.

  Automatically my body goes into position and advances toward the target. My mind is already moving through the building before I actually arrive, calculating any possible obstacles I might encounter. And overcoming them. The blueprints flash through my mind pinpointing the locations where we will be planting the explosives for the greatest impact, ensuring the desired outcome.

  One goal. BOOM motherfuckers.

  I’m five feet from the exterior wall. I glance at my watch. Five seconds until we enter. I scan the area, ascertaining there is no one in the vicinity. My watch vibrates again. The coast is clear, I’m free to enter.

  The fucking window I’m meant to climb through barely allows for my big ass body to squeeze through.

  I should have switched, I grumble.

  Everything went like clockwork before, we weren’t changing a damn thing.

  Leaning through the window, there isn’t enough room for both me and my pack to get through, so I lower it to the floor, then follow. Landing with a soft thud, I remain crouched until I’m sure it’s all clear and I can continue. With the night vision goggles securely in place again, I check to see if they’ve expanded things to this portion of the building. It doesn’t seem that way. Most all of what’s happening branches out from the center, the hub. The rest of the building remains mostly untouched and abandoned. The windows are still broken and it looks like a crack house. One thing I do notice is there are multiple footprints in the dirt and dust on the floor.

  They did some investigating.

  I glance up. A security camera is staring at me, there’s the little glowing dot. Fuck! That wasn’t there the last time. Yes, there had been some in place on our last visit, but they’d been closer to the center where the merchandise was. I’d bet my ass they’ve got them outside as well and saw us coming. If they didn’t, then they’re fucking stupid. Not likely, not with this much shit and the potential net worth of this operation. If they get this place up and running at full tilt, it would bring in millions.

  No one’s laying down on the job for that.

  I take off running.

  We don’t have time to sightsee.

  “We’ve got to get in and out of here STAT!” I press the communication device at my ear and yell into the microphone.

  We no longer have to worry about getting picked up by radio, they’ve got to know we’re here.

  “I saw the eyes,” comes Rock’s winded voice. He’s hauling ass too.

  “Ditto,” comes Gringo’s growl.

  “I’m moving in,” Snake rasps. His location was just at the tree line with his rifle pointed at the front. Snake’s the best goddamn sharpshooter. Ever.

  Going in, it was almost a given that we were going to take out the guard we believe is stationed at the center by the chemical manufacturing location. The hub. We ascertained there were at least two guards on duty round the clock, one at the center and one at the front. Our plan would have eliminated both of them, unless we knocked their asses out and got them clear before the place went down. We were prepared for either option, it all depended on how nice they wanted to play.

  If they were doing their job, we just might have a lot more guests at our little fireworks party.

  “The mission HAS NOT changed,” Rock grunts.

  “Copy that,” I’m almost at the center, I can see the glow from all the lights down the hallway.

  “Damn fucking right,” Snake sneers.

  “Bet your ass,” Gringo laughs sickly.

  I’m already pulling my bag to my front as my feet pound the floor, each step bringing me closer to my target.

  We’re going to blow this fucking place up! Starting with that shit right there!

  We each have gas masks around our necks, just in case we do make it out of here alive and well. No need to die from agent orange bullshit or something. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the ass? I push my night vision goggles to the top of my head. With the bright fluorescent lighting coming from up ahead, I no longer need them.

  BLAT BLAT BLAT. Gunshots from the entrance.

  “One down!” It’s Snake. He must have gotten the guard near the front.

  Almost home!

  Thud, thud, thud! My heavy footsteps echo through the hallway, although I’m not listening to that. One ear is searching for anything or anyone approaching me, the other is waiting for any more information. Our plan is I’ll take out the guard located at the hub. Gringo was going to take care of the one at the main entrance, although it seems that Snake got to him first. After the two known guards were secured, we’d do a quick sweep to confirm no one else was on the premises, especially in the cells, then we’d take the building down. We’d load up the center with explosives, leave a trail down the hallways, then light it all on the way out. That was the preferred plan, plan A. Plan B was to lob grenades as we went.

  I’m almost ten yards away from where my section intersects with the main center when someone moves into the light. “I’ve got company,” I growl. He’s just a dark silhouette backlit by the bright lights. “Looks like it’s my dance partner.”

  “Let us know when he’s secure,” Rock’s voice is in my ear.

  “Ten four,” I rasp out as I barrel towards him.

  POW POW POW the gunshots aimed at me scream in the hallway with bright sparks.

  I’m bowed over like a linebacker heading for him at full speed.

  “Sweep the building! We’re igniting in five minutes!” Rock yells. I lock that information down as I ram the man in front of me.

  Fuck you! Mess with me and mine?! I don’t fucking think so!

  I barrel into him so hard, we fly across the floor, my feet never stopping, until we hit the glass wall of the science lab. The entire thing smashes into thousands of fragments flying through the air, but we keep on going. He’s winded, but he’s still got his gun and he’s smashing me in the head with it. I’m so enraged, I don’t feel a damn thing. Finally, I plow him into the steel wall. His head makes a sickly cracking noise as he groans. Then he laughs.

