Special Ops Exclusive by Elle Kennedy Read Free Book Online

any phony interrogation attempts, and she’ll keep investigating, especially if she’s asked to stop.”
    “What are you saying, sir?”
    “The protesters are still causing trouble in Mala, are they not?” he said slowly.
    “As far as I know, yes.”
    “And Parker is right in the middle of the action.” He released a weary sigh. “Take her out of the equation. Make it look like part of the riot. Her whole crew, if possible.” He paused. “The producer, too.”
    “This is risky. Has the potential to blow up in our faces.”
    “We don’t have any other choice.”
    “I suppose.” Carraway sounded unconvinced.
    He suddenly felt incredibly frazzled, like this entire situation was slipping out of his control. “Just get it done,” he snapped. “Barrett, Parker, their associates...get rid of them all.”

Chapter 5
    M uch to Nick’s displeasure, Salazar texted the next morning to reschedule their meeting. Again. With the streets of Mala still in uproar, the presidential guard was committed to keeping the country’s leader safe from the unruly people who refused to acknowledge Garza’s power.
    Cortega’s military and law enforcement officers weren’t equipped to deal with a riot of this magnitude. Barricades were being knocked down by the angry mob, all attempts by the tactical team to control the crowd had gone nowhere, and more and more people continued to arrive; some hailed from Cortega, others came from all over the world to show their support for the struggling citizens.
    Nick had had enough of it all. He’d spent the morning in one of the city’s most dangerous and derelict neighborhoods trying to track down El Nuevo Diablo. Nearly every man, woman and child living in those projects had refused to speak to him. Those who did demanded compensation for their time, but once he told them who he was looking for, they swiftly handed him back the cash and claimed ignorance. They were so terrified of El Nuevo Diablo that they wouldn’t even accept a cash bribe that could’ve put food on their tables for months.
    Now Nick was once again riding the elevator up to his hotel room. He had nothing to do but wait for Eva to get him the name of a con man who supposedly sold fake IDs down by the docks, but Nick doubted Paul Waverly would’ve used anyone less than the best. It was still worth looking into, though.
    The elevator doors opened with a loud chime and Nick headed down the carpeted hallway toward his room. He was ten steps from the door when his instincts began to buzz and the little hairs at his nape stood on end.
    Something was off.
    Without slowing or altering his pace, he continued his approach, his gaze immediately noting the barely visible scratches around the keyhole on the doorknob. Someone had picked the lock.
    Nick kept walking. Right past his room. All the way to the stairwell door at the end of the hall.
    His hand slid beneath his long-sleeved shirt and down to the waistband of his cargo pants where he’d tucked his 9-millimeter SIG SAUER. He’d just gotten a grip on the weapon when a door flew open from behind.
    He spared a hasty glance over his shoulder and saw a tall, muscular man filling the doorway of Nick’s hotel room.
    As their eyes locked, triumph lit the stranger’s eyes and his hand whipped up to reveal a .45 handgun with a suppressor affixed to its muzzle.
    “We’ve got him!” the man shouted.
    Son of a bitch.
    Nick dived into the stairwell, adrenaline burning in his blood and fueling his actions. He raced down the stairs, his boots slapping the concrete floor with each hurried step. He’d just reached the third-floor landing when he heard the fifth-floor stairwell door burst open from above.
    Footsteps thudded on the stairs, spurring him to move faster. His breathing didn’t change. His heartbeat remained steady. One foot in front of the other.
    There was no time to be afraid. No time to panic.
    No time to dwell on the metallic pop that echoed in the stairwell as a bullet