Peace - A Navy SEALS Novel (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 3)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  Septien laughed. “It would of course have been an unavoidable accident, we were unable to prevent. At least our report would have read that way.”

  “Of course,” Peace grinned over at Septien, who met his look momentarily, before returning his gaze outwards.

  “Julio sure took a whuppin’ for that error in judgment.”

  “Helping him kill her later may be a problem,” Peace observed.

  Septien looked over at Peace in surprise. “Don’t even joke like that, my friend. Julio will understand once he recovers.”

  Peace shrugged. “If he doesn’t, she dies. You want a piece?”

  “You are one crazy gringo,” Septien sighed, putting his eye to the digital scope again. “Yea, I’m in. Ibrim and I have been getting bored since we last saw you. How… here they come, Peace.”

  Peace saw a light dust cloud forming on the horizon before the rumbling sound of approaching armored vehicles could be heard. He let out his breath slowly, as he sighted in on the lead vehicle, over half a mile away. As he made slight movements in his seating, so as to be able to adjust his sighting more easily, he heard Septien warn Dan and Bull of the enemy’s approach.

  “Are you sure that popgun will do enough damage? Those damn AV’s have pretty small windshields,” Septien commented.

  “The load I have would go right through that truck, end to end.”

  “It’s bouncing around a lot, are…”

  “Are you going to spot, or hold my hand, Mommy,” Peace retorted.

  Septien laughed again, and began calling out distance to both Peace and Seal Team Six leaders. Peace watched the lead vehicle grow dustily in his scope. By the time Septien began counting down from three hundred yards, Peace had locked onto the driver of the first vehicle. When he heard Septien announce one hundred yards, Peace squeezed off a round. The special jacketed round shot through the armored vehicle’s windshield, and into the forehead of the driver, exiting his head, losing very little of its velocity. The driver’s yank on the wheel as his pierced brain relayed the message of his death, caused the vehicle to spin and tumble.

  The armored column halted just before the second vehicle rammed into the still spinning overturned first. Peace’s second round smashed through the second driver’s head, just as the Seals sprung the ambush with fire from both sides of the road. The turret mounted machine gun on the third vehicle opened fire, wildly spraying out into the desert. Peace fired three rounds through the armored plating, surrounding the gunner. The machine gun fired for a few more seconds, and then was silent. The other vehicles joined into the battle, as they tried to drive around the first two.

  “The cavalry’s here,” Septien yelled out, just before the third armored vehicle exploded in a mammoth ball of flame.

  Peace looked up from his rifle to see the A10 Warthog fly across over the target, followed by a transport helicopter and two Apache helicopters with thirty millimeter cannons blazing. Moments later, the few surviving soldiers were stumbling out into the open with their hands waving in surrender.

  The Seals on both sides of the armored column came out of hiding once communication to the helicopter pilots confirmed the firing had ended. The four surviving soldiers were checked and their hands plastic tied behind their backs in moments. Peace watched through his lens for any movement among the armored vehicles until he heard Septien acknowledge something over his com unit.

  “Okay, Peace, put your com unit back on,” Septien directed, standing up. “We get to fly back. Your Lieutenant says to go back to the house, and get ready to load up. They’ll fly over and pick us up.”

  Peace nodded, and put his com unit back on. He stood up slowly, stretching out his throbbing leg carefully. His shoulder felt like it was on fire again, even though it was not the one he supported his rifle with. Septien tried to take his sniper rifle, but Peace smiled and shook his head in the negative.

  “Oh, tough guy, huh?” Septien said, with a grin.

  “I shouldn’t be out here playin’ with the big boys if I can’t take care of my own equipment,” Peace replied, moving towards the house with only a slight limp. “But thanks for the offer.”

  “That was some nice shooting,” Septien replied, walking alongside Peace.

  “I lucked out. The front guy tumbled his AV, and the boot camp behind him just stopped in the road.”

  “It will be interesting to know whether they were sent for us or Julio,” Septien commented.

  “I doubt they knew about us. They came to get Julio, and use him as a bargaining chip. Our Senorita Matuse’s Father probably received word his operation was turning to shit. Even the drug cartels don’t run around on the roads in AV’s.”