  “You’re all dead men. And your women are going to be sex slaves.” He fucking laughs again.

  Something inside my head fucking snaps. Red fury explodes in my brain unleashing the trained killer, and he’s fucking furious.

  I snatch his gun from his hand, grab him by the neck like a rag doll and squeeze.

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong,” I growl. I can feel the bones crushing in his throat under my grip as blood starts to seep from his mouth. He’s clawing at my arms, but it only fuels my fury. The gurgling noises coming from him are disgustingly satisfying, but it’s not enough. “We’re going to burn this fucking place to the ground,” I hiss in his face, mine an inch from his, my hold getting tighter and tighter. His blood is gushing down my hand and it gives me a small sense of relief. His blood on me, my hands choking the life from his dying body, maybe I’m a sick motherfucker, but I like it. What I want, what I truly crave is having their still warm bloody hearts laying at my feet beside their carcasses in front of me with gaping holes in their chests.

  That’s the animal I am, that’s the depth of my need for vengeance.

  When he goes limp, I toss his lifeless body to the ground.

  No fucking body is touching our women.

  “Secured,” I tell the boys flatly as I wipe the dead man’s blood on my pants.

  “Good. Three minutes,” comes Rock’s response.

  “Nothi
ng else found in my sector,” Gringo reports.

  “Clear here,” Snake adds through the headpiece.

  “Cells are empty,” Rock confirms.

  Thank fuck!

  “Get into position. Obviously it’s Plan B.” Rock orders.

  No shit!

  We’re throwing grenades and running, that’s the plan. That means we need to get into position to put a safe distance between us and the center before they detonate. Turning, I go back and head down the hallway I came through.

  “Everyone in position?” Rock asks tightly through the earpiece.

  “In position,” I answer absently as I scan the ceiling. It’s all old exposed pipes and ductwork, everything original from when the place was built. The building is old as hell, and probably fucking brittle as an old man’s bones. If the whole thing doesn’t collapse when it blows, it’ll be a miracle. We’re going to have to haul major ass.

  “Check,” Snake, smooth as shit.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” and Gringo, mad as fucking hell.

  We’re almost there, bro, hang tight, then we can go get Sasha.

  Suddenly, the thought of leaving Gwendolyn is like a knife in my chest now that I’ve finally bared my soul. If this is really over now and we can bring Sasha back, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. And whomever has her sure as shit is not just going to let us walk out of there with her. It’ll be another battle. It doesn’t matter, there’s no way I’m letting him go alone.

  “Ten seconds,” Rock announces.

  I pull a grenade from the strap wound around my chest and feed a finger through the ring. They’re each in the same position, grenade in hand staring at the epicenter, counting down in their head waiting…

  “Three,” the countdown begins.

  I hold it in my grip.

  “Two…”

  Hold on…

  “ONE.”

  I pull the pin and send that motherfucker soaring straight to the pit of hell. Then I run for dear life back toward the way I slipped inside. We’ve got four seconds to get the fuck out of there before four grenades all go off at the same time inside this building in closed confinement. Shit’s gonna get really bad really fast.

  BOOOOM!!

  The massive explosion rocks the entire building so hard, it knocks me down and sends me flying down the hallway as rubble crumbles from the ceiling. Pain shoots through my head as my eardrums begin to scream.

  “Sound off!” Rock’s voice comes through muffled, but I’m sure he’s bellowing.

  I shake my head and try to clear it. I can’t hear a damn thing from the boom of the explosion.

  “HERE!” Gringo.

  “YEAH, HERE!” Snake.

  “YEAH, LET’S GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE,” I know I’m yelling, I can feel it, except it sounds far away.

  “MOVE OUT, DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE MORE PRESENTS.” Rock’s faraway voice barks.

  I push myself up as chunks of cement start crashing down behind me. I take off running. “IT’S COMING DOWN, BETTER MOVE.”

  I know my legs are moving as fast as I can push them, but I feel disembodied.

  I hope they fucking heard me!

  I feel the tremors behind me, I know the whole place is crashing down. I can’t hear a damn thing over the noise in my head and the rumbling of the building.

  Goddamn it!

  “FUCKING CHECK IN,” I know my mouth is moving but I don’t hear my own voice.

  I keep moving, keep running, we’ve got to stick to the plan. We counted a hundred and twenty seconds, two minutes minimum to get back through the mill back to our entrance point, then we’d begin the next rounds of grenades just before exiting. The window I came in is just up ahead, I can see it through the now thickening dust swirling up from behind me. Coughs start to wrack my body. Shit! I forgot the gas mask. I yank it over my nose and mouth and rub the dirt from my eyes.

  KAPOW. Another explosion on the other side of the building followed by the telltale sounds of destruction.

  Now at a safe distance, a pull the pack from my back and throw it out the broken window and snatch another grenade from the strap. With my feet still moving forward, I turn my body, pull the pin, throw the grenade down the hall, then dive through the window. As it explodes behind me, debris flies out the window and from the side of the building as I grab the pack and run for the tree line.

  BOOOOOM!

