Targets Entangled by Kennedy Layne Read Free Book Online

necessity if you wanted to make the truly difficult shots since factory match-grade rounds couldn’t meet his exacting standards. Starr had made sure he always had the correct premium equipment and selected components on board in the armory.
    “That seemed like a pretty serious discussion that you had going on with Gunny last week.” Stick had set up the tactical spotting scope on the bench he was using as a station for the buoys and raised his shades so that he could peer through it. The high definition optics package totally eliminated the glare of the sun and provided a unique picture of the water’s surface four hundred meters out from the ship as the targets drifted to his desired range. The temperature was a comfortable eighty degrees with varying winds that aided in Daegan’s target shooting exercise. He liked to keep his skills sharp and the way the ship was steaming through the endless ocean and the dark green water was churning into foam gave him that extra challenge he preferred. He pulled his eye away from the objective lens of his scope, wondering where Stick was going with this when there was still at least an hour before they were due back to the team ready room. “I wasn’t speaking out of turn between us, was I?”
    Daegan released his loop sling and laid his weapon in its rest and pulled himself into a sitting position as he rotated his shoulder, taking the opportunity to loosen up his muscles. He turned the visor of his cap forward and positioned the material so that it snugged the shape of his head. He sure as hell could have used a cigarette right about now considering what Stick wanted to talk about, but Daegan had given his word to his sister-in-law after she’d practically hounded him to death after his niece had been born a few years ago. He wouldn’t break his promise, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
    “No. I would have spoken up if I had thought otherwise.” Daegan idly picked up the spent brass and tossed it into the plastic container he used to collect them in. “It doesn’t really matter what I think anyway. Starr was adamant that this assignment be completed per the contract with no sideline mission. Gunny was in agreement.”
    “If that was your sister, you wouldn’t want the man to pay for her death?”
    “I don’t have a sister.” Daegan didn’t bother looking up. His answer was met with silence, but Stick wasn’t the type of man to beat around the bush. Living day to day while dismantling bombs had a tendency to make a man say his peace before he no longer had that chance. “What do you really want to know, Stick? It sounds as if you want Gunny to take care of personal business while we’re over there.”
    “Not at all. But most men in the military are cut from the same cloth. You’re different.” Stick’s shadow blocked the sun from reaching the deck as he settled in for a discussion he obviously wanted to have. Daegan pushed the container to the side with his data book. He turned toward Stick and folded his legs into his typical Indian-style sitting position on the deck, although far enough away so that he could see Stick without being uncomfortable. Daegan readjusted his cap up and all but dared the man to continue with this line of conversation. “I guess I’m curious as to why.”
    “You have balls, I’ll give you that.” Daegan refocused his gaze out over the weather deck, seeing a few crewmembers smoking at the rail halfway up the deck from the fantail where they had been shooting. Every man and woman on this ship had baggage and he wasn’t being literal. His past was in a long string of many, so telling it shouldn’t be an issue. He found it almost amusing when he continued to do just that. “Long story short…I’ve been where Gunny is now. Taking Mykelti out won’t make him sleep any better at night and it sure as hell won’t bring his sister back to him. If Mykelti happens to get in the crossfire of saving those children, I won’t