War of Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Two - Steady Hands

They wasted no time coordinating their teams and departing for the US. Price said a quick goodbye to Farah, and they were off. Laswell was hard at work making arrangements for them when they arrived, including medical for Hex when this was all over. She and Hex sat side by side on the ride overseas, inseparable as they worked. Laswell couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and kinship towards her after all they've been through recently. "You're becoming quite a force of nature, Murphy. You keep this up, I might need to recruit you for my own task force someday."

Price chimed in, "you'll have to get in line for that one, Kate."

The three of them shared a laugh while Ghost was watching them closely. Soap caught the gesture and gave him a gentle elbow. "And you were tellin' me not to stare?" Ghost responded with a kick to his shin, and he let out a yelp.

"El Sin Nombre told us that Hassan and his AQ soldiers were smuggled into the United States through the Port of Chicago," Price informed Laswell.

She nodded. "My sources say he was taken to a building downtown owned by a shell company of the Las Almas cartel. Police are on the ground cordoning off streets around the building. They're on the lookout for a 'criminal organization,' they do not know we are dealing with a terrorist group. We believe Hassan is holed up in a fortified server room on the fifty-fourth floor of this building. I will be on the ground working with the local police, and Hex will be armed overwatch on an OP across from the objective. Gaz and Ghost will infiltrate with the marines on the Chicago River and move in on ground level. We'll touch two helicopters down on the roof of the target building, one with a troop of marines, and one with Price and Soap. Gaz, Ghost, and the marines will push up from below while Price and Soap's team works their way down, pinching Hassan in the middle. You all have been given execute authority to kill Hassan, no games this time."

Ghost had a million thoughts racing through his mind. He tried to center on Laswell's words, but the anger and guilt he pushed down was slowly bubbling back to the surface. He was supposed to be fearless, supposed to be unbreakable and focused, but Hex had gotten under his skin too many times. No, not under his skin, worse; she had somehow worked her way into his heart. He would have to slowly, painfully remove her from it. The thought sent a wave of melancholy through him, and his inner conflict consumed him so entirely that he didn't even notice they were about to touch down.

They landed just outside the city and broke off into their teams. Hex, Price, and Soap stayed with Nikolai to drop her off on the nearby rooftop across from their target building, but not before Hex smiled at Ghost while placing a tender squeeze on his arm, wishing him luck.

Ghost mumbled under his breath in response to her affectionate gesture, "fuckin' hell..." She was not going to make this easy...

"Watcher-1 to Bravo 0-6, actual. Perimeter is secure. You are clear to move in."

"Solid copy. All Bravo, move to set. We're on."

Hex had a front row seat to her team as they and the marines closed in on the building. Several boats swarmed in from the river, and she waved goodbye to Price and Soap as their helicopter and the marines touched down across from her. She positioned herself at the edge of the roof, sniper at the ready. She used her scope to zero in on the fifty-fourth floor to try to scout Hassan for Soap as he hooked up to scale the building.

"Bravo 3-6 to Bravo 0-6, you have eyes on?"

"Affirm. Flashing now." She used a small mirror to signal them to her position.