Dead Straight (Lee Christmas Romance)

Part 9

When we got back it was maybe 10 o'clock at night. I was pretty tired but we needed to know what the hell just happened. Who was that man wearing the suit? Church had left something out of the picture and we needed to know what it was. If felt like he almost just set us up.

Barney called up Yin Yang who was also the tech man of the group. We met him as soon as we got back from the flight at the tattoo parlor. We showed him the videos and told him about the girl Sandra who turned out to be the general's daughter. I noticed Barney seemed to like her, even if it was hard to read his robotic body language. We then found out who that suit man was. His name was James Monroe.

" So this guy Church is really just a front for the CIA freaks of course" Barney said as a picture of the bald headed predatory face of Church came up on the screen as Yin continued to scroll through the database. The three of us crowded around the computer screen. "Church hired us to take out General Garza, but the real target was James Monroe" Barney continued as the he came up one to the screen. He had grey streaked hair and a curt stern jaw.

" He used to be with the agency" I stated, reading the data that came up. " Yeah but he got greedy and went rouge, teaming up with the General. To keep the whole drug operation to themselves" Barney surmised as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"But Church and the agency can't send in special ops or seals because it would be a bad headline if they killed one of their own. So he picked up used kill them" Barney finished.

" And we get taken out" Lee said, his eyes running over the pictures.

" Nobody would miss us" Barney stated stoically.

"It's still five million" Yin pointed out.

" Yeah but you would never live to spend it. I'm telling Church the deal is off" Barney retorted. The other men agreed but I shook my head.

" That's your call Ross, not mine" I stated glancing at him with my arms still over my chest. He may have been willing to leave a tough job but I didn't like leaving loose ends. I could easily go back there with a different Mercenary team but I almost didn't want to leave this one.

Lee and Barney turned to me " You want to finish the job? Ferris it's suicide" Lee claimed firmly. Barney nodded " That would be a one way trip Ferris" Barney agreed.

" I wouldn't go alone. I'm not part of your team guys. I don't have a team. I can pick this mission back up with a different group" I replied stubbornly. A muscle in Lee's jaw strained showing that he was obviously aggravated. " Are you trying to prove something? Huh?" Lee asked.

" No" I replied defensively.

" Ferris come on, would your team have wanted you doing this?" Lee asked. I looked at him straight on. Was he really trying to use that against me? " You never met them Lee, you don't know anything" I replied with a certain harshness that wasn't typical. I held Lee's intense gaze.

" Well I knew them. Would Hudson have wanted this? Melbourne? Even that stoic leader of yours? No. I knew each of them" Barney pressed further.

I felt a familiar cold feeling return to my body. Like I was drenched in icy water. Dread. Grief. Sadness.

" They could never turn up a tough mission and neither could I" I replied defensively my voice was slightly quieter. Lee shook his head and took steps closer to me. " Ferris I know we can't force you to do anything, but think about it. Is it worth it? Is it worth your life?" Lee asked. His tone was softer and I took a moment. Was it really worth it?

"Just think about it, we will talk about it further in the morning" Barney told us and I nodded. " Don't do anything stupid in the meantime" Lee said with a joking lilt that eased some of the tension. He could probably sense the unhappy emotions that had come over me. I snorted softly at his words.

" I'll try" I replied with a very faint, not even noticeable small grin. Lee nodded and patted my shoulder gently in an affectionate friendly kind of way.

I walked with him to my car and his motorcycle that were outside. Barney was going to stay back at the Tattoo parlor and Yin was planning on doing a bit more of research over these guys. I was about to bid Lee goodbye when he spoke up. " Hey Ferris, uh thanks for earlier and er shooting that bloke back on Vilena" Lee said awkwardly. I quirked a brow as the corner of my mouth turned up. He was talking about how I nearly shot him in order to kill a man who had been behind him.

" You'd have done the same for me yes?" I asked casually while opening the door to my red pantera. " Of course" Lee replied with a smirk.

I said goodbye to him before leaving from the tattoo parlor and going back home to my apartment. I found familiar comfort when I plopped down on my maroon couch. This time I was left in complete silence. There were no jeers from the room to my left due to no soccer games today. That icy feeling still hadn't left. It felt like being kicked in the stomach, like you were sick.

I put a hand over my face and closed my eyes as numerous thoughts rolled over me. Was it worth it? The mission? I would most likely not find a team better than the Expendables. Maybe the Crusaders would take the job but some of those guys on their team were loose cannons and crazies. I wondered if Barney Would still take the mission. He might do it for Sandra even though he didn't owe her anything what so ever.

I could just take a different Job or something but I didn't really want to leave the Expendable Barney was a decent guy. And Lee was well, seemed like someone I could count on. A Good guy.

Lee certainly didn't seem like he wanted me to go back with some other team. It was an insane mission but it wasn't impossible. C4 could take care of the palace and big guns kill soldiers. Difficult, improbable maybe but not impossible.

I went to sleep that night, dreaming of people I used to know, people I just met, and what tomorrow would be.