  “Those soldiers probably didn’t know anything about what they were doing, huh?”

  “Probably not, amigo,” Peace replied with a shrug. “That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have blown our heads off if they’d had the chance. I’m surprised our air cav didn’t just blow the crap out of them instead of backing off.”

  Septien laughed, and nodded in agreement. “Yes, I think those survivors were very lucky fellows.”

  Mancuso stood next to the limousine with his MAC 10. He gave the approaching men a little wave. “That was very exciting, gentlemen.”

  “We get to ride back in style,” Septien told him.

  “Oh man, you mean we can’t take the limo?” Mancuso said, patting the trunk of the big limousine.

  “What makes you think that, my good man? Dave said to be sure you drove the limo back,” Septien grinned, clapping Mancuso on the back. “You let us know how that comes out now. The Mexicans will be real happy after we blew their AV’s and soldiers into little pieces. Shall I call ahead, and let them know you’re coming.”

  “You know, Edwardo, my old friend,” Mancuso retorted, as he followed Septien and Peace inside the house, “it’s that sarcastic nature of yours holding you back from greatness.”

  __

  Peace sat next to Julio’s stretcher, with Doc Jameson on the other side. Senorita Matuse, and the survivor from the house raid, were watched by the three CIA special ops agents, Ibrim, Mancuso, and Septien, across from Peace. Julio slept in a morphine induced slumber, his breathing ragged, but steady.

  “How’s your shoulder, Peace?” Doc Jameson asked. “It must hurt like hell.”

  “Not as much as your head after you were bushwhacked back in Syria,” Peace replied, looking over at his friend.

  “Sorry, Peace, I wasn’t thinking when I fired that one off on you and Bull,” Doc replied, leaning back. “Dan talked to me about it. He said I shouldn’t have given it a thought.”

  “What did you carry that around so long for, Chief? You really threw Bull and me for a loop when you mentioned it after all this time. If it was bothering you, why didn’t you talk to us?” Peace asked simply.

  “Hell, I don’t know,” Doc admitted, closing his eyes for a moment. “I didn’t want to be whining at you guys. This is Seal Team Six, not the campfire girls. I’m glad the Lieutenant knows now. I know you guys watched me for a while.”

  “Hey, only because we thought you might have a concussion,” Peace replied.

  Doc nodded. “Still, that was one stupid, boot camp mistake.”

  “Gee, I never make mistakes, Captain Perfect,” Peace said sarcastically, provoking a short laugh from Jameson. “You know the motto, buddy.”

  “Shit happens,” Doc inserted with a sigh. “Yea, I know.”

  “So, you’re over it now?”

  “Yea, it’s in the past. Did I get you guys in trouble?”

  “No,” Peace replied quickly with a shake of his head. “Dan just wanted to know what he missed.”

  “It doesn’t take many screw ups to get cashiered off the team.”

  “Doc,” Peace said, smiling over at Jameson. “The screw ups usually leave open spots on the team anyway. When they don’t, it’s just that old black magic called luck. We need all of that we can get, and all members proven to have it.”
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  “Hoo-ya,” Doc replied quietly. “I’m glad your friend Julio here was still alive.”

  “I’m glad you were along to make him comfortable. He sounds very happy right now.”

  “He should,” Doc laughed, looking down at the lightly snoring Julio. “I gave him a real bomber. He might be healed before he feels any pain again.”

  “I should have said more, when he told me he was going to take that bitch with him,” Peace said.

  “What was the alternative? I… oh…” Doc hesitated. “I get it.”

  “I meant we could have questioned her harder,” Peace replied, “not kill her. We assumed she was Batiste’s mistress, not the kingpin of crime. I’m surprised Batiste didn’t give her up; but then again, he was busy.”

  “But you would have killed her?”

  “Not if she had told us her old man was the Mexican Government’s liaison with the Terrorists, and a Colonel in their army. Julio would have taken her, but it would have been for a completely different reason.”

  Doc looked down at Julio, and then back up at Peace. “Love’s a bitch, ain’t it?”

  “I doubt love had anything to do with it,” Peace replied, considering Jameson’s words, “but on the other hand, he was taken with her.”

