Abandon: The Unloveable Series Book One by Michelle Lowhorn Page B

few feet away, he’d spend most of the night looking through his riffle scope, but first he needed to do some recon.  Once that was out of the way, he’d return and start his vigil.  He’d bet his last dollar someone would come snooping before dawn. 
    True to his threat to the sheriff, he’d get involved in the situation one way or another.  Daniel’s truck pulled up in front of the house.  Gage met him on the front porch so their conversation wouldn’t wake Brook.  “Thanks for coming, Dad.  Brook’s asleep in the family room.  My weapons are loaded and ready to go but I don’t anticipate any activity while I’m gone.  Once I’ve scouted out where the narcotics are being delivered and repackaged for sale, I’ll come back so you can return home to protect mom and the girls.”
    “Your uncle is at the house now looking out for them.  I’m more worried about you. Going after this group of cut throat hooligans by yourself could get you killed.  We don’t know how many men you’re up against.  What they did to your brother was horrific.  Your mother and I can’t bear to lose you, too,” the elderly man’s voice cracked as he spoke.
    “I don’t intend to engage the enemy tonight.  This is strictly a reconnaissance mission.  I need to find out what I’m dealing with, whether it’s a small time local dealer or if they have ties to a major narcotics trafficker.  I’ll be back before midnight,” Gage spoke the words with authority so Daniel would know the mission wasn’t up for discussion.
    He dropped a medium sized duffle bag on the front passenger seat, started the truck and eased out of the drive so the sound of gravel spraying wouldn’t disturb Brook.  The night before, he’d located the abandoned building where the drugs were being repackaged.  Tonight when he pulled up, there was a lot more traffic going in and out of the building.  He surmised a shipment must have been delivered in the last twenty four hours.
    His truck was parked a fair distance away so Gage pulled his long range binoculars from his bag.  Whoever was running the operation was either an idiot or didn’t fear the law because Gage didn’t see anyone patrolling the perimeter of the building and there were at least ten vehicles parked outside what was supposed to be an abandoned building. 
    He needed to get closer so he could see and hear inside the building.  One thing was for certain, Gage knew exactly what he was doing.  He pulled on a black beanie, covered his face and hands with black paint, loaded his binoculars in one of many pockets on his vest, and silently exited the truck.  Once the truck was locked, he slid his trusty combat knife in the scabbard strapped to his calf and secured his nine millimeter hand gun in the holster on his right side with quick, efficient movements.  He was ready for confrontation if it came his way.
    Gage was completely confident he could walk right up to the building without any of these dumbasses knowing, but at this point he couldn’t risk tipping them off that he’d located their base of operation.  The men working here weren’t smart enough to be the mastermind of the operation.  Tonight’s mission was to gather information only.  Tomorrow he’d devise a plan to take out every last one of the bastards and make sure this operation was shut down for good.
    Making his way to the south side of the building, Gage stayed hidden in the shadows.  Camouflaged in the over grown brush, Gage watched men come and go.  As he expected, the only security was a man stationed inside the door.  Taking out everyone inside the building wouldn’t be difficult for someone as well trained as him.  It pissed him off royally to have to wait, but that’s what made him extraordinarily good in his profession.  He devised and implemented plans.  He never acted on impulse or emotion. 
    It was nearing midnight and Gage needed to get back to Brook.  Before he hightailed it out of there,