Zack (In the Company of Snipers Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

fool.”
    “Exactly.” Alex’s tone dropped back to a conversational level. “Now we have an understanding.”
    Zack had to give it to him. The man knew when to charge, all guns blazing, and when to calm. Strategies like that tended to pull the rug out from under pretentious men like Carducci; men who thought paid contractors should grovel at their feet. No one on earth was a better boss or a tougher opponent than Alex. That skill was going to work against Zack today. His turn in the barrel was next.
    More chairs scraped, and Zack hurried down the hall. He was in enough trouble. No need to be caught eavesdropping. He barely made it into Alex’s office and closed the door, just enough to peek through the crack, when Carducci burst through the Sit. Room doors and stalked to the elevator.
    “It’s about time.”
    Zack whirled, startled he hadn’t noticed David Tao sitting at the small conference table, his hands folded serenely in front of him. “Damn. Didn’t see you sitting there.”
    “I take it the Director is finished with Alex?”
    “More like he’s finished with the Director.” Zack dropped onto the chair to David’s right. It was a small, four-man table. No doubt old man Murphy would be joining Alex. He would complete the murder board. Despite the fact that Zack had been in serious military-like situations with these men in the past, situations where shots were fired and men were killed, his gut poured solid acid. This time was different. The career he loved as an undercover operative would die today. It would hurt.
    David murmured, “He is coming.”
    “And he’s not happy, either.”
    David shot him a ‘no kidding’ kind of look, but the door didn’t crash open like Zack expected with Alex madder than hell and ready to hang someone–like him. That could be good. That could be bad. It gave Zack more time to consider the decision that was going to cost him the job he loved. Even now, he couldn’t believe that his saving a girl’s life compromised the ATF Op like it had. The TEAM seemed such a small cog in the wheel.
    Suddenly, Vinnie had turned invisible. Dom, too. Word was they’d fled the country when Zack exposed the operation like he did. ATF Director Carducci wasn’t the only one who wanted his head. Oh, no. There were others standing in line, including the FBI and a few local police chiefs. Heck, even the Navy wanted a piece of him.
    Zack scrubbed a hand over his head and stiffened his spine. He and David had spent a lot of time together lately. They’d grown close. Then there were Mark and Harley, both overseas on some operation in Afghanistan. He sighed. I’m going to miss these guys.
    The door opened. In walked Alex, powerful CEO and boss, with his sidekick, Murphy Finnegan, ex-Army and damned proud of it. Zack’s heart started a pounding beat. At least his boss hadn’t kicked the door open. He licked his lips and hunkered down, prepared for the bad cop, good cop beat down. He deserved it. Let it rain.
    Alex took the position directly across from him. Not so good. Zack maintained eye contact, or at least tried to. Alex hadn’t looked at him–yet. It didn’t make any difference. All those finely honed “I own this damned business” skills were now directed straight at Zack. He waited. Might as well get it over with. Let me have it. Then I’ll leave.
    Minutes passed while Alex opened his leather planner to yesterday’s two-page spread. Zack noticed the big black X over a good portion of the pages. That’s the kind of guy Alex was. He might keep meticulous notes, but then mark them up in a fit of temper. He might dress the part of a savvy businessman in the expensive gray suit he was wearing, but there was an ex-Marine beneath the burgundy shirt and black tie who could still take a man’s head off at a thousand yards–or less.
    The man came out of the 22 nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, South Carolina, like Zack had. They’d worked together when Alex was getting