  “He ain’t thinkin’ about romancing her anymore.”

  Peace glanced at Senorita Matuse, where she leaned back against the plating. “No, I bet not.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Downtime

  “Peace,” Dan said, as Peace grimaced on his way out of the Apache, after it touched down at the pier again. “Jessup’s over near the tanker. He wants to talk to you.”

  “Go ahead, Peace,” Mancuso waved to him. “We’ll take care of the prisoners. Lieutenant, can Doc here ride over to the carrier with our buddy, Julio?”

  “Already taken care of,” Dan replied, nodding at Jameson. “Come on back when you get your patient settled, Doc.”

  “Aye, aye, Sir,” Doc answered, settling back in for the trip out to the carrier. “It wouldn’t hurt Peace to get rechecked on the Regan too, Sir.”

  “I think that’s what the Commander has in mind to talk to him about. Bring some medical supplies with you when you come back, Doc, just in case we need to keep Peace with us.”

  “Aye, Sir, see you when I get back,” Doc reached out his hand to Peace. “Take these every four hours, Peace. They’ll help with the pain.”

  Peace smiled, taking the small bottle from Doc’s hand, gratefully.

  “Thanks, Doc. See you later.”

  Dan handed Peace his canteen. “Better take a couple now, 007. No telling what Jessup wants with you.”

  Peace popped two pain pills into his mouth, and washed them down with the water from Dan’s canteen, before handing it back. “Thanks. Man, that little ambush of yours sure worked sweet, Sir.”

  “Yea, and that new load you have for your rifle made quite a difference,” Dan replied, walking alongside of him. “I never thought it would go through the turret armor. Too bad we didn’t get a chance to see if they went out the other side.”

  “Did the Commander say what he has in mind for the team?”

  “We’re going along for the ride on our tanker,” Dan answered. “They’ve decided it would be too dangerous to unload the tanker in port in the US. We’re going on an ocean voyage with the Carrier Group for protection, until they catalogue, and seal the entire cargo aboard one of our vessels, fitted for the purpose.”

  “Any chance of getting word back we’re okay?”

  “I asked. No communications with the mainland until further notice. Get this, the Iranians want to know where their tanker is,” Dan told him.

  “Uh oh, you know what that means.”

  “Yea, Alvarez must have contacted his sponsors when the tanker arrived. When all hell broke loose, the Senorita’s Father must have put out an SOS to the Iranians.”

  “What’s the plan for making sure we get all the little rats before they scurry away?” Peace asked.

  “The President ordered all flights out of Mexico grounded until further notice, and ordered the arrest of Colonel Matuse,” Dan replied, grinning at Peace’s stunned look. “Didn’t expect that, did you?”

  “Wow, we’re finally getting serious, huh?”

  “It looks that way,” Dan agreed, as they walked past the rest of Seal Team Six, where they stood near the temporary landing zone on the pier.

  Commander Jessup, dressed in fatigues, stood near Bull, looking at something Bull was pointing out on the papers Jessup held. Dan and Peace walked up, and saluted Jessup, who returned their salute.

  “I heard you were wounded, Peacenik,” Jessup stated. “How are you feeling?”

  “Very well, Sir,” Peace responded, at attention.

  “The Chief told me about your part in the ambush,” Jessup said, letting Peace see he was holding satellite photos of the firefight outside the CIA safe-house.

  “It was the Lieutenant’s plan, Sir, I just carried out his orders,” Peace replied, looking straight ahead.

  “Too bad you haven’t been following instructions from the Navy all along, sailor,” Jessup commented stiffly. “I don’t rightly know whether to pin a medal on your chest, or have you shot for insubordination.”

  “Sir, in Petty Officer Peacenik’s defense, I…” Lieutenant Righter began.

  “Did I ask for your input, Lieutenant?” Jessup cut him off.

  “No, Sir,” Dan barked. “Sorry, Sir.”

  Jessup turned away, and gestured for Peace to follow him, as Seal Team Six traded uneasy glances. “Walk with me, Peacenik.”

  “Aye, aye, Sir,” Peace answered, falling in next to Jessup, who walked with his hands clasped behind his back.

