The Relic Runner Origin Story Box Set, Ernest Dempsey [summer books TXT] 📗

he figured some of his acquaintances in the cybercrime community could help. Those guys were always dipping their toes into a wide assortment of shadowy pools, very often on the dark web. Bo would make a few calls and see where it led.

He veered right once he was outside the metal building the soldiers referred to as the “tin palace” and marched toward the rows of barracks across the courtyard. The immense, beige building was nothing spectacular in the way of aesthetics, but Bo had never seen a garrison that accomplished that feat.

He strode with purpose through the corridors until he found his men sitting in a little room in a more remote wing of the facility. Bo stepped inside and shut the door so no curious ears could hear their conversation.

The four men looked up at him, curiosity burning in their eyes.

“Well?” Carson asked.

Bo nodded. “He bought it.”

A collective sigh filled the room, though Luis still didn’t look relieved. He’d been acting worried ever since they left the cave. It was easy to see that what they’d done to Dak didn’t sit well with him, but there was nothing he could do. If he’d gone against the rest of the team, he might well be stuck in the cave with Dak too.

Nathan nodded. “Good. What else did he say?”

Bo sauntered over to an empty chair around the table where the men sat and plopped into it. “Well, as you know that was our last mission. Nothing has changed in that regard. We’re going home, boys.”

“What about the—” Billy looked around and then lowered his voice before continuing. “What about the treasure? If we go back to the states, someone else could find it.”

“I don’t think so,” Bo disagreed. “We took precautions. It’s well-hidden, and only the five of us know where it is.”

“So, what?” Carson asked. “We fly home, hang out for a bit, then fly back here and recover the stuff?”

“Exactly. And we do it together.” Bo leveled his gaze, meeting the stares of each man so they understood there would be no backstabbing, no sneaking around and stealing the bulk of the treasure for themselves.

“That’s probably best,” Luis said. Regret and doubt filled his voice as he stared blankly at the table’s surface.

“After that, we go our separate ways.” Bo leaned back in his chair and draped an arm over the back of it. “I’ve reached out to a few of my morally loose friends. They have some connections in the arms black market, done quite a few deals in West Africa and Central America. I believe they’ll be able to get us connected with someone who can move those artifacts.”

“Perfect,” Carson said, throwing up his hands. “When do we head back stateside?”

“Tomorrow morning.” Bo looked around at the men once more, making sure he engaged each one. “It’s been an honor serving with you, gentlemen. Here, in a few weeks, maybe a month, I suspect we are all going to be very rich.”

The group joined in with a reserved but rousing collection of agreements and laughs.

“No day job for me when I get back,” Billy said.

“What are you going to do with your cut?” Carson asked.

Billy thought for a moment. He rubbed his narrow jaw and shrugged. “I guess I’ll buy the farm I always wanted. Been eyeing some land in Tellico Plains, an hour from Knoxville. It’s at the base of the mountains. Ten acres. Not a ton of property, but it’s more than enough for me and with the money we get from those sculptures, I bet I’ll have plenty left for another lifetime or two.”

Carson nodded his approval.

“What about you?” Billy asked.

“Me?” Carson guffawed. “I’m gonna park my tail on a beach somewhere. Maybe Hawaii. Maybe South Florida. I’ll figure that out when the time comes. I want to be somewhere warm and sunny with sand between my toes.”

Billy chuckled. “You don’t need to sell artifacts to get that. You got that all around you right here.”

Carson laughed at the comment. The others did too. “Funny man.” He turned to Luis. “What about you?”

Luis rolled his shoulders. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it, honestly. Not much, anyway.”

“Come on. You never daydreamed about what you would do if you ever came into a bunch of money?”

Luis bobbed his head in semi-agreement. “Yeah, I mean, sure. I always said I would help my family back in Mexico, my distant relatives. But for me, I’ll probably just get a nice house somewhere in the suburbs. Something quiet. Maybe on a cul-de-sac.”

Carson rolled his eyes and looked to Nathan. “What about you, Mr. Quiet?”

Nathan’s focus remained on the knife in his hand as he ran it back and forth across the belt. The thing couldn’t possibly get any sharper. He perpetually worked on his blades, keeping them razor sharp at all times, but the way he went about it unnerved others.

Nathan never looked up as he answered. “I don’t know.”

Carson snorted. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

Nathan’s eyelids lifted slightly. He peered threateningly at Carson from just underneath them. “It means I don’t sit around thinking of stupid ways to blow my money. It’s unproductive. I’ll figure it out when the checks clear.” The menace in his tone was enough to send chills through every man in the room. It especially unnerved Luis, who blew it off by focusing on Bo.

“What about you, boss? Any grand plans?” He offered an uncomfortable laugh with the question.

Bo’s face remained cold, emotionless. “I’m going to disappear. Probably in a foreign country.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Luis said. “We should probably all lie low for a while.”

“Yes,” Bo agreed. “lying low is exactly what I intend to do. I may get into a few business ventures here or there, but I plan to keep a low profile and enjoy my life. No more missions. No more taking orders from someone else. I’ll get my life back. After that, I can do whatever I want.”

Thirteen

Hamrin Mountains

Dak wiped