The bored looking men dressed in head-to-toe black are the first to stand. Next is Jax, Marshall, Cal, Adam, and Eve. Cotton is still standing at my side, and the six of them walk to the new recruits, extending their hands and thanking them.These six haven’t even considered that I am offering the same out to them.They’re in. They’re with me.
“Alright. Let’s go get ‘em.”
It takes just over an hour to reach the industrial park. There’s no one here. Thankfully, Adam’s men brought a drone. That, coupled with the aerial footage Cal got, and our recon time was cut down significantly.Just another reminder that I’m not dealing with amateurs.The vehicles, apart from the one I’ll drive in after I get the call, are hidden just off site outside an exit we made through the fence when we arrived. We have no idea exactly when they plan to get here with the hostages, so we’re treating every second like it’s the last one we have.
We’re hours into the night and getting antsy in our positions before we see the first sign of life coming toward us. It’s a convoy. Vehicles in various sizes. Six SUVs, four trucks, and one sedan. There could be more than sixty men in those rigs.Two to one odds at best.
“I’m heading out the back. I’ll wait out the call in the Yukon and come back in the way they did.”
We’ve tested out the range on the radios and made sure the SUV we parked offsite is within communication range. I waited until this moment to leave the site because...it’s just hard to leave men on the field.Always has been.
“Target is inside the gate.”
Keir is Adam’s man stationed closest to the gate. None of these men needed much direction but took orders like they were born for it. Their laid-back confidence went a long way to ease the gnawing ache in my heart and the churning of my gut.
I’m too far away now to see anything that’s going on inside the compound, and it kills me knowing my family is inside there somewhere.
“They’re setting up in Warehouse Two. Entering on the South side.”
This one sounds like Maso, the tall lean Italian.
“She’s in there. They have her. Maybe Grizzly, too. One male and definitely Vaughn were led in with their hands bound. No one else who entered the building was tied up. BB?” There’s excitement and desperation in Eve’s voice. She’s happy to see Vaughn alive, but...where’s mom and Abbi? Little Abel?
“This doesn’t mean they aren’t alive.” Letting off the button so my desperation isn’t a public event “FUCK!”Rule number one: stay calm. No one gets out alive. Kill them all. Find the second location. Bring your family home.
My voice when I speak into the radio again is much more composed than I feel.“There’s a second location. One thing at a time. We get Vaughn and Grizzly. Then, we get the others. Nothing has changed here. Mark these mother fuckers.”
“Roger”
“10-4”
“Fuck yeah”
“Copy that”
Chapter 41
Vaughn
At least my knees and feet aren’t bound anymore.That’s a lot less tape I have to get through. I’m not the only hostage, though. They have John. He was on Eli’s team in the Navy and in our wedding. I’ve met his wife and daughters. Of course, they would want him. This complicates the shit out of things. They led us in at the same time but have positioned us too far apart to talk without being overheard.His beautiful little girls.There’s no way I can leave him here.
Damn it. Rule number two: stay alive even if that means leaving someone behind. You can’t help anyone if you’re dead.
Okay. Get out. Get help. Come back for John.
The two assholes from the plane are here. This is only the second time I’ve seen them since being abducted.
“Piezvani vinam.”
The jackass who backhanded me on the plane dips his chin in response to whatever the other jackass has said. He raises his phone to his ear, and again, I understand almost nothing he says.Almost.
“Post Man. Tik briniškigi iepazities.”
He goes quiet for a moment and my heart races knowing that my husband is on the other end of the line.
“San Antonio. Es tev nosutišu iszinu ar adresi. Tev ir viena stunda. Nac viens.”
He’s coming.He’ll be walking right into a trap. This place is littered with armed men.I can’t be the bait. I’m so sorry, John.
