The three entered the strip club ahead of the gunmen. Jason and Sonny each carried a Glock 19, a compact version of the Glock 17, easily concealed at their waist. Jack also had an MK24 tucked in his ankle holster, just in case. For men, especially in summer, concealing weapons is much harder compared to women, who could easily hide two Uzi submachine guns under a dress.
Walking through the dimly lit corridor, Sonny glanced at the various "artistic" posters adorning the walls and whistled. "Welcome to the promised land."
"What?" Jason, leading the group, didn't catch the comment due to the blaring music. He turned to ask, but a sultry Latina in revealing attire blocked his way.
"American, right?" The Latina swayed her hips, pressing her body against Jason in a full-contact, no-holds-barred display of charm.
Jason was wearing only a T-shirt, and his well-defined chest muscles were now outlined under the Latina's delicate fingers as she trailed her hand down, teasingly drawing out the details.
"Whoa, leave him alone. He's a married man." Sonny, the ever-ready wingman, stepped in to defuse the situation before things got out of hand.
"Is that so? Well, just my luck—I'm married too." Understanding she was being politely rejected, the Latina wasn't offended. She adjusted her ample figure with a provocative gesture and sauntered off.
Jack stepped aside to let Jason through, gesturing politely for Sonny, the self-proclaimed expert, to lead the way.
"Bravo 1, what's the situation inside?" came Ray Perry's voice through their comms.
Sonny had already led them to a booth with a strategically chosen location. It provided a clear view of Dante Vega, who was enjoying the company of two women on the other side of the stage, while also being close enough to the entrance to spot any incoming threats immediately.
"Bravo 2, he hasn't noticed anything yet. He's enjoying the moment. Keep an eye on those gunmen, and let us know if anything changes," Jason replied, taking a sip of beer to mask his instructions.
"Do you think they'll just block the door and attack when Vega tries to leave?" Sonny asked, laughing as he slipped a few small bills into the dancer's lingerie on stage.
"Hard to say. I doubt they have the patience to wait that long," Jack replied, seemingly staring intently at the stage but actually keeping a close eye on Dante Vega's booth.
"We'll wait a little longer," Jason said, continuing to observe the club's layout. "If necessary, we'll take him out through the back door."
However, the gunmen outside had far less patience. Just as Sonny was running out of five-dollar bills, Ray Perry's voice came through the comms again. "Heads up, the three are coming in together. Looks like they're done waiting."
"Sonny, control Vega!" Jason ordered, just as the three armed men entered the club's dimly lit corridor.
"Showtime's over! Everyone, get down!" Jack shouted as he drew his Glock 19 with his left hand and his MK24 with his right, jumping onto the pole-dancing stage in full view of the crowd. At some point, he had pulled a triangular bandana over his face. He kicked the dancer—who was mid-performance, bells jingling—off the stage.
As the crowd screamed in shock, Jack opened fire. "Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The lead gunman, who had barely raised his M1911, was gunned down instantly by Jack's precise shots. The other two were swiftly dispatched as well.
Jason was momentarily stunned by Jack's sudden and audacious move but had to admit it was effective. The stage, elevated above the rest of the club, provided a clear view of the entire space. After kicking the dancer out of the way, Jack had eliminated the risk of collateral damage while maintaining a tactical advantage.
"'Machete' Juan sends his regards!" Jack shouted in Spanish, making a theatrical display as he took down the gunmen. Meanwhile, Jason and Sonny seized the opportunity to grab a terrified Dante Vega, who was lying flat on the ground.
With the club in chaos, Jack emptied the rest of his magazine into the ceiling and jumped off the stage to join the others. They exited through the back door without looking back.
"That was insane!" Sonny exclaimed as they arrived back at base after driving in circles to ensure they weren't followed. He jumped out of the SUV, still buzzing with excitement.
"That kick was brutal, man. Damn it, I don't think I'll ever set foot in a strip club again. What's that term the shrinks use?"
"Negative association?" Jack offered.
"Yeah, yeah, negative association. From now on, every time I see a pole-dancing stage or even think about those seductive moves—especially those little jingling bells—all I'll see is that dancer flying through the air. God, you ruined one of my favorite pastimes," Sonny complained, pulling a face.
"Sounds like a good start. Maybe you can make eating breakfast on time your new hobby," Jason quipped as he shoved the handcuffed Dante Vega out of the car.
From another vehicle, Clay Spencer escorted a now-conscious Latina woman out as well.
"Looks like you had a productive night," said Colonel Martinez, standing at the entrance in full uniform with his arms crossed. Behind him were two women with equally satisfied expressions—Mandy Ellis and Rita Alfaro.
"I told you, there's always a way. They're all yours, Mandy. Don't mess it up," Jason said, wearing a smug grin that quickly faded as he looked across the parking lot.
There, Lieutenant Lopez was unloading several large bags from the trunk of a car, accompanied by his two young sons and a petite Mexican woman—his wife.
Their eyes met. Jason froze, while Lopez gave him a tense smile that could have been either gratitude or resentment.
"I've got a story similar to what happened to Jack last night," Colonel Martinez said, walking over to the group. He glanced at Lopez and his family, his expression tinged with sadness.
"A few years ago, I had a subordinate just like Lopez. Brave, strong, and dedicated. After one operation, he received death threats and had to leave the frontlines. When Doza's men couldn't find him, they slit the throats of his wife and daughter. Then they sent 'Muerta' death posters to his parents and sister's family."
"What happened next?" Jason asked, already sensing this wasn't going to end well.
"He had no choice. To save his remaining family, he surrendered himself to Doza. They hanged him from a bridge across the street from his parents' home," Martinez said, his voice heavy.
The SEALs exchanged uneasy glances, the grim outcome sinking in.
"And his family?" Sonny asked, his usual lighthearted tone subdued.
"Doza left them alone after that," Martinez replied curtly, turning back toward the base.
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Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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