  “I have been assured of the fact you have never co-opted a Seal mission for CIA purposes,” Jessup said, glancing over at Peace. “What in the hell did you think you were doing, letting CIA recruit you like a Goddamn mole in my command?”

  “I meant to do everything I could possibly do for my country, Sir,” Peace added without hesitation. “My CIA contact told me I would never compromise a mission. He guaranteed my help would be invaluable as an added liaison between my team in the field, and mission control forces.”

  Jessup stayed silent for a time, thinking over Peace’s words. “It’s not enough to be a Seal, Peacenik?”

  “I owe more than I can ever repay to this country, Sir. I felt I was doing the right thing. If CIA ever once interfered, or endangered my team, I would have come to you immediately, Sir.”

  “I believe that,” Jessup acknowledged, “or I’d have you in irons right now in the Marine hotel. You did kill those policemen, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, Sir, I did,” Peace answered truthfully after a moment’s silence. “They were on Batiste’s payroll. They also threatened the life of someone I care deeply about.”

  “And the deaths of Batiste’s son, and his men?”

  “Yes, Sir, they were torturing the police Detective, and had his family marked for death. They thought he was involved with me. I couldn’t let anything happen to them because of me.”

  Jessup stopped, and looked over at Peace with a dawning comprehension. Jessup had served throughout the first Gulf War, and later, in both Afghanistan, and Iraq. He was highly decorated, no stranger to combat; but even he had difficulty grasping some of the happenings he now perceived Peace had been involved in over the last couple of months.

  “Batiste’s Father?”

  “I was on that mission with the man we just rescued, Sir,” Peace admitted, looking Jessup in the eye. “Julio’s a good man. We made an error in judgment concerning the Terrorist’s military contact, Colonel Matuse’s daughter. We thought Alvarez was the main man.”

  “You’re like the damn Energizer Bunny, Peacenik,” Jessup said, shaking his head. “Is there anything on the Western Seaboard you haven’t been involved in over the last couple months?”

  “I can’t honestly say, Sir,” Peace replie
d, still at attention. “If you’ll give me the circumstance, I’ll…”

  “Don’t test me, you little prick,” Jessup barked.

  “Sorry, Sir, I thought some levity might…”

  “Shut-up!” Jessup ordered. After a moment, he took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “They’re very impressed with you, Peacenik, especially the new interrogation method you’ve pioneered. They put that Osama guy back in with the other prisoners Apparently, he told them what you did in the interrogation, and that he believed you would do it. He’s right, it wasn’t a bluff, was it, Peacenik?”

  Peace’s jaw tightened slightly, and when he stayed silent, Jessup nodded.

  “That’s what I figured. You could have ended up in a prison yourself with the pantywaists we have high up in the Defense Department,” Jessup said. “It also means Lieutenant Righter and Chief Jenkins would…”

  “They had no idea I meant to carry out the threat, Sir,” Peace interrupted. “It was…”

  “Listen up, Peacenik!” Jessup whispered fiercely, leaning down, with his face inches away from Peace’s. “Don’t interrupt me again, or I…”

  “I respect you, Sir,” Peace interrupted again, meeting Jessup eye to eye, his mouth clenched in a thin, scarred slash of a mouth, “but if you think I give a shit what you do to me in regard to providing cover for Dan and Bull, you’re wasting your breath. They had nothing to do with it, period.”

  Jessup stared at Peace for a moment, and then a smile spread slowly over his face. “I see now why CIA would risk recruiting you right in front of the Navy’s eyes. You wouldn’t give anyone up if your life depended on it, would you?”

  Naked rage still coursed through the features of Peace’s face and mouth, and his answer virtually hissed between his teeth. “Let me put it honestly for you, Sir. If you threatened Dan or Bull because of my actions, no force on earth could keep you alive more than a week.”

  “Threats don’t…”

  “I never make threats, Sir. With a man as dedicated and decorated as yourself, they would be meaningless,” Peace interrupted again, his intensity so complete, he did not even blink. “Between men, I respect, I would want you to know I’d be coming for you. You’re not the enemy; but Dan, Bull, and I aren’t the enemy either. My country, and my friends are worth my life.”