The Beasts of Juarez by R.B. Schow (best books to read for beginners txt) 📕

“Exactly,” Atlas replied. He looked at Kiera who was looking back at him. To her, he asked, “Are you itching to get in there?”

She nodded, firm.

The two-ways crackled and Yergha’s voice came over the agreed-upon channel loud and clear.

“I’m on the ridge. I see one spotter and the house behind him. There’s a tall concrete border around the property and a reinforced gate with guards. I count six armed men, but there are likely more of them around back.”

“Can you neutralize the spotter?” Leopold asked while the others listened.

“Yeah, no problem. I just need to get a little closer because he’s out of range. I’ll confirm the kill.”

“Roger that,” Leopold said.

The two-way fell silent and they all waited. It was customary for the nerves to start firing before running an op, but Atlas was calm, cool, and collected. He looked at Kiera who was even more docile than he had expected. He dropped the sun visor then used the vanity mirror to get a good look at Esty. Frowning, he saw the nervousness all over her.

“I think I can actually see your face through the bruising,” Atlas said to her. She glanced up at him. “I see why Yergha heaps you with such high praise.”

“He’s like a little boy with a crush,” Esty said, dismissing him.

“For a reason,” Atlas replied as he stroked his goatee. To Leopold, he added, “This is one sexy ass hit squad you’ve put together.”

“That was never my intention,” Leopold replied, his cheeks turning red. “I just wanted the best people for the job.”

“Sure you did,” Atlas grinned.

“I’m telling you, looks were not a factor.”

“You’re saying looks played no role whatsoever in the selection of the team?” Atlas asked. “We all just happened to be pretty good-looking by chance?”

Kiera turned and looked at him.

“You, too, baldy,” he said.

“Shut up,” Leopold replied. “You fucking talk too much.”

“I’ve spent a fair amount of time alone in a hole with nothing to do and no one to talk to,” Atlas said. “I’m either catching up on conversation or storing up for the winter ahead.”

“This hole you talk about,” Esty said, “where is it?”

“In your bedroom closet,” Atlas quipped.

“I heard you were an asshole,” Esty said.

“Well, then, someone was being too kind,” he said as he pushed the sun visor up to the ceiling where it belonged.

“If I had a ball sack,” Esty said, “I think it would look like your head.”

“And here I was paying you a compliment earlier.”

“Were you really?” she asked snarky as hell.

There was the faint sound of gunfire cracking through the hills. Everyone paused for a moment then Atlas continued. “Maybe it was an observation, Estella. Besides, Yergha is hot for you, not me. I just want to make friends so if things go down wrong I’ll know you have my back.”

“Will you have mine?” she asked.

“Damn Skippy.”

The two-way came to life, interrupting Atlas’s bonding time. Yergha said, “The target is neutralized and I’m patched into their comms network. When you come over the ridge, there’s an old turnout right before you start up the next hill. Park the cars there because at the top of that hill is the entrance to the house.”

“We’re on the move now,” Leopold said.

“Go back to your garbage can on wheels,” Atlas turned and said to Esty.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Esty said.

“Baby blue is your power color.”

“Well, this hasn’t been fun,” she said as she got out of the Audi and returned to the Spark with Cira in tow.

“Why are you trying to rile her?” Leopold asked.

“She’s the kind of girl who fights angry.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’m not a freaking suit, Leopold.”

The two cars eased up the ridge, crested it, then dropped back down and saw the turnout Yergha had mentioned. They parked inside of it, silenced the engines then got out. At the trunk of the Audi, they loaded up with what weapons they could carry while still maintaining their agility, and then they met up with Yergha near the top of the ridge. Atlas and Leopold were out of breath, but Cira, Esty, and Kiera were not.

“This is embarrassing,” he said to Leopold, who nodded in agreement. “Especially for you. I spend twenty-three hours a day in a cage, what’s your excuse?”

“I’m too busy with the ladies,” he whispered back.

“Touché,” Atlas laughed.

Yergha was right next to a dead man with a bleeding hole in his head. The Pakistani was behind a rather large boulder that gave him just enough clearance to scope out the nearby compound.

“The house has the high ground, that’s for sure. But I see a place where we can hop the wall and cut the security team in half,” Yergha said. “These guys are lazy right now. Half of them are yawning and the other half aren’t even functioning much beyond a rudimentary purpose.”

“Atlas, Kiera, Esty, you’re up,” Leopold said. “Cira you take the Uniden down to the Audi and make sure someone doesn’t crawl up our asses and surprise us. Yergha, can you get close enough to take out the first two guys in the backyard?”

“Easily, boss,” he said. “What are you doing?”

“Going in after you drop those two clowns,” Leopold said. “Esty, you and I will meet around the back of the house. Atlas and Kiera, when you take the front guards, breech the house. Esty and I will be right behind you. When we’re in, Yergha, fall in and cover our six. Is everyone clear on the approach?”

“Does anyone find it funny that the guy with no tactical experience is the one writing the playbook?” Atlas asked.

“Shut your asshole already, Atlas,” Esty said. “He’s good at this.”

“We’ll see,” Atlas said.

Cira headed back down the hill while Yergha