SEAL of Approval by Jack Silkstone Read Free Book Online Page A

man’s upper lip trembled as he struggled to contain his mirth at the situation. “Mr. Barbosa.”
    He gave the man a curt nod and turned to his men with his hand still in his jacket. “This is Ramirez. He will be avenging Juan.”
    Raul scowled. “You're letting an outsider handle our business? Boss, that's–”
    Barbosa drew a suppressed pistol and shot him neatly in the heart. His former head of security was dead before his body hit the wet grass.
    He glared at his men. “Raul failed me. He wasn't there when my brother was killed, and then couldn't find me the man who murdered him.” He spat at the body. “Failure will not be tolerated. Ramirez, if you please.” He gestured to his armored SUV and his guards opened the door.
    As they sped away Barbosa drummed his fingers against a leather armrest, eyeing Ramirez. “What have you discovered?”
    “I've examined the CCTV footage and the man who shot your brother is a SEAL. A member of Team Five. They're based at Coronado, California.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “A number of them wore patches on their shoulders.” He held up his fingers in the V for victory symbol. “The Roman numeral five.”
    Barbosa took his pistol from his jacket and removed the suppressor. “Where exactly is Coronado?”
    “Across the border in San Diego.”
    “And you have people there?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good.” He slid the weapon back into its holster and placed the warm suppressor in his pocket. “I want you to find the man who killed my brother. Then, when you do. I want you to kill someone he loves… before you bring me his heart.”
    Ramirez nodded. “This type of work is what I do best, Mr. Barbosa.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Mike visited Axe every afternoon. Slowly, day by day, as the week progressed, he noticed a change in the dog’s temperament. He’d gone from intermittently growling at Alison whenever she approached to allowing her to manipulate his injured leg with barely a whimper. By Thursday afternoon, Axe greeted Mike at the door of the recovery room with his lead in his mouth.
    Alison gave him a smile. “He’s been ready for the last hour. I think he wants you to take him for a walk.”
    Grinning, he took the lead from Axe’s mouth, then shot her a concerned look. “You sure he’s alright to walk outside?”
    Stepping closer she placed her hand on his elbow. “Mike, Axe isn’t a child. He’s a dog. He’ll be fine.”
    He smiled sheepishly. “I know, he’s also my best friend. Makes it easy to forget.” His eyes lingered on hers for a moment. Then she realized that she was holding his arm and blushed.
    “You guys have fun.”
    As he walked Axe down the corridor, to the exercise yard, the dog kept glancing back at Alison. “You really like her don’t you?” It wasn’t something he could ever say about Stacey. Axe and the former model had been standoffish from day one.
    The dog paused at the door and looked back at the recovery room.
    “Come on, we’ll see her again in a bit.”
    Once in the yard they strolled along the fence. Axe responded well on the lead but still protected his wounded leg. Ernie’s Mom was right. Alison was a miracle worker. It had been barely two weeks since Axe had been shot and here he was walking.
    After a few laps of the tennis court-sized yard Axe had warmed up and tentatively tried using his injured leg.
    Remembering what Alison had said about leadership he began running him through the drills they used at work.
    He started simple, walking backward with the dog staying by his side. Then he removed the lead and allowed Axe to wander the yard by himself.
    “Axe, freeze.”
    The dog stopped instantly.
    “Axe, come.”
    He limped to Mike and sat in front of him. He slapped his thigh and the dog walked clockwise around him and sat alongside his left leg.
    “Good boy.” He bent, ruffled his ears, and fished in his pocket for a treat.
    “You two work so well together,” said Alison from the back door of the clinic.