There was no price he wouldn’t pay to keep his father safe.
Carter shook his head. “No can do, Delta.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“Bossman isn’t going to allow it,” Carter answered, gathering more gadgets from a locker.
He turned to Mac. “I’m happy to pay. After all, I’m taking up your time, keeping you from a job.”
“The five of us don’t have a mission right now.” Mac shrugged. “All you’re keeping us from is boredom.”
“Still, I can’t let you do that,” he insisted. “I know how costly surveillance equipment is.”
The former Delta leader lifted a brow. “Your family is in danger. We take care of our own.”
Recognizing the steely determined glint in his buddy’s eyes, Dale knew he was wasting his breath and time. A smile tugged athis lips as he shook his head. “Still as stubborn as a damn ox, I see.”
Mac grinned. “Damn straight.”
As the ESI team gathered more equipment, Dale took a moment to appreciate the scene. These men were more than just colleagues, they were family. And family stuck together, no matter what.
“All right, let’s head out,” Mac said a few minutes later.
The team piled into their vehicles, the mood shifting to a more serious tone as they approached the task at hand. Dale felt a mix of gratitude and determination as he walked to his truck parked behind the building next door. They’d get to the bottom of this, and his father would be safe.
Ten minutes later, they pulled up to the ranch he’d called home most of his life. The sight of his friends ready to secure it eased some of his misgivings. That sense of being watched was currently absent, but Dale knew they’d return. He felt it in his bones.
If only he could figure out who it was. He’d racked his brain to come up with anyone who might have a beef with his father but came up empty. Sam Taylor had always treated his workers, friends, and associates fairly.
Hell, his dad had even made it a provision in the sale of his bulls that his ranch hands were part of the deal, so they wouldn’t be out of a job.
“Okay,” Mac said. “Walk us through what happened, then we’ll get to work here.”
Dale showed them the location of his father’s accident, then led them to the bushes where someone had been watching him and Gabe. The urge to find a clearing and start searching the woods was strong, but he resisted, not wanting to chance botching any leads.
Gabe was the most capable man he knew. If something was out there, the sheriff would find it.
Dale had enjoyed working under Gabe’s command and with Cooper, Dean, and RJ, but after the guys had left active duty, Dale transferred to a SEAL team on the East Coast where his brother was stationed. He’d made deep connections there too, but it hadn’t been the same.
“Okay, we’ve got enough info. Let’s set up,” Mac said.
“On it, Bossman.” Carter saluted, deployed an about-face maneuver, and headed back toward the driveway.
He exchanged an amused look with the others. “Is he always like that?”
“Usually, he’s worse,” Dean replied.
Mac snorted. “We’d better catch up, or he’ll have you outfitted to intercept transmission with the space station.”
Laughing, they sprinted to catch up to Carter, and they spent the next few hours setting up the equipment. During that time, the sheriff arrived with two deputies and began searching the woods.
Once again, the urge to search was strong for Dale, but he forced himself to focus on securing the ranch.
The sun was starting to set by the time they finished their work and gathered on the porch. Gabe and his deputies still hadn’t returned, but he couldn’t linger. He needed to get to the hospital to check on his father before visiting hours ended.
Mac clapped Dale on the back. “You’re all set here. We’ll monitor the feeds and keep an eye on things.”
Dean nodded, a determined look in his eyes. “If anyone tries anything, we’ll be ready.”