  Turning, I see the entire building go up in a mountain of flames lighting up the sky. I don’t stop. I run and keep on running as the whole fucking mill explodes.

  “Sound off!” Rock, and he’s sounding more normal. My head must be clearing.

  “Moving toward meet up point!” I growl my response, my voice hoarse and my throat irritated.

  “Crawling up your ass, big boy,” Snake laughs.

  I bark out a laugh. Fucking guy!

  “Right behind you,” Gringo’s even laughing.

  Goddamn, this is GOOD!

  We took two vehicles, just like before, although we disembarked from a different location. We didn’t want to take any chances. There were miles around the perimeter to choose from, it wasn’t hard. This time we opted to leave the trucks near the river, just in case they had dogs that would be on our trail. We would have used the water to lose our scent and get the fuck out of there. We weren’t going to take the chance of getting shot while just about clear because of a trail.

  After running for miles, the night now lit up by the fire, mine and Rock’s trucks come into view. Sirens are blaring in the background from the firetrucks arriving at the mill. The explosion was so loud and so big, someone must have heard it and called it in from town.

  It doesn’t matter. The fucking place is destroyed. Our job there is done.

  Snake is ahead of me, quickly approaching the vehicles, and I can hear Rock and Gringo coming through the woods at each side of me. Snake’s got the toolboxes open for us to load our gear into as he strips the soot covered clothing from his body.

  “Here,” he throws me mine.

  I’m at the side of the truck, my weapons in the box, as I strip and change. Gringo and Rock are doing the same thing.

  “We need to burn everything when we get back,” I rasp, my voice still rough.

  Rock looks at my hand, the dried blood crusted around my fingernails.

  “Any weapons with that?” he asks, shrugging his chin at me.

  I hold up my hand. “This is the only weapon I need,” and grin.

  He shakes his head and laughs quietly.

  “That’s my boy,” Snake slaps me on the back. “Mission fucking accomplished.”

  Now that we’ve changed clothes, we pile into the trucks, Snake with Rock, Gringo with me.

  We’ve got things to discuss.

  It’s four in the morning, but I doubt anyone will be sleeping back at Gwendolyn’s house. Maybe I’m a selfish prick, but that makes me feel all kinds of crazy good inside.

  Me and Rock tear off down the trail and get the fuck out of there. We take the paths in the opposite direction of town in order to avoid running into any official vehicles. We don’t need cops or anyone else seeing us at the crime scene. We’ll be going around the long way, but it’s safer.

  After some time when we’re certain we’re not being followed, I can sense Gringo start to relax.

  “I’m going after her now,” he states quietly.

  I grip the steering wheel. He’s talking about Sasha.

  “I know. I’m coming with you.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re staying here. You’ve got Gwendolyn to think about.”

  He’s right, I do. But she’ll be safe now, Rock and Snake will watch out for her. Besides, who knows what’ll be waiting for us when we get to wherever Sasha is. It’s best if Gwendolyn starts a life on her own now if she needs to without me. She’s got ten babies she needs to start on.

  My fucking heart breaks.

  “I’m coming with you. Now shut the fuck up and keep your eyes open. We’re not home free
yet.”

  He doesn’t say anything. I think he’s grateful, I’m sure he wants to tell me I’m not going with him. I also know he wants me to.

  I am going with him. He’d do the same for me.

  But first I’m saying goodbye to Gwen.

  CHAPTER 27

  Bull

  It’s just at five o’clock in the morning when we get back to Gwendolyn’s and all the lights in the house are on. Hawk’s old Chevy truck is parked right in front of one garage door, Raven’s car is at the other. It’s bittersweet coming back here. It feels like home, but it’s not mine. It probably won’t ever be.

  Doesn’t fucking matter. Do what you came for, then move the fuck on. You’ve got shit to do.

  I steal a sideways glance at Gringo as I pull up behind Raven’s car.

  He’s staring at the large home; his expression is a stone façade. But there’s something different, he appears to be, maybe relieved? I don’t fucking blame him.

  We may not have eliminated whomever is behind everything, but we’ve taken out some of their power. We’ve just pissed off a whole lot of people, our own headquarters being one of them, but fuck all of them. Chemical warfare and human trafficking are not things we’ll sit by with our fingers up our ass and let happen. We were not waiting for a ‘Go Ahead’ from headquarters, we were not asking for permission. The last time that happened, an innocent person was killed, and we could have stopped it. His death is on our conscience because we sat back and followed protocol. Fuck protocol. That entire incident will always be a cross that each of us carry. We vowed we’d never make that same mistake again.

  No wonder Hawk is the way he is, a silent deadly machine you never know what to expect. But we know he’s trustworthy, and his word is good. He said he’d watch out for the women, we’re sure that’s what he’s doing. A couple of the Steel Brothers soldiers are positioned at the exterior of the home, their bikes are parked at the curb. I’m not sure where Prez is, though, and that bothers me.

  I take a deep breath; grateful the night is over. We’ll deal with business in a couple of hours.

  “You good?” I finally ask Gringo after disengaging the ignition.