~ Sierra Leone, nearby diamond mine ~
Aiden is observing Sarah while she is going one last time through plan of action with Imani.
Imani is the youngest girl amongst their kids. She is very intelligent and possesses great logic and deduction skills and her personality is calm and down to earth. Sarah is coaching Imani with the goal to make her a strategic expert in the group.
For this mission, they want to remove corrupt guards and management of the diamond mine while avoiding innocent casualties.
Sarah and Aiden are heading to Sierra Leone with their kids and a number of people that Jeff provided. Some of Jeff's people are fighters, and some will stay back at the mine and help with running it smoothly until Sarah and Aiden find their own people to take those positions.
They left Los Angeles in a rush as soon as Jeff provided them with airplane and manpower.
Sarah came up with a detailed plan in the plane, in less than an hour with use of topological map and data on people and weapons that they should expect there. Aiden watched Sarah and admired her guerilla warfare strategizing capabilities. He didn't know she has these skills. Aiden smiled while thinking how even after all this time, she is capable of surprising him with a side of her which he didn't see before.
Aiden was not confident that they should bring their kids on this mission, but Sarah assured him that they are ready. "These are local thugs with guns. Based on videos, they use guns as bats to beat up workers. Our kids want to fight, and this is a perfect low-risk mission for them to get some experience and to see if this is something they want to do or not."
Sarah and Aiden discussed sending their kids to private schools more than once, but every time kids resolutely refused and said that they will learn with tutors at home while training their bodies and perfecting combat skills because they want to be personal bodyguards worthy of accompanying their Boss (and Boss's husband) as soon as possible.
"I don't completely disagree with bringing the kids." Aiden explained. "I'm just concerned that someone will get hurt. Kids might rush into danger and you will try to protect them, and then…" It's not that he is not worried about the kids, but Sarah is his first priority.
Sarah smiled. "We got this. Imani will be our eyes and provide instructions as needed. I'm confident that she can adjust the strategy as necessary. Masika and Zula will be snipers, and others will come with us. We will take ten Jeff's men and others are waiting here."
"What about me?", middle aged man asked anxiously. He is the guide who took the toward the mine.
"You stay here with Imani and others." Sarah instructed him before focusing on the laptop which projected live feed from four drones that are hovering above the mine area.
"We can take them down with drones…" Aiden observed.
"Yes. But then our kids won't get a taste of the real thing." Sarah stopped any further thoughts Aiden had in that direction.
Aiden sighed. He wants kids to get experience, but he does not want to risk Sarah getting hurt, alright? However, Sarah is not giving in. She is determined, and the only thing he can do is stick close to her and make sure she comes out of this unscathed.
Aiden was NOT happy when he heard the plan that he and Sarah will split up! He will go from the West side of the mine with Jamari and Nala, while Sarah will take on East side where buildings are with Ade and Oni. Jeff's men will take the middle and help take care of any captives as well as potential casualties. Based on the footage from the drones, middle is empty.
"Boss's husband, you worry too much." Ade chimed in. "We can do this!"
Aiden looked at the small human in front of him and wanted to give him a speech how he is confident only because he is clueless. And he really wants this shrimp to stop addressing him as 'Boss's husband'! But instead of the verbal lessons, Aiden flicked Ade's forehead. "Get ready!"
"Yes, Boss's husband!" Ade cheekily smiled while rubbing his forehead.
Aiden glanced at the kids all dressed up in camo outfits who are stretching before mission while chatting excitedly, and he has to admit that they matured a lot in last three months. He can clearly notice that their physique and bearing changed with Stella's intensive training. They are strong and confident individuals, just like their adopted-mother-Boss, Sarah.
Before heading to their target destinations, Aiden looked at Sarah reluctantly.
She could see that he is unwilling to separate. Sarah gave him a reassuring smile and a quick peck on the cheek. "See you in a bit."
He was a bit dazed from worry and didn't react in time. By the time he realized she kissed him, Sarah was already disappearing within jungle foliage with Ade and Oni trailing two steps behind her.
"So, we begin…", Aiden mumbled and signaled Jamari and Nala to stay close as he led them swiftly toward the mine.
…
Aiden's team finished first by capturing three men. They moved so fast that guards didn't know what happened. They were in a state of shock, not able to comprehend how they ended up disarmed and tied up. Even the miners were stunned by sudden commotion around them.
Miners were unsure what to think of current situation, but they observed that these people are not attacking them, so they did their best to shrink and not to attract unwanted attention.
Aiden observed that some of the workers have their legs chained to each other restricting them to take large strides, and he assumed that these men tried to escape, so the chains are to prevent them from running. Also, the number of kids in the mine was alarming.
Sarah went with Ade and Oni and caught by surprise one man in the dormitories. He was going through things that belong to the miners while cursing because he didn't find anything valuable. It seems that he was expecting that miners are keeping some gemstones for themselves, and he was upset to come out empty handed.
Oni took him out in two hits, and that earned her a praise from Sarah.
"Next one is mine!", Ade made his claim in advance. He wanted a praise from his Boss as well.
Sarah smiled. "Just be careful, OK? Others are captured, so only one is left. He is in the office." Sarah gestured toward one smaller building.
Imani did a great job informing every one of the current status and position, so they already knew that all other targets are captured and that no one from Aiden's team got hurt.