Hunt Them Down(16)
Hector had one more phone call to make before he could focus exclusively on the upcoming ambush.
Someone picked up on the first ring.
“What’s the girl’s status?” Hector asked.
“She’s mobile with her regular driver and a new bodyguard.”
“Is she alone?”
The man hesitated. “No, she isn’t,” he finally said. He sounded disappointed. “She’s with another girl.”
Hector shook his head. That was unfortunate. Sophia—Tony Garcia’s fifteen-year-old daughter and the granddaughter of Vicente Garcia—rarely had friends with her. Hector, himself a father of two, wouldn’t take any pleasure in what was coming next, but he had his orders.
“Execute,” he said.
“Understood.” This time, his interlocutor seemed relieved. “I’ll call you back once it is done.”
With that out of the way, Hector switched his focus back to the operation at hand.
“It’s time,” he said to his men over the radio. “Take your positions.”
Most of his men were either like him, former Infantería de Marina—the Mexican Marines—or ex-members of the Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas—the Parachute Rifle Brigade. They didn’t need to be told twice what to do. The plan was simple and made even easier by the fact that they weren’t going to worry about collateral damage. Hector tapped the magazine of his FX-05 assault rifle to make sure it was well inserted while the man next to him checked on his RPG launcher. One after the other, his men confirmed they were in position.
It was going to be a bloodbath.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Miami, Florida
The first half mile went without a hitch. The motorcade had just turned north on Second Avenue when Hunt caught a puff of light gray-blue smoke coming from a construction building ahead of them. He could have easily missed it, but his eyes were at the right place at the right time. Not that it made any difference. Hunt recognized the situation for what it was—an ambush—only an instant before the rocket-propelled grenade’s rocket motor ignited.
“RPG!”
Traveling at close to three hundred yards per second, it took the high-explosive round less than a second to reach the lead Suburban. The warhead went through the windshield and exploded inside the SUV, killing all its occupants instantly. The explosion momentarily blinded Hunt, and a millisecond later he felt the Suburban ram the rear of the lead SUV. Fortunately, the driver of the Suburban providing rear security was able to brake in time and was initiating an evasive maneuver. He didn’t get far, as scared motorists on the road were leaving their cars and running in all directions. The US marshal in the passenger seat was already on the radio calling in the ambush and requesting immediate assistance. A second RPG hit a car to their left, flipping it to its side. The deflagration rocked the Suburban.
“Everybody okay?” Robbins shouted.
Hunt looked to his right at Zorita to check whether the Mexican chief inspector was all right. His head was slumped over his chest.
“Zorita?” Hunt said, unbuckling his seat belt so he could reach the injured man.
Zorita raised his head and slammed his left elbow into Hunt’s face. Hunt was flung backward. Through his blurred vision, he saw Zorita pull out his pistol, aiming it at Garcia’s head. Hunt shouted a warning and lunged at Zorita just as he pulled the trigger.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Hallandale Beach, Florida
Leila DeGray couldn’t stop thinking about her father. She knew he wanted back in her life, but after what he’d done to her mother, how could she let him in? Still, it couldn’t hurt to see him for a few hours every second Saturday, right? He wasn’t a bad man per se, just different. He didn’t live the same kind of life she did. His was filled with violence and pain, hers with nonalcoholic pi?a coladas and days at the beach with her friends. And homework. Tons of homework.
Maybe one day she’d open up to him, but for now, she was happy she didn’t share the same last name.
She would have loved to have a father like Sophia’s. He was the nicest guy ever. For her fifteenth birthday, Sophia’s dad had bought her a monkey. How cool was that? A monkey! And he had drivers and bodyguards and really, really expensive cars. But Sophia didn’t have a mother. Which was sad. Sophia’s mom had died in a freak skiing accident many years ago.
Truth was, Leila couldn’t complain too much. Since her mom had moved in with Chris five years ago, she was living the high life too. She attended the best private school money could buy, she vacationed in the most exotic spots on the planet—her favorite was Tahiti—and Chris had even bought her a WaveRunner for Christmas. So yeah, she had it good.
Chris had dropped her at Sophia’s for lunch. Since Monday was a day off from school, the plan was to pick her up again tomorrow right after breakfast. Leila loved sleepovers, especially at Sophia’s colossal mansion. Plus, Tony, Sophia’s dad, was a great cook, and he had promised the girls he’d bake them fresh blueberry muffins. But for now, it was movie time.
“What are you thinking about?” Sophia asked her, bringing her back to reality.
“Nothing,” Leila replied. “I’m just looking forward to watching that movie.”
“Me too! And the popcorn. Don’t forget the popcorn!”